12.26.2013

The Never Not Knitting Podcast : X Marks The Spot


Episode 77



Shownotes:







Order Lit Knits HERE





Enter to win this copy of Lit Knits; 10 Literature Inspired Knits by Audry Nicklin by leaving a comment under this post by January 15th. Please remember to include your contact information. Only one comment per person please! The winner will be announced on Episode 78.

Thank you for listening!









12.01.2013

Learning To Knit With Annie





Ever since we published Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf more than a year ago now, I have so enjoyed seeing pictures of little ones enjoying the book pop up different places on the internet.


I have been touched by the wonderful emails and comments left by parents, teachers, and grandparents, and the reports of children learning to knit from all over the world.

Photo courtesy of Nikki Waters

Photo courtesy of Brenda Castiel


Photos courtesy of Julie Crawford

As a reminder... the Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf book as well as the Deluxe-Edition Gift Set are 50% off through the end of today (11:59 pm PST, Sunday, Dec. 1). 


Catch the sale HERE.



11.27.2013

The Big-Blogiversary-Black Friday-Book Sale!



In honor of my 6 year "blogiversary" I have decided to run a little sale starting midnight
(Black Friday) November 29th and extending through Dec 1 until 11:59 pm. 
Please note that the sale will be scheduled according to Pacific Standard Time.

All printed books will be 50% off during this 3 day sale.

That means half off of...


        Botanical Knits                Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf               Coastal Knits
          


Please click on the above links to visit the respective ordering website for each book. 
I'm sorry, but shipping fees cannot be combined. Each website will calculate the shipping costs for you for each product individually. 

Thank you everyone for all of the support you have given me for the past 6 amazing years of blogging. 
I hope that you enjoy the sale! Have fun! :)





11.26.2013

The Never Not Knitting Podcast : Episode 76 : Follow The Yarn



Episode 76




Shownotes:















Enter to win this copy of Follow the Yarn by Reba Linker along with a skein of Snow Capped Yarns Latouch DK in the Dried Sedge colorway provided by The Net Loft by leaving a comment under this post by December 15th. Please remember to include your contact information. Only one comment per person please! The winner will be announced on Episode 77.

Thank you for listening!





11.04.2013

Inspiration Journey




In looking for botanical inspiration for my new book, I stumbled across this beautiful photo online by photographer, Steve Stenzel.

I love this photo for so many reasons but I especially am impressed by how it represents the life cycle of this particular plant. From the new growth of spring all the way to the end of autumn.

I am so drawn to this natural color palette.




So much so in fact.. that I showed this picture to the ladies of Spincycle Yarns and they used it in creating a special new colorway just for me. 

And they did such a phenomenal job!


 This beautiful yarn perfectly captures the colors of changing leaves. 
The way that the colors subtly change from one to the next perfectly expresses this idea of the natural life cycle of spring to autumn. I am not usually one to go for multi-colored yarn.. but this one I love.


With this yarn I created my "Life Cycle" scarf design. This is an accent scarf consisting of a string of big leaves.. one growing out of the next. 


It works so perfectly with this yarn and I am so happy with it.

This scarf pattern will be included in my upcoming book, Botanical Knits 2.

The scarf pattern will call for 2 skeins of Spincycle Dyed in the Wool yarn. 
This special colorway is called "End of Summer" and is available HERE.



10.30.2013

The Never Not Knitting Podcast : Episode 75 : Knitting Dreams


Episode 75




Shownotes:

















Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy / Lori Johnson

Enter to win 2000 yards of this gorgeous certified sustainable wool yarn from Patagonia by following the Nature Conservancy on Twitter or Facebook and then leaving a comment under this post by November 15th. Please remember to include your contact information. Only one comment per person please! Three winners will be chosen and announced on Episode 76!

Thank you for listening! 






10.27.2013

Sprig



Oh how happy I am to say that my new Sprig sweater pattern is now available to purchase.
This pattern has been in the works a long time and I am so excited that it is finally ready!




This is a top-down raglan pullover with a very unique construction. One that I think is fun and will catch you by surprise.

The raglan itself is knit asymmetrically and also paired with an asymmetrical neckband. All of this asymmetry when paired together.. results in a symmetrical sweater. It is tricky that way!

It also includes dart like waist shaping for a flattering fit.


