30 December 2016

The Sweater with Kathleen Dames | Season Three, Episode Eleven : The Block


Blocking! Today I’m doing it with the help of my washing machine (I know - I’m the luckiest New Yorker to have a machine in my apartment!). I do believe that blocking takes your knitted item from homemade to handcrafted, so don’t skip this step. If you still have questions about blocking your sweater, ask in the Ravelry forum: http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/kathleen-dames-design/topics/3552356

 

If you haven’t already, visit http://www.kathleendames.com/thesweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Basic Cable pattern*. Your link to download the PDF will be in your Welcome email. Be sure to create your project page on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-cable-2

 

Thanks for being here, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

P.S. Share your project on social media with hashtags #kdsweater and #basiccable

----------

*Free pattern available until 25 October 2016. After that use the discount code THESWEATER when purchasing Basic Cable from my Ravelry shop (take 20% off the price, expires 6 January 2017): http://www.ravelry.com/stores/kathleen-dames-design

 

Purchase the Season One pattern, Solstice Cardi, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/solstice-cardi

 

Purchase the Season Two pattern, Purly Pullover, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/purly-pullover

-----------

Lady Jane is wearing Basic Cable in Malabrigo Rios, colorway: Reflecting Pool. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-cable-2

Kathleen is wearing Quadrille in Yarn Love Amy March DK in Cranberry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quadrille-pullover

 

Yarn info:

-Spirit Trail Fiberworks http://www.spirit-trail.net/  - Kathleen will be knitting her Premium Cable in Spirit Trail Fiberworks Zalti in the Au Naturel and Scrimshaw colorways

-Malabrigo Yarn http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/ - the original Basic Cable was knit in Malabrigo Rios in the Reflecting Pool colorway

 

periscope: https://www.periscope.tv/kathleendames

instagram: https://instagram.com/kathleendames/

twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleendames

ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kathleen-dames

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenDamesDesign

music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher

 

TAGS

sweater, knitting, sweater knitting, the sweater with kathleen dames, kathleen dames, learn to knit, knit a sweater, pullover, basic cable, cabled pullover


Check out this episode!

The Sweater with Kathleen Dames | Season Three, Episode Ten : The Finish



Ready to finish your sweater? I’ll talk (and show) a bit about Kitchener Stitch and how I weave in my ends. Still have questions? Visit the forum thread:
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/kathle... 

If you haven’t already, visit http://www.kathleendames.com/thesweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Basic Cable pattern*. Your link to download the PDF will be in your Welcome email. Be sure to create your project page on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 

Thanks for being here, and happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen
P.S. Share your project on social media with hashtags #kdsweater and #basiccable
----------
*Free pattern available until 25 October 2016. After that use the discount code THESWEATER when purchasing Basic Cable from my Ravelry shop (take 20% off the price, expires 6 January 2017): http://www.ravelry.com/stores/kathlee... 

Purchase the Season One pattern, Solstice Cardi, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 

Purchase the Season Two pattern, Purly Pullover, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 
-----------
Lady Jane is wearing Basic Cable in Malabrigo Rios, colorway: Reflecting Pool. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 
Kathleen is wearing Kellynch Cardigan (currently available from Interweave, coming in 2017 from my Ravelry shop) in Madeline Tosh tosh merino, colorway: Envy. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 

Yarn info:
-Spirit Trail Fiberworks http://www.spirit-trail.net/ - Kathleen will be knitting her Premium Cable in Spirit Trail Fiberworks Zalti in the Au Naturel and Scrimshaw colorways
-Malabrigo Yarn http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/ - the original Basic Cable was knit in Malabrigo Rios in the Reflecting Pool colorway

periscope: https://www.periscope.tv/kathleendames 
instagram: https://instagram.com/kathleendames/ 
twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleendames 
ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kath... 
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenDame... 
music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher

TAGS
sweater, knitting, sweater knitting, the sweater with kathleen dames, kathleen dames, learn to knit, knit a sweater, pullover, basic cable, cabled pullover

24 December 2016

The Sweater with Kathleen Dames | Season Three, Episode Ten : The Finish


 

Ready to finish your sweater? I’ll talk (and show) a bit about Kitchener Stitch and how I weave in my ends. Still have questions? Visit the forum thread:

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/kathleen-dames-design/topics/3549500

 

If you haven’t already, visit http://www.kathleendames.com/thesweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Basic Cable pattern*. Your link to download the PDF will be in your Welcome email. Be sure to create your project page on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-cable-2

 

