About Me- Custom Socks: Knit to Fit Your Feet
- Pattern Writing for Knit Designers
- Upcoming Events
- Classes and Workshops
- My Other Books
- My Designs
- Technical Editing
- Contact me
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About Me
I was taught to knit as a child by my grandmother, Hilda Lowe. Hilda was a legendary knitter in her own right and I remember with great fondness all the sweaters she knitted for me. We took them for granted - we wore them, we grew out of them, we wore them out - and then they disappeared. I have just one of her sweaters left, and I treasure it.
A family legend - sadly unconfirmed - says that Hilda used to earn a penny turning the heel of socks for knitters in her neighbourhood, when she was a girl.
Me, I'm a mathematician and refugee from the technology industry.I've written three books. The first two are friendly and easy-to-use books of patterns and guidance for knitters looking to expand their skills. Beyond Knit and Purl teaches a wide range of skills and Knit Accessories: Essential and Variations provides all your go-to patterns for winter accessories, and allows you to dip your toe into designing and customizing your own.
My latest book, Pattern Writing for Knit Designers is the industry's first guide specifically written to help knit designers of all levels create easy-to-follow, high quality knitting patterns.
I'm Knitty's Lead Technical Editor and it's just about my dream job. I also do other freelance technical editing.
I'm a regular contributor to books and magazines, including most recently the Fall 2014 issue of Sockupied.
I teach regularly at stores around Ontario - I have regular gigs at The Purple Purl and Lettuce Knit in Toronto; and make frequent appearances at others shops, including Shall We Knit, Linda's Craftique in Port Credit and The Needle Emporium.I also travel further: in the first half of 2015 you'll find me at Vogue Live in NYC, at Interweave's Yarn Fest in Colorado, and at Squam Art Workshops.
I live in Toronto with my husband and our challenging but mostly adorable rescue hound Dexter.
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Custom Socks: Knit to Fit Your Feet
- My Sock Book (and Companion Video)Thrilled. Bowled over. Amazed. The Sock Book I've been working on for the 10+ years I've been teaching knitting was released July of this year, from Interweave Press.I've taken my Plain and Simple Sock patterns - both Top Down and Toe Up versions - and created a book all about how to make them actually fit your feet.I've provided the basic formulas and templates for both directions, and created the numbers for you for gauges from 4 to 9 sts/inch (including the important 6.5 and 7.5!), for finished socks from 5 to 10.5 inches in circumference. That's covering feet from 5.5 to 12 inches in circumference, and pretty much any possible yarn you might ever want to use.And then. THEN. I've given you a ton of info on how to measure your feet properly to determine your fit needs, and how to customize the socks for those needs.Oh yeah, and there's some fancy patterns, too. Texture stitches, cables, lace, colourwork. All sorts of lovely socks.The book also has all my sock knitting tips and advice and wisdom from nearly 20 years of sock knitting, and 10 years of teaching sock knitting.The book is available at your local yarn shop - get them to order it. Or from the usual online sources, including the Interweave store.There's also a companion video, that shows you how to properly measure, and how to use the formulas to do your own calculations, if you want. Online version at the CraftDaily shop for $16.99, DVD version $24.99 here.Ooh hey! Discount code! The code "BLOGLOVE" will give you a 20% discount off everything at the CraftDaily store, between now and January...
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Pattern Writing for Knit Designers
- UPDATEThe second edition is now available for preorder. Amazon Link. Ship date is April 11, 2016.This book is the culmination of my work as a a technical editor and my previous career as a product communications specialist in the technology industry.The book is a guide to writing knitting patterns: how to translate your great knitting project into a set of instructions that any other knitter can follow.I provide concrete guidelines, with lots of examples, on topics including :
- what information needs to be included in a knitting pattern
- how to properly and clearly communicate sizing and measurement information
- what schematics are, why you need them, and how to create them
- how to use charts and written instructions to express special pattern stitches like cables and lace
- stitch nomenclature (especially related to cables), abbreviations, and glossaries -how to handle multiple sizes and versions
- use of brackets and * to indicate repeats
- how to establish a personal style sheet And much, much more. So much more!
