Revisiting Elizabeth Zimmerman

Sometimes, it takes a while for a good idea to sink in. A few weeks ago at the Minnesota Knitting Guild's Yarnover, a spring knitting workshop, I took at class from Meg Swanson. It was kind of a review of Elizabeth Zimmerman's percentage system for creating sweaters. Ms. Swanson had tons of photographs and real knitted sweaters that she used to illustrate various kinds of necklines, increases, hems, etc. I'd probably seen most of the sweaters before but seeing them in person was great.

It was a real eye opening kind of class! My first knitting book was "Knitting without Tears" and I have several other of EZ's books. So much is about guidelines rather than patterns. I forgot how much I appreciated that. I've been searching for a pattern for Middle Daughter but nothing was clicking. Now, I think I am going to adapt one of Elizabeth Zimmerman's designs with a few changes for MD's tastes.

So, I picked up the DVD of "Knitter's Workshop" and I have been watching a little every day. Now, I finally got a copy of the accompanying book (from the excellent library at the Textile Center of Minnesota!) and I am so enjoying it. Ideas are flowing - or they will after a little more sleep!

Mr. Muggins pays a visit

According to a little on-line research, to mug is to drink, and, in literature, Mr. Muggins is a drinker. I am both a coffee and a tea drinker. Unfortunately, this nicely insulated travel mug fits none of the cup holders in either of our cars. So, when the tea or coffee inevitably spills on me, it is always still very hot. Off to the rummage sale with you, Mr. Muggins.

My other Saturday Seven have already left Chez Daisy. I gave the gate and the carseat to a friend with a toddler.








The books, all fiber related, I donated to the Textile Center of Minnesota's Garage Sale last week.



I have been mostly working on my green socks this week - sadly, there was a significant amount of frogging involved.



That little blue marker showed where I made a significant pattern error. I was almost up to turning the heel so I am more than a little blue. What a Muggins!

Today, however, I was at the Knitting Guild of Minnesota's Yarnover. This day of classes was just great - I took a lace edging class where I learned some new skills and a great design class from Meg Swanson. Both classes gave me a ton of new ideas for working out of my stash. I've been having some concerns about the "Take a deep breath" sweater that I've been working on from the Webs site. I think I am going to incorporate some of Elizabeth Zimmerman's ideas to change the neckline. We'll see how it works out . . .