Meet the Yarn: It Could be Worsted

Jill Wolcott
passion.fashion.knits

Hi there!  I’m back after a hiatus, and there are still fabulous Anzula yarns to be reviewed, so let's leaping back in.  Next in the lineup is It Could be Worsted.  

“It could be worse” than this soft, yet strong worsted blend of 50% silk and 50% merino.  I have to admit that I love this yarn and wasn’t at all upset when I realized I had to reknit my Tangiers sample because I had failed to return to seed stitch after completing the moss stitch neckband.  Yup, I ripped it back to the end of third Arabesque, then decided to just go all the way back and reknit the whole thing.   

JillWollcott-in-wrapped-Tangiers-anzula-it-could-be-worsted.jpg

I also did my standard gauge swatch, beginning with garter, moving to stockinette, on to seed stitch, then rib, and on to moss stitch.  Unblocked, there was some biasing in this yarn.  I used US size 6[4mm] needles, but liked the fabric I got, so don’t think that was a problem. Although there was some biasing, I was able to block it flat so it wasn’t a long-term problem.  It did unsettle me though!  Biasing is leaning in one direction and is usually the result of the way the yarn was spun.  If it blocks out, it is usually not a problem.  I just caution you to do a swatch and to block.  Having noticed these things swatching, I might not knit a large piece in the round.

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I’ve looked through the projects on Ravelry, and don’t see anyone with problems, although there are not many comments.  I was amused to see my notes were equally incomplete!  There are 58 stashes, and 53 projects.  Such a great yarn needs more love!  Looking online, it sells for about $38/skein, so a single skein project might fit into a lot of budgets.  My new Tangiers pattern is made with two colors in It Could be Worsted (shown in Gumball and Aqua), and a version in a single color (sample uses For Better or Worsted).  

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The yardage is 190 yards or 174 meters to 114g or 4 ounces.  There were several games of yarn chicken, probably owing to the 10 yard difference between It Could be Worsted and For Better or Worsted!  Judging by what I have remaining one could knit opposites of Tangiers.  If needed, some fudging could be done to make it work.

So let’s get to the details:  

Do be sure to take extra time on the blocking.  Pinning it to shape should do the trick.  I also steam blocked mine.  The Tangiers 2-color Scarf just needed a little patting into shape when I steam blocked it after wet blocking it.  Due to the small number of stitches, no biasing occurred.

Worsted is a great weight for knitting gifts—the knitting goes pretty fast and in this yarn, it looks super impressive—everything we want in our gift knits.  The colors are sharp and clear in this yarn,  I thoroughly enjoyed Gumball and Aqua both.

Tell me why—in the comments—you think there are 10 fewer yards in a skein of It Could Be Worsted than in a skein of For Better or Worsted.  I’ll do a drawing and give away one Tangier’s pattern for every 50 comments.  Deadline for comments is October 9, 2018.

 

You can find It Could be Worsted at these shops:

Admit Ewe Knit - Raleigh, NC
Amazing Threads - Maple Grove, MN
Baskets of Yarn - Charlotte, NC
Do Ewe Knit - Westfield, NJ
Fiber Artwork - Huntsville, AL
Harps & Thistles - Cuyahoga Falls, OH
KnitKnit - Couer d’Alene, ID
Knitorious - St Louis, MO
Knitting Garden - Coral Gables, FL
Sated Sheep - Dripping Springs, TX
Swift Stitch - Santa Cruz, CA
Online @ Kitterly.com

You’ll find more great pattern ideas for It Could be Worsted on our Pinterest page here!

Keep up on all things Jill Wolcott:
Contact: jill@jillwolcottknits.com
Blog:  http://www.jillwolcottknits.com/category/blog/
Twitter: @jillwolcottknit
Instagram: @jillwolcottknits
Pinterest: Jill Wolcott Knits
www.JillWolcottKnits.com 

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Book Review: 100 Knits: Interweave's Ultimate Pattern Collection

I was so excited when I got the email from Jodi at Interweave asking if we wanted to review their new 100 Knits book. As I read the message I realized this book was going to be huge; both in popularity and in size! So, I opted for a digital version, because I live in a tiny apartment and have way too many things. I’ve since seen a physical copy and I might be a little jealous, and seriously considering buying one, because it’s just that pretty.

If you’re interested in winning a print copy of this book, read on! Interweave has generously offered a copy as a giveaway to one of our lucky readers.

photo by F+W Media

photo by F+W Media

This book is filled with a huge variety of patterns: hats, cowls, socks, scarves, sweaters, cardigans, pullovers, shawl, wraps, tees, I could go on. There are patterns for all kinds of knitters, texture fabrics, colorwork, elegantly simple, and stunningly complex.

Here are a few of my favorite patterns from the book and which yarns I would use:

Lucy Hat by Carina Spencer

photo by F+W Media

I’ve actually had this hat on my to-do list for a long time. I’ve just been waiting for my niece to get big enough to actually wear it. I plan to use For Better or Worsted in Black and Peacock because I think that combo will look amazing with her red hair.

Cuff-to-Cuff Socks by Courtney Spainhower

photo by F+W Media

There are several beautiful and clever sock patterns in this book, however these are the ones that are probably perfect for me. I’m a not much of a sock knitter, and when I do knit socks, 2-at-a-time is the only way to ensure I actually finish a pair. So, while this isn’t quite 2-at-a-time, it’s an ingenious way to get 2 socks instead of one. Bonus, you get to skip a bunch of the fiddly-ness that comes with knitting 2-at-a-time and can use DPNs if that’s your thing. My favorite sock yarn lately is Gerty, so I will probably use that for this pattern. You could also use Squishy, Haiku, Nebula, or Lunaris, all are great for socks.

Atol Cowl by Jenn Emerson

photo by F+W Media

This is just so simple, and so lovely at the same time. I think it’s one of those knits I would wear all the time. I actually have some of Jade Sapphire’s Khata in my stash, but it’s earmarked for a shawl. Being in the Central Valley of California, I think I would opt for a cool blend like Breeze. The silk and linen will be comfortable and soft, and much cooler than the yak/silk blend of Khata.

Confession time! I love knitting cowls and would literally knit every cowl in this book if I had the time. They are all so different, and so wearable.

Potter’s Shawl by Jen Lucas

photo by F+W Media

It’s simple, and elegant, with that garter squish to make it cozy too. What more do you need in a shawl? (Lot’s of lace? Beads? Keep scrolling, they’ve got you covered). Both Dreamy and Squishy would work perfectly for this pattern. If you wanted a little sparkle you could also try Nebula or Lunaris.

Waxwing Shawl by Susanna IC

photo by F+W Media

For those of you more interested in delicate lace and shimmering beads, this is definitely for you. I see this with wedding dresses, evening gowns, romantic walks, date night, dressing up because you feel like it… Seriously, it’s gorgeous and you can wear it anywhere. Wash My Lace or Meridian would be perfect for this.

Dahlia Cardigan by Heather Zoppetti

photo by F+W Media

This cardigan has been on my favorites list for. ev. er. I really should just cast on and get it done. It’s so pretty and would definitely stay with me through quite a few size changes (I tend to fluctuate in weight). Vera is one of my favorites for cardigans and I think that’s what I’ll use to make this.

Chamei Pullover by Bristol Ivy

photo by F+W Media

This sweater is both fashionable and flattering for a lot of shapes. I love the diagonal texture and cowl neck. I would probably do For Better or Worsted for this. Depending on gauge swatches, I might also give Katara a try, because I think it would be seriously amazing in that yarn. I think it’s always worth a swatch or two if you’re really in love with an idea. Plus, if it doesn’t work, I’ll still know my gauge for Katara.

Mount Robson Pullover by Jessie McKitrick

photo by F+W Media

This sweater is so classic. I think to get a nice fit you will want something bouncy and woolly so I would use Gerty or Squishy for this. Dreamy would have the bounce too, however it has a little silky shine, so that would work too depending on how you like the look of the fabric.

Biscotti Sweater by Kiyomi Burgin

photo by F+W Media

This looks so cozy and cute! I think Burly would work for this, however a swatch is definitely in order to make sure. It’s a casual enough fit that a little difference would be okay, so long as it’s only a little.

Venice Top by Amy Gunderson

photo by F+W Media

This tank is gorgeous! I love tanks and love this flow-y a-line shaping. I really like the close fit for the arm holes. I’m a little self conscious of that area and the way this fits the model is really nice, in my opinion. This is another one I will make in Vera. It would be the perfect summer top.

Whew, that’s a lot to love and I barely scratched the surface. I’m pretty sure I didn’t show you any of the gorgeous colorwork items, oops!

What this book doesn’t have is a section on technique. I think that’s totally reasonable. First, it’s already 512 pages. Second, you either already know how to do things, have a yarn shop or friend who will help you, or you know how to use YouTube. I think it was a great cost savings to the purchaser not to use materials to make this book any larger. There would have been so many techniques to cover it would have been three times the size! I appreciate that they take a couple pages at the end of the book to introduce the designers who’s works are included, and to give a brief, and effective, stitch abbreviation key.

Literally every page is filled with gorgeous photos, patterns, and charts. Interweave really has put together a truly lovely collection for knitters.

So, you’re probably wondering where you can get it! Pre-orders are open now at the Interweave online store.

And what I know you’re really wondering, is how to enter in our giveaway! Leave a comment below and tell us the pattern you want to make from the book and which yarn you would use.

We’ll choose a random commenter on October 5, 2018 and Interweave will send you a copy of the book.

Update - Congratulations to Cristina Pederson!

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Pattern Spotlight: Point/Counterpoint 4

I’ve been in a gray mood lately.

I’m not really talking about state of mind, though there has been some of that, too. But I’ve been gravitating toward a palette of neutral grays lately as a solid basis for playing with geometry.

My name is Mary Hull, and I’m the designer and podcaster behind Kino Knits. One of my proudest projects has been the Point/Counterpoint series. Four times now, I’ve paired up with another designer to create a collection of four accessories. My partner and I each choose a yarn and independently create an accessory. Then we swap yarns and photos (but not pattern instructions) and use our partner’s first design as inspiration to create another to pair with it. The result is two accessory sets with one item in each by each designer. The concept and process always get my creative juices flowing in completely unexpected ways!

For Point/Counterpoint, Volume 4, I was delighted to partner with Lisa Ross of Paper Daisy Creations. We decided to go rainbow for one set and gray in the other… and for my first design, I pounced on a set of gray Anzula Squishy Skeinettes.

Citizen Skein runs from a light gray to a dark black, and the temptation, of course, is to use them in the gradient as presented in the pack. However, I’ve never been that interested in doing what’s expected in my knitting! I find it much more interesting to break things up, and in the Parallelograys hat pattern, I went for maximum contrast.

I’m really delighted with this hat. It’s visually striking and comes in seven sizes, and the cashmere content in the yarn makes it a real treat to wear. It’s knit in the round, and I played with stitch counts to make the parallelograms occur naturally. Plus, when you knit it, you’ll feel like you’ve pulled off a little sleight of hand, because a shifting round marker makes it nearly impossible to find a color jog between rounds.

Lisa then used photos of Paralellograys to create the coordinating Lateral Quadrants mitts in five sizes. Instead of parallelograms, these mitts feature high-contrast colorwork squares elongating into rectangles for a flattering look. Coordinating, but not matching… which is exactly the point of Point/Counterpoint. It’s a sweet little set with high impact.

And if you’re not in a gray mood, Anzula Squishy Skeinettes come in bright colors, too. Two sets will be all you need to make the hat and mitts (for most sizes).

Point/Counterpoint, Vol. 4, is available through the Kino Knits Ravelry store starting August 30. The entire pattern collection (both monochrome patterns, as well as a rainbow shawl and rainbow mitts) is just $5 through September 30 with Ravelry checkout code RAINBOW. 

Also, join the Kino Knits and Paper Daisy Creations Ravelry groups for all our latest news! For example, the Kino Knits Ravelry group is hosting a Point/Counterpoint, Vol. 4 knitalong (KAL). Knit any item from the collection by October 31 for a chance to win great prizes – including yarn from Anzula and other dyers, rainbow project bags, and themed stitch marker sets.

You'll find a list of shops that carry Squishy Skeinettes here. 

Now go play!

#pointcounterpoint4 #parallelograys #berelentlessmitts #makeyourownluckshawl #lateralquadrants

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