Stitch ’n Bitch Superstar Knitting Go Beyond the Basics

536 Pages·2012·17.87 MB·English

by  Debbie Stoller

Coco Cardigan, see page 332.
Stitch ’n Bitch
Superstar
Knitting

GO BEYOND THE BASICS

Debbie Stoller

with photography by Gabrielle Revere

WORKMAN PUBLISHING • NEW YORK
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This has been the longest, most postponeiest book I’ve ever done. For their incredible patience and
generosity in working with me and my busy schedule, and for allowing me the time I needed to
recover from some health-related events, I am forever indebted to Peter Workman and especially
Suzie Bolotin. I cannot express how thankful I am for their help, not just professionally, but also
personally.
I am so very happy that my editor, Ruth Sullivan, was available to work on this book again. Not
only did she manage to carefully edit a highly technical book even though she hasn’t gone beyond the
first Stitch ’n Bitch book’s skills in her own knitting, but she also managed to do so while dealing
with some health issues of her own. Even when it’s wounded, her talented hand is able to make my
writing so very much better, and I don’t know what I’d do without her.
I’m equally glad that Janet Vicario was able to art direct the book and photo shoots once again; she
always knows just what to do to make everything look great. On this book, she was assisted by Jen
Browning and Claudia Petrilli, who brought a whole new level of cuteness to the page designs. And to
Adrienne Yan, who had to draw my creaky hands over and over again, thank you so much. Also, a
special shout-out to Julianna Cavano, Jodi Doff, and Peter Stoller for taking reference photos for all
those illos.
Edie Eckman and Eve Ng brought their careful eagle eyes to their pattern tech-edits, and Irene
Demchyshyn brought her No. 2 pencil to get all the copyediting done well and correctly. For their
precision, patience, and good humor in the face of a lengthy and challenging project, I am ever
thankful.
Photo editor Anne Kerman and her lovely team, including photo coordinator Danielle Hark and
photo assistant Sophia Su, produced an exquisitely beautiful photo shoot for this book. I am most
grateful to the talents of wonderful photographer Gabrielle Revere, amazing wardrobe stylist Ellen
Silverstein and her assistant Lisa Metropolis, skilled hair and makeup gal Amy Schiappa, and
photographer’s assistant Hibbard Nash and digital tech, Jessie Adler. None of these projects would
look nearly as adorable if they weren’t being worn by such great models: Chyna, Ciara, Hannah, and
Jeanette, as well as John, Shannon, and Dudly the dog of Ocean Grove, New Jersey, where these
photos were shot. And, once again, I am grateful to Michael Lavine for taking such a nice cover photo
despite the poor choice of model.
Of course, there wouldn’t even be any projects to photograph if it weren’t for the incredible talents
of all of the designers who allowed me to include their patterns in this book. I am so amazed at their
mad skillz, and insanely indebted to them for their contributions.
Every girl needs some backup, and I am so glad that Jennifer Wertkin and Sarah Graham were
available to assist me with this book project, and thankful to Jill Astmann, Marney Andersen, and
Jennifer Wendell for their helpful knitting hands.
My agent and fairy godmother, Flip Brophy, continues to make my life so much better, and I deeply
appreciate the lovely ladies at BUST magazine, especially my biz partner Laurie Henzel, for giving
me the space I needed to write.
Finally, for all the support they give me in everything I do, I want to thank my mom, Johanna
Stoller, and my boo and best friend, Michael Uman.
CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
PART I: THE STITCHES
CHAPTER 1
ROWS ARE RED, ROWS ARE BLUE: COLOR KNITTING USING ONE COLOR AT A TIME
Stripes? Cripes! * Making Clean Color Changes in Ribbing * The Underappreciated Slip Stitch *
Color by Numbers * Slip-Stitching in the Round * Two-Color Tubular Knitting * Double Knitting
CHAPTER 2
KNIT, IF YOU WILL, A PICTURE: CREATING IMAGES WITH INTARSIA
The Rules of the Game * The Right Yarn for the Job * Yarn Lengths in Intarsia * Making a Figure
Eight Yarn Bobbin * Adding a New Color Yarn * Linking Your Yarns Together * Tight-Knit Edges *
Combining Intarsia and Stranded Knitting * Crocheting Vertical Color Columns * Nip/Tuck Finishing
* Intarsia in the Round

The Life Aquatic, see page 202.

CHAPTER 3
STRAND AND DELIVER: TWO-COLOR KNITTING USING THE STRANDED TECHNIQUE
Finding the Right Yarn Hold * Float Like a Butterfly * Yarn Dominance * How to “Catch” Floats:
Catching Techniques for Different Hand Holds * Let’s Talk About Steeks, Baby * Different Steeks for
Different Freaks * Picking Up Stitches on Steeked Projects
CHAPTER 4
CABLES AND BITS: ADDING TEXTURE IN YOUR KNITTING WITH CABLES, TWISTED
STITCHES, BOBBLES, AND MORE
Look Ma! No Needle! * Cable Guide * Traveling Stitches * 2-Stitch Crosses and Twists * Bavarian
Twisted Switch * Fake It Till You Make It * How to Fix Miscrossed Cables * The Color Cable *
Adjusting Your Fabric for Cables * Bobble Heads

Love Me or Leaf Me Bag, see page 250.

CHAPTER 5
LACE: THE FINAL FRONTIER
Selecting Your Materials * The Lace Knitter’s Tool Kit: Yarn Overs and Decreases * Reading Lace
Charts * The Hole Story of Creating Lace * Lace Bandages: Preventing and Dealing With Mistakes *
Who You Calling a Faggot? * Shaping in Lace Knitting * Cast-Ons and Bind-Offs for Lace *
Blocking Lace * Know Your Nupps
CHAPTER 6
KNIT BLING BLING: ADDING A LITTLE SUMPIN’ SUMPIN’ WITH BEADS AND EMBROIDERY
Beads on a Wire * Beading Between the Lines * The Bead Goes On * All-Over “Bead Knitting” * By
Hook or By Crook * Embroidery on Knitting * Stitching Like a Big Girl
CHAPTER 7
STITCH WITCHERY: A USEFUL ASSORTMENT OF STITCHES
Start Me Up * Provisional Cast-Ons * Tubular Cast-Ons * Happy Endings * A Smorgasbord of
Increases and Decreases * Kitchener Stitch Every Which Way * Cords * Buttonhole Surfers * Short
Rows
Sweetheart Sweater, see page 315.

PART II: HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN PATTERNS
CHAPTER 8
DIY: DESIGN IT YOURSELF: SKETCHING, SWATCHING, MEASURING, AND DRAFTING
Dream a Little Dream * Sketch and Kvetch * Swatch Watch * Pattern Drafting * Measure Twice, Knit
Once: Gauge * Measuring Up: Taking Body Measurements for Pattern Drafting * Knitting by the
Numbers

Tiger Lily Stuffed Animal, see page 345.

CHAPTER 9
DROP IT LIKE IT’S HOT: DRAFTING A DROP-SHOULDER SWEATER
Filling in the Measurements * Filling in the Stitches * All About Ease * Writing Out the Pattern * The
Magic Formula * Modified Drop Shoulder
CHAPTER 10
FROM RAGS TO RICHES: DRAFTING RAGLAN-SLEEVE AND CIRCULAR YOKE SWEATERS
Filling in the Measurements * Filling in the Stitches * The Perfect Sleeve Cap Width * Writing Out the
Pattern * Raglan in the Round * Circular Yoke Sweater * Placing Designs and Futzing with the
Formulas
CHAPTER 11
BRINGING OUT THE BIG GUNS: THE SET-IN SLEEVE SWEATER
Filling in the Measurements * Filling in the Stitches * Writing Out the Pattern
CHAPTER 12
DETAILS, DETAILS: NECKLINES, CARDIGAN BANDS, AND ESTIMATING YARN AMOUNTS
Ring Around the Collar * Designing a Cardigan * I’m With the Band * How Much Yarn? You Do the
Math * One, Two, Pick up Stitch
ABBREVIATIONS
PART III: THE PATTERNS
COLOR BASICS AND STITCH WITCHERY
Dress to Impress Baby Dress
Dutch Touch Skirt
Baby Corn Dress
Tulip Top
Rococo Shawl
Tiptoes Socks
INTARSIA AND STRANDED KNITTING
Squirrelly Mittens
Hip Hop Blanket
Steeks and Stones Cardigan
The Life Aquatic Sweater
Skull Isle Socks
Button It! Kid’s Sweater
Lotus Bag
Sheepy Time Kid’s Sweater
Bookish Cardigan
In Bloom Bag
Little Red Riding Hoodie, see page 254.

CABLES, BOBBLES, AND TRAVELING STITCHES
Sea and Surf Sweater
Colorful Cable Hat
Gretel Tam
Dog-O-Matic Doggie Sweater
Love Me or Leaf Me Bag
Little Red Riding Hoodie
Lattice Top
Fertility Blanket
Saxon the City Stockings
Laced-Up Socks
LACE
Frilly Filly Scarf
No Plastic Please Mesh Tote
Crush Shrug
The Empire Strikes Back Dress
Nip/Tuck Sweater
English Mesh Lace Skirt
Leafy Lace Cardigan
Sweetheart Sweater
Haiku Sweater
Flirty Knee-highs
BEADS AND EMBROIDERY
Beatrice Gloves
Coco Cardigan
Sparkle Sweater
Moonshine Wristlets
Tiger Lily Stuffed Animal
INDEX
CREDITS