You won’t find ten methods of casting on or eight options for creating a buttonhole in Mother of Purl. Instead, I am offering you an inspirational resource book of the tried–and–true methods that I teach my clients every day in my store. I have created elegant designs with simple, easy–to–follow instructions that I am delighted to be able to share with you.
I truly believe that knitting can enrich one’s life, from meeting new friends, stimulating an artistic outlet, strengthening self–expression, and creating beautiful hand–knitted items.
The art of knitting transcends the basic knit one, purl one concept and inspires a continuing curiosity and desire to learn. I am an advocate for learning; it makes us better people. It is my hope that Mother of Purl will inspire you to keep learning and will guide you through the interesting tricks of the trade I offer my customers when we sit and knit—and even rip—until we are satisfied with what we have created.
I designed this book to appeal to knitters of every level, and my ultimate goal is to make you feel like you’re a knitter and a client sitting at my table among friends at La Knitterie Parisienne. Mother of Purl will both teach the basic elements of knitting and offer more advanced knitters the tried–and–true tips and techniques that I have cultivated over the years.
As you read through Mother of Purl, you’ll notice that this book has been set up to give you a sense of La Knitterie Parisienne’s style of knitting. My signature designs are found in the second half of the book with step–by–step instructions and photographs.
Chapter One
THE BASICS
My philosophy is to help knitters find the joy in creating something of substance and style—something that is all your own. It’s amazing how universal knitting can be. I have clients from all over the world, and even when there are language barriers, we can communicate through stitches.
[EDITH KNIT TIP]
Don’t Forget to Breathe
When learning to knit, relax and enjoy the process. Avoid looking at it as a complicated task. Concentrate on learning and understanding knitting’s basics: cast on, knit, and purl. Once you’ve achieved this, you’ll be able to create any pattern you see, especially the ones in this book.
La Knitterie Parisienne normally closes at 6:00 p.m., but on most nights the last knitter doesn’t leave until hours after that. So I often find myself at the store until eight o’clock at night encouraging a client to learn the purl stitch, or helping her pick the perfect yarn for a project. On a typical day, I’ll teach as many as twenty people or more how to cast on and knit. Their levels of learning vary, as does their confidence. Some students grasp the concept of knitting immediately and can virtually finish a chunky scarf in one sitting, while others may struggle to understand the basic knit stitch and may sit for hours knitting and ripping the same row.
Regardless of these challenges, anyone can learn to knit, and knit well, as long as they have patience. I remind my customers that they must fully understand the basics of knitting and know how to knit and purl before moving on. Like the expression “you must learn to walk before you can run” the same is true for knitting. Equally important, knitters must learn to take one step or, more accurately, one stitch at a time.
Beginners may anticipate the difficulty of purling or creating a sweater, even before they learn the knit stitch. I tell them, why worry about something that you haven’t reached yet? Just learn one step at a time, and stick to this philosophy even as you become more experienced—read just a little ahead in the pattern; don’t worry about your armholes when you are working on your ribbing.
FIND YOUR LOCAL KNITTING SHOP
When I opened La Knitterie Parisienne in 1996, my goal was to create an atmosphere of warmth, where customers could feel a sense of community, find a wide selection of yarns, and become inspired through example. We strived to create a home away from home, offering caring and personal attention. Unlike walking into a store and simply selecting the blue shirt off the rack, a knitting store is unique in that customers will spend hours upon hours and sometimes consecutive days working on a project, so it’s important to feel comfortable with a knowledgeable instructor. La Knitterie Parisienne provides this and more, and it’s a place where everyone knows your name!
CARNIE WILSON
Knitting makes you able to focus and relax at the same time, and when you have a lot going on in your life, knitting helps to keep things calm and in perspective. When everything else seems to be hectic, it’s nice to know that something as simple as knitting can offer instant gratification. Even last night when I was out with good friends, enjoying their company, I couldn’t help but think about my latest knitting project. The other guilty pleasure about knitting is that I sit and mindlessly watch TV without feeling as if I’m completely wasting my time. And the thing I absolutely love the most about knitting is knitting with Edith. My whole word changed the day I walked into La Knitterie Parisienne and met Edith to learn how to make a baby blanket. I started my project with the seed stitch—and made quite a few mistakes along the way. Edith—the perfectionist that she is—insisted I rip. In fact, I ripped and restarted my baby blanket ten times. And you know what? I am so glad she made me do it.
KNITTING ESSENTIALS: THE LEARN TO KNIT KIT
Before we start to knit, I must warn you that like most of us, you may become an addict. But be assured, knitting is an addiction that is safe, nonfattening, and legal. It will also bring you a tremendous amount of pleasure. Side effects have been known to prevent smoking and overeating while increasing your social circle and making
