Bond Buzz, Issue #34
March 26, 2007
Free from Bond America

Welcome to another issue of Bond Buzz!

This issue is a special “thank you” to all the USM owners who braved the weather to go to the Mall of America Knit-Out in Minneapolis the weekend of February 17 & 18.  There was so much interest in the Sweater Machine from so many people, we’ll be sure that we have a demonstrator next time.  And there were so many USM owners who wanted to learn more and who had questions.  Love it!

We've been hearing interesting reports that home sewing is on the rise again. If you have a minute, vote in our online poll about your sewing habits. Click over to the poll here.

In the last Bond Buzz I mentioned how ideal today’s fashions are for USM owners.  So for this month’s free pattern we’re featuring a super Kimono-Sleeved Tunic designed by Kathy Perry. You can wear the tunic belted or not and the beading at the V neck gives the project a very special touch. Just click on the image at right to see the free instructions.

We also have an archived pattern for an Eyelet Tunic that will work perfectly in Simply Soft, Simply Soft Tweed or Simply Soft Shadows.  It is oversized and has a finished bust measurement of 40” to 52” so is considered a Plus size. Just click on the image at left to see the free instructions.

Look for some super spring patterns in the next issue of the Buzz.

Now that the posies are starting to poke up (not quite in Vermont, but we're gleefully watching the snow piles melt away and the snowdrops poke their heads up), I thought I might send you a “spring” idea. When I was in Italy this summer, I noticed this short-row-ruffles-with-eyelet technique used on garments, wraps and accessories. It’s super easy and the large eyelet that’s created allows the ruffle to hang especially well – and provides a band on which you can embroider, bead or otherwise accent.

I made a simple purse to show the technique.  (Yeah, I know you now must have loads of purses and scarves from the Buzz projects, but doing small projects means you can practice the technique and still end up with a finished project you can use or give to a friend or family member.)  The technique for making the eyelet-top short row ruffles technique is included in the pattern for the purse.  Note that you can change the number of stitches you use for the ruffle and/or change the number of stitches you use for the upper band to suit your project.

So let’s jump into it:

EYELET RUFFLE PURSE

FINISHED DIMENSIONS: 6½” X 8” excluding strap

MATERIALS:  Caron International Simply Soft:  Grey Heather #9742 (or color of your choice); optional: small amounts of two contrast color SS for embroidery; 43 size 3 large hole seed beads.

TOOLS:  2 claw weights; Embellish-Knit I-cord machine; size H/5mm crochet hook; size 16 tapestry needle (for embroidery).

GAUGE:  Using #2 keyplate in st st:  18 sts & 25 rows = 4”/10 cm

PURSE BODY:

1. With WY, CO 32 sts.  K 4 R.  Break off.
2. With MY, K 9 R.  Convert last row of sts to purl sts.  COL.  RC = 0.
3. K 8 R.  COL.  Lift up first R of sts to needles to form hem.
4. K 90 R.  COR. 
5. BO across.

RUFFLE BAND:

1. Change to #2.5 keyplate and closed edge CO 14 sts, making sure there are 7 on each side of 0.  COR.
2. K 3 R.  COL.
3. Push ndls to RHS of 0 to HP.

1. Attach claw weight under sts on LHS of 0.
2. K 6 R – but DO NOT wrap st to RHS of 0.  COL.

1. Push the 7 ndls to RHS of 0 back to FWP.
2. K 2 R.
3. Push the 7 ndls to RHS of 0 up to HP.
4. Move claw weight up and K 6 R.  COL.
5. Repeat Steps 3-7 fourteen times, moving the claw weight up as needed.
6. Bind off across.

FINISHING
Make 36” long length of cording as strap.  Sew side seams of purse.  Sew on straps.  Sew sides of ruffle to side seams of purse.  Optional:  make beaded picot edging:  Thread all beads onto yarn.  Attach yarn to side edge of ruffle.  *Work 2 sc, slide down bead, work sc, work 2 sc. Skip 2 knit sts and repeat from * across.  Break off.  Optional:  work embroidery across upper band as desired or using photo as guide.  Crochet top of ruffle band to upper front edge of purse.  Attach cord to upper side edges of purse.

Drop by the Bond America online store to purchase the indispensible claw weights needed for the technique above. This set of two 4-ounce weights unfolds and hooks into the edge of your knitting with metal claws. The extra weight helps hold out the edges that tend to curl in, as well as helping that last stitch to knit when you use somewhat stiff yarns. Each unfolded claw weight measures 1 1/2" long x 4". Just $8.95 for the pair and you'll use them over and over again!

Happy Knitting!

Cari Clement
Bond America

P.S. As a subscriber to Bond-Buzz, I'd like to invite you to subscribe to the FREE e-mail newsletter—Caron Connections from Caron® International. Just visit the Caron site (http://www.caron.com) and enter your email address. It's that easy. As a subscriber to Caron Connections, you'll receive monthly emails filled with the latest inside scoop on Caron's new fashion yarns and free patterns.