For Art’s Sake vs. Utilitarian – Does your knitting have to have a practical purpose?

Posted on May 27, 2013 by jackiees

Decorative Art – art for art’s sake
vs.
Applied Art – utilitarian / functional

Where does the Art of Knitting fit?

I’ve always thought of knitting primarily as serving the purpose of utilitarian art, although there certainly are many recent examples such as “yarn bombings” to show that it can be done for art’s sake alone. While planning this month’s Pinwheel Flower project, I wanted to touch on looking at knitting as a bit of art.

As I wrote last fall in Uses for Little Lacy Leaf Medallions –

Lacy Oak Leaf Medallion

“Personally, I don’t have to have an end-use in mind beforehand for everything I knit (you might have guessed that I am moreso a process knitter than a product knitter). But I sense that many people do want to have a purpose …”

I hope you are finding Pinwheel Flower designed to be BOTH attractive and useful …

“Bring a little bit of knitting art into your kitchen, bath, or dining entertainment. Make this practical, small piece of flower-inspired ‘art’ that you can use as a facecloth, tabletop coaster/doily, or stylish kitchen dishcloth.”

Why shouldn’t we go ahead and use/enjoy the pretty things we make? Or are you the type that is saying something like “that is too pretty to be used”?

Just for fun, I set up this poll. Your thoughts and comments are welcome.

[poll id=”5″]

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May Prize Giveaway (and KHS Store “Summer Hours”)

Posted on May 26, 2013 by jackiees

Prize Drawing

Have you entered yet? In celebration of Memorial Day this month, Flag Day next month, and US Independence Day in July, this month’s Prize Pack to be given to a lucky winner at the end of May 2013 is a complete yarn/beads/pattern kit valued at over $35 to make a pair of Patriotic Bead Striped Socks. For more information and how to enter, visit the Prize Drawings page.  (Note: Premium Members are automatically entered each month for the Prize Drawing.)

Patriotic Bead Striped Socks Kit

Patriotic Bead Striped Socks Kit

“Summer Hours” for the Online Store here at KnitHeartStrings

My studio is closed for the summer and I will NOT be shipping tangible merchandise listed in the KnitHeartStrings Store such as kits, supplies and books. However, for your summer knitting pleasure, instant downloadable pdf e-patterns will still be available throughout the summer (and their purchase will also qualify towards entry to Prize Giveaways).

Questions? Contact me: jackie@heartstringsfiberarts.com

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Easy “Cheating” Center Start for Double Point Needles

Posted on May 26, 2013 by jackiees

Here’s an easy circular center start method that begins on just 2 needles.
It might feel like cheating, but will still produce a neat, tidy center.

Circular lace doilies and shawls usually start in the center with 6 or 8 stitches. Attempting to knit the first couple of rounds circularly with so few stitches on a set of 4 or 5 needles can be fiddly and frustrating. Here’s an easy center start method that begins on just 2 needles. It might feel like cheating, but it will keep the fun in your knitting while still producing a neat, tidy center.  Continue reading →

Posted in Bit-size Tutorials | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

Summer “schedule”

Posted on May 25, 2013 by jackiees

Sorry I am delayed getting more tutorials for the Pinwheel Flower Doily posted this month. As soon as I can get my computer and photos loaded, I will work as quickly as possible updating the KnitHeartStrings site.

I started my summer traveling this month and am finding it takes MUCH longer to find and put computer stuff together than when I have everything nearby at home needed for photographing and creating the articles, lol. I am sure I will get more efficient as I find my way and get used to new surroundings, so I appreciate your patience until then.

Although the schedule will probably be somewhat erratic this summer, I do have plans for new BOBBOL projects already in the works. I hope you are looking forward to them as much as I in sharing with you more Bits of Beads and Bits of Lace.

Izzysmom wrote: “Can’t wait to see what BOBBOL magic you have up your sleeve for next month!”

p.s. Remember that the Pinwheel Flower Doily pattern can be downloaded free by KnitHeartStrings.com members through the end of May only.

Boudoir Gift Basket with Pinwheel Flower Facecloth

Boudoir Gift Basket with Pinwheel Flower Facecloth

Posted in Bits of Beads AND Lace | 1 Comment

Kicking off the May KAL for Pinwheel Flower Doily

Posted on May 1, 2013 by jackiees

So the saying goes … April showers bring May flowers. Let’s celebrate Spring and renewal with a flower-themed lace project this month.

Boudoir Gift Basket with Pinwheel Flower Facecloth

Boudoir Gift Basket with Pinwheel Flower Facecloth

We’ll be switching away from the teensy yarn and needles of last month to thicker yarn and larger needles to make a practical, small piece of springtime-inspired “art” that you can use as a facecloth (as pictured here in a boudoir gift basket), tabletop coaster/doily, or stylish kitchen dishcloth.

Shopping List

40 – 50 yards sport weight or DK weight cotton yarn

Size US 3 (3.25 mm) and US 6 (4 mm) double point needles, sets of 4

Tapestry needle

(Optional) Crochet hook size F

(Optional) Rustproof blocking pins and styrofoam board

To make a larger circular dish cloth, you can substitute worsted weight cotton yarn (e.g. Peaches & Crème is a popular choice) and a size or two larger needles. Allow that you will also need some more yarn. You will probably be able to get 2 cloths out of 1 – 50g ball of yarn.

Be sure to watch this KnitHeartStrings site to see when the free pattern for May’s Pinwheel Flower Doily becomes available in a few days.

Meantime, search your stash or local yarn places for a pretty color. Let us know what pretty color(s) you plan to use!

Posted in Bits of Lace | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Binding Off to Enhance a Wavy Edge

Posted on April 29, 2013 by jackiees

In Words about Completing the Mini Flag, I promised I would talk more about a special bind off technique that retains a look-alike waviness along the bound off edge of natural bias stitch patterns that is similar to the cast on edge.

The approach used for this special bind off can be used for variations of the Feather and Fan family of lace patterns and many other natural bias stitch patterns where the characteristic waviness is caused by the grouping of yarn overs that are separated from their compensating decreases.  Continue reading →

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Words about Completing the Mini Flag

Posted on April 29, 2013 by jackiees

Behind the Design Scene of the Mini Lace and Beaded Flag

To wrap up April’s KAL, I want to mention a few finishing touches about completing the little U.S. flag.

Mini Lace and Beaded Flag

Mini Lace and Beaded Flag

An SSK and K2TOG Decrease in the Last Row

The last pattern row (i.e. row 54) starts with an ssk decrease and ends with a k2tog decrease. This begins the “bind off” of the tubular edging by doubling the stitches to flatten the top of the tubes and avoids the corner stitches flaring out oddly on the actual bind off row.

Reverse Stockinette Bound Off Edge

The last row is RS, but most stitches on the row are purled to start the reverse stockinette ridge that will help control curling of the edge. Then the bind off (which is made from the WS) is intentionally specified to be done in knit stitch. Together these are a technique similar to what was discussed when beginning the flag.

The Natural Bias Knitting Truth

The scalloping of a natural bias stitch pattern is more pronounced along the (bottom) cast on edge than it is along the top edge if you just bind off regularly stitch-for-stitch.

This truth has always seemed anti-intuitive to me. But it is just one of those little facts of fiber life. Therefore, to retain a look-alike waviness along the bound off edge (i.e. similar to cast on edge), the mini flag uses a special bind off stitch pattern technique to enhance the scallops. I’ll expand upon this in the next article segment coming soon.

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