Are you knitting the Montavilla Market Tote?

I am and I'm so excited. I'm still a newbie knitter, but this is a "lace" project I can handle--and that I'll use when it is finished.

I think our designers who created this kit are geniuses. They made it work out so you get two full market totes out of the one kit. I'm definitely knitting one for myself and I think I'll give my other one to my soon to be sister-in-law Marissa. She's marrying my little brother in August and her and I have become really good friends.

Anyway, I'm also supposed to tell you that in a couple weeks we'll be posting two other contests in this KAL:
1st contest: Enter now. Hopefully you already know about this one, go enter in the "contest" discussion post by telling your best story about giving away a knitted project.
2nd contest: Watch for it at the end of May--you'll enter by telling us how you "reuse" everyday things. We're looking for the wackiest use you have for something outside its original purpose.
3rd contest: Watch for it at the end of June--you'll enter by telling us the story of you giving away your finished Montavilla Market Tote. For this contest, be sure and order your Market Tote Kit now so you'll have plenty of time to finish it in time to give it to your lucky recipient.

In the mean time, happy knitting.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lisle on April 16, 2009 at 3:29pm: I just opened the kit and knit the 1st 8 rows of the weave pattern, but am stumped as to how to "carry & twist in" the left behind colors. HELP.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by cherylbwaters on April 16, 2009 at 10:33pm: Lisle:

I can't help yet since I just placed my order. I hope that someone from Knit Picks can help until more of us get our kits.

Cheryl; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kerin on April 17, 2009 at 11:50am: Hi! Weaving the ends around each other makes it so that you don't have to cut the yarns and weave in the ends. To do so, whenever you have a color change, make sure that the three unused colors get 'trapped' underneath the new color at the edge as you begin the row. You could carry all the colors without wrapping them in too, if you want :)

-Kerin; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by MarciH on April 17, 2009 at 11:54am: Kerin is the Knit Picks designer who designed the bag (you can see her in the designer interview video here she's the one with the bag on her head :))

Thanks Kerin!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by cherylbwaters on April 17, 2009 at 12:59pm: I'm not sure if this is exactly what Kerin means, but when switching colors in intarsia, you must twist your yarns around each other when switching colors otherwise holes will form in your knitting such as pictured below.

From what I understand in Kerin's reply, these changes occur on the edges, so these instructions may not be as critical as when in the middle of a row. But I am a very visual learner so I hope these will help you rather than confuse you.

These instructions are for the English method (carrying your yarn in your right hand).
To prevent holes, if “new” yarn is to right of starting point, pull it over “finished” yarn.

If “new” yarn is to left of starting point, pull it under “finished” yarn and then over. Pull yarn you just finished using straight down (do not use tension in pulling it down). If “new” yarn is to left of starting point, pull it under “finished” yarn and then over.

I hope this helps explain why you need to "trap" the new color.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisle on April 17, 2009 at 1:48pm: I guess I've been carrying them up without wrapping them in, because I can't figure out how, when you only do 2 rows of each color, you're already changing yarn before you get a chance to wrap in another color. Do you know of a demo for this technique on line? I tried to look for one, but didn't find it. I had to start over after about 4 inches because I only cast on 31 stitches instead of 41, grrr. I need to find some bamboo needles too, the aluminum ones I have are a bit too slippery for this yarn! Thanks for the reply!

Lisle; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by cherylbwaters on April 17, 2009 at 1:59pm: Lisle:

I don't know of a demo, but certainly if I come across one, I will let you know. Try bringing the yarn you are starting the row with under all the other yarns you are carrying. If you are switching yarns every two rows, if you are "trapping" all of the other colors when you switch, this should make it where the colors are not being extended over several rows when you switch colors. Once I get my kit, I will see if I can help more. But I probably won't get it until late next week. I ordered my kit yesterday and have not gotten an email saying it's shipped.

Sorry I can't be of more help for right now.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by cherylbwaters on April 17, 2009 at 3:20pm: It's shipped! So hopefully I will have it soon and can help describe a solution better.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisle on April 18, 2009 at 3:28am: Thanks Cheryl! I'm managing by just carrying up the yarn over 8 rows, it's not too bad, but with only 2 rows, it's impossible at the beginning anyway, because there's no way to trap the yarn. I'll be interested to see what you think when you get your kit.

Lisle; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by cherylbwaters on April 18, 2009 at 12:15pm: I will be sure to let you know.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marta on April 19, 2009 at 10:14am: I don't have my kit yet, but if you are changing off yarns every 2 rows at the seam, it may be just like the Noro tunic I am making now. When you are ready to start a new color, the yarn you just finished with should be allowed to hang in the back and the new color (2 rows below) should be pulled up and over the 'old' color so it is outside the 'old' color as you look at your knitting. You go down a row and back, and change again. If you always bring the new color up outside the old color, it makes a really nice neat selvage edge. I don't have the pattern so I can't be sure this is what is happening. Just don't pull hard on the yarn as you bring it up from 2 rows below or you will get puckers in that selvage edge. I found this information probably in the big book on color knitting.... at least I think so.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisle on April 19, 2009 at 12:31pm: That makes good sense, but we're working with 4 colors, so when you bring the new color over the old, you're already finsihed with the "new" so it just hangs there. I finished the base of the bag by carrying up the 8th row back gently so it didn't pucker. The edge will be at the bottom inside of the bag, so it's well hidden, and not messy. But it just doesn't seem "right". The pattern is 2 rows of each color, then repeat. Thanks for the reply!

Lisle; ▶ Reply to This