I discuss technical editing and test knitting – explain what they are how, why they’re important, and when they need to be done. I give tips for designers who wish to self-publish, and for those preparing submissions to a publication.In addition, I provide two key resources: a master template – both in printed and digital form –and a master glossary and abbreviations list.People are already saying great things about it.This book is AWESOME. Even if you're an experienced pattern writer with a successful career, this book will help you catch up with the current trends in writing patterns for today's younger knitters. - Donna DruchunasKate Atherley's marvelous book is essential reading for any designer looking to create patterns that work well and sell well; and intriguing reading for any curious knitter who has ever wondered what goes into the creation of pattern. - Franklin HabitIf you are considering pattern writing, or want to become a knitter who understands how to read patterns more deeply, this book is for you. I certainly wish I had it when I was starting out! - Laura Nelkin
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Upcoming Events
- REGULAR CLASSESUPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS & STORE VISITSJanuary 25-27 - InTown Quilters, Decatur, Georgia
Introduction to Design, Continental Knitting, Best Methods/Expert Tips, Yarn Shopping Bootcamp,Soxpertise, Altering Patterns
http://www.intownquilters.com/classesclubs.htmFeb 25 & 27th – Sheep Shop, Cambridge UK
Introduction to Gloves, Two Socks at Once: The War & Peace Method, Introduction to Design
https://www.sheepshopcambridge.co.uk/learn-with-us.php#!/...March 4 & 5 – Purlescence, Leckhampstead, UK
Intro to Brioche, Advance Brioche ; “You do the maths” – a study in numbers and knitting patterns
http://www.purlescence.co.uk/Catalogue/Workshops/Kate-Ath...March 9 – 12 – Edinburgh Yarn Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland
Classes sold, out, sorry, but I will be doing a book signing or two at the Purlescence booth.March 17-19 – Madison Knitter’s Guild Knit-In, Madison, WI
http://www.madisonknittersguild.org/ki-teachersMarch 30 – April 3 – Interweave Yarn Fest, Loveland, CO
Pi Shawl, Fiber Care & Blocking, Math for Knitters, Pattern Writing
Sock Classes: Two Socks at Once: Side by Side, 2 Socks at Once: War & Peace, Custom Fit SocksApril 7-9 – Make Wear Love, CA
Fearless Finishing, Pattern Reading, Working with Handpainted Yarns
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Classes and Workshops
- ONLINE CLASSESTake a virtual class with me!
- Custom Fit Socks (companion to my book) - Interweave download or DVD.
- Blocking Handknits - Craftsy.
- Pattern Reading - Craftsy
- Learn to Knit - for absolute beginners
- Cast On & Bind Off - for newer knitters, an excellent skill-builder
- Fixing Mistakes
- Gapless Gussets
- Magic Socks: 2 in 1 Socks - the Simplified War & Peace Method
- Garment Sizing & Fit: How to choose the right size and fit, and introduction to alterations
- Garment Alterations: Easy Techniques for Knitters of All SKill Levels
- Math for Knitters Part 1: Yarn Shop & Project Math
- Math for Knitters Part 2: Gauge and Alterations
I have a broad range of classes in my repertoire: the list below are the ones I teach regularly.
CLASSES I OFFERContact me for info about any of these classes,if you'd like to enquire about me appearing at your store or event..Interested in private classes for individuals or groups? Contact me.
Socks & Related Topics- Top Down Socks 101
- Toe Up Socks 101
- Socks 102: Heels, Toes and Fit
- Design Your Own Custom-Fit Socks
- The War & Peace Socks, a.k.a Sock Knitter's Party Trick: 2 Socks in 1 - One Inside The Other!
- 2 Socks, 2 Circulars
- Sox-pertise: Expert Tips for Sock Knitters
- Mittens
- Entrelac Scarf
- Top-Down Baby Sweater
- Lizard Ridge*
- Lanesplitter*
- Lace 101: An introduction to lace knitting
- Lace 102: Advanced lace
- Chart Reading for Lace
- Fixing Mistakes in Lace
CablesTips, Tricks and Techniques- Cables 101: An introduction to cable knitting
- Cabling without a Cable Needle
- Introduction to Colourwork: Fair Isle and Intarsia
- Finishing
- Fixing Mistakes
- Kitchener Confidence
- Expert Tips: Casting On & Off, Increasing and Decreasing
- Short-Row Skills
- DPNs, Magic Loop and 2 Circulars: Options for Working in the Round.
