Yarnist Magazine Issue #1

Yarnist Magazine is a publication of Yarnist Media.

We create unique resources to help you become a fearless knitter.

All rights reserved.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher.

CONTRIBUTORS

Editor in Chief: Managing Editor: Copywriter & Editing: Design & Layout: Sample Knitters:

Johnny Vasquez

Antonel Roach

Monique du Toit Suzanne v.d Heever

Johnny Vasquez Lacie Vasquez

Margaret Weinert -Lishner

Photography:

Johnny Vasquez Antonel Roach

Connor Williams, Flavio Borges

CONTACT

yarnist.co hello@yarnist.co instagram.com/yarnist.co

Models:

Natalie Chan

Johnny Vasquez Antonel Roach Kristiina Pihelgas Marieli Ribeiro

FROM THE EDITOR

I am sitting in a yarn store in San Francisco. It’s a small, quiet store a little ways from the touristy areas of the wharf. While there, I watched person after person browse through crates of knitting magazines. There were dozens of past issues filled with patterns and stored knowledge. And yet they were continuing to be a resource for years after publication.

The crazy thing, at least to me, was this store had a computer station with Ravelry pulled up on the screen. Anyone could walk up and search through thousands

of patterns. In seconds you could find the perfect option. But this station was completely ignored. The magazines got all the love. This was the first time I realized there’s something special about print.

I am a child of the internet. I remember being 13, waiting with anticipation for the modem to connect me to America Online. In the 26 years since then, the world has seen drastic change. The only text messages I received back then were to my pager. Today I have video calls with my mom from halfway around the world, using a small

computer that fits in my pocket. I am always thinking to myself that I live in the future. Now we need Mattel to start making hoverboards.

I thought that digital was the answer to everything. When I started my YouTube channel back in 2011, hardly anyone was doing anything with video. Digital pattern downloads have made it possible for new designers to make a living. Personal blogs allowed us to connect with people all around the world. Ravelry created a clubhouse for fiber lovers to gather together. Online classes have enabled people to learn from experts. Even when they did not have access to a local yarn store, or time in their schedule to meet in person.

But the digital shift has created challenges for the publishing industry. In the 10 years I’ve been teaching knitting, at least 8 knitting magazines have folded. Some were interesting digital ventures. Some were industry giants. Most have struggled to thrive in this new economy.

So, you may be wondering why I would be crazy enough to start my own magazine. It’s not that I think we’re going to do something better. But, I hope you love what we’ve put together! In my opinion those other magazines folded because they didn’t evolve. The old guard was holding on to the past, and the new upstarts were trying to compete with a broken business model.

We’re not trying to do any of that. Our idea is simple. We take what we are doing online, and bring it to those who would rather search through crates of magazines. We’re not trying to outdo Vogue Knitting or PomPom. We’ve created something different; the thing we wish existed but hasn’t so far. And we’ve incorporated tons of feedback from knitters like you.

We’re on a mission to help you become a fearless knitter, and that’s ultimately a physical activity. It happens in the real world, with wool and cotton, wood and metal, paper and ink.

If you’re onboard the digital train, we’ve got you covered. We’re producing podcasts, video tutorials, and classes to take what’s in these pages further. We’ve made the digital edition as interactive as possible. And we’re thinking of more ways to connect both online and off.

Thank you to the fearless knitters who helped make this magazine possible. From those who have followed New Stitch a Day and Knitiversity, to our amazing backers. This magazine is only in people’s hands because of you.

Enjoy this issue and remember to knit fearlessly,

Johnny Vasquez Head Hocho | Yarnist.co

IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURED FEARLESS KNITTER

Meet community member Carol Umbehocker

A HISTORY OF KNITTING NEEDLES

Discover how this essen tial tool has evolved over the centuries

STITCHIONARY

The twisted rib stitch

The chain of hearts stitch

The basket rib stitch

The waterfall lace stitch

WARMING HEARTS AND HEADS Interview with Knots of Love Founder, Christine Fabiani

YARNTRIPPER

48 hours in Fort Collins, Colorado

KNITTING 911

This month our experts help you tackle short rows, ladders, and more

TECHNIQUE TUTORIALS

Learn how to create rolled brim and how to adapt the long tail cast on for ribbing

THE GENTLEMAN KNITTER

An exclusive interview with Yarnist founder Johnny Vasquez

Stitch and pattern abbreviations

FEATURED FEARLESS KNITTER

Carol Umbehocker | Federal Way, Washington

Each month we put the spotlight on one of our fearless knittingcommunity mem bers. This month Carol Umbehocker is showing off her Verano Tee (designed by Lacie Lynnae) which she completed during one of our Sweater Knitting Bootcamps.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN KNITTING FOR?

I’ve been knitting for 11 years. I started in 2010.

WHERE/ HOW DID YOU LEARN TO KNIT?

I learned to crochet and knit from my mother and my aunt when I was very young. My daughter was knitting and she taught me how to cast on and knit after I had only been crocheting for many years. Johnny Vasquez is my best teacher because he breaks things down into small units. I only knew a few basic stitches when I started knitting as an adult. Johnny has taught me from his videos, online chats and daily inspi rational quotations, to not be afraid to tackle the unknown.

WHAT IS THE MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECT YOU HAVE KNITTED SO FAR?

This lace knit shirt, the Verano Tee, is the most ambitious project I’ve knit.

WHAT’S ON YOUR KNITTING BUCKET LIST?

My bucket list is to use up the mohair and wool yarn I’ve acquired by shopping in thrift stores. I’d also like to learn how to knit wrap and turn to make beautiful shawls and I’d like to learn how to add lace borders to plain shawls.

WHO DO YOU NORMALLY KNIT FOR?

I normally knit for my family, good friends, as well as donations to temple fundraise and I like to help the homeless.

WHAT OTHER HOBBIES DO YOU HAVE?

I read and play piano. I also like to watch movies, travel in our RV with my hus band, walk my dog and play Mah Jongg.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?

Some new shawl, cowl, hat or sweat er is always on my knitting needles or crochet hook. When my husband and I go RVing to new places around the state of Washington, my favorite thing to do is to check out all the yarn stores and the thrift stores to add good yarn to my stash.

WHAT DOES BEING A FEARLESS KNITTER MEAN TO YOU?

Fearless knitting is tackling a new project with a new pattern that I have never done before.

A TIP FROM CAROL

My husband bought me my first set of good knitting needles when I was putting in life lines with scotch tape. ChiaoGoo knitting needles let you put in life lines while you knit a row. It’s easy and it saved so much time when I made a mis take and had to rip back a mistake.

FEATURED

KNITTER

CAROL UMBEHOCKER WITH HER DOG, MODELING HER VERANO TEE. PATTERN DESIGNED BY LACIE LYNNAE

A HISTORY OF KNITTING NEEDLES

Discover how this essential tool has evolved over the centuries.

Straight needles, circular needles, double-pointed needles. We’re sure you’ve encountered these somewhere. You probably even have discussed your favorite needles with your knitting circle. But where did all this begin? How did the needles we know and love get to where they are today, and where could they go from here? We interviewed Susan Webster, a collector of vintage knitting needles, and found that these tools have a much richer history than we thought.

Susan Webster has been collecting and cataloging knitting needle brands since 1990 and has created her website, www.knitting-needle-notions.com.au to share her findings.

She began knitting in her late teens and, over the years, grew immensely in her knowledge and love for the craft. Ironically, she does not think she’s a particularly good knitter but admits she likes knitting that is challenging.

Having been interested in history and knitting, it’s no surprise that her unlocking the past of these tools was destined to happen. She has collected various tools dating back to the 1930s-1940s focusing on the era where hand-knitting needles were first becoming commercialized. Of course, we had to pick her brain a little to share with you some of the interesting facts about the history of knitting needles.

OPPOSITE / WIRES AND PINS USED FOR COTTAGE INDUSTRY KNITTING IN YORKSHIRE CIRCA 1815

BOTTOM LEFT / SUSAN WEBSTER HISTORICAL KNITTING NEEDLE COLLECTOR

KNITTING NEEDLES

3rd-century AD, Middle East

One can’t talk about the history of knit ting needles without going back to where it all started. Ms. Webster shared with us that the earliest remnants of hand knitting date to circa 3rd-century AD in the Middle East. The first needles ever used were hooked needles (similar to the Tunisian crochet hooks we have today) which were supposedly used to knit socks and shoes.

Knitting developed throughout the Crusades and made its way along the trade routes into Europe evolving into the techniques we have now. The first examples of Knitting in the round on double-pointed needles can be seen in artworks such as the knitting of Madonnas’ paintings dating as far back to the 12- and 13-century. At this time, double-pointed needles were the primary implements used.

15th-century, United Kingdom

By the late 15th-century knitting spread to the United Kingdom. Here, knitting developed into two streams: peasant knitting and craftsman knitting. Peasant knitting started when families began using rough wool to make gloves, mittens, caps, and stockings for sale. This continued over many centuries. Ms. Webster explained,

It was so important for a poor family to be able to produce let’s say a pair of gloves a week or a pair of socks a week. That might bring in an extra penny or maybe a couple of pence. And that could be all the difference in them having enough to eat.

Craftsman knitting produced more luxurious pieces and evidence suggests that these items were worn primarily by the wealthy.

16th-century, United Kingdom

It was in the 16th-century that the history of knitting became much more progressive. A lot changed. Knitting machines were invented, new tech niques arose, and the production of wool increased tremendously. For example, in the UK, wire drawing was introduced. This involved taking a rod of steel wire or iron through increasingly small holes - much like today’s extrusion process–until the wires were thin enough for crafting. The astounding thing was that this was all done by hand! The task was very physical. When asking Ms. Web ster why such a process was created, she suggested it was probably used for military commodities such as chainmail.

As mentioned, another important thing that happened in this era was the increase in wool production. It was around this time that the enclosure movement started in the UK. This movement pushed formerly common land that was available to the public to change to privately owned land. This meant that there were more sheep and thus, more wool was

LEFT / MADONNA KNITTING BY BERTRAM OF MINDEN 1400-1410

RIGHT / THE STOCKING FRAME, AN EARLY KNITTING MACHINE INVENTED BY WILLIAM LEE IN 1589

BOTTOM / HAND-MADE NEEDLES

OPPOSITE

HISTORY OF KNITTING NEEDLES

FUN FACT

Did you know that metal, plastic, and wood weren’t the only kinds of materials used in needle-making? In the past, you could find examples made of fishbone, horn, bamboo, ivory, tortoiseshell, glass, and even gold. A few of these materials are still used but some of them are quite rare today. Ms. Webster has a prized collection of these unique finds, one of which is a golden knitting needle made by one of England’s royal jewelers!

produced. Of course, a lot more wool meant a lot more knitting. New inventions made the production of materials such as yarn and silk easier. The spinning wheel replaced the distaff, a tool on which wool or flax is wound for spinning. In 1589, the first knitting machine was developed and used in France. It was clear that the knitting industry was rapidly progressing.

