Going On Vacation
Discover metallics in knitting
Fashion-and-merchandising student Allison Knowlton is a
Creative Intern at Kreinik for the summer. She has begun to use Kreinik threads
in her favorite techniques. Read on for Allison’s discoveries and suggestions
for incorporating metallics into knitting.
Have you ever spent hours, days, or weeks on a knitting
project – be it a simple beginner scarf, or an extravagant fully cabled
knee-length-and-hooded cardigan – and when you have finished and looked over
your work you can’t help but feel like it needed a little something more? It
looked like something was missing, or that it needed something to truly make it
your own, not just a copy of someone else’s pattern.
Like many artists, crafters, and young women, I love my creations
to have “something special” like a little flair or sparkle. A little bling is
eye-catching and easily adds dimension to a flat or monochromatic project.
However, I often find that the beautiful and luxurious yarns that could
possibly produce this result for me cost more than a “fresh-out-of-college” gal
can afford.
As a Senior in the Fashion Design & Merchandising program at
West Virginia University, one of my graduating requirements is to participate
in an internship. With my primary focus being in Design, I took an internship
at Kreinik Manufacturing Co., Inc. in my hometown of Parkersburg, WV. The
company is a locally owned and operated thread maker that specializes in
metallics. From this blogger’s point of view, their threads are absolutely
spectacular. The fine threads are perfectly blended with just the right amount
of metallic to give any crafter’s project just that right amount of flair and
shine.
I have never worked with metallics in my garment or craft
projects, let alone as a carry-along thread with my knitting – until now. I
began knitting a little over two years ago, and after my first project – a
six-foot, very pink scarf with cables, bobbles, and lots of hand beading made
from acrylic yarns – I vowed never to work with anything except natural fibers
again.
However, despite the luxurious look and feel of natural fiber
yarns, I have never been able to shake the idea that my knitting could be so
much more. This has been a prominent feeling with my knitwear, especially when
working in cotton. Over the past two years, my peers who knit also seem to feel
like there is just something that could give hand knitting that “extra” to make
the pieces truly spectacular. Well my friends, I have found that something
extra.
For the past three weeks I have been knitting scarves, hats,
gloves, and socks using metallic threads along with cotton and wool yarns. The
results have been everything from very subtle (when using Kreinik Blending Filaments) to “in your face”
(when using Kreinik Ombre).
Kreinik has literally hundreds of threads and colors to choose
from, all of which can be incorporated into your knitting. There is no guide to
follow and no limitations on what you can do with using metallics in knitting;
it’s all personal preference. For example, as I have been working with this
concept over the past three weeks, I have grown to love the subtle impact of
the Blending Filaments that Kreinik has to offer. As I began to create my first
pair of socks however, I decided that perhaps the knitting could use a little
more “umph.” In order to achieve this goal, I used not one, but two different
colors of the Blending Filaments – perfect for sock and small stitch works as
the thread is incredibly thin but very resistant to breaking – and for that
final punch I added Kreinik Cable thread as well. Working with three different
metallic threads at once was surprisingly simpler than I imaged, and the result
was stunning.
You may be wondering, “What’s the trick? It must be hard to work
with.” I can offer a few tips on how to handle the two main “tricky parts”:
- Tension (Trick) – This is key when working with any carry-along thread in knitting, especially thin metallic threads like Blending Filament. If you pay no attention to what you are doing you could potentially end up with some rather unflattering “bubbles” – or loose stitches – in the metallic thread.
- Tension (Tip) – This issue can be tackled. If you don’t mind wrapping your working yarn around your pinky once, and the carry-along thread around your pinky twice, then you might be in business! While this may not work for everyone, it can help. Patience and focus are also important so as to catch the unruly stitches as you go.
- Separation (Trick) – When working with Ombre, which is a loosely twisted thread, it is possible to slip your needle through the middle of the thread, causing some unsightly stitches.
- Separation (Tip) – Let’s be honest, we all let our attention stray from our knitting from time to time, and it can lead to some rather frustrating – and easily avoidable – slip ups. Paying attention to your knitting not only helps you stay in pattern and can help you avoid common problems such as dropped stitches, but it can also help you keep from slipping your needle into the center of the threads. Two other tips to consider: 1. Twist your metallic thread with your working yarn as you go so there isn’t a chance to slip your needle into anything except the stitch.
There are many other threads
offered by Kreinik that are spectacular to work with and give that “special something”
to your knitting projects such as Kreinik Gimp Threads, which are in the
Machine Sewing Thread line, Tapestry #12 Braid, and Kreinik 1/16” Ribbon. All
offer unique textures and light-reflecting properties for your knitting.
As you can see, with a little – or a lot – of Kreinik
Metallic Threads, you can quickly and easily add that something special to hand
knits to make them your own and integrate flair and sparkle. The best part? In
my opinion it’s not the gorgeous and high-end feel these threads can provide,
but it’s the fact that even a “fresh-out-of-college” girl –on a tight budget
–can easily afford it!
If you found yourself wondering what the downside was, or
skeptically thinking that metallics are too hard, scratchy or flashy to use, I
hope I encouraged you to explore the possibilities of using Kreinik Threads in
your hand knitting projects. I challenge you to try them for yourself. I just
know that you’re going to love it.
By Allison Knowlton,
Creative Intern at Kreinik Manufacturing Co., Inc., www.kreinik.com, June 2012.
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