Subtitled, Projects for Each Month of the Year, Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac charms and enlightens intermediate to advanced knitters. Here’s a woman who was never bored, I’m quite sure. The cover shows what all she created for us. This book is almost a journal of one year of her life because along with each month’s knitting project, we read what else was going on in her life. [...]
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Elizabeth Zimmermann is known for her “pithy directions” which are rough guidelines where she expects you to use your head full of gray cells. When she recommends you knit a swatch hat out of half the stitches for a sweater you design using her Percentage System, she says, “bring it to some kind of a finish at the top.” A complicated Aran design presents extra challenge. Here are three ways to decrease an Aran hat–a little more fully explained. [...] Did you ever design a sweater using Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Percentage System? Her knitting system combines your yarn, your favorite sweater’s measurements and your gauge into a sweater that will fit you just right. Before knitting your sweater, you knit a swatch hat as proof your sweater will work as designed. Want to see my swatch hat results? Warning: I chose the most complicated pattern on the planet. [...] Can’t get gauge? If your gauge swatch gives you a pleasing fabric that will suit your pattern, you must adjust your pattern to a different knitting gauge. How do you figure out how many stitches you need? Whichever way feels most comfortable for you. Say what? [...] It’s all Elizabeth Zimmermann’s fault. There you are, champing at the bit to knit your sweater you designed for yourself or a loved one. What on earth are you doing knitting a hat instead? [...] Did you ever design a knitting pattern using Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Percentage System? Her method helps you create a sweater from scratch, one that fits you just right. If you never tried designing before, there’s no better time than now. Why? Because August 9, 2010 is 100 years since her birth. I’m designing an Aran sweater in celebration of this master knitter’s birthday. Warning: designing is a messy process. [...] How many times have your knitting math mistakes ruined a sweater that you otherwise knit very well? Have you EVER gotten a sweater to fit the way you dreamed while you cast on, knit each stitch, bound off, blocked, and seamed? Couldn’t you just scream? Do you need a brain transplant to make knit fit every time? [...] |
Helpful Links
Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Cast On Video Tutorial Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off Photo Tutorial TECHknitting Sweater Knitting Pattern Generator Meg Swansen explains Elizabeth's Percentage System on Math4Knitters podcast Knitmore Girls podcast on ratios #78 Knitmore Girls podcast on sizing, fit and ease Brass Needles podcast Episode 48 with Gail Carriger's segment on sweater sleeves (about 7 minutes in) Brass Needles podcast Episode 49 with Gail Carriger's segment on sweater necklines (almost 9 minutes in) Fabulous Crochet Designer Vashti Braha Start Knitting Socks for Soldiers  
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