A Day in a Knitterly Life

Hi, Knitters,

First of all, a gigantic thank you is due for the Ebb Cowl love, my latest design that was released for Quince & Company. The Ebb Cowl has snuck its way onto the Ravelry Hot Right Now Top 20 Patterns two separate times already, climbing as high as number 4 on the list. There are over 100 people joined in the Ebb Cowl Knitalong as of now and the pattern was just released on March 5th. You can join in at anytime and the knitalong is staying open until April 30th, which is when I will shortly thereafter be drawing for prizes for those who finish a cowl. You can enter more than once if you finish more than one Ebb Cowl.

Don't forget that if you finish ANY of the projects before April 30th, 2013 from the Quince & Co. Scarves, Etc. 2013 ebook you can post with a photo in the Scarves, Etc. 2013 Finished Project thread on my Ravelry group to be entered to win prizes. Click here to see all of the designs in the ebook. It's that easy.

Other projects I am going to knit from the Scarves, Etc. 2013 ebook are: Gill's Rock (I already received my yarn for this from Quince, Finch in Winesap! Plus, Gill's Rock is inspired from one of my favorite, and Paula's, Wisconsin spots, Door County. Remember this and this and this?), Mainline, and the Aurora Shawl for starters. I wish I could knit through the entire collection...... 

Okay, on to other knitterly happenings now. In the first photo you can see that I have finally finished the first bobbin of singles I am working on for a 3-ply sock yarn. That lovely pink bobbin is from Corriedale roving in the Sweetheart colorway from Dyeabolical. I am spinning another bobbin of the Sweetheart and then the third bobbin is a lovely natural white wool roving that I picked up at the Dane County Farmers Market last summer. I love it all so far but it is a slow moving project due to my other knitting obligations right now. I just sneak in a bit here and there. 

I don't have an enormous collection of stitch markers like some do. I do have enough to get by though. The other day I filled my pepper grinder in the kitchen with more peppercorn. The peppercorn came in this little bottle, which I thought was very cute. I washed it out so it no longer smelled of pepper, although I am a pepper addict so that's not the worst thing. I then filled the clean bottle with stitch markers. I think it is really cute for some reason and I love to reuse/repurpose containers.

Those sheep stitch markers were given to me by pattytrish (rav id) in a swap a short while back on the Itty-Bitty Knits group. Click here to find out more about the stitch markers.

I've made some handspun sock knitting progress. I have two different handspun socks on the needles right now. I enjoy the way the barber pole handspun yarn knits up looking heathered or tweed-like. It's wonderful. This was spun from Moonshine Fiber Co. roving.

The second handspun sock I am knitting is yarn I made from 8oz. of Dyeabolical roving. This sock yarn I am keeping on my Yarn Buddy from Sun Valley Fibers (a great local to me yarn and fiber farm). You plop the yarn cake on and pull from the outside of the yarn cake and the yarn smoothly spins right off and onto your needles, a great and pretty invention. I bought mine in person at an event last year but you can order one from the Sun Valley website. The craftsmanship is beautiful. The wood, there are different choices, is rich. I use the Yarn Buddy all of the time. The spin is smooth as silk. You know, this would make such a great gift for any knitter if you are ever trying to think of something unique.

This is how I keep my Yarn Buddy and latest sock set up right in my living room. It's like a piece of artwork. Then when I am sitting in the living room I pick it up and knit a few rounds.

I did some colorful wash the other day! This is the other artwork in the living room.

I hang my old and worn sewn by me knitting bag (it's still my favorite bag) on a chair in my living room. The felted flower makes me so happy. Heather gave it to me as a gift a few years back at TNNA.  I put it right on my bag and have never taken it off since. Thank you, Heather!  It's so well made. Heather recycles wool sweaters to create these gorgeous flower pins. I dream of having a bunch more of these felted flowers to put one on every bag I own. It's so happy. 

Click here for Heather's Felted Flower Shop on Etsy!

Inside my worn bag? Peachy's GAP-tastic Cowl in progress. I'm making her cowl in 3 skeins of Quince & Co.'s Puffin in the Twig colorway. Fast and fun are words to describe this cowl. I've gotten Miss Molly to make one and now my sister and her daughter are making GAP-tastics, too. It's a free pattern on Ravelry.