18th-century, United Kingdom

Moving into the 18th-century, fashion had changed. Lighter fabrics were being developed and women began knitting with very fine yarn. Women also start ed knitting for social means. It’s been suggested that they were looking for a way to fill their time and show off their skills, so knitting became the hobby of the wealthy.

By the beginning of the 19th-century, the majority of people could read, so it was no surprise that knitting recipe books (as they used to call it) or pattern books became popular. Circular needles also emerged during this time. Ms. Webster said, “The earliest I can trace that back to was in some catalogs from the UK, just after the turn of the 19th-century.” These needles were not made like the circular needles we have today. They had a metal wire or spring connecting the needle tips and these were often a bit rough. One always had to be careful not to catch their yarn on it.

Before the 19th-century, knitting needles were sold as a commodity. The needles were not differentiated in any way and were sold solely by weight. In the 1840s, the hand-knitting industry began to evolve. Knitting needle gauges were produced, creating standard sizes and this is where we see knitting needle branding for the first time. Ms. Web ster shared with us that most knitting needles were branded under sewing needle manufacturers since the brand ing for sewing needles had already been established.

There are, surprisingly, one or two cases of companies establishing themselves as far back as 1698 but most companies started from the 1800s onwards. Many well-known companies of today have intriguing facts of how they originated and established themselves.

OPPOSITE / CIRCULAR KNITTING NEEDLE PATENT INVENTED BY WALTER KOHLMANN

For example, Ms. Webster mentioned that the well-known US company Boye originally imported products from the UK for reselling! The Susan Bates com pany was originally called “CJ Bates and Sons”. It was their knitting needles that first took on the name Susan Bates, not the company.

Second World War

During the Second World War, women had been knitting to donate to the troops, and now there was finally time to knit for themselves.

50s and 60s

The 50s and 60s saw many attempts to advance knitting technology. Hero’s MeasureKnit (1954) had gauge rulers printed directly on the needles. Abel Morral introduced Aero knitting needles (1955) with aircraft quality aluminum and rounded tips for smoother knitting. And in 1965, Boye introduced the Needlemaster, the first commercial in terchangeable knitting needles, based on a design by Lorraine and Bob Linstead. The couple would later go on to create the Denise interchangeable knitting needle sets in the late 70s and early 80s.

80s and 90s

After the handicraft revival in the 70s, when granny square vests and macrame wall hangings became popular, the 80s and 90s saw a declining interest in knitting. During this time the Craft Yarn Council was formed (1981) to develop standards for yarn weight and needle sizes across the industry. This was the

first time in the US that there were con sistently applied standards to knitting products sold at major retailers. It was not until the 2005 book, Stitch and Bitch by Debbie Stoller, that knitting had a revival in the new millennium.

2000s

The 2000s brought knitting into a new luxury era. Exotic woods like rosewood and ebony started making their way into knitting needles. Bamboo became commonplace and nickel-plated steel needles, like the German Addi Turbos, were the envy of every knitting enthusiast. New shapes also found their way into the hands of eager knitters. Kollage developed the first square needles and, more recently, Indian Lake Artisans created a needle with six sides.

While the first part of the 20th-century was defined by a boom in commercial manufacturing of knitting tools, the new millenium has seen a return to artisanal makers. Sites like Etsy have made it easy for handcrafters to sell custom-made needles. Now you can get needles made of rare woods like bocote and purpleheart, with personalised laser etching, or handmade polymer clay accents.

OPPOSITE

TOP / ABEL MORRALL AERO KNITTING PINS CIRCA 1950S

BOTTOM LEFT / HERO "MEASURE KNIT" MAGAZINE AD. 1952

BOTTOM RIGHT / KNITTING COMPENDIUM (NEEDLE ASSEMBLED FROM PIECES) CARVED FROM IVORY. CIRCA 1800S

The “big knit” trend, popularized on Instagram, has also seen jumbo sized needles become more readily available.

So what will the future hold for hand-knitting needle technology? Recently, German manufacturer Prym has developed their Ergonomics line. These needles feature triangular shafts, woven steel cables, and teardrop tips that make it easier to grab stitches. They even have a featherlight carbon fiber version with added strength. But is this the last of what hand-knitting has to offer? Have we reached the pinnacle or are there still innovations to be made? Ms. Webster believes there’s still more to be discovered and we couldn’t agree more. As long as there are knitting enthusiasts out there, the tools of the craft will always be evolving.

WANT TO GO DEEPER?

If you want to discover more about the history of knitting needles, listen to our full podcast interview with Susan Webster. You can find Yarnist Radio on Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher starting July 2021.

To explore Susan's collection of knitting needles visit her website at:

knitting-needle-notions.com.au

THE

STITCH DICTIONARY

NEW!

Fearless Knitter Project Tote

Available NOW

YARN.IST/ TOTE

WARMING HEADS AND HEARTS

Each month we highlight a charity that is doing great things for the world through donating knitted goods. This month we are joined by Christine Fabiani, founder of Knots of Love. Their mission is to warm the hearts and heads of those experiencing traumatic hair loss. Since 2007 they have donated over half a million hats knit with love by people just like you.

NOTE: This interview was transcribed from our Yarnist Podcast. Some edits have been made for clarity and ease of reading.

WELCOME TO THE YARNIST PODCAST. YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND WITH YOU. DO YOU MIND INTRODUCING HER REAL QUICK?

Christine: Thank you, Johnny. It’s a pleasure to be here. My friend is Lisa Flores, and she’s actually much more than a friend. She is a board mem ber, and volunteer who has been with us for how many years now? Lisa?

Lisa: Since 2012, a long time.

I’D LOVE TO DIVE INTO HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED, LISA, AND WHAT BEING A PART OF ALL THIS MEANS TO YOU. BUT FIRST, LET’S GET TO KNOW YOU LADIES A LITTLE BETTER BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT KNOTS

OF LOVE. WHERE ARE YOU BOTH FROM ORIGINALLY, AND WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

Christine: I am originally from Pennsyl vania and I grew up in Ontario, Califor nia, before moving to Orange County. I started Knots of Love in 2007 and it started just from a passion for knitting and crocheting.

AND HOW ABOUT YOU, LISA, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

Lisa: I’m originally from Detroit, Mich igan. We moved to San Diego when I was around eleven years old, so I was a San Diego person until we moved to Orange County in 2000. I love it here. I think it’s beautiful.

THAT’S GREAT! SO WHAT WERE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH THE FIBER ARTS? WERE YOU BOTH CRAFTY GROWING UP?

Lisa: For me, I watched my aunt and grandma, who are both very crafty with sewing and crocheting. But I didn’t retain it as an adult. I forgot all about it and then I found out about Knots of Love and decided to teach myself how to cro chet. That’s how I got involved and then crocheting wasn’t enough. I had to learn how to knit too, so I took a lesson on how to knit, and now I do both.

Christine: My grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was six years old. After that, I hadn’t crocheted for forty

An interview with Knots of Love founder Christine Fabiani

years even though my mother was a knitter. I never really paid attention. She taught me to sew and that’s what we did as mother and daughter. As an adult, I was crocheting and knitting scarves as gifts for the people that helped me when I was president of another charity. From there, I just kind of kept on going. One day my son said, “Mom, make me a beanie!” and I responded, “Oh, I don’t know how to make a beanie. I only know how to make long flat things”. I decid ed to learn how to make one, and it was horrific! Then I made another one and it was fairly good and I just kept on making them. So, I was kind of crafty growing up and then I just kind of got better at it with practice. So, yeah, I guess I was kind of crafty.

idea. They thought it was a fabulous idea. So, I made a few beanies and gave them to them. I saw that there was a huge need and, pretty soon, it just took off. Here we are, over half a million beanies later.

THAT’S INCREDIBLE AND IN FACT, I DON’T EVEN KNOW OF A CHARITY OF YOUR SIZE THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO DONATE SO MANY PIECES. THAT’S JUST JAW-DROPPING.

Christine: There’s a lot of love out there and a lot of people in need. Many people want to give back and this is an easy way for them to do it in the comfort of their own home.

Christine: That happened pretty rapidly. I saw a need and I knew that, while I was on this planet, I wanted to touch as many lives as I could. After my son told me to make him a beanie, I got pretty good at it, and eventually, everybody I knew had a beanie. You begin making so many things that you start to run out of people to give them to. I looked for a charity to donate my beanies to and couldn’t find one. My girlfriend had cancer many years prior and she said, “I would have loved to have had a beanie to wear after I got home from wearing a wig all day at work” and I replied, “like a nice cozy pair of slippers” and she said “exactly!”. So, I called a couple of local cancer centers and asked what they thought about the

OKAY. SO, LISA, YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED IN THE ORGANIZATION. HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT KNOTS OF LOVE?

Lisa: Well, there was a store that was having a cancer awareness event and I happened to be talking to one of the hosts. She spoke about Knots of Love because I had mentioned that I wanted to do something to help. I didn’t want to just give money and I had previously stopped working due to medical reasons. I was feeling really lost. I felt like I didn’t have a purpose. So, after that conversation, I went home and researched Knots of Love. I taught myself how to crochet. I made a few mistakes, but it got easier. I made some beanies

YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU STARTED MAKING THE HATS. WHEN DID THAT TRANSITION INTO WHAT YOU’RE DOING NOW WITH THE CREATION OF KNOTS OF LOVE?

I saw a need and I knew that, while I was on this planet, I wanted to touch as many lives as I could.

— Christine Fabiani

and sent them to Knots of Love. Then they had a baseball game event where we got to go see the angels and that’s when I got to meet Christine. That’s how I started volunteering in the office. So, it really made me feel like I was doing something worthwhile, helping others, and it made me feel good about myself.

THAT’S GREAT. SO, YOU ARE PART OF THE FRIDAY CREW. TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS ON FRIDAYS AT KNOTS OF LOVE.

Lisa: Well, there are 10 people and a crew that unboxes the caps and blankets. They sort through them, count them, and ticket them with the right tags. Then it comes into this room behind us where

the ladies sort them and put them into bags to be shipped. It’s my job, once they’ve sorted them, to enter them into the computer database. This is where we see how many items the person has sent us. From there Christine gives him a phone call, or I email them to let them know where their beanies are going.

THAT’S GREAT. SO, YOU ALLOW THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONATED TO, AT LEAST, HAVE SOME IDEA OF WHERE THEIR WORK IS GOING. I THINK A LOT OF OR GANIZATIONS THAT TAKE DONAT ED ITEMS DON’T EVER GET BACK TO YOU ON WHERE YOUR PRODUCTS GO. SO, I THINK THAT IT’S FANTASTIC THAT YOU STILL GIVE THEM THAT TOUCHPOINT ALONG THE WAY.

