A Few Good Knit Mags

Hi Knitters,

Have you seen this new-ish knit magazine? It is of special interest to me because it is a Madison-based production and it is quite impressive. Knit Circus is now in its 5th issue, which is the one pictured above. I love the cover, I'm assuming it is shot in Madison because where else do people eat and enjoy ice cream like that in the dead of winter? The sweater is called the Kate Cardigan and it is designed by Elizabeth Morrison. It's very cute.
Elizabeth also designed this vest. There is a good mix of patterns offered in Knitcircus, something for just about everyone, along with product reviews, book reviews and even a couple of recipes for ham sandwiches and blonde brownies. I think the recipes are kind of fun.
There are accessory patterns, too. These beautiful handwarmers are designed by Jaala Spiro, who is the publisher and editor in chief of Knitcircus. She also had a clever pattern in Knitty recently, take a look at Tatiana. Those are some pretty cool mitts.
These sweet Baby Janes are a cute baby gift.
There are lots of hat patterns. I like all of these patterns and I think I might make a couple of these sometime soon. The upper left hat has one big cable and is made in Malabrigo. This one is first on my list.

Knitcircus is a great small-sized magazine that is packed with loads of patterns and information. Plus it is fun to see all of the local advertising.
Vogue Knitting's latest cover simply takes my breath away. I think it is stunning. The bulky weight wrap is designed by Tanis Gray and the yarn is Blue Sky Alpacas bulky. What a perfect combination, pattern and yarn. Gorgeous. This one pattern makes the issue. I will make some form of the cover wrap.
Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine has a new issue out. It is a wonderful magazine, big and beautiful. The patterns are really good. There is a section on white with many household accessories included. I love seeing loads of white. It always looks fresh and clean.
There is a red, white and blue section that includes this little stripey dress. This is one of my favorite patterns in the magazine. The best part is the red piping around the edges. It is perfect Debbie Bliss and there is so much more.
Here are three good mags with lots to offer. I am happy there are magazines to have and to hold these days. It would be a sad day without print copies of knitting magazines, I think. It seems like I keep hearing about various magazines folding and it makes me worry. One of our local newspapers went out of daily print as of late and now our other daily paper has shrunk the size of the pages so they are skinnier. It feels and looks strange but it is clearly a sign of the times. 

Print media is so important to me and maybe to you, too.

Have a good Thursday, Knitters.

best, susie

Have you ever?

Hi Knitters,

I ran across this youtube video of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee knitting and it is fascinating. One time a couple of years ago I was in Lexington for a book convention and Stephanie was there. My friend, Dianne, took all of the knitters out to lunch and I sat across the table from Stephanie and watched her knit over lunch. I had never seen anyone knit in this style and I was mesmerized. Take a look:

I thought you might enjoy watching her knit. I thought I was fast-ish but compared to her I knit in slow motion. I wish I could knit like this, I would get so much done.

Okay, a couple of other quick things for you here. I bought this beautiful pattern and I can't wait to knit this up. I want to support Kate Gilbert's exciting and innovative new online magazine and I plan on buying more patterns from here in the future. Check it out, this issue has some fun baby and toy projects to boot.

Every time I go to read Kristin's blog I feel like linking her newest post here. I know I bring her blog up a lot but it is worth repeating. She does all of this online work from a dial-up connection. That is dedication. If you don't read her blog yet, you should add it to your list. It is really good. Plain and simple. Here are a few gems as of late:

crochet flower tutorial

French knot tutorial

Fantastic hat and flower pattern

If you are interested in flowers, color, design, nature, New England, sheep farming, kittens, dogs, cooking, family life on a farm, patterns, books, crafts, recipes, funny stories, etc. visit this blog. Kristin is a treat. There, I said it again. (psssst, she is having a few big daily giveaways going on right now.)

That's all for this morning. I have lots of knitting to get done today plus it's really sunny and warm outside. I want to get out there and enjoy this weather before it is gone again.

best, susie

p.s. I am mailing out the Blue Sky yarn and my knit birdy today.

