Knitting Heritage Project plus a little sharing

Hi, Knitters,
A few weeks ago Karen Kendrick-Hands contacted me about a knitting project she is passionate about. It is not your everyday ordinary project but instead she is working on establishing a Knitting Heritage Museum right here in Madison, Wisconsin. With impressive backing and support Karen is organizing an event entitled, Knitting Heritage Museum: A Work in Progress; Making the Case for Collecting, Preserving, Researching and Sharing Our Knitting and Crochet Heritage. The event takes place this coming November 8-10, 2012, at the Wisconsin Historical Society on State Street in Madison.

Here is a little information about the project from Karen:
"Knitted and crocheted objects, works of the hand and heart, provide snapshots of the ethnic traditions and socioeconomic status of the maker and the wearer. An infant's christening gown celebrates an intergenerational milestone. An intricate Shetland shawl or Bohus sweater knit for hire illustrates the often unsung ways women supported their families when male incomes disappeared. A sock, knit during wartime, connects the maker at home to the warrior at the front.

These often humble and utilitarian items were worn, passed down from generation to generation and sometimes donated to a local or regional museum. Many museums have these items in their collections but are unsure how to preserve, categorize and display them."

Karen is out to explore, discuss and hopefully solve many of the issues surrounding preserving and sharing knitting from a historical perspective.

There is an exciting panel discussion on Friday, November 9th, about the value of heritage and why it is important. The panel includes some industry heavy hitters including, Trisha Malcolm, VP and Editorial Director of Vogue Knitting and Jack Blumenthal, VP of Lion Brand Yarn.

Anyway, I love this entire project. I have liked the Facebook page and am hoping to be able to attend some of the events over the three days. I hope some of you can join in, too. Our beloved knitting is historically important and very much under-recognized from a historical perspective. I love the idea of a Knitting Heritage Museum and what better place than in the home state of Elizabeth Zimmermann.

Here are the links to find out more about this moving project:

Click here for the Knitting Heritage Museum website.

Click here for the Knitting Heritage Museum on Facebook.

Click here for the Ravelry group for the Museum -wip.

Now onto some fun and fast sharing today. I was gifted this gorgeous skein of Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock, superwash yarn, 370 yards in 100% merino wool, in the Trek colorway.  The gift giver is the wonderful Diana (GrandmaBuck on Ravelry). I had admired a prize yarn donated by Dani of Sunshine Yarns, and before I knew it I had the same skein in my hands. Isn't it stunning?

I might have to design something out of this skein. It is that amazing.

I made a little progress on my HD Yarns sock. The shop has put up a notice that it will be posting lots more of their self-striping yarn on October 20thso if you are interested you should go favorite the shop and then be sure to check back. This yarn is called, Dynamics, which has bright colors and varied stripes which makes the sock a fun knit.

My next shawl pattern is moving along. It is going to be really pretty and it will have a different edging that I can't wait to try when I get there. I am almost done with the last repeat. I am knitting this one out of my fingering weight handspun from Sunshine Yarns roving. I'm going to knit another one in a commercial yarn that's accessible to everyone.

I promised myself that I would find the time to start the Hyla Brook by Paula Emons-Fuessle. Well, I did. It's a tiny start but it is a start. Oh, those are Signature Needles in US size 5, 32-inch circulars.

The Quince & Co. Tern in the Sea Grass colorway is sweet and earthy. This yarn is a blend of wool and silk. It is soft and beautiful.

I'll be back soon with a giveaway. Have a good start to your week.
best, susie

Knit Simple inside the Issue and at Home

 (photo provided by Knit Simple)

Hi, Knitters,
First, the photographs from the Knit Simple Holiday Issue 2012 that are shared in this post are by Paul Amato for LVARepresents.com, Rose Callahan, Jack Deutsch and Marcus Tullis. The issue hits the stands on October 2nd, 2012.

I want to share the rest of my projects found in Knit Simple Holiday 2012 today. 

The first is the #19 Fairy Doll. The doll is knit in the round, completely seamless and from the top-down. The wings are knit separately and stitched on the doll's back.

Click here for the Ravelry project page for the Fairy Doll.

Here is more information for the fairy doll:
For sizes: 12" long

Yarn Information: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash

Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Quatro

Amounts: 1 ball each in #817 aran, #914A tahitian rose and #902 soft pink

1 ball in #1932 butterscotch

(photo provided by Knit Simple)

I was asked to take on the gift section for the cook/kitchen this year. I was assigned an owl tea cozy, an owl pocket apron, a market bag and a dishcloth. The yarn was sent to me and here is what I came up with for the kitchen section.

