VK Live! and New Patterns

Hi Knitters,

First, I talked to Beth Ritter at Vogue today and my classes are filling up for Vogue Knitting Live in Los Angeles on Friday, Sept. 23rd and Saturday, Sept. 24th. There are still some spots left in my classes and many other people's classes so please sign up if you are considering any of the classes being offered at the event.

I am getting really excited to head west for this big knitting event. I am also attending the Gala Dinner on Saturday night, Sept. 24th. I have already heard from some of the knitters sitting at my table for the night. Thank you. I am glad I won't be sitting by myself.

Click here to find out about and/or sign up for my classes or any of the wonderful classes being offered!

Now to change the subject, it seems I've got patterns coming out of my ears these last few weeks. I'm going to share a quick run-down of some of the recent releases.

The cute puppy set above is available in the brand new Interweave Gifts Issue 2011, available on news stands on September 6th. The set was named by Interweave as McHenry and the McHenry Hat. I have no idea why but it's cute. I was also honored to be interviewed for the Gifts issue and the interview appears inside the magazine. I haven't actually seen the magazine yet so I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Click here to purchase the Interweave Gifts Issue 2011 or to find out more information.

Click here to see the Ravelry project page for McHenry (the puppy).

Click here to see the Ravelry project page for the McHenry Hat.

The hat is really fun to knit. As you work on the hat, the ear placement is marked with a piece of scrap yarn as you knit and then the ear stitches are picked up and knit right onto the hat. There are no separate parts and no seaming or stitching, only smooth sailing.
McHenry is a sweet little fellow sure to withstand lots of carrying about and snuggling. I think the puppy is about 5 to 6 inches tall if I remember correctly.
I knit this sample in Blue Sky Skinny Cotton which is a dk weight. It is a wonderful yarn to knit toys with. I originally made McHenry in Spud & Chloë Sweater, which is a worsted weight. Interweave already had a project in Sweater so I had to switch. You could knit McHenry in Sweater, too, if you prefer and it would work out just fine. The Sweater colors Toast and Rootbeer would be perfect matches.

The red collar and the spot are optional, of course, but I think they add a little more fun and character to the project.

Another project that was just released is the Very Berry Hat I knit up for the Spud & Chloë On the Run pattern card series.

Click here to see the Ravelry project page for the Very Berry Hat!

Click here to see all of the Spud & Chloë On the Run series pattern cards!

I used Spud & Chloë Sweater in the Barn and Grass colorways. The hat features four sizes, a simple fair isle pattern to make the seeds and the green top, and a cool little squiggle at the top. I love this hat as it could be made in so many different colors and it could be for a boy or girl.

The pattern is in printed form only (a pattern card) and is available only in local and online yarn shops. It is not available as a download.

Click here or here for two shops that have this pattern available right now.

There are many, many more shops that have the pattern. If the shop carries Spud & Chloë and/or Blue Sky Alpacas they can get this pattern for you and fast!

I also had a FREE pattern just released for Blue Sky Alpacas in their new Techno yarn. This yarn is dreamy and different. This is the perfect pattern to try out a hank or three! The set is called the Zig Zag Mittens and Hat and the pattern is written in an adult size.

Click here to download the free pattern for the Zig Zag Mittens and Hat set!

If you don't already get the Blue Sky Alpacas Bluesletter you should hop on over here and subscribe.

My friend and co-worker and favorite yarn supplier, Merri, writes this letter and she does a wonderful job.

Look here to see all 4 of the new free patterns just released by Blue Sky Alpacas - they are soooo good!

The Zig Zag Mittens have a long ribbed cuff that can be worn down or folded up. This adds a bit of versatility when you want to tuck the mittens inside the cuffs of your coat. I love being able to do this for warmth in the winter.
The original Zig Zag Hat I made was in dark gray, light gray and natural colors of Techno. I really like the contrast of the zig zag lines in these colors, too.
It is one of those hats that can be worn many different ways by adjusting the folding of the brim. I love it when a hat has versatility.
Although the pattern is written for an adult it fits my 11 year old daughter perfectly. Kids would fit in this hat as well as adults.
Here the brim is folded in half.
Now TC is wearing the Zig Zag hat as a full slouchy style hat with the brim not folded. This is my favorite way to style the hat.
I have a lot more patterns coming out over the next month or two that I am anxious to show you. I'll share them as they are released.

