Bunny Love & Teaching Dates!

Hi, Knitters,

Well, there were a couple of problems with the last post. Here is what the last post said in a nutshell:

I am teaching and speaking in Minneapolis in less than a couple of weeks. 

My schedule in Minneapolis is as follows:

StevenBe 

Friday, Feb. 21, 2014

Morning and afternoon workshops and a Luncheon/Book Signing/Meet & Greet

Click here for the StevenBe teaching information and registration!

Minnesota Knitters' Guild

Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014

Teaching two workshops!

Click here to find out more and to register!

Minnesota Knitters' Guild Guest Speaker at the Annual Tea

Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014, 2pm

Click here for more information!

In March I am teaching and speaking at Vogue Knitting Live in Seattle, March 14-16, 2014. If you are in the area or traveling from another place far away, I'd love to see you in class or attending my lecture.

Click here for more information and to register!  Even though the Fair Isle Hat class is sold out I may be able to add more spots in the class so please request if you are interested.

Here is my VK Live Seattle schedule:

03/14/2014
Sold Out	2:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Fair Isle Hat [More Info] Susan B. Anderson
03/15/2014
	8:30 am - 11:30 am	Little Dragon Toy Knitting Workshop NEW [More Info] Susan B. Anderson
	2:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Sock Yarn Bunny [More Info] Susan B. Anderson
	5:30 pm - 6:30 pm	Lecture: Sheep, Monkeys, Bunnies! Toy Knitting for All NEW [More Info] Susan B. Anderson
03/16/2014
	8:30 am - 11:30 am	Egg to Turtle Reversible Toy Workshop NEW [More Info] Susan B. Anderson
	2:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Build-a-Toy Workshop [More Info] Susan B. Anderson

Last but not least, on April 4-6th, 2014, I am spending the weekend signing books and teaching at the lovely Fibre Space in Alexandria, Virginia! I'm so excited to be back again for a longer, more relaxing visit. 

Click here to find out all of the details and to register for the Fibre Space!

Okay, so hopefully this will explain more clearly where I'll be over the few months. 

One last thing, from April 25-27, 2014, I am going to be teaching at the Dayton, Ohio Knitters Guild Retreat. 

Click here for more information on the retreat at Bergamo!

After these busy few months ahead I am staying home! I am not going to be traveling for work again until the fall in September, 2014. Then I am very busy again for a couple of months but I'll tell you all about those dates when it gets closer. To give you a vague preview for the fall, I'll be in Colorado, Massachusetts, Maine, and Chicago.

I hope to see you at any or all of the upcoming events where I'll be teaching and speaking. I really love meeting the fun knitters out there in different locations and teaching workshops is about my favorite thing to do when it comes to my knitting career as a whole. I love to teach. So I hope you'll join me.

Now on to other things!

A couple of days ago I published a pattern for download called, Bunny Love. Prior to this the pattern had been available only in kit form by Little Skein.

In addition to the original Bunny Love pattern, I've updated the bunny to include options for different arms and feet, and a more cheerful face. Also included is a fun little cardigan and some carrots for good measure. I think this bunny is incredibly sweet. 

If you already purchased the kit and would like only the additional modifications, I have made that available for you. Click here!

If you didn't purchase the kit and would like the entire Bunny Love pattern and the modifications, cardigan and carrots click here!

The yarn is Owl by Quince & Company in the Elf and Cerulean colorways. The buttons are by Sheppard Handmade on Etsy. 

Here is some information you might like to know:

Bunny Love measures 7 1/2 inches tall without the ears and about 12-inches tall including the ears.

·      The original striped bunny made with the Velveteen Striping DK Yarn from Gynx Yarns, has a cardigan knit in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in Tent #02.

·      The off-white bunny is knit in Quince & Co. Owl (50% American Wool, 50% American Alpaca), 120 yards/50 grams; 1 skein in Elf #303

·      The Quince & Co. Owl Bunny Love is knit on US size 4 double-pointed needles at 5 ½ stitches per inch in stockinette stitch.

