What's In a Name

Recently, and I truly can not remember where it was, I was reading about the importance of a title of a book. And although I had not thought about it much before, now that a book is most likely looming on the horizon, titles are becoming much more important to me.

A few days ago I logged on to the Unicorn Books website to see about ordering some books for myself and a few of my customers. As is often the case, I got totally drawn in to the site, checking a variety of categories and browsing titles. The first thing I noticed is that although there are well over a thousand (yes -- you read that right) knitting books listed, almost none of them appear to have any valuable or unique content. Next, way too many books have the same or similar titles. And even worse, an unimaginable number have the word "easy" or "knit" (or some variation) in the title.

So this inspired me to begin thinking about a title, a fabulous title, for the upcoming book on entrelac. Now I am the first to admit, and if you have read many of my posts you know, I am not the greatest when it comes to words. I talk a lot, and I really do love words, but I am not that creative in my usage. This may turn out to be an issue with writing a book, but we will worry about that later! However, I have often found inspiration (or just plain great ideas) from those around me.

So I am starting a contest to come up with a title for my book. You can enter as many times as you wish and if more than one person comes up with the same fabulous title, I will randomly draw a winner. And the prize you ask? You will receive a signed copy of the published book.

So here are the guidelines as they stand at this point:

1. Each entry should be sent as a separate e-mail to me at gwen @ knitability.com (remove the spaces) with a subject of "Entrelac Book Title Contest" and the suggested title as the message.
2. Individuals can enter as many times as they wish.
3. The Author (that's me) and the Publisher (still working on that) will make the final decision, as such, it is possible that no one will win if a suitably outstanding entry is not submitted.
4. Entries will be accepted through June 30, 2008 or until the publisher requires a title (which ever comes first).

Obviously the book is about the entrelac technique. At this point the plan is to start at the beginning and work through to a point of explaining fairly complicated techniques. There will be a variety of projects included from very small and basic to large and complicated with everything in between.

So let's see what you all can come up with! So what's in a name -- everything is in the name. And if you have the right name (or at least title) a free book is it for you too!!

Bloody Toes

Where does the time go?!? Well, May went to preparing for TNNA. But April and June are both months with Camp Stitches and my entrelac class. One of the questions that came up last April was how to deal with "bloody toes". Now this may sound a bit gruesome, but it is a term used to describe the bleeding through of the color of the previous tier at the point of the join.

Bloody toes are a "natural" occurance when working with entrelac. It is the result of joining two pieces of knitting perpendicular to one another. When it is most noticeable is when the underlying color is significantly "stronger" than the top color. Although the color "bleed" can be minimized with practice of specific knitting techniques, that along will not completely solve the problem.

I wish I could take credit for the solution, but alas, it was Joan Schouder who I believe is credited with the idea. At the point you are going to begin a new tier, work one round of knitting all the way around the tier in the new color by knitting the "live" stitches and picking up the appropriate stitches along the selvedge edges. By doing this you will need to keep closer track of your knitting, because the color of the yarn will not provide any clues. However, when you go to join the "live" stitches to the current tier, they will be the same color. No "bloody toes"!

Thanks Joan!

Knitability's Got a Brand New Bag

In my previous post I was talking about a new project. Well it is done and it turned out even better than I expected. I will be adding it to my line of Skill Builder patterns for the TNNA show in June.

During Camp Stitches this past week I was teaching an intensive class on Entrelac and thought it would be fun for the students to see what happens between knitting and felting. So I finished up the project and during our afternoon off, went down to the local Laundromat / Tattoo parlor!! We would have gotten tattoos while we were waiting, but they are closed on Mondays.

Although once you get going the knitting is mindless -- the planning and starting of the project is not for an entrelac novice. The yarn is left over from another project I will also be unveiling at TNNA in a few weeks. It is from Ellen's Half Pint Farm and is her Wool / Mohair blend. It felts up with a boucle' type texture which just adds even more interest.

Watch for the pattern coming soon!

Mindless Entrelac

I have always loved entrelac as my mindless knitting. I think the reason is that you REALLY can be somewhat mindless about the whole thing once you get started. You work on one rectangle until all the stitches from the joining unit have been incorporated. You pick up one stitch for every two rows (unless you are doing something a bit unique). The knitting is just stockinette.

So I am about to leave for Camp Stitches East teaching an entrelac class. I have had an idea for a project for some time and figured this would be great plane knitting. Well these past thre days, I have been attending a meeting prior to my departure. The "mindless entrelac" has gone so well I am practically done with the project. There definitely isn't enough to take me clear across the country!

