6.23.2011

The Tale of Two Skeins



As a fellow knitter.. you know how it goes. We buy yarn with the best of intentions. Beautiful expensive skeins. But sometimes they are so beautiful we are afraid to use them for fear that they will be wasted on an unworthy project. 

And yes...I'm using the word "we" here when maybe I should be saying "I". I guess I'm hoping that I'm not alone in this.

Frankly, this happens to me more than I care to admit. 
And that is what happened with these two skeins below. 
Remember this? And this?

They were lying in the deep recesses of the stash. One skein dates all the way back to a 2007 purchase!



But guess what? Although I was envisioning each of these gorgeous skeins for their own separate equally gorgeous projects.. I realized as of late that they look awfully good paired together.

So that's what I did! I was able to incorporate both skeins into a design for my upcoming design collection.



And I can't tell you how good that feels to lift these two beauties from the dark, lonely depths of my yarn bins.

6.16.2011

Pigeonroof Studios Drawing Giveaway!



In Episode 52, you heard me mention Pigeonroof Studios yarn. Well.. hear it is! 
Aren't these skeins so beautiful? 
These colors remind me of a springtime garden.




To enter to win these five beautiful skeins provided by Krista from Pigeonroof Studios, please leave a comment under this post. Remember to please include your contact information. 
Only one comment per person please.

This prize includes:
1 skein of Cassiopeia fingering singles in Spanish Moss
1 skein of STRONG sock in Blackcurrant
1 skein of SIREN TWO sock in Juniper
2 skeins of Cassiopeia lace singles in Petal

Gorgeous stuff.

The winner will be announced here on July 1, so be sure to check back then and see if you've won!


Drawing Now Closed! Winner is Kristin! Congratulations!



6.15.2011

NeverNotKnitting Podcast : Episode 52 : Nesting Instincts


Episode 52


















The winner of Episode 51's Spud and Chloe Drawing Giveaway is Des! Congratulations!

*Please check back soon to enter the drawing for Episode 52!

Get 10% off all purchases at pigeonroofstudios.etsy.com through June 30th, 2011
by entering code " nevernot11 " in the checkout process.

This offer is exclusive to the Never Not Knitting podcast listeners and blog readers.


Click HERE to download the Episode 52 MP3 file.



6.13.2011

What I've Been Up To..




...Swatching tiny oak leaves in delicious green yarn. 
Since I'm a lover of all things green and leafy, I'm finding this part of the design process very exciting. 



6.04.2011

Spud And Chloe Drawing Giveaway


On Episode 51, I had the privilege of interviewing Susan B. Anderson about her latest adorable book, Spud & Chloe at the Farm. This book is seriously so cute. If you enjoy knitting toys, you will LOVE this book. And so will your little one!


Leave a comment below to enter to win a copy of your very own along with yarn to make the Spud and Chloe characters and a cute themed measuring tape and project bag. Thank you to Artisan Books and the Spud and Chloe yarn company for providing these fabulous prizes.

Please remember to include your contact information in your comment. 
Also, only one comment per person please.

The winner will be announced on my podcast and blog on June 15th so please check back then to see if you have won!

5.31.2011

Onto The Next...


Now that my first collection design is out of the way.. I decided to pick up this swatch again from a few months back. This will be collection design #2.



Apparently at the time all of these numbers and scribbles made a lot of sense to me. 
I didn't take very good notes because I was absolutely POSITIVE that I would remember what I was doing..
But now.. a few months and one fuzzy pregnancy brain later.. I have simply no idea.

I've been swatching this poor idea to death over the past few days and I hope to make sense of it all soon.
I'm desperately hoping that this gorgeous yarn from Pigeonroof Studios will work for this design. 
I must use it on something.. its just too pretty.

On a side note..  Season 6 of the Never Not Knitting podcast is starting tomorrow! 
Join me then for episode 51!

5.26.2011

Making Decisions


Remember the pattern collection I eluded to earlier? Well, my first piece is now DONE.
Mostly knit in the throes of early pregnancy morning sickness, this sweater has taken w-a-y-t-o-o-l-o-n-g and I cannot tell you how excited I am to get it off of the needles!

Isn't it strange how sometimes picking the right buttons to finish a garment can be the hardest thing about the project? Choosing buttons is such an important part of the process and it's the part I find very challenging.



I went back and forth between these three options for awhile and finally settled on the middle row of buttons.
They most captured the essence of what this sweater is all about. Sweet and feminine with some vintage charm. I look forward to showing you the entire thing when the time comes.



I know it's annoying when designers show you these kinds of vague and non-revealing photos of their upcoming patterns, but this is how it will have to be for now. Please bear with me while I finish the rest of these designs.

My pregnancy put me way behind schedule, but I still hope to be able to reveal the entire collection to you at the end of the year. This is a very special and personal collection of knits and I hope that it will be worth the wait!

I will keep you all up to date with my progress. And just so you don't get too bored, I will be releasing some other designs that will be part of my regular pattern line in the next few months. 

With my new pregnancy, this collection of knits, and my podcast season starting up again, this blog will be one busy place! Stay tuned!


5.25.2011

Knitted Headbands; Not Just For Little Ones


Recently Veronika from the Yarn on the House blog was kind enough to knit up some samples of my latest headband patterns (Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue) for me to send out with the trunk shows. She also sent me these gorgeous pictures of her daughter, Jasmine, wearing them.


Isn't she beautiful?




I really enjoyed seeing the headband designs on an older girl. I think that this proves that these headband patterns work wonderfully for a girl of any age.





Last year Jasmine was kind enough to model my Spring Garden Tee design as well. Click here to see those photos.

Thank you again to Veronika and Jasmine!


5.22.2011

Knit, Swirl! Winner!


I randomly chose a winner for the book Knit, Swirl! from all of the comments left and I'm happy to announce that the winner is Veronica! Congratulations!

Veronica, please email me at nevernotknitting@gmail.com to claim your prize.
Thank you!