When I am at a loss for inspiration, a walk, beautiful music or a good movie can pull me back into my creative spirit. One of my favorite albums to listen to when I am feeling like this is the soundtrack to Amélie. A friend gave it to me when I was in college. We would play… Continue reading What Inspires: Magical Movies
Author: emilyoneil
Emily Explains: Naturally Dyeing with Red Onions
I fell in love with dyeing fabrics and yarns in college. White yarns and fabrics are blank canvases with endless possibilities. Recently, I've been using natural materials to create the colors that I want to wear. I love the earthy hues that natural dyes create. They remind me of the water colors that fill my sketchbooks. This… Continue reading Emily Explains: Naturally Dyeing with Red Onions
Emily Explains: A Sewn Bind Off
Choosing a bind off technique for your knitting project can be a difficult decision. There are so many options! I'm almost done knitting a shrug in Berroco Maya, and after the countless hours of work I've put into it, I need a bind off that is both flexible and elastic. A sewn bind off, also known as Elizabeth Zimmerman's… Continue reading Emily Explains: A Sewn Bind Off
Emily Explains: A Little Trick For Picking Up Stitches
I have always liked garments with seams. I understand seamed garments. My mind visualizes in flat patterns, that can be put together to create a new form. However, I'm slowly learning seamless knitting techniques, which means little to no finishing! In my opinion that is pretty awesome, except for one small detail...picking up the stitches. I'm sort… Continue reading Emily Explains: A Little Trick For Picking Up Stitches
Emily Explains: Staying Cool With Your Summer Knitting
Even with the temperature rising, I'm determined to keep knitting. Luckily, New England summers involve beautiful sunny days and breezy nights, so I get to knit and wear my knitting, too! In the winter, I love keeping my wool projects on my lap as I work. It acts as an extra layer of warmth as I am happily… Continue reading Emily Explains: Staying Cool With Your Summer Knitting
Emily Explains: Seaming Elongated Stitches
Seaming and finishing can be tricky sometimes, especially when your stitch pattern is something other than stockinette or garter stitch. A few weeks ago, someone emailed and asked how we would recommend seaming the Dyssodia pattern from booklet #340 Berroco Maya vol. 2, which has stitches that range in size. Here's my advice: There is no right… Continue reading Emily Explains: Seaming Elongated Stitches
Emily Explains: Nijo Pattern Stitch
I'm so excited that the weather is finally warming up around here! I practically live in dresses during the summer, so I've been thinking about knitting a lightweight cover-up that I can throw on over my outfit for that occasional chill. Nijo from booklet #344 is at the top of my list. A cropped, oversized… Continue reading Emily Explains: Nijo Pattern Stitch
How-To: Fix a Forgotten Yarn-Over
For the past month I've been carrying around the most perfect fluffy yellow yarn. I can't show you the yarn just yet - it is a new one for fall - but I can tell you that it is simply fabulous! I finally began playing with the yarn for a special project. The pattern stitch… Continue reading How-To: Fix a Forgotten Yarn-Over
What Inspires: Frida Kahlo de Rivera
Recently, I've been drawn to the color and intensity of Frida Kahlo. As a female artist she is incredibly inspiring. She first began painting during a long and painful recovery from a severe car accident. She would paint in bed, on sketchbooks, her casts and other materials. The majority of her work was self portraits… Continue reading What Inspires: Frida Kahlo de Rivera
Emily Explains: COLOR
I adore color, but - to be completely honest - I have always been quite intimidated by it. There are so many to choose from. What's a indecisive girl to do?! You can choose color a lot of different ways. Sometimes, my color choices are as simple as two skeins of yarn that just happen to fall next to… Continue reading Emily Explains: COLOR
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