New Pattern: Howarth

Price: $6.00

Jean Howarth (1917-2004) was a Canadian journalist known for publishing “The Waffle Manifesto” as an editorial in 1969. Her piece covered the values and beliefs of a new political party that espoused feminism, radicalism, and Canadian nationalism. They were called the “Waffle Party” due to an ironic comment by one of the members, Ed Broadbent, who said that “that if they had to choose between waffling to the left and waffling to the right, they waffle to the left.” Howarth was a co-signer of the Waffle Manifesto, but she was also known for her journalism, becoming the as the first woman to win a National Newspaper Award in Canada and a member of the Canadian News Hall of Fame.

This sweater takes its inspiration from Howarth. For one, the simple waffle stitch pattern subtly references the Waffle Party. And this warm, but not-too-bulky sweater would have served Howarth well on her reporting stints, which ranged from Regina, Saskatchewan, to Toronto, Ontario, to Vancouver, British Columbia.

Sizes: XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] (shown in size S)

Finished Measurements

Chest: # 30[34, 36, 40, 44, 50, 52] inches
Length: # 21.5[22, 22.5, 23, 23.5, 24] inches from shoulder

Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool Solids [100% wool; 242 yd/221 m per 100g skein]; color: Tree Bark (02); #5[5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7] skeins; or any type of DK or light worsted yarn (1210-1694 yards).

Howarth is knit from the top down, in the round, with minimal seaming. You will begin with the turtleneck, then set up for raglan increases to shape the shoulders. Next, you will slip the sleeve stitches onto scrap yarn, and continue working the body in one piece. The sleeves are then picked up and knit from the top down. Finally, you will pick up stitches along the split neck and the bottom side placket for the rib trim.

Howarth is available for $6.00 on Ravelry.

Bamboozled: A Fiber Facts Update

Apparently, bamboo does not necessarily make something eco-friendly. According to the Federal Trade Commission, bamboo textiles are simply another type of rayon, made using the same process. As I showed in my Fiber Facts post on rayon, the process involves harsh chemicals that are anything but eco-friendly. No matter what fiber you start with, rayon is a classed as a [hu]man-made fiber.

Now, the FTC is taking action, warning companies (including Amazon, Target, and Macy's) that they must change their labeling of "bamboo" fabrics to "rayon." While the FTC does not seem to have targeted yarn manufacturers in their efforts, presumably the same implications would apply. If your yarn label says bamboo, it probably means "rayon." The same goes, presumably, for yarns made out of corn or hemp.

The FTC has a useful guide here, if you want to know more. Interestingly, the clothing & textile regulations do not seem to apply to yarn--from what I can find.

A Skirt

I whipped this up yesterday using the pattern from Chic & Simple Sewing, by Christine Haynes.

 

This is a basic circle skirt pattern. It turned out okay. I decided to hem the skirt so it would hang evenly, rather than just hemming .5” all the way around, as given in the pattern.

I’m not super happy about the elastic waist band, but at least I learned how to do one. And I think I’ll actually wear this. Or maybe I’ll try to redo the waist band somehow….

I’ve promised myself that I won’t build up a stash of fabrics the way I have with yarns. I have material for one more yoga bag (or perhaps a tote?), and 3 yards of some vintage fabric I found at a thrift store to use up.

I promise knitting updates will be forthcoming, as well! Katie and I both have some new projects and patterns on the go.

Guess What I Got For My Birthday?

I haven’t sewed anything since the gym shorts I helped to make for 7th grade. But so far I’m loving the easy patterns in Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing. The results so far:

Napkins

Yoga bag. (This is a little snug—if I make another one I’ll make it a touch wider). I had to rip this out in parts because the instructions are confusing (few diagrams, with a lot of steps crammed into a single numbered step). But it turned out ok in the end.

Sewing provides much greater instant gratification than knitting does. Each of these projects took just a few hours.

Next, I’m going to try a skirt from this book:

Chic & Simple Sewing, by Christine Haynes

For those of you who sew, I’d love to hear your tips for beginner sewers—hints, projects, etc.

beautiful jelly

I am at the beach with my family. Michael and I have gone out for an evening walk and this purple bioluminescent creature was lying on the shore.

I am inspired by this natural beauty. I see some purple design in my future, with a gradient I think.

On Feminist Knitting

 

Feminism, Activism, and Knitting: Are the Fibre Arts a Viable Mode for Feminist Political Action?

(Read the article here)

Beth Ann Pentney

Abstract

This article examines the resurgence of knitting as a popular hobby for women in North America and the UK, and explores the associations made between third-wave feminism and knitting as a mode of political activism, in order to determine how effective reclamation and celebration of the fibre arts can be for feminist goals. The concept of a feminist knitting practice is developed, with the purpose of reimagining feminism as a process or practice which anyone can take up at strategic cultural moments. Several examples of art exhibits and activist projects featuring knitting are discussed in detail, as well as an analysis of the use of the internet as a networking tool for knitters (through weblogs, netrings, and podcasts).

(Thanks to M.M. for the link!)

Contest: Name This Pattern and Win It!

This sweater design has taken forever to finish, and I’m finally ready to write up the pattern. But it needs a name!

It’s knit in the round out of Cascade Sierra (a cotton wool blend), and is meant to be along the same lines as Plath (which is my best selling pattern).

The stitch pattern is a cable-design that reminds me of butterfiles.

So, I’m inviting name suggestions. The best suggestions gets the pattern for free.