·      The off-white bunny’s cardigan is knit in Quince & Co. Owl, 1 skein in Cerulean #315 on US size 7s (it took 12 grams to be exact).

 Enjoy the bunnies in the following photos!

The bunny buttons are really old and I don't know where to get them. 

 The tiny bunnies in front are the Mini-Bunny Loves pattern. These use 15 grams of sock yarn and are on sale right now for $1.00 off!

Use the discount code: MINI 

Good through Feb. 14, 2014!

I'm so proud of all of these little bunnies!

Click here for the patterns for the modifications, cardigan and carrots only!

Click here for the complete patterns for the Bunny Love and modifications, cardigan and carrots! 

I have 2 BIG giveaways planned for later this week so check back for that. It will be good, I promise.

I hope everyone is well and that you are getting some knitting done during these cold, cold months. I know I am getting a lot of knitting in due to the weather.

best, susie

Minneapolis Here I Come!

Hi, Knitters, I'm sharing an upcoming teaching weekend in Minneapolis today! Click here to go to Steven's website to sign up or find out more! I'm sending off my trunk show today so be sure to pop into the shop to check it out. The following is directly from Steven Be's yarn shop: We are huge fans of Susan, her projects, her books, and now YOU have the chance to take a workshop from this creative queen of cute!  Spots are filling fast. Be sure to register today. Build-A-Toy  Workshop  w/ Susan B. Anderson  Friday, Feb. 21st 10:00am to 1:00pm Find a use for small bits of yarn in this hands-on workshop! Bring your worsted-weight leftovers (or brand-new yarn) in any color and together we'll create your own one-of-a-kind knit toy. In this class you will be provided with a pattern that gives lots of choices and shapes for bodies, heads, noses, ears, legs, and paws. You will plan and knit your very own personalized animal, around 4 to 6 inches in height, and learn loads of techniques for toy knitting as you go! We will explore and talk about stuffing techniques, picking up stitches directly on the toy to add parts, stitching parts together (it's really simple!), face embroidery, yarn choices, ideal gauge and fabric for toy knitting, and more.  Class Fee: $58  (Member Discount Available) Book Signing  Luncheon w/ Susan B. Anderson  Friday, Feb. 21st 1:00pm to 2:30pm Share a creative luncheon and meet Susan B. Anderson. Susan B. Anderson has been knitting close to 30 years now. She is the author of 5 books, Itty-Bitty Hats, Itty-Bitty Nursery, Itty-Bitty Toys, Spud & Chloe at the Farm, and Topsy-Turvy, Inside Out. She has taught knitting workshops (including Vogue Knitting Live), and has toured all over the United States. Susan has recently added two online courses on Craftsy.com.  Luncheon is INCLUDED with class registration. Egg to Turtle Reversible Toy  w/ Susan B. Anderson Thursday, Feb. 21st 2:30pm to 5:30pm Come knit an adorable reversible toy along with Susan B. Anderson while learning loads of toy-knitting techniques! This sweet palm-sized egg turns into a friendly striped turtle right before your eyes. Both the turtle and egg are knit completely in one piece-the only seam is to attach the egg to the turtle at the opening.  Students will receive the printed pattern card from Artisan Books for the Egg to Turtle at the workshop. During the class Susan will discuss and demonstrate toy-knitting techniques and tips that include face embroidery, picking up and knitting directly onto your toy, how to stuff correctly, finishing techniques, the Kitchener stitch and more! Class Fee: $58  (Member Discount Available) 3448 Chicago Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55407 612.259.7525 Tuesday & Thursday: 10 am - 8 pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10 am - 6 pm Saturdays: 10 am - 4 pm Sundays: 12 pm - 4 pm After this wonderful day at Steven Be's I am spending the rest of the weekend with the Minneapolis Knitters Guild. I am teaching 2 workshops on Saturday, February 22nd and then I am the guest speaker for the tea on Sunday, February 23rd. I am teaching the Sock Yarn Bunny Workshop and then the Little Dragon Workshop on Saturday. I hope you'll join me! Click here for the Minneapolis Knitters Guild website to find out more and to register! Look under latest news right on the home page. I hope to see you there! Let me know if you are able to come to the workshops, luncheon, or the Sunday Tea with the guild. I'll be back soon with more. Briefly, I had a pattern release yesterday. Click here to see Bunny Love and the Bunny Love Extras! I'll share more about this later. I have a couple of huge giveaways coming up this week as well so stay tuned. It's going to be a fun week ahead. best, susie