Girl Scout Knitting Part 2

Hi Knitters,

With a table filled with variegated and rainbow choices to make, two more Girl Scout knitting gatherings have occurred in my living room. I can't tell you how much the girls love to choose the yarn for their project. The baby hats continue to be a hit as an initial knitting project for the girls. They love it.
This little sweetheart came on a day after school by herself due to some schedule conflicts. She is already a fast and furious knitter so there wasn't much for me to teach. The hat is her first time knitting in the round on circular needles so she learned a little something new. She is already adept with her needles for sure.
Work, work, stitch, stitch...
The little stitchers are so cute and deliberate.
This was the next meeting later in the week. The Collector has finished 3 hats now, even working several rounds on double-pointed needles to finish this hat off. I will share some photos of her finished creations soon.
In this group there were a couple of girls who already knew how to knit. This adorable knitter has made hats before and her mom knits. This was an easy task for her, no problem.
This Girl Scout's mom knits, too, and she had recently learned to knit back and forth. The knitting in the round was new for her but she caught on extremely fast. Many people have written me to see what pattern and yarn and needles I am using with the girls. The pattern is from Itty-Bitty Hats, just the Simple Baby Cap pattern. They are knitting a longish tube to either gather at the top, seam across or I will help finish with double-pointed needles. It will be their choice. These options are all in the book. Then we will add something fun to top off the hat to make it extra-special.

I cast on 64 stitches on Clover US size 8, sixteen inch circular needles, marked the first stitch with a marker, and knitted a couple rounds to get them started. Casting on will come later with the next project. I want them just to learn the knit stitch to start. This seems to be a good strategy. Keeping things simple and fun is a smart way to begin.
The capped little friend above was my only brand new knitter in the group. Boy, did she catch on fast, nearly no help needed from me. I was pretty amazed at the speed with which she picked things up. She's a smart cookie.
Think and work and stitch and wrap...
I love The Collector walking around the room with her knitting in tow. She was visiting the troop-mates and helping when needed.
Those little hands knitting are too good. I could watch all day. Ah, just look.
Chit and chat.
Knitting with friends can't be beat. They were a happy, fun group to have over, such good friends to each other. This group included loads of laughter and silliness. There was a lot of up and down and quick changing topics of conversation. 

I eat it up. The sillier, the better for me.
I love how little girls like to sit so close to each other. It's very sweet. This has been a wonderful, fulfilling project for me so far and the girls seem to be enjoying it, too. 

How lucky am I? You know what? You all could do this same project in your communities even if you don't have a girl scout of your own. If you are interested you should think about it.

One more meeting to go at the end of the week. Then the small groups will be done and I will begin to plan our large group meeting. That should be really fun. I know a couple of girls are ready to finish up their hats from the first meeting. 

I am wishing a good week to knitters of all ages out there. Hopefully you'll find a little time to get some knitting in this week.

best, susie

The Bluest Sky

Hi Knitters,

I've selected four recipients for the skeins of Blue Sky Cotton. I am truly overwhelmed by the number of emails I received from willing knitters. It would take me a long time to count. I wish I had enough yarn to send some to each and every one of you. I hope Lucinda can feel the support and love knitters are giving her just through their thoughts and wishes. It's real and it's astounding.

Lucinda was so happy about the Blue Sky Cotton giveaway that she asked for 6 names to send some of her yarn, too. I randomly grabbed 6 emails and sent them off to her. Six more of you will be getting cotton from Lucinda to knit birds. Through this yarn we will be able to send her 30 finished birdies. How wonderful is that?

My heart is full because of you, the sweetest knitting birds on earth. Your willingness to help is beyond the bluest sky.

Can you guess what The Collector is in the photo?

That's right, she's a dpn. She learned to use dpns this morning to top off her latest hat. She did a couple rounds and I did a couple of rounds. As I was finishing the last round I looked up and she was doing a dance that ended in this pose. She told me she was a dpn. With my camera right next to me I snapped a quick shot so you could join her in this knitterly accomplishment. That's some serious pride.

Have a good weekend, Knitters, it is a beautiful day in Madison with the bluest skies of all. I will be back soon with my latest Girl Scout knitting meeting including lots and lots of fun photos.

best, susie

a flock caught my eye

Hi Knitters,

Yesterday I finished my editing and shipped my book pages back off to my publisher. In my sigh of relief I grabbed my needles and a skein of Blue Sky Cotton, emailed Lucinda for her bird pattern and dug in to knit a little blue bird for the cause I wrote about here. It felt good and perfect. 

I had a kind of sign yesterday, at least I took it like that anyway. Let me tell you about it.

Yesterday morning I saw the new Knitty was out. I was casually looking at the new patterns, browsing from top to bottom. Suddenly I scanned down with my eyes to the last pattern and was stunned when I saw this. Sometimes things happen that take your breath away. To see Flock and to be thinking about Cooper's Flock took my breath away. 

To continue on, I glanced at the next pattern in the sequence I had been browsing in before and I saw this. The designer's name is Birdy Evans and the design is called Flit and Float. Lucinda's son was nicknamed Birdy, like that, with a y at the end and thus the reason for the knitted bird charity. 

