100% Wild Maine Wool ~ Starcroft

Hi, Knitters,

Before I get into today's topic I want to make sure to let you know that I am coming to Pasadena, California in April, 2015 to teach at Vogue Knitting Live. If you are thinking about coming to this event the registration is already up for classes, lectures and more. If you are able, try to register early because what happens is that pretty early on classes will get cut and I mean a lot of classes get cut. One fell swoop! Then the classes being offered fill up and I often have students tell me they wanted to get into classes but they weren't being offered any longer or they were sold out. So early registration helps everyone involved.

I am teaching and speaking on the following topics (I've linked the project information.):

Friday, April 17th: 

Seamless Knit Doll Workshop: Mary, Millie & Morgan ~ click here! Oh, and look at these fun in class photos and write up of this class from one of my students: ChemKnits!

Sock Yarn Fox in a Vest ~ click here!

Saturday, April 18th:

Little Dragon ~ click here! Or you can make the mini-version, too.

3 Wee Sheep ~ This pattern isn't available yet, workshop only. There is a photo with the class information on the VK Live website.

Lecture (1 hour): Sheep, Moneys, Bunnies ~ Toy Knitting for All

Sunday, April 19th:

Build a Toy Workshop ~ Check out the VK Live website for more info.!

Sock Yarn Bunny ~ click here! Or you can make the mini-version, too.

For all of the toy classes we cover so much technique, tips, demonstrations, guidance, individual and small group attention, and discussion. Each class has a different project focus that has different and unique construction and techniques used. Some projects have seamless construction, some have seaming. I really try to pack in as much fun and useful information into all of the classes as possible.

I hope to see you there! 

Click here to visit the Vogue Knitting Live Pasadena website to find out more!

Okay, let's chat for a minute about the pop-up shop I visited in NYC a few weeks ago. First, a pop-up shop is just that, a shop that pops up in a space for a short while and then it is gone. I found out about the shop through Gale Zucker, the photographer/knitter. You may know Gale from her blog, books she has photographed, or her teaching. You can find out more about Gale by clicking right here. She was helping to set up a Starcroft pop-up shop in NYC on the weekend of Vogue Knitting Live. Gale was working with Kirsten Kapur, another lovely fiber-designer talent, click here to find out about Kirsten! These two lovely ladies picked me up at the hotel and brought me to the Starcroft shop. What a treat.

Click here for Starcroftfiber.com! It looks like the site is under construction but check back.

There is Gale and Jani Estelle, the owner of Starcroft, through the front window. I have to admit to not knowing much about Starcroft or Jani. However, when I started hearing about Nash Island, off of Maine, the sheep, the journey and efforts Jani makes every year to harvest the wool, then process and dye it, I did remember Gale telling me about being involved in the shearing process along with Mary Jane Mucklestone and Ysolda Teague one year. I believe that Gale has been there three times to help with the shearing now. She loves it and has described the hard work involved. 

Click here to read about Gale's shearing adventure on Nash Island! Here are a few photos from Gale, too:

photographed and owned by Gale Zucker

This photo is one of the postcards that is available. Information is below.

photo from Gale Zucker

Left to right: Gale, Ellen Mason, Jani Estelle, Mary Jane Mucklestone, Ysolda

photo from Gale Zucker

Read all about Gale's Nash Island experience right here.

Here we are back in the NYC pop-up shop. It was incredible, the yarn, the atmosphere, Gale's beautiful photography..... the company!

Kay Gardiner popped in right before I had to leave so I was thrilled to meet her in person. I have long admired her blog and books and knitting. Gale is friends with Kay because she photographed the first Mason-Dixon Knitting book I believe. Gale is one to support and maintain friendships and foster new friendships. I really feel this about her and I love that.

The Starcroft samples were extraordinary. What a perfect yarn for color work. I wish I could have stayed at the shop longer but I had dinner plans with my Artisan Book (my publisher) buddies of the past, my former publicist Jaime and my beloved former editor, Trent. We had so much fun together. The shop and the dinner with old friends made this a night to remember.

Here is what I selected from the shop. Three lovely skeins of Starcroft Nash Island 100% Wild Maine Wool in the Tide weight, which is DK. The colors are from left to right: Barnacle, Clear Skies and Cove.

I believe you can purchase the yarn here if you'd like some for yourself.

I also picked up a dozen GORGEOUS postcards of Nash Island photographed by Gale Zucker. You will want a set of these I promise. Click here to find out more.

I hand-wound the skeins and the yarn seemed prettier than ever. It kind of glows with natural beauty.

I began a hat and after a couple of false starts things moved along quickly.

