Pine Star Hat Kits by Mary Jane Mucklestone

All photos of the Pine Star Hat on the model are by Carrie Bostick Hoge

Hi, Knitters,

I hope you are doing well. We've had a couple of celebration dinners this week, well, three to be exact, for my husband's birthday. That's a lot of birthday celebrating I'd say but it's been really fun and we've been having some delicious meals. Last night we had a family cookie exchange and that was wonderful. I made some old standards using my mom's recipes but the kids made some new cookie recipes. Anyway, I've eaten way too many cookies! 

Well, I just wanted to touch base today to let you know we have some fantastic new hat kits in the shop over on Barrett Wool Co. and this one is designed by one of my favorite knitters in the world, Mary Jane Mucklestone. She is the queen of colorwork and this new hat is knit in our beautiful, squishy Wisconsin Woolen Spun Worsted. 

Click here to see more about the Pine Star Kit! These kits are easy on the pocketbook, too!

The kits were released on Friday night and they have been flying out of the shop at a very fast pace. We had a lot of kits in stock but it looks like they may not last too long. 

I love how dainty the colorwork is in this design. There is a lot of white space and it looks so fresh. I also love the name Pine Star. It is all kind of perfect but that's Mary Jane for you. She is kind of perfect in every way just like her designs. 

We have two different colorways of the kit. The first two photos are hats worked up in the Oats and Hawthorn colors and there is a deeper contrast. The hat above is worked in the colors of Rain Shower and Coal. These colors have a softer more heathered look to them.

I cast on a Pine Star for myself and I am making the one above with the Rain Shower and Coal colors. I love the heathered yarn. Both kit colorways are beautiful.

Click here to see more information about the Pine Star Hat Kits!

I am crazy about the tiny pom-pom Mary Jane put on the top. It is so cute. 

This is the Oats and Hawthorn Pine Star kit version.

A Ravelry download code for the pattern is included in the kit.

This is the Rain Shower and Coal Pine Star kit version.

A Ravelry download code for the pattern is included in the kit.

Happy New Year to you all! I can't believe it's going to be 2018 tomorrow. Time is flying by at a faster pace than I ever imagined possible. I hope you are doing well and that your knitting is keeping you company and also keeping you warm during this bitter cold winter stretch.

I appreciate your support and friendship here on the blog, as always, and I am sending it right back to you. I'll see you next year right here on the blog.

xo ~ susan 

Sleepy Kitten Set Kits + Sleeping Bags

Hi, Knitters,

How is everyone holding up? I hope your knitting has been successful and if you are knitting any seasonal gifts, I hope they are finished in time. I have one hat and one last mitten to finish up in the next day or so. Wish me luck.

I just wanted to let you know that we have re-released the Sleepy Kitten Set Kits over on Barrett Wool Co. We are pretty excited about it!

Click here to find out more information or to purchase the Sleepy Kitten Set Kit!

We are also offering Ready-Made Sleeping Bags in the same fabric as in the photos which is really fun and exciting. These little sleeping bags can be used for any small knit toys, not just the kittens.

Click here to find out more or to purchase the Sleeping Bags! 

Click here to see the Sleepy Kitten Set on Ravelry!

In the kit we've included enough yarn to make both of the kittens as seen in the photos and the separate nightie. The yarn is our Wisconsin Woolen Spun which is a real favorite around here. 

You can include the Making Magazine No. 4 / Lines with your kit or not if you already have it. The magazine can also be purchased separately in our Mercantile. For now, this is the only place the kitten pattern is available. In six months it will become available in my Ravelry pattern shop for individual purchase. 

Click here to see Making Magazine No. 4 / Lines!

Have a wonderful weekend ahead, Knitters. Thank you for the amazing fun and support, as always. I'm sending love and good wishes to you all. 

xo ~ susan

Isthmus Itty Bitty Article & Little Giraffe!

photo by Sharon Vanorny

Hi, Knitters,

I hope you are doing well. December is going by quickly and there is still no snow in Madison. The temperatures have been pretty mild for the most part. I always love it when there is snow on the ground for Christmas so hopefully this week we will get some. Fingers crossed.

