Tanis Fiber Arts Year in Colour Club

I was delighted to design this textural sock, Arching Leaves, for the September installment of 

Tanis Fiber Arts Year in Colour Club. 

Photos courtesy of Tanis Fiber Arts

Tanis' yarns and colorways are truly exceptional and this particular skein was of course no different.

When September rolls around every year... I start to think about dreamy autumnal shades. This colorway perfectly reflects the colors of the changing leaves and evokes the feeling of a cozy autumn afternoon when the air is crisp and the world is colorful. These socks combine my two favorite things. A leafy textural stitch pattern and the warm inviting colors of the season.

This pattern is available exclusively to the Year in Colour Club members but will be available to the public as part of my new pattern collection coming in 2013.

Back to Garter Stitch

It has been practically ages since I knit something in garter stitch on straight needles like this.

It takes me back to when I was first learning to knit and how I wasted  spent so many years of my life knitting nothing but garter stitch scarves in the ugliest most unusual novelty yarns imaginable.

So 2003.. right?

A garter stitch scarf is a great practice piece for a beginner. It's the quintessential "first project" for a knitter. 

In fact the character in our new children's story, like most of us, learns to knit on a garter stitch scarf....

only hers doesn't turn out so well at first. 

Hence the title of the story :)

A friend suggested that there should be a pattern for a "Swiss Cheese Scarf" to match the scarf in the book.

At first this idea seemed odd. Why would there need to be a pattern out there for a messy scarf? I'm sure that all of us have a scarf like that already buried deep in a drawer of early knitting! Something we never wear, but have to keep as a memento of our personal knitting history. 

Does something like this really need a pattern?

Well.. after some consideration I figured.. why not? 

So I am putting together a little scarf pattern that will be a free download on the Anniecanknit.com website. 

A little one skein chunky weight scarf with irregular edges and well placed "swiss cheese" holes, just like Annie's. A perfectly quick and fun little knit to give to the child in your life along with the book so that they can "match" with the story character. I'm hoping that this holey version will remind them that knitting doesn't have to be perfect and will motivate them to try their hand at making their own garter stitch scarf. 

I'm writing up the instructions for the "Swiss Cheese" section and then will pass it off to my 6-year old to knit the rest of the garter stitch. Then this scarf will be from the both of us.

As a perfectionist.. you have NO idea how hard it is for me to knit something that looks messy on purpose!

Things are coming together on the Annie book! This project has taken on a life of it's own and is taking longer than I thought. Thank you for your patience while we finalize everything.

More information as well as pre-ordering will be available soon.

Tundra

I recently pulled out some of the Fibre Company's new Tundra yarn for a new pattern, and the colors were so pretty I just had to snap a quick picture to share before dismantling these skeins.

This yarn is similar in weight and feel to the ever popular Misti Alpaca Chunky that I used in my Shawl Collared Cowl design. But it has a more luxurious hand with the addition of merino and silk. And who can resist those Fiber Company colorways? Not I.

The colorways shown above are Larch and Mink. I am not planning on using them together.. but the colors look so nicely put side to side.

As a little update.. my husband and I have been working very long hours behind the scenes here to bring you some really exciting new surprises. Hannah and I are working on releasing some new Coastal Knits goodies in honor of our 1 year anniversary. Also, we are working on getting everything in order to open up 

pre-orders for the new "Annie" book. It's exciting! And busy! 

I look forward to showing you lots of fun new things very soon.

Sheltered

Among other large projects I am working on behind the scenes here, I have recently been finishing up a new sweater design out of the very lovely Brooklyn Tweed Shelter yarn in the Hayloft colorway.

I have run into a few snags with this yarn that have made for a few interesting and funny stories that I will be sure to share on my upcoming podcast episode for this month.

Despite all of that however, I have to say.. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with this yarn. 

Its rugged, and beautiful, and just feels... good to knit with. 

This cardigan has some very special little details that I am not ready to fully reveal just yet, so I will leave you with this little collection of annoyingly vague, close-up shots from today. :) 

Because I am mean like that.

I'm on the home stretch.

