7 Knit Circus Winners Selected!

Hi Knitters,

Here we go with 7 winners for the Knit Circus surprise

giveaway!

The winners were all randomly selected by a

number generator.

I will send your information to Jaala and she will

be contacting the winners.

5 Knit Circus Pattern Collection Winners:

Christi Karolevitz said...

I have become such a fan recently! Your Itty Bitty Hats is my new obsession. Love the weight of S&C outer and can't wait to make a 'Braided' scarf next. I'd love to win this giveaway! You Rock!
Christi Karolevitz
May 12, 2010

grey like snuffie said...

A knitting giveaway...how exciting. I LOVE this hat by the way...can't wait to order some yarn. My girls want some made for my "hope to be a grandma" shelf.

May 12, 2010

dyedinthewool said...

Love the Dream Catcher hat (I'm wondering if I can make it my size!). Thanks for the great giveaway too.

Bridget said...

How fun is this!!! I am a new knitter and have absolutely fallen in love with it!!! I put my babies to bed at night and knit away...just love it!! I'm so glad I found your wonderful blog!! So inspirational and have loved all the patterns! Thanks for the great opportunity!!
Bridget

Susan esserman said...

Just love it when you include linKs of things to look at! They are always so great!!! Looking forward to see your crocheting!
Susan
suzysticks on ravelry

May 13, 2010

2 Knit Circus Subscription Winners:

Hilary said...

Hi from northern WI, Susan! What a cool giveaway. Have loved all your books.
May 14, 2010

Andrea said...

I was just looking at knitcircus and would love to be entered too. What a great giveaway!
Andrea
May 14, 2010

Congratulations to all of the winners! Wow, those are great prizes that will last you forever. Thank you to Jaala for her generosity and commitment to the knitting community. She is not a stranger to hard work and dedication.

Thanks everyone for entering! I just received another fun opportunity for a giveaway that I will be offering very soon. I am pretty excited about this new one coming up as it is a little different. Stay tuned....

best, susie

p.s. Jaala Spiro is the designer of these really cool Russian Nesting Doll Gloves/Mittens called Tatiana that were featured in Knitty a short while ago. Click here to see the free pattern for Tatiana.

Surprise Giveaway and More!

The contest for Knit Circus is now closed!!! No more entries are being taken. May 15th, 2010.

Hi Knitters,

I have a fun surprise for you today. Jaala Spiro, the editor-in-chief of Knit Circus, has generously offered an amazing giveaway opportunity to all of you! Knit Circus is a fantastic online knitting magazine that includes gorgeous patterns for purchase, free articles and tips, recipes and a featured sewing project in each issue. Be sure to check Knit Circus out if you haven't already done so.

In the current issue that just came out, I have an interview and a free pattern for the Panda and Zebra Puppets from Itty-Bitty Toys. Make sure to get that pattern if you are interested.

This is one of the biggest giveaways I have hosted so I am pretty excited about it. Here is what the Knit Circus giveaway includes:

5 knitters will each win the pattern collection from the current issue!

2 knitters will each win a free subscription to Knit Circus!

That is awesome, Jaala! Thank you so much for this opportunity. To enter simply leave one comment on this post. Leave your name, ravelry name, or an email address so I can easily contact you. I will be randomly selecting 7 winners in a few days. I will post the winners' names here so be sure to check back to see if you won.

Let the comments begin!
The Dream Catcher Hat in the photos is the newest free pattern now available on my other blog, Spud says!

Click here for the pattern information and free download! This is a quick and easy hat and a great way to use up leftover yarn. I made it to use up some of the leftover Sweater yarn from the Dream Catcher Baby Blanket.

Click here for the Ravelry page for the Dream Catcher Hat!

Enjoy!
I have been doing a bit of crochet as of late. I have a couple of fun projects in the works that won't be released for awhile. I also have a couple of new Spud & Chloë pattern line designs that will be released very soon. I will share those with you as soon as I get the okay. That's all fun and good.

I have a few fun links to share to finish out today! Here they are:

Jennifer of Craftsanity has a great tutorial on making fork flowers. Love it.

I am making this free pattern, The Petal Shawlette!

These photos make me want to knit a garter stitch baby blanket in the worst way! Cutest baby ever.