I am fortunate enough to be featured on the cover (photo above) and inside the Madison weekly newspaper called the Isthmus this week. That has been a fun experience. And about that photo, I was actually sitting on that porch swing in a Madison neighborhood so that part is true. The little animals were also sitting on that porch swing with me, most of them are about 6-10 inches in height at best. So when I saw the photoshopped knit toys that were made huge it was a little startling. The photo has grown on me though, I love the playfulness and creativity the it evokes. It does catch your eye for sure and that is good for a cover photo.

Click here to read the article and see more photos online from the Isthmus newspaper! 

The article is well-written by Linda Falkenstein and it includes interviews with Evan Anderson, Jaala Spiro of Knit Circus, and Paula Emons-Fuessle of the Knitting Pipeline. 

I met with Linda to for the interview in person and she had a lot of good and different questions for me. She is about my age and is also a lifelong Madisonian so I think in some way that added to the interview in a good way. It was fun going down memory lane and also talking about all of the recent developments in my knitting life. 

photo by Sharon Vanorny

I love it that Evan was part of the article, too, and that they featured Barrett Wool Co. We are actually sitting at my sister's table here. 

Anyway, check out the Isthmus if you are interested. It is a true Madison staple. 

photo by Carrie Bostick Hoge for Making Magazine

Now for some knitting news. The Little Giraffe pattern is now available for individual download on Ravelry. The pattern was originally in Making Magazine No. 3 / Dots. 

To celebrate the pattern, I have set the price at a discounted $4.00, no code is needed, until December 22, 2017. Then the regular price will be $5.50. 

Click here to see the pattern for Little Giraffe on Ravelry! 

But even better, we brought the Little Giraffe Kits back to Barrett Wool Co. in some fantastic new color choices. The kits include everything you need to make the Little Giraffe except the stuffing. You get the yarn, pattern (if needed), safety eyes and black yarn to stitch the nose.  

The Little Giraffe Kit is so sweet. Click here to see more about the Kit on Barrett Wool Co.!

The kit above is in the Strawflower pink and Folkstone gray colors in Home Worsted Weight yarn.

photo by Carrie Bostick Hoge

The Little Giraffe measures in at about 10-inches in height. The toy is knit almost completely seamlessly. The feet, arms, and ears are knit first and then as you knit the body and head the appendages are knit right in as you go. There is no guesswork at all. The only seam is to stitch the head to the body. 

photo by Carrie Bostick Hoge

Anyway, it is an awfully cute toy and I love the size on this one (even though it isn't as life-size as in the first photo), it is kind of perfect for kids to snuggle and hold.

Have a great day, Knitters, and I'll be back soon with more.

xo ~ susan

Merry, Merry Pattern Sale!

Hi, Knitters,

I hope you are all keeping warm. It has finally gotten cold around here in Wisconsin. We did our usual tree cutting and now wreath making outing right after Thanksgiving so I feel like the tree has been up for a while already which is nice. The season is going quickly and I have to kick up my gift knitting and my gift purchasing here soon or I'll be in trouble. I have ideas but not much in-hand yet.

I have a couple of fun things going on that I don't want you to miss out on if you are interested. The pattern above is called the Holiday Charm Set and it is available at a discounted price of $3.50 (no code needed) right now through Dec. 24th, 2017. The pattern includes the tiny Tree, the wee sweater, the mini-mittens and the little sock ornaments all in one. None of these are new patterns but they have been revamped to all be worked in fingering weight yarn and some of the patterns have been slightly modified from the original patterns. The patterns all have new photos and layout, too.

Click here for more information or to purchase on the Holiday Charm Set pattern collection on Ravelry!

The other quick thing is that I am having a 40% off pattern sale on EVERY pattern and ebook in my Ravelry pattern shop right now through Wed., December 13th, 2017! 

Use the code: HOLIDAY2017 at checkout for the discount. 

Click here for the Susan B. Anderson Ravelry Pattern Shop!

The Smooth Operator Socks pattern continues to be my number one selling pattern which is kind of fun for me since my sincere love of sock knitting continues on. This pattern is included in the pattern sale. 

