a little pattern giveaway for you

(photo by J. Lassonde)

Hi, Knitters,

It is a busy time of year for everyone right about now with school and sports finishing up, banquets, music concerts, gardening, etc. It is all fun stuff but just a lot of everything. We have a daughter, our beloved Peachy, graduating from high school this weekend. Things have been quite hectic. We are hosting a graduation party for Peachy and her good friend at our house to celebrate their achievements. 

We are very proud of her.

In the meantime, while I am getting ready for the festivities, I thought I would share this beautiful new shawl pattern I received from Jennifer Lassonde. The shawl is called Tan House Brook.

Click here for more information on the Tan House Brook Shawl.

Jennifer is the host of the wonderful Down Cellar Studio Podcast. I love her podcast.

Jennifer or BostonJen on Ravelry has recently released this lovely simple triangular shawl with elongated ends. She kindly sent me a copy for my library and she has generously offered one copy for each of 3 winners!

(photo by J. Lassonde)

I think this is a lovely shawl, simple but with some texture and detail. What a fun pattern to show off some beautiful yarns. The pattern can be made in fingering weight or worsted weight yarn. This just looks like the perfect summer knit. I've been hearing good things about this pattern so I think you will love it!

It looks like it takes 400 - 420 yards of a fingering weight knit on a US 7.

Here is a little information from Jennifer's Ravelry Project Page for the Tan House Brook Shawl:

This top-down, elongated triangular shawl is a great project for new and experienced knitters alike.

The simple stockinette section at the beginning helps you learn the increase pattern. Then we add in some fun texture in short bursts which should keep you interested throughout the project!

The result is a very wearable shawl that has a bit of lace without being too fancy for everyday use. Wear it over your shoulders or bandana style to add some warmth and fun to your look!

Finished Size
Fingering Weight: 56 inches wide. 18 inches deep
Worsted Weight: 64 inches wide. 22 inches deep

Please Note If your gauge is different than that listed, I highly recommend having more yarn available. Nearly all test knitters used very close to 400 yards. Instructions are available in the pattern for how to make pattern longer if you have more yarn and would like to use it up.

Suggested needles for Worsted Weight Version: US 9 (5.5 mm) with a gauge of 14 stitches over 4 inches in stockinette

Please leave a comment if you would like a free pdf copy of the Tan House Brook Shawl pattern! Please leave your Ravelry ID or email address in your comment so Jennifer can get your pattern to you if you win. Please only leave one comment on this blog post, there will be a delay before it will appear on the blog. 

Wish us luck this weekend. I am trying to keep my emotions in check. These milestones with my kids really get to me.

I'll be back soon to randomly select 3 lucky winners. Thank you to Jennifer for the opportunity. Good luck and let the comments begin!

best, susie

Sunday Leftie Knitting

Hi, Knitters,
I finally found a little bit of time earlier today to work a few more leaves on my Leftie shawl by Martina Behm. This is one fun shawl.  I have seven leaves done to be exact. I am weaving in the ends as I go, as that works better for me in the end.

Leftie is just so much fun. If you are even thinking about it, you should give it a go. What a great pattern. Leftie is more compelling than the Hitchhiker for me, maybe it's the color changes. Who knows.

Leftie by Martina Behm

Leftie Kit from Miss Babs (mine is the Slate and Reds kit colorway)

I am using a US size 1 or 2.5mm needle. The shawl is one where a slightly tighter gauge looks good. It shows off the beautiful garter stitch and leaves better. I probably won't block this too strenuously in the end because I love the way it looks now.

That's it for today. The photo isn't the best as the sun is going down but I was too excited not to share.

I'll be back soon with more! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. The weather around here has been beautiful lately.
best, susie

How to make your own Everlasting Gobstopper Yarn Ball!