I'm working mainly on workshop/teaching preparation right now. There is so much work to get done for my upcoming classes and I am working right up to the last minute, as always. I hope to see some of you at the Madison Knitters Guild Knit-In on Saturday. My classes are full and then some! I'll report back on this event next week.

Well, that was a link-filled post for you. What are you all working on this week? I'd love to hear.

best, susie

p.s. I have three new hat patterns is coming out soon! Here's a quick look at one of the new hats! I still have some work to do on these patterns but they are coming.....

Ebb Cowl & Scarves, Etc. 2013 Now Available!

(photo from Quince & Co.)

Hi, Knitters,

I am thrilled to say that the Quince & Co. Scarves, Etc. 2013 ebook has just been released.  You can purchase the entire book of 17 patterns or you can purchase the patterns individually through Quince & Co.

Click here for the project page and/or to purchase the Ebb Cowl pattern on Ravelry!

Click here to see and/or purchase the downloadable pattern for Ebb from Quince & Co.

Click here to see the entire Scarves, Etc. 2013 ebook!

You can read more about my design here!

(photo from Quince & Co.)

I am hosting a knitalong for the Ebb Cowl that starts anytime from today, March 5th through April 30th. You can join in anytime, there is no cut-off date. Let me know if you are joining on the Ravelry thread for the knitalong. If you are not on Ravelry let me know and I will help you sign up. There will be prize drawings and general fun along the way.

Click here for the Ebb Knitalong!

I am also putting up a general Scarves, Etc. 2013 Knitalong finished project thread on my group board. This is for anyone who knits any design from Scarves, Etc. 2013! You have to post a finished picture of the project in this thread before April 30th, 2013. You will be eligible for prize drawings. 

If you knit the Ebb Cowl you can enter in the Ebb Knitalong AND the Scarves, Etc. Finished project threads, doubling your chances of winning.

Click here for the Scarves, Etc. 2013 Finished Project Thread! 

Paula of Knitting Pipeline is hosting a knitalong for Gill's Rock (click here!) and Diane of the Knitabulls podcast is hosting a knitalong (click here!) for Gill's Rock or Piper's Journey (Paula's design from last year's Scarves, Etc. ebook). 

I hope to see you on the Ebb Cowl Knitalong! We'll have a great time together and I will gather some fantastic prize drawings as well!

Now for some home photos.....

I originally made the Ebb Cowl in the Storm colorway of Quince & Co.'s Lark (which is a worsted weight yarn that is held doubled for the cowl). I made it in the medium size. There are 4 sizes available for the Ebb Cowl. Right after I made this cowl I saw that Quince had an open submission for the Scarves, Etc. collection so I threw the cowl into the hat.

Quince loved my design!

I quickly received more yarn to make another cowl in a dramatic teal colorway called Peacock. This yarn just glows with color. It is so deep and rich. I think it is my favorite new color. Quince does a spectacular job with color and quality amongst many other things.

Now I'll speed things up a bit!

Here is the unblocked Ebb cowl. 

A much larger photo of the unblocked Ebb Cowl. It squishes all together because it is mainly a rib stitch pattern.

I gave it a lukewarm bath along with some Soak Wash.

Next I vigorously stretched out the cowl on my blocking boards. You need to really give it a good stretch to get the full effect of the stitch pattern.

Drying.

Up close drying. It's so pretty.

Setting the drying scene for you......

Above is the blocked and dried Ebb Cowl in Storm. It is a beautiful medium gray. This color is so versatile.

The cowl is completely reversible. This is the reverse side which is really cool looking as well.

I just love the two cowls together. 

I can never get over how soft and squishy the Quince & Co. wool becomes after blocking. The bounce and spring and squoosh is unbelievable.

The medium size is just right to wear wrapped once or twice for a cozier fit.

Love it! This is the extra-large size wrapped twice around my neck.

This is the medium-size cowl wrapped around once.

I hope you enjoy the Ebb Cowl pattern from Quince & Co.!

I am really excited about this new design.

best, susie

The Yarn Fairy

Hi, Knitters,

There is something going on here in Madison and it involves yarn, dyeing and a friend of mine. Many people already know about it but you may not. I want to make sure everyone knows about the new line of Knitcircus Yarns. Above is one of the Knitcircus gradient worsted weight skeins. It's glorious and vibrant.

