A cardigan with kaboom!
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All articles filed in steeks
Hirne
A cosy nook or corner
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Sterntaucher
Designing hand-knit garments (and clear instructions for others to follow) can involve a lot of compromising, a lot of accepting that, for a multitude of reasons the finished thing won’t turn out quite as you initially envisaged. But sometimes you design something that looks and feels exactly as you expected. This design started with a…
Read MoreWhat is a steek?
(Helen Stout, knitting in the round, Busta, 1950. Courtesy Shetland Museum and Archives). I have recently received a number of messages prefaced with this very question, and I thought that this rather basic introductory essay I wrote about knitting in the round, and steeking, might form a useful addition to my series of posts and…
Read MoreMachrihanish
I was very excited to have the opportunity to design the Machrihanish vest and always enjoy knitting for Tom, who is its recipient and model. Tom often bemoans the general lack of shaping, and poor fit of men’s garments, so I like to knit him things that are well-fitting. Men’s knitted vest patterns rarely include…
Read Morefinishing a steek
I have recently been designing and knitting a thing with steeks, which required finishing. This project is part of an exciting collaboration, and I’ll be able to tell you (and show you) more about it in a couple of weeks. When working on the steeks, it occurred to me how many different ways there are…
Read Moresteeks and swants
Anatolia by Marie Wallin So, have you seen Rowan Magazine 54 yet? I finally got my hands on a copy yesterday and there are some wonderful designs in there. My two favourites are probably Anatolia by Marie Wallin – a beautifully luscious yoked sweater knit up in rich shades of Felted Tweed – and Sarah…
Read MoreBláithín
Ok, before I begin, allow me a moment: I think that this is probably the best photograph I have seen of myself in ages. I like it because I look comfortable and physically capable — concepts which, a couple of years ago seemed totally unimaginable. Few people seem to talk about just how bloody uncomfortable…
Read Moresteek peek
At last! Some actual sunshine! We’ve been out taking photos of my new cardigan design, which will be released tomorrow. Heres a peek!
Read Moresteeks 4: your questions answered
Why do you weave in your ends away from the steek centre? This is just a personal thing: I know that many knitters recommend just leaving the ends in the middle of the steek (as everything will be trimmed later), but I personally don’t like to do this. I want the back of the work…
Read Moresteeks 3: the sandwich
In this post, I’m going to show you how to further reinforce (and cover) the cut edges of your steek using a techique that I’ve called “the steek sandwich.” There are many other methods of binding / covering steek edges – but this one works well, I think, for a steeked cardigan. The front edges…
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steeks 2: reinforcing and cutting
In this post I’m going to show you my preferred method for reinforcing a steek before cutting. My favourite method is the crocheted steek. Other methods are available, and I’m definitely not saying that this one is the “best” or the most “valid” or anything — it is simply the method that I like, and…
Read Moresteeks 1: introduction
This is the first of three posts looking at steeks and how to reinforce, cut, and finish them. I thought I’d start right at the beginning: what is a steek? Put simply, a steek is a small bridge of knitted stitches that are additional to the main pattern. This bridge enables the knitter to work…
Read Moretwenty two
Twenty two is . . . . . . the circumference in inches of my new millinery block. I have been on the look out for one of these for a while and am extremely pleased to have finally found one. Score! Clearly I now need to make a hat for it. The past few…
Read MoreSteeks!
I’ve just returned from a lovely weekend in Dublin, where I was teaching a workshop at one of my very favourite yarny places, This is Knit. The shop has recently moved into new premises in the Powerscourt centre. I always feel welcome at This is Knit. Upstairs, on the mezzanine, there is a great teaching…
Read Moreworn
The best things in my wardrobe are made of wool. Some of these are ‘vintage’ items that have worn incredibly well. I thought I’d show you one of my favourites today. I picked up this hand-knitted cardigan second-hand. From its shape, patterns, buttons, and the kind of worsted- spun Shetland wool that was used to…
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KDD & Co 