Poochie Myers Bio
and Artist Statement

GENERAL COMBINING OF FIBERS AND COLOR
thinking about fabric differently

KNIT A SCARF LENGTHWISE WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT YARNS

BIND OFF
Knit one stitch then knit next stitch and put the first stitch over the second stitch, and repeat until you have only one loop left. Cut your yarn and put it thru that loop and tighten it with a little tug.

PICK UP SELVEDGE EDGE STITCHES
The selvedge side is the edge of your knitting. Either side it doesn't matter, just pick up stitches on one of the side edges. There are several ways that you can pick up a stitch. Hold your yarn behind your edge. Holding your knitting needle in your right hand stick the end thru a hole on the edge and catch the yarn underneath. Some people need to use a crochet hook for this task but however you are comfortable will be fine. If you can use this method of pulling loops thru the selvedge edge the look will be smoother than if you just pick up the selvedge edge loops. I used to just stick my needle thru the edge and pick up the actual edge but some of the stitches there are big and some are tiny and all are very uneven. There are a lot of different ways you can do this. You could crochet along this edge then pick up the crochet stitches. You could sew the edge.

scarves

DECREASE
RAGLAN pair for pyramid
K2 tog-makes sts lean one way (right)
k2tog or p2tog Simply insert right-hand needle through two stitches instead of one and knit them together as one stitch. On purl row, insert the needle purlwise through the two stitches and purl in usual way.
S1, K1, PSSO=makes sts lean the other way (left)
sl 1, k1, psso (a) Slip next stitch onto the right-hand needle without knitting it then knit the next stitch. (b) Lift the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch and drop it off the needle. (On a purl row the abbreviation is sl 1, p1, psso.
(or you can knit two together in the back of the stitches to turn left)
When the decrease stitches are paired so that they lean towards each other as a pyramid, the pairing is smooth and regular. When the order is reversed so that the angles of each slope outwards instead of inwards, the pairing is rough. There is no right or wrong!
P2 tog (lean to right on right side)
P1,return to left needle,p.n.s.o. (P.R.)(lean to left on right side)
P2tog will give the same diagonal on the front as K2tog and the Purl Reverse will give the same effect on the front as S1,K1, psso.
If you are decreasing double and want a pair=pyramid then:
K3tog
S1,S1,K1,p2sso (D.S.D.)
P3tog
P1,ret to Left needle,p2n.s.o. (D.P.R.)
IF ON KNIT ROW SLIP KNITWISE

INCREASE

INCREASE KNIT INTO TOP OF ROW BELOW GO BEHIND AND KNIT INTO PURL least visible form of increase. 2nd stitch in from edge Increase purl by knitting into the purl loop at bottom of purl stitch then knit into the purl stitch making two purl stitches.
INCREASE: KNIT FRONT AND BACK
INCREASE: KNIT THE LOOP BETWEEN NEEDLES (TWIST THIS LOOP TO FILL UP HOLE This is called a "Make 1"(M 1) You can purl between also.

YARN FORWARD INCREASE Bring the yarn to the front, take it over the right hand needle and knit the stitch. The completed increase creates a visible hole and is often used in lace patterns. This increase is abbreviated in knitting patterns as yf (yarn forward) or as yfwd.

OBJECTIVE: TO OPEN UP OUR RIGHT BRAIN AND THINK ABOUT FIBER IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS

This lesson will choose 4 different yarns with your eyes shut, knit one inch of each then bind off and pick up side stitches and knit the fourth color. Knitting 4 fibers in 2 different directions


CHOICES
What's in a name? Each one of us has a different name some have the same name but different faces..anyway we are all different from each other. I know what I see but I don't know what you see. If there are 15 people here then we have the advantage of 15 opinions. If one of us shows something we have created and you think, "Oh, I don't like that!" well that's okay but you are "limiting" yourself to only what you like.
Let's throw away our "limits" and really look and listen to each other and enjoy our freedom. If you look at something and say "Oh, I don't like that but there must be something I do like, maybe the color, or the texture, a stitch, the shape, the buttons." You will learn something from everything you see even if it's , "Well, I don't have to do that now, because I know I don't like it. Whew"

How do we combine yarns? Place a collection of yarns in a bowl or box or just a pile but be sure you can see them all at once. Do you like them together? Is there one you don't like with the others? Take it away. Keep making choices until you have a collection of yarns (at least 10 different) from which to choose.