Here is the pattern information for those of you interested:

SIZE
33.5 (36.75, 40, 43.25, 46.5)[49.5, 52.75, 56, 59.25]” / 85.5 (93.5, 101.5, 109.5, 118)[126, 134, 142, 150.5] cm

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 33.5 (36.75, 40, 43.25, 46.5)[49.5, 52.75, 56, 59.25]” / 85.5 (93.5, 101.5, 109.5, 118)[126, 134, 142, 150.5] cm
Length: 24 (25, 26, 27, 28)[29, 30, 31, 32]” / 61 (63.5, 66, 68.5, 71.5)[73.5, 76, 79, 81] cm
Shown in size 33.5” / 85.5 cm. To be worn with 1-3” / 2.5-7.5 cm of positive ease.

MATERIALS
Quince and Co. Owl  [50% American Wool, 50% American Alpaca; 120 yd / 110 m per 3.5 oz / 50g skein]; color Chamomile; 7 (8, 9, 10, 11)[12, 13, 14, 15] skeins or approx 825 (925, 1025, 1150, 1250)[1375, 1500, 1650, 1775] yds / 750 (850, 925, 1050, 1150)[1250, 1375, 1500, 1625] m of a dk or light worsted weight wool or wool blend.

Alternate Yarns: Cascade 220 Heathers

1 US6 / 4 mm 24” / 60 cm circular needle
1 set of US6 / 4 mm double-pointed needles
Stitch markers
Stitch holders
Cable needle
Tapestry needle
Two 3/4" / 2 cm buttons for optional button-loop closure on the sleeves
Sewing needle and matching thread for optional closure on the sleeves

GAUGE
20 sts/ 28 rows = 4” / 10 cm in St st on US6 / 4 mm needles or size needed for accurate gauge.



Keeping with the botanical theme, a sprig of foliage begins on one side of the neckline and gracefully wraps around one side. My favorite sweater detail is how these little leaves drape over one shoulder.




The other special detail is on the sleeve cuffs. The leafy sprig is mirrored on the cuffs of the sleeves with the leaves wrapping towards the back just like the neckline.



 The pattern also offers an option for a button-loop closure on the sleeve just for fun.


This is a special sweater full of all sorts of fun little botanically inspired details that I hope you will enjoy!


Please remember that this sweater is just a preview of my collection for the upcoming book, Botanical Knits 2. This pattern will only be available individually for a limited time only.

I have arranged for the entire cost of the pdf to be applied towards your future purchase of the new book once it is released next year. Please note the following instructions so that you can receive this discount in the future:

After purchasing Sprig, PayPal will send you an email as a receipt. 
PLEASE KEEP THIS EMAIL. YOU WILL NEED IT LATER. 
On the email you will see an 16 character code called a "Receipt No." or a 17 digit character code called a "Transaction ID". 




These numbers will serve as your coupon code to receive $6 off of the Botanical Knits 2 purchase price when it is released.

I wanted to offer this as a way of saying thank you for all of your patience with me as I have been working so long behind the scenes on this new book. I felt bad having so much time pass between releasing new patterns!

I really hope that you will enjoy this one. Be sure to pop into the Botanical Knits Group on Ravelry to share your pictures!







10.22.2013

Finishing Fever



After months of working at a very comfortable pace, I woke up one morning a few weeks back with a sudden case of "finishing fever" and decided that I had to finish up my 
collection for Botanical Knits 2... right away. 
As in NOW. As in yesterday.

I don't know where the sudden rush of motivation came from.. but I have been working like a crazy person ever since. I am determined to get these knits designed and done as soon as possible.

That means... a lot of knitting... and a lot of playing with new yarn. It could be worse, right?

I thought I'd share with you some of the highlights from my past few weeks of work.

Firstly, I got these gorgeous special skeins of Spincycle Dyed in the Wool yarn in a brand new colorway to test out. I am so excited to see what they will knit up like! The colors are so rich and beautiful.



I also finished a new shawl design that I just love. 
It's a new and updated take on my Cedar Leaf Shawlette and all of the other leaf bordered shawls floating around out there in pattern land.


Its cool and whimsical and I am really happy with it.


And I love the way that this gorgeous purple yarn goes with the other colors I'm using.



I am also knitting a sweater out of this rich glowing brown yarn.
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that I am "un-knitting" a sweater out of this rich glowing brown yarn.

I have spent a fair amount of time ripping back today as I learned an invaluable and unfortunate lesson about the placement of bobbles on the front of a sweater. 

Turns out a bobble put in the wrong place on a sweater front can look rather inappropriate. :(



Speaking of sweaters... do you remember this lovely little green sweater?
Oh good.. I'm glad. 

 I promise that I haven't forgotten about it. 
I still have plans to release this pattern individually very soon.
Thank you for your patience with me. 



Back to work I go! More updates soon!

10.09.2013

Tiny Ivy



I can't quite tell you how happy these little knitted leaves are making me right now.



They are so fun to make!


