Knit My Skirt

Since the earliest days of civilization, men and women have worn skirt-like coverings. From the most primitive style of a hide draped over the shoulders and/or wrapped around the waist, these garments became more and more sophisticated with each new invention. As the production of fabric progressed, so did the styles and the fibers used. Cotton, linen and silk all had their run of popularity throughout history. It seems that every historical period had their version of the skirt. When looking back in history, some of the more absurd styles make us chuckle, and beg the question "why?" Skirts hold open the door to bottomless creativity. They are a blank canvas on which to design shapes, colors, stitch patterns, embellishments, and construction techniques. Candace started where almost all knitters would start....with yarn. It's a box of paints, and any color, fiber, or texture is the blank canvas, where the decisions were made. Skirt designing came about while on the needles, an original concept often changing right in the middle of the actual execution. Oh the knitting! Skirt knitting is nirvana; you reach the zone almost immediately, and the knitting is nothing but sheer pleasure. It goes by in the blink of an eye. Then comes the final round and you are done. Step back to admire your masterpiece. Almost immediately your brain kicks in with the "what if's." Variations on a theme; they are endless. Almost all of the skirts in the book have a variation on a theme; some are actually written out in pattern form for you, others are suggestions at the end of the pattern. Changing the yarn and a few colors can give a totally different look, as with the Noro Skirt and Diamonds and Jeans Skirt. And even with the Diamonds and Jeans Skirt, the placement of those colors offers an endless variety of choices. Of course changing the length goes without much explanation, as does changing the yarn colors. A quick change to a skirt's circumference can transform it from sleek and classically form-fitting to swingy Bohemian, as in the case of the CoBaSi Skirt vs. the Twisted Sisters Skirt. If you thought you could never wear a knit skirt, think again. The huge range of fibers, styles, and fits will make any woman (or man) look fashionable and attractive. And the plus to knitting a skirt? Sleeves are optional!

Candace Eisner Strick has immersed herself in music and knitting most of her life. Now retired from 16 years of teaching cello, she concentrates on designing, writing, and teaching knitting. Her book, Strick-ly Socks, features a revolutionary and amazingly simple way of knitting socks. Candace is the author of 6 other books, has been published in numerous magazines, and has taught nationally and internationally since 1998. She is the creator of her own line of yarn, Merging Colors, and her own line of patterns under the label of Strickwear. Candace's students say they not only love learning from her classes but thoroughly enjoy her sense of humor. Appropriately, 'strick' means 'to knit'. For more about Candace, go to http://strickwear.com Elaine Rowley is the former editor of Knitter's Magazine and is the editor for all XRX Books. She lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Alexis Xenakis is the publisher of Knitter's Magazine and XRX Books. His photography is featured in all of XRX books. He lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.