Innehållsförteckning för Issue 2 från Homespun Knitting

Hello from GAILLE Welcome to issue 2 of Homespun Knitting, Beginners and Beyond! The start of 2022 and learning to live with Covid … It would be amiss not to mention what we are going through now. How can we explain it? A deathly virus spread throughout the world and we were instructed to wear masks to eliminate further contamination. We were not allowed to see anyone (including family and friends) and were “in lockdown”, working from home with kids unable to attend school. And so much more … Dear future owner, if you find this magazine in an op shop in the future, search Covid-19: can you believe this happened to us? I wonder what is happening in your world. In 2020 we decided to make a tree change. We…

KNIT #2 | BEGINNER KNITTING SECOND SOCK SUCCESS BY KIM SMITH Instagram: Back to Calm | Email: backtocalm@bigpond.com Second sock syndrome is common amongst sock knitters. It is the experience of being excited and committed to the completion of a pair of socks, but finding your creative thoughts are drawn elsewhere when the first sock is completed. Sock knitters commonly end up with a few too many single socks. One way to remedy this is to become comfortable in wearing mismatched socks. Another way is to add a little something to your sock pattern to keep you engaged. It is surprising how we can keep knitting just to finish another repeat. The result is a completed pair of socks. In Second Sock Success socks, the addition of that little something extra…

Knitting Longevity One major benefit of knitting is the act of being fully engaged and living in the moment. Your brain is given a necessary break from incessant mental turbulence, allowing you to think creatively and to flex your imagination. Seven reminders can determine if you are giving yourself the opportunity to be as creatively successful as possible. You can choose to be the star of your own knitting journey. BY ROBYNN ROSS PHOTOGRAPHY Annisa Ica on Unsplash CREATE YOUR KNITTING SPACE To boost your creativity, your immediate environment should spark your inner artist and allow you to be calm and grounded. Utilise your senses. • The lighting must be good. A desk lamp is a good choice as you can angle the neck to suit your position. • Use…

Keeping It Local: SUPPORTING AUSTRALIA’S FIBRE ARTS INDUSTRY BY CLARE AND PAUL THORNLEY image by Katrina Kellett, Pirate Purl Yarns During the COVID-19 pandemic, as Australians bounced in and out of lockdowns and stared down months of stay-at-home orders, many of us turned to craft for comfort. Keeping our hands busy and minds calm, we took up our knitting needles and crochet hooks or sat at our spinning wheels and looms. For many, this was a return to something comforting; for others, it was a venture into a new craft. The repetition of stitching was soothing, the rhythm of treadling on the wheel or weaving on a loom was quieting, the creativity was inspiring - and we had something to show for all the hours we spent in our homes. Before…

RIDGED FEATHER STITCH SCARF DESIGNED BY ROBYNN-EL Dive into your stash to discover some wonderful yarn and design your own scarf using one of the above patterns. For example, with its textured wavy lines, the Ridged Feather stitch pattern looks great in the flat colour of the sample as well as in the handpainted two skeins of 50g merino used in the scarf. You could even make each 6 row repeat in different colours and use some of your stash. Because a scarf is not a fitted garment, I used 4mm needles to open up the pattern on the smaller ply. Work a sample using different sized needles to show the different effects each size can have upon your chosen yarn. To inhibit the side edges curling, I added 3…

Honeycomb LEADLIGHT VEST Simple in shape, this two-coloured vest begins with a corrugated rib for interest and texture. The complex looking front and back 16 row repeat pattern is easily achieved with stocking stitch and slip stitch. Like a stained glass effect, the black slipped stitches edge and outline each honeycomb ‘window’. This vest features a scoop neckline for easy wearability, easy short row shoulder shaping for better fit and neat finish, and an armhole bridge to show-off the corrugated ribbing. BY ROBYNN-EL MATERIALS • Bendigo Woollen Mills 5 Ply Classic pure wool (580m/200g), 1 ball Raven 613 • Zauberball (Starke 6, 75% wool/25% nylon, 400m/150g), 2 balls (shown in Colour 2092) • Size 4mm (US 6) straight or circular knitting needles • Stitch holders/DPNs to hold rows SIZES Honeycomb…

