Thinking in Glass at the Pittsburgh Glass Center

Silvia Levinson is teaching a class at the Pittsburgh Glass Center called “Thinking in Glass”. If you’re in that area and need something fabulous to do take this class! Take it for me! I love Silvia’s work and would love to spend time learning about thinking in glass. I think I do it most of the time but would love to hear her version of it.

Here’s a description from the site:

Silvia Levenson’s work is never based on technique or technical virtuosity, but rather on how to make visible her thoughts and her sense of perplexity about the world. In making objects or designing an installation, she does not begin by thinking of what she can do, but rather what she wants to do. In this workshop, she will accompany students in the realization of works using the same methodology she uses in her own studio. The basic glass working technique will be lost wax and open face kilnforming. The aim of this workshop is shifting boundaries in order to think new works and installations. We will discuss artwork and artists working in glass. We will explore the lost wax technique, mold making, firing schedules, and how to work on the idea of installation.

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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