Hi, Knitters,

The other day I posted this photo to Instagram and Facebook sharing the hand wound 50 gram balls I made from the skein of Quaere Fibre self-striping sock yarn in the Patchwork colorway. I have done this winding technique with lots of other striping sock yarn skeins. I think they always look like candy in the end, kind of like the Willy Wonka Everlasting Gobstoppers. The Patchwork versions are especially eye-catching due to the beauty and colors of the yarn.

Click here to visit the Quaere Fibre Etsy shop!

I had quite a few people ask if I would share how I wound the balls this way. Of course I will!

Here is my wordless video on winding. I will write out the simple steps below the video.

Click here to see the video on YouTube!

How to create an Everlasting Gobstopper yarn ball:

Note: The yarn in the video is Vesper Sock Yarn in the Rainbow Love colorway.

1.  I usually just drape the yarn over the back of a chair for winding but you could wind it on a ball winder first or place it on your swift to start. For video purposes today I pre-wound the ball on the ball winder so I could keep my range of motion small. I don't usually take this extra step.

2.  Wrap the end and yarn around several fingers until you have a good amount. Remove the yarn and make a sort of figure eight with it and fold it in half to make the start of your ball.

3. Begin wrapping the yarn around this tiny ball in all directions until it is about the size of a walnut or quarter.

4. Now start paying attention to the spot where the color changes in the yarn. Each time the yarn changes stop winding at that spot.

5. *Place your thumb on the color change spot and turn the ball to start winding in a different direction. Wind each stripe of color in the same direction/spot until you reach the next color. Then repeat from *

Keep working in this way until all of the yarn is wound! If you want two 50g balls for socks you'll have to weigh as you go. Also, make sure you wind the yarn in different directions, side to side, up and down, and diagonally. This will help the ball end up more even.

Here is the finished result!! I wound the 100g skein in one ball this time.

The yarn is Vesper from KnitterlyThings, one of my longtime favorites.

Click here for the Knitterly Things shop!

Enjoy!

I'd love to see your Everlasting Gobstoppers if you make some.

best, susie
p.s. #everlastinggobstopper    maybe? let me know. i'm in if you are.

Sock Report including a Formula for Men's Socks

Hi, Knitters,

I hope you all had a good weekend. We sure did.

I am focusing on a Sock Report on this first Monday of June. The photo above is a newer photo of my sock drawers. There is a small basket of socks waiting to be washed that aren't included in this gathering of socks. These drawers are double-stacked both underneath and going back. There is a third drawer on the top that I am starting to fill. That makes me happy.

What is it about socks, mainly simple stockinette stitch socks, that continues to pull me in with such love and diligence? Well, I'll give answering this question a shot.

10 things I love about sock knitting:

1. the actual knitting of the socks (for me nothing is more pleasurable, fast and simple to knit)

2. the joy of wearing the finished socks (socks are my most worn knit item by far)

3. the yarn ~ endlessly new and fascinating and fun

4. the portability of the project (the easiest knitting project to tote along anywhere)

5. the easy care (machine or hand wash)

6. darning when they wear a hole (yes, I actually enjoy this)

7. the way your socks can be wild and crazy stripes and colors when you mainly wear black and neutrals 

8. the fun of knitting a small project and finishing in not too much time

9. the joy of flying around the small circumference on my beloved double-pointed needles

10. the fact that the pattern is so easy to memorize

There are many more reasons to love sock knitting. Do you have any to add to my list? I'd love to hear what you love about knitting socks.

I am going to share the information about the following socks, some partially finished and some finished. At the end of the post I asked permission to share a very sweet email I received from a knitter, so you will see it at the bottom.

Yarn: Gale's Art Graffiti & Asphalt Wonder Sock

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A

Needles: 2.5mm Signature Needle Arts dpns

Progress: One done, one to go!

Yarn: Opal Hundertwassers Winterbild with sparkle (I'm not sure where to purchase this yarn)

Needles: US 1s, 2.25mm Signature Needle Arts dpns
Pattern: How I make my socks (free pattern from me!)
Click here for the Ravelry page for How I Make My Socks.
Progress: Finished!
Sock blockers: from The Loopy Ewe

Yarn: Regia Super Jacquard (search on Etsy and Ebay to find this yarn!)

