I use software called Stitchmastery to chart my knitting patterns. The software then turns out the written instructions for me, so I know they’re accurate! Stitchmastery has brioche stitches in their charts, which is very important to me and my tech editors. There are also colors, cables, increases and decreases…everything I need for writing patterns.
I was invited to be interviewed about my knitting and design process, and how it works with Stitchmastery. You can read the interview here.
I used Stitchmastery for my book, Brioche Knit Love, and continue to use and love it.
Trailing Leaves is a brioche bandana cowl, knit in the round from the top down. It features a central double leaf motif in syncopated brioche against a background of MC brioche rib. Choose 2 skeins of fingering weight yarn in coordinating colors to knit this beauty.
Trailing Leaves in Knit Picks Chroma Fingering
A gradient yarn will add an interesting color play to the brioche rib background, as shown here in Knit Picks Chroma Fingering. Knitter’s choice! This pattern is easily adjustable for neck circumference and length. This is one of my favorite cowl shapes; it looks like a shawlette but doesn’t fall off. So easy to wear.
Trailing Leaves in Yarn Snob A Good Fingering
I’ve knit four samples of this, to get it just right. The sample above featured some assigned pooling, but it doesn’t show, so it’s not in the pattern.
Trailing Leaves in Knit Picks Chroma
And this sample was a little too long due to a different increase rate. But you get the idea!
I also grilled some pineapple planks for fried rice. And I have two salmon fillets for roasting, too! The oven will be busy.
I’m also putting together a charcuterie board with cheese, crackers, grapes, marcona almonds, sopressata salami, stuffed olives…if I can fit it all on there. Maybe two boards…
How are you spending your Labor Day? (If you’re in the USA, of course.)
Posted onSeptember 2, 2024|Comments Off on Fall classes, virtual and live
I’m teaching for Vogue Knitting for the September virtual event September 13-15, and live in New York City January 16-19. Who says you can’t have it both ways?
Whale Conga Line, modeled by my sister Sharon
I’m teaching Brioche Doctor (fixing mistakes), Whale Conga Line (brioche increases, decreases, syncopation), and Brioche Pastiche (beginning brioche, choose your own adventure). And of course there are a lot of other teachers offering classes in nearly every fibery thing you can think of, too! Registration is here.
Vogue Knitting Live NYC is January 16-19. I’m teaching Whale Conga Line, my only brioche class at that event. I’m also teaching a whole bunch of technique driven classes: Log cabin knitting, steeking, fixing mistakes, entrelac, fancy stitches. Early registration for VIP packages starts later this week, and regular registration will come after that. The registration link is here.
I’m also teaching locally at For Yarn’s Sake in Beaverton, Oregon, and at Hook and Needle in Vancouver Washington. Here’s the schedule:
Sheepy Steeky Coasters at Hook and Needle, Sept. 28 Brioche Pastiche at For Yarn’s Sake, Sept 29 Brioche Pastiche at Hook and Needle, Oct. 19 Stranded Colorwork: Islesburgh Toorie at For Yarn’s Sake, Oct. 20 Thrumbelina Thrummed Slippers at For Yarn’s Sake, Nov. 17 Starfall Assigned Pooling Cowl Zoom class via For Yarn’s Sake, Dec. 7
The little purple Italian plums are in season, and my friend Ann gave me some. They’re so good for snacking, and also for cake!
Clockwise: Plums, placed, cinnamon sugared, baked
I love the way the batter rises up around the plums, so they’re just peeking out. Here’s the recipe from 2021.
Plum Torte
3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) salted butter, softened 2 large eggs 3/4 cup all purpose flour plus 1/4 cup corn meal 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 10 – 12 small plums, cut in half and pitted 1 tablespoon chunky sugar and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon for garnish
Cream sugar and butter, beat in eggs, beat in dry ingredients. The batter is quite thick. I put mine in an 8” springform pan (lined with parchment paper), because that’s the one I have. Top with plums, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or til done. Cool, remove from pan, celebrate!
It’s starting to feel like fall. School is in session; I can tell by the kids passing by on their way to the local school. Plum cake is also a sign of fall. And so is woolly knitting!
Remember this? It was worth frogging, re-skeining, soaking, rewinding.
I’ve been dreaming all year about a way to combine brioche and assigned pooling/algorithmic knitting in a way that pleases me. I’ve done a lot of knitting and frogging along the way.
I love this color pooling yarn from Yarn Snob/Knits All Done; the green/purple is Bellina, which is named for an orchid. I wanted to make it sing! Bisquee thinks it looks good, too. Do you see peacock feathers? Flames?
Trailing Leaves
I had first used some of this yarn to design Trailing Leaves (coming soon!). It’s lovely, but you can’t see the pooled stitches, so Trailing Leaves will be just brioche. And no, I didn’t frog this cowl!
I frogged this one, that I knit with the remaining yarn. And I’m glad I did.
Side note: Test knitting for Trailing Leaves is wrapping up, and I’m planning to publish it next week. I have a wonderful group of test knitters; we’ve had a great time working on this. I’ve knit two more samples along with them. Stay tuned!
This colorway, Bellina from Yarn Snob/Knits All Done, is one of my favorites, ever. It made me want to try to combine assigned pooling with my favorite technique brioche.
Trailing Leaves, kinda
The assigned pooling doesn’t really show up in Trailing Leaves (currently in test knitting phase). The brioche leaves are beautiful, but where’s the assigned pooling? I thought the issue was because the leaves are front and center, and the pooling is on the side, so I knit a small cowl with the same theme.
Still can’t see the pooling, really
I know I’ll never wear the little cowl shown above, so why not reclaim the yarn?
frogged!
The yarn was pretty kinky since I had wet blocked the cowl, so I wanted to smooth it out. (The last time I knit with previously blocked yarn, it really showed in the finished object. Lesson learned.)
I wound it on my niddy-noddy (had to google how to use it; it’s been a while). Look at that kink! I tied it off and soaked it, then squished it in a towel and gave it a nice snap to straighten it up.
Much better! It’s currently drying (not on the mannequin; that’s just for a nice picture). And then I’ll move on to attempt number 365 or so to see if I can successfully combine brioche and assigned pooling, without bobbles (not my fave look). Wish me luck!
I spent last weekend at a friend’s family house on the Alsea River, near Waldport on the Oregon Coast. There were four of us hanging out and having fun.
Trailing Leaves sample
I finished one of my Trailing Leaves samples, and started another. I need two of them for yardage requirement information, since the first one isn’t knit according to the current version of the pattern.
I beaded a new ankle bracelet, and re-strung an older one with shiny new metal bits.
Salad is always more delish with fried halibut on top!Looks sea-worthy, yes?
I started a second sample for Trailing Leaves, and found a clumsy join in the yarn (two unrelated colors together), so I started over.
The top one is the first clumsy join. I found the second (middle) one when i was casting on again. And the third (bottom) one? I was about at the same point I had been before. What are the chances of 3 joins in the same ball? And with a gradient, it really matters.
I decided that I wasn’t going to start over again; it didn’t look like the color was that different.
But it was; see where the dark blue starts again after the first pale bit at the bottom? It all works, but it could have been a bit more graceful. Hoping I don’t find any more joins! Next time I use a gradient like this, I think I’ll just rewind the whole ball before starting.
Alsea River
It was so nice to just be away with no to-do list!
I was supposed to be away this weekend, too, but my classes at Sitka Center at the coast didn’t fill. When we scheduled it, I didn’t know that it would be the same weekend as Flock Fiber Festival in Seattle, which is a big draw. I thought about going to Flock this weekend, but I really just needed a weekend at home.
Currently knitting in the backyard, with Cheetos. Perfect.
My friend Linda’s yellow plum tree is having a stellar year, which means I was invited to pick plums! Last year there were only 20 plums, so I’ve been out of my favorite jam for quite some time.
I picked 8 pounds, enough for 2 batches, 22 half-pints of jam. This is the basic Sure-Jell jam recipe, with the addition of 1/4 cup of chopped candied ginger, and 1/4 cup of bourbon. Yum!
Calvin approves
Orange jam, orange cat! I made jam, and then ran off to Sisters, Oregon to visit friends.
We had some time at Suttle Lake, which was lovely even with a bit of wildfire haze from somewhere not too nearby.
The Pie Birds
And we sang at B’s church on Sunday. It’s so nice to get together to sing songs of hope, joy, and peace.
The friends, including a birthday girl
Now I’m home and knitting another sample along with my test knitters. And more yarn has just arrived for what I’m hoping will be the perfect brioche/assigned pooling combination. More on that soon!
Find my patterns on Ravelry: Michele Bernstein Designs
Here are some of my favorites, and the newest. Many of my designs are also available through my Payhip store.
PDXKnitterati 