This has been such a hectic week or two around here with the hustle and bustle of school sports starting, college moving, parent meetings, sports events, form filling out, check writing, general sign-ups and school registrations and doctor appointments... it is a gigantic whirlwind. I am just trying to keep my act together. (To be honest, I did miss an orthodontist appointment today while I was at another doctor appointment with my son - go figure.)

I am sure you are all just as busy with your upcoming school year and fall activities. It's fun, isn't it? I love this time of year for so many reasons.

best, susie

Lace Designers x 2

Hi Knitters,

First things first, emxlenie (rav id) won the Super End of Summer Giveaway. Congratulations to Emilene and thank you to everyone who entered. There are more giveaways coming up so stay tuned to enter again.

Second on my list is to tell you about my friend, Laura Nelkin's, Craftsy Online Class. I get to offer you a 50% off deal for her Mastering Lace Shawls online class! I am really excited about this. Laura is the queen of lace. She is a prolific lace designer, her shawls are gorgeous and her beaded knitting is extraordinary. Check out how she added lace to this baby project.

Here is the trailer for her class:

Click here to find out how to sign up and to get your discount on Craftsy!

Click here for Laura Nelkin's blog (it is fantastic).

Click here to see all of Laura's designs on Ravelry.

I thought Laura's lace class was the perfect tie-in to another up and coming designer, Christina Wall, because she loves to knit and design with lace, too.

That brings me to the third thing on my list, the opportunity to share a fun designer with you. Her name is Christina Wall and I have met her a couple of times at TNNA. Her sister is the felt flower designer from the giveaway. When I met Christina in June she was wearing an adorable cardigan (shown above) and shawl knit in Spud & Chloë yarns and she really caught my eye. Plus, both of the sisters were excited and sweet and just plain cute and fun together. I loved that about them. They both had such enthusiasm for knitting and for Spud & Chloë. I thought you might enjoy seeing some of Christina's patterns today.

Check out Christina's Lamb's Lace Cardi pattern, shown in the top photo, right here!

Click here to find out about Christina's Ginger Leaves Shawlette! This pattern is quite popular on Ravelry.
Here is a back view of the Ginger Leaves Shawlette. Isn't it elegant and sweet?
I love Christina's lace work. Click here to see the Woodland Spring Shawlette on Ravelry! This appears to be Christina's most popular design with being in almost 500 queues, over 1,000 favorites and over 60 finished projects. Christina is really taking off as a designer which is so fun to see.Here is the lucky thing for you. Christina is hosting a giveaway for the Adrift Shawlette (shown above) which takes 2 hanks of Spud & Chloë Fine which is 456 yards of fingering weight yarn. I think the Adrift Shawlette would be gorgeous in one color, too. I love it. All you need to do is pop over to her blog and leave a comment. She also is offering a 15% off coupon for ALL of her patterns. She has cardigans, cowls, scarves and more shawls.

Click here to go to Christina's blog to enter to win the pattern for the Adrift Shawlette. Let's show Christina some love! I'm going to enter right now.

Click here to see all of Christina Wall's designs on Ravelry. She is one to watch.

So two lace designers for the price of one blog post today. Lace knitting is hotter than ever. I have another book giveaway for Wendy Johnson's new lace book coming up for you, too. Lace is everywhere.

Off to the weekend. I hope you all get to spend some time knitting and enjoying your loved ones over the next couple of days. I know I will.

best, susie

Super End of Summer Giveaway

Edited to Add on Aug. 26th, 2011: The giveaway is now closed and no further entries are being taken. Thanks to all who entered.

Hi Knitters,

I've gathered some wonderful goodies for you today for my Super End of Summer Giveaway. To start, there is a new book out by the wonderful Larissa Brown. Larissa is also the author of a favorite book of mine called, Knitalong. Her new book is, My Grandmother's Knitting.

It is more than a knitting pattern book because Larissa persuaded (happily I'm sure) some of the top knitwear designers around to share their family histories involving knitting. My Grandmother's Knitting is exactly the kind of book I adore. I want to hear the story of how Wendy Bernard learned to knit from her Grandma Shorty and how Meg Swansen was so strongly influenced by her smart and clever mother, Elizabeth Zimmermann. The book is simply a satisfying treat.

