Interweave Knits Fall 2016

This very special issue of Interweave Knits celebrates the magazine’s twentieth anniversary. The first thing I want to say is thank you to all the incredibly talented, passionate, patient, kind people who helped to shape this anniversary issue. Although many people contribute to each issue of Interweave Knits, a small core group of individuals touch, create, correct, and frankly, slave over each page. I urge you to take a good look at the masthead of this issue, but I want to particularly thank Hannah Baker, Debbie Long, Joni Coniglio, Laura Hulslander, Rachel Koon, Sarah Rothberg, and Lisa Shroyer for their dedication, help, and friendship. It’s has been such a pleasure to join the Knits team, and I am grateful to work with all of you every day. I would be…

Discover or revisit the traditional roots of our craft with these essential tools, books, and fibers. 1 / 2 Maggie Righetti’s Plain English series should be in every knitter’s collection—these books contain reminders and methods for every knitter, from beginners to designers. All things being equal, the simplest tool tends to be the right one. With their classic yet versatile design, 3 Clover’s Locking Stitch Markers and 4 Bamboo Needles will never be far from reach. Gentle, effective and fragrant — 5 Eucalans Lavender Delicate Wash has been a favorite of knitters for years. Minimally processed, un-dyed, and simple— 6 Classic Elite’s MountainTop line of yarns appeals to the knitting purist in all of us.…

DESIGN BY SYLVIA HAGER PATTERN NO.: 201611 FOR USE WITH: WOOLSTOK (WORSTED) BLUESKY FIBERS ALASKA FAR NORTH YARN Anchorage, AK 907-258-5648 akfnyc.com THE ROOKERY Kodiak, AK 907-486-0052 ARIZONA JESSICA KNITS & CROCHETS Scottsdale, AZ 480-515-4454 jessicaknits.com CALIFORNIA COMPATTO Santa Monica, CA 310-453-2130 compattoyarnsalon.com CONTINENTAL STITCH Morgan Hill, CA 408-779-5885 continentalstitch.com GATHER Los Angeles, CA 213-908-2656 togatherdtla.com SOUTH PARK DRY GOODS San Diego, CA 619-550-5765 southparkdrygoods.com GREEN PLANET YARN San Jose, CA 408-620-1042 greenplanetyarn.com WILDFIBER STUDIO Santa Monica, CA 310-458-2748 wildfiberstudio.com COLORADO EVERYTHING ALPACA Castle Rock, CO 303-660-6684 everythingalpaca.biz EWE AND ME A YARN BOUTIQUE Colorado Springs, CO 719-203-5240 eweandmeayarn boutique.com FABRIC BLISS Denver, CO 720-220-3313 fabricblissdenver.com SEW STEAMBOAT Steamboat Springs, CO 970-879-3222 sewsteamboat.com YARN ART CO. Aurora, CO 602-323-6488 yarnartco.com CONNECTICUT THE SHEEP SHOPPE Newtown, CT 203-364-5600 sheepshoppenewtown.com WESTPORT YARNS…

I was browsing through the Interweave Store the other day and noticed that it contains more than 3,300 knitting patterns. That’s a huge number! Of course, it’s just a fraction of what’s out there in the world, but still. The funny thing is, when Interweave started publishing in the knitting world, we were all about being pattern-free. Our first book, Jacqueline Fee’s The Sweater Workshop, published in the 1980s, used Elizabeth Zimmerman’s brilliant percentage system to design and fit various styles from scratch. “Free at last!” we touted it. Our second knitting book, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts’s Knitting in the Old Way, took a similar approach, but was based more on modular assembly as practiced in Northern European countries. There were more: Gail Selfridge’s Sweater Design Workbook. Fern Geller Cone’s Knitting for…

AUGUSTA CARDIGAN KEPHREN PRITCHETT When creating the cocoon-style Augusta Cardigan, the designer envisioned the kind of cozy sweater she would like to pull on first thing in the morning or while watching the sun set. The incredibly soft merino of Woolfolk Får contributes greatly to the comfort of this dreamy cardigan. PATTERN PAGE 44 YARN Woolfolk Får AUGUSTA CARDIGAN KEPHREN PRITCHETT Finished Size 18 (20, 22, 24, 26, 28)" wide at back hip. Cardigan shown measures 20". Yarn Woolfolk Får (100% Ovis 21 ultimate merino wool; 142 yd [130 m]/1¾ oz [50 g]): #6 parchment, 10 (11, 13, 14, 16, 17) skeins. Needles Size 8 (5 mm): 32" circular (cir). Size 7 (4.5 mm): set of double-pointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge. Notions Markers…

Steek is an old Scots word that means “a stitch in sewing or knitting.” For knitters, steeking has become the name of an entire process that culminates in cutting one’s knitting. The thought of cutting a garment you’ve spent considerable time knitting can be daunting, but I like to think of it as liberating! Why on earth would you choose to cut your knitting? The answer lies in a garment’s need for openings. For example, stranded colorwork is most easily and efficiently worked in the round because the patterns are always visible as they emerge. In addition, knitting circularly eliminates the need to purl, which can slow things down. Knitting in the round creates tubes, which are perfect as-is when you make hats, socks, or long tubular scarves. However, other…