Put it in Park.

August 6th, 2009 by Gwynn | Posted in General News |

Hello everyone! We have had an amazing week of summer here in Maine (finally); I hope it has been lovely wherever you are. But not so lovely you didn’t have time to knit for a bit. To be frank, I am still going big guns on my Swans Island Shawl but I will not be inundating you with it this week. Although it is worth being inundated with – see previous posts!

I am currently thrilled with my copy of the Fall Vogue Knitting and my new Debra’s Garden Sock and Lace Needle Gauge. This new addition to Debra’s line up is fantastic for exact millimeter measurements for those tiny lace and sock needles. I love collecting them anyway in different colors; I wear them as pendants on long chains. This week’s blog is about a longtime favorite in the knitting world – and Beth will be writing it. Subject: Elizabeth Zimmerman’s A-B-C-SJ (Adult, baby, child surprise jacket). We now have the pattern for sale individually so get it here!

Now I am passing this post off to Beth of ‘On the Other Hand’ with her BSJ exploits!

When Beth Quivey (the other Beth), who used to work here, was helping me learn to knit socks (an endeavor long delayed because of my fear of double point needles) her response to my oft repeated ‘how’s’ and ‘why’s’ was, “Just put your brain in park.  And follow the instructions.”  I have found that advice to be sound on several projects since then.  Case in point, “Elizabeth Zimmermann’s A-B-C-SJ” pattern.  I felt obligated to try this pattern since I was one of two people here who asked Susan to order it.  As Elizabeth does in the pattern, I strongly urge you to knit the Baby  size Surprise Jacket first.  I am knitting it here with Plymouth Encore. The pattern includes line by line instructions for that size.  The other sizes include mathematical formulas (an answer to a question asked of my Dad frequently in my youth “When will I ever use this in real life?”)  After knitting the baby sweater (and you can always find someone to thrill with this), I understand the mechanics of the pattern and even where to place stripes which Elizabeth also leaves up to your own ‘creativity’!  However, once I figure out the formulas for the Adult Surprise Jacket, I believe I will use Kureyon and let the yarn be creative for me!

And I WILL knit the adult version because, no matter how unenthusiastic the previous paragraph may sound, it was a fun pattern to knit and see develop and it was done in a couple of evenings! As you knit, you are creating a shape undefined in any geometry textbook.  The end knit result slightly resembles a bat.  But when you fold the finished product, remembering that the cast on edge is the neck, you really do have a sweater!  Surprise!  And the only sewing is at the shoulder seams! An added bonus for left handed knitters is that there are absolutely no adjustments to make!

Since Gwynn has let me poke my nose under the tent, I’ll make the most of it and extol two of my favorites!  My favorite book is Sally Melville’s “Book 1: The Knit Stitch”; there is no end to the joy!  ”The Knit Stitch” is the best beginner’s book I have found without making it obvious that you’re a beginner.  There are new skills throughout and projects that are simple enough, but fun enough and very impressive!  I knit the ‘Shape it! Scarf” for my mother and then one for myself out of silk.  And, oh my word!  the compliments!  Our Monday night Sit ‘n Knit group knit the Einstein coat in a variety of colors and textures and some of them are making seconds.  And I have paired my favorite book with my favorite yarn–Taffy.  I love, love, love taffy! (A love nurtured in my younger years on the pier in Old Orchard Beach, but I digress.)  Taffy is a versatile cotton yarn that comes in as many gorgeous colors as salt water taffy does flavors!  I have knit my granddaughter a summer dress out of the yellow (she is wearing it for the second summer).  I knit a Henley Tee for the shop out of the red doubled on a size 9.  Please call or visit this link for a FREE Taffy sample card. And now I am knitting Sally’s Favorite Summer Sweater out of periwinkle Taffy.  This pattern in particular highlights sheer and opaque fabrics.  Another surprise!  The bottom half of this sweater is sheer and little did I know that that could be achieved by knitting on two different sized needles!  This is sure to become my favorite too and Gwynn will be green with envy!  I am already planning a second in Navy.

PS  As referenced the last time Gwynn let me share her blog, I have finished the simplified version of the Side to Side Cardigan.  I have a new sweater I love, easy to make and I just need to commit the final version to paper! We will let you know as soon as it is ready for press.

We’ll be back next week with more surprises!