PDXKnitterati

Brioche weekend away

Posted on July 17, 2023 | 5 comments

I had a fabulous weekend teaching a two-day brioche workshop at Sitka Center for Art and Ecology on the Oregon Coast. The setting is lovely, nestled among the trees on a slice of land on Cascade Head near Lincoln City.

We started with one color brioche, a scarf in super bulky yarn (Brioche Entrée), just to get a feel for the sl1yo and brk stitches.

Then we moved on to 2-color in the round, setting up for Brioche Pastiche. I’ve revamped the pattern for plain brioche rib or leafy climbing vines, on either a hat or cowl. I like giving options.

I also included the Whale Watch pattern, because it fits so nicely with the coastal theme. But Pastiche is a much gentler introduction to increases and decreases, so that’s what we actually worked on.

The weather was glorious all weekend, so we took our knitting outdoors!

Sitka Center features arts workshops all summer long. The other participants this weekend were creating beautiful things, hand building with clay.

Kristin showed me some of her beautiful work. I want to try this! Check out the catalog of classes for this summer here.

Cathy and I visited the Salmon River estuary after class on Saturday. That looks like a whale’s ribcage, but it’s really a tree.

That speck of a bird way out there may be a cormorant. It was fishing!

Closer to the ocean, Cascade Head to the right

I had time for a walk on the sand after my last class on Sunday. I headed south to the beach at Road’s End (north end of Lincoln City); that’s Road’s End Point in the distance. It was foggy on the beach, with blue skies inland.

My stay at Sitka included the night after my workshop, so I’m writing from this sweet stairway nook on Monday morning. It’s drizzling now, and raindrops are hanging on the maple leaves outside my window. Perfect.

There’s so much art on campus; here are some things I saw while walking around.

And nature makes her own art, too. I love this lichen!

Bisquee wanted to come with me, but I had to say no. I needed to bring clothes.

And I even had time to knit! More about that in another post. How was your weekend?

5 Comments

Posted in classes, Knit, travel

Tagged Brioche knitting, Oregon Coast, Sitka Center for Art and Ecology

Brioche Pastiche, cowl and hat

Posted on June 29, 2023 | Comments Off

I’ve completely revamped my Brioche Pastiche pattern to use in some upcoming brioche classes. The pattern now includes instructions for both a cowl and hat, in either plain 2 color brioche rib, or in the leafy pattern you see here. I’ve also added the swirling 6 section crown shown above.

The original 4 section swirl crown is still in the pattern, too. So many options to keep a new brioche knitter engaged! You can purchase Brioche Pastiche from Ravelry or Payhip. Use coupon code LEAFY for 15% off through July 6.

It is also included in an ebook on Ravelry.

I’ll be using Brioche Pastiche in my intro to brioche class on the Vogue Knitting Cruise to Alaska in September, and for Virtual VK Live in October. Come knit with me!

Comments Off on Brioche Pastiche, cowl and hat

Posted in classes, Knit, pattern design

How to block a bandana cowl

Posted on June 23, 2023 | 1 comment

I’ve been designing and knitting a lot of bandana cowls lately. This is a great shape to wear; it pops on over your head, and stays put. I love wearing these when I’m teaching; they don’t fall off when I lean over to look at a student’s knitting. But how do you block this shape?

You could block it this way, but it will leave creases at the back neck and front.

Cosette, gentle blocking (not a hard stretch)

Using tubes of some sort, or rolled up washcloths, will keep you from getting creases as your cowl dries. This tall neck could probably have used a separate set of tubes for the cowl portion, separate from the triangle.

It turned out fine, though!

I upped my blocking game for my Starfall assigned pooling cowl, because it needed a more assertive blocking to set the stars and open up the lace border. Here’s the whole process.

Soak cowl in cool water with a bit of no-rinse wool wash for 20 minutes. Gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring). Roll up cowl in a folded towel and walk on it (!) to remove more water.

Block cowl to desired dimensions, pinning out scalloped lower edge. I also put wires along the neck edge to maintain a straight edge. It’s easiest if you lay it out with the triangle face down and the back of the cowl on top so you can pin out the scalloped edging of both the front and back at the same time.

Place tubes into the sides to avoid creases; I use the tubes my blocking wires came in. For this particular cowl, the center spine is the center front. The end of the bind off is the center back (it’s the arch of the scallop, not the point).

See how laying the cowl down with the back side up allows me to pin both the front and back scallops?

I usually flip my cowl over the next day to speed up drying; you can pin out the scallops on the just the front because the back will be dry already. Let dry completely. Sew in ends.

Have you blocked a bandana cowl before? Would you do it this way? I really like it!

1 Comment

Posted in Knit, tutorial

Tagged bandana cowl, blocking is magic, blocking tutorial, cosette cowl, ebb and flow cowl, starfall cowl

Knit with me at the Oregon Coast!

Posted on June 20, 2023 | 2 comments

I’m teaching a 2 day brioche workshop at Sitka Center in Otis, Oregon (near Lincoln City),July 15-16. No previous brioche experience needed; you should already know how to cast on, knit, purl, and work in the round. Lodging isn’t included, but there are many places to stay in the area. We’ll have a relaxing time knitting together!

This is my only brioche workshop this summer, other than the sold out schooner cruise in August and the Vogue Knitting Cruise to Alaska in September. Come knit with me!

2 Comments

Posted in classes, travel

Tagged brioche classes, Brioche knitting, Sitka Center

A very knitterly weekend

Posted on June 13, 2023 | 2 comments

I had a fabulous weekend! It began on Friday with Romi Hill’s Embrace Your Lace class, which went deep into adapting lace patterns into repeatable blocks that fit into the shaping of your designed piece. Her lace work is next level up, always gorgeous. Check out her work on Instagram, @romidesigns

Saturday morning I sat in on Julie Rosvall’s First Impressions class, which was about printmaking, including printing from knits. I only watched, because it was at 7 am my time (11 am her time in Canada!). You know I love block printing, and you know I’ll be trying this! @julierosvall on Instagram.

Both of these classes were through Virtual Knitting Live from Vogue Knitting. I also taught during this event on Sunday, Next Steps in Brioche: Increases and Decreases, using my Deep End hat, cowl, and Madrona cowl patterns.

I also had a fun chat with Josh Bennett and Amy Snell on Sunday before teaching my class. So much fun! But this was only the VKL portion of the weekend.

Saturday was Worldwide Knit in Public Day, and Knit Picks knows how to throw a party!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michele Lee Bernstein (@pdxknitterati)

Video

I didn’t knit a stitch at WWKIP Day, but I *talked* about knitting, non-stop!

With trunk show designers MKNance and Emily Kintigh

Yes, I have the t-shirt too, but I really wanted to wear this preview of an upcoming piece for Knit Picks. Honey Bee Mine will be in a book coming this summer.

They gave me this tote (thanks for the grafting reminder!) stuffed with yarn

including these yarn samples, and several skeins of a new yarn that I don’t think I can show you yet. Stay tuned! I love that the above samples fit my 2 skein attention span rule. That purple Luminance could be a spectacular shawl.

I also snagged 3 sets of interchangeable wooden needles: Caspian, Rainbow, and Rosewood (inside the silver case), and this notions bag and pin. Swag is fun, yes?

The venue was lovely, Hidden House in Vancouver, Washington. It was great to have indoor and outdoor space. Lots of snacks, and a no-host bar for coffee or adult beverages.

Now I’m back to finishing up hat crowns for the Brioche Pastiche revamp! Knit knit knit…

2 Comments

Posted in events, Knit, pattern design, Portland area fun, yarn

Tagged knit picks, Virtual Knitting Live, Virtual VKL, WWKIP Day

I’m on the Knit Picks Podcast!

Posted on June 7, 2023 | 5 comments

I recently had a fun chat with Lee, Stacey, and Andi on the Knit Picks podcast. We talked about my designing and teaching, and about the upcoming World Wide Knit in Public Day, which is this Saturday, June 10. Have a listen here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

I’ve been participating in Knit Picks’ WWKIP festivities since 2017. They stopped in 2020 (hello pandemic) but are starting up again this year. Their events always have raffle prizes, free yarn, free books…and snacks!

This year’s event will be on June 10, from noon to 3 pm. The venue has both indoor and outdoor possibilities, so we’re covered in case of rain! Here’s a link to their current post.

I’ll be there as a special guest designer. I’m bringing knit samples, including the assigned pooling pieces we talked about in the podcast. And books! Brioche Knit Love is back in print, and I’ll have some with me for sale.

See you there, local-ish peeps?

There are many other events in the Portland metro area, and all over the world. Pick one or many! Go forth and knit, and have fun.

5 Comments

Posted in events, Knit, Portland area fun

Tagged knit picks, knit picks podcast, WWKIP Day

Upcoming Brioche Pastiche update

Posted on May 31, 2023 | 1 comment

This is the original Brioche Pastiche (Ravelry link); I designed it to be a quick start introduction to brioche in the round for a 3 hour class back in 2018. It begins with a bit of 2 color brioche rib to learn and get comfortable with the technique. Increases and decreases happen next, to form the leafy pattern.

Last year I added a different crown shaping to the pattern, just for fun.

And now I’m planning to add a cowl to the pattern. This one is pretty short; I’m hedging my bets to make sure that two 100g skeins of worsted weight yarn can make a cowl and hat set. I’m keeping careful track with my handy yarn scale! (Some would call it a kitchen scale, but I know better.)

So I’m re-knitting the hat with the alternate crown, too. I want the pattern to look more cohesive, so I want new pictures for hat and cowl in the same color set, with the same yarn as the original (Malabrigo Worsted). Three color sets and two yarns is too jangly in one pattern.

While I’m at it, I’m making the pattern “choose your own adventure” style. I like offering both hat and cowl in a class, because not everyone wears hats, and not everyone wears cowls, either. Also, in class, a student can choose to complete a project in plain brioche rib, if they’re not ready to tackle increases and decreases. Lots of options! Those options are also good for knitting at home.

That’s a lot of updating! So I’m going to make these all these changes to the pattern, and make it stand alone. It will no longer be part of the Brioche Hat Trick (Ravelry link) collection when the updated pattern is released. If you already purchased Brioche Pastiche (Ravelry link), or the Brioche Hat Trick collection, you’ll get this updated pattern for no additional charge. If you want the updated Brioche Pastiche pattern, buy it now at the current price (pattern or collection), and you’ll get the update without paying the new price.

This pattern will be my teaching pattern on the Vogue Knitting Cruise to Alaska in September. That’s what’s driving this update! We had thought about using Whale Watch Cap and Cowl, but we have some repeat cruisers and wanted to do a different brioche project. We’ll pretend that those leaves are sea kelp, and stay on theme. I’m really looking forward to this cruise; I haven’t been to Alaska since working at a salmon cannery to pay for college.

No salmon roe packing for me this time!

1 Comment

Posted in events, Knit, pattern design, travel

Tagged Alaska, Alaska cruise, Brioche Pastiche, Vogue Knitting Cruise

Winning brioche

Posted on May 30, 2023 | 1 comment

I’m taking a break from my assigned pooling project to knit some brioche. You know I can’t resist.

It feels so good to have brioche in my hands again! I’m knitting new samples for Brioche Pastiche to use in a class; I’ll show you more in the next post. But for now, I just wanted to announce that Martha is the winner of my Next Steps in Brioche: Increases and Decreases class at Virtual Vogue Knitting Live! I’ll email her to let her know.

If you’re not Martha, there is still room in this class for you! It’s on Sunday, June 11 at 2 pm Eastern. Register here!

1 Comment

Posted in classes, giveaways, Knit

Tagged Brioche knitting, Virtual Knitting Live

Win my brioche class at Virtual Vogue Knitting Live

Posted on May 25, 2023 | 6 comments

I’m teaching Next Steps in Brioche: Increases and Decreases for Virtual Vogue Knitting Live on Sunday, June 11, 2 – 4 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific). Vogue is generously letting me give away a seat in this class via my social media channels.

Deep End Hat and Cowl, and Madrona Cowl in lower right corner

In this class you’ll learn how to knit brioche increases and decreases that create the lovely patterning in two color brioche. We’ll also talk about fixing mistakes and reading a chart. Prerequisite for the class is knowing how to work two color brioche in the round. To enter to win a seat in this class, leave a comment on this post telling me what you want to knit with these increases and decreases. For an extra chance to win, leave a comment on my Instagram post for this giveaway. Contest closes at 11:59 pm Pacific on Monday May 29, and I’ll let the winner know on Tuesday, May 30.

I’ve taught a lot of knitters to knit two color brioche with my Petite Brioche class and pattern. If you don’t know how yet, sign up for my Zoom class via For Yarn’s Sake! The class is on June 3 at 10:30 am Pacific (1:30 pm Eastern). Learning from this class or from my free Petite Brioche pattern on your own will have you ready to learn increases and decreases.

Big thanks to Julie Rosvall (@julierosvall on Instagram) for letting me use her giveaway graphic! She’s teaching at Virtual VKL too, and I’m looking forward to taking her First Impressions: Print Making with Knitting class on Saturday June 10 at 10 am Eastern (7 am Pacific, oy!). Luckily, Vogue is recording our workshops during the June event, so I can replay it if I need a reminder from this early (to me) morning class.

Here’s a description of Julie’s class: Join textile artist and printmaker Julie Rosvall for a hands-on textile printmaking workshop. Julie will share how she went from knitter to printmaker, and why she loves capturing the pattern and texture of knitted shawls and swatches on paper. Participants will have the chance to try textile relief printmaking in a simple hands-on process, no experience necessary. Julie will provide information in advance for preparing textiles to print, or if you’d like to use stencils or other materials to mimic the textiles she will provide alternatives that can be picked up at your local dollar store or craft supply store.

You know I’ve been playing with block printing. Printing from knit fabric swatches will be next level fun!

6 Comments

Posted in classes, giveaways, Knit, Other craftiness

Tagged Brioche knitting, Virtual Knitting Live, Virtual VKL, Virtual VKL class giveaway

Weekend in Buffalo NY

Posted on May 23, 2023 | 4 comments

I had the great pleasure of teaching for the Knitting Guild of Greater Buffalo this weekend. We had a day of brioche, and then we explored elongated novelty stitches (some of which are also great for assigned pooling) and designing with favorite shawl shapes. So much fun!

I usually choose my airplane seat by whether there might be a view of Mt. Hood. It only matters during daylight, and it was a very pretty morning. (No view? Aisle seat please.)

Maureen was the perfect hostess/tour guide/organizing whiz. I met her (and Sharon, the other half of the organizing duo) at Madrona years ago. She took my entrelac and Syncopation classes and knew we’d have a good seminar weekend! My one non-knitting wish was to see Niagara Falls. We went over to the Canadian side for a better view.

Niagara Falls, American and Canadian, on the Niagara River

The water is a pretty green from dissolved minerals.

American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls (the smaller one to the right)

Looking across the ring of Horseshoe Falls

I think the Canadian falls are prettier than the American falls, but I’m not trying to create an international incident!

I didn’t think to take class pix until the last class, which was on shawl shapes. It’s a pretty relaxed class, and you have a bunch of mini-shawls when you’re done. Vince says he’s going to string his on a cord and hang them like a garland on his mantel. After blocking and weaving in ends, of course! Blocking is magic for shawls.