Christine: Sure. Well, I run the charity to be very family-oriented. I mean, it’s just

CHRISTINE FABIANI, FOUNDER OF KNOTS OF LOVE

like you said. How many times do you give money or an item to a place and you never know if they’ve gotten it, let alone what’s happened to the item that you’ve donated? I think it’s very important es pecially for the kids who make the bean ies. Some of them have a map, and I’ll say, “Hey, Jessica, your beanie was sent to North Carolina” and they’ll put a little heart on the map. Then soon enough, they’ll have a heart in every state, which is exciting for them and they love that.

THAT’S AMAZING. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS YOU HAVE PER YEAR, ON AVERAGE?

Christine: We don’t but if we were to guess, it would probably be around 3000, although a lot of those people are members of groups, so it’s hard to know how many people. People also come and go all the time so it’s hard to know, but my best guess would be 3000. We also donate over 1200 pieces every single Friday. Some people donate one, some donate 50, others donate anywhere between that or more.

WOW, THAT’S AMAZING. SO, YOU’RE SENDING OUT 1200 EVERY WEEK? THAT’S MORE THAN 70,000 A YEAR!

Christine: Yeah, 580 cancer treatment centers, oncologists, offices, and neona tal units get a bag of Arby’s every eight weeks and sometimes more depending on their needs.

AND DO YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTACTING YOU TO BE PART OF YOUR CENTERS OR DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE MORE DEMAND THAN YOU HAVE SUPPLY?

Christine: Yeah, these beanies are always given away free of charge. We even do

special requests as well. I just sent out two yesterday. It’s not only for people with cancer. Anyone who’s lost their hair for any medical reason, whether it’s alopecia, burn victims or brain surgery, but primarily, it’s for anyone going through chemotherapy. So, if anyone emails or calls me and says, “Hey, so and so has cancer. How do I get a beanie?”, we ask them for their favorite colors, where to send them, and what their head size is (i.e. small, medium or large). We are more than happy to send beanies. We send them two day-wear hats, and one sleep pack for them to wear at night. We send those special requests all the time.

OKAY, AND WHAT’S THE SLEEP HAT?

Christine: The sleep hat is very soft. It’s made out of special yarn. There aren’t many of those yarns out there now. They’ve discontinued a lot of them, but it’s a very soft kind of fuzzy yarn and it makes the hats have no embellishments on them at all. They just fit tight on their head. Cancer patients’ heads get extremely cold at night, so they sleep in them at night. That’s about it really: no embellishments, very tight to the head, and made out of soft, fuzzy yarn.

OKAY, YEAH, I’VE NEVER HEARD OF A SLEEP HAT BEFORE, I’M KIND OF THINKING MAYBE IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR ME, AS I’M BALD.

Christine: Get one up. We have patterns on our website.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, YOU HAVE DONE A TON OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND RAISE MONEY FOR YOUR CAUSE. CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF THE MORE INTERESTING THINGS THAT

KNOTS

YOU’VE DONE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS?

Christine: It’s very challenging for us to raise money because the people that we serve are sick. They can’t come to an event so we had to think of other things. One of the big things we do every year is a “knit- and a knot-athon”. It’s very much like a jog-a-thon, that maybe your kids have participated in. For this, we

POPPY HAT PATTERN DESIGNED BY CHRISTINE FABIANI

have people making beanies, and then we get sponsors for every beanie. It’s been great. Last year we raised about $12,000.

SO GOOD! I ALSO SAW THAT YOU HAD A TINY ENDORSEMENT FROM BILL CLIN TON. HOW DID IT COME ABOUT THAT YOU WERE INCLUDED IN THIS TRIBUTE TO HEROES WHO ARE DOING GREAT VOLUNTEER WORK?

Christine: In 2009 my son wanted to go to an All-Star game in St. Louis. The local Los Angeles Angels were having a com

petition at the time and it was to nominate someone who does good works. He saw this and thought, “my mom does good work, she can win this”, and that’s when he wanted to go to the All-Star game. So, he nominated me and, low and behold, I won and we went to the AllStar game. Each one of the presidents got to talk about one charity of their choice between the charities that were chosen and President Clinton talked about Knots of Love. That’s how that came about.

THAT’S AMAZING. IT’S ONE THING TO WIN THE ABILITY TO GO TO THE GAME, BUT TO BE HIGHLIGHTED LIKE THAT IS...

Christine: No pun intended, it was a game-changer. It was incredible. We were prepared for the website to get a lot of hits, but it still crashed. Many people heard about us and it truly put us on the map. We had so many beanies coming in, so many calls, it was just the most incredible year. It was awesome. It was fabulous. Not only did we garner a lot of awareness from cancer patients, but we also garnered more knitters, crocheters, and more volunteers. It was an amazing time, still is, I still hear about it. It was fabulous.

WORKING WITH KNOTS OF LOVE?

Lisa: It’s definitely meeting the people. It’s nice to see how Knots of Love has impacted the makers’ lives, but even more so the people who receive it. They get so excited when you hand them a hat and they are so grateful. It gives you such a wonderful feeling inside. I can’t describe it. It’s just wonderful.

YEAH, I CAN ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THAT, AND HOW ABOUT FOR YOU, CHRISTINE? HOW HAVE THINGS CHANGED FOR YOU, AFTER STARTING THIS ORGANIZATION, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU’VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH IT?

Christine: Well, the feeling of gratitude, for the sheer number of people’s lives that we touch is overwhelming. It truly puts the wind in my sails and a spring in my step. Of course, there’s still a busi ness side of it, and each time, I think oh my gosh, this is just so much work,

I mean, it’s the simple things you can do for someone that means the world to them. I often hear stories like, “it was easier to lose both of my breasts than it was to lose my hair” and we’re giving them something that replaces their hair.

— Christine Fabiani

inevitably, I will get an amazing email from someone saying, “thank you so much for helping my mother, it meant so much to her”. It’s little stories like that.

NOW, LISA, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT

I mean, it’s the simple things you can do for someone that means the world to them. I often hear stories like, “it was easier to lose both of my breasts than it was to lose my hair” and we’re giving them something that replaces their hair.

It’s something stylish and cute that they can look forward to when they lose their hair. We’re helping them in so many ways so, for me to see that, makes my heart happy.

IT’S ALMOST LIKE YOU’RE GIVING THEM THEIR DIGNITY.

Christine: Exactly. We have a human connection. We’re giving them a human connection with someone they’re never going to know. How can you do that these days? There are just not many ways to do that.

YEAH. I THINK THAT ANYBODY WHO RECEIVES A GIFT WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED KNOWS THE ACT WAS PURELY OUT OF LOVE. IT’S A BLESSING TO SOME ONE AND THERE’S ALMOST NOTHING MORE POWERFUL THAN THAT. IT’S A TRUE FORM OF LOVE.

Christine: Correct. This charity has touched me in more ways than I can even ever express. I see it on Fridays, I see it during the week, and when I go to visit

JESSICA SILVER WEARING HER KNOTS OF LOVE CAP

KNOTS

cancer centers. I walk into a Cancer Cen tre, and all the faces of the people sitting in the waiting room are sad and forlorn. Then when they see my brightly colored bag of beanies they get happy and know why I’m there. They get so excited and they can’t wait to look through the bag of beanies and choose one. I could go on and on with stories. It’s just a wonderful way to make a human connection with people and as I said, in this day and age, there aren’t very many ways you can do that. This is just one of them and it blesses me in more ways than I can ever say.

Lisa: She won’t tell you, but I will. She’s a very inspiring person and I get a lot of feedback from both the people who make caps for us and the people who receive them. The clients are so happy that someone so young decided to do something to help others and made it into the organization that it is today. We appreciate everything that she does. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that people don’t even know about that she does. She’s just a wonderful person for coordinating that.

ABSOLUTELY. CHRISTINE, IS WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING IN YOUR SHOES FROM 13-14 YEARS AGO? WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO START THEIR OWN THING, WHETHER IT BE IN THIS AREA OR ANOTHER?

Christine: Just do it. Start and don’t be afraid. If you have a passion, go for it. Put one foot in front of the other, and just keep going. There are going to be obstacles that come along the way, but it doesn’t matter. Keep moving forward.

As trite as that sounds, it will most likely work out because the passion is there.

YEAH. I THINK A LOT OF SUCCESS IS JUST PERSEVERANCE. SO, WHAT’S NEXT?

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO WITH KNOTS OF LOVE? I MEAN, YOU’VE HIT HALF A MILLION ITEMS DONATED ALREADY. WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE?

Christine: Well, clearly we’re going to aim to get a million items donated and we’re going to get there much faster. Because of the pandemic, people are sitting at home knitting and crocheting more. The pandemic has been wonderful for Knots of Love because we’ve gotten much more beanies even though it’s been a challenging year. So, hopeful ly, we’ll get to a million items donated much faster.

What’s next for us is that we need an office. The organization is currently run out of my condominium, which is great because it fits my personality and it’s wonderful and homey, but we need an office. Of course, with the office comes expenses and I want to keep the ex penses down, as 98% of everything that comes into the charity goes back into the

TOP LEFT / VETERAN'S DAY DONATION DRIVE

TOP RIGHT / KOL VOLUNTEERS AT ORANGE COUNTY FAIR

MIDDLE LEFT / RAISING AWARENESS THROUGH YARNBOMBING

MIDDLE RIGHT / DONATING HATS AND BLANKETS TO THE HOMELESS

BOTTOM LEFT / HATS READY FOR DONATING

BOTTOM RIGHT / BOXES OF HATS READY TO SHIP

OPPOSITE

community. I want to keep spending only 2% on administrative costs. I’m proud of those percentages, so if we get an office the percentages need to stay that way. I want to find someone that’s got an emp ty office someplace that is willing to take a tax deduction. So, that’s what’s next for us. I’m still looking for that. I’m also looking for someone to under write our UPS, shipping costs because those are quite costly. We send out about 45 to 50 boxes every week at the cost of $10-16 a box. That comes to $550-600 a week, so I’m looking for someone to un derwrite that. I also want to have a small place in the office where cancer patients can come and sit in nice, big, comfy chairs, and choose beanies. I’d love a yard line, that’s also what’s next. So, I’ve got some aspirations for sure.

GREAT. WELL, WHY DON’T YOU TELL PEOPLE WHERE THEY CAN GO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU? I DON’T THINK WE’VE TALKED ABOUT THE WEBSITE YET. SO... Christine: The website is knotsoflove. org. You can click on ‘Get Involved’ and everything is right there on that one page. There is a submission form that we ask everyone to use and send in with their creations and from there we’ll log everything that you make into the com puter so that at the end of the year, you can fill in a tax deduction letter. Every thing you purchase from your yarn to the miles you use to go purchase that yarn is all tax-deductible because we are a 501 C3 non-profit charity.

