Measuring for sweater fit A survey for knitting Clothing size charts for women are based on 1939-1941 data collection of women's body measurements that only included white women aged 18-30. Size charts today still strongly reflect this data, including for knitting. Over the last decade, some sweater designers have worked to change that. Read on to participate in a survey toward creating a size chart for knitting that represents women's bodies today. History of women's size charts Did you know that modern size charts for women's clothing are based on data collection in the US from 1939-41? The survey was conducted by R. O'Brien and W. C. Shelton through the Bureau of Home Economics and their research became the model for sizing throughout...
Getting to know knitters Laine Magazine, a knitting magazine distributed worldwide, recently published the findings of a survey conducted primarily with European and US knitters. The survey found that most in their community of knitters are over 45 years of age, want to be challenged and learn new techniques in their knitting, and want their craft to be respected, rid of stereotypes, and taught to younger generations. Read on to see how the Laine community responses compare to those from a similar survey we conducted with our June Cashmere community about a year ago. The parallels are interesting! Even though the two surveys didn't word questions in quite the same way, I believe we can draw similar conclusions as to who makes up our...
Knitting a raglan sweater so it fits To knit a raglan sweater so it fits, there are several body measurements we need, including the upper torso circumference, raglan depth, bicep circumference, and various length measurements: sweater length, sleeve length, and armpit to hem length. Read on to see how to use this information to knit a raglan sweater so it will fit you. Knitting sweaters from Laine 21 This summer, we’re getting together and knitting some of the designs in Laine 21 in June Cashmere. Two of the sweaters in the issue especially appealed to our knitters: Lucienne by Audrey Borrego and Facette by Faïza Mebazaa. Facette by Faïza Mebazaa, image from Laine 21 Lucienne by Audrey Borrego; photo...
Marigold stole with stretchy bind-off. Choosing appropriate cast-on and matching bind-off methods can make all the difference in your knitting. Have you ever spent precious time, energy, and money on a knitting project only to have your beginning and ending edges be wonky? You know, you knit an awesome hat but your cast-on is so tight that you can't get the hat to fit comfortably on your head. That kind of wonky. When your cast-on is too tight or too loose I had a cast-on/bind-off mishap during the designing process for Marigold. It was sort of a case of 'you don't know what you don't know' in that I didn't realize that lace knitting requires a very stretchy cast-on method so that the yarn-overs...
From Winter to Spring. Spring officially has sprung in the Northern Hemisphere, albeit in some places, the usual markers are slow to arrive. Parts of Canada are still in the freeze and thaw zone with no sightings yet of greening or daffodils. In southern Kyrgyzstan, the 20,000 foot mountain snow is melting after the long, hard winter. The shepherd families that supply our cashmere fiber live in villages in the Ferghana Valley, accessed by the ancient Silk Road. Paved in just the last decade or so, the mountain road is windy and snowy in winter. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty published this video sharing the story of how one man keeps the road clear. As spring gives clearer Silk Road access to shepherd families,...