Needles: US 1s, Knit Picks dpns

Pattern: How I make my socks (free pattern by me! modified for men)

Click here for the Ravelry page for How I Make My Socks.

Progress: Finished! 

Note: These are for my son who has US men's shoe size 11.  He is coming home next week so I will have these waiting for him. I've been asked how I knit these socks for men using my How I make my socks pattern.

Here is what I did differently from the women's directions to make men's socks: 

Cast on 72 sts (24 sts on each of 3 dpns)

k2, p2 rib for 15 rounds 

Worked an 8 inch cuff (my boys like long cuffs)

Worked the heel flap using 36 sts, working 18 slip stitch rows

Worked the heel turn starting with purling 20 sts across

Picked up 18 sts on the sides of the heel flap

Decreased the gusset down to 72 sts

Worked the foot to 9-inches in length measured from the back of the heel (specific for a US men's shoe size 11) - this can be knit to any length, about 2-inches shorter than the finished desired length. 

Worked the toe, decreasing down to 32 sts (16 on the top of the foot and 16 on the bottom of the foot)

Grafted the toe closed!

Oh, and see that tiny ball of yarn to the right of the socks? That's how much I had left from the 100 gram ball of Regia! Phew! It is about the size of a quarter.

Yarn: Kristin Nicholas' Best Foot Forward (discontinued)

Needles: US size 1 dpns from Knit Picks

Pattern: How I make my socks for Men! (see above)

Click here for the Ravelry page for How I Make My Socks.

Progress: On the cuff of the first sock.

These socks are for my other son so I cast on 72 stitches to start. He loves the yarn.

Project bag: lovesockwool on Etsy (beautifully made, I want that piggy one in her shop right now!)

I've been making these little handmade notebooks lately and keeping them in my project bags. I stuff the pages full with fun paper clips, sticky notes, washi tape, tags, tea envelopes, family photos, stickers, and more. I leave many of the pages blank for notes, too. 

Eyeglasses Project Bag: lovesockwool on Etsy

Here on this page I have a doodle and I jotted down the formula for the number of repeats I use in the Monkey socks. I use different colors and kinds of paper in these little treasure books, too. It's really fun.

Yarn: Abi Grasso's Watermelon Sock Yarn 
Needles: US size 1s, Knit Picks dpns (I always get the 6-inch length for all of my dpns)
Pattern: How I make my socks (free pattern by me!)
Click here for the Ravelry page for How I Make My Socks.
Progress: One done, one to go! On the rib of the second sock.
Project Bag: from Sew Bendy on Etsy (one of my long-time faves)

I hand-wound the ball like that. It comes in a regular skein from the shop.

Okay, now for a sweet letter from Beverly. Beverly gave me permission to share her email on my blog.

Thank you, Beverly, for inspiring me and bringing a tear to my eye. And yes, I will be putting together a post with all of my upcoming teaching dates that I can link permanently on the sidebar and update as needed. That is long overdue. Thank you for writing, dear Beverly.

I hope to meet you soon!
best, susie

Hi Susie,

I may be too late for the two giveaways (STASH t-shirt which is very clever with its military appearance)and the yarn and project bag kit by Anne Vally, but I wanted to write to you anyway.  I recently retired after 36 years of teaching elementary school in the city of Buffalo, New York. I was taught to knit at the age of seven by an elderly neighbor and have LOVED knitting ever since.  

During my last three years of teaching, I taught knitting to 5th - 8th grade inner-city youth in an after-school program.  I took the job to earn extra money to help pay college tuition for the last of our three daughters; however, it turned out to be the best time of my teaching career.  When I suggested the enrichment activity of knitting, I was met with both excitement and opposition.  Some of the adults wanted to join in while others couldn't believe that I would actually let "these children" take knitting needles home.  I forged ahead and was amazed at how popular my "knitting class" became.  