On that same web page is our required yarn list. Because cancer patients’ heads are extremely sensitive and can often blister, we ask that you use those yarns.

It breaks my heart when I go into cancer centers and I see the same beanies never chosen week after week, month after month just because they’re not soft enough. So, we have a required yarn list that has actually been established from cancer patients. Each one of those yarns has been tested by cancer patients and deemed soft enough for their sensitive heads. Everything is right there on that page: knotsoflove.org under ‘get involved’.

THAT’S AMAZING. YOU PUT AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK INTO THIS AND I CAN TELL THAT YOU’RE INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO. YOU HAVE A LOT OF LOVE FOR NOT JUST THE WORK THAT YOU DO, BUT ALL OF THE LIVES THAT YOU TOUCH AND I COMMEND YOU BOTH FOR DEVOTING YOUR LIVES TO THIS GREAT PROJECT. IT’S AMAZING, SO THANK YOU.

Christine: Thank you so much and thank you for helping us spread the love and spread the word. I’m making this con nection through your great works that you’re doing. So, we appreciate you.

GET INVOLVED

To get involved visit the Knots of Love website: www.knotsoflove.org

STITCHIONARY

Twisted Rib Stitch

This is a variation on the 1 x 1 rib stitch that creates a neat, gorgeous rib pattern. All stitches both knits and purls - are worked through the back of the loop (=twisted), which results in an elegant, crisp rib.

PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

Cast On: Multiples of 2 + 1

Row 1: K1tbl, *p1tbl, k1tbl; rep from* to end.

Row 2: P1tbl, *k1tbl, p1tbl; rep from* to end.

Repeat rows 1-2 until you have reached your desired length.

PATTERN CHART

WATCH

VIDEO YARN.IST/TWISTED-RIB

STITCHIONARY

The Chain of Hearts Stitch

YARN.IST/CHAIN-OF-HEARTS

This knitting tutorial will help you learn how to knit the chain of hearts stitch. This lace panel creates a vertical chain of interlocking hearts. It’s perfect for a detail on a sweater sleeve, blanket, or shawl.

PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

This lace panel is worked over 5 stitches on a reverse stockinette background.

Row 1 (RS): K2, yo, k1, ssk. Row 2: P5 Row 3: K2tog, k1, yo, k2 Row 4: rep row 2

Repeat Rows 1-4 until you have reached your desired length.

PATTERN CHART

WATCH THE VIDEO

The Basket Rib Stitch STITCHIONARY

The Basket Rib Stitch is a rib stitch similar to a 1×1 rib, that creates a grid or waffle-like pattern. It is great as an alternative to a regular 1×1 rib, but it does not have as much horizontal stretch. Per fect for beginners, the basket rib stitch is a good pattern for hats and scarves, but can also be used on larger pieces of fabric like blankets and sweaters.

PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

Cast On: Multiples of 2 + 1 Row 1 (RS): Knit. Row 2: Purl. Row 3: *K1, sl1 wyib, repeat from * to last st, k1.

Row 4: *K1, sl1 wyif, repeat from * to last st, k1.

Repeat rows 1-4 until you have reached your desired length.

PATTERN CHART

WATCH THE VIDEO YARN.IST/BASKET-RIB

The Waterfall Lace Stitch STITCHIONARY

The Waterfall Lace Stitch is a beautiful lace pattern that creates vertical columns of lace that look like streams of water cascading on top of each other. It’s a great stitch for lace blankets, shawls, and light airy scarves.

PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

Cast On: Multiples of 6 + 3

Row 1: P3, *k3, yo, p3; rep from * to end.

Row 2: K3, *p4, k3; rep from * to end.

Row 3: P3, *k1, k2tog, yo, k1, p3; rep from *to end.

Row 4: K3, *p2, p2tog, k3; rep from * to end.

Row 5: P3, *k1, yo, k2tog, p3; rep from * to end.

Row 6: K3, *p3, k3; rep from * to end.

Repeat rows 1 – 6 until you have reached your desired length.

PATTERN CHART

WATCH THE VIDEO YARN.IST/WATERFALL-LACE

FORT COLLINS COLORADO

YARN TRIPPER: 48 HOURS IN

Fort Collins, Co

From cozy yarn shops to delicious Tex-Mex, this college town 45 minutes north of Denver is a hidden gem, perfect for a weekend of fiber fun.

Set against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Fort Collins is a vibrant and growing city that’s overflowing with opportunity. Families with small children, creatives, outdoor enthusiasts and hightech entrepreneurs all feel at home in Fort Collins, the largest city in northern Colorado. And in 2020, Livability.com ranked this beautiful college town it’s #1 place to live in America.

But what you might not know is the knitters Mecca that is Fort Collins. Four amazing yarn stores keep this town knitting up a storm, and it’s just down the moun tain from Estes Park, home of the Estes Park Wool Market. It’s also the home of publisher Interweave, which has pro duced dozens of classic kniting and crochet books.

This gem of a town is a wonder ful place to visit for a weekend of fiber fun, so allow us to show you the best Fort Collins has to offer in 48 hours.

FRIDAY

Noon - The Exchange

Let’s start things off with a little taste of the town. The Exchange is a shipping container food market, complete with chicken and waffles, a beer taproom, and slow churned ice cream. There’s even mini-golf! The weekends often see local musicians playing, so you can sit and relax before exploring. And if you’re not ready for a full lunch, we highly recommend the salted honey doughnut from Foco Doughnut Co.

2:30 pm - Lambspun of Colorado

You won’t find another yarn store like Lambspun. Tucked inside an old medi terranean style farm house, each room in this cozy shop is bursting with yarn. With a massive selection of affordable yarns, and their own line of hand dyed fibers, you’re bound to find something for your fiber fix. Even if you don’t, pick up a signed copy of one the sixteen Maggie Sefton’s Murder Mysteries all set at Lambspun.

4 pm - Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising

As a fiber fanatic, you probably have an interest in all kinds of textiles, so this little known collection is right up your alley. Opened to the public in 2016, the Avenir Museum houses over 20,000 artifacts of 19th and 20th century gar ments and textiles. It includes pieces from famous fashion designers, japa nese kimonos, and over 1,500 pieces of historical lace and lace making tools.

The five galleries that compose the museum change yearly and best of all, it’s free!

6 pm - Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

You can’t make a trip to the American south west without indulging in some TexMex cuisine. Since 1986 this small chain of mexican restaurants has been dishing out nachos and margaritas. Their original location started in Fort Collins, and is housed in a histor ic building in Old Town. As Colorado is known for its hatch green chilies, be sure to try their green chili soup or classic chile relleno (roasted chile stuffed with cheese and battered). And every main dish comes with a side of Rio’s famous black beans.

8 pm - The Lyric Cinema

Depending on the time of year you might want to check out Holiday Twin Drive-In for a classic drive-in movie experience, but there are few cinema’s like The Lyric. This quirky movie theat er puts the indie in independent films. Here you can enjoy local art strewn across the walls, a cafe serving up bubble tea and bacon fat popcorn, and theaters with church pews and couches. Plus they’re the best place in town to catch films you won’t find at the major theater chains.

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SATURDAY

9 am - Bike the Spring Creek Trail

If you enjoy riding a bike, Fort Collins is 1 of only 5 towns in the nation desig nated a Platinum Level Bike-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists and has 280-plus miles of trails, including paved and unpaved walking and biking trails. One of our favorites trails is Spring Creek, which winds through the heart of Fort Collins, connecting to many of the parks in town. Try an electric assisted bike from Pedego or check out Recycled Cycles for a great deal on an all day rental.

11 am - Brunch at Snooze

While Snooze has expanded to other states in recent years, that doesn’t keep the crowds from lining up on Satur day mornings for brunch. With retro 60’s inspired decor and a menu full of delicious options, it’s easy to see why people love this eatery. You’ll want to make a reservation so you have plenty of time to enjoy your pineapple upside down pancakes.

12:30 pm - My Sister Knits

There are few knitting stores that could be described as perfect, but My Sister Knits might be one of them. Tucked away on a residential street in North Fort Collins, hidden in a charming carriage house on the back of the prop erty, lies one of the best yarn stores in America. Sisters Julie and Diana have curated some of the most luxurious yarns from around the world and given them a cozy little home. While it’s not a huge space, you’ll easily spend hours

9

feeling all the luscious fibers, chat ting with their knowledgeable staff, or playing with their dogs, Molly and Nell.

If you enjoy knitting with high quality yarns, then My Sister Knits will be heaven for you.

2:30 pm - Walking in Old Town

Charming is a word used to describe a lot of the Old Town district of Fort Collins. It’s lined with cute dozens of cute little cafes, boutiques, and eater ies. There are beautiful courtyards to sit and relax, and bike paths to quickly ride around town. Enjoy some artisan cheese at The Welsh Rabbit, do a choc olate tasting at Nuance (seriously it’s amazing), or grab a homemade Oreo cookie and some coffee at Little Bird Bakeshop. You can easily spend hours browsing around, so take your time and discover all that Old Town has to offer.

FUN FACT

While strolling around the downtown area you’ll likely notice a strong resemblance to Disne yland’s Main Street USA. That’s because designer Harper Goff modeled the plan for the iconic Disney location on his childhood home town, Fort Collins.

SATURDAY (CONT'D)

6:30 pm - Beau Jo's Colorado Style Pizza

You probably didn’t know there was such a thing as Colorado style pizza until just now. And while it’s not the “best” pizza in town (That might be Totally 80’s Pizza), it’s definitely a unique experience. Beau Jo's invented the thick crusted mountain pies over forty years ago, using dough naturally sweetened with local honey. These massive pizzas can feed an entire fami ly, but they also have options for gluten free, vegan, and keto friendly pizzas. We recommend the “Dude Ranch” pizza with chicken, bacon, provolone, and ranch dressing. And don’t forget to drizzle that crust with some more local honey.

9 pm - Social

If you’re not ready to call it a night, there’s no cooler place to grab a night cap than Social. While not exactly a speakeasy, you’ll probably walk right by this underground bar without even knowing it was there. Once inside you’ll discover an upscale environment with some of the best cocktails in town. It’s a great place to chill out and sip on some wine, or enjoy their famous charcuterie boards for a late night snack.

SUNDAY

9 am - Lucile's Creole Cafe

Every town has its breakfast institutions. For Fort Collins that place is Lucile's. This adorable restaurant would easily be mistaken for any other house if it were not for the line of people outside waiting to be seated. At Lucile's you feel like you’re sitting in the dining room of a New Orleans grandma you never knew you had. There’s too much to love about this place, from it’s humble decor to the paisley napkins to the giant biscuits and sweet spiced tea. Everything on the menu is delicious but we’re particularly fond of the rice porridge and farmer’s potatoes. And of course be careful not to get powdered sugar everywhere when you try their homemade beignet donuts.

