Knitter's Studio

Have You Any Fur?

2007-08-27T22:16:39-07:00

About fur yarn ...

Paula Lishman

I got to know about Paula Lishman on my honeymoon in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1984. I was stunned by the crocheted ponchos still in her line today. Crocheted in many variations and colors, they are eternally stunning.

Paula Lishman's exclusive, patented yarn is made from genuine fur pelts -- sheared beaver, fox, mink, and muskrat. The pelts are hand cut into a narrow strip, which are reinforced with color-matching cotton and twisted such that the fur hair is forming a swirl around the core. The fur at this point is called yarn. It is dyed in an astounding assortment of sensuous color.

It has now also become available as yarn for the knitter and crocheter, in kits. Over 25 years of research and refinements have resulted in an unparalleled, washable fur yarn.

We now see a touch of fur being added to many designs. It has truly entered the imagination of crafters and couture aficionados alike.

Designs are available custom made at boutiques across Canada and the United States.
Paula Lishman designs are shown on runways globally.

We had Paula Lishman as a guest at the Knitter's Studio for just a short while before her trek to
Carmel, California. Augustine’s in Carmel has been successfully carrying her ready mades for easily 20 years. I was privileged to see and try many of Paula's creations, but also 100% sable and mink coats. Paula's coats are light weight and as luxuriously furry on the inside as they are on the outside.

Paula and I met at the Vogue Knitting 25th anniversary party, for which I designed the infamous "operatic coat." I used the fox fur, and Paula tells me that there are 15 people who are making this coat already, in addition to the 3 enthusiasts I met at the tradeshow.

We became instant friends. Paula is more fascinating than her furs or designs can live up to. Then again, they probably are as esoteric, because of Paula's inimitable character. We spoke about a trunkshow at the Knitter's Studio. Given that she will not be back soon enough, we will have a small trunkshow of our own, with kits, stories and techniques. We will have the catalogue, fur yarn and color swatches and some finished items handy for everyone's inspiration. I, of course, want the Chanel suit. Keep a close eye on your invitation this winter.

Lots of information on yarn,color, shows and more is available in the Paula Lishman company newsletters.

We have used only the smallest amount of photos on the Paula Lishman site. The colors, clothes, creations are stunning. Well worth an hour or two spent dreaming

Menlo Park Block Party

2007-08-02T17:00:41-07:00

Dancing in the Streets of Menlo Park

Menlo Park is in the heart of Silicon Valley. Oracle at the North and Sun, Macromedia and Adobe South of us. Our party was along Santa Cruz Avenue, the main street of Menlo Park, with music, food, fun and a even a movie. It brought out the families, husband and wife, best friends, moms and babes and lots and lots of babies.

This was a proud moment for our Madam Mayor. All the security was at hand. There was great entertainment for everyone! Food! And great music! People were freeform dancing and and some were Dancing Like the Stars.

We were out late! We were out past our bedtime. Well, at least past dark.

Our favorite neighbour is Old World Design -- a needlepoint store, because that way YOU have the best of both worls, and we do not have to reinvent the wheel. Linda adds the same class, that we are proud to be connected with. We both had tables beside each other on the street. We had give aways -- and we already know what we want to give away next time.

Next time you ask? Really? Really:

August 15th, 2007 - 5:30- 9:30 pm

Come! Have fun! Bring the family. Bring a friend. Just come!

At the Knitter's Studio, we offer any class you need, we have yarn, we have buttons, we have answers. We have world class designers!

You are invited!

To the Knitter's Studio and the next block party!

High Fashion Event!

2007-07-24T20:13:33-07:00

The moment has finally arrived. It is finally published! THE coat.

High fashion. Beautiful color. Fur. Exotic. Exquisit. Timeless.

A coat of many colors ... No! Really. It took 20 colors from the S. Charles line. I had the privilege to use some delectable fox fur from the Paula Lishman Fur company. And ... Vogue Knitting brought these all together and handed them to ... Wilma Peers, me. The emerging coat is astonishing to those who see it for real. It is increadible to put on and be able to invision wearing it to some shi-shi event. The publisher of Vogue Knitting magazine, Adina Klein, put it on upon delivery to the Soho Publishing office in New York and was not going to give it up, even for the photoshoot. Not just any photoshoot, but Vogue Knitting magazine celebrates 25 years of publication!

Retro-actively, I was permitted to line it with beautiful dupiony silk, which would hold the architecture of the coat in place. Highly recommended. I tucked it in place in small poufs, which make it look like a ballroom gown, when you open the coat. Take it to any luxurious event, and you'll be the best in show!

The staff at the Knitter's Studio is celebrating the publishing of this coat as if it is a coming out party. We all knew that it was "coming." But it still takes our breath away.

It was a priviledge to be asked to do it -- by Vogue Knitting. It is also an homage to the color and textural sense for prestigious yarns labeled Stacey Charles by Stacy Charles, and a delicious experience to work with fox fur. It all came together in this exeptional masterpiece, photographed in its ultimate exotic beauty.

I encourage everyone to contemplate making it. The stitches used are simple, stockinette, fairisle, half linen, intarsia and saddle stitch for the fox fur. These stitches were necessary to hold up the weight of a coat. Get your Vogue Knitting issue immediately as it comes out! The Knitter's Studio always has plenty on hand.

The yarn entices the senses. The fox is pure luxury. The result Magnifique!

Pure Inspiration

Follow this link to Vogue Knitting. Subscribe and get books published by Sixth&Spring Books at 30% off. These are all your staples books from Vogue Knitting, Sewing, On the Go. Go! See!

Follow this link to the 25th Vogue Knitting sneak peak issue, tidbits, pics and an invitation to speak with Adina Klein, editor of Vogue Knitting, August 9th.

Beyond the Mobius: Crochet Visual Aid for Hyperbolic Spaces

2007-07-18T18:20:33-07:00

Creating a pattern for a knitted or crocheted garment involves mathematics, architecture and engineering. Hinke Osinga, of Bristol University, realized that the Lorenz manifold, a surface resulting from a chaos weather pattern, could actually be represented in a crocheted form, even better than applying a 2-dimensional computer algorithm. (2002)

Other mathematicians have used knitting and crocheting to represent or using the mathematics of fractal objects. This is science beyond the mobius, which does not have an inner or outer surface, to create all kinds of shapes that display mathematical theorems.

Daina Taimina, visiting mathematician at Cornell University, prepared to cover the basic geometries of (1) planar or Eucledian, (2) spherical and (3) hyperbolic surfaces. It occured to her that hyperbolic surfaces lie outside the realm of the physical world, and in order to create a virtual representation, she would have to turn, very successfully, to crocheting. Crochet is able to re-create the hyperbolic fabric, i.e. the mathematics of the hyperbolic plane and its counterintuitive properties. (1997)

In a flat plane the circumference grows linearly at the same rate the radius increases. The circumference of a hyperbolic plane grows exponentially. This has been likened to a carpet buckling. In 1901, mathematician David Hilbert, was able to mathematically create a hyperbolic surface that is smooth. In 1970, William Thurston, began exploring with physical models of a hyperbolic surface, models that were too fragile to transport, with its paper arcs.

Taimina realized that crochet was ideal to create a durable hyperbolic plane by increasing the number of stitches in each row by a fixed factor, adding one stitch after every 2 or so stitches. This made it possible to visualize several properties: a hyperbolic line is the shortest line between two points on the hyperbolic plane. However, using two points, and sewing them together, results in a myriad of lines, and so defying Euclid's parallel postulate.

In most recent years, mathematicians have challenged us to use knitting and crocheting to help visualize math in a different light. Creating the representation of a Lorenz manifold or a hyperbolic plane might not make ideal gifts -- although I think so, yes, I am a mathematician -- but we are already applying the mathematics that create a mobius garment or a Klein bottle hat.

Check out the tori doghnuts.

Read more at www.sciencenews.org . You'll be dazed and amazed!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

2007-07-09T18:07:00-07:00

I watched "Live Earth" this weekend. OK, so I am a child of the 60's with, dating myself even more, a penchant for music of the 80's. The concert played and aired from stages across the world. This event was backed by the Oscar winning "little" documentary that captured the world "An Inconvenient Truth" written and produced by Al Gore. The truth is, we have turned our attention to earth friendly, alternative materials, organic, that, in general, are good for the planet. This is a new generation with a new commitment and the means to turn most our consumables "green."

That's how I feel about the new yarns. They, are "green." They are "bare." They are bare of chemicals, harsh processing, they are organically raised and harvested and they are environmentally friendly and they lead the marketplace. Not all innovations are perfect. Many will not last. But many will. It is the not so original "two steps forward, one step back." In the end, if we make progress one step at a time, we are on the right track.

Yarn is made today of bamboo, soybean and corn. It is used by itself and in mixtures with cotton, wool and synthetics. Mostly, fibers have to be stabilized, so that after processing it can be spun into yarn.

Bamboo

Bamboo came first. It is an organic, "green" sustainable resource. It takes a 60 foot tree to grow back in 60 years. A 60 foot bamboo takes 59 days! Bamboo grows without the need of pesticides due to its natural bio-agent called "bamboo sun." In knittin, we best know bamboo from needles. Today, it is also being processed into yarn fibers, very fine plies that are softly twisted together. When knitted the fabric is soft, drapey, breathable. It feels like cashmere.

Soy

Soy fiber is made from residue of soybeans, a bi-product from tofu manufacturing. It is a cellulose product once refined due to the fermentation process. Soy beans also contain natural anti-bacterial agents. It truly resembles silk in appearance when spun and therefore named Soy Silk. And, just like bamboo, it is also as soft and smooth as cashmere.

Corn

Corn fiber is made of corn. Once again, it's all about chemistry. Corn has a naturally high amount of starch in it. Very similarly to bamboo and soy beans, when these starches are broken down into its components and are fermented, they get separated into polymers. Again, similarly to bamboo and soy beans, the resulting paste-like substance is extruded into fine, delicate strands that are cut, broken down into pliable fibers, carded, combed, and spun into yarn. Corn is light weigth, it is soft, breathable, drapey, it results in vivid colors from dyeing. It feels like cashmere.

Other than exploration of new resources, I would recommend rising above both catastrophizing, or preaching, and instead, remembering the mission: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Virgin Wool

2007-07-08T19:36:24-07:00

Welcome world, to the virgin entry to our brand new blog facility! The Knitter's Studio has finally joined the WeBlog generation. For those who are just finding out about us -- we are in our 7th year and you must come visit. The Studio is full of yarn, tools, buttons, ribbons, edgings. And we have classes. Everbodywants CLASSES!

So, our first entry focuses on classes, and in particular, on our youngest staff member, already so accomplished: April.

Her specialty: crochet. Her passion: making things, finding out how they work. Her commitment: to teach everyone a new skill, from beginner to designing "all things crochet." Oh, yeah, she does knit, too! We introduce you to her and to her productions, most of which are her own custom creations, in our flickr set.

Look forward to entries by our staff. Their contributions will be filled with their passion for and about new yarn, fibers, books, tools, and other knitware ... and crochet.

Watch our blog for links to sites that will inform, enlighten, entertain and INSPIRE.