Mini-Bunny Loves ~ Pattern Now Available!

Hi, Knitters,

Please read to the end of the post before purchasing to get the discount code for the pattern!

I am so excited to introduce you to my newest bunny pattern called Mini-Bunny Loves! These are a variation on the original Bunny Love pattern, which I am releasing shortly with some modifications and an added cardigan for the bunny. It is all super cute stuff. If you already have the original Bunny Love pattern that you purchased in kit form, no worries. I will be having the cardigan and arms and feet modifications available as a separate download in my Ravelry Pattern Shop.

Back to the Mini-Bunny Loves, I made so many modifications to the original pattern that it became clear to me that these tiny friends need to be a separate pattern on their own.

So grab some sock yarn leftovers and your sock needles and let's knit a mini-bunny!

Here is some information you might like to know:

Finished measurements:

-       About 3 ¼ inches tall without the ears

-       About 6 inches tall including the ears

Yarn: Approximately 15 grams of sock or fingering weight yarn, not including the pom-pom tail.

Note: You may want to have a few extra grams to make to make sure you have enough.

The gray samples are knit in Quince & Co. Finch in the Kumlien’s Gull, and Kittywake colorways. The pom-pom tails are in Quince &Co. Chickadee in the Dogwood and Glacier colorways.

The striped bunny is knit in 15 Colour Rainbow by Fab FunkyFibres on Etsy.

Needles: US size 1 double-pointed needles, set of 4 or size to obtain gauge

Gauge: 8 sts per inch in stockinette stitch

Materials:

Yarn needle

Ruler or tape measure

Scissors

Detachable stitch marker

Embroidery floss in black for the eyes, nose and mouth

Small amount of sport weight yarn for the pom-pom tail (used only in the gray bunnies)

Note: The rainbow bunny uses the same yarn for the bunny and pom-pom.

Fiber-fill

Optional:

Poly-pellets (Warning: Use with caution. Poly-pellets are considered a choking hazard for infants and young children.)

1-inch pom-pom maker (I used the Clover pom-pom maker.)

I have such a love for gray bunnies. 

I am thinking about what an adorable baby shower or new baby gift these would make. In traditional terms, if you enjoy this kind of thing, a pink pom-pom tail for a baby girl, and a blue pom-pom for a baby boy. 

Or something else.

You choose!

Also, if you have any left over sock yarn hanging around..... 

Of course you do! You only need 15 grams (not including the pom-pom) to make a Mini-Bunny Loves for someone you love.

Click here to find out more or to purchase the Mini-Bunny Loves pattern!

I am having a discount code to use at purchase good through Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2014. The code will give you $1.00 off the regular pattern price of $5.00. 

The discount code is:  MINI

I'll be back soon to complete the Bunny Loves series of patterns. I am working another bunny up in Quince & Co. Owl and I'll give you the details on this option as soon as it is ready.

best, susie

Catching Up #3: A Video Podcast of Sorts

Hi, Knitters,
I am waiting on a couple of things to get confirmed about a giveaway, and I'm planning an upcoming knitalong, and I'm trying to finish up a couple of details before I release the Bunny Love pattern for download. So in the meantime I recorded another episode of Catching Up: A Video Podcast of Sorts for you.

Click here for Catching Up, Episode 1
Click here for Catching Up, Episode 2

If you can't see the video on the email, for subscribers:

Click here to go to my blog post and watch the video!

Click here to see the video for Catching Up #3 directly on my YouTube Channel. 

I had to combine several videos in iMovie and at the end of the video the program put in Directed by Susan Anderson. I thought that was pretty funny, not planned, but funny.

Here are links for the things I talked about today:

Loop Batt used for striping my cardigan (the black yarn is Cascade 220)

Information about the pattern and making of my striped hoodie cardigan

Deerfield Creations (beautiful wood-turned black buttons)

Sun Valley Fibers

Winter Wonderland Hat and Mitts set ~ Thanks for the support! The pattern has been selling very well!

Quince & Co. Puffin ~ Peachy is using the Egret colorway, the mini-bunny love is in Finch, the fingering weight

Gaptastic Cowl (free pattern)

How I make my socks (my free sock pattern)

Homespun Podcast  This was a duo and now changed to a single person podcast with Molly. Molly is from a small city outside of Madison but now lives in Germany. Molly has a wonderful Etsy shop called, A Homespun House, where she sells project bags. I ordered a couple of her bags and should get them in the mail soon. I will share those with you! Clare, the former other half of the podcast, now has her own podcast and website called, A Night Bird.

Regia Super Jacquard sock yarn #7204

Juniper Grace Tube ~ knitting the Regia socks in the same colorway

Schoeller & Stahl Fortissima Socka Colori #9073

Signature Needle Arts ~ the green dpns, US size 1, 6-inch length needles

Artisan Spinning Wheel

Schact Ladybug Spinning Wheel

Sock Blockers from The Loopy Ewe

Friends in Fiber on Etsy

Double Marl Technique Tutorial on the Knitty Blog

Gourmet Stash

Mollie Makes books

Mollie Makes magazine

Bunny Love ~ pattern release very soon for individual download on Ravelry! Originally only in kit form from Little Skein.

Gynx Yarn

Mary, Millie, & Morgan ~ my doll eBook published by Quince & Co.

Don't miss the eBook giveaway for the Mary, Millie, & Morgan eBook on the Twinset Design Podcast (I love this audio podcast!). Click here to go to Twinset and see how to enter to win! Thanks for the fun review and for hosting the giveaway, Ellen and Jan!

Knit Spin Farm podcast

Knit Spin Farm on Etsy (the gorgeous batts!) ~ JoAnna's project bags are the best, too! I have a couple of them and love them.

I think that's about it. Thanks for watching.

Have a great weekend.
I'll be back very soon with more....
best, susie

Winter Wonderland Hat & Mitt Set ~ Pattern Available with Discount Code!

Hi, Knitters,

I had a wonderful time teaching last Friday at the Sun Valley Fibers January Thaw Retreat. I had two talented groups attend my Fair Isle Hat and Top-Down Baby Cardigan Workshops. It was great to get to attend a local retreat. It was held in Barneveld, Wisconsin, which is about 40 minutes or so from my  home. The Wisconsin knitters are always dear to my heart and they are a warm, welcoming, friendly bunch. I have met and know many of them, and I met many new friends as well. Attendees weren't only from Wisconsin. I had students from Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois. I heard someone came all the way from Texas, too.  Anyway, thank you to Jeanette and George (the owners of Sun Valley Fibers) for being helpful, gracious hosts and for inviting me in the first place. I would definitely come back!

Click here to see a photo of my teacher table demo in action! The photo was taken by Megan Williams of the Stockinette Zombies video podcast. She was in my class and it was great to meet Megan in person. I love her podcast and watch every week.

Jeanette had asked me awhile ago if I would design something with the signature Thaw Retreat colorway she created just for the retreat and I said sure. I came up with a squishy hat and mitt set with a simple cable pattern, just to add a little fun and interest. This would be a good first time cable project for anyone wanting to try.

The yarn colorway, Winter Wonderland, is beautiful but you could use any variegated or solid or semi-solid or self-striping colorway for the set. It would all work wonderfully. I used Jeanette's 80/10/10 Superwash Merino/Cashmere/Nylon Worsted Weight yarn and let me tell you, it is squishy and beautiful. The Sun Valley Yarns are always gorgeous and fun to knit.

I love how the set turned out. The hat is knit at a slightly tighter than usual gauge. It fits so nicely and doesn't stretch out at all. The mitts have a slightly off-center cable running down the top of the hand. I put the cable a little closer to the thumb side of the mitt because I think it looks a little more interesting that way. Also, I think you, as the wearer, can see the cable when it is set toward your thumbs a little while you are knitting or sipping your hot mug of cocoa. I love the folded ribbed cuff on the fingerless mitts. It could be worn flat for more coverage as well.

Click here for Sun Valley Fibers!

Click here for the Winter Wonderland Hat & Mitt Set information and to purchase! You get both patterns included. A discount code is included for $1.00 off through Feb. 2nd, 2014!!

The discount code is: THAW

The patterns were tech-edited by Amy Detjen and test knit by Jeanette of Sun Valley Fibers. The simple cable is written out and charted.

Here is specific pattern information you might like to know about the Winter Wonderland Set:

Hat

Size: To fit an average adult-size head from 19 – 22 inches (This size range would also fit a teen or older child's head as well.)

Fingerless Mitts:

Sizes: small (medium, large) to fit hand circumference 6 (7, 8) inches at knuckles

Yarn: Sun Valley Fibers 80/10/10 SuperwashMerino/Cashmere/Nylon Worsted Weight, 220 yards/120 grams in Winter Wonderland

Hat without pom-pom: 1 skein (115 grams for the hat without pom-pom)

Hat with pom-pom: 2 skeins (The pom-pom in the sample weighs 23 grams)

Mitts alone: 1 skein

Hat with pom-pom and mitts: 2 skeins

Needles:

US size 5 sixteen-inch circular for ribbed brim

US size 6 sixteen-inch circular for the body of the hat

US size 6 double-pointed needles for the top of the hat

Or size to obtain gauge

Gauge:

6 sts per inch in stockinette stitch on US size 5

5.5 sts per inch in stockinette stitch on US size 6

The hat has the perfect amount of slouch for me. It is slightly slouchy and that can be adjusted by how much you turn up the ribbed brim. The big pom-pom is fun but you could leave it off.

On the brim I alternated skeins every two rounds, and on the body of the hat I alternated every round. I think the pooling looks pretty cool on the brim and I am usually not much of a pooling fan. Alternating every round on the top section of the hat eliminated the pooling. I had fun experimenting with the alternating. I don't knit much with variegated yarns, hardly ever, so it was fun to see what would happen.

If you'd like to purchase the Winter Wonderland Hat & Mitt Set I am running a discount for the first week of the pattern release. The discount is for $1.00 off. The hat and mitt set are both included and will be for sale for $5.00 normally, and today through Feb. 2nd, 2014, I am selling it for $4.00 with the discount code: THAW

Click here to get more information or to purchase the patterns!

Click here for the Ravelry project page for the Winter Wonderland Hat and Mitt Set!

Click here to get the Sun Valley 80/10/10 Worsted Superwash Merino, Cashmere, Nylon yarn used in the set! I don't know if Jeanette is going to be selling the Thaw Retreat colorway, the retreat is ending today. Jeanette has loads stunning colors (some new!) available in this same yarn that would look great in the hat and mitts!

You could also use any worsted weight you have in the stash. Striping from the stash would look super cute!

Be sure to type in the discount code THAW when you purchase the pattern set. To get both of these patterns for $5.00 is a great deal, but don't miss the chance to get both for only $4.00 this week!

Have a great Sunday, Knitters! I'll be back soon with much more. I'm thinking of doing another Catching Up video podcast of sorts later this week, too. I hope you'll join me.

best, susie