11 am - Odell Brewing Company

Fort Collins is the largest producer of craft beer (70%, in fact) in Colorado (ironic for a town that was “dry” until 1969). Currently, the city is home to more than 20 craft breweries each with its own distinctive style. While you could see the Budweiser Clydesdales or tour the New Belgium Brewery, we think a trip to Odell is a nice way to end your stay in town. You can taste a nice selection of locally made craft beers straight from the tap, or explore their brand new wine project. They have a beautiful location where you can relax a bit before you head back to whence you came from.

THE GENTLEMAN KNITTER

An exclusive interview with Yarnist founder Johnny Vasquez

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CONNOR WILLIAMS. ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTONEL ROACH

The hubris of featuring yourself in the inaugural edition of a magazine you created is not lost on me. While I would much prefer to highlight some of my knitting heroes (and we definitely will in future issues), I also understand you sometimes have to talk about yourself. You may be picking up this magazine knowing nothing about me, and maybe you have been a faithful fan for the better part of a decade. Either way it is likely you have not heard my story in full. So please forgive me for shining the spotlight on myself a bit.

I've put together a series of questions which we will use for all our designer interviews. This way you can see how the journey of each person is similar and different from everyone else. In this issue I will answer these questions myself and give some insight into why I chose these questions specifically.

So, with that, let's jump into the first question.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM, AND WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

I like to ask this question because it al lows people to describe their background and a quick version of their life journey. A lot of us start in one place and change after pinnacle moments in our lives. It's quite rare, as an adult, to be in the same place you were when you were young. I grew up in a little town outside of Los Angeles in a LA suburban city called West

Covina. If you've ever seen the televi sion show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, there's a joke that she leaves New York City to go to "Los Angeles" and actually moves to West Covina (which is in LA county). It was a nice place to grow up, quite normal as far as living in the suburbs of a major metropolitan area was concerned. I grew up around a lot of different kinds of people and was exposed to a lot of different cultures. My friends and I grew up in this great multicultural mix and, when moving or visiting my friends’ houses, I learned about how they grew up.

I grew up about a block away from where my dad grew up as a kid and actually went to all the same schools he went to. I didn't travel a whole lot and I didn't have much of a desire to. The idea of getting on a plane and flying over the ocean terrified me. One thing we did do was road trips. When I was 13, we went on a long road trip across the US to Georgia. My dad was working on a project out there, so we spent a couple of months in Georgia. It was 6 kids and my parents sleeping in a motel room, but we had Nickelodeon and a pool so it was a great summer!

Eventually I did travel. For our fifth wedding anniversary my wife and I took a trip to Europe, traveling to Paris and Italy. A couple of years after that we packed up everything and decided to go to Europe again. We had just had our second daughter, and we had a yarn store that we decided to close. We thought we were going to need to move anyway, so we decided to just go! Our goal was always to be able to work and travel at the same time. We spent almost nine months

traveling around Europe and we saw lots of amazing things. We decided that we wanted to find a place to settle down.

We ended up in Estonia after reading an article in The New Yorker about the cool things that Estonia was doing with its digital government. It sounded like an interesting place, so we grabbed our stuff again, and moved to Tallinn, Estonia. At this time, we were pregnant with our son who ended up being born here. We fell in love with the place and have been here on and off since 2018. It's a beautiful country. It’s full of nature, respectful of its history, and very forward-thinking of the future.

IN WHAT WAYS WERE YOU CRAFTY GROWING UP?

Not everybody has had experience with knitting growing up or even the fiber arts in general. I sure didn't, but I was crafty in many other ways. I was homeschooled until the second grade. That was when my mom had her fourth child and gave up being able to manage all of us. Before that, I remember us doing a lot of self-learning crafts. We would have these cool craft books, but I was craftier with my toys. I would take toys, like these plastic waffle blocks, and turn them into costumes and create these really weird outfits.

As I got older, I worked at a costume shop. It was my very first job when I was like 12 or 13. My mom worked at this place called Broadway costumes and I would help her out. I learned a lot there, like theatrical makeup. In high school, I ended up making my own prosthetics.

I even sewed together - with the help of my mom - a Two-Face costume (a villain from Batman).

I was also really big into the theater. I would help build sets, do effects, make up, and costumes. I loved all that stuff. I've always been creative and crafty, but I wasn't very into the fiber arts because all of my experience with that was, you know, the stuff my grandparents or great grandparents had made during the 70s. Of course, it was a great time for that kind of thing, but the quality of the materials was definitely not what they are today. The color choices, even just the types of things that people were making, didn't fit my modern sensibility, so I was never attracted to it. And while I loved the blankets that my grandma would crochet me, I would have to be extremely specific about the colors because oth erwise, they would just be these really crazy random granny square blankets.

I appreciate those much more now for the amount of work that I know went into them and just her speed and skill at putting those things together. To this day, she still pumps out dozens of Afghans a year on top of doing embroi dered ornaments for all of her grandkids. She’s always been the craftiest person in my life. I know that my other grandma did some sewing and stuff for her kids, but she abandoned all of that long before I was really conscious of what was going on. My great-grandmother did weaving. We ended up inheriting her loom and her spinning wheel. I remember them always sitting in our living room, but my dad never really dove into it. Knitting wasn't prominent in my life in a direct way.

My mom didn't do any knitting either, although she did some sewing every once in a while, she only did it when we were younger. The fiber arts didn't enter into my life until I was in my 20s.

HOW DID YOU LEARN TO KNIT?

I taught myself. I had been follow ing this blog called Tree Hugger after being interested in what was happening within the green movement. I'm not a big environmentalist, but I find green technology fascinating, and I do like sustainability, and self-sufficiency. The blog talked about this woman, Rebecca Burgess, who began a Kickstarter project called the Fiber Shed. She wanted to source everything for a full wardrobe within a year, all within 150 miles of her home. I remember thinking it was a really interesting idea.

The idea derived from a concept that suggested that we're all removed from our clothing. We don't know the people involved in making our clothing. You could never know who had their hands on your clothing, who made your shirt or your pants, or anything like that. I found that to be quite a sad thing. She also had this vision for local economies to utilize the raw materials and processes they already had. I thought that it was a great concept. So, in 2009-2010, I was follow ing this blog as she was going through the project. During one of her blog posts, she gave an update regarding her visit to a rancher who was raising sheep for lamb meat. Apparently, the rancher would shear the sheep and just keep the wool in his barn. He didn't know what to do with it but thought it had some value.

GENTLEMAN

I liked the idea of being more connected to my clothing and making something myself that I could wear.

— Johnny Vasquez

She bought some off of him and had it milled into yarn. She then took that to a local knitwear designer who made her a knitted hat. I saw it and thought, “that's a cool-looking hat”. It didn't look like the stuff I was used to.

I thought maybe knitting could be cool and I liked the idea of being more connected to my clothing and making some thing myself that I could wear. I figured I couldn't make jeans even though they would be the most practical because I wore jeans all the time. I knew I would

have needed special equipment to make them, so that was out of the question. I thought making a shirt would be fine, but it looked a little bit too easy, not that it wouldn't have been a challenge for me to learn how to sew. It's just that to follow a pattern and cut the fabric would’ve finished pretty quickly and I didn't know if I would wear the shirt enough for it to be worth it. I wanted something that I would wear a lot. Then I thought I could knit a sweater. This seemed like the best choice. I told my wife and she said, “well then you probably should learn to

— Johnny Vasquez

knit”. I went to Walmart and got a Teach Yourself to Knit Kit and two Simply Soft skeins. From there I sat down and started going through the booklet. The booklet wasn't particularly helpful. It was like reading a foreign language and the pictures were not particularly good either. It looked like the book images came from 20 years ago when the pictures were still in black and white. I decided to hop onto YouTube. I found some helpful videos, but they weren’t of great quality. I was still a bit frustrated, but it was enough to get me started and that's how I began learning to knit. I just watched YouTube videos to figure out the techniques.

WHAT KNITTING STYLE DO YOU USE?

In the US, it's much more common for people to knit using an English style of knitting. My understanding is that the Continental style, which is a bit more efficient, used to be more popular with Germans. I learned English-style knitting just because that's what I was shown. At the time, I didn't know that there were other styles of knitting, but I've experimented with a lot of different styles since then. I've developed my own thing that works for me which is supposedly called flick knitting. It’s a more ef ficient method of English-style knitting. I'm a terrible continental-style knitter.

I can teach it in my videos because I go slowly, and you can't tell that my tension is really bad. Speed is not necessarily the most important thing for me either, so I've stuck to English-style knitting.

AT WHAT POINT DID YOU DECIDE TO PURSUE KNITTING AS A CAREER?

I read a book in 2007 called The FourHour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. He proposed the idea that we don't have to wait until we're retired to begin enjoying our life. We could live a great life now, go on these mini-retirements, or even have a location-independent career and work from anywhere if we wanted to. That whole concept was very cool to me. I wasn’t a great employee, so the idea of living life sounded great. I would often have disagreements with my supervisors because I always had lots of ideas on how things could be improved. That can sometimes create conflicts. I don't blame any of my employers for clashing with me, but I could tell for sure that, long term, I was going to need to do my own thing if I wanted to have any success.

The other idea behind the book was that you could create passive income. The idea was that you could create something once and sell it over and over again. A great example of this is reselling eBooks and video courses.

I was looking at what was going on in the knitting world and saw that there just wasn’t a lot of good video content being produced at the time.

I was looking at what was going on in the knitting world and saw that there just wasn't a lot of good video content being produced at the time. YouTube was only a few years old and Craftsy was just getting started. Creativebug hadn't launched yet. I thought if I could make patterns, I could try to sell them again and again. Since nobody was doing really good video content on this yet, I thought I could make videos work with the pat terns I used and make the patterns more valuable.

Another inspiration was a woman I met at the yarn store in Chicago. She was chatting with me while we were looking at this stitch-a-day calendar and she told me, "It'd be cool to do a little block a day. Then, at the end of the year, sew the blocks together to make an afghan." I thought that was a nice idea, so I was inspired to start my own website, New Stitch a Day, from those three things. I thought I would do a new video tutorial every day. I must be honest, that was a terrible idea because it takes way too much time to knit a swatch, photograph, record, edit, upload, and promote a video in one day. It was insane, but I start ed doing it anyway. It was about three months in when I met Ann Hansen at a book signing in Albany, New York. She was super nice, and she even mentioned us on her blog which drove us some traffic. From there it started growing or ganically. We ended up in New York City talking with the people at Lion Brand and they offered us a small sponsor ship. Once we got that it became clear to us that we had something we could potentially turn into a business. And so, about a year after starting the blog and

the YouTube channel I decided to go full time. My wife took on two part-time jobs so she could help us. Luckily, our revenue from the blog was paying for our rent, so my wife's paychecks could help with our other things. We were living in a cheap little studio apartment in an old building from the 1920s in Loveland, Colorado.