I emailed Lucinda about this strange coincidence. She emailed me back and simply said, "I got chills." I did, too. I know that things just happen for no reason and often that is the case but what if this wasn't one of those times? I am feeling the need to do a little more for Lucinda and her Birdy today.
Lucinda only wants the donated birds to be knit in Blue Sky Cotton. The lovely Sylvia at Blue Sky has already sent Lucinda an enormous box stuffed with their gorgeous cotton. That is great for Lucinda and the knitters around her but I want to get some of this cotton in your hands if you want to help. 

I happen to have a little Blue Sky Cotton, left over from a project, at my house and I would like to send some to you to knit these little birds. I have 4 skeins of the Blue Sky Cotton in pretty spring shades that I want to give to some sweet bird knitters. Lucinda says you can get 3 birds out of one skein. That means with this yarn we can knit a dozen birds for Cooper's Flock.

If you are interested in knitting a few sweet little birds for Lucinda as a memorial for her son please email me directly to enter (my email address is on the sidebar). Please do not enter for the yarn through posting comments. Here is the thing, I will select 4 people, to send one skein each, tomorrow. In your email, please send me your name and mailing address. Please U.S. mailing addresses only for this one.

Please only enter if you are going to knit birds for Lucinda. We can do a really good thing for a family dealing with a painful loss through our knitting. Okay, hope to hear from you, little bird knitters. I will email you back to tell you if you will receive a skein of yarn for bird knitting. If you don't get an email from me tomorrow assume you have not been selected. I will select the recipients randomly, probably writing names on slips of paper and having one of my kids blindly select the emails from a hat.

Now about the bird I made, to get the pattern go to Lucinda's blog and her email is on the sidebar. Email her and she will send you the pattern via email with an attached pdf file. 

I knit my bird on a set of four US size 6 dpns. I adjusted the pattern very slightly in several places. You don't need to adjust as I did, the pattern is fine and wonderful as is. I almost hesitated posting a picture of my bird because I know I will get questions about what I did but I posted photos anyway because I want people to knit birds. So the following are my modifications. ( it is an easy, easy pattern as is)
Tail: the same

Body: Increase to 28 stitches. Work 16 rounds. Decreased to 18 stitches (the same as in the pattern).

Head: Increased to 24 stitches (8 on each needle). Worked 6 rounds. Decreased to 9 stitches (the same as in the pattern, 3 stitches on each needle).

Beak: switched colors, knit 3 rounds. K1, k2tog on each needle. Knit one round. K2tog on each needle. 3 sts remain. cut and pull through.

Wings: I knit them separately, not picked up as instructed. 

Cast on 15 sts, 5 sts per needle. Join to work in the round.

Knit 4 rounds.

decrease:

rnd 1: k2, k2tog

rnd 2: knit

rnd 3: k1, k2tog

rnd 4: knit

rnd 5: k2tog

Cut and pull through. Lay the wing flat, whipstitch to the bird's back.
Knit the bird any way you'd like. It's the thought that counts and any bird will be beautiful and appreciated.
I tied an off-white silk ribbon to the back between the wings in case they want to hang it.

Fly away home, little bird.

I hope to get a few emails from anyone interested in knitting a bird in recognition of a beautiful little boy who will continue to touch many.

Have a good weekend, Knitters. I know I am ready for a few days off.

best, susie

Cool Stuff

Hi Knitters,

This has to be fast and furious, too much work for me and too little time. I have so much to share with you. I am in the midst of editing and nearing my last little bit to get organized today and send on back to my trusty editor, Trent, at Artisan tomorrow. The book is shaping up very well and I heard yesterday that the cover shot and design has been selected. I can't wait to see it. It's all pretty exciting. 

Imagine my dismay when I opened up my email a couple days ago and I saw an email from Susan Duckworth. I had to rub my eyes, grab my glasses and check my pulse. To refresh your memory and mine, I had to go back to this post. She saw this. Yes, Susan Duckworth is the author of the book that started me on my knitting obsession back in the 1980's. When I see an email from the author of the book that changed my life, it is surreal in a way that I can't describe. Susan wrote that she loved my blog post and the comments and that she is still going strong. Her site is here and it is beautiful. I wrote her back and I thanked her for changing the course of my life forever through her work. Was that too much? I hope not. Who ever could have dreamed that would happen to me? It is enough to last me a long while.

Yesterday I was trying to avoid knitting at all costs so I would simply sit and read and edit. However, knitting is literally like breathing for me, I can't possibly go a day without any or a lot of it included. It is like when I try to diet, I only want to eat more. I rolled up my new skein of Mountain Colors River Twist and started this beautiful scarf pattern. You may like the pattern, too. The yarn is fantastic, the pattern is easy and fun. And that's all I knitted yesterday, that's not too much but enough to make me feel better. Can you relate to that or is it just me?