So while here in Sacramento I ran over to Rumplestiltskins to find some yarn for an additional project. I finally decided on a sock yarn. I brought my sock needles and socks have a lot of knitting.

But the point is, the entrelac went SO FAST I just wasn't prepared. I will try and post a picture after I return and get the project felted (which is planned in this case). Who knows, after checking out the vendor market, I may get another project done before I return home. Yea! for speedy knitting!

Picking Up Stitches - Part 2

We started with picking up stitches on the public side, but how about picking up stitches from the private side or wrong side of the fabric? It can be done and turns out to be very useful in a variety of situations.

Picking up stitches from the private side, working right to left is also called purling up stitches. Purling up stitches is to purling as knitting up stitches is to knitting. Remember to utilize your free hand to manipulate the fabric over the tip of the needle on step 3.

To pick up stitches on the private side as if to purl, the steps are as follows:
1. The right hand needle is inserted into the selvedge edge, as if to purl.
2. The yarn wrapped as if to purl.
3. Then the stitch is pull up (away from the knitter), back to the public side on the right hand needle.

Just as you can knit in the opposite direction (see Knitting Backwards), you can also pick up stitches on the public side, but work from left to right.

As with knitting in the opposite direction, I personally find picking up in the opposite direction much more efficient than picking up stitches on the private side. The primary reason being that the public side of the work is facing me and I can watch to make sure that I am picking up the stitches along a consistent line. Also, since knitting in the opposite direction is faster than purling for me, picking up in the opposite direction is faster too. You will need to see what works best for you, but keep in mind there is almost always more than one way to accomplish the same goal.

Picking Up Stitches - Part 1

Picking up stitches is a key skill utilized in entrelac. Although this is often a practice avoided by many knitters, it is a valuable skill every knitter should have.

The advantage of practicing picking up stitches on entrelac is two fold. First, the number of stitches picked up for any given rectangle is a relatively small number. This means you can practice a little and then knit a little, repeating the process many times over the course of an entire piece of entrelac. Second, for the most part, you get to practice picking up from the public side and the private side an equal number of times. Being able to pick up from the private side is a skill that comes in handy quite often, once it is in your personal skill set.

Let's start with picking up stitches from the public side or right side. Picking up stitches from the public side, working right to left is also called knitting up stitches. This technique eliminates the need for a crochet hook in most instances. And although, a crochet hook my still be required occasionally, the knitting needles used for the project should suffice.

To pick up stitches on the public side as if to knit, the steps are as follows:
1. The right hand needle is inserted into the selvedge edge, as if to knit.
2. The yarn wrapped as if to knit.
3. Then the stitch is pull up, back to the public side on the right hand needle.

The third step usually a combination of pulling the loop through and using the left hand to manipulate the fabric over the tip of the needle. Your speed will improve with practice.

All About Entrelac

All About Entrelac...it is just a working title, but at least it is a start. I have
had people ask me to write a book on entrelac for years. And it is one of the few books that I am actually interested in trying to put together. Recently I came across a pair of gals called the Blog Squad. How I found them is a bit convoluted, but needless to say, I have started following them. Their primary service is geared toward business professionals wanting to take their blog to the next level. One of the ways to do this is to write your "next" book via a blog.

So for the next few weeks, and most likely months, the Knitting Professor is going to be focusing on entrelac. At least until I move it to a different site or give up on the idea. Now even if you are not particularly interested in entrelac, many of the skills can be applied to other areas of your knitting.

So let's start with knitting backwards. So the question is, how do I learn to knit in the opposite direction? The key, which I have shared in countless classes and demonstrations, is to teach yourself based on how you knit. My particular motions will only work for you if you knit the exact same way that I do.

Before you embark on teaching yourself this very fun skill, remember this is just like learning to knit for the first time. Your tension will probably be all off and it will start out being much slower than just turning the work and purling. However, with practice and a little persistence, you will work out the awkwardness, even up the tension and pick up speed. The final effort is worth the investment.

1. Begin by turning your work to the private side and inserting your needle as if to purl.
2. Without changing your needles, turn your work to the public side and note the position of the inserted needle.
3. Turn your work back to the private side and wrap your yarn around the needle without pulling up a loop.
4. Without changing the position of the yarn, turn your work to the public side and note the position of the yarn and which direction it is wrapped around the needle.
5. With the public side of the work facing you, pull up the loop that is wrapped around your left needle.
6. Repeat these steps until you are familiar with the correct positioning of the needle and wrap direction of the yarn.

So now off you go to practice!