Folk Style Knitalong

Headstart Holiday baking: Vanilla Pillows

2011-11-29T09:30:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite Christmas cookie recipes that I'm NEVER allowed to skip are the wonderful, tender, melting and vanilla-laden Vanilla Pillows. Far from being a boring or plain cookie, these have amped up vanilla flavor and a divine texture. I'm putting them up here now, because while they are easy to make, there is a certain amount of lead time needed to make the Vanilla Sugar that coats them. Like two weeks, minimum.

Here is the Vanilla Sugar recipe. Make it in a large glass jar with a screw on lid and you can keep the jar going all the time for Vanilla Pillows whenever the mood strikes you:

Vanilla Sugar for Vanilla Pillows

(requires a minimum of two weeks for flavors to marry properly)

2 cups sugar

1 vanilla bean

Cut a slit in the vanilla bean, and place it in a large GLASS jar with a tight fitting lid (tall enough for the vanilla bean -- like a peanut butter jar) and scoop the sugar in around it. Shake the jar every couple of days for at least two weeks to marry the flavors. Use to coat Vanilla Pillows.

VANILLA PILLOWS

great Christmas favorite, makes 180 cookies!

4 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup (2 sticks, or 8 oz.) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup shortening (Crisco)

1 cup confectioners (10X) sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

4 egg yolks

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Sift together the flour, cream of tartar, salt and baking soda; set aside.

Cream the butter and shortening together until fluffy, and add the confectioners sugar a little at a time until all is added, then beat for 2 additional minutes. Add granulated sugar a little at a time until it is all added, then beat an additional 2 minutes. Add yolks one at a time, beating well between each addition; add vanilla and beat one additional minute. Add flour in 3 additions, blending at low speed until it is just combined after each addition. Chill dough, covered, for 2 hours.

Have ready a wide flat bowl with Vanillla Sugar (see recipe above). Roll a teaspoon of dough into a ball, then roll in vanilla sugar, coating completely. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet, 1.5" apart, and flatten slightly with a cross hatch design with the tines of a fork. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 9 minutes. Cookies should be very pale golden on bottom.

Transfer to racks to cool. Store in AIRTIGHT tins/containers (important to develop flavor!) overnight before serving.

These keep very well, with the flavor improving over time. Keeps up to two weeks.

Makes 180 cookies.

Ravelry: 3bagsfull's profile

2008-07-07T19:17:00.000-07:00

2008-05-02T14:58:00.001-07:00

In-Depth Review of Knitting Yarn

2008-04-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

In-Depth Review of Knitting Yarn

Finished!

2008-02-16T12:34:00.002-08:00

Yay! I finally finished. Not without a bit of tears, though. I decided to add a border around the edge, inspired by how lovely Marianne S.'s looked. It seemed so easy, just pick up stitches along the edge and knit, right? As it usually happens in my life, nothing is ever as easy as it seems. My bind-off edges were too tight and it caused the ends to curve in. After frogging and reknitting about 4 times I finally found the right technique (going up about 5 needle sizes when binding off). By the way, that's about 600 stitches, give or take, along each long side. The ends are a mere 100. Then there was the blocking incident. After all the work on the border, when I was blocking I broke the yarn along one short end. I'm not ashamed to say some tears were shed, because I thought I'd have to redo the entire border again. The idea of hours more work when I thought I was finished was a little much. But after wiping my eyes, I realized I could fix it without redoing the entire border, just one edge. So finally it is done. I love it and it was worth the work and tears. The Crystal Palace yarn feels nice and the colors are lovely. I probably should reblock it, but I'm still feeling a little block-shy after the last time, so I'm leaving good enough alone.

JUST SAYING HELLO

2008-02-11T06:53:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone felt inspired to join you all and the very first thing I willbe doing is the log cabin as I
have a lot of travelling coming up so thought this project would fit the bill

MY FIRST FO OF THE YEAR

2008-01-08T21:16:00.001-08:00

The wrap was started in September after a lengthly delay in obtaining the yarn, put on hold to finish the Christmas projects and finished last week. I used the new blocking wires and the straight lines were amazingly easy to keep straight. The project was fun and reinforces my love of modular knitting.

Making Progress!

2008-01-07T08:09:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

After a brief hiatus due to several Christmas knitting projects, I'm back to work on my MQW. I'm a little more than halfway through. My boyfriend commented that I'll probably finish it just in time for the weather to warm up. Not true! I'm pretty sure I can finish it by early February, and here in Chicago there's still plenty of cold weather left to be experienced!

Modern Quilt Wrap is Knitting Daily's #1 Pattern of 2007!

2008-01-04T11:35:00.001-08:00

The Bunad Mukluks are (finally) Done!

2007-12-31T17:31:00.000-08:00

At long last I've finished my Bunad Mukluks! The knitting and felting has been done for some time but I was stymied trying to figure out how to dye the soles. After a major failure in attempting to dye them I ended up ordering a new pair from Patternworks, which came in a lovely grey colour that was just perfect as they were. As can be seen from the picture, I made some changes in terms of the decorative elements - I added a stripe with duplicate-stitched flowers instead of the embroidery from the pattern, and instead of tassels I put some silver beads on the ends of the drawstrings. They are really comfortable to wear around the house instead of slippers and I am very happy with them! I just wish there had been more information in the book about how the soles were dyed - at least a brand name for the dye that was used. But I will definitely make these again sometime.

Algonquin Socks

2007-12-25T16:27:00.000-08:00

I've finally started a project from this book - the Algonquin socks. Maybe not a great idea, considering this will be my very first attempt at knitting any type of sock at all.

I'm using Knit Picks Palette - I had ordered the sample box quite some time ago - and I'm using different colors than those called for. So far, so good! I love the patterning and the way the colors are working together. I started the heel on sock #1 today while at the family holiday gathering and stopped when it came to turning the heel. Too many people around to distract me! :)

So here I am at home once again, going to mix up a batch of smoothies, get comfy, and start working the sock again.

Will post a photo once I have it complete.

~Laurel

Modern Day Quilt Wrap - blocking it

2007-12-24T11:56:00.000-08:00

For those of you using the kidsilk, what blocking method did you use? Spray, wet or what?

Happy Holidays!!!

2007-12-22T06:19:00.000-08:00

Thank you for all of the wonderful Folk Style postings... keep 'em coming!

All the best and the happiest of knitting for the New Year!!

Mags

Modern Quilt Wrap FINISHED!

2007-12-20T11:07:00.000-08:00

That's ME in the picture, not the recipient. She will get it the Saturday after Christmas. IN PERSON this year!

I finished the MQW recently and then went about making a purse to match. the purse IS felted but not in the pic. I am also working on a pair of fingerless mitts with one mitered block on each one to give it a further coordinating look. All of this for my husband's sister. She lives in Long Island. If you see her wearing them and carrying the purse, be sure to let her know, YOU know who made it for her :)

Keeping with it

2007-11-19T03:55:00.000-08:00

This was a challenging project for me.. Time consuming.. I usually like the quick hitters.. Instant gratification.. In the end, I am SOOO happy with the result.. and just in time to rock my Thanksgiving!... Thank you to all for your encouragement and cheering me on for this wrap. It was much appreciated!

Having Faith

2007-11-15T20:23:00.000-08:00

I have finished knitting the Bunad Mukluks but have not yet felted them. Looking at the finished knitting, I must admit to a sinking feeling as to whether or not they will really work out.

I haven't felted knitted items to be a specific size before; everything I have felted so far hasn't really mattered how big it ended up. So this will be a test to see if I can manage to make these boots come out to being a size I can wear comfortably. I sure do like the idea of them so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. if they utterly fail I guess I can cut up the felt to make other things out of.

As you can see from the pen next to the Bunads for scale, these things are huge, and I have little feet. Stay posted on the size; according to my gauge swatch and careful notes as to shrinkage at several stages of felting, they should work out. But we all know how gauge swatches can lie......

I also abandoned the idea of doing a stranded design around the upper leg. I didn't think I had enough yarn to do the whole thing, so I was planning to do some stranded patterns instead of the embroidery as a way to stretch my yarn supply, but I didn't like the way the stranding felted. So I switched to knitted-in stripes and some embroidery on top of the stripes. The last photo shows the duplicate stitch embroidery partially underway. The floral design comes from one of the Nicky Epstein books - I can't recall right now if it's the On the Edge or Over the Edge book, but it's whichever one includes colour work. I think it was the 2nd book in the series, but if someone really needs to know let me know and I'll look it up for you.

I'd still love to hear any thoughts on dying suede if anyone has any!

Bunad Mukluks

2007-11-12T10:57:00.001-08:00

I am making the Bunad Mukluks (with lots of changes, as usual in my knitting!) but am puzzled about the very minimal information in the book about dying the suede soles. All that is mentioned is to use "fabric dye" and to dye the suede with the directions on the package. No brand or other information is given. In my experience suede does not take well to heat and moisture simultaneously so any dye I can think of that would require simmering in hot water sounds like it would ruin the suede. I looked at RIT dye packages ands they don't list suede as one of the possible materials it works for anyway. Does anyone have any recommendations or experience with dying suede? Thank you!

While I work on the MQW, FO's are still happening.

2007-11-12T10:55:00.001-08:00

I finished my first project from Folk Style ... the Shibori-Esque Neck Wrap.

It's not only very warm, but I love the way it looks on me.

I used Jo Sharp Alpaca Kid Lustre and needle felted circles onto the scarf after it was felted. So they're a little different than the pattern, but still simply done. I'm going to love this scarf on a cold windy Winter day.

Now off to work on the Wrap!

Plugging along ...

2007-11-06T07:06:00.000-08:00

with my Modern Quilt Wrap. This one is a gift and I'm almost at the half way mark. I thought I'd post about the new needles I got. I started out with bamboo, but I wasn't happy with the slow progress.
And when I saw Knit Picks Harmony needles ... weeeeeell ... I just knew I HAD to have the set. Here they are ... matches the MQW too. I love the points on them. The gauge is a little looser, but it's still working and I'm not doing over any squares. So I'll just keep plugging along ...

Back again - with my MQW

2007-11-06T06:36:00.000-08:00

Long time no see - even though I'm long gone finishing my MQW.

I was not quite satisfied with the edge, therefor i knittet 3 rows all around.

I really like the wrap - it is so soft and warm here in the Dainish autum, and the colours are great.

I also knitted a hat to go with the sharf - and I think I am guite good looking with my new set.

gathering basket

2007-11-05T14:16:00.000-08:00

Appalachian Gathering Basket Purse

2007-11-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

Anyone making the Gathering Basket purse? I started this project after I saw and felt the real thing at Stitches East. The yarn called for is Alchemy's Sanctuary and it is so soft - even after it's felted. I knew I had to find the yarn and make the bag.

half way there!!!

2007-11-01T16:04:00.001-07:00

OK.. so finished one whole half this morning. .and I am psyched to get started on the other half!. I'm SOOO going to get this done by Thanksgiving.. my new goal!

Blues Version of MQW

2007-11-01T07:18:00.000-07:00

Hi, all. I'm new to this KAL and love it. There are so many interesting patterns in Folk Style. For my first project from the book, I chose the Modern Quilt Wrap. I'm doing different colors, as you can see.

I love the rainbow version as well & maybe I'll make it in those colors one day, but I was feeling in a blue mood. I've only completed the first 12 squares...only 60 more to go. :-)

baby steps :)

2007-10-27T17:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I took some advice (Thanks Mags, and LYS diva-Judy) and just kept on trying.. I know deep down, that I will truly treasure the outcome... Here's a little show of my progress to date.

Work in Progress

2007-10-22T07:53:00.001-07:00

Hello! I'm just starting the MQW and so far, so good! I didn't use Kidsilk Haze because it's a bit out of my budget right now, so I'm using Crystal Palace Kid Merino. The colors are pretty close, maybe the light blue and lavendar are a bit too similar, but I'm still happy with how it's progressing. Hard to tell from the picture, but the light blue looks almost white here. It's much more an "icy" blue. And I messed up Block 4, using light blue instead of medium blue, but I don't think it's going to bother me too much. Also, I discovered the "knitting in ends as you go" technique on Knitting Daily, and I love it - it's really time-saver.

Lil update

2007-10-15T18:14:00.000-07:00

moving slowly along.. is it just me, finding this EXTREMELY challenging? not the technique. but this fine yarn?????

AND... I totally screwed up my color key...! which at this point. I'm not frogging it... adds interest.. right? RIGHT? uniqueness....! right? RIGHT? :o

MODERN QUILT WRAP

2007-10-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

About to start block 8 and had to make a post to say knitting this mqw is great fun and seriously addicting but is it only me who looks at this mqw and sees that the rowan kidsilk haze colors in the wrap itself are not quite as brilliant or colorful as the photo in the book itself and that the photo in the book shows pale blue here and there and the color key says so too but in the book this color is listed as meadow which is pale green and nowhere is there a pale blue?
Is it me and my eyes that are deceiving me or is something definitely wrong with this picture?

On another note after trial and error with addis, bamboos, circs and straights I have found the ideal knitting needles for working with this delicious cotton candy like fly away rowan kidsilk haze.
Bryspun 14" straights size 7 needles ..
they are cream color so all the sts stand out and the tips are so pointy you can lift this lace wt yarn while never missing a beat. and no snags to boot. Makes for very easy and very speedy knitting and most fun of all, they are flexible, warm to the touch and probably the cheapest knitting needle of all to buy.
Ronni Lynn

First 3 squares

2007-10-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

These are the first 3 of my third cast on. I struggled in the beginning, the Kidsilk Haze is lighter than anything I've ever knitted with before, so that took some getting used to. I switched from the bamboo needles to metal and that helped alot. I also started using SSK instead of k2tbl, and that REALLY decreased my frustration level. I do think I'm going to start one more time with size 6 needles, this current version is feeling too loose to me. More later!

mqw - on my way!

2007-10-09T14:28:00.000-07:00

I tried the clover bamboo circulars and they were way too stiff for the delicate mohair. soooooo, i switched over to regular straight 8's (crystal palace) and i like them much better. hitting gauge too.

i am using the rowan kidsilk haze with a few color subs. i hope the corners crisp up with blocking...

1 small square and 35 large squares to go...

Algonquin sock

2007-10-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

Just finished a sock.

I used Louet Gems fingering weight and size 1 addi circulars.

I changed the pattern a little. I used 6 colors instead of 8, I made the leg a bit shorter, and used stripes on the foot. Lovin' it!!!

2007-10-04T09:52:00.001-07:00

hi all. i am dana (in boulder,co) also known as yarn partner to ronni on the mqw. (we decided to share the yarn.)

when a beautiful envelope of colorful fluffy balls (rowan kidsilk haze) arrived i had little idea of how to split it. eyeballing definitely wasn't going to work - this stuff is as fluffy as cotton candy.

soooooo, i ended up finding a food scale and a ball winder. the starting skeins weighed about 24g each. so, i wound the new mohair ball until the original/mama skein weighed about 12 g. it was a little frightening, because the new neatly (albeit tightly) wound balls were so much more compact than the 'mama' balls. (pictured above are the post-partum mama balls.) hopefully size doesn't matter!

hope this is helpful for all of the other "splitters" out there.

MQW - first KAL

2007-10-03T03:13:00.000-07:00

This is my first knit along as well.. I'm a beginning knitter in my eyes (been knitting for 3 yrs now).. and I saw this and had to try... :) I couldn't find all the colors, plus it's the beginning of Fall here in CT, so I opted for autumn colors. Is there some secret other than putting in the time.. b/c this is taking me FOREVER :o)... whereby i'm tempted to stick in some quick instant gratification projects in between...to relieve the tension of .. slow progress...

My first KAL, as well

2007-09-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

I don't have a picture to show yet, but I have my yarn (Knit Picks Palette), I practiced the mitering technique, and I am ready to start!
I am a quilter as well as a knitter, and when I saw the MQW pattern, I knew it was the pattern for me.
Thanks for all the great posts, pictures and questions here -- they have really inspired me.

Modern Quilt Wrap Inquiry

2007-09-28T03:57:00.000-07:00

Have any of you knit this pattern using 14" straight needles rather than circular needles?
I love knitting with long bamboo straights and there aren't all that many sts to be on the needles at any one time so before I cast on can anyone tell me why I need to knit this with circs?
Thanks
Ronni Lynn

knitting in the ends

2007-09-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

can someone direct me to the info on knitting in the ends? i can't seem to find it on knitting daily. where to look?

Thanks!

Yarn available

2007-09-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

Hi all. I ordered the Kidsilk to make the MQW but found I couldn't get on with it at all. I was able to return some of the yarn for refund, but still have the following available if anyone wants them:
1 ball each of
shade 596 (I think this is the discontinued one)
shade 583,
shade 578
and
shade 582.
I used a little of the latter before I decided I just couldn't knit with it, but otherwise the balls are intact.
Contact me at keys am AT mad as a fish DOT com to claim the yarn.
My MQW is therefore on hold for now - I will be watching the KAL and noting tips from all of you. I think when I come back to it I will try Inca Cloud alpaca yarn by Artesano. They have a nice range of colours which I could swap for the ones recommended.

Almost ready

2007-09-26T14:15:00.000-07:00

Night Thunder, Elegance and Swish, Wicked and Black Currant are the colors I have so far for my wrap.
NT is a cobalt blue
W is black
BC is a deep plum
E appears to be a brown/olive
S is a gold

I still need a burgundy and green and have to check what else.
I will post a pic of all colors before starting.

My First KAL

2007-09-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

Hi all- I just wanted to post a quick message. This is my first KAL, and I'm also a newbie to blogs. I listen to podcasts like CRAZY, when I'm travelling to and from work, but other than that, I don't really have time to post on blogs or message boards. But when I found this KAL, I just knew I had to join (not to mention I also saw my friend MJ from Finger Lakes Fibers on here). I fell in love with the Modern Quilt Wrap when I saw it on Knitting Daily. So, I decided to make it for my mother-in-law for Christmas. I have to say, it's more time intensive than I originally thought, but I'm learning new things- I've never done mitered squares before, and I'm trying the "knitting in ends as you go" technique that was also posted on Knitting Daily (which is the BEST THING EVER. If I didn't learn this tip, I think I may have gone crazy). And I'm using the Rowan Kidsilk Haze, and it's just dreamy. And the whole project is so gorgeous, that I've even gotten compliments from strangers on the NYC subway who see me working on it! Anyway, I'm posting a photo of how far I've gotten. I'm also trying to update my progress on Ravelry, so anyone else who's also on Ravelry can find me there too. I guess that's it for now, didn't mean to write a book. Looking forward to seeing how everyone else's projects turn out!

Replacing a mistake colour in intarsia

2007-09-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd post this because I stumbled across a technique for fixing a mistake in intarsia and didn't know if it's something anyone else could use. I realised after several days knitting the Tribal Baby Carrier that I was misreading the chart; I had been using purple in the edge border (like the right side of the picture) instead of black (like the left). Faced with the possibility of having to rip out the whole project and start over, I was able to find a way of just ripping out the edges and knit new edges that I grafted on as I went.

I ripped back the border, then knit a new border starting from the cast-on edge. Where the new border met the body of the piece, I used my tapestry needle to stitch through the empty loops that had been left in the back of the work where I had wrapped the strands (this needs to be done with a cut length of yarn, rather than trying to work from a ball or bobbin). I went in through one loop, then back through the loop above it. After the next two rows, I'd go in through the same loop I'd just come out of, then out the one above it... As you can see from the picture, the sewn loops look just like the ones that were properly knit in intarsia (I'm sewing black to orange, but the black to yellow is regular intarsia). If anyone wants more pictures or clarification on what I did, let me know. I've used this technique for a block in the middle of the work, too, and it seems to be an effective alternative to ripping back if you need to substitute a colour. It takes more time than straight knitting, but a lot less time than starting over. Plus, I was left feeling good about my mistake as a chance to teach myself a new trick, rather than kicking myself about it.

These kind of creative opportunities are part of what I love about knitting. However, I will probably proceed faster on this project if I can just learn to read the chart properly (Is there some way a larger version could be made available online? It really is small and a little tricky to follow). Hope others find this trick helpful too! I'm going to test it out some time and see if I can find other uses for it.

My MQW

2007-09-23T05:04:00.000-07:00

Finally I am halfway with my MQW - and I love it. I am really looking forwards to the day when it is done - I think I need a new coat to match with it - don't you?

Life Gets in the Way

2007-09-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

Life definitely got in the way of knitting this week. I hope to make more progress next week. My goal is to knit three squares per day. Hopefully, that way I'll actually get to wear the shawl this coming winter season!

omg fair isle socks!!!!!!

2007-09-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

I love knitting fair isle and I have wanted to knit fair isle socks for ever!!! Just haven't done it. The Algonquin Socks by Gayle Bunn. I just got an order in the shop from Louet so I have lots of gems fingering weight. I think this will work.

Marie

MQW - I am almost done

2007-09-21T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hello from Germany,

My wrap is coming along - I am almost done - 2, 5 rows of blocs left. I might make it longer because I want to wear it as a scarf and I like them long.

The yarn is Lana Grossa Babykid (80% mohair, 20% microfiber) knitted with 4,5 mm needles. The colors are a little more intense than they come out on the picture, e.g. what looks like a blue is acutally a bluish purple.

This is so much fun to knit that I could continue knitting this wrap forever.

Nicole

problem with knitting the MQW

2007-09-21T05:30:00.000-07:00

Hi all

I don't have a way to download the picture from my camera right now as i'm at work, but is anyone else suffering from stretched out blocks? I have only completed the second large block and the small square in the corner looks like a diamond as it is all stretched out.

my row count and stitch count are correct. i am working on a circular needle and using Crystal Palace Kid Merino yarns. even laying it on a flat surface and fake blocking it does not fix the stretched look of the last two blocks?

Is this normal to see in modular knitting? As I conned dh into buying the yarn for this project to make his sister the MQW as her Christmas Present I can't just give up on it and make something else out of the yarn. It has to be this project.

Thanks for your help or even just commiserating with me over it.

denise/deBRAT in tampa bay florida

needles?

2007-09-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

Is it me...? but I am having a heck of time, getting this started... I just could not get this started on any type of addis, or bamboo.. Is anyone else having the same issues.. ?I'm using an array of mohairs... kids silk and others in various colors. but the yarn is so fine, I was having a devil of a time...! Then... a lovely lady at my LYS, let me 'BORROW' a set of rosewood circulars... !!! and they work GREAT!...

Quest

2007-09-19T05:50:00.000-07:00

Hi from beautiful Coastal Maine!

This is the first KAL I've participated in where I've actually posted. Usually, I sign-up for a KAL, get too busy to finish what I've knitted in a reasonable time frame, and drop out, but not this time. Full speed ahead! A fellow member and I were paired-up to try and locate and share the cost of the Rowan Kid Silk Haze for the Modern Wrap. She and I have communicated quite a bit, and I have made a new friend because of this KAL. It's been fun. It's very hard to find the yarn, now, as a lot of you have probably discovered, so it's been somewhat of a quest, rewarding in its own way. I've enjoyed all of the posts and can't wait to show you something, even it is another Wrap!

I'm in Love ...

2007-09-19T01:32:00.000-07:00

with the Modern Quilt Wrap. If I could stay home and just knit on this, I would!

So soft. So yummy. So beautiful. Well the corners don't line up perfect, but I might work on that with my 2nd wrap. You know ... the one for a gift.

Shanghai Surplice Update

2007-09-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

Mags Kandis has kindly checked her records and she ordered Cotton Fine for the sample Shanghai Surplice. We now believe that the yarn identification and amounts shown in the book are OK, but the pattern should have included that the Cotton Fine yarn is used with 2 strands held together.

Because Cotton Fleece is twice as thick as Cotton Fine, the project should work equally well using a *either* a double strand of Cotton Fine and the yarn amounts given in the book, or with a single strand of Cotton Fleece using the yarn amounts I posted to this blog a few days ago. People who bought yarn based on either of those recommendations should be OK. The colors are the same for both yarn lines.

Someone is checking the sample garment to see if any of the embroidery was perhaps worked using a single strand of Cotton Fine. If it does turn out that a single Fine strand was used for some of the stitching, Fleece users can get the same effect by splitting a strand of Fleece in half for embroidering. I will post that information when it's available.

So, long story short: The yarn information in the book is correct, but if you are using Cotton Fine you should knit with it doubled throughout, and that will become the official errata on the Interweave web site. If you bought Cotton Fleece based on my mistaken "correction", it will also work, but you should knit with it using only a single strand. By an unbelievable stroke of luck, nobody needs to return or exchange any yarn.

My sincere apologies for the confusion. In my haste to figure out which yarn was used in the sweater I jumped to the conclusion that it was the coincidentally twice-as-thick Fleece, without thinking that maybe the stated Cotton Fine yarn was used two strands together.

Again, I am very, very sorry for any problems this may have caused.

Hi! I'm new.

2007-09-18T05:31:00.000-07:00

I am Marianne - from Denmark - and this is my first knitalong.

I'm looking forward to join in and am allready started my "Modern Quilt Wrap".

I have choosen some "autum-colours" for my shawl - but when I find "the right yarn" i will knit another one in some bright colours.

Here is my MQW

I am looking forward getting Mags book - I think it looks great.

Please take a look on my danish blog - unfortunly for many of you - in danish - but feel free to ask me if there is something you want to know. Http://mariannesmeriter.blogspot.com

Getting started

2007-09-17T14:55:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone,
I am very new to blogging and this is my first knit along.
Have purchased yarn, a wonderful alpaca and hoping to get started this evening.
Just wanted to say hi; am enjoying all the posts and pictures so far.
Cheers!
Beth

Satisfying

2007-09-15T18:52:00.001-07:00

The Modern Quilt Wrap is turning ou to be a really satisfying knit. I'm enjoying it immensely. Because I had to substitute yarns and colors, at first the colors were a little iffy to me. The photos I've posted don't come near to being true. The colors are much brighter in person. Anyway, now that I've spent some time with the wrap, the colors are jelling and it will definitely become my "happy wrap". The brightness of the colors will have an effect I'm sure during the dark days of winter. I can see myself picking it up on days when a little lift to the spirit is necessary.

yarn for modern quilt wrap

2007-09-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

I purchased yarn for the quilt wrap and began. After completing two blocks, I realized that I am allergic to mohair. It has not been an enjoyable knitting experience. If anyone is interested in purchasing my yarn (at a reduced rate of course) please email me at straffel@gmail.com. I have seven of the nine colors listed in the pattern. I substituted anthracite for drab and elegance for swish.

Modern Quilt Wrap

2007-09-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

I too am wanting to share the cost of the KidSilk Haze. I have located and have ordered the same colors used in the book. Anyone interested, please let me know. Also, there is a lady on eBay who has most of the colors required for $12 each with free shipping, including the discontinued "swish". bethann113@aol.com

Folk Style

2007-09-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

I just received my book before I went out of town to teach. My eyes popped and it was love at first page. I hated to leave the book home but since I am a soft sculpture cloth art doll artist and bead weaving artist and designer I had to focus on the job at hand. Believe me, images of the book danced in my head while I was away beading and embroidering and teaching. I told my students about this book as anyone using their hands to create beautiful things will easily be converted to knitting as another temptation in hand work.
I love so manyof the projects I do not know which one to begin first and there's several unfinished knitted items in my project bags at home already. I know that before next week is out, I'll embark on one of the patterns in Folk Style.
This book in my opinion, is the best in the series.
Thank you interweave for bring Kandis and her work to us all.
Bravo!

Allergic to Mohair

2007-09-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

Hello all, I'm new at this and am dying to get started on the beautiful quilt wrap, however I'm allergic to mohair yarn and will have to substitute some other. So right off the bat I need help! Can anyone suggest a yarn that would be suitable, something soft and maybe a bit of fuzzy, and not too droopy, and available in all different colors? I need all the help I can get. I also am on a fixed budget but I don't want real cheap either. All the time and effort would be a waste with cheapies, I think. I will appreciate any and all suggestions! Thanks to all for your help.
If you want to e-mail me off list that would be fine. marshen@mac.com

barb donahoo in the beautiful Smokies of Western NC.

Woohoo, my yarn is here and I'm ready ...

2007-09-13T11:25:00.000-07:00

Ready to swatch and cast on ... For the Modern Quilt Wrap!

Sandi from Knitting Daily was talking about picking color in the last issue. I usually use a color wheel when I'm picking out my own colors for a project. I then display them in a basket for a few days before I make a cut. But this time I wanted what the designer recommended. When I got them in the mail yesterday I took this picture at my computer ... well look at the cloth picture hanging on the wall behind the Kidsilk Haze. Except for the purple, it looks like I picked my colors according to that picture ... But.I.didn't.

I just happen to LOVE this mix of colors!

Don't they look yummy up close too?

Shawl Twist

2007-09-13T07:29:00.001-07:00

I am planning on my wrap in dark jewel fall colors, so far I have black, deep purple, teal, burgundy.
I will get more use from it that way.

In love with Tribal Baby Carrier

2007-09-13T06:16:00.000-07:00

Looks like I am one of the few not to jump on the quilt wrap right off the bat... I still find mohair a little scary, but also I have a baby on the way so I couldn't resist the tribal baby carrier. I couldn't find any stores near me that carried the cotton they requested (Nashua CF) and didn't have the patience to order some, so I ended up substituting a combination of butterfly and tahki cottons - the colours are a little brighter, I think, but hopefully it will all work together... I have (possibly hormonally inspired) daydreams of the finished piece being something that my kids will someday use to carry around their kids... faded and worn but all the more beautiful from years of use... (hopefully I'll finish it in time to carry my kid with it, too, though). Let me know if there are any other future moms, or friends of future moms, who fell in love with this pattern too. It's going to be a big project, so I could probably use the company.

Update: Quilt Wrap & Yarn Sharing

2007-09-13T00:07:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to let you all know I received lots of emails from knitters who wanted to split the cost and share the rowan kidsilk haze yarns for the quilt wrap.
I am sharing with Dana who was the first to email me but I paired up everyone who emailed and since there was an even number of knitters, each and everyone of you received an email with the name and email address of another who wants to split the cost and share the yarns. A new knitter friend for each of you

Just wondering........................
We're all on a quest to buy the rowan kidsilk haze yarns and get the most bang for our buck.
If any of you find a really big discount for this yarn somewhere/anywhere/everywhere....online and/or offline.................Please let the rest of us kno.

Enjoy
Ronni Lynn
www.chemocaps.com

Shanghai Surplice question

2007-09-11T20:59:00.000-07:00

Has anyone else looked closely at the Shanghai Surplice pattern? I think this will be the second project I choose from this book :)

I was looking into the yarn requirements and I'm a little confused... it calls for Brown Sheep cotton fine and according to the Brown Sheep website it is fingering weight (6.5 st/1" on US 2)... the pattern calls out a size 7 needle and 5.25 st/1".

Fingering weight on a size 7? Wouldn't the fabric be super open? It doesn't look that airy in the photos... Now, if I look up Brown Sheep cotton fleece (same fiber content) the gauge is 5 st/1" on US 6. Is there possibly a mistake or am I just thinking too much?

Slow Knitters are People Too

2007-09-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

I ended yesterday's post with grand visions of speeding along on my shawl. The need for speed is all in my head of course, I don't exactly need a shawl right now. It's 76 degrees and humid here in Philadelphia. As I knit more, I'm beginning to learn how I knit.
My Knit Style, capital K, capital S, is a lot like my learning style. I'm a haptic* learner, needing constant stimulation and change, also easily adaptable to change. I realize I'm a haptic knitter. Being a haptic knitter translates into many, many, many UFOs at various stages of completion. That's where being a slow knitter complicates things a bit.

Today's meager progress shots.

*haptic |ˈhaptik| adjective technical of or relating to the sense of touch, in particular relating to the perception and manipulation of objects using the senses of touch and proprioception.

BIG BIG Trouble

2007-09-11T10:51:00.000-07:00

My book came, several weeks earlier than expected...OMG!!!
I want to , need to, will make these
Modern Quilt Wrap
Bunad Mukluks
Annie Oakley Jacket
Appalachian Gathering Basket
Sunny Flower Fez
Shanghai Surprise, but longer
Felt Appliqued Skirt
Paisley Shawl
Urban Hand Warmers

I think this was a worthwhile book to invest in..... :)

Yarns Anyone, An Interesting Possibility!

2007-09-11T06:51:00.000-07:00

The wrap scarf looks so enticing and I'm dying to knit it once but not twice and I can't be the only one who wants to knit it with Rowan Kidsilk Haze in all those delicoius colors but the cost is prohibitive if you only want to knit one scarf.
There is apparently enough yarn in each skein to knit up two of the same.
Would anyone like to share the cost of the yarns, split each skein in two and then we each would have the cost for this scarf costing half.
If so then please contact me via email.
Ronni Lynn email: knittingdiva1@aol.com

my progress

2007-09-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

Here's my progress so far on the Modern Quilt Wrap. Just completed block 5...

Frog Tree Alpaca sport, size 7 needles.

This is a stash busting project for me so the colors may not be ideal but they are starting to grow on me. I already have ideas for a second one!

In case you actually like the colors heres the details:

A #46 olive green

B #15 orange (this was SUPER bright so I overdyed this with some pre-mixed caramel dye as well as some straight brown)

C #68 teal

D #28 soft purple

E #37 blue

F #10 butter yellow

G #96 light blue

H #23 red (this was a bit bright for me as well so I overdyed it to darken, I'm sure there is a standard color very similar to this)

I #0010 dark grey

Having lots of fun with this!

New member

2007-09-10T17:01:00.000-07:00

Hi! I'm Marit from Norway. Got this lovely book a few days ago and started Algonquin Socks by Gayle Bunn yesterday. Using Silja Sockyarn from Gjestal, and trying to get the colores nearly to the pattern directions. I am destashing and did not have enough red yarn, so main color is more burgundy. Here is a progress picture. Sorry that my English is so bad, but I hope you understand. :)

Two Squares Down, 70 to Go!

2007-09-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

Hello from overcast Philly! I am so excited, this is my first post and my first KAL where I am actually blogging my progress. Scary. Okay, so I needed to make this wrap from the moment I saw it in Knitting Daily, but also knew I needed to make it within my budget. Thank heaven for knitpicks.com. Because a wide range of colors and shades were needed, I chose the Palette line. It's a fingering weight yarn, used for colorwork and it has a nice feel to it. I'm knitting on size 7s as recommended in the pattern. I like the fabric produced. I'm living dangerously on all fronts; I didn't swatch either. I think I ordered (acceptable) facimiles of the colors in the original wrap on Thursday evening. By Saturday afternoon I actually cast on for Square One.

As you can see, I haven't been able to get much further, but now that pesky work is done for the day, I'll get back to it. Hopefully I'll have much more progress to show tomorrow.

Hello!

2007-09-10T09:49:00.001-07:00

Hello all, my name is Amanda aka CraftyCanadian.

I just joined the KAL and can't wait to see more activity. I was drawn to this book instantly and had to get it right away :) I have just started the Modern Quilt Wrap. Since I am allergic to mohair AND I had a bag of Frog Tree Alpaca sport, I decided that would be a GREAT substitution. The colors I had were really bright (scored the bag at a sale, no choice of colors) so I overdyed a couple of them to tone them down a touch. I did purchase 4 additional colors since I determined I just couldn't use some of them for this project. I won't attempt to describe the colors but I'll try to post a picture of my progress tonight (on block 5). I am not entirey sure I like all the colors together yet but I am resisting spending more money on yarn at the moment so I'm hoping once I get more done it will blend a little more and be ok. It's definately going to look "folksy" :D

Happy knitting to you all and have fun with the new treasure!

Amanda
CraftyCanadian: http://blog.onetoomanyprojects.com/

Swatch of Modern Quilt Square #7

2007-09-09T20:30:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty pleased with how light and airy this test square turned out. The scarf had looked bulkier in the pattern photo. I needed to go down to a Sz 6 needle to get gauge (but I'm a loose knitter). I ended up doing square #7 instead of #36 because I was afraid the orange might be too bright and I wanted to check it out. But I think it looks fine.

This project is going to take a while! This one square took a good hour to complete.

Ready to swatch Modern Quilt Wrap

2007-09-09T05:42:00.000-07:00

Here are the colors I had available at my shop - www.fingerlakesfibers.com. The "worst" substitution I had to make was the cream we had in stock for the yellow called for in the pattern. I'm going to try for gauge on a large square (#36 - since I really like those colors!). Some of these yarns are Kid Merino from Crystal Palace; and some are Kid Seta from Madil/Cascade. Weight is the same as Rowan's.

Q about Modern Quilt Wrap yardage

2007-09-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

I really want to knit the Modern Quilt Wrap as a gift for a beloved quilting friend of mine (assuming I'm not forced to keep it because I love it so well!). I downloaded the pattern from Interweave's Knitting Daily email, then followed links to discover the KAL, and signed up -- my first KAL! Cool!

Actually, I signed up here to ask a question ... that apparently a TON of people had, because today's Knitting Daily included the answer. Sorta.

I wondered, since the pattern requires purchase of one skein of each of the nine colors, whether the pattern actually used up the full skein (or near enough) or whether I might be able to get two copies of the wrap out of one purchase. From the looks of the calculations in today's Knitting Daily*, it looks like I could ... right? An eBay seller says one skein = approximately 229 yards, so the most-used colors *should* take less than half that, right? But I'd really love for a more experienced knitter to confirm this for me before I go throw more than $100 at this project. I mean, I *love* my friend, but $100 worth of yarn on top of the hours knitting? Maybe notquitesomuch. But $50, yeah, I could support that.

*For those of you who haven't subscribed to Knitting Daily yet, click the link to sign up. And if you're in a hurry, here are the yardages as described today:

Yardage Amounts

All amounts given are approximate and include a small "fudge factor" to allow for individual variations.

Sample scarf weighs: 2.7 oz/78 g

Total yardage: About 826 yd/755 m

Color A: (lime green) 94 yd/86 m

Color B: (orange) 94 yd/86 m

Color C: (rose) 98 yd/90 m

Color D: (lavender) 112 yd/102 m

Color E: (medium blue) 105 yd/96 m

Color F: (gold) 89 yd/81 m

Color G: (pale blue) 72 yd/66 m

Color H: (dark red) 72 yd/66 m

Color I: (grey) 90 yd/82 m

2007-09-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

I just got Folk Style today and it is fabulous. I do have a question though, i have never done intarsia before and i was wondering if the Grand Tour Waistcoat would be too much for a newbie? This pattern is calling out to me but i am nervous to do intarsia since i have had rotten luck with fair isle (pucker, pucker, pucker!). I'd appreciate any advice! Thanks, WIknitter

Here I am!

2007-09-05T18:24:00.001-07:00

I just got the book, love everything in it. I'm thinking about starting with Mag Kandis' wrap but using up stash yarn (I think I may have enough). I need to finish a pair of gift socks first, but I'll be reading along here to keep up my inspiration!

2007-09-05T08:10:00.000-07:00

I love all the Interweave Press books, but this is a really fantastic addition. Have all my Kidsilk Haze (pulled from my stash from an old project I didn't get around to yet) and am ready to get going on the Modern Quilt Wrap as soon as I finish the shawl on the needles. What super patterns!

New KAL member

2007-09-04T22:05:00.000-07:00

Hi
I will be looking forward to knitting something from this great book! I haven't received it yet, waiting...
check out my blog
Linda

So excited--

2007-09-04T09:05:00.001-07:00

I just got my copy on Friday. Now, what to knit? My daughter has already asked for a pair of purple mukluks...

Hello!

2007-09-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

I purchased my copy last week from my LYS. So many projects I want to knit. I have all the "style" books, and they are great. I've knit projects from each one. I will probably start with the "Modern Quilt Scarf" because I love to knit with Kid Silk Haze. So glad this KAL has kicked off.

I got it already!

2007-09-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

Today my copy arrived from amazon - almost about three weeks earlier than they announced!!

I am very glad as you can imagine. I am really sorry for all of you who havn't got their copy yet.

My dream-project is the Felted Appliquéd Skirt but I have to substitute the original yarn. I am looking for the right one still...

Happy Knitting to all of you.
Greetings from Germany
Susanne

Another Amazon Disappointment

2007-08-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

Just got a note the book which was in stock and available will not be shipped until October!! Typical...
Now I will peruse other resources as I am dying to start something from the book...

Got My Copy on Friday

2007-08-27T07:04:00.000-07:00

I work at a bookstore and the books came into our store last week...I snatched up my copy on Friday and I'm hard pressed to make a decision as to what I want to work on! I want to make the "Quilt Wrap", the "Grand Tour Waistcoat", the "Burma Rings Scarf", the "Mukluks", the "Annie Oakley Jacket", the "Shanghai Surplice", the "Algonquin Socks", and the "Paisley Shawl"!!!

Its not often I buy knitting books but there were sooo many projects I adored in this I just HAD to get it! Eight projects I'm in love with in this book...which to start first?! I think I'm leaning towards the Quilt Wrap to start with...anyone else?
Toni
P.S. I've never posted on a blog before...hope I'm doing this alright!

Just Ordered the Book

2007-08-23T21:32:00.001-07:00

I just saw this book in Knitting Daily and have ordered it. I can't wait for this and the Bag book. My one concern is I will want to make everything....

Knitalong Now Open and Welcoming New Members

2007-06-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

At Interweave we've loved watching knitters from across the globe participate in the very successful Scarf Style and Wrap Style knitalong and Lace Style knitalong.

Folk Style by Mags Kandis is the next book in that same series, with incredible patterns from top designers that celebrate the joys of living--and knitting--in an ever-shrinking world. Just like food, knitting inspiration has gone global; the idea of fusion has leapt confidently from the dinner plate to the knitting needles.

Members of this KAL are encouraged to share their own creative versions of the patterns as well as their tips and suggestions for materials. And we'd love to hear if you're using the Design Notebook section of the book to create new designs or reinterpretations of the patterns.

If you're interested in joining, please send an email to knitalong AT interweave DOT com and we'll send you a link with instructions on how to start posting to the site once the book is available. Please include "Folk Style KAL" in the subject line of your email.

And don't forget to check out the Bag Style KAL, inspired by Pam Allen and Ann Budd's new book due out in September.