Interviews and Reviews

Up, Down, All-Around, Stitch Dictionary & GIVEAWAY!

Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary by Wendy Bernard
Published by Abrams | STC Craft | Photos by Thayer Allyson Gowdy

I have this dirty habit where I agree to things before discussing it with my partner in crime, Megan-Anne. She’s just as guilty, so I never feel bad about it. (Ahhh, the joys of sisterhood!) But when I told her Blue Sky Alpacas asked us to participate in a blog tour for Up, Down, All-Around, Stitch Dictionary by Wendy Bernard and that I’d already agreed to do it, she wasn’t exactly happy with me: “Stitch dictionaries are great, but what are we going to say about it? They’re all the same.”

“They said it’s revolutionary.”

Megan-Anne rolled her eyes and said, “Yeah. Okay. I’ll believe it when I see it.” She sipped her coffee and sat there, all hoity-toity. It was as if she was already dancing around the living room singing “I told you so” at me.

Let me tell you, it was a particularly delightful feeling to watch her gush over the book when it arrived in the mail. While the fact that it’s spiral bound was enough to make her clutch it to her chest, she hadn’t realized that in addition to providing directions on how to work the stitches top-down and bottom-up, it also shows how to do them in the round!

More importantly, I got to do the greatest “I told you so” dance since that time she bleached her hair in the 11th grade and it turned pink.

Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary giveaway

I had planned on knitting a few swatches from the Edging section, but Megan-Anne whisked away the Alpaca Silk yarn and the stitch dictionary before I had the chance. By the time I finished hiding the giveaway swag from the cats reach, she was already balling the yarn and choosing her needles.

blue sky alpacas yarn

Wendy Bernard’s Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary is comprised of 11 sections, which include Knits and Purls, Ribs, Textures Slipped and Fancy, Yarnovers and Eyelets, Cables, Lace, Colorwork, and Hems and Edgings. There’s something in there for every knitter, including a simple pattern at the end of each chapter that showcases one of the featured stitches.

Wendy also makes it easy for knitters to try their hand at designing in her “From Scratch” section where she shows you how to plug your favorite stitch patterns into project formulas. With a little basic math, you can create anything from a lace stole to a slouch cap to a pair of mittens.

Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary Hems and Edging

For me, Hems and Edgings are one of those places where it’s hard it get creative as a designer. I can dream up cables and colorwork until my brain pops from too many ideas, but when it comes to hems I’m like “Uh, put an applied i-cord on it?” Needless to say, I had a particular interest in the sixteen different stitch patterns in that section.

I have to say that I am OBSESSED with the look of the Waves Edging. (In the picture above, it’s the bottom swatch.) I want to put it on everything now. I mean, the Kick Pleat and the Feather Edging are great too. It’s why I insisted Megan-Anne make those for Knitted Wall Art project. But, there is something about those waves that I adore.

blue sky alpacas yarn blocking

::::::KNITTED WALL ART TUTORIAL::::::

Need something to do with all of those swatches you’re going to make? After you’re finished knitting, washing, blocking, and measuring the swatch for whichever garment you’re making, all you’ll need is an old frame, a piece of card stock in a complementary color, and packing tape.
knitted wall art tutorial 1

First, cut your card stock to fit the frame. Next, lay out your hem or edging swatches how you would like them to appear in the frame. Just be certain the right side is face down or else the wrong side will show! Then, lay the card stock over the laid out swatches and tape each end to the back. It’ll look like a hot mess, but that’s okay.
knitted wall art tutorial 2
Now all you have to do is drop it into the frame and you’re ready to hang it! I put the glass pane between the frame back and the card stock, so it wouldn’t flatten the texture of the swatches.
knitted wall art 1

knitted wall art 2

::::::GIVEAWAY::::::

Of course, no blog tour is complete without a giveaway!
giveaway swag

THE PRIZE

THE RULES

  • The giveaway is open to all of our readers currently residing on planet Earth. We’re not shipping to Mars, so don’t ask. Sorry, interplanetary readers!
  • Giveaway is open until Friday, June 20, 2014 at 11:30 PM EST.
  • All comments must include a valid email address or Ravelry ID, so that we can contact you if you are the winner.
  • Winner will be chosen via random number generator and will be contacted within 48 hours after giveaway ends.