When I get my sewing machine working and I have more time I am going to order bundles of this fabric from here! Alabama Chanin is all about the hand-stitching and so am I! I have recently acquired her two books and I am going crazy over the projects. They are a must do!

That'll do for today. Enter the giveaway if you'd like. I'll be back soon.

best, susie

Happy Mother's Day

Hi Knitters,

Happy Mother's Day!

best, susie

Button Up

Hi Knitters,

I dug out these little copper colored ceramic buttons that I have had for years. I love the creamy center and the copper glaze rings. It's funny because at times when I photograph the sweater it has looked so green but in person it doesn't read green much at all. It is much darker. The colorway is called, Burnished. There is a copper-tone running through the sweater which is why I chose the buttons. These photos show the color pretty accurately.

I've added the bands running down the front.
It is shaping up nicely. The sleeves are left and they are knit in the round on US size 7 double-pointed needles. This will fly!

Pattern: Tea Leaves Cardigan

Yarn: Madeline Tosh, Tosh DK

On another note, I have an interview and free pattern from Itty-Bitty Toys available in the new summer issue of Knit Circus. Check out Knit Circus here!

best, susie

Tea Time

Hi Knitters,

My Tea Leaves Cardigan is on the way. I have a couple of rows left on the body.
It's going to fit great. I'll keep you posted. This is a well-written pattern and a very simple knit.

best, susie

Spool is Cool

Hi Knitters,

Back in March, which seems like a year ago not a month ago, I had a book tour stop in Philadelphia at Loop, a wonderful yarn shop. I knew that Spool was near Loop but I didn't make the connection that it is right next door. I also didn't make the connection that Craig, the owner of Loop, is also the owner of Spool along with his business partner Laura. Well, now that I've got all of that straight it only makes me love Spool even more. The shop is fresh, airy and bright plus it is nestled in an active, creative neighborhood.

I have ordered fabric bundles from them several times over the last year or so. I used those bundles to make the quilt top that I finished last spring but haven't quilted yet. I have the batting and backing all set but when my house went under construction early last summer I put this project away. I am pulling it out now to finish. Be sure to check out the fantastically coordinated fabric bundles Spool puts together. I would like one of each, please. You will be inspired for sure.

Oh, and the quilt pattern above is totally made up by me. There is no rhyme or reason and there are not many straight seams so don't look too close. The colors are sure summer-y and juicy. I've had lots of people ask me for the pattern when I posted this before but it is just random strips sewn together. Anyone could do it.
Back to Spool, the store is well-organized with fun displays, patterns, accessories, and a wide variety of fabrics.
My sister and I were really intrigued by the oil cloth prints.
This is the front table and the dress is an incredibly sweet Oliver + S pattern. Check out all of the Oliver + S patterns here, they are the cutest kids designs around.
There is a long wall packed with fabrics organized by color. It's so fun to look at from near and far. Do you see the tiny birds on top of the shelf? I made a bunch of those last spring. The free pattern is from Spool. Click here for the free bird pattern.

There are a lot of other free patterns and fun project ideas and updates on the Spool blog. Be sure to check out the blog here.
I loved the skirts behind the register. That is the Amy Butler skirt I want to make on the right. I have had the pattern for a long time but haven't sewn it yet but soon I hope.
I love the wall of patterns. Easy access and easy viewing keeps things simple.

In both Spool and Loop the wall space is used so well. I enjoyed the variety of quilts and patterns and other finished projects hanging on the walls.
There are solids as well as prints. All are so beautiful.
Love the poppy skirt, the other is an apron.
This is the classroom. I would love to take a class here sometime. If you live in the area you should definitely check out the wide variety of classes at both Spool and Loop. Craig and Laura bring in teachers from all over the country and beyond to teach. They recently had Kaffe Fassett at Spool although they had to rent a larger space to hold all of the people who came to see him. I think they had 150 people or something like that.
The classroom makes me want to sit down and dig right in!
In honor of Kaffe's recent visit to the shop Spool has a gorgeous quilt kit made up in his fabrics and ready to order. The photo is of my kit that I recently received. I am so excited to have all of the parts to make the Ikat Stripe quilt with Kaffe's beautiful fabrics. Laura even sent the thread! I love that so much. I just told her to send me everything I need to make the quilt. She thought of everything.

