Handy for the holiday
You swore you would economize and make holiday gifts this year, but look at the calendar. Don’t panic, says Suss Cousins of Suss Design. Believe it or not, there is still time to get busy and knit some soft cotton or wool treasures for the loved ones at the top of your list.
Knit? Oh yeah, knit is hip. Not those big baggy reindeer sweaters, but a host of accessories: snuggly ponchos, cute cell phone covers, sexy leg warmers and skinny scarves that wind around your shoulders like a homespun boa.
It’s not just for middle-aged women on jury duty -- Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Julianne Moore, Daryl Hannah and actress China Chow all are devoted knitters, Cousins said.
“Knitting is so hot,” she said. “The hottest thing is high heels, no stockings, just leg warmers and a miniskirt. I was in shock when I saw them. Two women, one was with MTV in New York and one was from the E! channel. They spent the whole afternoon in the store,” she said.
Hipsters wear leg warmers a couple of different ways, outside their jeans with stiletto heels or even on their arms. “If you’re wearing a T-shirt and you don’t want to wear a whole sweater, you put them on your arms,” she said, demonstrating by sliding a pair up past her wrists until they rested just slightly higher than her elbow, like those long, sleek satin gloves Grace Kelly wore in the movies.
“They’re so easy to make, too,” Cousins said. Needles and yarn to make the leg warmers cost $38, and the project takes about three hours of your time. Of course, that’s a casual three hours while you’re watching TV, sitting at home listening to music or even flying across the country. “The big wooden needles are allowed on flights,” Cousins points out.
If your friends aren’t fashion forward enough for leg warmers, how about a skinny scarf? Those take only a couple of hours and can be made for $34. They measure about 2 inches across and can be knitted in fashion colors such as turquoise or can be made multicolored by mixing yarn. Cousins suggests adding skinny strips of suede to dangle at each edge for that retro/hippie look.
“One woman who comes into the store has already made 20 of them and she’s ready to wrap. They can be super skinny, almost like a piece of jewelry,” Cousins said, winding one around her neck and shoulders.
If your friend is a professional gal on the go, how about a wool bag (materials are $49 and include a stitch-in lining and loopy handles) or a cell phone cover? “It’s a funky little cell phone cover so you can always find your phone. You stick your hand in your bag, find the softness of it and grab it right away. It’s only one skein of yarn. You knit one long strip and it’s got two little holes. It takes about two hours and costs $48 to make.”
If you’re really ambitious or have a very special friend, you could hunker down for a couple of evenings -- about eight hours -- and make a poncho. Materials cost $75, but the poncho is a good investment because it’s versatile. It can be worn with jeans or, on dressier occasions, over long skirts. “You can wear it with the V-neck in the front or off to the side,” Cousins said, demonstrating a chic angle drape.
Born in Sweden, she has been a serious knitter since she was 10. Against her mother’s advice, she started big. The reindeer sweater meant for her little brother ended up fitting Granddad. Now she works with costume designers and has knitted sweaters, scarves and hats for films such as “Scooby-Doo,” “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “The Santa Clause 2.”
“I’m working on a Mike Myers sweater for ‘The Cat in the Hat,’ ” she said.
Even if you’ve never knitted before, you can do it, Cousins said. She’s full of tips for beginners. “We have quickie knit classes here so you get some instructions and walk out with a project. A lot of beginners get a book, or you can get a knit kit with instructions, needles and yarn for $24.”
“I always say use big needles and a big stitch so it goes quick and also gives you a lofty feel so you don’t get too hot, especially in L.A.,” she said.
After 9/11, she’s not surprised knitting has taken off. “When something like that happens, you look around and say, ‘I really like so and so and I should spend more time with them, I should call, I should write.’ With knitting, you can sit down and do something and send it to somebody. Or you can meet at a knitting event and spend time with others thinking about how valuable friendship is. It’s like the old quilting groups.”
Cousins creates a homey atmosphere in her store with appetizers at evening classes and coffee and bagels on Saturdays. She does whatever she can to entice newcomers to sit, knit and fall in love with creating garments with their own hands.
“On a Saturday, when 12 girls walk out of the store with their projects, I say, ‘These are 12 newborn knitters,’ and they say, ‘Thank you soooo much.’ ”
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Learning to knit
Where: Suss Design, 7350 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles.
What: Knitting classes.
When: Two teachers work with beginners and advanced students simultaneously, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays.
Price: $59, advanced students for three two-hour group sessions; $89, beginners for three two-hour classes, needles and yarn.
Fast forward: “Knit a Quickie” instruction is now available for beginners. One three-hour class meets noon-3 p.m. or 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays. The “make a purse” class is $80; a “make a scarf” class is $70. Both include needles and yarn.
Info: (323) 954-9637
