Winner and a Project from the Past!

Hi, Knitters,

Thank you to everyone who entered to win a copy of From Mama, With Love. The winner is.....

BostonJen (rav id)! Congratulations to you.  I'll have another giveaway very soon.

Last spring while on vacation with my family I started the shawl in the photo. It is the Pop Spots Shawl by JuJu Vail. It is a really fun knit and I am so close to being done. I am making a size in between the large and small. The stitch pattern is quite simple and fun to knit. You are only working one color in each row so it is like doing stripes.

I am now on the applied lace edging and that is going very slowly. We'll see how much I get done. I'd love to have and wear this shawl so that is motivating. I am knitting it in two Madelinetosh fingering weight yarns on US size 5 needles. The red is Tosh Sock in Tart and the teal is Madelinetosh Feather in Tidal Basin. I don't recommend the Feather base for the spots because it was a bit sticky when you have to drop down. It sure is pretty though!

Last week was a race against the clock. I designed and finished and photographed a new Opal sock yarn toy for Unicorn Books. My deadline was last Friday and by Friday afternoon I had it all in the can. Long hours and fast knitting was about all I could do. I still have to write up the pattern in good form. 

The new toy is like the Sock Yarn Bunny and the Little Dragon that I did for Unicorn in the past couple of years. Both have been enormous hits and I even teach workshops on these two designs. The new toy has loads of fun and different techniques in the pattern and is again completely seamless and is super interesting to knit. This one uses sock yarn on US size 1s. It is perfect for using up those leftovers. It is going to be released at TNNA in the Unicorn Booth, which is early this year in May. I'll give you all of the details very soon and maybe a sneak peek after I get permission.

I am enjoying my girls this week as they have their spring break from school. I have been knitting a lot so I'll post a few progress pics this week. I have finished up two pairs of socks and started a new pair. I've started another new shawl design for a cool project ahead, and I am considering casting on a Leftie by Martina Behm. I got a kit for this from Miss Babs awhile ago..... so much fun to be had! How can we stand it?

I'll be back soon with more. Have a great start to your week. What are you knitting? I'd love to hear about it.

best, susie