Click here for the Smooth Operator Socks pattern! 

One other pattern that continues to be so popular is the Split Back Snowflake Hat and I just love this photo of my niece wearing the hat. This is a worsted weight hat and the pattern includes an option for a regular ribbed brim as well. This pattern is included in the pattern sale, too. 

Click here for the Split Back Snowflake Hat pattern on Ravelry! 

Okay, friends, I'm off to enjoy a cup of coffee and some sweater knitting. Have a wonderful Sunday and I'll be back soon with more.

xo ~ susan

Anniversary Specials, New Colors & Sven!

Hi, Knitters,

Did you have a nice Thanksgiving for those who celebrate? We hosted at my house this year and it was a wonderful relaxing time with our loved ones. I really love the Thanksgiving holiday so much. I hope you're all having a nice weekend. It is unseasonably warm, too, very strange. I think it was 60 degrees yesterday in Madison. It doesn't seem quite right but we did enjoy it.

I can't believe a year has passed so quickly since we opened our family company. I don't know if I've ever worked harder or loved any job path more than the making of Barrett Wool Co. It has been wonderful and exhilarating, to say the least. So I want to thank you for participating, following, supporting or just watching the development of our little wool company. It has been a grand adventure and we appreciate you being a part of it. 

Some new things have arrived in our shop. We have just released 10 NEW colors in our Home line of yarns. The 10 colors range from soft neutrals to deeply saturated shades. I love them all and I think they round out our color range of 25 incredibly well. We have several new shades of gray, plus camel, teal and navy, the lightest shades of peach and pink, and my most favorite green ever! We have come up with fabulous color names, too.

Check out all of our new colors in Home Fingering and Worsted Weight by clicking here!

So in the spirit of appreciation and excitement we want to celebrate a bit by offering some fun deals for you over on Barrett Wool Co. I'm going to list them right here to keep it simple. The codes/specials are available now through Monday, November 27th, 2017. 

Click here for Barrett Wool Co.

1. For International sales of $54 or more we have a $3.00 discount shipping code to enter at checkout: INTERNATIONAL

2. For U.S. sales we have FREE shipping on all sales of $54 or more with this code at checkout: 

HAPPYANNIVERSARY

3. All Ravelry Barrett Wool Co. patterns are now 50% off with this code at checkout: 

HAPPYANNIVERSARY    Click here to check out the BWC Ravelry Pattern Shop!

4. We now have Carol Anderson's autographed Sven Scandinavian Pattern Booklets available for purchase in the pattern section of BWC! Click here to check out the booklets.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends. I hope you find lots of time for your knitting. Are any of you getting your Christmas tree this weekend? We are heading out to the tree farm at some point to cut down our tree. It will be a long season of holiday cheer and decoration due to the early Thanksgiving holiday which is welcome around here.  

I'll be back soon with more.... 

xo ~ susan

Episode 29: Fall Review 2017

Hi, Knitters,
I have a new video podcast episode up on my YouTube Channel if you are interested. I talk about a lot of my fall adventures in travel and teaching, new projects and some old projects, books, socks, embroidery, yarn, project bags and so much more.

Click here to visit my YouTube Channel, SusanBAnderson!

Have a great day! I'll be back with more soon.
xo ~ susan

Edmonton & Arve

Hi, Knitters,

It's been fun and knitterly few weeks around here and I hope the same has been true for you. I want to share a little about my trip to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada last weekend but first a want to share a new project. 

Yesterday we released a new pattern and kit for Barrett Wool Co. called Arve. Arve is a beautiful colorwork hat designed by the one and only Tanis Gray. Click here for Tanis' website. 

This is the fourth colorwork hat design Tanis has done for Barrett Wool Co. and to celebrate we have all four of these patterns on discount this week through November 18th, 2017. Arve is on sale for $3.50, no code is needed for any of the hat patterns. Regular price is $5.00 for all of these hat patterns.

Click here for the Arve pattern on Ravelry!

Click here for the Arve Kit on Barrett Wool Co.! These are selling really fast so jump in if interested. 