My friend in knitting, Jaala Spiro, began the Knitcircus magazine many years ago. The online magazine has gone through a few changes in recent years. It has morphed into a wonderful, informational weekly newsletter packed with tips, reviews, techniques and patterns. You can subscribe right here. I love getting this newsletter in my inbox.

Awhile back Jaala took a dyeing class from the fabulous Liz Avery (she taught me how to spin and is the best teacher around town!) at the Sow's Ear, our widely known and revered local yarn and coffee shop in Verona, Wisconsin. Right at that moment a lightbulb went on in Jaala's head. She found her new destiny in dyeing and creating beautiful yarns. Jaala's love for color and dyeing yarn is inspiring and genuine. I am so happy for her.

Last Friday, I invited Jaala over to my house for coffee, pastries and knitting. I had no idea she would arrive bearing gifts. She came with a big bag of unique and beautiful fiber for me (I'll share that later) and yarns from her new Etsy shop and Sparkle Yarn Club. It was like I was dreaming and a magical yarn and fiber fairy visited my home.

Click here for Jaala's Knitcircus Etsy Shop!

I can personally attest to the high quality of her dyeing skills, color knowledge and yarns. Everything is top-notch and so well done. She sincerely cares about her products and I can heartily recommend Knitcircus Yarn to everyone interested.

Jaala has variegated, mini-skeins, worsted, dk and fingering, gradients, sparkle yarn, sock yarn, sweater quantities and more! There is a wide range to choose from. It is hard to resist hitting that purchase button when you are visiting her shop. The thing I like most is that her engineer husband keeps helping her come up with new ways of working and dyeing in her home studio, which she calls the evil lair. Jaala is really funny and witty which makes her even more fun. She was telling me how she had figured out how to make gradual gradients where one color sprinkles into the next. I can't wait to try that one.

Right now there are still spots in her Gradient Yarn Club, which is open for sign ups through March 15th. Each shipment comes with gorgeous yarn and the perfect pattern by Jaala. Jaala is an excellent designer - she has been published in Knitty along with her many designs in Knitcircus, and her own Ravelry pattern shop, with her patterns often making the top Hot Right Now patterns on Ravelry. There is also some sort of extra present included in each club package as well. It is sweetly presented and such a treat to receive.

Click here to see all of Jaala's designs on her Ravelry Pattern Shop!

Here is the description for the Gradient Yarn Club on her Etsy Shop:

Six months, three packages of yarn, original patterns and treats! An exclusive selection of self-striping, hand-dyed gradient yarns and patterns specially created to bring out their best features, with additional info about gradient-dyed yarns and how to use them. Take part in KAL's just for clubbies in the Gradient Club Ravelry group. Treats include exclusive collaborations with other indy businesses. Patterns by designer Jaala Spiro, 2 fingering and one mystery weight yarn, all Merino and other luxury fibers and sourced in the USA. US and Canadian shipping is included. Runs April-August of 2013.

Click here to find out the details on the Knitcircus Gradient Yarn Club!

The colors Jaala selects are deep, interesting and rich and there is a wide range of color options from bright to subdued. The yarn above is 420 yards of 100% merino wool in the Sock du Soleil base. Isn't it beautiful? I am thinking shawl with this one.

The sparkle sock yarn above reminds me of a fresh spring breeze. The light blue is called, Robin's Egg and the darker shade is called, Cottage Shutters. It's so sweet and pretty. The smaller skein is for the  contrasting cuff, heel and toe of the Scilla Lace Socks which is part of the Sparkle Yarn Club.  

Above is one of the packages for the yarn club. You get a personal note, the sparkle yarn, a set of original tags to put on your handknit gifts (these are wonderfully done), a mini-skein, and the pattern for the Scilla Lace Socks. I am definitely making these socks with the yarn. The back of the sock along the cuff is a rib pattern so the lace doesn't go all the way around.

I love how this club gives you a pattern to use with the yarn. The patterns are all test knit and edited.

Jaala gave me one of her gradient yarns called Ruby Gradient, which goes along with the Miss Lindy pattern. I cast this on last Friday. It is a little lace beauty and I can't put it down. There is a large lace chart that shows the big picture and then it is broken down into five small lace charts for ease and clarity. By breaking the big chart into small bites of simple lace, the pattern becomes so quick, fun and easy. I love a project like this. 

