Mother of Purl (2 page)

Because I was in the forefront of the knitting renaissance, I have had an unprecedented involvement in the evolution of my craft. I have worked closely with yarn manufacturers and needle companies to help them develop new lines, and have given them a perspective on what clients really want and need, as well as what doesn’t work. In a way, it was as if yarn was flowing through my veins and I was able to connect with my customers, offering them resources they couldn’t find elsewhere. I became adept at designing patterns for my clients when they couldn’t find interesting ones in existing books and magazines. I was unmotivated by the ordinary; I wanted the extraordinary, and so did my clients. Since its inception, La Knitterie Parisienne has been known for its incredible selection of inventory, its excellent customer service, and now for my original one–of–a–kind designs.

As word spread about my shop, people were traveling from all distances to share in the experience. From their first foot in the door, they were hooked, sitting alongside fellow knitters—whom they’d soon call friends—at the large circular wooden table in the center of the store. The press wasn’t immune to our popularity, and they too became involved by reporting on this newfound knitting phenomenon. I had been touted by syndicated columnist Liz Smith as the pied piper of knitting, and word was traveling fast among the media that had crowned me the “guru of knitting” and my shop as the place to knit. My reputation as a leader within the knitting yarn industry catapulted La Knitterie Parisienne into the headlines, with media coverage in local, national, and international print and broadcast outlets.

La Knitterie Parisienne became the
it
place to sit and knit, ultimately helping to popularize the idea of the knitting circle—a place to find fun, friends, fashion, and fiber all in one spot.

Now, for the first time, I am gathering everything I have learned over the years into one complete resource:
Mother of Purl: Friends, Fun, and Fabulous Designs at Hollywood’s Knitting Circle.
More than just a pattern book,
Mother of Purl
is a sophisticated knitting book, showcasing my techniques and tips that will encourage you to explore your own creativity and incite a passion to knit some really incredible designs—designs that I have created especially for this book. From my couture–worthy ponchos, suits, skirts, dresses, shrugs, and jackets to a pink bikini, tank tops, blankets, and the ultimate diaper bag—which I’m introducing for the very first time—I hope
Mother of Purl
will inspire you to begin knitting or motivate you to further improve your knitting skills, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned knitter.

You won’t find ten methods of casting on or eight options for creating a buttonhole in
Mother of Purl.
Instead, I am offering you an inspirational resource book of the tried–and–true methods that I teach my clients every day in my store. I have created elegant designs with simple, easy–to–follow instructions that I am delighted to be able to share with you.

I truly believe that knitting can enrich one’s life, from meeting new friends, stimulating an artistic outlet, strengthening self–expression, and creating beautiful hand–knitted items.

The art of knitting transcends the basic knit one, purl one concept and inspires a continuing curiosity and desire to learn. I am an advocate for learning; it makes us better people. It is my hope that
Mother of Purl
will inspire you to keep learning and will guide you through the interesting tricks of the trade I offer my customers when we sit and knit—and even rip—until we are satisfied with what we have created.

I designed this book to appeal to knitters of every level, and my ultimate goal is to make you feel like you’re a knitter and a client sitting at my table among friends at La Knitterie Parisienne.
Mother of Purl
will both teach the basic elements of knitting and offer more advanced knitters the tried–and–true tips and techniques that I have cultivated over the years.

As you read through
Mother of Purl,
you’ll notice that this book has been set up to give you a sense of La Knitterie Parisienne’s style of knitting. My signature designs are found in the second half of the book with step–by–step instructions and photographs.

My philosophy is to help knitters find the joy in creating something of substance and style—something that is all your own. It’s amazing how universal knitting can be. I have clients from all over the world, and even when there are language barriers, we can communicate through stitches.

La Knitterie Parisienne normally closes at 6:00 p.m., but on most nights the last knitter doesn’t leave until hours after that. So I often find myself at the store until eight o’clock at night encouraging a client to learn the purl stitch, or helping her pick the perfect yarn for a project. On a typical day, I’ll teach as many as twenty people or more how to cast on and knit. Their levels of learning vary, as does their confidence. Some students grasp the concept of knitting immediately and can virtually finish a chunky scarf in one sitting, while others may struggle to understand the basic knit stitch and may sit for hours knitting and ripping the same row.

Regardless of these challenges, anyone can learn to knit, and knit well, as long as they have patience. I remind my customers that they must fully understand the basics of knitting and know how to knit and purl before moving on. Like the expression “you must learn to walk before you can run” the same is true for knitting. Equally important, knitters must learn to take one step or, more accurately, one stitch at a time.

Beginners may anticipate the difficulty of purling or creating a sweater, even before they learn the knit stitch. I tell them, why worry about something that you haven’t reached yet? Just learn one step at a time, and stick to this philosophy even as you become more experienced—read just a little ahead in the pattern; don’t worry about your armholes when you are working on your ribbing.

When I opened La Knitterie Parisienne in 1996, my goal was to create an atmosphere of warmth, where customers could feel a sense of community, find a wide selection of yarns, and become inspired through example. We strived to create a home away from home, offering caring and personal attention. Unlike walking into a store and simply selecting the blue shirt off the rack, a knitting store is unique in that customers will spend hours upon hours and sometimes consecutive days working on a project, so it’s important to feel comfortable with a knowledgeable instructor. La Knitterie Parisienne provides this and more, and it’s a place where everyone knows your name!

Before we start to knit, I must warn you that like most of us, you may become an addict. But be assured, knitting is an addiction that is safe, nonfattening, and legal. It will also bring you a tremendous amount of pleasure. Side effects have been known to prevent smoking and overeating while increasing your social circle and making numerous new friends.

Like any new activity, knitting requires obtaining the basic necessities before beginning: the proper size needles to ensure the correct gauge, a tape measure, scissors, and, of course, the most important
item: a yarn you love. At La Knitterie Parisienne, I only sell the very best quality yarns, needles, books, and patterns. I stock needles that cost as much as $30 a pair, and the finest cashmere yarn costing up to $80 a skein—but I won’t sell these items to a beginner. Instead, I recommend firsttime knitters start with simple, quality items: a chunky smooth yarn (you’ll see your results more quickly) and appropriately sized plastic or bamboo needles. A total initial expenditure should be between $30 and $50.

Yarn
.
Your first yarn purchase is critical—buy the wrong yarn and you may very well cast knitting aside in frustration and never learn. Buy the right yarn—one that feels soft to the touch and knits up easily—and you will be hooked for life. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll find yourself bitten by the knitting bug and addicted to the thrill of finding gorgeous new yarns. Once you begin to invest your time in knitting, you’ll appreciate the importance of knitting with quality yarns and come to see a $40 skein of yarn as an investment.

Following are basic guidelines to buying yarn for a first project. I will elaborate more on other yarns in the coming chapters, but for now, this is what you will need to know to begin.

• I usually recommend a chunky yarn and one that is soft to the touch and light in color. The key for a first project is to be able to see and recognize each stitch, and at the same time to enjoy seeing your project progress. A light color yarn will also aid in recognizing mistakes.
  
• Avoid knitting with a fuzzy or hairy yarn, because it will make it hard to see the stitches on your needle. If you make a mistake while knitting with this type of yarn, it is virtually impossible to see the mistake and even more difficult to rip the stitches because the yarn will become completely entangled.
  
• When offering wool as a choice of yarn, you’d be amazed at how many people say they are allergic to wool, claiming it irritates their skin, when actually
  they are remembering the coarse scratchy wools they may have worn as a child. Wools have come a long way. Today, most wools are softer and come from a variety of sheep, including the most popular type, merino wool.
  
• Remember, all wools are not created equal. If it doesn’t say 100% Virgin Wool on your label, then it could be made from recycled wool from garments and is of a much lower quality. Virgin wool indicates that it has gone from the sheep to the skein to you, and is much softer since it contains more lanolin and longer fibers, which is a desirable feature. Remember: with wool you get what you pay for.
  
• If you are looking to felt your knitting, avoid superwash wool. This kind of yarn has been treated and won’t shrink.