The other day while knitting with my Girl Scout bunch I finished up the first Noro Kureyon Sock yarn sock. I am in love and I already started the second sock. This is how I have been walking around my house. The sock is pretty, my look is not. My kids just shake their heads as I walk on by. Do I care? nope. Note the recorder and the Nerf shooter in the photo, this shot sums it up around here. It's a miracle I get any work done.
My sweet bag sewers/geniuses are getting some cool nationwide publicity in Crochet Today, the current issue.  It's the SewBendy bags! I have been touting these fantastic, handmade, reasonably priced bags for awhile now. I own more than I am willing to share, it's a little embarrassing. Every sewbendy bag I have is crammed full with a small project just waiting to jump on my wrist as I go out the door or to carry around the house. For a long time I kept one bag in my car at all times with a sock project going. I have to do that again.
When I see prints like pears and sweet peas I can't resist. I try to wait it out and then when I check back and the bags I want are still there I think it is fate and I have to get them. I am only being kind to give them a home, right?
I still can't get over the sweet pea bag. It was meant for me, I am sure of it. The graphic print on outside is only rivaled by the small pea pod print on the inside. The bags are gems and treats. If you have any inkling, you should get one. They are meticulously sewn, there is a snap loop feature to hold your yarn, keys, needles, etc. and a pocket on the inside. The bags are perfect. There are two styles. The pear bag is the knit/tuck and the sweet pea bag is the knit ditty. Go for it!
Back to this now. Oy. Decisions, decisions. You'd all like to see more project patterns than basic instructions, right? That's what I'm leaning towards and I hope you'll agree. Let me know what you think on this subject. There will still be techniques/instructions in the book and lots of them. I know that I always skip the instruction section in the books I get and go straight to the patterns...

Gotta go! Yikes.

best, susie

a little birdie told me...

Hi Knitters,

Well, it's Monday already. Hope you all had a good weekend. It was a wet and cold one around here. Later yesterday the rain turned to ice and snow and this morning it looks like a glistening wonderland. The sun is out and the trees are absolutely sparkling. It is pretty.

I am starting out today on a note of sadness for a blog reader and a request for your help if you are interested. Lucinda Snyder emailed me a short while back and told me about her grief after recently losing her baby after only a few short weeks of life. She and her husband called their son Birdy as a nickname. Since losing her son she has been struggling with grief and purpose. She came up with a knitted memorial idea. She is trying to get 100 bird ornaments knit up to hang on a tree in tribute to her son. These little birds would then be given as gifts to other babies fighting to live as a kind of guardian angel. I think she wants to reach 100 birds by May and she asked me if I would post about her mission on my blog.

If any of you are interested in knitting a little bird ornament to help Lucinda please check out her blog for the bird ornament pattern and contact information. Grief is overwhelming and any help we can give Lucinda at this time would be a wonderful thing.
On to a few other things this morning. It's time to announce the winner of the Easter Egg yarn giveaway. The winner is:

Denise Skelton from Johnson City, TN!

Congratulations to Denise. She has won 2 skeins of Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille. Denise, you have 2 days to contact me to give me your mailing address. I will then pass on your address to Susan Druding, owner of Crystal Palace Yarns, and she will send you the yarn.

A short while ago I finished up this fantastic glove set and I wanted to share this project with you. The project is called Strata and it is in the book, Knitting New Mittens and Gloves by Robin Melanson. I have mentioned this book several times before but it is worth another mention. It is filled with beautiful, wearable, innovative designs. This is my third project from Robin's book. I plan on many more.

The gloves are knit out of the dreamy Blue Sky Alpacas Silk and the outer layer is the Blue Sky Alpacas Brushed Suri.  These are both extraordinary yarns. The Brushed Suri is knit on a size 6 and the silk on a size 3. Both gloves are done on double-pointed needles, which I love. I plan on making the entire set including a pair of short-fingered gloves and a pair of fingerless gloves. I loved the colors Robin selected so much that I am doing the same. 

Love the book, highly recommend it to all!

Take care on this sparkly Monday, Knitters.

best, susie

p.s. Just found this site and I am crazy over it, really cool patterns.

Girl Scout Knitting Part 1

Hi Knitters,

Yesterday I started helping The Collector's girl scout group earn the Yarn Craft Badge through learning to knit. I divided her troop into 3 small groups which I will meet with one at a time to teach them how to knit. The first group came over after school and we had such a good time. I love teaching kids how to knit and I hadn't done that for a long time.

