Bond Buzz, Issue #12
May 21, 2004
Free from Bond America!

Dear Friends,
Welcome all Bond Sweater Machine® and Wyr Knittr™ owners to another issue of the “Bond Buzz” e-newsletter!!

For this newsletter, I’d like to share with you some tips on making soft and drape-y summer sweaters, which are especially wonderful made using some of those fancy yarns in combination with the basic yarns (which also help to keep costs down).

For all of these, be sure to test your gauge, as the various techniques will significantly change your gauge from regular stockinette.
Tip #1: Choose a lightweight yarn and knit it on a 3 or 4 keyplate.
Tip #2: Knit the yarn on every other needle using a 2, 3 or 4 keyplate. Test all 3 keyplates to see which one you like the best.
Tip #3: Knit every stitch then drop every other stitch and unravel.
Tip #4: To cast on (and set the needle patterning): *Push 2 or 3 needles to HP, leave 2 needles back in NWP.* Repeat between *’s across, ending with 2 or 3 needles in HP.
Tip #5: Knit a lightweight yarn on a #4 keyplate, but make a butterfly stitch on every 5th stitch across. Knit the desired number of rows for the next butterfly stitch and repeat on stitch #3 (so it’s centered between the previous butterfly stitches). (See Stitch Encyclopedia II for this technique)
Tip #6: To make an A-shaped top, begin knitting a lightweight yarn with a 4 keyplate, then a third of the way up, change to a 3 keyplate and for the last third, use a 2 keyplate. This would also work for making those popular bell-sleeves that look great in summer sweaters.

CALLING ALL CONFIDENT BONDERS!
This just in: There is a new opportunity to teach basic USM knitting classes – for pay - and, while we do have a number of teachers in our database, we’re looking for more. So if you feel you are experienced enough to teach a basic class on the USM (even if you just have an ISM), please e-mail Kathy at kathyp@bond-america.com. More on the classes (where and when) in the next Buzz…..

Join me next time when I’ll tell you how to knit those wonderful “posies” you see pinned or sewn to so many dresses and blouses this season! And there will be another new pattern up online for the Wyr Knittrs among us!

Until next time, happy knitting,
Cari
Cari Clement
http://www.bond-america.com
And please visit our parent site at http://www.caron.com