Mink and Cashmere come together!

Modeled by my niece, Elizabeth

 

You haven't knit until you have knit with mink and cashmere combined!  This duo set will make you happy from the time you cast on to the time you wear them.  Every last inch of this precious yarn is used to make the 2 projects out of 1 skein of yarn.

 

Meribel by Mink.com (70% mink, 30% cashmere in DK weight)

Yarn may be purchased at Rainy Day Yarns in Gig Harbor, WA http://rainydayyarns.com/location/

and also available on-line at www.Minkyarn.com

 

buttons by www.abbeyyarns.com

Both projects are knit in the flat using simple stitch patterns that compliment the yarn.  The faux cable is just that, not a cable but it looks like one.  The fingerless glovettes are also knit in the flat so that every last inch of yarn can be utilized! 

 

Pattern available soon ....

just lining up my test knitters and tech editor!

This is what makes me smile....

As a designer, I rarely hear where my design ideas go, who gets them, who likes them, who even finishes them and who gets touched by them.  Well, I just received a heart warming email today that pretty much summed up what I was hoping for.  This is what makes me smile.....

Quote:

I just wanted to share a great story with you.  A friend of my daughter recently had a health crisis & like so many people nowadays he has no health insurance.  It was decided to have a fund raising auction for him.  A lot of different gift baskets & other creative things were put in a silent auction.  My daughter asked me if I could make something for the auction.  Since she is not a crafter, she does not realize that a week is not much time to come up with something spectacular (they think that these things are done in days not weeks or months). I remembered your Child's Ruffled Hat pattern.  I was able to get it done in time but rather than the silent auction it was decided to have a raffle. They sold 50 tickets at $10 each so that little hat raised $500 for a good cause.   That hat pattern is one of my favorites & now I know why.      Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful ideas.      PS  I bought that pattern from the Allyn Yarn Shop.

End Quote.

 

What a lovely lady for not only her kind words but for the time and commitment she made to the auction and to a person in a time of need. 

                               http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ruffled-childs-hat--mittens

Oh yea, I do have a blog

I have been so inundated in magazine deadlines that  I totally forgot that I even had a blog.  I have come to realize that this isn't my strong suit anyways.  So what do you do....delete the entire blog, keep it barely floating or learn to like it and use it like a diary?  The other thing I don't quite get is how people manage to photograph EVERY part of their knitting project, post it and write beautiful exerts on it while keeping up with the knitting and everyday life! 

So I was asked by Fibers Etc. to create a simple cowl that anyone can knit.  It had to use 1 skein of yarn (that was the easy part!) and it had to be unique (that was the clencher!).  You do realize that there are about 5,000 cowls on the market - right?  How many ways can you knit a circle that wraps around your neck?  I found this request almost mind boggling.  I am no Cat Bordhi where I can concoct new techniques and apply her mathematical mind. 

I must have sat for hours at a time just staring at the yarn.  I finally found a stitch pattern that I liked.  It is a reversible stitch that gave nice texture to the yarn.  I decided to just start knitting in the flat and see what might follow.  Once I got the length that I was looking for, I decided to finish it with a 3 needle bind off to see how it fit.  The fit was perfect but now I had a seam to cover.  That is where the idea came about to pick up sts along the bind off and knit a flap that would cover the seam and at the same time give the cowl some depth and texture.  I seamed the flap down and added a button for a final touch.  I am thrilled with the outcome.  It's an easy knit, it's a bulky knit that knits up in a day and it's like no other cowl out there - now that is amazing!  Sometimes I even surprise myself!
Pattern sells for $1.99 on Ravelry and yarn goes for around $10.  Gotta love that!

Baby alpaca and bamboo create a luxuriously soft yarn with a lovely drape made in a chunky weight with chainette construction. Chalet looks great knit at a wide variety of gauges and textures

 
http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/classic-elite-yarns-mountaintop-chalet
 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bohemian-cowl

Cape Cod Cardigan

  I was asked by Frog Tree yarns to design a cardigan using their newest yarn, Pediworsted yarn.  It's the worsted version of Pediboo.  They only had one color available but I love the natural colors so that wasn't an issue.  This cardigan begins with a blackberry/brambleberry stitch and graduates to an alternate slipped stitch.  Fun thing about the cardigan is the right side is purled throughout and the wrong side is where the stitch pattern is actually created.  It's a heavy sweater, ideal for crisp days.  There are several options for the front band, one being that the buttons are a tad off set.  Tabs like on the back could also be used with the buttons. 

 The back has a row of decreases where the tab is to cinch up the sweater for a nice drape. 

Pattern available March

From sketch to finished piece

It still mystifies me when I can actually sketch my thoughts onto paper and then actually have those thoughts perfectly translate into a finished piece ----as I envisioned it!  I can not sketch, I have no idea how to show texture on a sketch pad and I am horrible with proportions and I don't even know how to show "variegated" color.
I'm not even sure how I even find the right colors with my limited colored pens collection.

Swatches and sketches

 

A snippet of my submission letter

 

Might I also add that this Chullo hat was submitted in September 2011, accepted and knit by November 2011 and was just released November 2012.  My last worry is that it may no longer be in style!

Knit Fit! Treasures!

Let me start by saying that I had a blast this weekend at Knit Fit! in Ballard - http://knitfit.info/

I was there to teach on both days.  The classes were full, the students were great and I had a blast teaching.  What I didn't expect was to find the most scrumptious Angora yarn EVER!  After 15 years of knitting and going to LYS's, retreats and events, you would think that I have seen it all and bought it all.  Nope - I actually found 2 vendors with unique Angora blends.  Unfortunately, I didn't get the name of the other vendor I fell in love with - although she is from Lebanon, Oregon and has her own Angora rabbits, spins the fibers and dyes the fibers and personally, I think I want her life!  I should have bought from her - and if I do run into her again, I will buy from her.  She had these Angora fingerless mitts that you literally couldn't feel because they were so soft and light.  Unbelievable!

My other love is this Chubby Bunny yarn.  I first fell in love with the yarn then fell in love with the darling vendor from Pepperberry knits - Heidi.  She is from Idaho and sells 100% cashmere everything!  I should have bought some cashmere yarn too but I couldn't get past the Angora.  I know I will run into her again at another event.  Her neighbor has Angora rabbits so she sells her yarn.  It's 100% Angora - but they spin it with some sort of cotton band to hold it in place.  It is exquisite!  I am already dropping my other projects so I can start this one next.  I think I will design a cardigan with the rabbit fur around the collar.

http://pepperberryknits.com/

 

http://puffymondaes.enstore.com/browse/1?query=chubby+bunny

 
A The Tea Cozy booth, I found these buttons that I fell head over heels for.  They are sprinkles set in resin buttons and they are way to cute to pass up. 

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/69356693

Love when I find treasures!

Upcoming classes!

I have a few teach gigs coming up......

Jogless knitting

Colorwors in Norwegian Thimble style

 

 

http://www.knitfit.info/
Knit Fit!  Ballard, WA   11/03 - 11/04. 
2-handed Fair Isle (sold out with a waiting list)
Knit Different

http://www.ncwknittersguild.com/
North Central Washington Knitter's Guild
Wenatchee, WA
11/17
jogless knitting never looked so good
Norwegian thimble knitting


Be sure to introduce yourself!