Before long, I would walk into the cafeteria during the school day to see an entire table of students knitting as they ate their lunch.  One of my favorite memories was the day one of the teacher's aides approached me to tell me (in a not so nice tone) that two of my girls were knitting in music class.  I responded with a very enthusiastic "Two of my girls were knitting during music class?  I knew then that I was truly making a difference in the lives of children.  

One more student story and then I'll stop.  Two years ago we got a 7th grade student from Iran who had been in a car when it was bombed (she was nine at the time). Her father was killed and she lost both of her eyes (among other injuries).  She came to us with an incredible spirit and much determination to be independent.  One day I walked in to find a note on my desk.  It said that Ruah needed me to teach her how to bind off her knitting.  I was very confused.  How could she be a knitter?  After all, she had NO eyes.  She wasn't part of our after school program and I had no idea that she was a knitter.  I was very curious yet apprehensive about teaching a blind child how to bind off her knitting.  I went to her lunchroom and sure enough, she had knitted a scarf for her brother.  I sat down with her and took her hands.  She learned (by feel) in approximately five minutes, how to bind off her knitting.  Talk about inspiration.  

Now, the reason I'm writing to you is to thank you for all you have taught me and will teach me about knitting.  People asked me what I was going to do when I retired and I kept saying that I was going to knit.  Then they'd ask me again - "but what are you going to do?"  Anyway, I started taking books out of the library and one of the first ones I borrowed was "The Knitter's Life List by Gwen Steege.  What a great springboard.  That book introduced me to the world of knitting and knitters.  I found you through this book and went on to purchase all of your books.  I also purchased my very first class on CRAFTSY which was your class.  Last week I made the elephant while in a hotel room in Washington, DC.  

This leads me to the reason why I'm writing to you at this time.  Is there somewhere that I can go on-line to find out where you will be teaching in the future.  I would love to try to take some of your classes if you're going to be somewhere on the East Coast (not too far from me).  I spend time visiting my sister in Cape Cod and my daughter in Washington, DC.  I was in Cape Cod when I read that you were going to be at Fiber Space in Alexandria but there wasn't enough time for me to get everything together to get to DC on a few day's notice.  I have been so inspired by your patterns and your enthusiasm.  I love the links on your blog and have discovered such a large knitting world through these.  I visit all of the knitting shops that I can when I travel and because of your "Sock Drawer" I now purchase sock yarn (at least) at each shop that I visit.  I always have a pair on my needles. Thanks again for all of the inspiration and HAPPY KNITTING!
Sincerely,  
Beverly Szen

Odds & Ends Friday

Hi, Knitters,

First, in my last podcast I shared a couple of Rebecca Ringquist's Dropcloth Samplers from her color club. Guess what!? Cal Patch is hosting a giveaway to win 4 of these gorgeous samplers from Rebecca. 

This information is straight from Cal's blog, Hodge Podge Farm:

"rebecca has sweetly offered a 3-month subscription of Colorbursts, PLUS the Starburst sampler, to one lucky winner! leave a comment below saying what you would do with your mini samplers, before midnight on Sunday June 1. i’ll announce the winner on Monday."

Isn't that exciting? There are not many entries so far so jump on over there and enter right away! The winner is being selected on Sunday, June 1st! Your chances are really good.

Click here to enter to win 4 Dropcloth Samplers on Cal Patch's Hodge Podge Farm blog!

Now for the button giveaway winners. The three winners of the Sheppard Handmade button sets are as follows:

Margaret or mac-maggie on Ravelry  - won the set of blue and white flowered buttons!

Angie or Cantrix on Ravelry - won the orange-y with a green center button set!

Linda or PippyKnits on Rav - won the burgundy button set!

I have contacted the winners on Ravelry. Congratulations! Thanks for entering everyone and I'll have a new giveaway soon.