This sweater just needs some final finishing touches. 

Thank goodness I have my little "helper" to lend a hand. :)

Oh.. and please do disregard the pile of laundry lurking in the background. :)

The Never Not Knitting Podcast : Episode 65 : The Expert Knitter

Episode 65

Click here to download the mp3 file for Episode 65

Shownotes:

Rufus Textured Cardigan Pattern

:( The last sweater that fits! :(

Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf

Neesha Hudson

Coastal Knits

Coastal Knits Ravelry Group

The Knitter's Curiosity Cabinet

Hunter Hammersen

Hunter on Ravelry

Chrysanthemum Frutescens Socks

Join the Never Not Knitting Ravelry Group!

Follow ME on Twitter!

Enter to win a copy of the book, The Knitters Curiosity Cabinet by leaving a comment under this blog post by September 15, 2012. Please do not forget to include your contact information!

The giveaway winner will be announced on Episode 66. 

A New Little Friend

In my last post I mentioned that I had a big surprise and a special new someone to introduce.

The time has now come!

I would like you to meet Annie.

Annie is the main character of a new children's book that I am working on with my daughter and super talented illustrator, Neesha Hudson! The story is titled Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf and is about a little girl who faces the challenges of learning to knit.

What a super exciting project this has been thus far! It has been so much fun to work on this with my daughter. As you might remember, she is six years old and is learning to knit herself.. and it is pretty obvious that the character of Annie is modeled after her. :) You may even recognize Annie's sweater too. :)

I hope that all of you will visit Annie's brand new website found HERE and enter to win a free book!

I am hoping to open up pre-orders sometime in September if everything goes as planned.

I have lots of special surprises in store.. I know that it will be a fun-filled next few months for us as we get everything together and finalized. This is obviously our first time working on a project of this nature and we are really enjoying watching this take shape.

I can't wait to release this book!

Another Complete

A new one-skein cabled hat design fresh off the needles!

This is another piece for my upcoming design collection.

I am slowly but surely making progress, and it feels so good to every day get a little bit closer to my goal.

Thank you to everyone for your support and patience with me. 

I look forward to releasing all of these new patterns!

Pssstt.. and also... Keep an eye out for my next post... I have a BIG announcement AND

a new special someone to introduce to you. :)

I bet you can't guess!

The Never Not Knitting Podcast : Episode 64 : A Collection of Stories, Part 1

Episode 64

Click here to download the mp3 file for Episode 64

Shownotes:

Charlene on Ravelry

Stephanie on Ravelry

Cathrine on Ravelry

Kerstin on Ravelry

Nicky Epstein

Knitting on the Edge

Knitting Beyond the Edge

Join the Never Not Knitting Ravelry Group!

Follow me on Twitter!

Enter to win a copy of the books, Knitting on the Edge and Knitting Beyond the Edge by leaving a comment under this blog post by August 15, 2012. In order for your comment to qualify as a drawing entry please include the following:

-Your contact information so that I can contact you if you are the winner!

-In your comment please tell me your favorite knitting story shared on the podcast. I'm curious to find out which stories you like best! (Choose any story(s) featured on Episodes 1-64)

The giveaway winner will be announced on Episode 65.

By the way... would you like to go on a "Knit-cation" this summer?
Sign up for Veronika's awesome knitting vacation with designer Stephen West!
Mention NNK and get $50 off!

Check it out HERE!

Thank you for listening!

Button Pairing

Another new sweater design completed! A top down raglan cardi with some very special little details.

It's knit from The Fibre Company's Organik yarn. So unbelievably soft and warm!

And I happened to find the perfect little buttons for it at my LYS.

I just love hand-painted buttons like this. I think that they add a little feminine charm to the finished cardigan.

Many of you have been asking when I am going to publish all of these new patterns. 

Thank you for your interest in my designs!

I am trying to get an entire new collection together to release at the beginning of the new year. 

That is my goal.. but I have a lot of work left to do. I better get back to it!

Copper Penny

My new design project on the needles knit in Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Copper Penny.

Isn't this colorway gorgeous?