(photo from Knitcircus)

Isn't Miss Lindy a beautiful shawl/scarf? It shows off the gradient yarn to perfection. I saw this project in person and really, the photograph is nice but the project in person is absolutely stunning.

You can purchase this pattern on Ravelry. Click right here to see more about Miss Lindy.

Also, Jaala does an entertaining, funny and informative podcast with the one and only Amy Detjen, another Madison knitting treasure and nationally known teacher, author and Craftsy instructor. The Knitcircus Podcast is one that I never miss. I am so happy when I see a new episode is up. The podcast is available on iTunes or you can find out more about it on the Knitcircus website.  Don't miss this podcast it is worth every minute spent listening.

I do have to say one more thing about Jaala Spiro. You would all just love to know her for so many reasons. She is kind-hearted and down-to-earth and fun to be around. In addition to these great qualities, she is an extraordinarily generous person and I don't mean about everyday kinds of things. I am astounded by the things she has humbly done in her life to help and enrich the lives of those around her. I am talking about big, major, life-changing generosity and sacrifices for her family and friends, the kind you rarely hear about. Her life-story is very touching. To me this only makes her many talents in the fiber industry all the more interesting.

I hope you'll take the time to check out and support this local to me talent.
best, susie

Ebb Cowl for Quince & Co.'s Scarves, Etc. 2013!

(photo from Quince & Co. by Carrie Bostick Hoge)

Hi, Knitters,

Excitement is running high over here surrounding my new cowl design, called Ebb, which is being previewed right now on Quince & Company's blog! Click here to see the preview. Today is just a short sneak peek, I'll have much more information and news coming up quickly.

Click here for the Ravelry project page for Ebb!

The Ebb Cowl (short for the expression, ebb and flow), is part of Quince's new ebook, Scarves, Etc. 2013. The ebook is being released next week on March 5th and the patterns are all being sold individually. That way you can pick and choose which patterns work for you. Scarves, Etc. 2013 has 17 new designs that include scarves, cowls, and shawls all designed by fabulous knitters. The collection started with an open call for submissions last fall.

For reference, Ebb comes in four sizes, small, medium, large and extra-large. The sample above is the extra-large size and can be wrapped several times around your neck. The smallest fits up closer to the neck, once around.

(photo from Quince & Co. by Carrie Bostick Hoge)

I am hosting a knitalong for Ebb starting on March 12th and ending April 12th, 2013. This will give everyone time to get their yarn and pattern together. You can join in anytime. I have posted an initial thread in my Ravelry group, Itty-Bitty Knits. Please let me know in the comments here and/or in the thread if you are interested in knitting Ebb along with me. I'll have many tips, sharing and prizes along the way!

Click here for the Ebb Knitalong thread on my Ravelry group, Itty-Bitty Knits!

I used Quince & Co. Lark in the Peacock (above) and Storm (below) colorways. Lark is a worsted weight yarn and is held doubled throughout the project. That means two-strands are held together while you are knitting. For naysayers on holding yarn doubled while you knit, it is actually fun and totally worthwhile! The finished cowl is unique, squishy and stunning due to the two-strands being held together. The cowl is also surprisingly simple and quick to knit. Ebb has a bouncy, plush fabric that shows the Ebb stitch pattern detail beautifully. You can sink you teeth into this rich cowl, dive in and stay awhile. It is the best!

The gauge on the pattern is listed in the Ebb stitch pattern but if you are getting 3 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch you will be good to go. The stitch pattern looks deceptively difficult. It is mainly 2 by 2 rib with a fun twist every few rows. It is an interesting and captivating stitch pattern to work.

Here are some specific details for you from the pattern:

Finished measurements

26 1⁄2 (40, 53 1⁄4, 66 1⁄2)" [67.5 (101.5, 135.5, 169) cm] in circumference and 8 1⁄2" [21.5 cm] deep 

Yarn Lark by Quince & Co.