Click on each hat name to see the pattern information for or to purchase Arve, Elida, Erland, and Vidar! 

These hats use our Home Worsted Weight in four contrasting colors. I knit up Arve using the colors Red Flannel, Field, and Morning Sky. If you have four skeins of Home Worsted Weight you can make all four of these Tanis Gray hats! 

Arve fits like a dream! It is my new favorite hat and I will be wearing this one all winter. 

I used US size 5 and US size 6 needles to make the hat.

There is an overall chart from start to finish and it is one of the simplest colorwork hats you can find. The finished look of the hat is very impressive and it's super fun to knit. 

Click here for more information on the Arve hat kit!

The Arve Kit even includes a handmade pom-pom by me just like the one in the photo. 

Now, on to the Knit for Fun Edmonton Retreat hosted by Ann Budd. That's Ann on the right and Joji Locatelli in the middle. I've known Ann for years now and I'm a huge fan of hers but this is the first time I've met Joji and she was just wonderful, a real breath of fresh air. We really hit it off.

Click here to see Joji Locatelli's designs on Ravelry!

Click here for Ann Budd's website! Be sure to check out the information for her other Knit for Fun Retreats.  

We had great classes, fun and talented students, a panel discussion hosted by the Grocery Girls and so much more. 

The Grocery Girls, Jodi and Tracie, even took us out for dinner after the retreat was over. It was such a treat to have some quiet time. Thank you, ladies!

Click here for the Grocery Girls Podcast on YouTube! 

Jodi and Tracie took my Egg to Owl class and Tracie even made her owl to match my outfit! 

Just kidding. But it does match and it turned out so cute. Tracie has knit toys before so this was a fun twist on a project for her being that it is a reversible toy. 

Click here to find out more about the Egg to Owl reversible toy pattern on Ravelry!

Jodi's Egg to Owl is equally cute. I love the fantastic owl-y eyes, too. 

I know this photo is a little dark but I did get to meet Devin Ventre, the designer of the Gigi Cardigan featured on Barrett Wool Co. Here we are both wearing our Gigi Cardigans together. What a treat to get to meet Devin in person. I know we will be hearing lots more from Devin. 

Click here for Devin's website and podcast!

We will be bringing back the Gigi Cardigan Kits soon. Be sure to sign up on the Gigi Kit page to get an automatic email notification for when they are back in stock if interested. 

Okay, friends, it's time to catch my breath for a minute. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday and week ahead. Thanks for joining me today.

xo ~ susan

Three French Hens ~ pattern & kits

Hi, Knitters,

I am in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada right now teaching at an Ann Budd Knit For Fun Retreat so this will be quick. I just wanted you to know that I have just released the Three French Hens pattern for individual download on Ravelry and it's on a discount for $3.50 through November 10th, 2017, no code necessary. After that it will be set at $5.00. This pattern was originally released in the Taproot magazine about six months ago. 

We have also brought back our Three French Hens Kit over on Barrett Wool Co. if interested.

Click here for the Three French Hens information or to purchase on Ravelry!

Click here for the Three French Hens Kit information or to purchase on Barrett Wool Co.!

I have so much to share about this wonderful retreat so I'll be back soon with photos and stories. I hope you are all doing well. Much love to you all.

xo ~ susan

Sampleri ~ new pattern & kit!

Hi, Knitters,

I hope you are doing well. It has finally turned chilly around here and I am full-time wearing wool sweaters and handknit socks to stay warm. It seemed to take a long time this year. It has been a really good fall season so far and I hope it's been the same for all of you. 

I was teaching at the Signature Needle Arts retreat a couple of weeks ago and I had such a nice time. Tomorrow I leave for Edmonton, Alberta to teach at an Ann Budd Knit for Fun retreat. Those are always such a great time. I'm really looking forward to teaching with Ann and Joji Locatelli. I haven't met Joji before so I am really looking foward to it.

Today I want to let you know that I have a new pattern out called Sampleri and it is a simple colorwork hat sized from newborn up to adult xl (fits a man size head). Sampleri means sampler in Finnish. 