Understanding and dyeing PROTEIN FIBRES BY ANGELA SMITH, BLACKWATTLE YARN AND FIBRE Website: blackwattleyarn.com.au Have you ever wondered how the fabulous hand-dyed yarns you see in stores are created? As an indie dyer, alpaca farmer and someone whose life revolves around fibre, I love to share my knowledge with anyone who shows an interest. This article is my beginner guide to both understanding and dyeing yarn and fibre. During my fibre appreciation and dye workshops, I’m often asked,“What are protein fibres?” In basic terms, protein fibres are fibres that have been grown on an animal. These are fibres in which the fundamental chemical structure is composed of amino-acids joined in a polypeptide chain. Alpaca, merino, silk, cashmere, angora, yak and possum fibres are all examples of common protein fibres you may…

INTERVIEW KIM SMITH Instagram - Back to Calm Email - backtocalm@bigpond.com My funniest yarn story is a love story. Once upon a time a knitter purchased her first beautiful skein of hand dyed yarn. The yarn arrived. It was breathtaking. She delighted over it, smelt it, fondled it, dreamt of numerous possibilities. Hmm, what do I do with it now? When her devoted husband arrived home, he was bewildered by the sight of his beloved, on the floor in a tangled mess. A gorgeous mess, but a mess none the less. For the next three evenings, he would arrive home and spend the evening with his love, untangling a beautiful mess. And they lived happily ever after, knot free.…

KNIT #4 | INTERMEDIATE KNITTING Reversible TABLE RUNNER BY JANICE FERRETT Instagram: @janice_ferrett Email: fermech@bigpond.net.au YARN Heirloom 100% Cotton, 50g x 4 balls EQUIPMENT • 3.75mm needles • Row counter (if required) TENSION As this isn’t a garment, tension only affects the finished width and length. RUNNER SECTIONS The central garter stitch section is flanked either side by a rectangular panel of a 14 row repeat pattern of triangles. The apex of each triangle points away from the centre, towards the end triangular sections of garter stitch, which taper to a point at either end where a tassel can be attached. A 2 st slipstitch edging for neatness is used throughout (slip 2 sts purlwise) – just put your yarn in front as if to purl and then slip the two…

KNIT #6 | BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE KNITTING 4 Ply BABY SET This Baby Set is knitted in Indiecita Easy Wash, machine washable 4 ply 100% Baby Alpaca, creating a lovely soft garment for your special little one. The jacket is knitted from the bottom up and in separate pieces. A wide range of colours is available. BY JAN SANFORD Website: alpaca-yarns.com YARN Indiecita Easy Wash 4 Ply 100% Baby Alpaca, 50g x 2 (3, 3, 4, 4) balls EQUIPMENT • 1 pair 3.25mm (US 3) knitting needles • 1 pair 2.75mm (US 2) knitting needles • Wool needle • 3 small buttons for jacket TENSION/GAUGE 28 sts and 36 rows to 10cm/4in stocking st using 3.25mm needles MEASUREMENTS Months 0 (3, 6, 9, 12) Jacket - To fit underarm 35 (40, 45, 47,…

KNIT #9 | INTERMEDIATE KNITTING Autumn Leaves COWL The touch of silk gives a luxurious look and feel to this autumnal cowl, which is knitted in the round using fair isle techniques. BY ROBYN HICKS FOR YUMMY YARN AND CO Instagram: @yummyyarnandco Facebook: Yummy Yarn and Co YARN • Manos Del Uruguay Fino (70% merino/30% silk), Mini Skein pack (5 x 20g skeins) Cowls A & B are made from colourway “Irene”. Cowl A uses all 5 colours and Cowl B uses 3 colours. Cowl C is made from colourway “Ursula” using 3 colours. These instructions are for Cowl A using 5 colours – Purple (A), Maroon (B), Mustard (C), Dark Brown (D) and Caramel (E) or use any 4 ply/fingering weight yarn (minimum 3 colours required). EQUIPMENT • 3.25mm…