Thanks for being here, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

P.S. Share your project on social media with hashtags #kdsweater and #basiccable

----------

*Free pattern available until 25 October 2016. After that use the discount code THESWEATER when purchasing Basic Cable from my Ravelry shop (take 20% off the price, expires 6 January 2017): http://www.ravelry.com/stores/kathleen-dames-design

 

Purchase the Season One pattern, Solstice Cardi, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/solstice-cardi

 

Purchase the Season Two pattern, Purly Pullover, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/purly-pullover

-----------

Lady Jane is wearing Basic Cable in Malabrigo Rios, colorway: Reflecting Pool. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-cable-2

Kathleen is wearing Kellynch Cardigan (currently available from Interweave, coming in 2017 from my Ravelry shop) in Madeline Tosh tosh merino, colorway: Envy. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kellynch-cardigan

 

Yarn info:

-Spirit Trail Fiberworks http://www.spirit-trail.net/  - Kathleen will be knitting her Premium Cable in Spirit Trail Fiberworks Zalti in the Au Naturel and Scrimshaw colorways

-Malabrigo Yarn http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/ - the original Basic Cable was knit in Malabrigo Rios in the Reflecting Pool colorway

 

periscope: https://www.periscope.tv/kathleendames

instagram: https://instagram.com/kathleendames/

twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleendames

ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kathleen-dames

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenDamesDesign

music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher

 

TAGS

sweater, knitting, sweater knitting, the sweater with kathleen dames, kathleen dames, learn to knit, knit a sweater, pullover, basic cable, cabled pullover


Check out this episode!

23 December 2016

The Sweater with Kathleen Dames | Season Three, Episode Nine : The Yoke



Today we are working on the yoke. It’s also the last day to get 30% off your copy of the Basic Cable pattern on Ravelry. Still have questions? Visit the forum thread:
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/kathle... 


Looking for Knitting Workshop by Elizabeth Zimmermann as mentioned in today’s episode? Visit Schoolhouse Press: http://www.schoolhousepress.com/books... 


Want to know more about one of the other yoke style sweaters?
Sotherton http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 
Benwick http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 
Turn of the Glass http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 
An Aran for Frederick http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra...


If you haven’t already, visit http://www.kathleendames.com/thesweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Basic Cable pattern*. Your link to download the PDF will be in your Welcome email. Be sure to create your project page on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 


Thanks for being here, and happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen
P.S. Share your project on social media with hashtags #kdsweater and #basiccable
----------
*Free pattern available until 25 October 2016. After that use the discount code THESWEATER when purchasing Basic Cable from my Ravelry shop (take 30% off the price through 12/23/16 - discount varies over the season, code expires 6 January 2017): http://www.ravelry.com/stores/kathlee... 


Purchase the Season One pattern, Solstice Cardi, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 


Purchase the Season Two pattern, Purly Pullover, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 
-----------
Lady Jane is wearing Basic Cable in Malabrigo Rios, colorway: Reflecting Pool. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 
Kathleen is wearing Purly Pullover in Happy Fuzzy Yarn Merino DK, colorway: Peony. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 


Yarn info:
-Spirit Trail Fiberworks http://www.spirit-trail.net/ - Kathleen will be knitting her Premium Cable in Spirit Trail Fiberworks Zalti in the Au Naturel and Scrimshaw colorways
-Malabrigo Yarn http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/ - the original Basic Cable was knit in Malabrigo Rios in the Reflecting Pool colorway


periscope: https://www.periscope.tv/kathleendames 
instagram: https://instagram.com/kathleendames/ 
twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleendames 
ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kath... 
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenDame... 
music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher


TAGS
sweater, knitting, sweater knitting, the sweater with kathleen dames, kathleen dames, learn to knit, knit a sweater, pullover, basic cable, cabled pullover

The Sweater with Kathleen Dames | Season Three, Episode Nine : The Yoke


Today we are working on the yoke. It’s also the last day to get 30% off your copy of the Basic Cable pattern on Ravelry. Still have questions? Visit the forum thread:

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/kathleen-dames-design/topics/3542564

 

Looking for Knitting Workshop by Elizabeth Zimmermann as mentioned in today’s episode? Visit Schoolhouse Press: http://www.schoolhousepress.com/books/schoolhouse-press-titles/knitting-workshop-original-edition.html

 

Want to know more about one of the other yoke style sweaters?