The pattern is on discount right now for $3.50, no code needed, through Nov. 6th, 2017. Then it will be priced at $5.00. 

Click here to find out more or to purchase Sampleri on Ravelry!  

Click here to find out more information or to purchase our beautiful Sampleri Hat Kits over on Barrett Wool Co.! 

The kits include our Wisconsin Woolen Spun Worsted in gorgeous rich colors. 

Here is some information you might like to know:

Sampleri

by Susan B. Anderson

Published in

Barrett Wool Co.

Craft

Knitting

Category

Hat → Beanie, Toque

Published

October 2017

Suggested yarn

Barrett Wool Co. Wisconsin Woolen Spun Worsted Weight

Yarn weight

Worsted (9 wpi) ?

Gauge

5.5 stitches = 1 inch
in stockinette stitch

Needle size

US 5 - 3.75 mm

US 6 - 4.0 mm

Yardage

250 yards (229 m)

Sizes available

Newborn (baby, child’s small, teen/adult small, adult medium, adult large, adult extra-large)

• bottom-up
• icord
• in-the-round
• one-piece
• seamless
• stranded

This pattern is available for $3.50 USD  buy it now

Sampleri is being offered at an introductory price of $3.50 starting today, Oct. 30 through Nov. 6, 2017. After that it will be priced at $5.00. 
Over on Barrett Wool Co. we have Sampleri Kits available!

What could be better than a cozy handknit hat made with squishy worsted weight wool? Well, better yet is all of the above plus some simple colorwork charts thrown in for fun! Sampleri, meaning sampler in Finnish, is a quick adventure in stranded colorwork using four or five (depending on the hat size) simple charts along the way. The crown is worked in the main color only and ends with four tiny and charming I-cord loops featuring the four colors used in the hat. It’s the perfect finishing touch for a perfectly festive hat!

Finished measurements: 12 (13, 14.5, 16, 17.5, 19, 20) –inches in circumference (the measurements have been rounded slightly).

Sized to fit: Newborn (baby, child’s small, teen/adult small, adult medium, adult large, adult extra-large)

Sizing Note: The larger sample is knit in the adult extra-large size and comfortably fits my son, Evan, with a little room to spare. Evan has a 22.5-inch head circumference. I would make the adult medium size to fit me, I have a 22-inch head circumference. The yarn does soften and bloom quite a bit with washing and blocking.

Yarn: Barrett Wool Co. Wisconsin Woolen Spun Worsted (100% American Wool; 100 grams/250 yards, 228 meters)

Samples were made using different colorways.

Sample 1 (made in the Adult Extra-Large size): 
MC: Oats 
CC1: Penny 
CC2: Harbor 
CC3: Jam

Sample 2 (made in the Newborn size): 
MC: Rain Shower 
CC1: Penny 
CC2: Hawthorn 
CC3: Jam

Yarn Note: The MC for the Adult Extra-Large size used less than 50 grams and the Contrast Colors used under 20 grams each.

The top of the Sampleri hat is finished with four charming looped I-cords and I think it is my favorite topper ever. 

The Wisconsin Woolen Spun lends itself to colorwork so beautifully. This is really one of my favorite types of projects. The hat whips up in no time, it looks more complicated than it really is and the finished hat is lovely and fun to wear. All of that adds up to a great knitting experience!

The Sampleri Kits include enough yarn to make the adult xl size. If you make the baby size you will be able to get more than one hat out of the yarn provided. 

There are two choices for the Main Color yarn, Rain Shower or Oats. And there are two Contrast Color choices, one includes Harbor (navy blue) and the other includes Hawthorn (brown). All are beautiful options.

Click here for the Sampleri Kits on Barrett Wool Co.!

Well, have a super week. Thanks for all of the support. I'm off to the great north. I hear it is really cold and wintery in Edmonton right now so I am packing warm wooly clothes and pulling out my winter coat. 

Sounds kind of perfect for a knitting retreat, doesn't it?

xo ~ susan

Making Magazine No. 4 / Lines & Sleepy Kitten Set Kits

Hi, Knitters,

Yesterday Making Magazine No. 4 / Lines was released and we also released our kit to go along with the magazine, the Sleepy Kitten Set Kit! I am so excited about this project and kit and the magazine.