The book is divided into two sections. The first section is Family Stories. Here is a list of all of the knitters' stories included: Wendy Bernard, Pam Allen, Meg Swansen, Ysolda Teague, Jessica Marshall Forbes, Kay Gardiner, Joan McGowan-Michael, Kristin Spurkland, Teva Durham, Jared Flood, Norah Gaughan, Anne Hanson, Leigh Radford, Chrissy Gardiner, Adrian Bizilia, Kirsten Kapur and Emily Johnson.

What an impressive group of knitters and authors and designers and storytellers.

Each family story is better than the next. The stories shed light on the generational aspect and personal history that everyone's knitting contains. Today's influential designers share their talents with us because of their grandmother's or mother's or father's or some other beloved relative's knitting.

I love family stories in general and when they involve knitting it is all the better to me.

In the second section of the book, each of the knitters listed above, and a few more, then offer a pattern inspired in some way from their family story. It could be a project directly from their knitting loved one or something inspired by, modernized and updated. The patterns include everything from scarves, gloves, a cardigan, a colorwork sweater, a cowl, a shrug, a cape, a pillow, hats, socks, a shawlette, mitts, slippers, a dishcloth and blankets. The variety is wonderful. All levels of knitting skills are included.

To see all of the pattern click here to go to the Ravelry page for My Grandmother's Knitting.

Here are a few patterns I love. The Storm Cloud Shawlette, by Hanna Breetz, is a simple and sweet little knit.
The always popular Ysolda Teague offers up these gorgeous little Fiddlers' Mitts.
I just love this simple scarf that is a striped tube by Rodger P. Murray. I want to make one of these this winter.
These mittens are knit starting at the top of the thumb and then the top of the mitten and all worked on double-pointed needles. I can't wait to try these out.

Well, it is a lovely book that I think many of you would enjoy and use. I am happy to be able to offer you a chance to win a copy of My Grandmother's Knitting today but there is still more....
I also want to offer you a chance to win a beautiful repurposed felt flower pin. This one is mine and was given to me at TNNA from Heather R. LeFebevre. I think it is so well-made and sweet. I love the name, Reincarnations, very clever.

Heather has generously offered to give a flower of choice from her Etsy shop to the winner of this giveaway. You get to pick your favorite which is such a treat.

Click here to check out Heather's Etsy Shop!

Click here to check out Heather's blog!

But wait, there's still more...

I've decided to throw my latest and only handspun yarn of this summer into the gift pot! I recently finished spinning this Cloudlover Polwarth hand painted roving called Wild Bunch. It turned out great. The finished yarn has lavender, purple, bright green, blue and even a dab of pink in spots. It is gorgeous.

Click here to see the Cloudlover shop! I'd like to have one of everything, please.

Back to my handspun yarn, the larger hank is a 2-ply, about a sport/dk weight, 264 yards which is plenty for a cowl, mitts, or a hat or two.

The tiny hank is a Navajo plied sampler that is about 28 yards.
The Wild Bunch yarn was soaked in the Amy Butler Soak Wash. I can't stop squishing it and smelling it because it is just so darn yummy. There are some thick and thin spots, it's far from perfect, but I think this yarn could make a very cute project for one of you and you'll know that I spun from my heart when you cross those imperfections.

Okay, leave one comment, and one only, on this blog post to enter to win a copy of My Grandmother's Knitting, a terrific felt flower from Heather's shop and a hank of my handspun yarn. If you enter please leave me an email address or Ravelry id/name where I can reach you if you win. I will then contact you to get your mailing address. I will pick a winner via a random number generator in a few short days.

Good luck with the Super End of Summer Giveaway!

Let the comments begin.

best, susie

Dill Pickled

Hi Knitters,

My 17 year-old son loves a good challenge and this one involves our garden cucumber harvest and his love of dill pickles. He studied how-tos and recipes, drove to the grocery shop and bought the jars and seasoning and went to town. Below is a pictorial post so you can see his pickling work in progress. He cut slices and spears. Why not live it up?

The finished and sealed jars are now sitting on a shelf in our pantry for at least two weeks before we can crack one open to try our first homegrown dill pickles.

Enjoy!

best, susie

p.s. I am pulling together a fun giveaway that I will post in a couple of days. There will be multiple prizes so be sure to check back to enter.