(100% American wool; 134yd [123m]/50g) • 2 (4, 6, 8) skeins (yarn is held doubled throughout) 

Needles

• One 24 (32, 32, 32)" circular needle (circ) in size US 11 [8mm] Or size to obtain gauge

Notions

• Stitch marker (m) 

• Cable needle (cn) 

• Tapestry needle

Gauge 

12 sts and 16 rows = 4" [10 cm] in ebb pattern with yarn held doubled, before blocking 

12 sts and 20 rows = 4" [10 cm] in ebb pattern with yarn held doubled, after blocking

The photo above is of the first sample I knit of Ebb while it is drying on the blocking boards. Now you can clearly see why the name Ebb came to mind.... windy, back and forth, trails ebbing and flowing.  The fabric is completely reversible, too, gorgeous on each side.

There is much more to come! Let me know if you are interested in the knitalong. If you are not on Ravelry you can still easily participate in the knitalong by letting me know. I'll enter you in the giveaways and I will be posting on this blog to update everyone as we go.

best, susie

p.s. Quince & Co. is a dream yarn company. I have such respect for everything they do. What a privilege it is to have this opportunity with them. Thank you, Quince.

Knitting Pipeline Retreat & Seattle Knitters Guild!

Hi, Knitters,

As my book release and book tour is getting closer, exciting new opportunities keep popping up. I've added two more dates to my upcoming appearances. The Egg to Turtle free pattern card will be available at all of these upcoming events if you are interested.

On Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013, I was invited to speak at the Seattle Knitters Guild! This is perfect because I am just going to fly into Seattle a day early for Vogue Knitting Live, April 5-7th! My new book, Topsy-Turvy Inside-Out Knit Toys, will be available to purchase and for signing at the meeting. The book isn't even going to be released yet so this means these will be preview copies. Please contact the guild for more information about the meeting. What an honor to be asked. Thank you to the Seattle Knitters Guild.

Click here for the Seattle Knitters Guild website!  I am speaking from 7-8pm and will have a short book signing immediately following. Bring your other books for me to sign as well if you'd like. 

Click here to register for classes for Vogue Knitting Live Seattle! I hope to see you there. I am so excited about my classes for this event. There are still openings available.

Another newly added stop is that I am attending the Knitting Pipeline Retreat on April 26th and 27th, 2013! I am so excited about this one. I love Paula Emons-Fuessle or PrairiePiper (rav id) from the Knitting Pipeline Podcast.  It is one of the most sincere and informative audio-podcasts around. You should listen if you don't already. Paula announced that I am coming to her retreat on the podcast last week so now I can tell you all about it here.

The Knitting Pipeline Retreat is in Washington, Illinois, and there are still openings available as I understand it. This may be filling up so act quickly if you are interested in coming to the retreat. I'm not teaching at this event, I am simply attending as a guest. I will bring the trunk show for my new book and will be available to sign books so bring your books to the event if you'd like them signed. I would love to sign them for you.

Click here for the Knitting Pipeline website!  

Click here to contact Paula on Ravelry for more information!

The other April event (it is going to be a very busy month), is that I am teaching at the Loopy Ewe Spring Fling, April 18th - 21st! I am also flying in a day early to do a book signing, trunk show and meet and greet (open to the public) at the Loopy Ewe Yarn Shop before the event. My event at the yarn shop is Wednesday, April 17th, 2013 and the shop is in Ft. Collins, Colorado. This is great because the retreat is full already but I am happy that I'll be able to meet and sign books for anyone interested in the area.

If you are planning on stopping by the Loopy Ewe shop on April 17th click here for the location and contact information. Please let Sheri, the owner, know if you are planning on stopping by and to get more details.

April is going to be a whirlwind but I can't wait! So the schedule in a nutshell is this:

March 9th - Teaching two workshops (Top-Down Baby Cardigan and String a Long Toys) at the Madison Knitters Guild Knit-In! Click here for more information.

April 3rd - 7th: Seattle Knitters Guild (contact the guild if you are planning on attending) and Vogue Knitting Live Seattle

April 17th - 21st: The Loopy Ewe Yarn Shop appearance and the Loopy Ewe Spring Fling in Ft. Collins, Colorado

April 26th and 27th - Knitting Pipeline Retreat! in Washington, Illinois

Now onto to general knitting and other topics. I finished writing up the patterns, charts and handouts for my Fair Isle Two-handed Hat class I am teaching at Vogue Knitting Live and other places coming up. That was a ton of work but I feel really good about it. I might try to squeeze in a couple more patterns before I teach if time allows. Knitting Fair Isle hats is truly addicting and fun. 

