Make it in May Challenge
Let's put Make it in May into context!
Most of the blankets we now distribute include at least one, two or more squares, in between the ‘plain jane' (garter or plain crochet) squares that are creative, embroidered, striped, patterned, appliqued, initialed, sequined, beaded, buttoned, ribboned, multi-yarned, multi-coloured or just exquisitely made. It is incredible how these squares lift the whole blanket into a work of great beauty. Knit-a-square works on lots of levels, but importantly it is democratic because no one blanket is more beautiful than another. All our made by squares which are warm, cosy and have just that little bit of beauty and creativity to make the blanket unique and special to its owner. These squares are the best way to personalise the blankets for our
children.
Last year the challenge was to challenge yourself to try something new - a new stitch, learn to crochet if you knit and knit if you crochet, try dyeing your own yarn or search out new yarns (we are told you can buy from people’s stashs on Ravelry – bound to be some great yarns available)
You can go to Zina’s blog (http://anotherlongyarn.zinalee.net/?p=1426) and try some of the designer squares, especially designed for knit-a-square by Diana Troldahl, Lucy Neatby and Kristeen Griffen-Grimes. Also there are lots of ideas and patterns in both ravelry and in the forum. Don’t forget to share your patterns,
ideas for decorations and photographs with the rest of us and to let us know what you are challenging yourself to do this month.
Come on everyone, let’s Make it in May! Cheers! Kalai and Sandy
Most of the blankets we now distribute include at least one, two or more squares, in between the ‘plain jane' (garter or plain crochet) squares that are creative, embroidered, striped, patterned, appliqued, initialed, sequined, beaded, buttoned, ribboned, multi-yarned, multi-coloured or just exquisitely made. It is incredible how these squares lift the whole blanket into a work of great beauty. Knit-a-square works on lots of levels, but importantly it is democratic because no one blanket is more beautiful than another. All our made by squares which are warm, cosy and have just that little bit of beauty and creativity to make the blanket unique and special to its owner. These squares are the best way to personalise the blankets for our
children.
Last year the challenge was to challenge yourself to try something new - a new stitch, learn to crochet if you knit and knit if you crochet, try dyeing your own yarn or search out new yarns (we are told you can buy from people’s stashs on Ravelry – bound to be some great yarns available)
You can go to Zina’s blog (http://anotherlongyarn.zinalee.net/?p=1426) and try some of the designer squares, especially designed for knit-a-square by Diana Troldahl, Lucy Neatby and Kristeen Griffen-Grimes. Also there are lots of ideas and patterns in both ravelry and in the forum. Don’t forget to share your patterns,
ideas for decorations and photographs with the rest of us and to let us know what you are challenging yourself to do this month.
Come on everyone, let’s Make it in May! Cheers! Kalai and Sandy
Views: 268
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Enid Mary Shaw on
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very likely, Jeanne
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Permalink Reply by Dawne Smith-Sliming on
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Here is my favourite piece of intarsia. It's the Harlequin Jacket by Lucy Neatby. http://www.lucyneatby.com/harlequin_jacket.html
I've been playing with motifs like having a heart inside of a square or a repeated polygon shape with each shape a different colour. Tons of fun. Requires a bit of thinking. I have met knitters who nearly run in fright from intarsia; people who have knit for decades. I saw the Intarsia Untangled DVD in my library (also by Lucy Neatby) and gave it try long before I knew it was considered 'hard' knitting.
Sometime this summer I hope to have a quiet week so I can make a Carnival Cap ( http://www.lucyneatby.com/carnival_cap.html ) to send to S. Africa. It's a small intarsia project so enough to dabble but not a huge time commitment. And, of course, the added benefit of warming an orphan. -
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Permalink Reply by keli jean kaskie on
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These are both so pretty!!! If you make the hat, I would love to see a pic posted!
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Oh I am making the hat. It's just a matter of 'when'. It is so pretty, isn't it?
It may be a few months but I will post a picture here when I'm done. -
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Permalink Reply by Kalai McDonald on
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Wow, you are brave Dawne! Looks so hard x x x
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Kalai .... don't make me come over there! Oh wait, Australia.... OK, if I had the money I would come over there and give you some knitting confidence!
It's all baby steps. If this 'simple' intarsia hat was the first project I ever saw I'd have run screaming. LOL. But I've been working my way through various knitting skills so I can look at this hat.
Actually, if you'd care to bet a plane ticket on your ability to make this hat I'd take that bet. And Christmas would be the better time for me. I've had enough white Christmases. I'll take shrimp on the barbie with Santa in his swimming trunks! -
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Permalink Reply by P. Jeanne Haessler on
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Me too! I have an Aussie cousin who is always asking me to visit him in Perth. They have a lovely salad and smorgasbord by the backyard pool. What a difference that would be!
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Permalink Reply by Sue Gillman on
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Intarsia seems to be the new name for what we used to call fairisle. I think it is anyway!
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Actually, fair isle knitting is the same as stranded knitting. 2 or more colours are used within a row. I may knit 3 pink stitches and then 1 blue stitch and repeat that. Each time I'm not using a colour I carry it at the back of the work.
Intarsia is blocks of knitted colour so that one does not have to carry the yarn behind the work.
I think intarsia got a bad rep because of the bobbins people used to use. They become a tangled mess. I use yarn butterflies instead. Small amounts of yarn exactly where I need them. I may knit 7 white stitches, drop the white and then pick up red and knit 2 stitches, drop the red and pick up another bit of a white and knit 7 more.
If I vary the number of stitches in each colour I can put a red triangle into a white square. Maybe this little visual will work?
WWWWWWWWWWWW
WWW RRRRRR WWWW
WWWW RRRR WWWW
WWWWW RR WWWWW
WWWWW R WWWWW
Sorry to go all 'professorish' there but it's fun to talk about different knitting techniques, isn't it? Keeps it from getting boring.
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Okay apart from adding embroidered fancy patches to some squares, my OFFICIAL Make It In May project will be finishing my 2nd slip-over! I only just started it, using that sc,dc stitch and a VERY soft worsted yarn and unlike my first :( which changed size and I've got to reconstruct that one, I am determined that THIS one will stay all one size, no tapering...I am constantly measuring it to make sure. Wish me luck! :)
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You can do it! I will be your cheerleader: Rah Rah Rah! Sis Boom Baa<--Get it, baa, for sheep? Sorry I am in a weird mood today! :-O
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LOL Keli! Your cheering worked. I just finished the front half of the Slip Over and it's even all the way up! I am so delighted and can't wait to get to the second half and then the straps! :D
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