You can order everything you need to make the quilt or just the fabric for the top.

Click here to see the ordering information.

You can follow Spool on twitter here!

You can follow Loop on twitter here!

Here is the shop information:

Spool
1912 South Street
Philadelphia PA 19146
215.545.0755

Hours:
Open Wed to Sun
from 11-6

I also asked Laura to throw in the new issue of Stitch magazine. It is wonderful!! It is sitting on my new Heather Bailey oilcloth tablecloth. Laura helped me pick out the perfect stripe pattern for my kitchen. I love it and she did a great job.
I haven't done anything to the edges of the tablecloth yet but I had to give it a try on my table right away. It looks awesome. I told Laura my table measurements and she just cut and sent me the right amount. She is the best and thank you for all of the help, Laura.

If you get a chance head over to Spool tell them I say hi. They have the best customer service in person and online if you can't get there in person.

I hope to get back to Loop and Spool very soon.

best, susie

Woolly's World

Hi Knitters,

A few weeks ago I was excited to see that Marie Irshad was back to podcasting again. I vividly remember that Marie's podcast, Knitcast, was the first knitting podcast out there, at least to me. I couldn't believe my good fortune to have a knitting podcast to listen to. Well, to make a long story short, Marie took a break from her podcast and when she recently returned I was thrilled to hear her interview Woolly Wormhead, a fantastic hat designer.

You can listen to this fun interview right here!

Now, Woolly is an entertaining person with an interesting background. Her nickname, Woolly, came from her love of wool starting when she was a child and Wormhead affectionately came from her students due to her dreadlocks. I love that. Nicknames have to be organic in order to work and this one certainly does.

Woolly has just released another self-published book of her hat designs, Twisted Woolly Toppers. She is a wonderful hat designer and I am a big, big fan. Click here to look at a portfolio of all of her self-published work. It is very impressive and inspiring. Plus, I just can't help but to love a girl who loves hat knitting as much as I do. She makes me want to knit hats and only hats. Forever.

Take a look at these beautiful photos of some of the hats included in Twisted Woolly Toppers:

Woolly Twisted Toppers, (click here to purchase), focuses on hats that incorporate cables and various twists, some more intricate than others. The patterns are well-written, tested, include charts and abbreviation definitions and the patterns are incredibly thorough. She includes resources for help, too. I love the variety of interesting shapes and sizes her hats offer. It's like hat architecture. The book includes hats for women, men and children. Woolly's designs are nothing short of amazing hat innovation for sure! The photos were taken in Italy and all are gorgeous and inspiring. You can view all of the patterns in Woolly Twisted Toppers here.

Here is a review quote from Just Call Me Ruby:

"Woolly, is one of the most sophisticated and talented designers I can think of, with a completely instinctive and unstoppable need to design and create. Her enthusiasm and intelligence is inspiring to be around and shines through in her work. Every time I knit a Hat Woolly has designed I learn something new, but without having to struggle as the patterns are so well written, the photography is beautiful, the presentation of the pattern is exceptionally well considered and as a result I admire her work immensely."

I couldn't say it any better! Wow, that's quite an endorsement.

Click here for another fun interview with Woolly. I love how she talks about envisioning her designs in 3-D before she starts to knit. I do that same thing so I know what she is talking about. Her ability to see her designs in 3-D is clear because her hats look fantastic from every angle. This is important when you are wearing the item on your head!
One of the most interesting things about Woolly and her family is that they live in a bus. Her partner recently drove this newly purchased monster bus, named Penny Lane, across Europe and had many difficulties along the way. This new double-decker is replacing their current bus/home. Woolly tweeted this entire adventure with all of her worries as it was happening. Fascinating! Fortunately, they have had a happy ending and all is good. I think they are currently residing in Italy. For more detail on Woolly's life please visit her blog here. She has a great blog. You can also follow Woolly on Twitter here.

I highly recommend Woolly's current hat book. I am planning on making several of these hats for my own hat collection. I love supporting a vibrant indie knitter/self-publisher like Woolly Wormhead. Self-publishing is an endeavor not for the weak of heart. It is a lot of work to self-publish anything. I admire her and her unusual take on things very much.

