Bond Buzz, Issue #45
May 28, 2008
Free from Bond America

Welcome to another issue of Bond Buzz!

The snow’s gone and everyone’s packing into the gardening centers.  (Here in Vermont there never seems to be more than a week’s break between the last run down the ski slopes and the first week in the garden.)  But now that we’re all in our gardens, once all the bending, hoeing, raking and planting is done, it’s time to sit back and enjoy knitting – and, this month, smock your knitting.

But before we get to the technique feature, I’d like to share with you one of the most exciting things happening at Caron that will get all Bond owners buzzing on your own: 
NaturallyCaron.com. Yes, it’s a website, but it’s also a whole new line of yarn that, coincidentally, is also called NaturallyCaron.com. 

At the moment, there are two yarns under this brand:  Spa, a dk-weight bamboo-microdenier acrylic blend, and Country, a fine merino-microdenier acrylic blend.  Of the two, Country is ideal for all Bond/Sweater Machine knitters. (Spa’s a bit lightweight, but for those of you who are experienced, try it on a #1 keyplate.)  Country will work on a 2. 2.5 or 3 keyplate, depending on the look you want.  And, while the first patterns on the website are for hand knitting and crochet, watch for free patterns done in Country in the Buzz starting next month.  You can find Country and Spa at all A.C. Moore stores and, in June, all Jo-Ann Superstores and Pat Catan stores – and right now at ShopCaron.com.

Kathy Perry, our Buzz writer/designer, wholeheartedly endorses Country for use with your USM or ISM:

“Your knit or crochet piece will have a beautiful softness, sheen and drape due to the composition of the yarn. Country is perfect for all projects - being machine washable on the delicate cycle and machine dryable using low heat.

Blocking is very easy using light steam. Lay your work on a padded ironing or blocking board and set iron to a low steam setting. Hold iron above the knitting so it does not touch the work, as too much steam and pressure will relax the fiber so that it loses body. Just lightly steam the piece and you will find it needs very little blocking to keep edges from curling. Add pins every inch or two if necessary. Let piece dry and cool completely before moving.

Using Country means less finishing as edges stay flat - in contrast to most 4-ply yarns - even with stockinette stitch. Machine knitters will especially appreciate the ease of blocking with less curling and nice flat edges."

Caron International is proud to announce the winners of our “Soften the World” sweepstakes.  Over 10,000 knit and crochet sections were sent in, all of which will be donated to Warm Up America. Congratulations, winners! And thanks to all for helping us "soften the world" just a little bit through this wonderful program.

Smocked Ribbing
This easy technique looks complicated when you first look at it.  But when you realize it’s just spaced ribs that are drawn together with a simple embroidery stitch, forming a honeycomb-looking fabric, you’ll want to plan your first smocked project right away.

Here’s how:

Make a test piece to try out the technique:

Make knitted piece with 1x3 ribbing (see center panel instructions below). Mult 4 sts + 3. Purl side is used as RS.

Mark rows for Smocking st: With needle and contrast-color thread, run thread under rib stitches on every 6th row across piece.

Thread a tapestry needle with a length of yarn the same color as the area you will be smocking.

NOTE: It is best to use same color yarn to smock the piece because the yarn is woven through the ribs on the right side (purl side) of your work. This method avoids non-elastic "floats" on WS (knit side).

Start at 2nd rib on bottom right corner and work up the piece.  Weave the tapestry needle up the right side of rib to marked st (6th row).

Smocking Stitch:

1. Insert needle over and through marked stitch of 2nd rib, then through marked stitch of 1st rib, pulling ribs together to join.  Make one more stitch over top of ribs to complete Smocking stitch.		2. Next, weave needle up left side of 2nd rib to marked stitch.
3. Insert needle over and through the marked st of 2nd rib, then through marked st of 3rd rib, pulling ribs tog to join.		4. Make another st over top to complete Smocking st.  Cont up row, bringing ribs 1 & 2, then 2 & 3, tog with Smocking st. At end of row, turn and work smocking in opposite direction.

To practice your newly acquired smocking skills, here’s an easy project to show them off.

FINISHED MEASUREMENT
Approx 36" x 48"/91.5cm x 122cm

YARN
Caron® International Simply Soft® Paints (100% Acrylic, 4oz/113g, 200yds/182m): #0001 Tapestry (MC), 3 skeins
Caron® International Simply Soft® (100% Acrylic, 6oz/170g, 315yds/288m): #9702 Off White (CC), 3 skeins

KEY PLATE
USM/ISM KP#4 for MC or appropriate tension to obtain gauge
USM/ISM KP#2.5 for CC or appropriate tension to obtain gauge
Suitable for USM/ISM/Bond Classic or 6.5 to 9 mm knitting machine

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
Latch tool
Single-prong transfer tool
Claw weights
Waste yarn (wy)
Yarn needle
Needle and dark thread
Crochet hook I/9 (5.5mm) for finishing

GAUGE
In Stockinette stitch with KP#4 and MC, 14 sts and 16 rows = 4”/10 cm
In completed Smocking with KP#2.5 and CC, 25 sts and 23 rows = approx 4"/10 cm

STITCHES USED
Stockinette stitch (St st)
1x3 ribbing (for center panel only-to be used in smocking)
Single crochet (sc) for finishing
Picot crochet for finishing

NEEDLES REQUIRED: 119

BLANKET

SIDE PANELS (make 2)

• Using KP#4, closed CO Method and MC, CO 29. COR.  RC=000.
• K to RC=205.
• Bind off back stitch.

CENTER PANEL (make 1)

• Using KP#2.5 and WY, CO 119 sts. COR. K 10 R. Break off. RC=000.
• Using CC, start 1x3 ribbing.
• 1x3 Ribbing: Rib 4th st from end and every foll 4th st (dropping sts down approx every 20 rows and reforming).
• Work to RC=197. Change to WY and K 10 R. Remove piece.
• Using CC, follow technique instructions to smock piece.
• *Change to KP#4 and MC.  With knit side facing front, hang one end on 63 ndls (2 sts on every ndl except 1 st on # 20, 10, 0, 10, 20 and end ndls.) COR. RC=000.  K to RC=033. Bind off back stitch.*
• Repeat from * to * for opposite end.

FINISHING

• Sew side panels to center panel along long sides. (NOTE: Rows on MC and CC will not match up due to different gauges. Pin and seam carefully, easing in CC rows.
• Using CC, work 1 row sc around edges followed by 1 row picot crochet.
• Using 4 strands CC, make a row of running stitches at both ends of center panel with bows tied at ends.
• Weave in ends.

PICOT CROCHET

Sc in first sc, *ch3, sc in same sc, sc in next sc, sc in next sc and rep from * around.

Girl's Smocked Top
And now to really try your smocking skills, this time for your favorite toddler lady, here’s a way-cute smocked top. 

FREE instructions here

So, until next time, Happy Knitting!

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.