. . . Designs from Schoolhouse Press. . .

Schoolhouse Press Patterns

Elizabeth Zimmermann began producing her own patterns for sale with Newsletter #1 in 1958. In 2008, we introduced Schoolhouse Press Pattern #1, EZ's Butterfly Jacket/Vest. We will continue to expand our pattern collection from Elizabeth Zimmermann, Meg Swansen and other designers. All patterns include written instructions, charts when necessary, sizing information, plus technique photos. Patterns are between 4-12 pages, with color photographs, and housed in a sheet protector. *Note: We are researching the possibility of downloadable patterns. We are hopeful that a downloadable system will be in place sometime in the new year.

Flowers of Life

Ron Schweitzer

We have long admired Ron Schweitzer's stunning two-color designs and are so pleased to have him on board with us. You probably know Ron's work through his books,Travel Logs, Chesapeake Collection, Appalachian Portraits and Postcards from Shetland.

At present he is at work on the pattern series called Remembered Voices. Ron writes, "The design stimulus for this collection is the art, the rituals, and the lives of indigenous Americans and their ancestors from North, Central and South America. They all lived in harmony with the natural world and drew their livelihood from animals, plants, trees, the elements and the land. Flowers of Life is a tessellated design of painterly wildflowers in the light and shadow of the woodland."

Flowers of Life, the first pattern from the collection, is a fascinating bit of wizardry; even while lying flat, the fabric appears to undulate. I'll post a photo below so you can see what I mean (look out, the colors most likely will not portray accurately on screen).

4 pages. $8

Two Guernseys

Elizabeth Zimmermann and Meg Swansen

These two Guernseys were photographed for Elizabeth's third book, Knitting Workshop, which included brief instructions for her version. Meg's Guernsey (in blue) has not been published anywhere before. This pattern includes specific instructions for both garments which are knit in the round (with gussets and 'seam' sts) from the lower edge to within a few inches of should height. The armholes are cut open and garter-stitch saddle shoulders knitted onto the raw body stitches. Techniques include: Provisional Cast-on, Short Rows and Wrapping, and choice of steeks.

4 pages. $6

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Green Sweater

pattern by Sunday Holm

This sweater was designed by Elizabeth Zimmermann and given to Joan Morhard Smith in the 1950s. Joan wished for her beloved sweater to be re-knit as the original sweater (at left) is almost 60 years old and could not be repaired. Designer Sunday Holm reconstructed the pattern replicating the original shaping of the garment. The sweater is worked from the bottom up with a mitered hem and "phoney seams." It is a cropped sweater with Dolman sleeves (we've seen this type of sweater sleeve in many clothing magazines lately) and is knit in the round to the shoulder. We give plenty of techniques (provisional co, phoney seams, securing steeks, EZ's icord button loops and more), along with an option for slimming the sleeve. Sizes (38, 42, 46, 48 chest circumference). Recommended gauge is 5 stitches to the inch.

4 pages. $8 Pattern, or order a kit with 4, 5, or 6 skeins (pattern included) at left.

We have in stock the original Green Sport Wool used by Elizabeth (picture at left), while supplies last. (Please read Meg's note about the "spin" of this yarn in our recent newsletter.) Order kit (pattern and wool) at left. Please also note: We have less than 50 kits left in original wool.

Or, we suggest knitting in the lovely Ultra Alpaca, color Peat Mix or another color (kit option under pattern at left).

You can also achieve 5 stitches to the inch in Canadian Regal or Quebecoise for a slightly thicker fabric; however, consider knitting The Green Sweater by changing the gauge or achieving a looser gauge using Shetland Jumperweight or Jamieson Spindrift--hundreds of color options, including many different shades of Green!

