(From top) Rick Mondragon; Ballerina Wrap, page 56; Wave & Ripple, page 58; Sun Dapple Stole, page 64; Grape Punch, page 70; Hector and Shane balance the sunlight; signs, signs . . . signs.

In This Issue
Get it together

After 3 months of preparation, we find ourselves on location in Miami Beach. We begin with a casting, interviewing models from all over the globe. We choose three women and a man for the shoot. One of our favorites, Lydia, returns. Once a platinum blonde, she now sports her natural color — brunette. Kasey joins us fresh from the sets of Project Runway and Models of the Runway. At this time, the two series are still in production, and although I am a fan, I understand that she cannot reveal any information. Cayleen is a Florida native, and Hugh, from Germany, rounds out the group.

The Miami photo-support crew — Alex, Hector, and Shane — join our South Dakota contingency and off we head to the Cloisters of the Ancient Spanish Monastery in North Miami Beach , such a beautiful backdrop with a remarkable past.

Built between 1133–1144, in Sacramenia, in the Province of Segovia, Spain, it is now the oldest building in the Western Hemisphere. Originally dedicated as the Monastery of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels, it was renamed St. Bernard de Clairvaux in honor of a famous Cistercian Monk upon his canonization.

After almost 700 years of occupation by the monks, the Cloisters was seized, sold, and converted into a granary and stable during a social revolution In the mid-1830’s.

William Randolph Hearst purchased the Cloisters and the Monastery’s out-buildings in 1925 and had them dismantled. Each stone was packed in hay and placed within its own wooden crate, numbered for identification, and shipped to the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture quarantined the shipment upon its arrival as hoof-and-mouth disease had broken out in Segovia. The almost-11,000 crates were opened, and the hay burned. Unfortunately, the stones were not replaced in the same numbered boxes before being stored.

Meanwhile due to financial problems, Hearst was forced to sell most of his collection at auction, and the stones were warehoused in Brooklyn, New York. One year after Hearst’s death in 1952, Messrs. W. Edgemon and R. Moss purchased the monastery for use as a tourist attraction.

Nineteen months and $1.5 million later, the Monastery was assembled with some of the unmatched stones still remaining unused. It has gone through different levels of stewardship through the years. But thanks to Rt. Rev. James Duncan and Col. Robert Pentland, Jr., a multimillionaire banker and philanthropist, it has survived. Currently, it is a tourist attraction complete with gardens, a chapel, and reception hall and plays host to weddings, receptions, movie and photo shoots.

The Cloisters came together through the efforts of many people as do the pages of this issue.

Square pegs into round holes?
Knitters can make squares in the round! Or is it circles into squares? No matter how you look at it; evidence proves it so. In the Helical raglan, stripes spiral around the yoke of a child’s pullover. The Spiral stole is worked with half the blocks spiraling one direction and the others in the opposite. Here is a chance to become an expert in ssk and k2tog decreases. Imagine how 48 or 56 of these squares could assemble into a delicious afghan.

We actually fill the squares in the back and sleeves of Viridian blocks with a contrasting slip stitch. In the front we add yarnovers for openwork with those cream stitches peeking through. Our cover sweater features bands of color and a ring of Electric entrelac blocks worked in a variegated yarn.

Yarnovers rule!
This is especially true when knitting lace. A premium example is Diamonds & pearls with pearlescent seed-bead accents. The three triangular panels grow from just a few stitches into many. The process is a true knit adventure.

The Sun dapple stole makes use of a reversible leaf motif. In Wave & Ripple multiple-wrap yarnovers create undulating lines of garter. This, too, is a great reversible knit using three gorgeous handpainted yarns and textures. Knit a lacy ballet-inspired surplice top. In Ballerina Wrap a double waist tie and short sleeves are the perfect details. Go dark and moody with Aconitum; the stacking lace triangles resemble the blooms of monkshood or wolfsbane — but with desirable side effects. This dressy sweater completes any ensemble. Bayside blues places a lace accent over stockinette and adds a scarf as well. Pukas features vertical bands accented with mirroring yarnover and decrease ridges on each side. Subtle hand-dyed color offers horizontal movement as well.

Slip away in style
They will know you mean business when you wear Ivory & mortar — a graphic study in black and white. Go less dramatic in Cymbidium, where lavenders and pale green shimmer together in two stunning stripe patterns. Bare-shoulder weather is perfect for the Coral bib; although inspired by a pair of bib overalls, it has little in common with them. Worn frontward or backward, it is filled with fun techniques.

Get punchy!
Bright colors can bring excitement to any wardrobe, and Pink ginger with its twin rib and seed-stitch patterns will rival any garden for a fresh take on color. The soft periwinkle of Grape punch is electrified with a hint of lime green. Either option is there for your picking. Surprise your favorite guy and gal with Color & texture. The textured diamond and rickrack motif is the same in both but hers sparkles in shades of blue, green, and cream, while his calms in smoky sage.

Custom colors
In three instances, we blend strands of yarn for added dimension and depth. Cool spectrum works four basic colors into 10 shades from plum to soft lime, Patina takes inspiration from sculptors who oxidize their bronze statues. Instead of chemicals on metal, we add a rust-colored alpaca strand to ‘age’ five different metallics.

A double-breasted jacket made with sock yarn and two strands of mohair is perfect for the Workweek or playtime. It features back-waist shaping for a tailored silhouette.

Practically finished!
Knitting would be overwhelming without practical techniques and logical instructions. I can only imagine how the architects, builders, and conservators of the Cloisters felt when they found the misnumbered boxes. As you begin working the 11,000 or more stitches in your project, keep in mind that getting it together is not a daunting task. It’s just knitting.

Rick Mondragon, Editor

We extend a warm thank you to the Staff and Management of The Cloisters of the Ancient Spanish Monastery.

(From top) Our cover model Kasey; Lydia, then and now; the entrance to the Cloisters; carved column caps; checking the clouds; Beauty and majesty of architecture; perfect shade for our photographer.