Letter from the Editor

I always look forward to putting the fall issue together even though all of the work is done during the heat of the summer. It reminds me that cooler weather is on the way, and I can get out my sweaters and maybe even start a new one! It is also the kickoff for holiday knitting. This issue will give you lots of choices for fall knitting.

The topic of the Stitch Anatomy series is knit-and-purl combinations, and several designers took this opportunity to explore gansey designs. Baskervilles’ Hound by Mary E. Jacobs, which accompanies the article, is a unisex vest that incorporates gansey stitch patterns. Land, Sea and Sky by Therese Chynoweth and Scottish Isle by Jennifer Kent are traditional gansey pullovers. For those not quite ready for projects like these, I designed Wings which is an easy knit/purl pattern on a simple drop-shoulder pullover that requires minimal finishing. It would be a perfect first-sweater project.

Tonia Lyons, who recently taught the Shawl Immersion course, has researched Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Pi Shawl for the Fashion Framework series and has designed Pi in Bloom, worked in Biscotti Fiswizbiz (95% Superwash Merino, 5% Stellina Silver). Photographs rarely do sparkly yarns justice, but—take my word for this—this shawl would be a perfect accompaniment to a holiday dress.

Window shop at any mall, and you will see sweaters featuring intarsia designs. The popularity of intarsia comes and goes. Intarsia is a technique many knitters (and I am one of them) dread due to yarn management and tension issues, but the resulting designs are well worth it. Donna Estin has written a very informative article on how to design with graphics and proved she knows what she is doing with a whimsical design, Flock of Sheep, which every knitter will appreciate. She inspired me to use one of my favorite graphic images for Acer Rubrum, a child’s sweater. If you have not tried intarsia in the round, Frank Jernigan has designed Bandonacci that uses this technique for a unisex pullover.

I strongly recommend that you take a look at the Needle Tip from Mary Forte who delves into AI-generated or augmented photos. If you have added a design to Ravelry recently, you will see a warning that adding AI photographs can end your ability to add designs. Mary provides examples of photos to illustrate how easy it is to “improve” a design. It is hard enough to knit a garment that matches the photographs in the pattern without being tricked by AI!

Our photographer does not knit, and I am always interested to hear what her favorite designs from the issue are. She had two favorites: one is Hemmings, which accompanies Celia Cahill’s article on Folded Hem Edgings. It is a very striking cardigan, and the level of detail on the edgings is amazing. It is perfect for the cooler days of late fall. I hope Celia brings it to the retreat in Manchester so the retreaters can see it in person. Theresa’s other favorite was Kristen TenDyke’s Circadian cowl. This reversible cowl features a stranded design of a tree line; and since it is worked in light and dark yarns, you can choose between night and day.

2026 marks the 10th anniversary of TKGA as a non-profit. Our annual Design Contest, “Stitch and Stow,” is a contest for tote bags. In keeping with that theme, Jennifer Kent has designed a tote bag with the TKGA logo, worked in double knitting, and it is our new Knit Along. The TKGA Tote pattern is in this issue, and Jennifer has recorded five videos for the KAL. You can find more information about the KAL and a planner on Circle. There is still time to create a tote design. The deadline for the Stitch & Stow design contest is September 30th. For more information, use this link: https://tkga.org/design-contest/.

Our annual retreat will be at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire, from November 5th to the 8th. Kate Atherly and Bristol Ivy will be the teachers. The retreat is sold out, but you can be added to the wait list here: https://tkga.org/contests-events/retreat-2026/.

I’d like to thank Mary Cherrey and Jan Yon for their help hauling and dressing mannequins!

Email me with suggestions, questions, comments, and complaints at aholladay@tkga.org. Also, please share your efforts with us on social media! We would love to see your projects and add your photographs to the patterns. I’ve listed ways to find us below. (Thanks to Donna Estin for managing our social media, in addition to everything else she does!)

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