Sotherton http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sotherton

Benwick http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/benwick

Turn of the Glass http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/turn-of-the-glass

An Aran for Frederick http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/an-aran-for-frederick

 

If you haven’t already, visit http://www.kathleendames.com/thesweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Basic Cable pattern*. Your link to download the PDF will be in your Welcome email. Be sure to create your project page on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-cable-2

 

Thanks for being here, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

P.S. Share your project on social media with hashtags #kdsweater and #basiccable

----------

*Free pattern available until 25 October 2016. After that use the discount code THESWEATER when purchasing Basic Cable from my Ravelry shop (take 30% off the price through 12/23/16 - discount varies over the season, code expires 6 January 2017): http://www.ravelry.com/stores/kathleen-dames-design

 

Purchase the Season One pattern, Solstice Cardi, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/solstice-cardi

 

Purchase the Season Two pattern, Purly Pullover, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/purly-pullover

-----------

Lady Jane is wearing Basic Cable in Malabrigo Rios, colorway: Reflecting Pool. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-cable-2

Kathleen is wearing Purly Pullover in Happy Fuzzy Yarn Merino DK, colorway: Peony. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/purly-pullover

 

Yarn info:

-Spirit Trail Fiberworks http://www.spirit-trail.net/  - Kathleen will be knitting her Premium Cable in Spirit Trail Fiberworks Zalti in the Au Naturel and Scrimshaw colorways

-Malabrigo Yarn http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/ - the original Basic Cable was knit in Malabrigo Rios in the Reflecting Pool colorway

 

periscope: https://www.periscope.tv/kathleendames

instagram: https://instagram.com/kathleendames/

twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleendames

ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kathleen-dames

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenDamesDesign

music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher

 

TAGS

sweater, knitting, sweater knitting, the sweater with kathleen dames, kathleen dames, learn to knit, knit a sweater, pullover, basic cable, cabled pullover


Check out this episode!

15 December 2016

The Sweater with Kathleen Dames | Season Three, Episode Eight : The Spli...





Today is one of the big days in your journey to a finished sweater. I demystify the splitting up of stitches and then help you join everything together for the yoke. Plus I’ve got a few tips for you. Still have questions? Visit the forum thread:
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/kathle... 


If you haven’t already, visit http://www.kathleendames.com/thesweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Basic Cable pattern*. Your link to download the PDF will be in your Welcome email. Be sure to create your project page on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 


Thanks for being here, and happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen
P.S. Share your project on social media with hashtags #kdsweater and #basiccable
----------
*Free pattern available until 25 October 2016. After that use the discount code THESWEATER when purchasing Basic Cable from my Ravelry shop (right now take 30% off the price through 12/23/16 - discount varies over the season, code expires 6 January 2017): http://www.ravelry.com/stores/kathlee... 


Purchase the Season One pattern, Solstice Cardi, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 


Purchase the Season Two pattern, Purly Pullover, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 
-----------
Lady Jane is wearing Thistle Leaf Pullover in Madelinetosh Tosh Sock, colorway: Miss Taylor. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 
Kathleen is wearing Sotherton in Madeline Tosh tosh DK, colorway: Byzantine. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 


Yarn info:
-Spirit Trail Fiberworks http://www.spirit-trail.net/ - Kathleen will be knitting her Premium Cable in Spirit Trail Fiberworks Zalti in the Au Naturel and Scrimshaw colorways
-Malabrigo Yarn http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/ - the original Basic Cable was knit in Malabrigo Rios in the Reflecting Pool colorway


periscope: https://www.periscope.tv/kathleendames 
instagram: https://instagram.com/kathleendames/ 
twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleendames 
ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kath... 
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenDame... 
music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher

09 December 2016

The Sweater with Kathleen Dames | Season Three, Episode Eight : The Split/Join


Today is one of the big days in your journey to a finished sweater. I demystify the splitting up of stitches and then help you join everything together for the yoke. Plus I’ve got a few tips for you. Still have questions? Visit the forum thread:

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/kathleen-dames-design/topics/3541834

 

If you haven’t already, visit http://www.kathleendames.com/thesweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Basic Cable pattern*. Your link to download the PDF will be in your Welcome email. Be sure to create your project page on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-cable-2

 

Thanks for being here, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

P.S. Share your project on social media with hashtags #kdsweater and #basiccable

----------

*Free pattern available until 25 October 2016. After that use the discount code THESWEATER when purchasing Basic Cable from my Ravelry shop (right now take 30% off the price through 12/23/16 - discount varies over the season, code expires 6 January 2017): http://www.ravelry.com/stores/kathleen-dames-design

 

Purchase the Season One pattern, Solstice Cardi, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/solstice-cardi

 

Purchase the Season Two pattern, Purly Pullover, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/purly-pullover

-----------

Lady Jane is wearing Thistle Leaf Pullover in Madelinetosh Tosh Sock, colorway: Miss Taylor. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/thistle-leaf-pullover