What was funny was that we happened to be right down the street from Inter weave. We started building our business slowly from there into what we're doing now. It's more than 10 years later but we’re finally figuring out what works.

DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGNING PROCESS

I don't consider myself a designer in the traditional sense. I think there are differ ent kinds of designers. Some designers are more artistic in what they're trying to do, and other designers are more practical. I think I'm much more on the practical side. I’m the type of person that if I need something I'll create it. I’ve developed some frameworks and blue prints to create new patterns. Every once in a while, I'll have an idea for something super creative but most of my ideas either come from wanting to make something specific or seeing something cool that I think would be fun to try.

I also like doing things like adding a different color to see how it changes a stitch, or I’ll do something like flip it on its side. My actual design process, however, will start with a framework and I will find a stitch pattern or a couple of stitch patterns and decide how I’m going to incorporate those things to gether to get my final result. I also love

GENTLEMAN

going to the mall to just look and see what’s currently popular at stores like Zara, H&M, and the bigger department stores. It gives me an idea of what is fashionable. A lot of times, I'll look at something and turn it into a cool pattern. I won’t fully copy the item, but I'll get enough inspiration from the main idea to make something that looks similar but is geared towards hand knitting. From there, I usually try to write down the pattern as I go. Sometimes I'll even write out the pattern before I start and then I'll edit it before it goes to the test knitters who make sure the pattern makes sense. After it’s been approved, I'll take the samples and photographs and put them all together. I have a template that I use for my patterns. I use a design document to make sure that all my formatting is consistent and ready for publication. Then there’s a whole process for how we release that to the public.

WHAT INSPIRED YOUR MOST FAMOUS PATTERN?

My most famous pattern is my Gridiron Hat design. I wanted to recreate this waffle pattern design I kept seeing on sweaters. I found a waffle pattern called the Basket Rib and I thought it was nice, so I decided to turn it into a hat. This was the first hat I ever designed and it was quite simple. I also wanted a hat that I would actually wear. Something more manly and masculine. I had tried knitting together some other hat patterns, but none were giving me the look I wanted. I was shocked that there weren't many hat patterns geared towards men. I ended up making this simple Basket Rib hat. The hardest part was doing the crown shaping because it uses a slip stitch on two of the rows. Keeping that slip stitch consistent through the crown shaping was a bit of a pain. So, that took some trial and error. I eventually put it online for free. I hoped

that I would build a following for myself and it’s still my most popular pattern. I think there are almost 1000 projects that people have made using that hat pattern. I’ve actually created an updated version of it for this issue of Yarnist magazine.

HOW HAS KNITTING CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

Knitting absolutely changed my life in many ways. I've spent almost a decade knitting for a living. I've been able to create, literally, hundreds of resources that have helped people all around the world. I've also made some great friends in the community. The biggest thing is that it's allowed my family and me the freedom to live as we choose. We’ve been able to travel and have freedom in our schedule. My wife can stay home and watch the children, she can focus on her painting, and she doesn't have to work for a living anymore. I get the freedom in my schedule and it's been a very great creative outlet for me. I've learned an immense amount about starting a business and running and pivoting it. I find all of that stuff incredibly interesting. It's great to know that you're helping other people pass on family traditions. There’s also something special about wearing your own knitted stuff or giving a knitted item you made to a friend. It means so much more than buying an item at the store.

You're literally knitting part of yourself into that item by spending the time, care, love, and attention to each one of those stitches.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST PIECE OF KNITTING ADVICE?

The best advice that I can give you is Yarnist Magazine’s goal - to help you become a Fearless Knitter. I believe that the way you become fearless is by educating yourself. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because it's only when you make mistakes that you can learn to do it the correct way. The more you fail, the less likely you’ll run into obstacles in the future. One day you'll be able to look at something that you like in the store and just know how to make it yourself because you have, through trial and error, acquired the skills and learned how to apply and adapt them to your own knitting.

J ohnny has been knitting professionally since 2011.

His original website, www.NewStitchaDay.com has become a go to resource for millions of knitters around the world. When he's not knitting he likes to visit secret bars, smoke hookah, and play board games.

He currently lives in Tallinn, Estonia with his wife, three kids (and twins on the way).

You can follow him on Ravelry as J ohnnyVasquez .

FAULTY TOWERS

Designed by Margaret Weinert-Lishner

The Faulty Towers hat is knit in the round from the bottom up and features a wide rib pattern with twisted stitches. The crown shaping used integrated decreased for a professional looking finish.

FAULTY TOWERS PATTERN DETAILS

SKILL LEVEL

Intermediate

SIZE

One Size Fits Most

DIMENSIONS

Width: 8 inches/ 20cm Length: 11 inches/ 28cm

YARN NEEDLES GAUGE

1 Ball of Pacifica Yarn Company’s Zephyr DK Color used in photo: Sand Dollar

Size US 8 16” circular needle and matching dpns Size US 6 16” circular needle **Or size needed to obtain gauge

3.5 sts/inch in Stockinette Stitch on larger needles

ADDITIONAL NOTIONS

Tapestry needle, cable needle

YARN SUGGESTIONS

Affordable Mid Range Luxury

Lion Brand Yarn WoolEase [80% acrylic, 20% wool; 197 yd/180 m per 3 oz/85 g skein]; color: Natural Heather; 1 skein

KnitPicks Wool of the Andes [100% Peruvian highland wool; 110 yd/100 m per 1.76 oz/50 g skein]; color: Mink Heather; 2 skeins

Imperial Yarn Willamette [100% American wool; 105 yd/96 m per 1.76 oz/50 g skein]; color: Natural; 2 skeins

FAULTY TOWERS PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

Glossary of stitch abbreviations can be found on page 104

CAST ON

Using the smaller circular needle, CO 84 sts using an Alternating Long Tail Cast. Join in the round, being careful not to twist.

Place marker to mark the beginning of round.

BODY

Round 1-7: *K1, P1; rep from * across round.

Switching to larger circular needle, work one round in K5 P2 Ribbing.

Round 1: * 1/1 LC, K3, P2; repeat from * to end

Round 2: *K5, P2; repeat from * to end

Round 3: *K1, 1/1 LC, K2, P2; repeat from * to end

Round 4: *K5, P2; repeat from * to end

Round 5: *K2, 1/1 LC, K1, P2; repeat from * to end

Round 6: *K5, P2; repeat from * to end

Round 7: *K3, 1/1 LC, P2; repeat from * to end

Round 8: *K5, P2; repeat from * to end

Repeat these rounds for 5 repeats , or 8.5 inches/ 22 cm from Cast On Edge, ending on Round 8.

FAULTY TOWERS PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS (CONT'D)

TOP SHAPING

Work as follows, switching to dpns when necessary

Round 1: * 1/1 LC, K3, P2, SSK, K3, P2; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 2: *K5, P2, K4, P2; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 3: *K1, SSK, K2, P2, 1/1 LC, K2, P2; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 4: *K4, P2; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 5: *K1, 1/1 LC, K1, P2, K1, SSK, K1, P2; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 6: *K4, P2, K3, P2; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 7: *K2, SSK, P2, K1, 1/1 LC, P2; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 8: *K3, P2; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 9: * 1/1 LC, K1, P2tog, 1/1 LC, K1, P2; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 10: *K3, P1, K3, P2; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 11: *K1, 1/1 LC, P1, K1, 1/1 LC, P2tog; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 12: *K3, P1; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 13: *SSK, K 1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 14: *SSK, p1; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 15: *SSK; repeat from * to end of round.

FINISHING

Cut yarn, leaving 10 inches/ 25 cm tail.

Thread the tail through the remaining 12 stitches twice, pulling the hole closed tightly and weave the tail inside of the hat.

Weave in all ends.

PATTERN

FAULTY TOWERS

GRIDIRON+

Designed by Johnny Vasquez

Gridiron was the first hat pattern I ever published. My goal was to create a masculine looking hat with a waffle texture. I used the basket rib stitch for the body and calcu lated the crown shaping to keep in pattern. It’s by far my most knit pattern, but I’ve learned a lot since I designed this 10 years ago. For this upgraded version I’ve added a rolled brim using the twisted rib stitch. The double layer around the ears make it super warm and cozy. I’ve also tweaked the crown shaping slightly. And for some added flair you can easily top it with a pom-pom.

GRIDIRON+ PATTERN DETAILS

SKILL LEVEL Intermediate

SIZE DIMENSIONS

One Size Fits Most

Width: 9.5 inches/ 24cm Length: 9.5 inches/ 24cm (without pom-pom)

YARN NEEDLES GAUGE

1 Ball of any of the suggested yarn below

1 US #10/6mm circular needle, 16-inch/40-cm # set US #10/6mm needles

13 sts/18 rounds in pattern stitch

ADDITIONAL NOTIONS

Yarn needle, pom-pom maker (optional)

YARN SUGGESTIONS

Range

Lion Brand Yarn Hue + Me [80% acrylic, 20% wool; 137 yd/125 m per 4.4 oz/125g skein]; [MC] Haze; 1 skein [CC] Rose Water; 1 skein

KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Bulky [100% Peruvian highland wool; 137 yd/125 m per 3.5 oz/100g skein]; [MC] Gosling; 1 skein [CC] Cadet; 1 skein

Imperial Yarn Klamath [100% American wool; 150 yd/137 m per 4 oz/ 113g skein]; [MC] Pearl Gray; 1 skein [CC] De mure; 1 skein PATTERN

GRIDIRON+

GRIDIRON+ PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

Glossary of stitch abbreviations can be found on page 104

HAT BRIM

With CC: CO 64 sts using Alternating Long Tail Cast On or other cast on for ribbing.

Round 1: (K1 tbl, p1) around.

Repeat Round 1 until fabric measures 3.5 inches/ 9 cm from co edge.

Switch to MC, then continue working in pattern until fabric reaches 6 inches/ 15 cm from co edge.

Next round: Fold the cast on edge (with MC on inside) so it is even with the current round. Knit the two rounds together, inserting the needle into the live stitch AND the corresponding stitch in the cast on round. Knit all sts.

HAT BODY

Round 1 & 2: Knit

Round 3: (Sl1, k1)

Round 4: (Sl1, p1)

Repeat rounds 1-4 until fabric measures 5.5 inches / 14 cm from rolled edge. Finish pattern on round 4.