HOW TO ENTER

  • Leave a comment letting us know what you love about stitch dictionaries or what you do with your swatches. Don’t forget to include your email or Ravelry ID with your comments or else you’ll be disqualified!
  • Bonus Entries: Tweet, share on Facebook, or Pin this post. Then, come back and leave additional comments for each place you’ve shared.

Tweet: Can’t wait to get my hands on @KnitTonicWendy’s Up Down All-Around Stitch Dictionary! Enter to win at @DoctorLlama: http://wp.me/p30KHy-zG

A huge thank you to Blue Sky Alpacas and STC Craft for inviting us to be a part of the Up, Down, All-Around Dictionary Blog Tour! You can find the rest of the tour stops below for more giveaways, tutorials, and patterns using this super-boss stitch dictionary:

May 20: Knit and Tonic
May 22: FreshStitches
May 24: Hey Jen Renee
May 26: Very Shannon
May 28: Miso Crafty Knits
May 30: The Sweatshop of Love
June 3: Stockinette Zombies
June 4: Mari Knits
June 6: Lattes and Llamas, wooooooo!
June 21: Wendy Bernard on the Ready, Set, Knit! podcast

~ Jac
Every time I’m right and my sister is wrong, an angel gets its wings.

148 thoughts on “Up, Down, All-Around, Stitch Dictionary & GIVEAWAY!”

  2. themadknittershop says:

    I keep as many swatches as I can in a notebook/scrapbook with the info written next to it, it a desperate attempt to not have to swatch as much, it kindof works. themadknittershop[at]yahoo.com

  4. Stephanie Bilbao says:

    You have me so psyched about this book. I can’t wait to get my hands on it! rav name: panyang

  5. MelodyJ says:

    I like stitch dictionaries because they always have something in them that I don’t know how to do yet.
    (melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
    Rav Id: RareJewel

  6. Sharon Stewart says:

    I saw this dictionary on Amazon.com and pre-ordered it a few weeks ago. It is lovely! I have four volumes of Barbara Walker’s stitch dictionaries, and love browsing them. Up, Down All Around (UDAA for short) is even more fun, because it is in color and because the charts are right there.
    I love that wave edging you discovered in UDAA, thanks! My search for a wave edging is what prompted me to get the Barbara Walker stitch dictionaries.

  7. Sarah Rahamim says:

    very interested in the stitch dictionary – the swatches will make another great blanket! ravelry: srahamim

  9. The Twisted Yarn says:

    This book sounds amazing. I love stitch dictionaries, because they nudge me out of my rut of knitting the same old things I always knit. :-) As for my swatches, they get unravelled and the yarn reused.
    I’d love love love to win. Occles on Ravelry.

  10. Rachel Lems says:

    I *generally* make my swatches square or square-ish so I can use them as coasters when I’m done. :)

  11. Geraldine Scott says:

    A book like this will most definitely help me expand and explore my knitting horizons….sadly, in the past I have frogged my swatches…not too bright!

  12. Pat Roth says:

    I don’t usually like stitch dictionaries but this sounds fantastic. And may I just say that Blue Skies Alpaca yarn is almost local and I love it. Even if I don’t win, and I never do, you knitters need to try this!
    Rav ID patroth

  14. ikkinlala says:

    I tend to unravel my swatches and use the yarn – whether for that project or for another. I hardly ever look at swatches once a project is done, so it seems wasteful not to use them.
    ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca

  15. IceBebe on ravelry says:

    I thinking of making all those swatches I would make with this book into a blanket. The yarn looks so yummy too. What a lovely giveaway! Thanks!!

  16. mamamoo13 says:

    I have never gotten around to owning a stitch dictionary and I have been knitting for over 40 years. On my bucket list, Item 17 is write and publish a pattern on Ravelry. Maybe I should think about trying out this new book? Thanks for sponsoring such an awesome giveaway . MamaMoo13 on Ravelry

  18. roojinator says:

    I normally just unravel my swatches and use the wool for the project, or any other future project, because I’m frugal like that. Yup, I am weird like that.
    As for the stitch dictionary, methinks it’s an excellent reference book for both me and my mom, especially since she’s a free hand knitter who’s always on the lookout for new stitches.
    My rav id is Urooj.

  19. Amanda W. says:

    I love finding a pattern I like bit not necessarily the stitch pattern and then sorting through my stitch dictionary to find a complementary stitch pattern for the piece I want to make. It’s a great way to personalize a pattern. And this one looks fantastic. The one in use I feel is a bit dated.