These tiny ivy leaves will be a new pattern to be included in my upcoming book, Botanical Knits 2


10.05.2013

Inspired By Nature



I just got the Winter 2013 issue of Knitscene magazine in the mail...


and was delighted to see my article published!


I was quite flattered when Amy Palmer, the editor of Knitscene, asked me to contribute an article. I've never written something like this for a magazine before, but fortunately it came quite naturally. 
After all.. This is on one of my most favorite subjects. :)




I hope that you enjoy reading my article on pages 26-28!

9.28.2013

The Never Not Knitting Podcast : Episode 74: The Matching Sweaters

Episode 74







Shownotes:















 


Enter to win a copy of these two books, One + One Hats, and The Ultimate Hat Book by leaving a comment under this post by October 15th. Please remember to include your contact information. Only one comment per person please! The winner will be announced on Episode 75.

Thank you for listening!




9.20.2013

Little Details Make the Sweater


Awhile back I talked of a new sweater design on the needles out of the beautiful Quince and Co. Owl yarn.
I am happy to report that this sweater has now been completed and I am really enjoying the little details that make this piece so unique.

A little button and loop closure on the cuff...


 A sprig of foliage winding around the asymmetrical neckline...


and the way the leaves gracefully drape over one shoulder.



This design was created for my new book Botanical Knits 2, but I can't wait until then to share this sweater with all of you!

Soon I will have this individual pdf available as a limited time purchase. And... not to worry.. the entire cost of the pdf will be applied to your future purchase of Botanical Knits 2 when that becomes available next year. 

This is just a little thank you for your being so patient with me as I work on the patterns for the upcoming book.

I hope to have this pattern available soon! 


9.13.2013

East Coast Book Tour Recap




I am back home with my kids and my normal routine after one jam packed week of traveling with my husband. Last week I had the amazing opportunity of being hosted by 3 amazing yarn shops and getting to explore the Eastern coast of the United States. In one weeks time we traveled through 5 different states on 8 different plane trips, 2 train rides and multiple taxis, buses, and subways. 
Whew. It was fast paced.. but I'm not complaining. We had an amazing time!

My first stop was Brooklyn, New York where I got to visit the fabulous and cozy Argyle Yarn Shop
The husband and wife owners, David and Esther, were so helpful and accommodating. The book signing and workshop was amazing and I got to meet some very enthusiastic Never Not Knitting blog readers. As for New York itself.. wow. What an overwhelming difference from the small town I live in. 
There was just so much to see... 



The next day we took a train to Philadelphia and were awestruck by this beautiful city. I spent a wonderful afternoon at Loop yarn shop. Between the cupcakes and beautiful Botanical Knits display, the owner, Craig, and all of the knitters there made me feel so welcome. I had a great time visiting with everyone!
The city of Philadelphia was so fun to walk through. We of course had to have a "Philly Cheesesteak" and see all of the beautiful colonial sites. 



My next stop was Looped Yarn Works in Washington, DC, and what a charming little store this was! The shop was made up of two octagonal upstairs rooms with lots of windows and sunlight streaming in. It was a very cozy space with a great yarn selection and comfy couches. The owners Janie and Susan were so fun and supportive. I am so grateful to them both for inviting me to the East coast in the first place. The knitters I met in DC were also amazing. So supportive and sweet. I loved the time I spent here.



After 3 yarn shop events in a row, we traveled through Maryland and up to Maine, where I got to visit with my friend, Hannah Fettig after 5 long years! We have kept in touch and worked together via phone and email during this time, but it was so nice to see her in person once again. Her husband and family showed us around the beautiful coast of Maine and took us to several locations featured in our Coastal Knits book. Hannah even kindly gave me one of her extra Rocky Coast Cardigan samples which I was able to wear at Two Lights State Park. I felt like I was in the pages of our book. :) We were amazed by how truly beautiful this state is.

I was also excited that we were able to meet up with Neesha Hudson, the illustrator of our Coastal Knits book as well as Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf and Botanical Knits
What a treat to finally meet her in the flesh!


Thank you to everyone who stopped by these yarn shops to say "hi" and to these amazing yarn shop owners who made this trip possible. We had a wonderful, wonderful time that I will never forget!

8.28.2013

The Never Not Knitting Podcast : Episode 73 : The Tell-Tale Hat



Episode 73


Click HERE to download the mp3 file for episode 73


Shownotes:




My Susan B. Anderson Podcast Interviews HERE and HERE.











Enter to win a copy of Topsy-Turvy Inside-Out Knit Toys by Susan B. Anderson by leaving a comment under this post by September 15th. Don't forget to leave your contact information! Only one comment per person please.

The winner will be announced on Episode 74.

Thank you for listening!