Moving on, I think I will have a new hobby now. I purchased my first spindle. I have never felt the urge to have a spindle until I saw Kate of Gourmet Stash's photo of her colored pencil spindle. I couldn't resist. I love the name of Aaron's Etsy shop, too, it's Aaron Makes Stuff.

Click here for Aaron Makes Stuff on Etsy!

If you want more of an idea how these gorgeous spindles are made and the variety click here to see Aaron's Instagram. It's pretty and impressive. He is having an update soon on the colored pencil version of his spindles. He makes different styles of spindles as well.

Here you can see the clear resin holding the pencils together. I just love this design. I have no idea how to use a spindle. If anyone has any video suggestions or suggestions or tips in general I would love to hear about it.

One more thing about Aaron Makes Stuff on Etsy, he has fantastic customer service. I had a few questions and he answered them so quickly. He checked in as the spindle was being shipped, too. I appreciated all of that support.

Now for some other miscellaneous miscellany. 

Miss Molly finished a Sockhead Hat out of some yarn I gave to her. The yarn is from Sun Valley Fibers, fingering weight, MCN in the colorway Bucky. Since Miss Molly is a Badger through and through I thought she should have the yarn. Every Badger should have a hat made in Bucky yarn from a local dyer.

She worked through the hat quickly, really enjoyed the knitting, and it looks just adorable on her, as everything always does!

Sockhead Hat - the free pattern!

Sun Valley Fibers! 

Great yarn and a great simple hat pattern!

(photo by Carol E. Herman)

My Itty-Bitty Knits (come join us) friend, Carol, on Ravelry released a new pattern called the Topiary Fingerless Mitts. I happened to see these mitts in person in Seattle at Vogue Knitting Live. Let me just say the mitts are stunning and they look like loads of fun to knit. I thought maybe you might like them as much as I do. Carol is a kind, gentle, giving soul, and you would all love her as much as I do for sure!

Click here for the Topiary Fingerless Mitts pattern and information!

My final odds and ends today is something really new and cool. I think this is about as cutting edge as spinning could be. I happily received a couple of test bobbins from Akerworks. These Schact test bobbins are completely collapsable and are made in fun colors and patterns to boot. 

Akerworks makes bobbins for other brands of spinning wheels as well. The Schact bobbins are still in the testing phase but will be released soon. They are made on a 3D printer which just fascinates me. I love these fun designs and colors. There are so many choices. 

Click here to visit the Akerworks website and see all of the choices for bobbins!

Thank you to Akerworks for letting me try out your latest design! I will keep everyone posted after I try them out, hopefully I'll get the chance this weekend. 

Can you believe it's the weekend already? I can't. I hope you have some fun plans lined up or that you get to relax and stay home, whatever makes you happy.

best, susie

Beautiful Buttons for you ~ another giveaway & more winners!

(photo provided by sheppardhandmade on etsy)

Hi, Knitters,

Thank you for the fantastic response to the Little Skein Kit and Beck Gusler t-shirt giveaways! What fun! I have selected 3 winners for the prizes.

Must Stash Yarn ~ 1 skein: toomuchwool (rav id)

Little Skein project bag and yarn: hotcheese (rav id)

S*T*A*S*H t-shirt: nancy88 (rav id)

I have contacted the winners through Ravelry. Congratulations to all three!

I usually don't host two giveaways in a row but today I am doing just that. Laura Sheppard is one of my favorite pottery experts and button makers. I have a bunch of her sets of buttons and have used them on my projects before. Her work is unique and lovely. When you visit her Etsy shop it is so hard to choose from her varied and wonderful button selection.

Click here for sheppardhandmade on Etsy!

Click here for Laura's website Sheppard Pottery!

Laura contacted me awhile ago and asked if I would be interested in hosting a giveaway for a few sets of her buttons. I, of course, said sure! Since I have used and ordered her buttons several times I can say from experience that her shop and service is top-notch and that her work is exquisite. Laura is located in Canada.