Vegan Wool BY NAN BRAY, WHITE GUM WOOL Instagram: @whitegumwool Website: whitegumwool.com.au Growing superfine wool is my second career. I left the field of research oceanography in 2003 to pursue a life-long yearning to farm. I’d fed the yearning by learning to train border collies while I was still working as an oceanographer. Making the jump to a career with no financial security was a bit daunting, but the personal rewards have far outweighed the financial risk. Once I established the White Gum Wool yarn business, yarn sales began to give me the flexibility I needed to farm the way I want to: working with nature and caring for my animals through their whole lives. Does vegan wool sound like a contradiction in terms? it doesn’t need to be. If…

KNIT #1 | BEGINNER KNITTING RayRay COWL The RayRay Cowl is a great pattern for those who want to learn and play with colour and texture. The way the two colours have been worked in the design, allows you to have a unique and visually stimulating statement piece you’ll sure to get comments on! BY SHARYN BROCK Instagram: @sharynbrockdesigns Facebook: @sharynbrock Pinterest: @sharynbrock Ravelry: @sharyn-brock-designs Website: sharynbrock.com Email: sharyn@sharynbrock.com YARN Colour 1 (C1): Hedgehog Fibres Merino DK/8ply, 115g/200m Colour 2 (C2): Wren & Ollie Spin DK/8ply, 115g/230m Hobbii Diablo Mohair blend Laceweight 25g/225m Note: 35g of each colour is used. EQUIPMENT • 5mm circular needles, 40cm or 60cm long • Stitch marker • Wool needle NOTES • The pattern is worked in the round. Your right side should always be facing…

KNIT #7 | BEGINNER KNITTING 8 Ply STRIPE TOP This project is knitted in Indiecita Easy Wash, machine washable 8 ply/DK 100% Baby Alpaca, creating a project so soft to touch and wear. Knitted from the bottom up and in separate pieces, you can create your own striped combinations with the colours available. BY JAN SANFORD Website: alpaca-yarns.com YARN Indiecita Easy Wash 8 Ply/DK 100% Baby Alpaca 50g x 6 (7, 8) balls Main Colour (M - grey) and 3 (4, 5) balls Contrast Colour (C - pink) EQUIPMENT • 1 pair 4mm (US 6) knitting needles • 1 pair 3.50mm (US 4) knitting needles • Wool needle TENSION/GAUGE 22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm/4in stocking st using 4mm needles MEASUREMENTS Size S/M (M/L, L/XL) To fit bust: 80/90 (90/100,…

KNIT #10 | BEGINNER KNITTING REVAMPING PATTERNS to Suit the Modern Knitter BY ROBYNN ROSS FEATHERS AND FRONDS RIDGED FEATHER STITCH (USED IN SCARF) Gone are the days when knitters automatically began a garment with single or double rib. As we now have access to knitting patterns and styles from around the world, many edges and patterns such as Feather and Fan have been revamped to suit modern tastes. Lace knitting, which is really a sequence of knitting stitches together to decrease and then making stitches (creating holes) by using a ‘yarn forward’ or ‘yarn over needle’, was usually designated for a baby’s layette or a special shawl. Now we use lace knitting in cardigans, on cuffs and collars, or as the fabric of a cotton summery top for adults. Of…

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KNIT #14 | BEGINNER KNITTING T-SHIRT This is a great summer top that you can convert into many looks and yarns. The sample has stripes at the front with a plain back. Use your colours imaginatively as it is really easy to knit, suiting a beginner/intermediate knitter. This t-shirt has ‘raw’ edges, which means there is no rib, hence the rolled look hem for a casual style. One round of single crochet finishes the neckline and sleeve edges. BY ANETTE ERIKSSON DESIGN Instagram: @anetteerikssondesign Facebook: Anette Eriksson YARN Your choice of a cotton yarn that suits the tension given eg. Anette Eriksson ‘Eco Cotton’ 100g in your choice of colours. (An Australian example: Bendigo Woollen Mills 100% cotton in 8 ply gives 22 sts to 10cm on 4mm needles, with…