Woolly Wormhead's work is completely original just like she is completely original. That is a big part of her appeal. You feel like you are discovering a secret treasure when you look through her books. Her hat designs are like nothing else out there.

best, susie

Whistle While You Work

Important note: Please click here to watch the video because it is cut off on the right side on my blog for some reason. It is a much better viewing and you will see the finished blanket at the end!!

Hi Knitters,

I posted this on my other blog Spud says! and I think it is so fun that I am going to post it here as well. My son helped me set up a video shoot while I worked on stitching the Dream Catcher Baby Blanket together (the free blanket pattern will be pulled together in a couple of days so please be patient:).

In the different scenes, shot over several days, I am talking to various people hanging out in the kitchen with me, chewing gum in a couple of shots (unfortunately), signing TC's permission slips and sipping on coffee and water. The video is so fast, about 3 minutes, that you have to look hard to see anything other than my hands flying.

The one thing my kids were laughing about is how crazy fast my working hands look. I said this on Spud says! too, but my wish would be to have hands that worked that fast. Could you imagine the productivity? If only...

The song is Jack Johnson, my son's favorite artist, singing You and Your Heart, if you are interested. It is my new favorite song on my ipod and I requested he use it for the video.

Enjoy!

best, susie

Possibilities

Hi Knitters,

That was one fast week. I feel good about a couple of work accomplishments this past week. Of course I always wish I had more time or that I got more done but that's how it is. This morning I wound and wound a bunch of fresh skeins of Blue Sky Worsted Cotton and Spud & Chloë Sweater for some new projects I am working on. I still get a kick out of freshly wound yarn and how it is full of possibilities. One of the projects is for my fourth book, I am almost done as this is the last one. I feel like I have been saying that forever.

The other wound yarn is for a bunch of magazine projects I am starting. My mind has been running over-time with ideas. I am so excited about it. I love all of the potential resting at my fingertips. I have only done one knitting magazine project before. Do you remember it from a couple of years ago? I made a fun blue elephant for the Holiday Issue of Knit Simple 2008. Click here to see an assortment of finished Elephants. Also, click here to read my post from September 2008 about this sweet guy.

The thing is that this particular elephant didn't ever catch on too much when in fact it is one of the coolest toys I have ever designed. There are only 8 finished projects on Ravelry. The ears are lined with an attached I-cord. The body is slick and easy. The best part is that the shaping of the trunk purposely leaves two tiny holes on the sides where the tusks are added later. I love this project. You never know what is going to catch on or what will get lost in the shuffle. I think this Stuffed Elephant #31 deserves a second look. New possibilities for the old elephant, maybe?

Here are some other possibilities I am yearning to make:

Shalom cardi knit in Cascade 128 in a heathery green/blue.

Citron in some gorgeous Madeline Tosh sock yarn I have stashed away.

Baktus scarf in sock yarn, I'd love a bunch of these in different weights actually.

Drop Stitch Scarf in some rusty red Malabrigo I picked up.

Palindrome reversible cable scarf in some Madeline Tosh Worsted in a dusty blue.

I have some super-bulky Misti Alpaca that would make this Super-Fast Scarf.

Ann Budd's Basketweave Scarf would look great in some old Debbie Bliss Chunky Tweed I have sitting on a shelf.

I have a thing for scarves, obviously.

What are your knitting possibilities?

best, susie

Around the House

Hi Knitters,

Here is what is hanging around my house this morning. I didn't move or rearrange a thing.

best, susie

p.s. The mailman just knocked on my door to deliver two boxes from Spool! Haven't opened them yet.

Yummy Monday

Hi Knitters,

Good Monday morning to you. All I have to say is that every girl deserves to have some knitting fun. This is mine in Madeline Tosh in Tosh DK in the Burnished colorway. I bought my yarn here. The pattern is the Tea Leaves Cardigan.

best, susie

California Time

Hi Knitters,

My oldest son made this video for my husband and me as a thank you for our recent trip to California. It is really fun the way he pieced the vacation together and set it to music. It is just under 7 minutes long. Don't feel like you have to watch it, I won't even know either way. I love this little trip video though.

If you do watch the video there are a couple things of interest to point out, when we were in Hollywood we drove around in Beverly Hills to look at the fancy houses. We came across the house where Michael Jackson last lived. Peachy is a Michael Jackson fan so we stopped at this house so she could get a photo. That's what those huge black gates are. There were tour buses everywhere and lots of people around. It was weird. The other thing is that when we were walking in Hollywood and looking at the stars on the sidewalk, the only star with people around it taking photos was Michael Jackson's star. There was a group around it at all times.

Along the Pacific Coast Highway we got such a kick out of my husband's fascination with Bixby's Bridge. There is a photo of my husband and me in front of the bridge at the end of the video. I had never heard him talk about it before but he knew all kinds of facts and stories about the bridge. Who knew? We also came across this secluded beach area that was packed full of seals (or are those sea lions? anyone?). My second son, he is 16, is always the one who has to get right up next to or in the middle of any situation. I was nervous to get too close but he just loved those seals.

In Palm Springs we stayed at a really cool 1950's style but modernized house. It is called the Oscar Mayer house. This house was owned at one time by Oscar Mayer, the b-o-l-o-g-n-a guy! It was amazing and roomy and we loved the pool. We all spent hours in the pool every day. The water was very warm. Everything was streamlined and low to the ground which was so different than San Francisco.

I loved this entire house but my favorite room? Now don't laugh, the sunny, gigantic laundry room! After days of travel with three teens, one husband and a 10-year-old, I had tons of laundry to do. I fell in love with this laundry room. I would love to have a nice laundry room at home. It would make this task so much easier take. Laundry is pure drudgery and it is by far my least favorite category of housework. With this big, bright sunny room I found myself happily folding and throwing in load after load. I was even humming at times. If only this room could have come home with me.

Thanks for taking a little timeout with me today. If you look real close you'll see TC in the left pool corner with her book propped up on the side of the pool so she could read and swim at the same time. She spent a lot of time like this and it looks pretty good to me.

Enjoy the rest of your day, sweet Knitters.

best, susie

Winner!

Hi Knitters,

I randomly selected a winner for a signed copy of How to Knit a Love Song by Rachael Herron! A hearty congratulations goes out to Sharon in VA! Here is the winning comment:

I heard her interview on one of the podcast before you mentioned her on your blog and am thrilled at the possiblity of winning her book. Sharon in Va

April 09, 2010

Sharon left her email address, too, which makes it a lot easier for me! I will send you an email, Sharon, to get your mailing address to send off to Rachael. Thanks to everyone who entered. I had over 300 entries including the people that emailed me to enter. What a great tribute to Rachael!

I have loads of work to get done this week. I am still working on book number four. Even though the projects and patterns are mostly done there is a lot of text and other details to be completed. It really never ends, even after a book is published it seems. Not complaining, just saying... I am working away on the Dream Catcher Baby Blanket for Spud says! I hope you'll join me. It is really fun!

Here are a few fun links for you to check out:

I am loving this blog, check out the free patterns and her etsy shop! Fantastic! Thanks to Chris for sending me here:)

This article made me cry (which isn't hard to do, but still)! The sweetness never ends.

I bought this cookbook recently and I'm loving it!

Entered this giveaway and listened to Alana being interviewed here! She is wonderful.

Wished I could have seen and met Kaffe Fassett at Loop last weekend. Check out his event!

If you like chickens you will like this post.

Have a great day, Knitters. It is bright and sunny and fairly warm here today. Lovely. By the way, the photo is my family looking off of the Pacific Coast Highway.

best, susie

Knit Collage Scarf Pattern

Hi Knitters,

Popping in here today to share the scarf I finished up this morning. A couple of weeks ago I shared some fascinating yarn I purchased from Purlsoho called, Knit Collage in the Mermaid Cafe colorway. I saw this yarn at ImagiKnit, too, if you are interested. The yarn has silly bits and pieces spun into the yarn. It is so much fun to knit up. I found things like crocheted flowers, strings of sequins, sequin flowers, lace, ribbon and tiny yellow flowers.

Well, yesterday I decided to whip up a scarf from the Knit Collage yarn. I knit my way through a soccer game and finished it up early this morning. It worked up in a flash. I love the finished scarf so I want to share the pattern with you!
Knit Collage Scarf

Finished measurements: 48 inches by 5 inches

US size 15 needles

3 skeins of Knit Collage (35 yards per skein)

Scarf:

Cast on 12 stitches.

Row 1: knit

Row 2: purl

Row 3: knit

Row 4: purl

Row 5: purl

Row 6: knit

Row 7: purl

Row 8: knit

Repeat rows 1-8 until you use up your yarn, leaving enough to bind off the last row. Try to end with a row 4 or a row 8 (but it's okay if you don't). Bind off.

That's it! Super fast, super easy!
I didn't block my scarf at all. I love it just as it is. If you get to make one for yourself, have fun!

You can still enter the How to Knit a Love Song giveaway for just a tiny bit longer. Click here to enter if you missed it.

I purchased this scarf pattern the other day to use a ball of Bugga I have. I love this stitch pattern.

I'll be back with a book winner in the next post!

best, susie

How to Knit a Love Song Giveaway!

The giveaway is now closed, April 13th, 2010!!! Thanks to everyone who entered.

Hi Knitters,

On my vacation I read a couple of novels. The first one I read is called, How to Knit a Love Song, by Rachael Herron. You may have heard of Rachael before in the knitting world because she writes the popular knitting blog called, Yarnagogo. She is a genuine knitter and you can tell that through her book. The knitting and knitter's lifestyle is craftily woven throughout the book without being clumsy or forced.

The fictional story is set on a California sheep ranch. Cade, the resident rancher, is taking care of the land and sheep for his great aunt who has moved off to a retirement community. He wants to someday own the land himself and continue to run the ranch. Eliza Carpenter, the great aunt, just happens to be a beloved knitting guru (think Elizabeth Zimmerman and you'll have a clear picture). While Eliza is at the retirement home she meets the young and beautiful Abigail through knitting. Eliza becomes Abigail's knitting mentor. Abigail's knitting career takes off due to Eliza's guidance. They are fast friends. Abigail becomes a knitting book author and gives all of the credit to Eliza.

When Eliza passes away she leaves a small cottage and the surrounding land to Abigail. The small cottage and land happen to be a part of the bigger sheep ranch that Cade inherits at Eliza's passing. Abigail is saddened by the loss of her friend and mentor but is happy to leave a tumultuous life behind and move to the cottage to write and knit in peace. She knows nothing much about Cade and vice versa.

When Abigail shows up to claim her cottage and land, Cade is nothing short of angry about his new land co-owner. Then all chaos breaks loose!

The book has twists and turns and although you might be able to figure out who will be standing at the end it is still fun getting there. There is adventure, romance, story-telling, knitting and good old-fashioned fun in these pages.

Let me warn you though, it is a romance novel. There are definitely steamy scenes sprinkled throughout the book. This book is R rated for sure. It is not for kids in any way, shape or form. My blog is usually G rated and squeaky clean so that is why I want to put out this warning!

I really enjoyed reading How to Knit a Love Song. I especially love it because it is written by a blogger and a knitter who I have known (in the blogging sense) for years. It has touched me to hear and see how excited and proud Rachael is of her book.

Congratulations to Rachael. I loved your book and recommend it to anyone who loves a good romance novel and knitting. You don't even have to be a knitter to enjoy it. It is a light, fun and fast read. It was hard to put down once I started.

I emailed Rachael to ask if I could hold a giveaway for a copy of How to Knit a Love Song on my blog. I actually asked for her publicist's email but Rachael offered to sponsor the giveaway herself! Since she is sending out the book to the winner she offered to sign the book as well! How cool is that?

Leave a comment on this post to win a signed copy of How to Knit a Love Song! Please only enter once, leave an identifying something on the comment (name, link, ravelry id, email)! This makes it easier for me to contact the winner to get a mailing address. I will pick a winner in a few days or so. I will then post the winning comment so be sure to check back.

Enter quick! You will love it!

Good luck!

best, susie

p.s. There is a sweater pattern included at the end. Abigail knits a sweater throughout the story and then you get the pattern for the same sweater!

p.p.s. Rachael has done 2 podcast interviews that I have listened to: Knitcast and The Knitmore Girls. They are both wonderful interviews!