The photos show the sets of buttons I am giving away today. There are three sets so I will randomly select three winners. The top photo with the blue and white flower buttons may look familiar to you. I used them on the bunny's cardigan from Bunny Love (click here to see more information about the pattern!). I love these buttons so much. They really added to the cuteness of the bunny cardigan. 

The blue and white buttons, set of 4, are 14mm.

Here are a couple of photos of Bunny Love and the buttons:

Bunny Love!

Bunny Love!

(photo provided by sheppardhandmade on etsy)

The buttons above are described by Laura as "orangey with a green center." I don't see the orange too much, just a hint around the edges. Maybe in person it is more noticeable. Regardless, I love these buttons and the color. This set of 3 buttons measure 24mm each. 

These are so sweet and fun and perfect.

(photo provided by sheppardhandmade on etsy)

Last but not least, are these gorgeous burgundy buttons, a set of 5. These buttons are wonderful and would be a perfect match for so many projects. The buttons measure 16mm each.  

I used Laura's buttons on my Annabel Cardigan by Carrie Bostick Hoge in the photo above. This cardigan and these buttons rank among my favorites. I wore this cardi so much last winter and I thought about how much I loved the buttons every time I put it on.

Please leave one comment on this post if you would like to win a set of buttons from Sheppard Handmade. I will be selecting three winners, one for each set of buttons. If you want a specific set only, please let me know in the comment. If you would like to win any of the sets, let me know that, too. Please only leave one comment and it is a must to include your Ravelry ID or your email address so I can get in touch if you win. 

You will love these buttons! Laura has super cute packaging, too. Thank you to Laura for this fun opportunity.

I hope you are all off to a great week. I'll be back soon with more winners and more knitting in a couple of days. 

Let the comments begin!

best, susie

Episode 7 ~ Catching Up!

Hi, Knitters,

I have a new episode of my video podcast today, Episode 7!

Click here to see the podcast on iTunes.

Click here to watch the video directly on YouTube.

Here's what I talked about today:

The Little Skein Giveaway is still open until Tuesday (I said Monday but it's a holiday so I'll wait until Tuesday). Anne Vally of Little Skein added another skein of Must Stash Yarn to the prize pot!

I said the socks designed by Megan Williams may be "harder" than they look but I meant "easier" than they look. 

Stockinette Zombies Megan Williams

Stacie of Must Stash Yarns and Podcast

Click here for the Little Skein Etsy Shop!

I'm wearing my Quaker Ridge Shawlette. The yarn is madelinetosh pashmina.  This is still my most beloved and worn item that I have ever knit. I love it so much.

The shawl pin is made by Deerfield Creations.

Beck Gusler's Kickstarter!

Monkey Socks

Pomatomus Socks

Lynai Yarns - Roxanne colorway sock yarn

Gale's Art on Etsy Graffiti and Asphalt Wonder Sock (Gale has a new yarn out on her Etsy Shop that has yak called MYS622, very interesting! She has a deal going on, if you buy the new yarn you get a beaded scarf kit!)

How I make my socks - free pattern! This is the pattern I use for most all of my sock knitting.

Rikke Hat

Signature Needles ~ my double-points used for socks are the 6-inch needles.

Knit Spin Farm on Etsy! My adorable bag!

SewBendy on Etsy! Another adorable project bag.

Opal Hundertwasser Winterbild sock yarn with glitter (I'm not sure where to purchase this yarn).

Regia Super Jacquard (I'm not sure where to purchase this yarn.)

Kata Golda ~ Her name is Alison Kaplan! I love her and her work is the best!

Rebecca Ringquist - Dropcloth on Etsy!

Both Rebecca and Alison have workshops on Creativebug.com! I have taken their classes and they are excellent.

Spun Right Round fiber - Polwarth, 4oz., Licorice colorway.

