Video: 2tLTCO

How do you cast on when you have lots of stitches? Do you find yourself running out of yarn before you've cast on enough? Or do you end up with a long-long-long tail of yarn, when you only have that one precious skein? Me, too! Well, "me, too" before I unvented* the Two-Tail Long-Tail Cast-on (2tLTCO, for short).

2tLTCO is excellent because:

• you won't run out of yarn
• your yarn tail won't be too long
• you won't have to measure or guess how much yarn you will need
• when blending two skeins of yarn (hand-dyes, especially), you'll be ready to start alternating skeins right away

Next time you're casting on more than a handful of stitches, give this one a try, and let me know what you think in the comments below.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,
Kathleen

*Mother of modern knitting, Elizabeth Zimmermann, used the term "unvented" quite often as she turned her brilliant engineering brain to the wonders of knitting. There is no way I invented the 2tLTCO, but I have not seen it mentioned in any of the usual places. It grew out of the provisional LTCO that I like to use: Why not use the sameyarn for both strands of the cast-on? Ta-da! Ooh, I just realized it would be great for single-row stripes, too.

P.S. I shared this video with newsletter subscribers last week. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and get the good stuff first.

FO-tastic: Sotherton

Sotherton is a favorite of mine because it really shows what a knit can do for your figure. There are many lovely examples on Ravelry - here's a small sample of what beauties people have created...

lanismom looks lovely in hers - she used short rows to create a neckline that she preferred to the original boatneck.

AnnemarieErbel's version is so delicate, perhaps thanks to her color choice. Super-flattering.

Not only did ucagranduca make a lovely short-sleeved version, but she had a charming photo shoot complete with blooming roses.

How gorgeous is sewfancy in hers? And the addition of colorway-matching flowers takes these pictures to the next level.

In case you can't tell from her RavID, mandyandbingley is a serious Janeite. And her Sotherton is seriously flattering - love the extra-long sleeves.

All images from the projects' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - just want to share the love and appreciation!

In case you want to check out the rest of the fabulous Sothertons in existence:

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

P.S. Have a finished object (FO) you'd like to share? Let me know in the comments (just click on that little pencil right down there) or by sending me a message on Ravelry.

quick + purly: 5 cowls

Spring spring springspring SPRING! Now that the weather is improving, I'm starting to look for portable projects that I can work on outside. Cowls (a.k.a. circular scarves) seem like a great option:

• worked in the round = less likely to lose a DPN
• one skein of yarn = squeeze it into a bag
• repetitive pattern = easy to remember

Circular scarves continue to be part of the uniform for so many people, at least here in NYC. They add a touch of flair to your outfit and make temperature fluctuations (inside and out) more bearable.

1. Appia by Hilary Smith Callis $5 USD 
   
2. loggia by Asa Tricosa €4 
   
3. Dandelion Days by Chrissy Prange $4 USD 
   
4. Jemma Cowl by Carolyn Kern $4 USD 
   
5. Apollo and Daphne Cowl by Katie Carmack $4 USD 
   

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - I just want to share the love!

Do you have a favorite cowl I missed? There are so many pretties! Oftentimes I wear a wide-triangle shawl bandit-style around my neck, but the cowl has one significant advantage: no ends to wrestle with.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

Mother's Day ideas: Upon the Spanish Main

Are you planning to knit something special for Mother's Day? How about Upon the Spanish Main - a pretty, wide-triangle shawl with a deep lace border (charted and written versions included). You will only need one skein of sock yarn (maybe that special one? the one with some cashmere and/or silk? you know the one) to create your own version of this lacy beauty.

Upon the Spanish Main is worked from the top-center out. The deep border of Spanish Lace (often called Frost Flowers) is worked on both sides, but the pattern is easier to master than you might think. I was intimidated by this one for years, but once I started working it, I realized that it made a lot of sense and the rows flowed from one to the next with only one big change when you switched from the leafy part to the openwork part. I promise that you can knit this one! I've even charted and written it out, so you've now run out of excuses. Go get that special yarn and get knitting ;)

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

P.S. Looking for something not-so-lacy? Find more shawls here.

Meet me in the Forum

Are you on Ravelry? My RavID is Purly - go ahead and "friend" me. (Do you ever marvel over the effect the internet has had on the English language? "Email" and "friend" are verbs, "like" is a noun...)

I have a forum over there, too, which is a great place to chat. Come say "hello", meet other knitters, and have fun. Some of us are knitting-along on the Kellynch Cardigan, and test-knits are wrapping up for some patterns I'm very excited to share with you later this month.

Now that two weeks of Spring Break plus having Good Friday off is behind me (I love my kids, but it is hard to focus on knitting work when they are home), I could use some interaction with other adults. Come tell me what you're working on or share a yarn you've fallen for (I'm always looking for new yarns to work with).

Happy knitting!
xoxo,

Kathleen

P.S. With all the friend-ing and like-ing, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter. I share exciting announcements with you there first.

quick + purly: 5 pullovers

Are you still in the mood for lace but looking for something a little quicker? Perhaps a worsted weight pullover with a smidge of lace would fit the bill.

1. Levina by Laura Chau $7 CAD 

   

   pretty and flattering use of Ostrich Plumes

2. Indian ocean pullover by Ayako Monier $6.50 USD 

   

   streamlined use of lace

3. Tracery by Norah Gaughan $6 USD 

   

   simple lace produces an intriguing sweater

4. Peabody by Leila Raabe $6 USD 

   

   just the right amount of interesting lace

5. Mailin by Isabell Kraemer €5.30 EUR

   

   simple lace for a cozy knit

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - I just want to share the love!

Once a week I share five patterns that have caught my eye. If there is a category you'd like me to explore, let me know in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen

Two sticks and some string | TEDxYouth@TheSchool

Last Fall I spoke at TEDxYouth@TheSchool about knitting (what else?) and creativity. While it was live-streamed, I hadn't tracked down the archived video until now...







How do you think about knitting? Let me know in the comments.


Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen