Plus Size Pattern Engineering
Every once in a while we stumble upon a yarn community article that is just too good not to share. The Verge posted an amazing article on how knitters are taking inclusivity into their own hands, and both making demands out of their favorite designers to include a larger array of body sizes, as well as customizing their own garments to fit their unique bodies perfectly.
I especially love the mention of Swanky Emu Knits, who designs knitting patterns with the ability to customize the patterns according to the knitters’ own bust, waist, and bicep circumference measurements. Their motto is:
Knitting patterns that automatically adapt to your unique set of measurements. No size limits, no body proportion assumptions, just truly size-inclusive garments for everyone.
How amazing is that? What this article helps confirm is that including size-inclusive measurements is not unachievable for designers that offer paid, test-knit patterns but that this really needs to be the norm going forward. And simple up-sizing of the number of stitches is not a solution, but rather the calculated tweaking of a design to best fit measurements of real people. This takes specialized design skills-development as well as an investment in taking the time to work with test knitters of various sizes and shapes.
But it is not only in the hands of designers to work out best fit, as we know humans come many shapes and sizes, and part of the knitter’s lifelong learning is how to tweak to best fit their own size and style. And we as local yarn stores can also do our part; we aim to include a selection of quality wool and non-wool based options in a variety of price ranges, but we also offer a cross-the-board 10% off discount to our local guild members. What I can offer is that any plus-sized knitter that requires multiple high-end yarns to make their sweater of their dreams, just tell our staff that you would like to use this Guild discount for your purchase; we are happy to aim for inclusivity in our local community of fibre crafters, and this is one example of the variety of ways which we are able.
Another great resource is sewing and knitwear designer Jacqueline Cieslak. Her book, Embody is a great addition to any slow clothing makers library.
Check out this fabulous article here. Please feel free to share in the comment below your own tips, tricks and hacks that you have found to work for you when engineering your knitting to best fit you. We’d love to hear and learn from you!
Special thanks to June and the Knit2gether knit group for sharing this article with us!
May the Fourth Be With You
Happy May! And here’s a free sock pattern for all of the fibre fans that this day means so much to!
This is a basic toe-up sock free pattern from designer Erika Wine; and as with all free patterns, we encourage you to check out the designers other patterns to thank them for sharing their talents with all of us!
May the Force be with you; today and always.
Special thanks to June and the Knit2gether knit group for sharing this article and sock pattern with us!
Sunday Surprise!
Happy May with a wonderful Sunday Suprise! Now’s your chance to get ALL Americo Original Yarns.
Grab the Fine Tweed, Eco Alpaca DK, Cotton Flamme, or Abrazos at 40% off before they’re all gone!
Fibres: 55% Merino / 25% Superfine Alpaca / 20% Viscose
Gauge: 36 stitches x 46 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
Needles: 2.5 mm (US 1)
Weight: Fingering (1)
Length: 100 g / 465 yards (425 m)
Original Price: $28.00; Sale Price: $16.80
Fibres: 100% Alpaca
Gauge: 22 – 24 stitches = 4 inches (10 cm)
Needles: 5 – 7 mm (US 3.75 – 4.5)
Weight: DK (3)
Length: 100 g / 262 yards (262 m)
Original Price: $28.00; Sale Price: $16.80
Composition: 100 % Pima Cotton
Gauge: 25 stitches x 27 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
Needle: 3.5 mm (US 4)
Weight: Fingering (1)
Length: 100 g / 427 yards (400 m)
Original Price: $25.00 Sale Price: $15.00
Fibres: 44.7 % Pima Cotton / 55.3 % Bamboo
Gauge: 42 stitches x 53 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
Needles: 2 mm (US 0)
Weight: Lace (0)
Length: 100 g / 1028 yards (940 m)
Original Price: $28.00; Sale Price: $16.80
Missed Yarn Tasting?
If you missed this last weekend’s yarn tasting but were hoping to pop in we have some great news! Yoriko of Fibre Love Affair has been a busy bee uploading all of the great content onto her Youtube Channel, so have no fear you can enjoy a foray into our new spring lines at your own leisure! Below I will also give an overview of all of the yarns we presented and some of the garment samples that were shared.
We also had an impromptu giveaway of one of our fresh Spring top ups from Purlsmith fresh pearl stitchmarkers. And the winner of our silver set of 6 mother of pearl set is…….. Pati of @patiyoga. I’ll be in contact with you to help you claim your gorgeous prize ~ and thank you to Beckie of Purlsmith for making and supplying us with such pretty pretties! And you can pick up your own HERE if you’re nt Pati!
So here’s what was discussed at our Spring Yarn Tasting:
From top middle clockwise: Periwinkle, Eco Paint DK, Essence of Autumn, Wild West Dyes, Eco Cotton.
Periwinkle Sheep Highland Wool Fingering
100g/3.5oz; 435 yards (395 m)
Fibres: 100% Peruvian Highland Wool
Weight: 2-ply Fingering (1)
$21.95 (100g)
Wild West Naturally Dyed Soft Singles
50g; 215y (197m)
Fibres: 75% merino, 15% cashmere, 10% silk
Gauge: 22-26 sts = 4” (10 cm)
Needles: US 4 (3.5mm) – US7 (4.5mm) Weight: Sport (2)
$24.00 (50g)
COMING SOON!
50g; 136y (125m)
Fibres: 100% GOTS certified cotton
Gauge: 22 sts = 4” (10 cm)
Needles: 4.0 mm (US 6) Weight: DK (3)
Cotton is machine washable
$5.95 (50g)
100g; 382y (350m)
Fibres: 100% GOTS Certified Organic Wool
Gauge: 22 sts = 4” (10 cm)
Needles: 4.0 mm (US 6) Weight: DK (3)
$17.95 (100g)
Essence of Autumn Gilded Merino
115g/4oz; 420 yards (384 m)
Fibres: 84% Superwash Merino / 16% Gold Stellina
Gauge: 27-32 sts = 4” (10 cm)
Needles: US 1 (2.25mm) US3 (3.25mm)
Weight: 3-ply Fingering (1)
$36.95 (100g)
And some of the samples we shared includes (click photo to link directly to the Ravelry pattern):
Budding Brioche Blooms shawl by Jennifer Shiels Toland
3 Color Cashmere Cowl by Joji Locatelli
Flax Light by Tin Can Knits knit in Periwinkle Highland Wool Fingering
Enjoy!
Knitting is the New Sourdough
Check out this great segment of this morning’s CBC BC Early Edition with our very own knitting teacher, Rebecca Glazier!!
Knitting and sourdough pandemic distractions.
Sunday Surprise!
We’re back again this Sunday with another Surprise sale! In the spirit of self-striping yarn, now’s your chance to pick up some colorful Acrylic yarn at a great price; the Premier Sweet Rolls and the Premier Candy Shop.
This great deal is only available through our ONLINE store; for shipping or curb-side pick up.
For today only, get the Premier Sweet Rolls at 50% off and the Premier Candy Shop at 60% off.
Sweet Roll combines 3 colors in each ball. The yarn is designed to create wide stripes in a regular repeat, creating all the excitement of working with multiple colors, without the tedium of weaving in all those ends. Candy Shop is a self-striping with a twist! Two strands of soft acrylic are dyed separately, in 3 coordinated colours. When these strands are plied together, you get a beautiful yarn that shifts from solid to marbled in ever changing combinations.
Fibres: 100% Acrylic
Crochet Gauge: 14 sc and 16 rows = 4″ (10cm), US Size I-9 (5.5 mm)
Knit Gauge: 17 sts and 23 rows = 4″(10cm)
Needles: US Size 9 (5.5 mm)
Weight: #4 medium
Length: 140g/5oz – 224m/245yds
Original Price: $8.95; Sale Price: $4.47
Fibres: 100% Acrylic
Gauge: 16-20 stitches = 4 inches (10 cm)
Needles: 4.5 – 5.5 mm (US 7 – 9)
Weight: 2-ply Worsted (4)
Length: 140 g / 260 yards (238 m)
Original Price: C$10.50 Sale Price: $4.20
High Fibre Diet
Join us and other local and international yarnies this weekend for Fibre Love Affair, the fantastic yarn show hosted by the talented Yoriko of The Fibre Studio at Granville Island. We are hosting our Spring Yarn Tasting (or affectionately titled: Yarn Nom Nom Nom) on Zoom from 10:00-11:00am PDT, and whether or not you were able to snag a yarn tasting kit that sold out quickly, you can join along to see what amazing Spring yarn lines we recently brought in!
Here’s the Zoom link for the full weekend:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84397940633?pwd=YjUxdzJaRGl0Ymw1SWVoYWpEbEJPQT09
Meeting ID: 843 9794 0633
Passcode: spring
What can you expect from our Spring Yarn Tasting? Read more about it here!
Come check out various local ind indie yarny vendors, include our own in-house teacher, Rebecca Glazier who creates some natural-dyed pretties and kits (Wild West Dyes is presenting tomorrow) and Lois who offers gorgeous handmade project buckets that you may have seen in store (Boostani Crafts presenting next week).
Felt, Mend & Fix!
We are so excited about our great lineup of Spring Workshops with all three of brilliant instructors Mel, Holli and Rebecca. Whether it be knitting, crochet or needle felt, you can learn a new skill, brush up on old or get in depth instruction on topics from mending to intarsia all in one 3-hour online weekend session!
Learn To Needle Felt Workshop-Online Via Zoom
DATE: Sunday April 25th from 10:00am – 1:00pm PT
Join us for this 3-hour workshop online to learn a new art! Needle felting is quick and fun way to create three dimensional fibre art pieces.
Baaad Anna’s is happy to welcome local artist Mel Broome to come teach the basics of needle felting. Participants will learn: the basics of 3D needle felting, the tricks to creating a fine finish on your work, how to mix and shape wool like a pro. No previous felting experience necessary.
MATERIALS INCLUDED:
- 50g Roving Fibre
- 2 Medium felting needles
- 1 Felting Block
DATE: Sunday April 25th from 10:00am – 1:00pm PT
INSTRUCTOR: Mel Broome
To register call 604-255-2577, or register online here!
Photo Courtesy of Holli Yeoh
We spend too much time on our hand knits to throw them away when they get a hole. Join Holli Yeoh for a three-hour, practical repair class. You’ll learn Swiss darning, stocking darning and how to use a knitted patch to repair a hole. The techniques are transferable to commercially made garments, as well.
INSTRUCTOR: Holli Yeoh of Holli Yeoh Designs
See here for full class description. To register call 604-255-2577, or register online here!
Beginner Fixing Common Mistakes Workshop with Holli Yeoh – Online via Zoom
DATES: Saturday May 8th from 9:30am-12:30pm PDT
Photos courtesy of Holli Yeoh
$%#$@#^! Isn’t knitting supposed to be relaxing??
Learn how to get yourself out of a knitting related disaster and get back on track.
Picking up dropped stitches, fixing missed increases and twisted stitches, un-knitting (cleverly known as TINKing as it is the word KNIT backwards!) and other common
fixes will be covered in this 3hr workshop.
Skills needed: You’re comfortable with the basics and know how to decrease, increase, and follow simple pattern instructions.
DATES: Saturday May 8th from 9:30am-12:30pm PDT
INSTRUCTOR: Holli Yeoh of Holli Yeoh Designs
See here for full class description.To register call 604-255-2577, or register online here!