Kathleen is wearing Sotherton in Madeline Tosh tosh DK, colorway: Byzantine. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sotherton

 

Yarn info:

-Spirit Trail Fiberworks http://www.spirit-trail.net/  - Kathleen will be knitting her Premium Cable in Spirit Trail Fiberworks Zalti in the Au Naturel and Scrimshaw colorways

-Malabrigo Yarn http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/ - the original Basic Cable was knit in Malabrigo Rios in the Reflecting Pool colorway

 

periscope: https://www.periscope.tv/kathleendames

instagram: https://instagram.com/kathleendames/

twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleendames

ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kathleen-dames

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenDamesDesign

music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher

 

TAGS

sweater, knitting, sweater knitting, the sweater with kathleen dames, kathleen dames, learn to knit, knit a sweater, pullover, basic cable, cabled pullover


Check out this episode!

07 December 2016

Sizing in the business of fashion



I just read this article about magazine editors having difficulty getting fashion houses to provide non-sample-sized clothes for photo shoots. I was going to tweet it out but realized I had too much to say.

How disappointing of the fashion houses! Not every woman who wants to buy your clothes is a size zero. If you want to sell clothes to real people, it might make sense to have them photographed on real people. If you want to sell your crap with much better profit margins (accessories, perfume, etc.), you would be wise not to piss off your target audience. In case you hadn't noticed, all that stuff is size-less. And has huge markups. But people are willing to pay to access a part of the lifestyle you're shilling.

How short-sighted! It must be odd to live in a bubble like that. To think that a modern business can simply ignore swathes of the marketplace with no consequences. To think that the marketplace won't notice. Everything is grist in the 24-hour news cycle, or I wouldn't have seen that article in the first place. Bad publicity can take your business down, scaring off your partners and backers, not to mention alienating customers.

Of course, I don't know all the details and logistics - I can imagine an instance where a look is fresh off the runway and only available in the sample size for some reason, with no possibility of getting it made in time for a deadline. But that would seem to be the exception. Samples can be sewn up in all sorts of sizes, if someone wants it. If a well-known publication is asking for clothes that will fit their cover star, that fashion house should want it. The goal is to sell your stuff, and if it's on every newstand in town, that will sell your stuff.

Frankly, if I were the magazine editor, I'd like to think I would take a stand on this. There certainly would be concerns about advertisers. My stand would be to create an Emperor's New Clothes issue. Tastefully photographed nude shots of everyone for all the stories (maybe with accessories from accessory-only houses?) plus a list of all the houses that refused to provide clothes that would fit real humans.

Or the editor could call me! I'd be happy to knit up sweaters customized to fit. While I write garment patterns to fit "only" seven sizes, the great thing about knitting is that it is adaptable to pretty much any size or shape.

Thanks for stopping by, reading my little rant, and happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen
P.S. How could no one want to dress Leslie Jones?! She is awesome. I would make her a sweater any day.

02 December 2016

The Sweater with Kathleen Dames | Season Three, Episode Seven : The Body





It’s time to finish up the body (and sleeves) in preparation for next week’s split/join. Plus I’ve got a few tips for you. Still have questions? Visit the forum thread:
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/kathle... 


If you haven’t already, visit http://www.kathleendames.com/thesweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Basic Cable pattern*. Your link to download the PDF will be in your Welcome email. Be sure to create your project page on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 


Thanks for being here, and happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen
P.S. Share your project on social media with hashtags #kdsweater and #basiccable
----------
*Free pattern available until 25 October 2016. After that use the discount code THESWEATER when purchasing Basic Cable from my Ravelry shop (discount varies over the season, code expires 6 January 2017): http://www.ravelry.com/stores/kathlee... 


Purchase the Season One pattern, Solstice Cardi, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 


Purchase the Season Two pattern, Purly Pullover, from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 
-----------
Lady Jane is wearing Basic Cable in Malabrigo Rios, colorway: Reflecting Pool. See above for Ravelry link.
Kathleen is wearing Sotherton in Madeline Tosh tosh DK, colorway: Byzantine: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libra... 


Yarn info:
-Spirit Trail Fiberworks http://www.spirit-trail.net/ - Kathleen will be knitting her Premium Cable in Spirit Trail Fiberworks Zalti in the Au Naturel and Scrimshaw colorways
-Malabrigo Yarn http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/ - the original Basic Cable was knit in Malabrigo Rios in the Reflecting Pool colorway


periscope: https://www.periscope.tv/kathleendames 
instagram: https://instagram.com/kathleendames/ 
twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleendames 
ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kath... 
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenDame... 
music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher