Stranded: The Colorwork Challenge

Online Resource: Knitting in Color

2007-04-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Nanette Blanchard, the woman behind Knitting in Color has devoted most of her blog to colorwork. In addition to her many informational posts on the subject, such as basic colorwork, dealing with tension, and color jogs, she has published a trio of booklets. If you ever need some information on the subject, Nanette's blog is one of the places to go to!

Shooting Star hat from Wild About Color Knitting Patterns by Nanette Blanchard

Selbu gloves from a Japanese book on Scandinavian knitting (read post here).

Ringblomst sweater from Dale of Norway (DON leaflet #6014 available here, here, and even on eBay).

Getting back on track

2007-03-31T09:13:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! It's been quite a while since we last updated the blog. Life got in the way and, well, there's no other way to explain it. There have been quite a few joiners (more than 100) through the comments, Flickr, and the Stranded KAL email, so it will take me a while to add everyone. Just hang on and I'll get this figured out. Thanks!

inspiring knitting

2007-01-20T23:59:00.000-08:00

hello there! wow, sorry for the long delay in posting.. the holidays always pass like a blur, but this time january seems to be doing the same. so, until the next roll call later this week - and it's going to be a seriously juicy one - here's a sampling of some of the gorgeous knits being churned out by you great kal knitters:

1. Anemoi Mittens
2. My first sweater!
3. poetry in stitches sweater
4. squirrel mitts - frontsides
5. pirates detail
6. Mittens from Lapland
7. Anatolian Mittens
8. Icelandic Yoke Sweater 008-3
9. Endpaper Mitts
10. Completed Star Wars Cap
11. Bea Ellis Hat
12. Stockings

keep them coming!

for those of you asking to join the kal, it's not too late at all - it's just going to take a few days to get all the new names added to the sidebar, invited to flickr, and so on. welcome ;)

last but not least, check this photo out - note: not for the faint of heart if you're a first-time steeker.. yeaow!

Attention, mitten knitters.

2006-12-12T09:22:00.000-08:00

Have I got a link for you!

Habetrot posted in her blog about the 2006 NATO Summit in Riga, Latvia, where 300 knitters were enlisted to knit 4500 pairs of mittens for NATO delegates and the media.

This is the direct link to the Latvian Mittens gallery.

Latvian mittens from the Zemgale region (men's / women's)
Latvian mittens from the Kurzeme region (men's / women's)
Latvian mittens from the Latgale region (men's / women's)
Latvian mittens from the Vidzeme region (men's and women's)

Roll Call

2006-12-09T11:30:00.000-08:00

What follows is a master list of the KAL participants as of today. If your name isn't in the sidebar, rest assured it will be up there by next week. You're listed by the first project you're making for the kal. When there are at least two knitters knitting a particular style, we'll put them in their own category, just fyi. Let us know if your plans change so we can fix the master list.

We're just blown away by the number of people knitting along! Thanks for the tremendous, positive response, everyone!

Stranded in Another Galaxy Yes, it's possible!

Jessica R. is making a Star Wars Hat for her son.
So is Micki C.
And Kim B., then she'll move on to Norwegian Stockings.

Stranded with Adrian Bizilia/Hello Yarn (Although she's somewhere else, he he...)

Ashleah is knitting the We Call Them Pirates Hat.
So will Emma E.
And Hillary.
And Melanie.
And Melissa has just finished her hat!
Julia M. is making We Call Them Pirates Mittens.
So is Carrie W., who will then move on to Eunny's Anemoi Mittens.
Sandra P. is making the Squirrel and Oak Mittens.
So is Terri S.

Stranded with Eunny Jang

Christine is making Eunny's Endpaper Fingerless Mitts.
So is Dorre.
And Emily E.
And Heather.
And Mandy.
And Michelle.
And Stacy Z.
And Laura P. from Affiknity, who will then move on to Fair Isle Socks from Vogue's Knitting on the Go: Socks.
And Jennie N., who will then move on to Knit Picks' Norwegian-style Telemark Sweater.
Valerie is making Eunny's Anemoi Mittens.
Blogless Scholastica is making a variation on said Mittens.
Morgan is making Eunny's Venezia Pullover.
So is Stacey C.

Stranded in the Fair Isles

Tara is knitting a Yoked Fair Isle Cardigan.
Gigi is making MagKnits' Fake Isle Hat.
So is Monica.
So is Stacey R..
And Sarah G. has finished her Fake Isle Hat, and will move on to a yoked sweater, then a ski sweater.
Audrey P. is making a Sampler Purse.
Jodi is knitting the Fake Isle Hat and then will move on to either Elliphantom's Squirrelly Swedish Mittens, or the Kristen or Ufserud hats from Bea Ellis Knitwear.
Leah is making the Fair Isle Jazz Scarf from Scarf Style.
So is Wanda, who will then move on to Eunny's Endpaper Mitts.
Blogless Vicki is making the Alcea Sweater from Jamieson's Simply Shetland 3.
So is Anne F., who will then move on to an unspecified Sweater from Alice Starmore's Celtic Collection.
Joan is knitting the Donegal Sweater from Alice Starmore's Celtic Collection.
Nancy is knitting the Primrose Sweater from Rowan's Tadpoles.
Barbara is knitting the unusually named Skunk Sweater from Alice Starmore's Pacific Coast Highway.
Kat is knitting a Fair Isle Tam.
Shirley is knitting the Prince of Wales Vest from Meg Swansen's Sweaters from Camp.
Sarah C. is knitting Knit Picks' Seasonal Fair Isle Vest.

Stranded in Iceland

Liz D. is knitting the Aftur Sweater from Lopi 25.
Grace P. is making a Circular Yoke Sweater.

Stranded in Latvia

Jan is making Latvian Mittens from Folk Mittens.
So is Anne B.
So is Karen.
And Kim C.

Stranded in MISCELLANEOUS*

Julia F. is making Brooklyn Tweed Jared's Red Light Special Hat, then will move on to Hello Yarn Adrian's We Call Them Pirates Hat.
Erica N. is knitting the Greek Mittens from Folk Mittens.
Pamela B. has finished her Fair Isle Wristwarmers, adapted from She Ewe Knits.
Tanya has finished her Danish Mittens from Folk Mittens. She's now moved on to her own design.
Caryn is making the Paradoxical Mittens by Lucy Neatby.
Jess M. is making the Ullred Mittens from Folk Mittens.
Audrey P. is knitting a Skull Scarf, then will move on to a Sampler Purse.
Ami is making Fiber Trends' Swirl Hat, followed by MagKnits' Fake Isle Hat, then Eunny's Anemoi Mittens.
Jenna is making Elizabeth Zimmerman's Arch-Shaped Stocking (also appearing in Vogue Knitting's Fall 2006 issue), followed by an Icelandic Lopi Sweater.
Tiennie is knitting the Huntington Castle Pullover by Robin Melanson in Interweave Knits' Fall 2004 issue, followed by the Norwegian Mittens from Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac.
Adrian (Miss Hello Yarn) is making the Forest Sweater from Swedish Sweaters: New Designs from Historical Examples for her mother.

Stranded in Norway The biggest of the bunch!

Chris is making the Markblomst Hat from Dale of Norway's Baby 124 issue.
Agnes B. is knitting the Siren's Heart Fingerless Gloves from Norsk Strikkedesign.
Nonnahs is knitting the Traditional Hat from Bea Ellis Knitwear.
So is Susan.
And Keri, followed by the second of her Christmas Stocking pair!
Blogless Caren is knitting an unspecified Norwegian-style Hat.
So is Carolyn.
And Kucki68.
And Lori B..
And Lolly, who will then move on to Mittens, or Fair Isle Socks, or a Sweater.
Tami is knitting a Norwegian Hat from Dalegarn 130; she may make the matching socks and mittens.
Emily S. is making Elizabeth Zimmerman's Norwegian Mittens.
So is Iraida.
And Bev, who will then move on to a Yoke Sweater.
Jennifer L. is making the Nordic Mittens from Interweave Knits' Winter 2004 issue.
So is Tamar.
So is Rebecca W., who will then move on to the Alcea Sweater from Jamieson's.
Amazing knitter (you have got to see her FOs!) Marina is making the Kashmir Sweater by Dale of Norway, followed by the Alcea Sweater from Jamieson's.
Blogless Elizabeth D. is making unspecified Norwegian-style Mittens and a Hat.
Jen S. is making Selbu Mittens from Folk Mittens, then moving on to a Hat from Bea Ellis Knitwear.
Kodachrome is making either Norwegian Stockings or Mittens.
Jessica is knitting the Norwegian Stockings from Folk Socks, possibly followed by Knit Picks' Norwegian-style Telemark Sweater.
Laura P. is knitting the Lotus Cardigan by Dale of Norway.
Judy H. is knitting the Froya Sweater by Dale of Norway.
Sonya is knitting the ever popular Ingeborg by Dale of Norway.
Kirsten is knitting Knit Picks' Norwegian-style Telemark Sweater.

Stranded in Norway with Solveig Hisdal

Cheryl would like to finish her Poetry in Stitches Sweater (p. 66) so she can move on to Norwegian Mittens and Eunny's Venezia Pullover.
Francesca is knitting a Sweater from Poetry in Stitches.
Stacey B. is knitting on her Poetry in Stitches Cardigan, then she'll move on to Adrian's We Call Them Pirates Hat, and then Eunny's Endpaper Mitts.

Stranded on their Own These knitalongers are designing their projects.

Betsy is making her own design, but hasn't specified a type of project yet.
Jared has finished his first, free design, the Red Light Special Hat, and is moving on to Fair Isle Gloves.
Judy is knitting a Hat.
Lori is making Trigger Mitts.
Blog host Mary-Heather is making a Patterned Yoke Sweater, then will move on to the Mameluke Socks from Folk Socks.
Blog host MJ is making a Scrollwork Hat, followed by a Sweater with Nigerian motifs.

Stranded... Somewhere These knitalongers haven't indicated a project yet.

Blogless Cheryl, blogless Christene, Cindy, and Claudine
E.J., Eliza, and Emma.
Grace.
HPNY Knits.
Jen H., Jess, Joanne S., and blogless Julie.
Blogless KC, Kelly B., and Kelp.
Lara, Liz, Lorri R., blogless Lucette, Lydia, and Lyndsey.
Marisol, Marnie, blogless Martha, and Megan.
Nanette.
Robin.
Sarah P., Sherry, Skylar, Stella, and Sue J.
Brand new blogger Therese and Tiffany.
Vanessa.
Wendi.

Stranded in Turkey

KAL host Andrea is making the Turkish Cape from Vogue Knitting's Fall 2005 issue.
Amy P. is making Turkish-style socks and a Vest.
Pat is making Anatolian Mittens from Folk Mittens.

Stranded Without A Compass Which way are you going, folks?

Brigid is knitting unspecified Gloves.
Bee is making either a We Call Them Pirates Hat or one from Bea Ellis Knitwear.
Nova is knitting unspecified Hats.
So is Mia.
Jen in Chicago is making unspecified Mittens.
So is Necia, who's making Gloves and a Hat as well.
Laurie is knitting unspecified Socks.
Jen L. is making either Knit Picks' Norwegian-style Telemark Sweater, Norwegian Mittens, or We Call Them Pirates Mittens.
Erica L. is making either Latvian or Estonian Mittens, followed by either Kristen or Ufserud, hats from Bea Ellis Knitwear.

* I smell contest! Am working on the details; more later in the week.

We're Stranded!

2006-12-01T18:23:00.000-08:00

Wow! Looks like Stranded Colorwork is in the air... we have well over 100 people signed up for this knitalong so far! It has been so much fun clicking around and checking out your blogs... and adding more and more projects to my "have to knit" list! Lots of folks in this knitalong are attempting colorwork for the very first time; other participants have many beautiful sweaters, hats, mittens, and socks under their belts (and in their closets) already... I'm inspired and so happy to be involved! We (your hostesses, that is) hope that this knitalong site will be a great resource for us all. Please keep checking our sidebar; we have drop-down menus for online colorwork resources there, and we'll be adding even more links and references in the coming weeks. Do any of you have a helpful hint or favorite online tutorial related to stranded colorwork? Please let us know in the comments!

Have you all joined the Flickr group? Since MJ, Andrea, and I are going to be posting the weekly updates and other goodies to this site, we thought the Flickr would be a fantastic additional venue for all of us involved in the Stranded knitalong. Once you accept the invitation, you can contribute photos to the group pool (and leave comments on other member's photos) and participate in the discussions with questions or tips. We hope that this will give our blog-free participants a fun and easy way to share your photos and progress. For those of you who do have blogs but aren't familiar with Flickr, it doesn't cost anything for a basic account, and it is another great internet community. Of course everyone can go admire the photos at any time...

I'm looking forward to seeing all the beautiful projects we're all going to make! Thanks so much for joining, everyone. We're stranded all over the place, and it's going to be great.

Buttons! And a few questions.

2006-11-29T10:00:00.000-08:00

We've got buttons for you, in 6 lovely colors to coordinate (or not) with your blog: raspberry, moorit, chartreuse, lake, plum, and brick. Use one or use them all! Remember to save the button to your own site; no hotlinking please. Use the code below:

<a href="http://strandedcolorwork.blogspot.com"><img src="YOURURL/YOURIMAGEDIRECTORY/btn_strandedkal_YOURCOLORCHOICE.0.jpg" alt="Stranded: The Colorwork Challenge" width="100" height="100" border="0"></a>

The KAL's starting this Friday; we'd love to get a feel of what everyone's doing through their blogs. (If you don't have a blog, you can leave your answers in the comments here.) Who's doing Fair Isle? Traditional Norwegian or Swedish (Bohus Stickning)? Who's working on their nth project? Here are a couple of simple questions to get you in the mood for colorwork.

What are your projects for this knitalong?

Is this your first colorwork project? If it isn't, what was your first, and has it survived the test of time?

Welcome!

2006-11-28T09:22:00.000-08:00

hi ~ just a couple of days until the KAL starts, but i wanted to write a quick introduction and a happy welcome to all of you! so far, we're 35 41 participants and i can't wait to see the amazing knits we're going to make over the next few months. some people are starting after the holidays, some are making things *for* the holidays, but either way, it's going to be exciting.

i'm andrea and am pleased as punch to be one of your hostesses. i did my first colorwork last year during mj's great norwegian-knit-along - the flenten hat from bea ellis knits. i loved seeing the pattern appear and was pretty much immediately hooked to fair isle. soon after, i started the fair isle bag by beth brown-reinsel,bought as a kit from nordic fiber arts. i barely squeaked it in at the end of the kal, but i love love my bag. sure, it still needs a nice cloth liner, but that's just icing really. ;) i highly recommend both projects ~ gotta love the kits, and the end projects are beautiful. next up? too many ideas still bopping around in my head, but for now, i just started the turkish cape from a recent vogue knitting, am eyeing some poetry in stitches sweater kits, and am always up for another bea ellis hat. yup, ambitious, and probably unrealistic. ;)

so! looking forward to getting to know you all ~ again, welcome and hooray for the colorwork challenge!

p.s. don't forget to check out the flickr group.

Why yes, we have rules... (smirk)

2006-11-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules, borrowing again from Sandy's Warm Hands Knitalong:

Knit something in stranded colorwork.
Knit them starting December 1st.
Or later.
Just knit them.
You must finish them
Or not. Your call.
Share your progress (or frustration. Or hints. Or tips) with us.

That is it. People, it'll be fun and inspiring, I promise! If you're interested in joining, email us at strandedcolorwork at yahoo dot com. Be sure to included the following information:

Your name (first name, last initial; you know we'll have duplicate names).
Your blog's url, if you have one. It's not necessary. If you don't have a blog, send us your photos and we'll post them here for you.
Your project. If you're not sure at this point, that's fine. The start date is December 1.

The story behind Stranded: The Colorwork Challenge

2006-11-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

Last year I started the Norwegian Knits-Along, a 6-month knitalong that eventually grew beyond Norwegian-style knitting into Fair Isle, Latvian and miscellaneous colorwork. The participation was great--50 plus knitters and bloggers joined in, some for the first time ever. It was a great experience for me to see all the beautiful progress photos, finished projects, and meet some new people. I promised I'd host the KAL again.

This year, I knew I wanted to do more colorwork, and host a knitalong, but I didn't want to limit it to one particular style. There are quite a few unique styles and patterns out there, and I didn't want to turn down anyone because they weren't knitting Norwegian-style colorwork. After discussing the KAL details with Andrea and Mary-Heather, debating on names and categories, we decided to:

Create an all-types-of-colorwork knitalong. This means, if you're interested in doing stranded colorwork, this is the place for you.
Create categories based on the colorwork style of a person's project. If you're making Selbu mittens, you're in the Stranded in Norway category. If you're making a Fair Isle vest, you're in the Stranded in the Fair Isles category. Simple, eh?
Make a separate blog for the KAL. Not that we have grandiose plans of duplicating the Knitting Olympics, Sockapalooza, or Socktoberfest, but we do anticipate a bit of traffic. Besides, having a separate blog frees your three hosts from excessive bandwidth usage. (Let's be practical here.)
Divide hosting duties. Last year, with 50+ blogs and emails to check, I slacked off on a couple of updates (well more than a couple). This year, Andrea and Mary-Heather actually volunteered to do updates. He he. Uh, thanks girls!
Host a gallery of finished colorwork projects. Click-thru statistics from my site showed that last year's gallery was quite popular. You know you love seeing finished objects!
List resources, vendors, books, online groups, and other colorwork information. Don't know where to find a great first project? Or are you looking for a pattern from an old book that's no longer in print? We'll post information frequently.

So. Here's my line: are you interested in doing colorwork for the first time? Do you have a colorwork project that's been languishing in the back of your closet? This is the KAL for you. Our targeted start date is December 1, 2006, with no targeted end date. If you're interested in joining, send an email to strandedcolorwork at yahoo dot com. Get your pattern books out, the Colorwork Challenge is here!

Photos © 2005-Present MJ Gumayagay.