GRIDIRON+ PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

CONTINUE ON THE NEXT PAGE

GRIDIRON+ PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS (CONT'D)

CROWN SHAPING

Switch to DPNs

Round 1 : (K1, k2tog, k9, ssk) around. (8 sts dec | 56 sts)

Round 2: Knit

Round 3: (Sl1, k2tog, k7, ssk) around. (8 sts dec | 48 sts)

Round 4: (Sl1, p1)

Round 5: (K1, k2tog, k5, ssk) around. (8 sts dec | 40 sts)

Round 6: Knit

Round 7: (Sl1, k2tog, k3, ssk) around. (8 sts dec | 32 sts)

Round 8: (Sl1, p1)

Round 9: (K1, k2tog, k1, ssk) around. (8 sts dec | 24 sts)

Round 10: Knit

Round 3: (Sl1, sl2-k1-p2sso) around. (8 sts dec | 16 sts)

Round 4: (Ssk) around. (8 sts dec | 8 sts)

FINISHING

Cut yarn leaving a tail of at least 5 inches/ 13 cm. Thread darning needle, then pick up the final 8 stitches twice. Pull tight.

Weave in ends and block.

KUMOI

Designed by Johnny Vasquez

Kumoi is a lace rib beanie based on the ladder to the sky stitch. It incorporates simple lace details to add a feminine touch to the traditional ribbed hat shape.

This hat uses an easy to remember 4 row repreat that is quick and fun to knit. It makes a great gift that all your girlfriends will be begging you to make for them.

KUMOI PATTERN DETAILS

SKILL LEVEL

Beginner

SIZE DIMENSIONS

One Size Fits Most

Width: 8.5 inches/ 22cm Length: 10.5 inches/ 27cm

YARN NEEDLES GAUGE

1 Ball Lion Brand [80% Acrylic, 20% Wool; 197yd/ 180m per 3 oz/ 85 g skein]; color: Dark Rose Heath er; 1 skeins

1 set(s) US #7/4.5 mm needles, 16 inch/ 40cm 1 set(s) US #7/4.5 mm DPNs

1 set(s) US #5/3.5mm needles, 16 inch/ 40cm

16 sts = 4 inches/ 10cm in pattern stitch Note: gauge is always taken after blocking

Affordable

Lion Brand Yarn WoolEase [80% acrylic, 20% wool; 197 yd/180 m per 3 oz/85 g skein]; color: Koi; 1 skein

YARN SUGGESTIONS

Mid Range Luxury

KnitPicks Wool of the Andes [100% Peruvian highland wool; 110 yd/100 m per 1.76 oz/50 g skein]; color: Solar Flare Heather; 2 skeins

Malabrigo Rios [100% Super wash Merino wool; 210 yd/192 m per 3.53 oz/100 g skein]; color: Glazed Carrot; 1 skeins

KUMOI PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

Glossary of stitch abbreviations can be found on page 104

CAST ON

Cast on 84 stitches using the Knitted On Cast On

HAT BRIM

Round 1: (P1, k4, p1) rep to end

Rep Round 1 until fabric measures 2.5 inches/ 6.5 cm

Next Round: K all stitches

Rep Round 1 until fabric measures 5 inches / 13 cm

HAT BODY

Round 1: (P1, k2tog, yo, k2, p1) repeat to end Round 2: (P1, k4, p1) repeat to end

Round 3: (P1, k2, yo, SL1-K1-PSSO, p1) repeat to end

Round 4: Rep round 2

Rep rounds 1-4 until fabric measures ≈11 inches / 30 cm from cast on edge, ending with round 4

KUMOI PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

CONTINUE ON THE NEXT PAGE

KUMOI PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS (CONT'D)

CROWN SHAPING

Transition to DPNs

Next Round: Continue working in pattern and PM every 14 stitches

Round 1: (K2tog, work in pattern until marker) rep to end. (6 sts dec) 78sts

Round 2 : (K2tog, work in pattern until marker) rep to end. (6 sts dec) 72 sts

Round 3: (K2tog, work in pattern until marker) rep to end. (6 sts dec) 66sts

Round 4: (K2tog, work in pattern until marker) rep to end. (6 sts dec) 60sts

Round 5 : (K2tog, work in pattern until marker) rep to end. (6 sts dec) 54 sts

Round 6: (K2tog, work in pattern until marker) rep to end. (6 sts dec) 48 sts

Round 7: (K2tog, work in pattern until marker) rep to end. (6 sts dec) 42 sts

Round 8: (K2tog, work in pattern until marker) rep to end. (6 sts dec) 36 sts

Round 9: (K2tog, work in pattern until marker) rep to end. (6 sts dec) 30 sts

Round 10: (K2tog, work in pattern until marker) rep to end. (6 sts dec) 24 sts

Round 11: (K2tog, work in pattern until marker) rep to end. (6 sts dec) 18 sts

Round 12: (K2tog, work in pattern until marker) rep to end. (6 sts dec) 12 sts

Round 13: (K2tog) rep to end. (6 sts dec) 6 sts

FINISHING

Break yarn and attach darning needle. Pick up all 6 remaining sts with darning needle (twice).

Then weave in ends. Optional (Make Pom Pom and attach to top).

MANHATTAN

Designed by Johnny Vasquez

In the style of a classic watchman’s cap, the ManHATtan is a reversible ribbed beanie. It features a twisted rib on one side, and a traditional 1x1 rib on the other. The crown is split into five sections using paired decreases, giving the top a nice symmetry. The unisex design and simple construction make this a great project to give as a gift or donate to your favorite charity.

MANHATTAN PATTERN DETAILS

SKILL LEVEL Intermediate

SIZE

One Size Fits Most

DIMENSIONS

Width: 8.5 inches/ 21.5 cm Length: 11 inches/ 29 cm

YARN NEEDLES GAUGE

1 ball of any of the suggested yarn below

1 US 7/4.5mm circular needle, 16 inch/40 cm

1 set US 7 /4.5mm double pointed needles

16 sts/23 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in pattern stitch

ADDITIONAL NOTIONS

Yarn needle, stitch markers

Affordable

Lion Brand Yarn WoolEase [80% acrylic, 20% wool; 197 yd/180 m per 3 oz/85 g skein]; color: Natural Heather; 1 skein

YARN SUGGESTIONS

Mid Range

Luxury

KnitPicks Wool of the Andes [100% Peruvian highland wool; 110 yd/100 m per 1.76 oz/50 g skein]; color: Mink Heather; 2 skeins

Imperial Yarn Willamette [100% American wool; 105 yd/96 m per 1.76 oz/50 g skein]; color: Natural; 2 skeins

MANHATTAN PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

Glossary of stitch abbreviations can be found on page 104

CAST ON

Cast on 70 sts using Italian cast on or other cast on for ribbing

HAT BODY

Prep Round [RS]: (K1, p1) to end of round

Round 1: (K1 tbl, P1) to end of round

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 9.5 inches / 24 cm from cast on edge

CROWN SHAPING

Note: you may wish to place a stitch marker every 14 stitches to mark the decreases.

Round 1: (K1 tbl, k2tog, [p1, k1 tbl] x 3, p1, ssk, k1 tbl, p1) around. (10 sts dec | 60 sts)

Round 2: Work in pattern, knit tbl the knits and purl the purls

Round 3: (Ssk, p1, [k1 tbl, p1] x 3, k2tog, p1) around. (10 sts dec | 50 sts)

Round 4: Work in pattern, knit tbl the knits and purl the purls

Round 5: (K1 tbl, k2tog, [p1, k1 tbl] x 2, p1, ssk, k1 tbl, p1) around. (10 sts dec | 40 sts)

Round 6: Work in pattern, knit tbl the knits and purl the purls

MANHATTAN PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS (CONT'D)

Round 7: (Ssk, p1, [k1 tbl, p1] x 2, k2tog, p1) around. (10 sts dec | 30 sts)

Round 8: Work in pattern, knit tbl the knits and purl the purls

Round 9: (K1 tbl, k2tog, p1, k1 tbl, p1, ssk, k1 tbl, p1) around. (10 sts dec | 20 sts)

Round 10: Work in pattern, knit tbl the knits and purl the purls

Round 11: (Sl2-k1-p2sso, p1) around. (10 sts dec | 10 sts)

Round 12: (Ssk) around. (5 sts dec | 5 sts)

FINISHING

Cut yarn leaving a tail of at least 5 inches / 13 cm.

Thread darning needle, then pick up the final 5 stitches twice. Pull tight. Weave in ends and block.

SIDEWINDER DEUX

Designed by Johnny Vasquez

This is a double layered version of my original Sidewinder hat. It is knit flat on its side, with the crown shaping taking place on both ends using short rows. The end result is a warm, thick hat with a rolled brim, the look of ribbing, but much easier and faster to knit.

SIDEWINDER DEUX DETAILS

SKILL LEVEL Beginner

SIZE

DIMENSIONS

One Size Fits Most Width: 9 inches/ 24cm Length: 8 inches/ 20cm

YARN NEEDLES GAUGE

1 ball of any of the suggested yarn below 1 US 5/ 3.5 mm circular needle, 16-inch/ 40 cm

ADDITIONAL NOTIONS

Yarn needle, stitch markers

19 sts/ 32 rows = 4 inches/ 10 cm in garter stitch

YARN SUGGESTIONS

Affordable Mid Range Luxury

Lion Brand Yarn WoolEase [80% acrylic, 20% wool; 197 yd/180 m per 3 oz/85 g skein]; color: Koi; 1 skein

KnitPicks Wool of the Andes [100% Peruvian highland wool; 110 yd/100 m per 1.76 oz/50 g skein]; color: Solar Flare Heather; 2 skeins

Imperial Yarn Willamette [100% American wool; 105 yd/96 m per 1.76 oz/50 g skein]; color: Topaz; 2 skeins

SIDEWINDER DEUX PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

Glossary of stitch abbreviations can be found on page 104

PATTERN NOTES

This hat is worked fl at, side to side, then seamed together in the round. It consists of 6 identical panels.

CAST ON

CO 80 sts loosely (For a longer hat add 8 sts for every extra inch / 2.54 cm)

SIDE PANEL

Prep Round [RS]: (K1, p1) to end of round

Row 1: K to last st, W&T

Row 2: Rep row 1

Row 3: K to last wrapped st, W&T

Row 4: Rep row 3

Rep Rows 3 - 4, 9 times more. (22 rows / 11 wraps worked)

Row 23: K all sts, picking up wrap and knit together with st

Row 24: Rep row 23

Rep Side Panel 5 times more (6 panels made)

SIDEWINDER DEUX PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

CONTINUE ON THE NEXT PAGE

SIDEWINDER DEUX PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

FINISHING

Cut a yarn tail at least 32 inches / 80 cm and thread through a darning needle.

Seam only the sides together using whip stitch. DO NOT use a mattress stitch. Leave the hole around the top and bottom unseamed.

Once seamed, push the end of the hat without the tail inside the other.

The hat should now look like a normal beanie.

With the needle still attached to the tail, pick up the 6 ridges along the top, going through the corresponding ridge on the layer below.

Repeat this step once more and pull tight.

Weave in ends and block.

KNITTING 911

Fixing your knitting emergencies

WHAT IS A SHORT ROW AND WHEN WOULD YOU USE ONE?

