I recently got a copy of Kara Gott Waner's new book — It's in the Bag. First I want to tell you about how neatly this book is designed and then share an interview I had with one of the designers — Colleen Smitherman.

The book has an internal spiral binding so it looks great no the shelf and also will lay flat. The photography is great with large photos. I don't think anyone is trying to hide any pattern flaws in this book. The type is large and easy to read. The first thing I did is go through an dread all the tips that are highlighted throughout the book. As for the patterns, every project is portable which is important for traveling and sit and knit groups. There's a wide variety of patterns from bags, babies, kids, scarfs, tops, tunics, home adornments (cool bath mat) and more. Just too much to list here.

And now for my interview with Colleen —

I love shrugs. When I lived in FL, they were so much more practical than a sweater, but now I live in SC, and they are the perfect fall accessory. So I'm always knitting shrugs and collecting shrug patterns. The Cabled Shrug in It's a Wrap immediately caught my eye and I was given the pleasure of interviewing the designer, Colleen Smitherman.

Colleen, Why a shrug?
As you know, a shrug is perfect for those days when just a little something to throw over your shoulders is needed. Also I think that a shrug is perhaps flattering to most figures in that it creates the illusion that the midsection is a little slimmer than it might actually be. So that's why I like them so much — they are flattering!

Why a tie front instead of button or shaw collar?
I think ties are a fun accent and they provide adjustability that buttons don't provide. Yes, they do offer more adjustability than buttons.

What was your inspiration?
I was trying to create something with some sophistication that didn't look like a traditional "homemade" sweater with ribbing at the center front. Additionally, I wanted to design the pattern so that the knitter could complete the center front edges as the piece was knit and not have to go back latter and pick up stitches for the edging. The result was to use cables in a non-traditional way to provide a firm, attractive finish to the center fronts. I am a minimalist by nature so I thought a simple V neck would really draw attention to the cables and I added the cable down each sleeve as an unexpected touch. Great use of cables!

Which came first — the yarn or the pattern?
It was a synthesis. The yarn Kara chose was perfect for showing off the cables as it was light to medium in color and smooth so that it resulted in really good stitch definition.

Have you designed other shrugs?
I had done the basic shrugs knit side-to-side that was very popular a few years ago. They were sort of a shaped tube with the two ends seamed for sleeves.

Are there any special problems when fitting a shrug?
One question to deal with is deciding how long it should be. I think just a few inches below the bust is attractive for most women. Another issue was address by using a deep 2 by 2 ribbing at the bottom rather than a shallow 1 by 1 ribbing to keep the shrug from riding up when worn.

What is the biggest challenge in designing a shrug?
Making it look fresh and new and not just another dated short sweater.

Tell me about the inspiration for the cables?
There are so many really pretty cables that are rarely used such as the braided cable I chose, and they are not any more difficult to knit than the ever popular 3 by 3 or 2 by 2 cables . I always try to always use a different cable just to add some interest.

Tell me anything else about the design.
I like making the sleeve and armhole design as simple to knit as possible without lots of shaping demands, but I want to use something with a better fit than a drop shoulder style. Using a modified drop shoulder is so much more attractive on most people and still just about as easy to knit. Since I hate shaping sleeves and armholes, I'm looking forward to this.

How old were you when you learned to knit?
I had a very stressful job when I graduated from college working as an RN on a pediatric unit with terribly ill children at a medical center. I thought myself to knit at that time and found it to be a useful way to relax and I have rarely been without a project on my needles since. I can identify with that. I have a very stressful job for the first time in years and can't wait to get home and curl up with my knitting. I'm probably knitting more than ever.

When and how did you become a knitwear designer?
It was a very gradual process as I began tweaking patterns here and there to suit myself.

Tell me anything else about yourself you would like to tell me.
I eventually completed a Ph.D. in developmental psychology and taught in several universities while doing research on childhood lead poisoning. I retired a few years ago when work was beginning to cut too deeply into my knitting time.

Good for you!

So that's my interview with Colleen. With so many new knitting books coming out, I'm starting to be more picky about my purchases. This book certainly gives you a lot of bang for your buck.

Don't miss Day 8 of It's in the Bag Blog Tour with Glenna Harris' blog Knitting to Stay Sane.

FG: Cindy, I want to thank you for hosting me today on your wonderful blog. I am a big fan of your work. I am delighted to tell you and your readers about my new book Casual, Elegant Knits that I co-authored with Dawn Leeseman. There are 24 projects for men and women in this book. We introduced them by grouping them into three collections. Each collection is only a suggestion of how to style the garments according to the mood of the particular theme. Any of the designs in the book can stand alone to be worn with the existing wardrobe (not necessarily knitted). Some of the designs are unisex, some can be dressed up or down, and some can be substituted with designs from another theme. We hope that people will get creative with the ways to wear our designs. We also encourage knitters to think about different colors and some yarn substitution as they knit the garment. Of course, you have to be very careful with the yarn choices. Especially for knitted skirts.

CM: I love knitted skirts. Can you tell me more about how the idea for these skirts came about?

FG: Sure. I’d be happy to talk about skirts. Both Dawn and I are wearing skirts most of the time. When the shape of a skirt is matching your figure type, it adds a lot to your look. You want your skirt to be flattering and feminine. Sometimes it can be a bit flirty. When you knit a skirt, you do not want to change much (including yarn) from the pattern you follow. When you design a skirt, you are careful about your choices of the yarn and the shape. So, I am happy that you wanted to discuss this topic today.

CM: I'm a great lover of knitted skirts but rarely find a pattern that is flattering. What body type would look best in the Little Flirt Skirt?

FG: I think that this particular shape is flattering for most figure types. The key is in the length. If a person is slender and has good legs to show (the height does not matter here), you might want to go for a shorter, even mini length, on this skirt by shortening the straight part from pleats to hips. If the figure is what sometimes called “a pear shape”, you can make this skirt much longer from pleats to hips and the pleats it will distract from the parts you want to play down. This pattern is very adaptable is what I am saying. I want to add one more thing, if I may. Be honest to yourself about the size you choose to knit. Knitting skirt is NOT forgiving. It cannot be too tight. It should not be too loose either, but the tight one is the one to watch out for. I am sure your readers know what I mean.  
CM: I'm glad this skirt can be a mini. I love mini-skirts! 

CM: Why did you choose Cascade 220 100% wool for the Little Flirt Skirt?

FG: I was looking for a wool yarn because it has memory. I mean that some people are concerned about sitting down and getting up with the skirt bulging out. A good, not very soft wool helps to bring the shape back. Any yarn that has some elasticity and holding the shape (You know it by experimenting with the swatch. Make a good-size swatch, take some dull object and push through the middle of the swatch for a few minutes. If after that your swatch can rest and come back where it was, you got a good yarn for a skirt.) is my choice. I also like that Cascade has so many colors that if a knitter does not want to have a black skirt, he/she can go with some other color. I made a short and burgundy-colored skirt for my daughter and it looks wonderful. Our wonderful tech editor, Ursula Reikes   made this skirt using Gallway from Plymouth in blue. If you are on Ravelry.com, here is the link to her skirt.

CM: Please tell us how the fit and shaping of this skirt makes the pattern unique.

FG: This skirt is knit in the round from the pleats up and ends with the elastic band to fit many waist sizes. The fabric on pleats needed to be less dense and the flair must be obvious, I also did not want to bring any attention to decreases as the skirt tapers in towards the waste. My decision was to use different size needles to obtain the shape.

CM: Would the Little Flirt Skirt knit up quickly?

FG: Very. I made this skirt in three days.
CM: My kind of pattern!

CM:The pleats really make the Little Flirt Skirt. Would they be something an advanced beginner could knit easily?

FG: Absolutely. I even think the person who only knows how to knit and purl and work on round needles can do it. There are some decreases and yarnovers, which makes it a learning project for some. We are always on a learning curve with knitting techniques. 

CM: With the Tailored Skirt, why did you choose a rayon yarn?
FG: This particular skirt was designed to go with a silky top that Dawn made. It could not be wool. Rayon is a good yarn content for a nice drape and it still keeps the shape. Make sure you are wearing a slip under any skirt to help with keeping the shape. 

CM: The skirt appears to have panels but is knit in one piece in the round. How do you do this?
FG: Good observation, Cindy. The skirt is worked in the round and the lines that make a look of seams are knit in a different stitch for the contrast. These lines are adding some interest to the design and help the skirt have a sliming look.

CM: Would the Tailored Skirt look good on almost anyone?

FG: That is my belief. Just look at it. Does not it feel that any figure type will benefit from this shape? As I said before, be sure you are making it not too tight, though.

CM: Is this an easy skirt to knit?

FG: Yes it is. I think it is easier that the Little Flirt Skirt.

You can find Casual Elegant Knits at Amazon.com or your favorite book seller.

FG: Cindy, thank you very much for letting me explain some of the aspects of the skirt designs. Many people are asking me about it. I hope I gave some people motivation and courage to wear knitted skirts. Thank you for hosting me today. Now I want to know about your newest work. What are you up to?

CM: I'm actually spending a lot of time designing a new website for myself. I have a couple of new charts from The Art of Knitting 1897 ready to go up but don't want to publish them until my new site is completed. I've also been busy creating illustrations and charts a couple knitting books that will be out some time next year. And, of course, I'm always knitting something — too much on the needles to go into.

FG: Great. I will be reading your blog. Well, thank you again. If your readers want to know more about skirts, I will be talking tomorrow with Amy Polcyn of Frottez about skirts also.

Ethnic Knitting Discovery, by Donna Druchunas, is a super buy for a knitting book with this much information. She uses simple charts and worksheets to make the most complicated multi-colored items simple to knit which I love since I spend so much time rewriting and charting patterns to fit me and my gauge. I'm never comfortable when I do this. Donna has shown me how to write it down logically so mistakes are not made.

First the book has a soothing layout. Things are not crammed together or jumbled. Everything has order. The type is large enough and easy to read. I hate tiny type or funky type.

ILLUSTRATIONS



As a graphic designer and illustrator, I know how a good illustration can be preferable to a photograph. Often a photograph gives you too much information and therefore hard to translate into knitting. You may worry that the illustrator may take artistic license and not show you exactly what the garment may look like when completed. If that's your concern, then don't trust photographs either which can easily be enhanced to hide flaws. Joyce M. Turley has created simplified line drawings of the garments on realistic models. She gives you enough visual information to see what the finished garment will look like without imposing her color and fiber choices.

SCHEMATICS


Deborah Robson, Nomad Press, has created not only simple schematics that are more than just outlines with arrows and numbers. Her schematics show you exactly where and what to measure. There is no guesswork.

CHARTS

In addition to being easy to follow, Donna has shown how to actually understand the charts by placing swatch samples right next to the charts.

The patterns in the book range from a simple headband to a complicated sweater. There are four easy, skill-building projects and eight master patterns. Use these eight patterns to design your own sweaters as you learn how to knit in the round, manage repeats, center patterns, and work with texture.

Ethnic Knitting Discovery was published by Nomad Press and is available from Amazon.com.