I used a new charting making software called Knit Visualizer. It is a great program for creating your own charts if you are interested. I am still learning the ins-and-outs but I did create some good, clear charts for this new class. That felt like an accomplishment.

The next class I am tackling is the Build-a-Toy Workshop. I spent the weekend working on, knitting and designing bodies, heads, legs, arms and tails for the students to put together to create their own knit toys. I've still got a ways to go but I'm very pleased with how this workshop is coming together. Lots of class sample knitting and pattern writing to conquer this week. More updates on this class soon!

For some personal knitting, I couldn't resist casting on for another new pair of handspun socks. I now have two different handspun socks going at the same time which is kind of fun. This one is from Moonshine Fiber Company roving (not sure if the shop is still open or just on hiatus). I got 462 yards of a fingering weight.

The sock in the photo above I started on two 16-inch circular needles to see if I would enjoy this technique. The answer? 

Nope!

I didn't have any trouble with the two circular needle technique at all but after the rib and working about an inch down on the cuff I couldn't take it any longer. I quickly switched back to my trusty double-pointed needles. I am just so much faster on my dpns and I find it so much quicker and simpler. There isn't all of the sliding the stitches onto the needle and back on the cord. Plus the actual sock is much more flexible while you are knitting on dpns. The two circulars make the sock flat and immobile while you are working and this bothered me for some reason.  

Don't mind me if you enjoy your sock knitting on two circulars or any other technique, that's all good by me. It is always a good thing to try different techniques to see if they work for you or not. That's how we learn and grow as knitters.

I worked on my Sipsey's Folly sleeve #2 off and on last weekend. 

Needles are from here.

I have been wearing knitwear every single day this winter. I have been trying to share photos on Facebook and Instagram to show my daily knits which has been fun. Above is my Shalom cardigan (free pattern). I added sleeves and more buttons. It is knit in Cascade 128. This quick and simple cardigan has become a favorite. 

My other favorite is the Owls sweater by Kate Davies. I first knit this as a pullover and decided I'd much rather have it as a cardigan so I steeked it up the front, added button bands and buttons. Now I wear my Owls cardigan every week. I am so glad I didn't let it sit as a pullover. I was really sharing the cut and color for my hair the other day but I was wearing my Owls cardigan at the same time. 

Click here to see all about the steeking of my Owls pullover!

I'll leave you today with some shots of snowy Madison. It's still a winter wonderland around here.

We stumbled upon this prairie snowman yesterday on our hike. I love it when people leave a quiet treat like this for others to enjoy. The face and hair are really the best. The teeth are some sort of dried seed pods. We are still enjoying winter but we are also getting anxious for spring at the same time. March is near.

Take care and have a wonderful start to your week.
best, susie

Goings-On

Hi, Knitters,

First, I am so excited to be able to announce that I will be at Fibre Space in Alexandria, Virginia on May 3rd for a workshop and separate book signing event! Give them a call (703) 664-0344) if you are able to come to either the workshop or the signing or both. Everyone is welcome. 

Then I will be off to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival for the first time on May 4th and 5th for book signings (and hopefully some shopping, fingers crossed I will have time). Let me know if you are going to either of these events. I'd LOVE to see you there.

Now onto knitterly goings-on. I'm off to an extra early start this morning. My girls don't have school today and my son is taking the bus home from college for a long weekend. He will arrive after dinner tonight. I know it will turn into a hectic day (getting food for my ravenous college boy alone is hectic) so I am trying to get some work things done before the day starts rolling for everyone else. Plus, we are having another blizzard as an added bonus, lots of snow and ice this winter. It's not for the weary.

I want to share some photos and chat for a moment about some things I am currently working on, both work-wise and fun-wise. I finished up writing the pattern and knitting samples for the Egg to Turtle reversible toy. It is all off to good old NYC (Artisan Books) for photos, editing and pattern card production. It turned out really, really great! The turtle is knit in one piece, no seaming at all. 

Here are the eggs that when you flip them over and turn them inside out they become the tiny turtles. The egg is knit separately and the only seaming is to whipstitch the egg to the turtle around the small opening. 