Have your yarn pile out in front of you and close your eyes, NO CHEATING

1... now pick one yarn

OPEN YOUR EYES AND cast on 20 sts. If you would like to learn an invisible cast on then here it is. This method of casting on is one of the fastest of the cast-ons. The movements are small and rhythmical. An advanced cast-on is the cable cast on. You can use Stockinet

2...CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW AND CHANGE YARN COLORS just tie on the new color or use the loose ends tuck up method, so change yarn colors whether you want to tuck in your ends as you knit or just let them hang, it doesn't matter. When you change those yarn colors I do want you shut your eyes when you pick this second color. I don't want you to think because accidents are the best possible tools for any artist. The way to trick yourself into having an accident is what you want to know. An accident is something you wouldn't consciously do. An accident is something you don't know how to do so have an accident and learn from it. You may like the accident and you may not like the accident but if you don't try you'll never know.

Is the second color 1 inch long now?
BREAK OFF YOUR THREAD

3.....CLOSE YOUR EYES AND PICK A NEW COLOR - DON'T CHEAT
CHANGE to COLOR 3 either knitting in the new thread or just let them hang , it doesn't matter right now.

4 ....bind off your sample or just pull out the needle.

5...Close your eyes and choose another yarn....pick up sts on selvedge (side) edge and knit. Do you feel like a fiber artist yet? Well keep knitting !!

Scarf needs: 400 yards yarn, #15 needle, #13 needle

KNIT A SCARF LENGTHWISE WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT YARNS this is a good exercise to teach yourself what you like best YOU NEED ABOUT 400 YARDS FOR THIS SCARF. This scarf takes about 2 hours to knit and it makes great gifts. Cast on 100 sts with size #15 needle and knit with size #13 needle. Because when you cast on it tends to be tighter. Some of you hold two needles together but with this large a needle it's easier to just go up a couple of sizes. Try to cast on loosely and when you are ready to bind off then use that bigger needle on the row before the cast off row. Make sure the edges are not tight. I made 30 rows, 6 yard lengths of yarn leaving 16" tails (scarf body for mine are 4 1/2') using 100 stitches. A total of 540 feet of yarn aproximately.

If you choose a different needle size then you will have to knit a swatch and check your gauge so you will know how many stitches to cast onto your needle.
Leave your ends of color changes long (18")so you can finish the ends by tying a knot and having some ends hanging too.

FUN CREATIVE KNITTING is not just knitting for function , We can buy a sweater but knitting is for many more reasons than something to wear.

Every stitch is a variation of knit or purl that's all it is you either knit or purl sometimes you knit three or four times sometimes you wrap the thread around a few times that's still a variation of knit or purl and then you add increases or decreases which is simply knitting two purl stitches together or two knit stitches together or somehow putting stitches together to decrease down to less stitches or increase to more stitches.

You can copy what I do or what your neighbor does but that's not you.

GAUGE let's talk about this now. What you are knitting could be considered a gauge. You know the size needles you have and you know the yarn you are using an accurate swatch = after you knit it might relax after 10", well you might relax and your stitches get bigger so if you had 4 stitches to the inch then you might get only 3 1/2 stitches to the inch which means your garment is going to grow. Well, sometimes that's good if you're bigger at the top than your waistline but you do need to know this information.
It is necessary to know how many stitches per inch. Different patterns change the stitches per inch. Some patterns spread wider than other so it's very important. So with the same yarn and the same size needles if you get 4 stitches to the inch and with a pattern you only get 3 this means your garment will be a lot wider. We will really think about this in lesson 3 and 4. But think about it now a little bit.

Knit a square sample of yarn as soon as you bring your yarns home from the store or however you got them , it's best to knit them together and knit them one after the other. It looks one way on skein and different when knit and they look different if you use different patterns. Tie a tag onto your swatch stating the needle size used and type yarn, date, etc.

SHAPE Shape of fabric is determined by INC or DEC it's that simple
Knitting is simply creating fabric that has color texture and shape

SOME YARNS ARE FOR OUR SOUL AND NOT "just to knit" but some yarns are just to see and feel whenever WE want. They can be a little frightening because these artists who hand paint or dye yarns they are so beautiful what can you possibly do with it after you have bought it. I wonder what I can add to the already "art" of this yarn.

INVISIBLE CAST ON: Cast on 20 sts and begin knitting using stockinet, garter or moss(seed) st. Knit until I stop you.

STOCKINET
Stockinet stitch is knit one row purl back the next row so all the knit stitches are on one side and all the purl stitches are on the other side. Garter stitch is knit all the rows so both sides are identical and are alternating rows of knit and purl because if you knit all the rows then when you knit the other side of the knit stitch is a purl stitch, consequently when you knit you automatically create a purl on the other side and vice a versa.

