5.06.2012

Mini Water's Edge



The second Coastal Kids pattern has now been released! 

Introducing Mini Water's Edge by Hannah Fettig.


This is a tiny children's version of the original Water's Edge Cardigan pattern from Coastal Knits.

Isn't it so cute? This design works so well for little ones.

Click HERE for more information about this design.



It's available for purchase HERE. Enjoy!


5.01.2012

Little Oak



The first pattern in our new Coastal Kids collection is now available for purchase!



Here is Little Oak, the tiny children's version of my original Gnarled Oak Cardigan 
from the book Coastal Knits!

Although I love the adult version of this sweater, I think that I might love this tiny 6 month size even more! 
It is so sweet to see a miniature version.




Although the original adult sweater was designed for women, I definitely think that the
 baby sizes could work for both a girl or a boy. 
Knit up in this beautiful glowing brown, I think it suits my little guy very well.



Here is the pattern information:


Please note that the smaller sizes require a smaller gauge.

SIZE

6 months (12 months, 18 months, 2)[4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14]

Shown in size 6 months and size 4; to be worn with 1-2” /  2.5-5 cm of positive ease.

MATERIALS

Sizes 6 months (12 months, 18 months, 2) 2 (2, 2, 3) skeins Becoming Art Theia Sport (75% Merino Wool, 15% Cashmere, 10% Silk; 260 yd / 238m; 4 oz / 113g); in Tulgey Wood OR 380 (430, 500, 575) yds / 347 (393, 457, 526) m of a sport or fingering weight wool blend such as Madelinetosh Tosh Sock.

Sizes 4 (6, 8, 10, 12, 14) 3 [4, 5, 5, 6, 7] skeins Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK (100% Merino Wool; 225 yd / 206 m; 3 ½ oz / 100g); in Sequoia OR 675 (795, 955, 1110, 1270, 1385) yds  617 (727, 873, 1015, 1161, 1266) m of a dk or sport weight wool blend such as Madelinetosh Tosh Merino or Madelinetosh Tosh Sport.

Sizes 6 months (12 months, 18 months, 2)

US3 / 3.25mm 24” / 60 cm circular needle and set of 4 dpns

US2 / 2.75 mm 24” / 60 cm circular needle
Sizes 4 (6, 8, 10, 12, 14)
US6 / 4 mm 24” / 60 cm circular needle and set of 4 dpns
US5 / 3.75 mm 24” / 60 cm circular needle
Stitch markers, 4 scraps of yarn to hold underarm sts 1 safety pin marker, 2 stitch holders, cable needle, tapestry needle, 5 (5, 6, 6)[5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8] medium buttons ½ (½, ½, ½)[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1)”/ 1.5 (1.5, 1.5, 1.5)[2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5] cm in diameter, sewing needle and matching thread

GAUGE
Sizes 6 months (12 months, 18 months, 2) 28 sts and 38 rows = 4” / 10 cm in St st on US 3 / 3.25 mm needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
Sizes 4 (6, 8, 10, 12, 14) 24 sts and 30 rows = 4” / 10 cm in St st on US 6 / 4 mm needles or size needed to obtain gauge.


A note about yarn choice and gauge:
For this design, I felt that a thicker yarn knit at a tight gauge made the leaf and cable motif at the yoke really stand out. If you happen to knit loosely, you may find that you are more easily able to achieve the same gauge by substituting a thinner yarn such as a sport weight for the larger sizes and a fingering weight for the smaller sizes. Remember that although the thickness of yarn is a personal preference, the most important thing is that you are able to match the pattern gauge.





Since all of our Coastal Kids patterns are available in a wide range of sizes, 
Big Sister has a matching Little Oak of her very own!

Here is the size 4 on my very very petite six year old daughter. :)


It's not often that I come across a sweater pattern that can be knit for both of them and myself as well!




Our family will be enjoying this design for years to come and I hope that yours does too!


Purchase the pdf below or look for the pattern in print at your local yarn shop.


Be sure to check out Hannah's blog on May 4th for the release of our next Coastal Kids pattern...



Mini Water's Edge!



4.26.2012

Coastal Kids Is Coming Soon!






Our new Coastal Kids patterns will be released soon!

This is a collection of four individual pint-sized versions of the original garment designs from our book, 
Coastal Knits: Little Oak, Mini Water's Edge, Wee Wildflower and Tiny Rocky Coast.

Each design is available in children's sizes ranging from 6 months thru size 14.

These patterns will be available individually as pdf downloads or in print through your local yarn shop.

Check back here on May 1 for the first pattern release.. Little Oak!

Hannah and I are so excited about these little knits! 
We think that they turned out so cute and hope that you enjoy knitting them too!




4.24.2012

The Never Not Knitting Podcast : Episode 61 : Coming Clean



Episode 61


Click here to download the mp3 file for episode 61



Shownotes:













Enter to win a copy of  the book, My Grandmother's Knitting, by leaving a comment under this blogpost by May 15, 2012. Please do not forget to include your contact information.
If it isn't included then I will have to draw another winner! Only one comment per person please.
The book winner will be announced on my next podcast episode.