I knit these toys in Quince & Co. Lark, a worsted weight wool. It is such great yarn, reasonably priced, with a wide and wonderful range of colors. I have a big bag of leftovers setting right by my main knitting chair and I keep pulling out colors to whip up little toys, fair isle hats, fingerless mitts, tiny sweaters, and so on. I swear that every knitter should start collecting skeins of this wonderful wool in every color just to have on hand. 

I received a lot of questions, dozens and dozens, about how to get the Egg to Turtle pattern so instead of trying to answer everyone individually I am going to answer on here. The pattern for the Egg to Turtle is now a promotional free pattern only. I am going to have the pattern with me on a slick pattern card to hand out as a free bonus pattern (it's not in Topsy-Turvy Inside-Out) to knitters at my book tour events, book signings, and workshops. I am doing these events over the many months ahead.

Eventually, when the touring is done I plan on adding this pattern to my Ravelry Pattern Shop as a pdf download but I don't know exactly when that will be at this point. I'll keep you posted on here when it becomes available.

Now for some personal knitting, I finally finished the Rainbows and Clouds socks (click here for the etsy shop). Three cheers! I was sitting at a long swim meet last weekend and knit my heart out on these while watching. When I got home from the meet I only had to finish up the toe on the second sock. 

Here is the finished pair all squishy and cozy on my feet. These feel like heaven. The yarn is vibrant and I love the variegated cloud stripes. I don't know how Abbi Grasso does it but I sure appreciate her talent. I have her watermelon sock yarn (yes, more watermelon socks are coming) and her heart sock yarn waiting in the wings to be cast on.

Oh, and by the way, the meet we went to was the State Tournament for the high school boys. Our boys are done with high school swimming so we just went to support the team and to enjoy the meet which was really fun (way more fun) without all the pressure. The photo above is of the cover of the meet program. See that guy with the huge mouth (he looks like me) on the cover? That's a photo of my son from last year. The photo I took of the program isn't very good. I took it at the meet to send to my son so he could see he was on the program cover. His response was a simple, "Funny."

I shared this photo on Instagram and Facebook, but it is worth sharing again here. Remember Miss Molly's Gaptastic Cowl? Click here to see Miss Molly's cowl. Peachy loved it so much that she wanted one for herself. She selected the Twig colorway in the Quince & Co. Puffin. It's only $9 a skein... such a good deal when you compare prices for other 100% wool bulky/superbulky weight yarns. Love that.

Click here for the free pattern. 

I've got a good start on Peachy's version of the cowl. I am knitting on US size 13, 24-inch circular needles and I've burned through one of these yarn cakes already. This is about the simplest cowl you could find. Seed stitch is it, knit and purl and purl and knit. I love simple stuff like this every once in awhile.

Isn't that yarn dreamy looking?

I have finished the first sleeve and have about 5 inches done on the second sleeve for the Sipsey's Folly sweater. The sleeves are going slow for a couple of reasons, they aren't that interesting and I can't wait to get to the colorwork yoke. Progress is good but not fast enough.

You can see the finished Sipsey's Folly sleeve under my sock knitting in the photo above. After I finished the Rainbows and Clouds socks I cast on the second sock from my handspun yarn from Dyeabolical roving. I have had the first sock done for a long, long time now and it needs a partner. I already have at least a few inches done on the cuff now. I'll keep you posted on the progress here. It seems to be going quickly. I promised myself that I would finish off these languishing second sock projects and I am working toward doing just that.

I frogged (ripped out) a 3-inch ribbed cabled cuff of a sock that had been sitting for a couple of years in my studio. I never felt like working on it so I decided it needed to go. That felt good.

I'll leave with this photo from last weekend. We went on a crunchy snowy hike through our favorite conservation park located right in our neighborhood. We are so lucky to have this vast spread of woods, ponds and prairie land right in our backyard. That's TC and my husband above. They are quite a pair (of silly goofballs). 

Take care and have a wonderful weekend hopefully full of wool and knitting.

best, susie

p.s. Remember how I said I wanted to knit a shawl that crosses over in the front and ties in the back on the shawl wearing video? I was so excited to see this post about a sweet "sheep to shawl" version that does just that. Look here.