Over on Barrett Wool Co. have the magazine for sale individually as well as included with the kit, or you can purchase the kit without the magazine if you already have your copy. 

Click here for more information or to purchase Making No. 4 / Lines! You will love this magazine. We also have copies of Making No. 1, 2 and 3 available for purchase as well in the Mercantile.

Click here for the Sleepy Kitten Set Kit information or to purchase!

Click here for the Sleepy Kitten Set pattern information on Ravelry!

photo from makingzine.com

The Sleepy Kitten Set Kit includes enough of our Wisconsin Woolen Spun yarns to make both kittens, the knit-in stripey jammies and the separate nightie, and enough of the same striped fabric to make two sleeping bags (you have to stitch the sides of the fabric together to make the sleeping bags). You also get whisker thread and embroidery floss for the face. The kit comes packaged in a hand-stamped cotton project bag. The only thing you'll need is a little stuffing!

Click here to see our Wisconsin Woolen Spun yarns!

photo from makingzine.com

This is one of the most charming projects I have ever designed. I love the little beds!

photo from makingzine.com

These little kittens have a really fun construction. You knit the legs, arms, tail and ears first. Then when you knit the body and head the work the appendages right in as you go! The only seam is to attach the head to the body. It is slick and satisfying and the finished kittens are adorable.

The pattern will be available for individual purchase in 6 months over in my Ravelry pattern shop. For now, the pattern is only found in the Making Magazine No. 4 / Lines.

The kittens are knit in worsted weight yarn. The nightie is knit in fingering weight yarn.

Good night, sweet friends (the kittens, I mean). I love how little ones love to put things to bed over and over again. These two seem to fit the bill for hours of playing and cuddling.

Click here for the Sleepy Kitten Set Kits over on Barrett Wool Co.!

The kits are selling really fast, so if interested hop on over quick.

Have a great weekend, Knitters! I'll be back soon with more.

xo ~ susan

A Bear and A Bunny Suit ~ new pattern + The Knit Show

Hi, Knitters,

I hope you are all doing well. The weather around here hasn't seemed very fall-like. It has been unseasonably warm but hopefully, it will start cooling down a bit coming up in the days. I love the fall just as so many others do. Plus, the fall season makes me fall more in love with my knitting every year for some reason. I keep saying it but it really is high knitting season right now. So much is happening that I am having a hard time keeping up.

Yesterday I released a "new" pattern. Let me explain. The original pattern for the bear in a bunny suit was published over a year ago in a book called Drop Dead Easy Knits. The copyright has now reverted to me and so I took it upon myself to update and modify the original pattern so it is even simpler in many respects and even cuter in all respects. I rewrote the pattern and moved and changed some things in the design so I renamed the pattern slightly. It is now called A Bear and A Bunny Suit. Doesn't that sound like a storybook title?

I also wanted to use my bouncy beautiful Home Worsted Weight wool from Barrett Wool Co. which wasn't released yet when the book came out. If you haven't tried our Home line of yarns you really should. It is a joy with which to knit. It feels so good running through your fingers and onto your needles. 

So the pattern is now called A Bear and a Bunny Suit and it is on sale right now through Wednesday, Oct. 11th, 2017. No code is needed. The pattern is priced at $3.50. On Oct. 12th the pattern will be priced at $5.00. The pattern is available on Ravelry and Barrett Wool Co.

Click here to find out more or to purchase the pattern on Ravelry! 

Click here to find out more or to purchase the pattern on Barrett Wool Co.!

We have kits over on Barrett Wool Co. for A Bear in A Bunny Suit but they are going so fast. We will definitely add more after we get the first batch done and out the door. Remember to sign up on the product page for an automatic email reminder when the item is back in stock. You'll literally be the first to know as soon as something is restocked.

Click here to check out the kits for A Bear in A Bunny Suit!

Here is some information you might like to know:

A Bear and A Bunny Suit

by Susan B. Anderson

Published in

Barrett Wool Co.