Please send me a personal knitting story to share on a future episode! 
Send your 5 min+ story recordings to nevernotknitting@gmail.com and receive a
knitting related thank you gift from me!
Details in the episode...


Thank you for listening!





4.21.2012

It's Back



I recently ordered a new little something...



Do you know what this means?

That is right.. The podcast is returning!

Season 7 will be starting up soon!


4.07.2012

Springtime Wildflowers


I recently stumbled upon a lovely version of the Wildflower Cardigan pattern from Coastal Knits that I just had to share.



The photos courtesy of the lovely Kristen from learnersperknit.blogspot.com


She did such a lovely job on it, don't you think? This sweater is so flattering on her. It fits perfectly!

Spring is definitely in the air and this is the perfect sweater design for it. As a little update, I am happy to tell you that I just finished a tiny version of this cardigan for my daughter and it looks rather adorable on her!


The Wee Wildflower cardigan will be part of the new Coastal Kids pattern collection that Hannah and I will be releasing shortly.

Stay tuned!



3.27.2012

Work-At-Home Mom




My "office"


Yep. That's me. I am a work-at-home Mom of two little ones. I just had to snap a picture of my 
"knitting chair" today because I felt it well represents my life at this time.

Between the day to day children/cleaning/family/work juggling act I feel that I am working constantly, but accomplishing little. I joke with my friends that I am now knitting at a rate of one row per day.

I have had to become an expert at the fine art of multitasking. 
Right now I am typing this blog post one handed with a baby in my arms.

It's a crazy life for sure.. But I'm glad to have these little people around me during the day.
Although our days can be hectic and somewhat exhausting, I know that deep down I wouldn't want it any other way.





Because.. someday they will be all grown up.. and I know that I will miss playing barbies while feeding a baby and typing an email and making dinner..

..right?


3.19.2012

Because Elephants Need Scarves Too.



Over the years I have been trying to teach my daughter to knit. 
If you are a long time reader.. you may remember this post from a few years back.

Now that she is six years old, I am happy to report that
she has turned into quite the accomplished little knitter.



She has now finished her first project. A stylish scarf for her elephant.




And she is very proud.


... as am I!

Last night she says to me.. 
"Mom.. why don't we both grab our knitting and sit on the couch and knit together?"

Somebody pinch me.. I must be dreaming. :)




3.12.2012

A Special Little Something


I've been busy over here!

Recently I had the privilege of working with one of my favorite yarn lines again... Becoming Art.
This time I have knitted up a very special little something out of her Theia Sport yarn in the Tulgey Wood colorway. This is a new design for my baby boy.

Can you guess what it is?



How about now?


Yes, you are right. It's a cute little sweater. But not just any sweater...


A tiny version of my Gnarled Oak Cardigan!

The Little Oak Cardigan will be released as part of a new pattern collection from myself and Hannah called Coastal Kids. We will soon be releasing pint size versions of our favorite Coastal Knits patterns!

Look for the new Coastal Kids collection within the next few months!

I cannot tell you how much I love this little sweater. And the good news is.. the little guy also thinks it's pretty great.



Now onto a tiny version of the Wildflower Cardigan for my daughter!



3.01.2012

Stitches West 2012



Well.. we are back from Stitches West... or "Mommy's Never Not Knitting party" as my 6 year old daughter refers to it. :)

I have to say that despite all of the work, I had a really great time this year and am very glad that I was there.

Our booth.

With my booth-mate Lisa being 8 months pregnant and me with my 3 month old little guy.. it really was a bit of a miracle that we actually pulled it off!


I brought the little guy to the booth with me as much as possible.. but come to find out.. babies don't really like knitting conventions. Weird. 

I know that he did, however, enjoy meeting Ysolda


You might notice the star-struck look on his face. :)

My favorite thing about this year was getting to see everyone's enthusiasm for Coastal Knits. I signed many books over the weekend which was very fun!


I also found many knitters around the convention center wearing their Coastal Knits garments. I tried to track down as many as possible for a picture.

Rocky Coast sighting

Rocky Coast sighting #2


Ok.. another Rocky Coast..

And yet another!

This last knitter pictured actually spun up all of the yarn for her Rocky Coast Cardigan herself! Didn't she do such a beautiful job?

Gnarled Oak

Water's Edge

Sand and Sea Shawlette

I loved hearing this knitter's story behind her Sand and Sea Shawlette. If you own a copy of Coastal Knits, you will know that this design was inspired by the incoming tide at Morro Strand Beach. Apparently this is the exact spot where this knitter's husband proposed to her. This shawl was a sentimental knit for her and she lovingly refers to it as her "engagement shawl". I thought that was so sweet.


Rustling Leaves on Maia from Tactile Fiber Arts!
Cambrian Cowl on Carrie Sundra from Alpenglow Yarns

And Ysolda took a liking to the Wildflower Cardigan that I had on display and wore it all day on Sunday. It looks so cute on her!

 Well actually if you want the real story.. she stole it off of our mannequin. But I figure that if Ysolda likes your sweater.. that's a good thing. And if Ysolda steals your sweater.. you let her. :)

She did give it back though.. so it was really more of a borrowing.

Thanks to everyone who came up and said "hello" at Stiches this year. It was great to see all of you!