Yum!

Fiber Fiesta

Hi Knitters,

I haven't even touched my wheel since early June when I had just started spinning this Cloudlover Polwarth. Over the last couple of days I snuck in a moment here and there and at night to finish up the 4 oz. braid.
I was a little disappointed that I didn't get a a bit more yardage. I did a 2-ply at maybe a sport weight and got 264 yards in the hank above.
The colorway is called Wild Bunch and I really love it. It looked very different in the braid before being spun. By the way, I used a sample of Amy Butler's signature Soak when I washed the yarn and it smells so good you wouldn't believe it. I think this is my favorite Soak scent. I don't know if it is still available so I will have to look that up and get a big jug if it is still around.
I had a small amount of singles left on one bobbin when I was done with the other bobbin so I Navajo plied the leftover. I got a tiny 28 yard hank of probably a DK weight or so. You know, I over spin the twist when I ply using the Navajo technique. It did block out with the soaking and hanging with a light weight. I have to fiddle with this to figure out what I am doing wrong.
Here is my Door County Cherry sock. I bought a hank of Tosh Light Merino in this pinkish/reddish/purple-y and brown in spots color. I immediately named them my Door County Cherry socks because cherries are the claim to fame for Door County if you didn't know. I bought the yarn at Spin of Door County. They had lots of colorways at the shop.
That slight variation in the color holds my interest even though the contrasts are small. Madelinetosh is just a yummy, delicious yarn in every weight.
Here is the start of my second sock. I've had to set it aside since the trip due to other work knitting. I'll finish soon I hope.
Okay, here we are again with this beauty of a sock. I started this several years ago and I just finished the toe yesterday. I don't know what it is about this Watermelon Stripe sock but I couldn't seem to finish it for some reason.
The yarn is from Sunshine Yarn and it most likely isn't available any longer. There are wonderful new selections though. I love Dani's yarn. It is cute, right? I should immediately cast on the second sock, right? I didn't.
Here is another pair I started years ago. I finished the first sock at least three years ago. I have no idea why I didn't start the second sock right away. It is Vesper Striping Sock Yarn (I am a huge fan) and I own several more colorways of this hand-dyed yarn.

I finished up the Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn socks. The color number is S258. I love them. I knit them on US size 1 needles and they are dense, dense, dense.

Here is another hank of yarn I have been sitting on for a year or two. It is Sanguine Gryphon's Bugga sock yarn in the Yellow Dung Fly (not sure what that is but it sounds kind of gross) colorway. It is 20% cashmere and 70% wool and 10% nylon. It is a smooshy delight. I am doing a simple rib with cables running down the sides of the cuff, not sure yet whether I will continue the cables on the sides of the foot or not. We'll see how I feel after the heel.
I love the Bugga yarn and will collect more in the future.
Well, I am working away on my sock collection for the upcoming winter season. TC dipped into my handknit socks last winter and I don't mind that but if I'm sharing I definitely could use some new pairs. These socks were finished by knitting a round here and there and in the car or at a swim meet. This is proof that you can make some progress a little at a time.
TC picked out a ball of Mochi Chunky in Door County to make a baby hat. She made this over a few days.
I loved it because she made the entire thing herself including the double-pointed needles and the I-cord on top. Many times she likes me to do the top for her but she can actually do it herself. It's a very sweet hat. She will donate this to her knitting group that does charity knitting for local charities.
Late last night I started spinning some Fiber Optic Fiber that is 80% merino and 20% silk. It is one I picked up at the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival last May and the colorway is Gold-Fuschia Layered Gradient.
It starts with one color and slowly moves to several other colors to the other end. I am trying to spin it straight through, not dividing it at all. I will then Navajo ply it so the gradient color transitions stay intact. My only worry is not to overspin the plying. It could be really cool in the end and I am thinking about some kind of shawl with the yarn. Wish me luck.

Okay, it is getting late and I am very sleepy so I think I won't go back and put all of the links in tonight. If you are interested in any of the yarns or fiber you can always google the names of the yarn or fiber and shops and sites will pop up for you that way. If I get a chance I'll come back in and put the links in later.

I'll be back soon with a fun giveaway for you. I hope you are having fiber fiestas, too, Knitters.

Good night. I'm crawling into bed to dream about more knitting and spinning.....

best, susie