Craft

Knitting

Category

Softies → Animal

Published

October 2017

Suggested yarn

Barrett Wool Co. Home Worsted Weight

Yarn weight

Worsted (9 wpi) ?

Gauge

6 stitches = 1 inch
in stockinette stitch

Needle size

US 5 - 3.75 mm

US 6 - 4.0 mm

Yardage

175 yards (160 m)

Sizes available

5.5 inches tall when sitting

• bottom-up
• in-the-round
• one-piece
• seamless
• worked-flat

This pattern is available for $3.50 USD  buy it now

New Release Pattern Discount! The pattern is on sale for $3.50 starting today, October, 7th, 2017 through Wednesday, Oct. 11th, 2017. No code is needed. After Oct. 11th the pattern will be priced at $5.00. Enjoy!

This new A Bear and A Bunny Suit pattern is a modified version of the original pattern that first appeared in the book Drop Dead Easy Knits in 2016. I’ve changed quite a few things in the written pattern and design for this new version so I decided to release it with a slightly modified name, too.

A Bear and A Bunny Suit is a charming pint-size toy with a knit-in bunny suit including an attached hood that pulls off and on. You will fall in love with this little bear. The design and pattern feature an almost completely seamless construction and lots of specific guidance throughout to make sure your Bear turns out just right.

There is a kit for the Bear and a Bunny Suit over on Barrett Wool Co. if interested!

Finished measurement 
Approximately 5 ½ inches (14 cm) tall when sitting

Yarn 
Barrett Wool Co. Home Worsted Weight, 100% American Wool, 100 grams, 230 yards (210 meters)

Home Worsted Weight colors and amounts for samples: 
Bear: 25 grams in the Bear colorway 
Bunny Suit: 50 grams in either the Priscilla or Wishing Well colorways

Needles 
Body, Head and Hood: US size 5 (3.75mm) double-pointed needles, set of four 
Arms, Legs and Bunny Ears: US size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles, set of four 
Or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge 
Smaller needles: 6 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch 
Larger needles: 5.5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch

Materials 
Locking stitch markers 
Yarn needle 
Scrap yarn 
Fiberfill 
Small amount of black worsted weight yarn for the face embroidery 
Optional: Two 6mm safety eyes (safety eyes are considered a choking hazard for infants and young children) 
Note: If the toy is for an infant or young child use the black worsted weight yarn to embroider the eyes instead of the safety eyes.

Construction Notes 
The body is worked from the bottom up and in the round. The hood is then picked up at the neck using set-aside stitches and is worked flat. The hood stitches are placed on scrap yarn. The head is worked separately in the round and is then stitched to the top of the body (this is the only seam in the entire toy). The hood is then finished off. The bear ears, bunny ears, arms and legs are picked up and knit directly onto the toy.

The little brown bear could not be any sweeter. I love it when the hood is pulled down. 

We are offering the Bear kit in three different colors, Priscilla (pink), Wishing Well (blue) and Grassland (green). It would be cute in so many colors of Barrett Wool Co. Home Worsted. 

Even sweeter from the back....

I always get a kick out of knitting a foot or a toe while the finished toy is hanging upside-down. It just looks so funny. The good thing with A Bear and A Bunny Suit is that when you are done knitting that last stitch on the foot, the bear is completely finished! It is a fantastic feeling.

And now for one more exciting development.

Back in July I flew down to Austin, Texas for about 24 hours. There I filmed a segment for The Knit Show with Vickie Howell. I've put the The Handmade Holiday Episode in the post here for you to watch. I come in at about the 4 minute mark. 

But, the entire first season has been released on YouTube. All ten episodes are now up and ready for your free viewing. The show is incredibly well done and I am proud to be a tiny part of the show.

Click here to see The Knit Show on YouTube! Subscribe if you like.

Click here to see The Knit Show's website!

Click here for the free Clover hat pattern I shared on the show!

So I had a birthday last week and on that day my new book with Quince & Co. called Kindred Knits was officially released, and The Knit Show was released as well. It was quite a day to remember.

Phew! What a week. Have a super Sunday, friends. I'll be back soon with more.

xo ~ susan