Above is the #41 Owl Tea Cozy. That happens to be my sister's orange teapot in the photo. She loaned me her teapot to use while I designed the cozy. It looked so cute with the finished cozy that I sent it along for Knit Simple to use for the photo shoot. This is a super easy and quick knit. It is worked in the round, separated to knit the openings on the sides for the handle and spout, joined again to work in the round, and finished with a three-needle bind off. Easy peasy!

Click here for the Ravelry project page fo the #41 Owl Tea Cozy!

Here is more information for the Owl Tea Cozy:

Owl Tea Cozy

Designer: Susan B. Anderson

For sizes: 16" circumference x 7 1/4"

Yarn Information: Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme Batik

Amounts: 1 skein #22 waffle cone

Before I send off any projects I try my best to take a series of photos of the project in progress and then again when it is finished. I love how the ear tassels look so perky in the photo above.

Also, here you can see the side slits for the spout and handle. I wanted it to stay in place so I made a loop and bobble to hold the cozy tightly around the teapot. It's really cute.

(photo provided by Knit Simple)

The editors also wanted an apron with an owl pocket. There was an owl theme going on for this kitchen set. This was a fun and fast knit as well and really it couldn't get much simpler. The apron is knit from the top-down and the ties are picked up and knit on. The owl pocket is made separately and stitch to the front of the apron. This project turned out great.

Click here for the Ravelry project page for the #44 Owl Apron!

Here is more information about the apron:

Owl Apron

Designer: Susan B. Anderson

For sizes: One size

Yarn Information: Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme

Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme Batik

Amounts: 2 hanks in #602 orange creme

1 hank in #22 waffle cone

Here the apron is on TC. At first I knit the apron without the ruffle but the editors wanted a ruffle so I added it on later. You could knit it either way but the pattern in the magazine includes the ruffle.

It's an adorable set and would make quick knit gifts for the holiday season.

 I just love this photo of TC, "Could I get you some tea?"

(photo provided by Knit Simple)

I love this super stretchy, lightweight linen/cotton market bag. The stitch pattern is fun and easy, a rib and eyelet pattern that is easy to memorize. The bag is knit in one piece from the bottom up to the garter stitch top, which is then separated. It is a very simple and quick knit. 

Click here for the Ravelry project page for the #42 Market Bag!

I'd like one of these for myself. Here is some information about the #42 Market Bag:

Cook's Market Bag

Designer: Susan B. Anderson

For sizes: One size

Yarn Information: Classic Elite Yarns Cricket

Amounts: 4 balls in #3981 grass green

I adore the Classic Elite Cricket yarn. It is the perfect yarn for this project. What a fun knit.

(photo provided by Knit Simple)

I love a knit washcloth/dishcloth. I love to knit them and design them. When asked to do some kitchen dishcloths, I immediately wanted to stray away from the square shape you usually see. I thought something round and sweet would make for a fun gift knit. The yarn called Sprout from Classic Elite is just fantastic. It is a soft, thick cotton that works up like a snap. The cloth is worked from the center out on US size 9 needles.

Click here for the Ravelry project page for the #43 Dishcloths!

I did three versions, all fun and simple and cute. Here is more information on the #43 Dishcloths:

Kitchen Dishcloths

Designer: Susan B. Anderson

For sizes: Set of 3, 9" across

Yarn Information: Classic Elite Yarns Sprout

Amounts: 1 hank each in #4320 spring breeze, #4381 mint, and #4346 glacier

Knit Simple is one of my favorite knitting magazines. There is a lightness and a sense of fun in every issue and the projects are so doable. Everyone can find something fun to knit in every issue. I am so excited to be a part of the holiday issue again this year. This is the third year in a row that I have had projects in the holiday issue and it is such an honor. Holiday gift issues are always the best. You get over 50 project patterns in this one issue.

Click here for the Knit Simple website!

The magazine hits newsstands October 2nd!

I hope you are all having a great week. It is flying by fast.
best, susie

New Fairy Doll Pattern!

Hi, Knitters,
I noticed this morning that the Knit Simple Holiday 2013 issue has its preview up! I have five patterns published in this issue that I am really excited about. The first project I want to share with you is this adorable 12-inch fairy doll. I just love this fairy so much.

The doll is knit completely in one-piece from the top-down. Her top, skirt, arms and legs are all knit right in as you go. The wings are knit flat and are stitched on the back of the doll. It is a really fun, fast, clever and interesting knit. I came up with a new way to place and knit the arms and legs in as you go and I am quite pleased with how this worked. I will be using this technique again for sure.

The fairy doll is knit in Cascade 220 Superwash on US size 6 needles. This project is a great stash buster for any worsted weight yarn you might have. The magazine has called the fairy, #19 Fairy Doll.

Click here for the Knit Simple Holiday 2013 preview!

Click here for the #19 Fairy Doll project page on Ravelry! 

I had a great time creating and knitting this sweet fairy. I just love the way she turned out, including her burst of golden hair and her tiny pointed ears.

Here you can get a better feel for the doll's size while she sits in TC's hands. 

Last year I had the tiny flower fairies that had a knit flower purse to sit in and that pattern has continued to be incredibly popular. Click here to see the flower fairies from last year. I still get requests for that pattern almost weekly and people have trouble locating the magazine. If you are interested in knitting this fairy doll I would suggest grabbing a copy of Knit Simple Holiday 2013 as soon as possible. I am not sure when it hits the stands but it should be very soon if it's not already out.

Edited to add: I was just left a comment from Jessica that the KS Holiday 2012 is out October 2nd! Thanks, Jessica.

I'll be back to share the other four projects in this issue!
best, susie

Quick Picks

Hi, Knitters,

We made a spur-of-the-moment apple run to the Eplegaarden, one of our local apple and pumpkin picking farms, yesterday. We grabbed TC and headed over to pick a large bag of apples. We were in and out of the farm pretty quickly. I hope to get back with a bigger group of family to pick pumpkins in a few weeks. The apples were pretty picked over already as I think the picking season started early this year due to our extreme weather over the last six months. 

My husband and TC worked so fast picking our bag of gala apples that I had a hard time fielding the flying apples and taking photos at the same time. Here is our first apple run in photos ~

 My husband walking through the raspberry crop.

 Worker bees.

 Our tried and true technique works every time. Most of the apples left were at the tops of the trees.

 A bag full.

 Snapped from the car, another beautiful farm on the short drive over.

Now for a couple of knitterly items from the weekend.......

 I've started another shawl design. It's quick, fun and simple. This version is in my fingering weight handspun, the next version will be with a commercial fingering weight yarn. 

 While watching The Fat Squirrel Speaks video podcast last week, I saw her HD Yarns self-striping sock yarn and quickly jumped over to Etsy to get some of my own. 

Click here to visit The Fat Squirrel Speaks website!

Click here to see HD Yarns on Etsy!

Now the two hanks are wound and ready to cast on. 

Note that HD Yarns just opened on Aug. 3rd, 2012, and has had only 6 sales. Rich, the owner and dyer, is currently dyeing up more of his fantastic and unusual striping sock yarn. The colorway I have is called Dynamics. I like it for the color changes and the uneven striping. The base yarn Rich uses is from Knit Picks. I can't wait to get started.

Click here to see it and other versions of HD Yarns!

Have a super Monday!

best, susie

Soule Sister

Hi, Knitters,

I have wanted to write about Amanda Soule and her Soule Mama blog for quite awhile now but haven't found the right moment. That moment is finally here. As you can see by the stack of her books and magazines above, I have been a long time follower and admirer of her writing, sewing, crafting, cooking, gardening, knitting, family rearing, and her honest lifestyle. She does it all and she does it quietly and thoughtfully. There is something peaceful and earnest about her blog that I love. The joy she finds in her family and nature shines through in every post.

Click here for the Soule Mama website.  Here you will find Amanda's inspiring blog, links for her books and her magazine. 

Click here for the inspiring soulemama project page on Ravelry. I want to knit everything Amanda knits and I definitely have knit things inspired by her photos and postings. The Garter Yoke,  Shalom and the Tea Leaves cardigans are all examples of projects I have made due to Amanda's blog posts and her beautiful knitting. She chooses, executes and photographs her projects so skillfully.

When I first heard the news that Amanda was becoming the editor and contributor for a new grass roots magazine called, Taproot, I knew it would be nothing short of unique and beautiful. The artwork on the cover and throughout the magazine is stunning and interesting. The inside pages are chock-full of information and articles. I subscribed right away. 

There have been three issues so far (in order above from right to left) and each has a theme, issue 1 is soil, issue 2 is paths and issue 3 is retreat. I have read them all cover to cover and there is a wide variety of topics offered in each magazine. You'll find everything from gorgeous photography, illustration and artwork, quotes, science lessons, recipes, patterns, well-written articles surrounding the theme of the issue and much more more. 