A short row is a method of shaping your fabric without actually decreasing or removing stitches.

Generally, you’ll use this to build up a particular section of the fabric before coming back to work on the rest of the stitches. You most often see this done with using what’s called a wrap and turn. First, you stop knitting the current row at a certain point, then you’ll wrap your working yarn around the base of the last stitch, slip that stitch back, and then turn your work around. You’ll then continue knitting in the other direction.

When you come back over the wrapped stitch, you’ll pick up the wrap and knit it together with the stitch it was wrapped around. You’ll most often see this tech nique in sock heels, as short row shaping is great for making cupped fabric. But you’ll also see this in the shaping of sweater collars, shawl collars on sweaters, and even as a design element in shawls. One special use for short rows is creating some extra room in the bust of a sweater.

Short row shaping is the main design feature used in my Sidewinder hat pattern. The hat is knit sideways using a garter stitch, with the shaping taking place on one end of the fabric. Once all of the short row sections are finished, the

top and bottom are seamed together, and the garter ridges end up looking like ribbing.

EXAMPLE OF A SHORT ROW

GO DEEPER

While the wrap and turn method is the most common, we cover five different short rows in our Knitting 104 class, Increases, Decreases, and Short rows on Knitiversity+.

Find out more at: www.yarn.ist/k104

HOW DO I PREVENT LADDERS FROM FORMING WHEN KNITTING IN THE ROUND?

Ladders are little bars that can form between your needles, most often when using double-pointed needles to knit in the round. Usually, this is because the tension in the yarn is too loose or the stitches get pulled apart when knitting from one needle to the other.

There is no foolproof way to keep ladders from forming, but there are a few things you can do to both prevent them from becoming a problem, and fix them if they’re already there.

First, tighten your stitches. When you are finishing the stitches on one needle, tighten the last stitch down. Then, as you switch to the other needle to start knit ting, tighten that stitch and the stitch after that. This will ensure that there’s very little room for a gap to form be tween the needles. And by tightening the second stitch on the needle, you’ll get more uniform tensions across the row.

Next, keep your needles close together when knitting. The ladders form when a gap is created between the needles, so the smaller the amount of move ment between your needles, the less likely a ladder will be created.

Finally, as long as your ladders are not too big, blocking your fabric should help a lot. The blocking process allows your stitches to re-distribute throughout your knitted fabric. This results in a smoother, more profes sional-looking fabric, It will also help to minimize those ladder gaps if you still have any left.

GO DEEPER

For more information on dealing with ladders, check out Knitting 105: Knitting in the round for beginners (www.yarn.ist/k105).

And if you want to learn how to block your knitting the right way, check out the Ultimate Guide to Finishing Techniques (www.yarn.ist/UG-finish).

EXAMPLE OF A LADDERS

WHAT IS THE BEST CAST-ON FOR RIBBING?

A lot of people learn one cast-on and that’s what they use for every project. When I first started knitting I learned the Long-Tail Cast-On. This is a good general cast-on for more projects, but, when you want your cast-on edge to stretch along with ribbing, it’s not the best choice.

Here are three better options for starting a ribbed piece of fabric.

1. The Alternating Long Tail Cast-On Example and tutorial on page 100

This cast-on method is almost exactly the same as the regular Long-Tail caston, but with one important difference. Every other stitch is created backwards. You’ll use the same movements as the normal cast-on, but coming through the loop on your index finger instead of your thumb.

Doing this creates a knit stitch and then a purl stitch in your cast-on row. You can also vary this for any kind of ribbing; 2x2, 2x3, 4x4, etc.

2. The Alternating Cable Cast-On

For video tutorial visit www.yarn.ist/alt-cbl-co

Similar to the Alternating Long-Tail, this version of the Cable Cast-On in volves pulling your new cast-on stitches through in opposite directions. This cast-on creates a more durable, almost braided edge, which makes it ideal for edges with lots of wear and tear.

With a normal Cable cast-on, you will draw a stitch through your slip knot and place it on the needle. Then you’ll draw a stitch between the first and second stitches, and place it on the needle. Going forward you’ll pull the next stitch be tween the last two stitches, going in the other direction.

The result is a zig-zag pattern that stretches nicely with the ribbing. Like the alternating Long-Tail, this method can also be adapted to any type of ribbing pattern.

TOP / EXAMPLE OF THE ALTERNATING CABLE CAST ON WITH 1X1 RIBBING

3. The Italian Cast-On

For video tutorial visit www.yarn.ist/italian-co

The Italian cast-on is by far my favor ite cast-on for ribbing. This is a tubular cast-on, meaning that the edge created is actually a small tube. There are multi ple methods for creating a tubular-style cast-on. They are great for ribbing because they are extremely elastic while still quite strong. But their biggest ad vantage is the professional, clean-look ing edge they have, giving your project that ready-to-wear finish just like the sweaters and hats you buy at the mall.

This is also the most complicated cast-on on this list. It’s easier to watch a video on the method to see how it is performed. While it can be a challenge to wrap your head around how to do this cast-on, with a little practice you will be able to cast-on a lot of stitches very quickly.

The Italian cast-on is the perfect cast-on for knitting brioche stitches as well. Keep in mind this cast-on will give your entire fabric a different tension, so if you plan to use it in a project, make sure you use this cast-on in your gauge swatch too.

GO DEEPER

There are dozens of different cast-ons and bind-offs, and each one has its own use. Having a few of these in your skillset will give you a lot of flexibility when knitting different kinds of projects. If you’d like to explore more than 50 different cast-ons and bind-offs check out our class, The Ultimate Guide to Knitting Cast-Ons and Bind-Offs.

Learn more at: www.yarn.ist/UG-COBO

EXAMPLE OF THE ITALIAN CAST ON WITH 1X1 RIBBING

HOW DO I JOIN MY YARN IN THE ROUND SO IT IS SEAMLESS?

Joining your yarn in the round is not always as intuitive as you might think. It’s easy to get a small gap or a large one that’s difficult to close up later. Solutions like knitting two together don’t always work in your pattern or they create a bulky stitch that just doesn’t look nice.

Personally, I usually knit the first four rows or so flat before joining in the round. It gives you a more stable piece of fabric to work with. There’s no fear of twisting the cast-on row, and usually, you don’t have to do anything special to start knitting in the round. You’ll just seam up the four stitches at the end of the project.

But if seaming is not your thing, here’s a great little trick.

Add one extra stitch to your cast-on row. Then when joining in the round, slip the first stitch of your row to your working needle. Next, you’ll slip the last stitch from the previous round over the first stitch. Then slip the first stitch back to your main needle and pull the last stitch tight around the first stitch.

GO DEEPER

If you want more tips and tricks for knitting in the round like this check out our Knitting 105 class, Knitting in the Round for Beginners. Learn more at: www.yarn.ist/k105

EXAMPLE OF AN INVISIBLE JOIN

TECHNIQUE TUTORIAL

How to make a rolled brim

WATCH THE VIDEO YARN.IST/ROLLED-BRIM

A rolled brim is a simple way to make a thicker brim on a hat. The doubled fabric creates additional warmth. Plus it gives the finished edge a more professional, seamless look.

Step 1: Once you have knit the length of your brim to double over, fold the fabric in half so the cast on edge and live stitches are even. Your cast on edge should be on the inside of your fabric.

Step 2: Insert your working needle through the first stitch on your main needle as normal

Step 3: Insert your working needle through the corresponding cast on edge stitch.

Step 4a: Knit these two stitches together. You may have to work the back stitch first and then continue through the front stitch.

TO DO THE ROLLED BRIM (CONT'D)

Step 4b: Pull both stitches off the main needle together.

Step 5: Bring working yarn to the front of your work and insert the working needle through the next stitch on the BACK needle, as if to purl.

Step 6: Continue inserting your working needle through the corresponding stitch in the Cast On edge.

Step 7a: Purl both stitches together.

Step 7b: Pull both stitches off the main needle. Step 8: Continue working in pattern until all stitches are worked together.

TECHNIQUE TUTORIAL

Alternating long tail technique

WATCH THE VIDEO YARN.IST/ALT-LT

This is a variation of the Long Tail Cast On. Instead of using the traditional long tail, this technique alternates between a regular long tail stitch and a reverse long tail, creating stitches perfectly situated for 1×1 ribbing. This technique can be used for any kind of ribbing sequence.

HOW TO DO THE ALTERNATING LONG TAIL

Step 1a: After folding your long tail in two, place your thumb and forefinger through the bend in the tail. Stretch your finger to create tension on the strand between them. Hold the tails of the yarn in the palm of your hand, creating loops around each finger.

Warning! - Make sure you measure enough yarn to cast on all your stitches.

Step 1b: Twist your knitting needle around the strand between your fingers, creating a loop on the needle. Then pull your fingers back like a sling shot.

HOW TO DO THE ALTERNATING LONG TAIL (CONT'D)

Step 2a: Take your needle and bring it AROUND and UNDER the bottom of the loop on your thumb.

Step 2a: Pull the needle through the loop on your thumb.

Step 3a: Take the tip of your needle and bring it OVER the TOP strand on your index finger.

Step 3b: Pull the top strand through the loop on your thumb.

Step 4a: Release the loop on your thumb.

Step 4b: Tighten the stitch around your nee dle, leaving enough room to slide the stitch along the needle easily.

Step 5: Reset your fingers by creating another "V" with they yarn, like a sling shot.

TO DO THE ALTERNATING LONG TAIL (CONT'D)

Step 6a: Take your needle and come UNDER the BOTTOM strand of the loop on your Index finger.

Step 6b: Pull the needle through the loop around your index finger.

Step 7a: Bring the needle OVER the TOP strand of the loop on your thumb.

Step 7b: Pull the top strand around your thumb through the loop on your index finger.

Step 8: Release the loop from your index finger.

Step 9: Tighten the stitch around your needle, leaving enough room to slide the stitch along the needle easily.

Repeat steps 2 - 9 until you have cast on all of your stitches.

GLOSSARY

Stitch and Pattern Abbreviations

LC

One over one left cross

Slip next st to cable needle and hold in front. Knit next st from main needle. Knit stitch from cable needle.

Contrasting color

Cast on

Decrease(d)

Knit

Knit two together

Knit through the back loop

Main color

Purl

Purl Two Together

Pass slipped stitch over Remain(s)

Repeat Round(s)

Slip stitch

Slip one st with yarn in front, yo Slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over Slip two, knit one, pass two slipped stitches over Slip slip knit Stitch(es)

Yarn over

With yarn in back With yarn In front Wrap and Turn

Slip the next stitch after your turning point onto your working needle. Wrap your working yarn around the slipped stitch. Slip the stitch back to your main needle. Turn your work and continue knitting in the opposite direction.

Once you are ready to knit over your wrapped stitches, pick up the wrap and place it onto your main needle, then knit the wrap and the wrapped stitch together.

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