Intro to Intarsia and Duplicate Stitch Workshop with Holli Yeoh – Online via Zoom
DATE: Saturday May 15th from 9:30am-12:30pm PDT
Tackle the intricacies of intarsia to add blocks and motifs of colour to your knitting. You’ll learn all the basics including joining colours, avoiding holes, managing all those ends and tangles, and reading graphs. We’ll also cover tension issues and show you how duplicate stitch can be used to fix mistakes or add even more colour, after the garment is done. There is nothing to fear; by the end of this workshop, you’ll have the confidence to work with colour.
Skills needed: Knit, purl, cast on and bind off—advanced beginner
DATE: Saturday May 15th from 9:30am-12:30pm PDT
INSTRUCTOR: Holli Yeoh of Holli Yeoh Designs
Holli feels strongly about fine craftsmanship, believing that while there’s more than one right way to do things, it’s important to do it right! To this end, she teaches skills that enable knitters to feel justified pride in their finished objects, while accommodating different knitting styles and preferences. Students leave her workshops with an arsenal of valuable techniques, deep understanding of the choices to be made in knitting, and new confidence.
Photos courtesy of Holli Yeoh.
See here for full class description. To register call 604-255-2577, or register online here!
Beginner Crochet Workshop – Online via Zoom
DATE: Sunday May 16th from 1:00-4:00pm
This is a beginner class for someone who has never crochet before or is looking for a refresher. Participants will learn the basic stitches for crochet including; chain, slip stitch, single, double and triple crochet.
DATE: Sunday May 16th from 1:00-4:00pm
Instructor: Rebecca Glazier
See here for full class description. To register call 604-255-2577, or register online here!
Stash Busting Workshop – Online via Zoom
DATE: Sunday May 23rd from 10:00-1:00pm PT
Rebecca has been knitting since she was 7 years old and has always had a love for textiles and colour. Teaching people how to knit expresses one of her greatest joys; sharing her creativity and passion with people. Originally from the UK, she has called Vancouver her home for the last 5 years.
See here for full class description. To register call 604-255-2577, or register online here!
See here for all our upcoming classes, workshops and events.
Upcycling Program
One of our missions at Baaad Anna’s is to play a positive role in our community. Along with our knit-goods drives, modular housing sock projects, and knitted blankets for children, we want to promote our Upcycling Program to help under-loved yarns find new homes and purposes.
What We Accept for Donations
We take almost everything! From old stashes to yarn you’re just not sure about, we collect, sort and redistribute every donation. This includes:
- New or old yarn
- Partially opened or used yarn
- Needles, notions and other fibre arts tools
- Pest-free, smoke-free, clean yarn
Meeting Yarn Needs
All the donations we take are sorted and distributed to meet our community’s needs. Your donations are:
- Repurposed for individuals contributing to our Knits-that-do-Good Programs
- Blanket Squares
- Modular Housing Socks
- Yarn Bombings
- Donated to local knitting clubs or individuals on a by-need basis to support accessibility of the fibre arts
- Provided to classrooms for kids to play with
- Redistributed by request and availability
Along with donations of yarn and needles, we accept and distribute other fibre craft tools (such as these hoop looms that are part of a free rental through our School Program, and finished knit/crochet objects such as hat, scarves, blankets and knitted knockers!
Little Fibre Libraries
Partnering with community members, we have been happy to coordinate the set-up and supply of Vancouver’s first Little Fibre Libraries! All overflow on yarn donations a part of the Upcycling Program will be distributed to these fibre boxes placed around the YVR area. We hope to provide the chance for community members to try the fibre arts in an accessible way.
The Fibre Libraries are meant for everyone! If you can’t make it to Baaad Anna’s to donate your yarn, these local community boxes are the perfect place to pass on your donations. We will soon be listing where you can find your local Fibre Library.
We have already been in contact with at least two Free Fibre Libraries for yarn donations, so we are now again in need of any yarny donations you may have to help launch great community boxes and keep them filled and welcoming!
Want to Know More About our Community Programs?
Check out our Virtual KnitCity presentation on our Community Program overview here.
Knitting Machine Free to Good Home
Occasionally we also get larger tools and fibre art materials which we help house. Recently we found a home in a first nations community up north for two Vancouver hand-made box spinners, which were originally used to help create the bulky handspun traditional Cowichan sweaters are made with.
Recently we were contacted to help find a home for a Brother flatbed knitting machine with tools, accessories and instruction manuals. If you are able to pick it up in the Burnaby Metrotown area, contact us at baaadannas@gmail.com and we can put you in touch with the owner.
Happy knitting and knitty community building!
Project of the Month: Butterfly | Papillon Shawl
We really flew away with our April Project of the Month! Highlighting the colorful Uneek Fingering Yarns, the Butterfly | Papillon Shawl by MarinJaKnits is a gorgeous and detailed piece. The shawl was made by one of our newest staff members, Nadia, who will share some of her experience working with this pattern.
Nadia modelling her Butterfly | Papillon Shawl
The Butterfly | Papillon Shawl is designed by MarinJaKnits. The pattern is intended to be used with long transition multi-colorway yarns, like the Uneek Fingering, or with your own placed colored yarns (a great way to use up a yarn-stash!).
About the Yarns
Mimicking the Monarch Butterfly colours using 2 skeins of Urth Fingering Harvest 3001 and 1 skein Cascade Heritage Sock Real Black 5672.
Uneek Fingering 3001 Harvest (2 skeins)
Fibres: 100% Superwash Merino
Gauge: 28 – 32 stitches = 4 inches (10 cm)
Needles: 2.25 – 3.25 mm (US 1 – 3)
Weight: Fingering (1)
Length: 100 g / 435 yards (398 m)
Cascade Heritage Sock 5672 Real Black (1 skein)
Fibres: 75% Superwash Merino / 25% Nylon
Gauge: 28-32 stitches = 4 inches (10 cm)
Needles: 3.25 mm (US 3)
Weight: Fingering (1)
Length: 100 g / 437 yards (400 m)
The pattern design uses short row segments to create a stained glass window effect. The pattern works the long color changing segments of the Uneek Fingering to make little pockets of color in the shawl, with the Cascade Heritage bordering each segment.
Here are some other possible yarn combinations for this Butterfly shawl.
New Skills
The shawl is knit up predominantly in garter stitch, although it can easily be switched to stockinette for a different look.
Short Rows
Holli Yeoh’s class on Short Rows was a great introduction to the skill for Nadia, who had never tried short rows before! (None are currently scheduled but if interested in this class keep an eye out here for a repeat of it in the future). Nadia started her shawl in the German short row style, but found that she needed to knit an extra stitch before the wrap and turn to match the pattern’s segment placements. After knitting half of the shawl in German short row, she switched to the Wrap-and-Turn method and found that to be much simpler for this pattern.
As this shawl is recommended in garter stitch, picking up the short rows on the wrong side (WS) is different from picking up on the WS of a stockinette stitch. For a new knitter, this difference might be a little confusing, and it’s best to refer to tutorials before getting started!
Blocking
It is highly recommended to block this piece when finished to get clean edges and neat lines of the Cascade Heritage between color segments. Be sure to pay special attention to blocking the shawl to the desired length and width. For her first time blocking, Nadia found that the shawl could be stretched very long if you’re not careful.
Counting, Lots and Lots of Counting
The shawl is vertically symmetrical to mimic the wings of a butterfly. While the effect is stunning, it means us knitters have to spend more time paying attention to the number of stitches, especially in the short-row color pockets. Nadia strongly suggests placing stitch markers every 25 stitches while knitting a row, to avoid having to double back and count the entire row. By the end of the shawl, the stitch count reaches near 500!
What Else You Can Make
If you’ve browsed any of MarinJaKnits other patterns, you’ll find she uses the Uneek Urth yarns quite a bit. Here are some other patterns specifically designed for the Uneek yarns long color changing gradients in the same Butterfly style.
Come visit us in store to get a closer look at our sample. We are happy to help you put together your own color combo for this gorgeous shawl!
Butterfly | Papillon store sample at Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store.