For example, in the retreat issue, there is an article about the Squam Retreat that recently took place in the New Hampshire woods. Amanda attended Squam this year and then wrote about it for the magazine. I really enjoyed seeing that article and would love to attend this retreat someday. I think my friend Dianne went this year and gave it rave reviews as did Amanda. Oh yes, Dianne's posts about Squam are here and here. Dianne's blog is really good, too, and you should read it if you don't. She is a woman with many talents.

 (photo from the pages of Taproot)

Anyway, back to issue 3 of Taproot. I was pleased to see that the multi-talented Carrie Bostick Hoge, of Quince & Co. and Maddermade.com, has a mitten pattern in the pages of this issue. These adorable corrugated mittens are knit in Quince & Co. Puffin, Osprey or Lark, depending on the size you are making. I will be making a pair of Carrie's mittens out of Quince yarn for sure. The mittens come in sizes from baby all the way up to fit men. That's a wide range.

Click here for Quince & Co. of which Carrie is the art director. All of the glow-y photography for Quince is from Carrie.

Click here for Carrie's blog, Swatch Diaries, and her patterns on Maddermade.com. She has been quite prolifically designing baby patterns lately, probably inspired by her own beautiful little girl I imagine. I have the yarn and pattern set for this gem of a sweater by Carrie and it is next in line after I finish the Calligraphy cardigan (which is taking me forever).

Anyway, please check out Taproot, the Soule Mama blog, and Amanda Soule's books. You won't be disappointed and you'll have hours of reading and inspiration ahead.

Now onto some more knitting fun.....

I even have more Quince & Co. for you today. I ordered two skeins of Quince's Tern, which is a wool and silk blend in a fingering weight. I keep saying this everyday, but I really am casting on Paula's Hyla Brook this weekend. I have had this set for weeks on end and I just haven't gotten to it yet. The colorway is called Sea Grass and I am knitting it on US size 5 needles.

Can't wait!

Here is the third pair of worsted weight mittens I have made from my newly created mitten design. The pattern is coming soon. These are just the best pair of simple worsted weight mittens I have made. The mittens above are made out of Noro Kureyon and it takes two skeins to make this medium-sized pair.

I am working on a big project right now with a deadline looming. This is why I haven't started my Hyla Brook yet amongst other things. I still have a ways to go. This project is stretching my skills a bit as it includes something I haven't designed before. Take your guesses!

One last thing, my Vogue Knitting Live class for the top-down baby cardigans has been sold out for awhile but now there is suddenly one spot available! The class is from 2-5pm on Sunday, October 28th in Chicago. I hope someone snags the opening soon. Click here for more information on the class!

Have a great weekend, Knitters. It is turning into a lovely fall season so far.
best, susie

Knit East Atlantic Fibre Fest and more

Hi, Knitters,
I am super excited to announce a teaching engagement that has just come up. I am heading to Canada for the first time to teach at the Knit East Atlantic Fibre Fest. Knit East is happening September 27th, 28th, and 29th of 2013.

Click here to find out more about the Knit East Atlantic Fibre Fest!

Be sure to check out the fabulous venue, the historic Algonquin, St. Andrews By-the-Sea, in New Brunswick, Canada.

The event is put on by Cricket Cove.

I am teaching three new workshops. The first workshop is for the String-a-long frogs (and monkeys and bunnies). This is the same one I am teaching at the Vogue Knitting Live in Chicago this October. The VK Live class is currently sold out.

The frogs are knit in one piece, no seaming whatsoever, and they are a fun and fast knit. The frogs or monkeys or bunnies could be worked in any colors or stripes. They can be knit as stand-alone toys or made with a loop on one limb that hooks onto the next friend in line! They are super cute and fun.

This set is made in four shades of Quince & Co. Lark, which is a worsted weight yarn. I know I'll be asked so yes, the pattern will be released in the near future with access for everyone.

I am teaching two more workshops. One is a new concept that I know will be great, it is called, Build a Toy Workshop. I am offering lots of body, head, ear, tail and legs/arm choices for the class to choose from to create their own toy! I can't wait to pull this together and mostly, to see what people come up with.

The last class I am teaching is going to be full of surprises. I am teaching a two-part workshop for the Opal Sock Bunny. The students can grab a ball of sock yarn and their needles and head to class. We are going to cover all sorts of techniques and toy tips while creating this seamless, top-down bunny. This is a class that is jam-packed with technique. The fun thing is that many of the techniques used in making this toy translate into other projects of all sorts like socks, sweaters, and even shawls.

The good people at Unicorn Books are providing the professionally made printed patterns, that are sold in yarn shops, for the students AND there will be some fun giveaways as well. The students also will receive the pattern for the matching Sock Bunny Hat.

The other teachers include Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Ann Budd, Bristol Ivy, Mary Jane Mucklestone, and Deb Barnhill. There is going to be yoga for knitters and rug hooking workshops and spinning workshops. It all sounds fantastic to me!

I hope to see lots of you at Knit East 2013! Let me know if you are coming. I have already heard from lots of Itty-Bitty Knitters on my Ravelry group who will be there so I am sure it is going to be fun.

There is a Knit East Ravelry group, which I have joined, and I have already signed up for the swap for the event. I am so excited about the whole thing. Come join me over there.

Now onto some miscellaneous things....

 (photo provided by Vicki Maynes)

Vicki Maynes sent me the sweetest email this morning that included this photo of her adorable 8-year-old granddaughter. She knit this penguin out of Itty-Bitty Toys all by herself. Vicki helped show her how to seam and she took off and finished it by herself, too. She is giving it to her newborn sister, born yesterday, as a welcome to the world gift. What a great email to wake up to this morning.

Here is the email from Vicki (all being shared with permission, of course):

Hi Susan,
Here is my 8 year old granddaughter with the penguin she knit for her new sister, who was born yesterday. She did a really good job with it and was so proud of herself!
I have another picture of her handing the penguin to her sister and the look on her face is priceless!
Just look at the enjoyment and encouragement to continue knitting your pattern brought to her! Thank you so much for your wonderful patterns!
Vicki

I want to quickly share my next spinning project. Moonshine Fiber Company is a new shop on Etsy and they are out of Chicago. I have heard about them on several podcasts and happened upon an update so I grabbed this amazing pairing of roving. I love a brown paper bag for packaging, too. I don't know what it is but I adore getting something wrapped in brown paper like this. Quince and Co. does this, too. I think it is so home-y and simple and warm.

I'll tell you more about it later once I get going more but it is 5oz. You spin the colorful roving as singles and then the black roving as singles. Then you ply it together for a unique yarn, to say the least. It is a mixture of fiber. I have started a tiny bit of the colorful roving and it is pretty fun.

More to come on this project.

TC and I took a hike yesterday before dinner. It was beautiful.

I'll leave you today with one of my favorite trees. It is a gigantic oak tree. It must be so old.

best, susie

A Sunshine Handspun Yarn Story

Hi, Knitters,
This past week an accomplishment happened, albeit minor in many ways. I finished spinning the best yarn I have spun to date. I don't know what happened but the last two yarns I spun have all of a sudden seemed hugely improved somehow. It makes me excited to see this sudden improvement when it has been such a gradual learning process. Really, I don't know that anyone else could even see the improvement but I feel and see it in the yarn. There is something better going on in there. I have been spinning for a little under two years now so hopefully things will continue on an uphill climb in the technique area. Spinning is such a good thing.

With that being said, I am excited to share my latest yarn creation with you.

Here is the information:
Roving: Sunshine Yarns, 100% superwash merino, 8 oz., Desert Cactus
Yarn: 596 yards total of a sport weight (Remember, this is only a guess until I start knitting and I enjoy that.)
3-ply: 564 yards
Navajo ply: 32 yards (I Navajo plied the uneven remaining singles left on two of the bobbins.)

 This is the roving directly out of the bag.

 The pre-drafted roving wound into gigantic fluffy balls are anxiously awaiting the wheel. I divided and weighed it into three-parts at 2 5/8 oz. for each section. The division worked out perfectly to get 3 very even bobbins of singles.

 I purposely tried to spin pretty thin because I knew it was going to be a 3-ply yarn in the end and I didn't want it to be too thick.

 Three beautiful, full bobbins of singles are rested and waiting to be plied. That biggest bobbin there in the front was deceiving, it was the first to run out when plying.

 I was completely enraptured once I began plying. 

 One plied bobbin done. The plied singles filled two bobbins.

The colors are wonderfully subtle and complex. From farther away it looks gray. Up close you can see bursts of orange, purple, green, and charcoal mixed in. 

 The finished yarn is lofty and light as air.

I have decided that I am going to knit a modified Quaker Ridge Shawlette right along with the knitalong group. I think this yarn is going to make a beautiful shawl. We start the knitalong tomorrow, September 9th. You can join in anytime on the thread, all are welcome, but today is the last day to sign up to be eligible for the giveaway drawings I am lining up.

The turn out has been spectacular. We have hundreds knitting along and joining in. Thank you! We are going to have so much fun. I have even gotten some wholesale yarn store pattern sales through the Ravelry approved local yarn stores program which is great.

Quaker Ridge Shawlette pattern

Quaker Ridge Shawlette Knitalong thread

And we're off!

best, susie