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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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