  20. Mary Kay Smith says:

    I like to use stitch dictionaries for ideas, or help in how to knit a particular stitch pattern. I’m really bad about swatching, but this book makes me WANT to swatch! Rosmith1@aol.com

  22. ritainalaska says:

    stitch dictionaries are my go to for new stitches … I make big swatches, for dishcloths or face cloths. I can put practice edgings on pillow cases, collars or cuffs, whatever. I work on them in between working on bigger pieces. thanx for the chance to win a copy and the yarn to make some little things with.

  23. sarah says:

    Sarahd164 on ravelry. I like stitch dictionaries just for blanket ideas, I can’t envision much more than them on my own.

  26. thatnerdygirlknits says:

    That stick dictionary sounds awesome! Right now I’m working on swatches for a lace table runner and I plan on using the swatches as doilies/coasters
    Ravelry ID: thatnerdygirl

  27. thatnerdygirlknits says:

    That stitch dictionary looks awesome. Right now I’m working on swatches for a lace table runner and I plan on using the swatches for doilies/coasters. Thanks for the giveaway!

  28. KatarinaLL says:

    I give my swatches to my kids and they use them as a little blankets for theirs small toys! KatarinaLL on ravelry

  32. angela hathaway says:

    I love stitch dictionaries because no matter how many books I look through, there are ALWAYS new stitches to try! I love expanding my horizons, this book looks incredible!!

    rav id: angielovesmaps

  33. Catherine Skoog. says:

    Hi shared in Facebook and Twitter. I really like your wall art tip. I have one wip for my wall to wrap around a canvas but love the idea of multiple examples in a frame.

  34. Selloga on Ravelry says:

    My favorite thing about stitch dictionaries is how freeing they are, and how they let you mix and match and try things out and get what you’ve always wanted, but haven’t found a pattern for.

  35. Emily says:

    Stitch dictionaries are a great place to get inspiration for new and interesting designs to add to patterns. This book looks lovely!

    AuntieEmsStudio on Ravelry

  36. Kylie says:

    Swatches make awesome mug rugs!!! I totally love how you have framed those edges though!! My current stitch dictionary is falling to pieces (it was my mum’s!!) so i’d just LOVE to win this pack!! I’m KraftyMumma on ravelry :D

  37. Marwah says:

    i like stitch dictionaries because they always have something new which you can learn and great for starting new projects :)
    MsDreamer on Ravelry

  39. Dezarae says:

    I usually unravel my swatches and use the yarn for a project. I have never owned or looked through a stitch dictionary. I usually google any stitch I’m unfamiliar with, so I think it’d be fun to actually have something on hand. Ravelry ID: snozzberryjuice.

  40. Kemper says:

    I’d love a signed copy of this lovely swatch dictionary! I’m working on designing my own patterns at the moment and I use swatch dictionaries as inspiration and reference. Ravelry ID: wraybot

  41. Dena M Rauch says:

    When it time to do a baby blanket or a lapghan, out come the stitch dictionaries. Some of this and a little of that and the baby blanket is done, it is unique, and it wan’t boring.
    rav id: dmr

  44. Phoenix Tarampi says:

    Once a big pile of swatches built up around my feet, I’d probably frame a few like you did, or maybe knit larger swatches that I could use as dishcloths for camping! Ideas abound! I love dictionaries because they help me fine-tune a pattern and create my perfect garment.

    Ravelry ID: Phoenixish

  45. Phoenix Tarampi says:

    I love using dictionaries to fine-tune patterns so that I can create a perfect garment. I’d probably frame a few edging swatches like you did, but for gauge swatches I’d hope to make some big enough to use as dishcloths while I’m camping!

    Rav ID: Phoenixish

  47. Ali says:

    I love reading stitch dictionaries as you can learn so much from looking at new stitches, and they can generate so much inspiration. I’m just beginning to design my own knitwear and dictionaries give you a way to come up with some unique stitch combinations.

  48. Corinna says:

    I love to try new stitches….. And use my swatches to make pillows! My rav ID is cmilliken and email is corinnamilliken@ yahoo.com. Thanks for the great giveaway,

  49. AnneNYC says:

    I love color pictures and when stitch dictionaries give you directions that make them easy to adapt to any project. I’m soo excited that this one shows how to work them top-down, bottom-up and in the round. Keeping my fingers crossed! :)

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