The Green Sweater re-knit in Peat Mix Ultra Alpaca

Delsbo Sweater

Meg Swansen

This pattern features the Swedish Delsbo design from our Wool Gathering publication (WG#81). This lovely, historic sweater has been shown in a number of Scandinavian books and I have added my variations which include built-in-cardigan borders and modified drop-shoulder shape. I had some difficulty with the original WG charts (posted corrections on our website) so - with additional space in this pattern format, I expanded that section to include complete charts for body circumferences 33", 37", 41", 45" and 49". I used Finnish Satakieli wool in the three traditional colors - but our Shetland Jumper Weight wool will yield the same gauge (7 sts to 1") and offers over 300 shades from which to choose.

8 pages. $6

Latvian Mittens

Lizbeth Upitis

This pattern holds your hand as you step into the ocean of Latvian techniques and designs. The shading in this mitten’s cuff plus alternating colored sun symbols in its palm give the appearance of a difficult six-colored mitten. But this traditional Latvian mitten is worked with no more than two colors in a round. Single-colored fringe immediately precedes two-colored braid, so fringe strands pop up inside the braid. 4 pages.

Latvian Mittens Pattern $8

Buy the pattern and the Latvian Mittens book for $33

Lizbeth Upitis, author of Latvian Mittens

In November, 2009 Lizbeth Upitis was awarded an honorary diploma by the Cultural Foundation of the World Federation of Free Latvians “for teaching and popularizing the art of Latvian mitten knitting.” She can bring her deep knowledge and 100s of mittens to lectures or workshops anywhere in the world. Contact Lizbeth Upitis

Eli's Christmas Stocking

Meg Swansen

A few years ago, Santa Claus left me a note: "Please knit a Christmas stocking for Eli." (Eli is my grandson) What a pleasant assignment: knit for someone you love, and knit only a single stocking. This one is worked from the top down, with a center-back "seam" stitch.

4 pages. $6

Lace Alphabets Scarf Sampler

Bridget Rorem

The knitters I know are fond of expressing themselves not only through their knitting but also through the messages or statements they write into their knitted garments. In the second pattern available in the Bridget Rorem series, Bridget guides you through the creation of the letters in two gorgeous and practical alphabets as knit into a sampler scarf. Knitters can practice their ABCs while constructing a beautiful and useful garment to give away or keep. Bridget's lace alphabets can be worked into any lace design with ease.

Also, see Bridget's design Near Solstice Shawl , an elegant garment with an original haiku knitted across the top.

4 pages. $8

7 Hat Designs

Meg Swansen, EZ, Cully Swansen, Eleanor Haase

The Hats booklet contains 7 different designs from 4 different designers. Meg has included a Twisted-Stitch cap, the Albrecht Durer Tower Hat and a Circular Brioche Watch Cap. Eleanor offers a Garter-Band hat. Cully instructs on making his I-cord Lattice Hat. And, we've included two of EZ's designs: The Conch or Snail Hat and the Kliban Hat.

8 pages. $8

A-B-C-SJ (Adult, Baby, Child's Surprise Jacket)

Elizabeth Zimmermann, Meg & Cully Swansen

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket has become near legendary since its conception in 1968. The jacket is knitted back and forth in garter stitch, then cleverly folded and completed by weaving the shoulder seams. This updated pattern includes Elizabeth's original Baby Surprise Jacket instructions, original Adult Surprise instructions, and instructions for the new Child's Surprise jacket (see below). We've also added row by row instructions for the Baby Surprise Jacket. Both the Adult and Child's Surprise are based on the construction of the baby jacket. Cully has included numbers to knit the Baby Surprise Jacket at different gauges and a chart to enable you to knit different sizes at different gauges. The pattern also includes an options section for adding hood, collar and other features such as EZ's Afterthought Pocket and more. Technique instruction is also included.

Three Patterns, 12 pages. $10

The Baby Surprise Jacket: So Many Options

Eli and Ceci wearing Child's Surprise Jackets

Christmas Past

Dale Long

Dale's sweater, "Christmas Past," was inspired by the Victorian era and his childhood memories of watching Dickens', A Christmas Carol. Dale said, "I named my sweater after one of the ghosts who turned Scrooge from a misanthropic curmudgeon into a loving human being. I wanted to show Christmas through the haze of memory, so instead of using deep true shades, I chose colors that were soft and muted to suggest shapes we associate with Christmas rather than being too representative."