SEED STITCH Moss or Seed Stitch is knit one stitch, purl one stitch and so forth then alternate on next row; knit all the purl stitches and purl all the knit stitches. This forms a bumpy texture.

LOOSE ENDS TUCK UP Hold 2 tails in left hand between fingers, stick needles in knit, throw tails over needle, throw yarn over to knit but before you finish stitch throw tails off needle. Finish knit stitch. Knit next stitch. Repeat. Works the same for purl but you hold the ends in left hand in front of work. You can use this method to carry other colors across. It begins to be very rhythmical and pleasant and your tension will even out and you will have a better temperament knowing you don't have to run in all those ends when you are finished. Usually I have about one inch sticking out in the back of my work. if I run in the end for 6 inches by the time I am finished and the garment has been tried on it somehow pulls the threat until there is about 1 inch sticking out.....not to worry, it wont be noticed, it wont unravel and if anybody complains just look at them like they don't know what they are talking about. Well, they don't , because if they knit they would soon find out that it's impossible to run in any end and not have 1 inch sticking out sooner or later.

Write down the end of this sentence. "The prettiest "stuff" I have ever seen was the time I saw .................................." Now finish this sentence. "The most exciting part of what I saw was the................................" "But, the most exciting part of what I saw was...................." Save your answers !!!

Now ask yourself "Why?" What made it so pretty? Was it the color? Was it the texture or design?
If you like it because it was soft looking then don't choose strong contrast but if you like it beacuse it looked like a flower garden then look for patterns and bright colored yarns.

BUY ODD LOTS - they are good to use with other yarns for texture and color variation.

Man made fibers are almost impossible to destroy. You can burn them but otherwise nothing eats them.

CREATIVE KNITTING DOES NOT MEAN "THROW AWAY YOUR PATTERNS" JUST have a new option to use or not use a pattern!

SEVERAL WORKS AT ONE TIME
You don't always feel like knitting the same thing all the time. Sometimes you like complex, or simple. It's good to have several creations started at same time. Don't say you cannot start one more thing. Well you can. Knitting is not your work. This is not your housekeeping or your dinner cooking or the dishes. This is creating for your soul. You need different colors. It's kind of like different foods. You choose different foods. A craving for apples may mean you need some vitamin in the apple. Your body is saying, "Hey, I need that." Same thing goes for color or different textures of yarn. Sometimes you want to just be calm and cool and knit on a plain old thing. Just sit and knit. I even take it to the movies. I don't care if I drop a stitch. I can pick up the stitch later.

Just the act of moving your fingers and feeling the yarn is a kinetic pleasure and it is very centering. Some writers just like the feel of the pencil in their fingers. The mere act of picking up the pencil is soothing and centering. So think about that and if somebody gives you a hard time about always knitting all the time just look at them steady and say, "I'm centering myself. I'm finding my balance.

Lessons 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4

Lesson 5 Lesson 6 Lesson 7 Lesson 8

Lesson 9 Lesson 10 Lesson 11 Lesson 12

CABLE CAST ON Cable Cast On Place a slip loop on left-hand needle. Holding yarn in right hand, wrap the yarn around the point of the right-hand needle and draw this loop through the slip stitch on the left-hand needle then slip the loop onto the left-hand needle. This is a set up to begin the cable cast on. The cable cast on is formed by **sticking your right-hand needle between the first two stitches on the left-hand needle. Wrap your yarn around the point of the right-hand needle, thus forming a loop as before. Draw this loop thru the space between the two stitches and place the stitch formed on the end of the left-hand needle, thus forming another stitch** Repeat the actions from ** to ** until you have the desired number of stitches on your needle.

PULLED WOOL
The wool chemically removed from the pelts of slaughtered animals. It does not possess the same qualities as the Virgin or "live" wool, it does not dye so effectively as fleece wool.

SCIENTIFIC WOOL FROM MILK
Chemically, wool is a mixture of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur. A synthetic wool fiber made from casein, a milk by-product, has been devised by scientists of the Bureau of the Dairy Industry. Casein fiber and natural wool fiber is almost identical. The synthetic fiber contains less sulphur. The casein masses are washed, dried and ground. Then they are dissolved with chemical reagents and sent to the maturing and filtering tanks to take out all impurities. The casein is again in liquid form and is forced through a spinning machine where it is transformed into filaments which emerge as fine white wool threads. (Either sheep or goat's milk) The artificial wool is non-shrinkable, water resistant, and soft to the touch. Synthetic wool fiber made from casein, a milk by-product, is of animal origin and therefore takes wool dyes.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE WHAT ANYBODY ELSE LIKES WHEN YOU ARE BEING CREATIVE YOU CAN JUST THINK ABOUT YOURSELF