Artisan spinning wheel!

I'll be back to draw winners on Tuesday, you can still enter the giveaway up until I draw for winners!

Click here to enter to win!

Thanks for watching or for joining me today. Have a great weekend.

best, susie

Little Skein Giveaway + much more!

(photo provided by Little Skein)

Hi, Knitters,

I have some friends who have really cool and exciting things going on out there in the big world and I want to share a few of them with you today. Please read all the way through to the end of the post. I have a lot of different opportunities for you today. You won't want to miss out.

First, I have the talented Gale Zucker to talk about. Gale, the fantastic photographer, contacted me a few days ago to tell me about a wonderful weekend of photography workshops she is teaching at A Gathering of Stitches in Portland, Maine (I want to teach there myself someday.....). Her classes are at the end of June on the 28th and 29th.

Click here to see Gale's blog and to learn more about the photography workshops!

You may remember Gale's photography work from those little Mason-Dixon Knitting books amongst many others? I sure do! I met Gale at the SSK retreat in Nashville last summer and we really clicked. She is so warm and friendly and I heard nothing but RAVE reviews about her photography workshops at the retreat. She has also taught at Vogue Knitting Live in NYC. I heard her workshops weren't intimidating at all. She gears the classes toward the home-photographer trying to take great shots of their handmade items. Everyone succeeds! I want to take every single one of Gale's workshops someday and I hope I get the opportunity to work with her on a project or two in the future. We are working on that now and my fingers are crossed.

Click here to enter to win a free workshop (OR to win a book if you can't make it) on the A Gathering of Stitches blog! You can enter today and tomorrow, through May 22, and the winner will be announced on May 23rd.

There aren't many entries as far as I can see so go enter! The odds are in your favor. Also, if you can't make the workshop they have other prizes you can win! 

The second person I have to talk about is Beck Gusler or lemonhalf on Ravelry. I have talked about Beck on this blog before because she worked for Made in America Yarns and I hosted a giveaway for some of their yarn. I met Beck, just like Gale, at the SSK retreat last summer in Nashville. She happens to be Laura Linneman's sister. You may know her from that little podcast, The Knit Girllls. 

Click here to see the Gusler Design website!

Beck has left her day job to start up her own design business with her husband. They have just launched a Kickstarter to help them along the way. The prizes for donating are all knit-related and super fun and cool. She has big and little prizes or gifts for every level of donation. I adore the Linneman/Gusler family and supporting them means so much to me. 

Click here to go check out Beck's Kickstarter! You won't want to miss this one.  Now, about halfway down the Kickstarter page in one of the photos Beck is wearing a S*T*A*S*H t-shirt. Did you go look? Isn't that a clever shirt? 

Listen closely, I was accidentally sent a size XL t-shirt with this same design. It is too big for me so I am going to give this shirt away to one of you. I'll tell you how to enter to win the t-shirt at the end of this post. I'll mail it right to you if you win!

(photo provided by Little Skein)

Okay, last but definitely not least, I have a fantastic opportunity for you to win some fabulous yarn and an exclusive project bag from Little Skein in the Big Wool. The first photo shows what I am giving away today due to Anne's generosity. Anne Vally of Little Skein pulls together and creates these one-of-a-kind exclusive kits for her Etsy shop. 

Remember this hugely successful kit I did with Anne inspired by the Velveteen Rabbit? I know I will be working with Anne again in the future! She does a brilliant job with her clever and creative kits.

This time she teamed up with Stacie of Must Stash Yarns and the podcast! (she designed the gorgeous yarn for the kit), and Megan Williams of the Stockinette Zombies (she designed a beautiful sock pattern for the kit), and the book Guess How Much I Love You. 

Click here to read all about the Over the Moon kit and pattern for the socks and all of the goodies included on Little Skein! It's available for pre-order right now. You can order individual items as well as complete kits. There is something for everyone.