- Yarn knowledge: Understanding Fiber, Gauge and Fabric
- Sizing & Fit, OR Why the Medium Never Fits Quite Right
- Pattern Reading
- Math for Knitters
- Pattern Altering
- Pattern Writing
- Pattern Drafting/Introduction to Design
- Working with Handpainted Yarns: The Good, the Bad and the Surprising
- The First Time Doesn't Have to Be Awful: How to make your first garment, socks, lace projects better and more fun.
- Expert Tips: Everything the Books Don't Tell You
- Yarn Knowledge: Understanding Fiber, Gauge and Fabric
- Colorwork, Or Fear and Loathing in the Fingering Aisle
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My Other Books
" Beyond Knit and Purl" is designed to be the book that takes you from being confident about your needles to being confident about patterns.
I've been teaching knitting for nearly 10 years, and it's pretty clear to me that there's been a massive hole in the knitting literature and instruction... we teach you how to hold your yarn and needles, we show you how to knit and purl, and then we send you into a yarn shop and expect you to be able to choose a pattern and yarn and then successfully knit it.
My book is designed to help knitters grow from being confident with their needles to being confident with patterns. In it, key questions are answered, e.g.: "What's ease", "What does it mean when it says to decrease evenly across?", "What skills do I need to knit socks?", and "What's the big deal about not twisting the round?"
The first third of the book is all about working with and from patterns - how to choose a good pattern, how to know if a pattern is going to be easy or difficult. How to choose the appropriate yarn and why and how to swatch (and when not to... ). How to choose what size to knit. And I explain all that strange language you see in patterns... like "work even" and "every foll alt"; I teach you how to read charts. I clearly explain what skills are needed for different types of projects and what the appropriate next steps are for newer knitters.The rest of the book is all about specific techniques... Increasing & Decreasing, Working in the Round, Socks, Cables, Lace and Colorwork. Each chapter explains they key facts, stitches and techniques with lots of helpful photos and diagrams, and then provides four projects for knitters to practice. There's a quick-hit mini project, one or two evening's worth of work, a great way to try out some skills and gain confidence, and then there are three other skill-builder projects, lots of quick and easy knits like hats and mitts and scarves and shawls. Even a top-down one piece baby sweater, to learn all about this important and popular sweater knitting method.
You can see the projects here on Ravelry. Buy the book at your local yarnshop, or a physical or digital copy, here. You can also buy it on Ravelry here and Patternfish here.
Every knitter needs a set of go-to accessory patterns: hats, scarves, cowls, socks and mittens. These are the patterns that we turn to every winter to make holiday gifts. These are the patterns a knitter relies upon when looking for a quick and easy knit, or a plain sock to work in a self-patterning yarn, or when the weather turns cold and the family needs hats.
KNIT ACCESSORIES: ESSENTIALS AND VARIATIONS is a 64-page booklet collecting these basics and providing a jumping-off point for knitters to create their own unique accessories.
Beginner-friendly and approachable, it’s designed to be a knitter’s first book of patterns, featuring clearly written patterns for easy-to-knit (but still useful) projects that help build confidence and skills.
And it’s not just for beginners! KNIT ACCESSORIES: ESSENTIALS AND VARIATIONS offers more experienced knitters a solid set of master templates to use over and over, with suggestions for altering and customization.
The Patterns
Simple and classic designs... scarves , cowls, hats, mitts and socks
... in a range of sizes... youth small to adult XL
... in two gauges each.... for flexibility without overwhelming
With recipes, ideas and tips for customizing
• suggestions for stitch patterns
• ways to customize with color
And for scarves and cowls, a table of yardage/gauge/finished sizes.
Buy the book at your local yarnshop, or a physical or digital copy here, the digital version through Ravelry here and Patternfish here.LinkConnector Validation
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My Designs
- Socks and Shawls and Other Fun StuffI'm a designer, too!
Wavedeck is my latest shawl, published in the Winter 2014 issue of Knitty..jpg)
Rosetta Tharpe is a statement piece: a Pi shawl with a heart of soul.
The Rock & Roll Collection is four pieces designed to be worked in rock & roll colors... that is, black. Each design is slighty edgy - a bit of asymmetry or irregularity - but they're all is still easy and fun to knit.
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Technical Editing
- Need me to check your math?I do work as a technical editor. My main gig is for knitty.com, and I have done freelance editing work for many designers, including...Although I am pretty busy, I do sometimes have time in my schedule for other work. Drop me a note, via "Contact Me", below right.Thanks!
