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by Knit Picks Staff on July 10, 2012
There's nothing better than finishing a long-term project. And for me, that's most of them - but they're not all knitting! This past week has been spent in the garden, reaping the rewards of the last year's work. But of course that's not all - I finally wove in the ends on my little Chroma sweater! |
Category Archives: Fun
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by Knit Picks Podcast on July 5, 2012
This week, Kelley shares her excitement for finding the perfect summer bag! Finding a summer bag or tote for your knitting can be a hard task and not only depends on how you will be using the bag, but also what kinds of projects you are planning to carry with you. Kelley reviews two of her favorite Namaste bags to help make your search a bit easier. Next, Kelley shares her favorite books that are not just wonderful reference books for experienced knitters, but also perfect for helping new knitters advance their skills. Hear Kelley’s detailed reviews on The Fearless Knitting Workshop by Jennifer Seiffert and The Circular Knitting Workshop by Margaret Radcliffe. Finally, Kelley catches you up on what projects are on her needles, what projects might next be on the needles, and reviews a few of her favorite tools and accessories to help everything stay nicely organized. And of course, Kelley can’t help but indulge you in a ... |
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by Knit Picks Podcast on June 28, 2012
Kelley recently arrived back to our Vancouver, WA office only to find a nice, big pile of yarns on her desk – just waiting to be oohhh-ed and aahhh-ed over. And just which yarns were piled high on Kelley’s desk? Why our new summer yarns of course, which is why this week on the podcast is all about our new summer yarns! Kelley chats with Jenny about two new additions to our line of special reserve yarns – Preciosa and Bare Hare. In addition to gushing over the softness of each and the amazing, saturated colors of Preciosa, Kelley and Jenny chat about tips for working with these new yarns and fun project possibilities. And if lace is your go-to summer project, Kelley and Jenny review new color additions to our selection of lace yarns including Alpaca Cloud, Shadow, Shimmer, and Gloss Lace. Last but not least, Kelley chats with ... |
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by Knit Picks Staff on June 15, 2012
Hubby isn't the only one with a new sweater, though his modeling is a little better: Our house isn't really lit well enough for portraits, so we went 8300 feet up into the Wallowa mountains to get a shot. The locals were duly impressed, I might add. It's still missing one thing, though. I need to snag it from him long enough to sew in a very appropriate label! |
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by Jenny K on June 14, 2012
A while back, I got to spend the day with Jen, from Hanks in the Hood and learn all about how she makes those goregous spinning batts of hers! Additionally, Jen was kind enough to take some time to share a bit about herself, how she got drawn into the wonderful world of fiber, and her inspiration. And it was awesome! I find it so amazing that so many different people can connect with something as simple as fiber and yarn, in such a lovely and inspiring way. I simply love hearing these stories from everyone I meet. Which is why I was thrilled when Jen asked if I would like to also spend time with Lisa from Dicentra Designs! My answer was a resounding yes, the more - the merrier! I got a chance to sit down with Lisa, an amazing fiber artist, to chat with her about her love of all things color, fiber, spinning and of course dyeing. In addition to dyeing her own yarn line, Dicentra Designs, Lisa also helps Jen, from Hanks in the Hood, with the processing and dyeing of the stunning silk hankies! And with Lisa's love for bright and vibrant colors, it's no wonder that her color sense is a perfect match for working with Jen's fearless color combinations. Just look at all of the amazing colors you'll find in the silk hankies from Hanks in the Hood to see for yourself! To hear more about Lisa's color inspiration, the process for dyeing the silk hankies, and some of Lisa's favorite ways of working with silk hankies - be sure to check out Lisa's video! |
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by Jenny K on June 4, 2012
update 6/04 - Contest is over! We'll announce winners later today! I'm always on the lookout for new and interesting knitting projects, so it was no surprise that when Noni Flowers came across my desk, I couldn't stop flipping through the pages! Filled with page after page of stunning photography of life-like knitted flowers, I was instantly mesmerized by the attention to detail that every flower was given. Designer Norah Bellows brings an amazing collection of knitted flowers to life, all while giving you guidance through techniques specific to creating these little beauties. Norah starts off by breaking down the anatomy of a knitted flower and then guides you through special techniques - such as how to create the stamen and how to add wire to your flowers. |
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by Jenny K on June 4, 2012
Thank you for all of your entries in our Noni Flowers book contest! I randomly chose our two winners: Winner #1 Becca! Becca’s comment: “OOOOh those are lovely! I’d love to learn how to make them!” Winner #2 Elke! Elke’s comment: “I would have to say roses, I have seen some almost black ones, and an amazing two tone red one. But also some weed flowers look really freat especially if they have impressive colors or the morning dew on them. Nature is just amazing.” Congratulations! I hope we’ll be seeing some beautiful knitted Noni Flowers coming into bloom! |
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by Jenny K on May 24, 2012
There are certain people that you meet in your fiber travels that simply beam with a passion for what they do, and no one embodies this like Jen Anderson, the face behind Hanks in the Hood. It is a quality that is infectious in person and hard to express in words. And since Jen is a local to us here in Portland (she is based out of Gresham, Oregon), I was so excited when I was able to spend a day at her shop (Andersen Fiber Works) and her fiber processing studio for a little video interview! All of us here at the office love Jen and of course, her rovings and batts from Hanks in the Hood. And personally, I am thrilled to be able to share Jen's story in addition to her enthusiasm, drive, and passion for what she does everyday. I hope this little video lets you get to know Jen a little bit better, I am sure you'll love her as much as we all do! |
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by Jenny K on May 10, 2012
Have you seen our new selection of tonal yarns yet? There are so many reasons to love adding the subtle shifts of color found in tonal yarns into your projects. Tonal yarns are a wonderful way to add the subtle variations of a color to your project without fearing that it will distract from textured stitches, cables, or even lace patterns. Each of our tonal yarns are made up of seven different shades of your favorite colors, which combine together to create complex, monochromatic colorways. Not only do tonal yarns add lots of visual interest when worked up with simple stitches, but they also beautifully highlight intricate stitch patterns. |
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by Knit Picks Podcast on May 3, 2012
This week we bring you another bonus mini-episode of the Knit Picks podcast! Stacey gets a chance to catch up with designer Allyson Dykuizen, who began designing under the name “Sweatshop of Love.” After spending some time teaching and designing, Allyson decided to broaden her design skills by creating Holla Knits – a collaborative collection between designers that focuses on a young, fresh, and modern aesthetic. Hear more about the designers and ideas behind Holla Knits as well as how Allyson began knitting, transitioned into the world of knitwear design, and what inspired her to create Holla Knits! You can find the first Holla Knits collection here: Holla Knits Spring/Summer 2012 eBook 3 easy ways to listen… |
