This week marks the opening of the About.com 2013 Readers Choice Awards!
From now until February 11th, you can nominate your favorite blogs, designers, books, yarn companies, and needle brands for the awards! We look forward to this every year, so I thought I’d show you some of my suggestions – you can nominate up to 3 for each category!
Favorite Knitting-Related Blog
Well, naturally I’m going say our very own Stash blog! I love reading what my fellow coworkers have to say & I love seeing the new tutorials that Jenny K. puts up. We hope you enjoy it as well! But for my other choices, I’m having a hard time deciding – I read so many! I think I have over 300 in my Google reader alone. Finally I narrowed it down:
Ramblings – Becky Herrick‘s blog on her knitting and life in Vermont. I love that Becky is a frequent blogger and she always posts fun and interesting photos (her most current post as of this writing has pictures of her chickens). Plus, I just love her designs.
The Sweatshop of Love – Allyson Dykhuizen‘s cheerful blog. I enjoy reading about Allyson’s adventures through crafting and just smile as I read her posts. It also doesn’t hurt she’s a baseball fan – though she & I usually chat about that on twitter instead.
Ooo, such a tough one! Since looking at designer’s patterns is 90% of my job, there is so many to choose from!
Well, my first choice is Kerin Dimeler- Laurence – I just love how creative Kerin always is and her patterns are always just breathtaking – especially the Circlet Cardigan in Illuminated Lines.
Second is a no brainer for me – Erica Jackofsky is constantly putting out patterns I just love to death. Her patterns are always wonderfully written and easy to follow – I’ve made several and I don’t think that will stop anytime soon.
Finally, I decided on Megan Goodacre. She was a new to me designer in 2012 but I’ve loved everything she has put out. I was delighted when she designed a collection for us and I can’t wait to get started on all of the designs. (She has a great blog too – Tricksy Knitter)
Hmm, this one is also a tough one.
Well, I’ll have to go with November Knits by Kate Gagnon Osborn & Courtney Kelley – I just love looking through this book and there are just so many projects I want to make. It’s just gorgeous!
I haven’t been knitting as many socks as I used to – I think my shorter commute is contributing to that – but Indie Socks was book I immediately snapped up when it was released. I love Chrissy Gardiner‘s style and there are so many patterns that have me busting my sock needles back out.
Finally, I’ve got to go with Jennifer Thompson‘s High Desert. This is one of my favorite collections this year (along with Erica Jackofsky and Megan Goodacre‘s collections) I love these patterns so much, and I just adore what Hannah & Heidi accomplished for the photography.
Well, this is a no brainer for me. I was a fan of Knit Picks yarn even before I started working here and I think our yarn selection has just gotten better & better over the years. I love that we brought in a bamboo blend this year (Galileo!) and Chroma, City Tweed, and Capra are ones I constantly reach for when I want to knit or crochet a new project.
For my other nominations, I have to go with Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I’m lucky enough to have them as a local yarn company and I spend so much on all of their yarns when I go to our local fiber festivals (or, in one memorable trip, to their annual Barn Sale). My other choice would have to be Fiddle Knits – my favorite hat this winter is my version of the Sockhead pattern in Erica’s Aria Sparkle (and one day, I’ll have to get a photo of it).
Favorite Knitting Needle Brand
This one I only have one nomination and I am completely honest here – I’ve only used Knit Picks needles for years (even before I worked here). Harmony and Sunstruck are my go to choice (I’m a wood needle sorta gal) and all other needles just drive me crazy when I’ve tried them out. So I’m just going with one nomination for this one.
So those are my choices! What are some of yours? Don’t forget to send in your nominations! (Give us some love!) And be sure to check back on about.com on February 19th to see if your nominations made the cut!
