Interweave Knits Winter 2018

Dear Reader, The call of the unknown has always been a provocative whisper in my ear: fiction and nonfiction accounts of fantastic voyages with uncertain outcomes, rambling cross-country trips, and journeys into harsh and uncharted wildernesses dominate my bookshelves. As I’ve grown older, my desire for adventure has only grown stronger, despite the cautious voice of adulthood warning me against romanticizing the stories of my youth. That urge was a large part of why I pulled up my roots, left my family and friends behind, and moved across the country alone for a challenge I wasn’t sure I could endure. When I arrived in Colorado, I found I wasn’t alone, but surrounded by people who took the time to support and guide me in foreign territory. None more so than…

1 Experience the freedom and stability of Coco Knits’s Leather Cord and Needle Stitch Holder Kit. This versatile set features metal tips that screw onto any 1.5mm leather cord (cord included). $24 www.cocoknits.com 2 Light up the dark winter nights with Knitting from the North by Hilary Grant, which features twenty-seven patterns inspired by traditional Nordic and Fair Isle motifs. $24.95 www.roostbooks.com 3 The Fibre Co.’s Arranmore Light is the new DK-weight version of the original Aran-weight Arranmore. This yarn brings a twenty-first century sensibility to the Donegal tradition, incorporating cashmere and silk into a rustic and cozy yarn (80% merino wool, 10% silk, 10% cashmere; 328 yd [300 m]/3½ oz [100 g], distributed by Kelbourne Woolens). Available in eighteen colors. $28 www.kelbournewoolens.com 4 Fall in love with the Lykke Driftwood Interchangeable Circular…

The Jagger Brothers Mill in Springvale, Maine, is a gem of American history and textile manufacturing. The busy facility turns out not only wonderful yarns for handknitters (under the Jagger Spun brand), but also yarns for commercial industries such as upholstery, apparel, and commercial hosiery manufactures. Although many other mills on the American landscape have long been shuttered, this one is thriving. Let’s take a look at why. 1 The mill has been family-owned and operated since its founding in 1898. The Jagger (pronouced like the rock star’s name) family traces its history back to Uriah B. Jagger, a yarn spinner who moved to the United States from England in 1884 and whose sons founded the company in Maine in 1898. Successive generations have run the business since then, including…

Rachael Matthews: How, when, and why did you embark on writing The Principles of Knitting? June Hemmons Hiatt: When I completed my history degree in 1982, I sat down on my sofa to design some knitting but felt unsatisfied by technical books explaining “how,” not “why.” I envisioned the book I was looking for, and then I embarked on what became an eight-year endeavour, writing The Principles of Knitting. There are situations in life when if you really knew what you were getting into, you’d never have the courage to take the first step, and this was definitely one of them. RM: What many people don’t know is that you have taken many other courageous steps, leading a life of travel and adventure and joining your husband, Robert, on long…

Voluptuous, luxurious, and enveloping, the White Mountain Ruana is a chic layer perfect for winter wanderings. The overlapping fronts can be worn loose or closed with snap fasteners and an I-cord tie. An easy-to-knit allover ripple rib pattern gives this ruana an elegant texture; garter stitch on the collar offers contrast to the body. YARN Shibui Knits Maai Finished Size 59½ (66, 72½)" circumference at lower edge, closed. Ruana shown measures 59½ " on a model with a 35½ " bust circumference. Yarn Shibui Knits Maai (70% super baby alpaca, 30% fine merino; 175 yd [160 m]/1¾ oz [50 g]): #115 brick, 16 (18, 19) skeins. Needles Size 6 (4 mm): 16", 32", and 47" circular (cir). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge. Notions Markers (m);…

This sporty unisex cardigan is designed for winter fun. Whether you’re reading by the fire or skating on a frozen lake, the Eagle Island Cardigan is up to the task. This cardigan is worked from the bottom up in one piece and features stranded colorwork and intarsia. YARN Harrisville Designs WATERshed Finished Size 38¾ (43¼, 47, 51, 54¾, 59¼)" chest circumference, zipped. Cardigan shown measures 43¼ "; modeled with 2¾ " of positive ease. Yarn Harrisville Designs WATERshed (100% wool; 110 yd [100 m]/1¾ oz [50 g]): granite (gray; MC), 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) balls; barn door (red; A), 2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4) balls; driftwood (beige; B), 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4) balls; and gatehouse (brown; C), 1 ball. Needle Sizes 6 (4 mm) and…