The yarn softened as I worked. There is such a purity and calmness to the yarn.

Here is my finished hat! Fits like a glove. Feels like a million bucks.

I did a simple single round striping on the top. It is quite beautiful.

After the blocking the yarn fluffed up and softened even further. I have been wearing it non-stop!

I will write up the pattern soon. This is a simple color work pattern that would be a good first Fair Isle project. I really love this hat, there is so much history, hard work and natural beauty in the wool.

Here are the postcards I purchased from Gale at the Starcroft shop in NYC! I love this set of postcards to no end. I've already sent one off but I am telling you they are like a little pack of art. I don't know if I can part with any more of them. I think I will somehow frame them and hang them up in my house.

You can order a set of these postcards from Gale. What a perfect gift for any knitter or sheep lover or nature lover or Maine lover..... etc. I will probably be ordering more soon.

Click here to check out the Nash Island postcard set!  

I can't possibly do the Starcroft and Jani Estelle story justice. It is a story of sheep, fiber, dedication, hard work, perseverance, forces of nature, love and more. 

To find out more of the story please watch the video from Fiber Trek (a great fiber podcast you should check out). Click here for the direct link to the Fiber Trek podcast. In Episode 1, Sarah of Fiber Trek takes you directly to Nash Island and interviews Jani of Starcroft and Mary Jane Mucklestone the color work master of our times. You'll learn so much about sheep, fiber, processing, dying, Jani and more from this video podcast.

Anyway, what a fun time I've had learning about Starcroft through my friend Gale and many others. Thanks for coming along today.

xo ~ susan

Yarn Share

Hi, Knitters,

This week is flying by and before it's over I want to share some super cool yarns I have been collecting. Some of the skeins I have purchased and some have been sent to me to review and try out. I am excited about all of it and I think you might be, too. I can't wait to get to dreaming, winding and knitting. I might do some designing with a few of these pretties, maybe new sock or shawl designs and others may become simple How I Make My Socks.

Let's get right to the yarn. Click over, look around and share some yarn-y love on these hardworking indie dyers' websites and shops. 

Above is the TurtlePurl Yarns, Striped Turtle Toes in the Trenchcoat colorway, fingering weight, 460 yards. The two skeins are self-striping. Both strands were dyed together so the socks will be perfectly matched when started from the same end of the skein. I LOVE that fact.

I love the camel color with the black, cream and red. What a classic combination. That's my mom's scarf sitting under the yarn. Soon I will have socks to match this beloved scarf that's a Burberry inspired fabric and super soft and cuddly. I ordered this sock set awhile ago.

Click here for Turtlepurl Yarns!

I was sent these two beautiful skeins by a new-ish yarn shop on Etsy, Red Sock Blue Sock Yarn. The dyer, Ashley, lives in Ontario, Canada and her yarns are just gorgeous. I have to say that I liked her colors and yarns on the Etsy shop but I was blown away by the depth and vibrancy of Twilight (left) and the subtle tones of Steel Blue on the right when I saw them in person. Steel Blue is BFL Sock yarn, fingering weight, 435 yards. I love BFL sock yarn and I can't wait to dig into this one. The Twilight yarn is the Basic Sock 75% Merino, 25% Nylon, 460 yards of fingering weight. I just love this variegated colorway. 

Thank you, Ashley for the lovely skeins! You have beautiful yarns.

Click here for Red Sock Blue Sock Yarns on Etsy! Tell Ashley I say hello if you order from her.

Pagewood Farm has beautifully dyed wools. This one is the Chugiak base, which is 100% super wash wool, 450 yards of fingering weight, in the Army Girl colorway. I want to make socks with this skein.  I love it so much. The yarn has a very tight twist and I love the olive green with the flecks of red, blue, darker green, brown, and lighter shades of green. It is stunning. 

I purchased this skein right here at Webs! There are so many other beautiful colorways. I really like the MapleLeaf colorway.

I think I shared this skein before. It is Caterpillargreen yarn and honestly I am afraid to crack this one open. It is so extraordinarily beautiful in the skein. It kind of takes my breath away. This skein is called Concrete and Tulips. It is an MCN blend, 405 yards of fingering weight. It feels like butter. I will be making socks with this in the very near future when I get my nerve up to wind and knit with this yarn. There is something about it that I can't describe. It's kind of incredible.

Click here to see the Caterpillargreen Yarns in Classic Stripes. These are some of the most unique striping patterns I have ever seen. I love how you can see the striping patterns run under the photo of the skeined yarn, so clever. I think there are pre-orders and then it takes awhile to get the yarn. It is well worth the wait. 

Well much to my surprise.....

these new Caterpillargreen Shawl Stripes skeins showed up at my door. Thank you, Cat (the dyer)! I had to sit down for a minute. These are the most stunning skeins. There is no filter on the photos you are seeing. It is that good. The heft and squish and the subtle rich colors are too much to take. This unique take on striping yarn specifically for shawl knitting takes striping sock yarn on a new and fresh journey. 

Click here for the Caterpillargreen Shawl Stripes skeins! These skeins are XL, MCN fingering weight, 170 grams, 548 yards. They are squishy, soft, and the colors are simply stunning. The skein on the left is called, g biv (as in ROY G BIV without the ROY, which is again very clever), and the skein on the right is called, Concrete and Tulips, more of my favorite things.

The smart cookies at Caterpillargreen have figured out how to keep the stripes even when knitting triangular shawls. You know when you are knitting a shawl with striping yarn how the stripes start out really wide and then as you increase stitches your stripes get skinnier and skinnier. Caterpillar green has solved this issue for you and me.

Just look at this:

(photo from Caterpillargreen Yarns. Shawl is in Concrete and Tulips)

I want this shawl. I want to knit this shawl, wear this shawl, gift this shawl, be this shawl. Okay maybe not BE this shawl but you get the picture. I want to knit something just like this sample. It's really cool and stylish and it's a striping yarn concept I haven't seen anywhere else. Amazing.

Thank you for the lovely yarn Caterpillargreen Yarns! I will put it to good use and share away. Great work.

I've talked about Quaere Fibre on Etsy before. I knit her striping Patchwork socks and the yarn is simply magnificent. Click here to see them! After those socks, I ordered both of the skeins in the photo above. The Sunset skein on the left is a wonderful 85% super wash Merino, 15% NEP Nylon blend. I love a tweedy sock yarn.  I can't wait to knit this up into some squishy tweedy socks. I have no idea what the variegation will do but I am anxious to find out. I'll keep you posted.

The skein on the right is a Super Sock skein, 150 grams, 600 yards of deep rich navy blue with splashes of bright yellow, orange and a lighter blue. It is Starry Night meets Doctor Who, thusly named Vincent and the Doctor. I LOVE this colorway and it will become a shawl at some point. Yes. This will make the coolest garter stitch shawl of some sort. I want to start this right away.

Click here to one of my faves, Quaere Fibre on Etsy!

Well, today I was going to post about my new color work hat knit out of Starcroft yarns but I was waiting for a couple of things to fall into place first so I went with the Yarn Share today. So next up will be Starcroft yarns, my new Starcroft color work hat, Gale Zucker's fantastic sheepy postcards photographed on Nash Island where the Starcroft sheep live (I have a cool set of these), and a quick view into the Starcroft Pop Up Shop I visited when I was in NYC a couple of weeks ago. It was a super fun night.

All that and more coming up next. Love ya, knitters.

xo ~ susan

New Socks, New Yarn and Knits to Be

Hi, Knitters,

It's been a busy week, right? Well, I have several announcements to start off. The winner of the vest and cowl patterns from Folly's Cove is..... JillShoke on Ravelry. Congratulations to Jill! I have sent an email to Julia Farwell-Clay, the designer, and she will be sending along your patterns.

I am excited to be wearing my latest handknit socks fresh off the needles. I am calling these my Brach's Sundae Socks in tribute to the coconut, chocolate, and pink layered candy that I haven't had in forever but miss when I look at my new socks. I love these so much. Apparently the yarn is discontinued but just in case you can find it somewhere it is the Trekking XXL in color #126. I can't remember where I purchased the Trekking as it was so long ago.

The next bit of news is that I have selected the first prize winner from the 169 participants (the list is on the first post in the thread) for the SBA Shawl Knitalong. Click here to see the thread or to join in. It's not too late to join in or enter any of your past already knit SBA shawls in the knitalong.

The first prize is a doozy. I am sending off 800 yards of the sport weight Helix yarn by Infinite Twist in the Hooker's Green colorway. Helix is the yarn that I knit the Hayward shawl in and it is a beautiful 100% merino wool. The greens in this colorway are inspiring and even prettier in person. 

The winner of 800 yards of Helix is.... NDAkkatie! Congratulations.

Cate Carter of Infinite Twist has kits available for the Hayward shawl and many other great knits, too.

I am so in love with this sweet 100% Maine wool from Nash Island that I picked up at a pop-up shop in NYC a couple of weeks ago. It is Starcroft Tide in a creamy white and two shades of blue. I met the yarn-creator and dyer Jani at the shop, too, and it was quite a treat. 

Click here for the Starcroft website.

I will be talking a lot more about this yarn and my upcoming color work hat design so I will leave it at that today. I hand wound this lovely, sticky, earthy, gorgeously natural wool and I could feel the history behind it running through my fingers. 

Anyway, more to come on this project soon.

We are off into the weekend at full speed ahead. I will be working much of the weekend. Deadlines are deadly and I have many that need tending.

One last thing, I have heard from a couple of people with concerns about the price changes on a couple of my patterns with the misunderstanding that I am raising the prices on all of my patterns. This is not the case at all. In regards to this I am only referring to 4 specific patterns. Two of these patterns will have the price raised $1 and $2 and the other two patterns are actually having the price lowered by $1 apiece. The patterns are being reworked so a distributor can sell the printed patterns in local yarn shops nationwide and beyond. The distributor needs price consistency for the patterns and that's the only reason the price is changing for these 4 patterns. The fifth pattern is the Little Owl that is actually a brand new pattern for my Ravelry pattern shop.

I hope that helps to clear up any concerns. It is a pretty minor change and mostly for the better. 

By the way, thanks for the votes for the Craftsy Instructor's Blog Award. I haven't heard the official results yet but I appreciate the support regardless of the outcome.

Have a great weekend. Don't work too much like me.

xo ~ susan

Folly's Cove and Much More

copyright of Classic Elite

Hi, Knitters,

I have a fun review for you today. Julia Farwell-Clay has created a beautiful new collection in book and digital form for for Classic Elite Yarns. It is so pretty and fun and varied. There are 11 patterns in the book that include a hat, shawl, a sweater, cardigans, a dress, a skirt, a scarf and a short sleeve pullover. Everything is photographed beautifully and Julia is a very talented pattern writer and designer.

Click here to see all of the patterns in Folly's Cove on Ravelry.

The collection is available as an ebook, individual patterns for download and as a printed book.

Click here to see all of Julia Farwell-Clay's designs on Ravelry. She designed the Hiro Sweater amongst other well-known designs.

Click here to check out Julia's blog.

This week is the blog tour for Folly's Cove. Here are some things you should know about the blog tour:

1. For this week, all patterns, both individually and the entire ebook, are 10% off on all Ravelry purchases for any Folly's Cove item using the coupon code: FFC10

2. I will draw a winner for the patterns Iarrobino Butterfly Cowl and Vest which are pictured below. Please leave a comment on this post to enter to win these two digital colorwork patterns.

3. There are lots of cool stops on the Folly's Cove blog tour. After my stop is Indigo Dragonfly. Other stops include Kristin Nicholas, Kay Gardiner of Mason-Dixon Knitting, and Talitha Kuomi. These all include fun giveaways and reviews.

4. At the end of the week, check into the Classic Elite Blog for a chance to win yarn for the project of your choice from the book. Click here for more information.

copyright of Classic Elite

Above is the Iarrobino Butterfly Vest that is part of the giveaway for one lucky winner along with....

copyright of Classic Elite

.... the Iarrobino Butterfly Cowl. 

Leave a comment to enter to win these patterns. One winner will win both of these patterns. Please leave your Ravelry username or email in your comment.

 copyright of Classic Elite

My personal favorite from the book is the Meteori Shawl. It is really a lovely piece. Thanks, Julia and Classic Elite, for the book, the discount code, and the opportunity for one of my readers to win the patterns.

Now for a couple of miscellaneous knitting-related topics.

Here is Ida B. Knitting, an Opal Sock Yarn Bunny that travels to and from various Itty-Bitty Knitters'  (my Ravelry group) homes and events just like Flat Stanley. I had to share this photo from Carrie or cstein on Ravelry. Carrie took my class at VK Live in NYC and she brought Ida along for the ride. Thanks for bringing Ida and for making the effort to come to class. I love seeing you, Carrie.

The SBA Shawl Knitalong is in full-swing. There are already 77 finished shawls posted (remember you can post past knits) and there are almost 130 shawl knitters joined in the Knitalong. If you are at all interested you may want to sign up by the end of the week (although you can join anytime through March 1st). I will be drawing for the first prize from the participant sign up list in a few days and the first prize is HUGE and really good. I have a bunch of fantastic prizes already lined up and I am gathering more as we go. Don't miss out.

Click here for the SBA Shawl Knitalong thread on Ravelry

Don't forget that through Friday, Jan. 30th I have a 20% off discount code: SBASHAWLWKAL

Included in the SBA Shawl Knitalong and the discount code are the following shawl patterns: 

Yowza Weigh It Shawl 
Yowza Weigh It Shawl 2 
Hayward 
50 Row Shawlette 
Prairie Ridge Shawl 
Quaker Ridge Shawlette 
Drawing Nigh (not included in the discount code because Quince owns this pattern)

In other sheepy news, I am in the process of re-fluffing several of my patterns which will become available as updated downloadable pdfs through Ravelry but also as high-quality printed patterns for local yarn shops to carry wholesale. Many more details are coming soon and I am super-excited to share more with you.

In the meantime I have been re-knitting, rewriting and photographing the new samples for these patterns. There is a graphic design team working on the patterns, too.

I am telling you this because.....

..... the prices are going to be changed on several selected patterns, some will be slightly higher and some will be slightly lower. This has to be done for consistency purposes. I am really excited about this new venture and as I said more information will be coming soon.

The pattern called Lamb from Scratch, in the photo above, is one of the patterns that is going to have the price raised slightly. I originally knit this up in my very first handspun yarn several years ago. I was so thrilled with my uneven lumpy handspun yarn that I created a sheep pattern in honor of it. 

The older, more homespun, original version of the pattern is still available for $4 on Ravelry for a short while longer. I want to give you fair warning that the price change will be happening in the near future.

When the new version is available I'll send out the update to everyone who has already purchased the pattern in the past.

The newer and fancier version will be $6. I am not sure exactly when this will be changing but probably in the next few weeks. Grab it now if interested and you don't mind the older scruffier version (the pattern is the same as for the newly knit sheep in the photos here).

Click here for the Lamb from Scratch pattern

The new version of the pattern will be called Sweet Sheep and the samples are knit in the wonderful Solitude Wool Romney 2-ply Aran weight. It is a cute, simple sheep pattern.

One last quick thing. I was surprised to see that I am nominated for the Best Craftsy Knitting Instructor's Blog Award for 2015. Thank you for the honor if you were one of the nominee voters.

Craftsy has been very good to me over the last few years and although I don't promote my classes too often on my blog I do appreciate everything Craftsy has provided for crafters in general and knitters. It is a great new and innovative platform for learning and teaching.

Now the voting is on through midnight on Wed. Jan. 28th, 2015 (tomorrow) to select the winner of this and many other great categories. 

Click here if you are interested in checking it out or voting!

I'll be back soon to share some sock and shawl knitting progress.

Don't forget to leave a comment to win the vest and cowl pattern.

xo ~ susan

SBA Shawl Knitalong Starts Now! Shawl Discount, too.

Yowza Weigh It Shawl

Hi, Knitters!

I am so excited to get this SBA Shawl Knitalong kicked off! There are some different rules that really benefit you and add to your chances of winning a prize. Be sure to read through thoroughly. You don't need to be a member of the Itty-Bitty Knits group (my Ravelry group) to enter but we'd sure love to have you join in over there.

Click here for the discussion and sharing and helping thread on my Ravelry Group, Itty-Bitty Knits! This is the thread where you officially join the SBA Shawl Knitalong and chat, post photos, get help, and have fun! Set up your project pages and tag SBASHAWLKAL please! I will post your name on a list and will be drawing for random prizes along the way from this thread.

Click here for the finished SBA Shawl Knitalong thread! Here is where you post photos of finished shawls and link your project page. Please no chatter on here, only finished shawls.

Here is how it is going to work:

The SBA Shawl Knitalong is starting today, January 22, 2015 and ending March 1, 2015. This knitalong is different than some other knitalongs you may have done in the past so be sure to read through the rules (they benefit you, the knitter!).

Included in the SBA Shawl Knitalong are the following 7 shawl patterns (click to find the patterns):
Yowza Weigh It Shawl
Yowza Weigh It Shawl 2
Hayward
50 Row Shawlette
Prairie Ridge Shawl
Quaker Ridge Shawlette
Drawing Nigh (Not included in the discount code as I don't own the rights to the pattern, Quince & Co. does.)

Here are the rules:
~ You can enter any of the my shawl patterns listed you have knit in the past or have just started. There isn’t a starting date.

~ You do have to have a finished shawl by the deadline in order to be eligible for prizes.

~ You can enter to win prizes more than once, one time for each shawl you have knitted in the past or are currently knitting. The more entries you have, the more chances you have to win one of the amazing prizes I have lined up! You won’t believe the stuff I already have as prizes. I may jump in and give random prizes along the way. You never know.

~ You need to enter the SBA shawl you are working on or have already finished in the Finished SBA Shawl KAL Thread with a photo and a project page before the deadline in order to win a prize.

Please tag your project pages!!!

The tag for the project pages is: SBASHAWLKAL

Is there more?

Yes! All of these shawl patterns with the exception of Drawing Nigh (I don’t own Drawing Nigh ~ Quince & Co. does) are now available for 20% off through next Friday, January 30, 2015!

The discount code is: SBASHAWLKAL

You don't need to join in the Knitalong to use the discount code. It is there for everyone.

The dates of the SBA Shawl Knitalong are from today, Jan. 22, 2015 through March 1, 2015! Finish as many shawls as you can. Post your already finished SBA Shawls! I want this to be a celebration of ALL of these fun shawls I have designed and that you have knit!

Let me know if I’ve forgotten anything!

Let’s chat, share, ask questions and help each other. Please feel free to jump in and answer questions even if they are addressed to me. I LOVE that.

Love you all!
Susan
p.s. Please introduce yourselves on here and let us know which shawl you are working on currently and what finished shawls you have entered. I am going to try my best to make a list of all participants. I will be drawing for random prizes along the way so you will want to be on this list! Please keep me posted if you have joined and I missed you.

p.p.s If I get the Yowza Weigh It Shawl 3 done soon I will add it to the discount and the list of included shawls. I just haven’t had the time to finish it but I will be on a mission to do so!!

50 Row Shawlette

Drawing Nigh

This shawl is owned by Quince & Co. so Drawing Nigh is not included in the 20% off discount code. You can purchase this pattern through Ravelry or Quince & Co.

Hayward

Prairie Ridge Shawl

Quaker Ridge Shawlette

Yowza Weigh It Shawl 2

Let me know if you are joining in! Be sure to head over to the Ravelry threads linked above and check in and post your progress. I suspect we are going to have loads of fun together over the next month.

Don't forget to use the discount code for 20% off the 6 different shawl patterns if interested. The code is: SBASHAWLKAL. The sale goes now until Jan. 30, 2015.

xo ~ susan

Madison Knitters' Guild Knit In and Knitting Galore!

Hi, Knitters,

The classes and registration information is up for the Madison Knitters' Guild Knit In! I am teaching on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21 and 22, 2015 at the Alliant Energy Center (or the Coliseum for the old-school Madisonians) in Madison. There are so many great teachers and a fantastic marketplace. The prices are very reasonable for the classes, many places I teach charge double or even triple the class fees being charged at the Knit In. Some of the teachers include Patty Lyons, Joanna Johnson, Sheryl Thies and Annie Modesitt. There are many others instructors with interesting and fun class offerings.

I hope to see you there! Click here for more information about this great Madison Knitting event!

I'm off to New York City in a few days to teach at Vogue Knitting Live. I can't wait. In addition to teaching on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I am speaking on a panel discussion at noon on Sunday. The panel is being led by Trisha Malcolm the editor of Vogue Knitting. And on Saturday night I am doing a book signing at the Knitty City booth #710 in the marketplace at 5pm!

A couple of my classes have been sold out but this keeps coming and going so I think numbers are still shuffling about. If a class is sold out be sure to request the class you are interested in. Sometimes I can change the numbers to allow more in the class if they aren't already too high. It's worth contacting the people at Vogue to check.

It's going to be a jam-packed weekend of fun. Click here to find out more about VKLive in NYC!

I am also teaching at Vogue Knitting Live in Pasadena, California in April! 

Click here for more information about VKLive in Pasadena.

Now for the socks in the photo above. I finished these last week and I love them. The yarn is from ColoringBookYarns on Etsy and the colorway is BMO. The heels are knit in Opal Solids in Black. These were really fun to knit. The yarn is wonderful.

Click here for Coloring Book Yarns on Etsy!

Pattern: How I Make My Socks

Needles: US size 1 dpns

Sock blockers: From theloopyewe.com

To make the heel flap a different color I leave the Main Color attached and start knitting the heel flap with the Contrast Color. I work the heel flap and turn with the Contrast Color and cut the yarn. Then I go back to where I left off with the Main Color and continue on picking up the gusset stitches. It works well to not break up the striping pattern on the rest of the sock and if you are concerned about not having enough yarn it gives a little more leeway.

As for an in-progress knitting update, I finished the first sock in the most fantastic rainbow gradient I've ever seen. The yarn is called Rainbow Gradient and it comes in the Gradients Matching Socks Sets by KnitCircus. It is truly beautiful and I love that the two yarn cakes are exactly the same so my socks will match perfectly without having to do any extra work.

Click here for Knit Circus Yarns!!

US size 1 dpns

Pattern: How I Make My Socks

I knit an 8-inch cuff in hopes that I would reach all of the colors and it worked. I could have gone with a 9-inch cuff. I wear a 7.5 US women's shoe size. 

I started a pair of Broken Seed Stitch Socks yesterday. The pattern is free on Ravelry.

Click here for the Broken Seed Stitch Socks pattern by handepande!

I am knitting them out of some really old Koigu that I purchased at Purl Soho maybe 8 years ago when I was in NYC on an early book tour. I lost the label so that's all I know about it. The contrast is a tan color in the Opal Solid Series. The combination is a good one. 

I don't like pooling at all so the contrast color and stitch pattern is a good mask for variegated yarns that pool. You can see that the rusty color is pooling but it actually looks kind of cool using this pattern. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Lastly, I finally got started on a shawl project I am collaborating on with Jaala Spiro, the dyeing genius at Knit Circus Yarns. I am using the Come What May Gradient that comes in a 600 yard skein. I can't tell you how much fun this is to knit. I have a good start with a little easy lace and we'll see where this takes me. I have lots of ideas about how the shawl will grow from here.

Click here to see this skein on Knit Circus Yarns on Etsy!

I'm not sure when the new pattern is going to be released but I am hoping in the next couple months. I'll post about it when it is available.

Have a great Sunday! It's all about the Packers around here today (not for me so much but for other members of the family).
xo ~ susan

Badge of Love: Darning

Hi, Knitters,

First, the winner of the Fab Funky Fibres Autumn Rainbow self-striping yarn is.....

Cori or irocknits on Ravelry!! By the way check out Cori's photo in Instagram of the 9 sweaters she finished for Christmas gifts this year. It is pretty incredible. Click here to see!

Congratulations to Cori! Thank you to Elaine of Fab Funky Fibres for the skein of gorgeous yarn to give to one of you. Thank you for the enormous response to the giveaway. I will have another one very soon. 

One more quick news-type thing, in February I am teaching at the Madison Knitting Guild event called Knit In! Click here to see the class options and to get more information. It is open to everyone! I'll talk more about this soon with more details but register early if you want to get in. My classes were huge and filled quickly last time I taught at this fun event. 

Today I have a video tutorial on darning for you. I am no expert but I have occasionally darned holes in socks and I get asked about repairing worn holes in socks so I thought I'd share.

My future daughter-in-law, Miss Molly, knit these adorable socks a couple of year ago. Last week she sadly told me that both socks suddenly had holes on the bottom of the heels. It's kind of funny how they wore out exactly at the same time and in the same spot but they did! I told her to bring them to me and I would try to darn the holes for her.

A few quick things about the video. Warp and weft were the weaving terms I couldn't remember. Also, the yarn has become slightly felted from washing and wearing so you can see the I struggle a bit to get the needle through the stitches. Be patient if your sock is slightly felted and use a sharper or finer needle to make it easier.

Make sure not to pull any of the strands too tight while darning. Pulling too tight will distort the natural shape of the sock. The darning egg comes in handy for keeping the fabric as it would be while wearing the sock but it isn't necessary. You could use a small ball, a tomato pincushion, or something else rounded. Remember those EOS lip balms I recently talked about.... two purposes in one!

If you can't see the video for email subscribers click here to view the video on YouTube!

Click here to see my YouTube Channel with dozens and dozens of tutorials and knitting videos.

The sock yarn used for the socks in the video is Vesper by Knitterly Things (one of my favorites) in the Shamrockin' colorway. The pattern used for the socks is How I Make My Socks found both on Ravelry and my blog.

A couple of more quick thoughts or options on darning for you:
1.  If you notice that the yarn is getting very worn and thin in a certain spot on your sock but it hasn't broken through to create a hole yet you can darn over the top of the threadbare spot using this same technique before it breaks open. This is called surface darning.
2. For this same kind of wearing thin of the fiber but not a hole quite yet you can duplicate stitch over the threadbare stitches to reinforce them before the worn spot becomes a hole.
3. If the darned spot is on the bottom of the foot do not use any knots and try to weave in the ends so as not to create any unwanted ridges in the fabric.

My final thoughts on darning are to just do it! You can see that my darning isn't perfect but it works just fine to extend the life of the beloved handknit socks. The darned spot will wear in so that it will feel undetectable to the foot after awhile in my experience.

I've shown you in the video how I have darned my own socks through the years and this technique works really well for me. There are lots of other ways to darn socks. I remembered reading an article by Kate Gilbert of Twist Collective awhile back and when I searched it popped right up. Kate created a great tutorial showing several different darning techniques. It is extremely helpful and clear.

Click here to read Kate Gilbert's tutorial post called Darn It All!

I love a darned spot on any sort of knitwear. It is a badge of LOVE. A darned spot is something to be cherished. There is a charm to a darned sock, mitten, or even sweater elbows. I prefer to darn my socks in different colored yarn to remind me how much I have worn and loved them.

Back in 2013 I did a blog post sharing the darning of a pair of handspun socks. Click here to revisit the post and to see the darned socks!

And if interested, click here to see another sock I darned where the darned spot turned out like a heart! It's very cute.

Please let me know if you have any darning tips or techniques that you've used to repair your knit items. I'd love to hear about it.

Have a great Sunday and start to your week, dear Knitters.

xo ~ susan

Fab Funky Fibres Giveaway!

Hi, Knitters,

I hope you have all had a good holiday season so far. It has been busy and full around here. Along with hosting Christmas for my side of the family we've had a birthday leftover lunch for my niece and a Packer-viewing game crew just left. We have had lots and lots of family and friends at our house over the past week and I love every minute of it. It's been a lot of cooking, baking, talking and eating. My husband's birthday is tomorrow and then New Year's Eve, my son's girlfriend is coming to visit for a few days... and so it continues. 

And in two weeks Vogue Knitting Live in New York City! Come see me! I can't wait to teach at this event. It is one of my favorites.

We have taken down all of the Christmas decorations and tree (the needles were collapsing in piles on the floor every time someone walked by) but I snapped a few photos before they were stored away for next year. 

Alan Dart Yuletide Gnome above!

Hope your days were merry and bright..... 

Now for some socks.

Do you remember these stripey socks I knitted a couple of years ago? I used to have this photo on the header for my blog. The yarn is in the colorway called 15 Color Rainbow and it is from an Etsy shop called Fab Funky Fibres. The colors are saturated and the stripes are clean and crisp. Elaine does one of the best dye work jobs I've seen. She lives in England. The skeins are a bit pricey but worth every penny in my opinion. Each of her striping skeins is about $38 plus shipping.

Click here for Fab Funky Fibres on Etsy!

 

Every once in a while I hop over to Fab Funky Fibres to see what's cooking with her yarn. Elaine has a yarn colorway with 23 different striping colors that I purchased. It is called, I Believe in the Impossible. It's the skein on the left in the photo above. Elaine sent me a note saying that she sent along an extra skein called Autumn Rainbow to give to one of my blog readers. 

Thank you, Elaine! You are very generous.

The 23 different colored striping yarn is extraordinarily beautiful in the skein but when you see it knit up...

(photo from Fab Funky Fibres, I Believe in the Impossible)

... it is exciting! I can't wait to dig in! Elaine added contrasting cuffs, heels and toes. You wouldn't have to but it is pretty this way.

Directly above in the photo is the skein one of you luckies will win!

From Elaine of Fab Funky Fibres:

Autumn Rainbow a little taste of Autumn Colours knits into 6 rows of knitting per colour depending on your tension for a fab and funky fusion of colour:

75% Superwash Merino 

25% Nylon
4 ply Superwash

Autumn Rainbow is a 100 gram/464 yard skein of fingering weight yarn. I counted and I think this giveaway skein has about 15 different colored stripes.

  

 (photo from Fab Funky Fibres)

Here is what Autumn Rainbow looks like knit up! Stunning! The knitter that gets this skein is going to have so much fun.

To enter to win the skein of Autumn Rainbow striping sock yarn from Fab Funky Fibres, please leave one comment on this blog post. Be patient for your comment to appear and only click post one time. There is a delay in posting to the blog post. In your comment you must leave either your email address or your Ravelry ID or username so I can contact you if you win. 

I will be back in a couple of short days to randomly select a winner. 

Good luck and let the comments begin!

xo ~ susan

Early on the Eve

Hi, Knitters,

I awoke very early on this Christmas Eve morning to finish the toe of the last of the socks to be gifted tomorrow. Much coffee has already been had and I am pleased as punch to finish the pair. These are going to a family member who requested only a pair of handknit socks from me. 

The wish is granted. 

The yarn is Patons Kroy Socks in the Singin' the Blues colorway. It's unanimous that everyone around here loves the stripes and colors. I've had two more requests for this same yarn and more socks. I'll need a quick breather and then maybe I can come back to it again. It's definitely a good unisex colorway.

I'm so excited for Christmas this year. It all feels so good and happy. Having my grown kids home and tucked in their beds makes me feel whole and content. There is so much excitement and change going on in all of their lives and it is fun to see who they are becoming as young adults. I looked across the dinner table filled with our mostly adult children and asked my husband, "Can you believe we did this?" 

We are all enveloped in home and love. 

I hope love surrounds you this holiday season and for the rest of the new year to come. Thank you for sharing so much with me, sweet Knitters.

See you on the other side.....

xo ~ susan