Today I am offering the most generous giveaway for you from Anne! I am so excited about this opportunity. I am offering the chance for one of you to win a project bag with Anne's exclusive design fabrics and a skein of the gorgeous fingering weight Must Stash Yarns! I've been wanting to try this yarn for forever but it is always sold out in minutes every time Stacie posts. It is hard to almost impossible to get your hands on this yarn so this is quite the prize.

Please leave a comment to win the Little Skein kit that includes the project bag and one skein of custom dyed yarn on this blog post to enter to win. I will be back in a couple of days to randomly select a winner for the kit. Please include your email or Ravelry ID so I can get in touch with the winner. Anne will send your kit out directly. Please only leave ONE comment and be patient for your comment to appear, it takes some time.

Also, in the same comment don't forget to mention the S*T*A*S*H t-shirt in size XL if you are interested in winning that as well (Leslie was wearing it in this week's episode of The Knit Girllls!). Leave your Rav ID and email address for this prize as well. 

I'll be drawing for 2 winners this time, one for the t-shirt and one for the kit. I will only send you the t-shirt if you mention it in the comment.

Don't forget to enter Gale's giveaway, too. Go quick as it is closing in a couple of days.

Good luck and let the comments begin!

best, susie

Fox in a Vest ~ New Pattern!

Hi, Knitters,

I have a new pattern that will be available in print format from Unicorn Books and Crafts available in your local yarn shops in June 2014. If you don't see the printed pattern in your local yarn shop just ask the owner about it. The shop can easily order it for you through Unicorn. 

The pattern will be available for download in my Ravelry pattern shop in November 2014. I am really excited about Fox in a Vest and I hope you will be, too.

Click here for the Ravelry pattern page for Fox in a Vest to find out more information!

Click here for the pattern on Unicorn Books and Crafts!

Unicorn Books and Crafts is the distributor of the Opal yarns, which of course are at the top of my favorite sock yarns. I have done several toys in Opal for Unicorn. The other two are the Opal Sock Yarn Bunny and the Little Dragon. 

Click here to see the Opal Sock Yarn Bunny!

Click here to Little Dragon!

The vest is knit separately with sock yarn held doubled.

Here is some information you might like to know:

Finished size: 6-inches tall

Yarn:

Main Color (MC): Opal Le Petit Prince in Der Kleine Prinz und der Laternenanzunder #7760 (75% superwash wool, 25% nylon; 100 grams/425 meters) - 27 grams used in the sample

Contrast Color 1 (CC1): Opal Sock Yarn Solids in Natural #3081 - 14 grams used in the sample

Contrast Color 2 (CC2): Opal Sock Yarn Solids in Black #2619 - 3 grams used in the sample

Needles:

Fox: US size 1, double-pointed needles, set of 4

Vest: US size 7, double-pointed needles, set of 4

Gauge:

Fox: 8 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch

Vest: 5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch (fingering weight held doubled)

Materials:

Detachable stitch markers

Ruler or tape measure

Yarn needle

Small amount of fiberfill

Poly-pellets (optional and considered a choking hazard for young children and infants)

Safety eyes, 4.5 mm (optional, the eyes could be embroidered)

Black embroidery floss

The Fox in a Vest is knit from the top-down seamlessly and all in one-piece. It is a knitting adventure! The only stitching up is to whipstitch the front and back of the ear after they are picked up and about an inch on the top of the foot after it is picked up.

Here are a few more in progress photos:

I don't have a photo of the fox tail and as soon as I get my sample back I will take some tail photos to post on the project page.

The pattern is one of my favorites and I think you will really enjoy knitting a fox of your own. Your sock yarn leftovers can be put to good use!

Click here to find out more information about Fox in a Vest!

Have a great weekend, Knitters. It's that time of year when every weekend is filled with games, meets and graduation parties. I hope you can find some time to knit and relax.

See you next week with a giveaway and maybe I'll squeeze in a video podcast if I can find a moment....
best, susie