Here is my plan and I think it is going to work. The first project for everyone, a baby hat. The girls are all 9 or 10 years old which is a good age to learn in my opinion. I set each girl up with a skein of worsted weight acrylic yarn (they loooove the rainbow yarn!), a pair of size 8-sixteen inch circulars, a canvas bag and some tools like a tape measure, a pair of scissors and a yarn needle. I put these little items in a baggie inside the canvas bag. The last thing I threw in the bag is a copy of Itty-Bitty Hats so when they get home they have a resource to answer any questions that may pop up. They were so excited about their new knitting supplies and they couldn't believe that they got to take everything with them. I love that, it was refreshing. They said thank you about a hundred times.
I wasn't 100% sure that a hat for a first project for kids this age would be good but they loved it. They caught on incredibly fast. I cast on the stitches before they arrived at my house because I wanted them just to sit and knit, literally do the knit stitch, for their first experience. I didn't want them to worry about casting on and purling, etc., this was perfect and that other stuff will come later. It was easier and comforting for them. After I cast on I knitted a few rounds for them (before they got to my house), wove in the end and placed a stitch marker on the first stitch. Their project was ready to go. Successful teaching is all in the preparation, no question about it.
Knitting in the round is the perfect way to start. You just knit and knit and knit, no turning and no worries. I just did a few stitches as a demonstration and they were chomping at the bit to get started. Who am I to hold them back? Off they went. I circulated about and sat next to the girls on the couches as they worked. It was so easy.
After each girl completed their first stitch on their own I always gave them a little round of applause and a smile of accomplishment always appeared. Just look at that pride and excitement, so cute. The hats are either going to be seamed across the top or knit a bit long and gathered at the top, no double-pointed needles just yet.
This sweetie, already crossing her legs in style, went to town. Working hands are fun to watch. This one wants to have an ongoing knitting circle and I agree. She has plans for her knitting. One thing I always notice about kids learning to knit is they think of all of the people they want to knit for. They always want to share and give their knitting. What is it about the knitting that does this?
The concentration was palpable at first but it faded quickly. Soon they were chatting away about school and other fun topics. By the end of the hour I was no longer needed and for the last 10 minutes or so I pulled out my current sock project and sat and knitted with them. Can you believe it? I was in heaven.
What an honor and privilege for me to teach this beautiful group of girls how to knit. The Collector had a ball hosting the meeting, just look at her. Coming up is the second group and I hope it goes as well as the first. I know that every group can be different, that's part of the fun of teaching.

When I told the girls it was time to pack up and go none of them wanted to leave. By that time they were chatting and knitting like a group that had been knitting together for years, it was funny to witness. Knitting brings out the "chat" in people for sure. I told the girls they could call me for help if they got stuck. My daughter told me later that no one was going to call me, that made me laugh. I just wanted the girls to know that I am available to help them in the future. So far, no calls.

Our last meeting is going to be a large group knitting get-together with the entire troop after everyone has had an initial lesson. I can't wait to see how that goes.

Knitters, have a great weekend. It is gloomy and raining here but it still feels good that it's the weekend for some reason. Everyone is home and I guess that's about all I need.

best, susie

Oh, Bunny! Washcloth Pattern

Hi Knitters,

One more quick washcloth knit is here. I love bunnies at Easter time but they are good any time of year as well.

Here are the skills you need to knit this bunny:

cast on

bind off

pick up stitches

knit

k2tog

kfb

ssk

level: easy if you know the skills above!

crochet edging (optional):

single crochet

slip stitch

Finished measurements:

Body: 7.5 by 7 inches

Paw to top ear: 10 inches

Yarn: 1 skein Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille, 98 yards

Any worsted weight cotton will work fine!

Needles: US size 6 for the chenille

Size H crochet hook (optional)

I've only had time to knit a white bunny but I think a pink or blue or pistachio bunny would be super cute. The tail is a pom-pom out of Sugar-n-Cream because I don't think the chenille works well for pom-poms due to shredding. The tail is optional, of course, but I love it so I added it on. You choose.
Some other Easter-y knits include: 

Easter Egg Washcloth

Sweetheart Washcloth (try these in pastel egg colors)

Bunny and Chick easy knit toys

Soaps available at The Stone Fence in Madison (eggs and bunny), they don't have a website. The bunny soap is Tag brand, which can be found in lots of gift stores. The Soap Opera has many glycerin holiday soaps including an Easter Egg soap. 

If you are interested in purchasing the Oh, Bunny! washcloth pattern please click on the "Buy Now" button below. The price is $3.50 and I will email you the pattern via email with an attached pdf. Please allow a little time for me to send the pattern to you.

Thanks bunny lovers and have fun.

best, susie