Dale Long knitted for over 40 years, and became a hand-spinner as well. His designs have been published in several magazines and a number of books. Christmas Past originally appeared in a Land's End publication to celebrate hand-knitting.

The sweater is a modified dropped-shoulder worked in the round. Written instructions, plus charts. Techniques include two methods for cutting steeks, three-needle bind-off and carrying three yarns. 4 pages. $8

Butterfly Vest

Elizabeth Zimmermann

EZ's Butterfly Jacket was first published in McCalls Needlework in 1956. Meg re-knitted the design in Ultra Alpaca and Unspun Icelandic, giving full instructions in Wool Gathering #78 (Spring 2008) for the 50th year anniversary of Schoolhouse Press. The Wool Gathering issue sold out quickly and we're happy to be able to introduce our line of patterns with this lovely Elizabeth Zimmermann garment. EZ's intitial article in McCall's was accompanied by her Ribwarmer and the manner of construction in each design is related. (We show the Butterfly being knitted on the new Ribwarmer DVD.) $6

Arch-Shaped Stockings

Elizabeth Zimmermann and Meg Swansen

Elizabeth Zimmermann knitted the prototype for the arch shaped stockings in the 1960s. They are quite sensuous as you slip them on and feel the arch snug up into the bottom of your foot. In a thorough search of EZ's knitting journals, no notes about this particular design were found. Meg Swansen pored over the original stockings to create the written pattern. Detailed instructions for a pair of aran or two color stockings with charts for 7 different designs including an elegant Bavarian Twisted Stitch design. $6

Box-the-Compass

Elizabeth Zimmermann and Meg Swansen

A seamless pullover design collaboration based on Elizabeth's idea to rotate four raglan shaping lines to appear at the center front and back and on the sleeve tops. The construction is based on EPS (Elizabeth's Percentage System). Techniques include: knitting up stitches for the hem, double decrease, long-tail cast on, short rows and wrapping, phoney seams. Math for sizes: 36", 38", 40", 44", 48", 52" included, though the numbers should be easily adjustable for any chest circumference. $6

Yoke Sweaters

Elizabeth Zimmermann and Meg Swansen

In 2008 we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Schoolhouse Press. Meg produced two anniversary issue Wool Gatherings (the butterfly pattern above was our other anniversary garment). WG#79 sold out quickly so we have created it in pattern form for you. The pattern features two yoke designs; one in Unspun Icelandic created from a chart found in Elizabeth's papers, and one in Shetland Jumperweight re-created from a photograph of EZ's daughter LLoie. $6

Anna Makarovna's Secret Stockings

Beverly Royce

Although Beverly Royce's book, Notes on Double Knitting, is out of print, we have made an instruction leaflet from one of the most requested patterns in that book: Anna Makarovna's Secret Stockings,as mentioned in Tolstoy's War and Peace; two socks knitted simultaneously - one inside the other. Beverly's method of Double Knitting takes two passes to complete one round -- and differs from that of M'lou Baber (author of the new book, Double Knitting, Reversible Two-Color Designs). This leaflet is recommended for experienced double Knitters -- or bold knitters who like to leap into the unknown. 4 pages. $6

Near Solstice Lace Shawl

Bridget Rorem

Bridget Rorem, our first guest pattern artist, has designed a series of lace garments to be published throughout 2009 and 2010. Her first offering is Near Solstice, a triangular shawl, featuring an array of lacy bird's feet, dancing in the snow. Also, knitted in lace across the top of the triangle is an original and very touching haiku.

Bridget is truly an extraordinary lace innovator, never borrowing existing patterns from books, but designing each of her unique motifs from scratch and, when necessary, inventing techniques to realize her ideas.

81/2 X 11 format in a 3-ring sheet protector, 10 pages, $8