Monthly Archives: September 2013

Mom In Stitches is here!

Posted on by under Handcrafts, Knitting, Uncategorized

Stay tuned for incredible pics of my unique hand crafted -ruffle scarves, teddy bears, doll clothes and more…

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MomInStitches

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Go now to http://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/MomInStitches?ref=l2-shopheader-name

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Handcrafts are yesterday’s gift to the future…

The History of Knitting

Knitting is the art of knotting, that is making loops and knots in a length of yarn or thread into a piece of fabric using needles. Current research places the origins of hand knitting in the middle east, the techniques probably made their way to Europe via the Mediterranean.

Knitting was used mostly to create necessary garments to protect aginst the elements in most european cultures. Different yarn and wool producing areas developed their own styles of knitting and garment making, for example, the Shetland Islands with the Shetland Shawl of the 17th Century – a finely knitted lace shawl with neither a cast on or cast off edge.

The cable knit thought to originate in Ireland and the Aran knitted sweaters containing specific designs thought to originate from the 9th Century.

During times of economic and social change, the art of knitting was used not only in fishing ports but also by farmers and their families to help supplement their incomes. The exporting of woolen clothing can be dated back to 17th Century with woolen clothing from the Channel Islands to supply the fishing industry with practical and warm clothing.

The Industrial revolution led to wool spinning and cloth making, being carried out in factories rather than in the home. People who would have knitted at home were now employed in factories to operate machinery. Hand knitted garments could not compete with the availability and cost of machine produced fabric and clothes.

In Victorian times knitting became an art for the well-bred lady. Even Queen Vctoria herself was seen to knit. Lace and beaded knitting were popular and it was more of a craft hobby than a cottage industry as before. Now that the middle/upper classes were knitting, patterns started to be written down and passed on.

It was in the 19th century that knitting ‘pins’ as in the long, bobble-ended type we use today for flat knitting, were first invented. The original English/UK needle sizes from 1 to 26 were specified – the higher the number, the thinner the needle.
For some perspective on how intricate Victorian lace knitting could be, a size 20 (1mm) needle for specified for lace knitting.

During the second World War, wool and many other things were in short supply, people would unpick old sweaters to reuse the yarn. Contributions to the war front were done by women knitting uniforms, even bandages for the troops on the front line.

When the war was over, rationing was still in place and people still used hand knitting as a way to enhance their clothes. Into the 1950’s and the availability of colours and yarns made knitting a fashionable tool to enhance your wardrobe and home.

Knitwear moved through the 1960’s and 1970’s fashion roller coasters, The twinset, a short sleeve jumper and matching cardigan was a popular pattern and many patterns became available to women to create themselves in various bright colours. The low point I think was garish patterned jumpers of the late 70’s and early 80’s.

This was the start of knitting’s temporary demise. As the feminist movement got started, hobbies that were seen as purely female and women’s work such as knitting, sewing and baking, were no longer fashionable. The availability of cheap mass produced clothes made these arts unnecessary and something grandmothers did to pass the time, not a modern women with a career.

There does seem to have been something of a revival for knitting and sewing in recent times. Celebrities have been seen knitting (Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Roberts) which has helped with its popularity and no longer are the old, traditionally women’s crafts, seen as sexist chains holding women back in the work place.

The 2 main stitches of knit and purl can be used in so many ways to create useful and amazing pieces of clothing. New techniques and ideas are unfolding all the time and are free for all to learn, use and experiment with, this is the best thing about fashion in my opinion. No one owns the ideas and style, everyone can be inspired and create their own.

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Afghan Patterns Knit: A Knitting Afghan Sampler 101

Posted on by under Handcrafts, Knitting

Afghan Patterns Knit:

To be knitting. That, is one of the things which I cherish most. And it has such a long history, too.

Known today as typically a woman’s craft, knitting was originally done by men, shepherds, to be exact, way back when. Even in literature, there are knitters scattered around; the most famous has to be Madame DeFarge in Dicken’s ‘A Tale of Two Cities’.

Most knitters begin with simpler pieces, such as a scarf, or one-color vest. Usually, they keep to a few well-liked patterns, or stitch types, and seldom venture very far from these.

In this mid-winter time, what with Christmas behind us, and much snow and ice around us, my favorite project of all, comes to mind.

Whether you have a real fireplace, or just one playing on your TV, (ala Channel 11, all you New York people know what I mean), nothing goes with your hot chocolate or steaming tea, and that good book, like an afghan. Lap blanket, bed throw, any way you say it, afghans make rooms come alive with personality. Yours.

Of course, you can never have enough good afghans around. Eventually they all begin to get ‘old’, or become the dog’s favorite blanket, or the cat’s place to perch, so you can always use a new afghan!

Before beginning an afghan project, though, there are considerations that you need to decide on.

Just what kind of an afghan are you going to knit?

Will you use block patterns or knit in the round?

How about yarn color and amount?

Do you need to learn new stitches or ways of advancing what you already know about your knitting?

Other thoughts aside, these fundamental questions should be answered before going forward with a larger project such as knitting an afghan.

You know, afghan patterns are all over the place. Not just on the Web, either. Pick up a knitting magazine or book, and ideas will start to fly at you. How cute this one is, or oh, I just love this color, I think I’ll knit this one.

A few good pointers when considering knitting an afghan are:

A. Decide on a pattern. Simple, right? Wrong! Be sure to check out the “skill level” listed with each pattern; if it says advanced, and you are still a newbie, don’t attempt it! They really do mean what they say, and you will soon find yourself lost in knitting terms and instructions you never knew existed.

B. Will you use regular needles or circular ones? I find either/or is fine by me. Some of you have never used circular; they take some getting used to, but hold a large number of stitches. So, if you are planning a pattern that calls for anything over, say, 75 stitches, use a circular needle.

C. Which yarn will you use? That’s a biggie! Usually with afghans, I find that the emphasis is on the pattern stitch(es), and by utilizing color, you can turn out a masterpiece with some of the more traditional yarns. I don’t recommend the fun furs, or eyelash yarns for afghans, nor should you use super-bulky either. Unless you don’t mind stiff fingers all the next day!

D. What about joining yarns? How does that go again? Incorporating lots of different colors, or just three or four, means knowing the correct way of joining yarns, so as not to make your work look amateurish.

So, you see, deciding on knitting an afghan, requires some planning ahead. Next article, we will pick out needles and yarn, and choose some pretty patterns to get us going! In the meantime, finish up those post-holiday projects now. Afghans take some time, but, when they’re done, they are beautiful!

Keywords: afghan blanket, christmas, knitting, knitting needle, knit patterns, knitting patterns, yarn

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