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by Kelley on May 25, 2010
I launched my Mitten Tutorial KAL last week and, after reading the posts, I realized that it is a perfect forum for any knitter who has been hesitant to join a KAL before. Number OneThe lesson and project is small and simple. It’s all about learning as opposed to finishing a project. You can participate without knitting at all! Just follow the lessons, maybe write down a few notes and then chat with all of the members. Number TwoI am thrilled to see that a couple of our most engaging members, like Cheryl and KnitterGirl39 have joined the group. Lots of encouragement and knowledge to share. Number ThreeWe just started last week and the accompanying video was a simple review of mitten basics. You can join right now and not feel like you have to do a whole bunch of catching up. No matter how busy ... |
Category Archives: Inspiration
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by Knit Picks Staff on May 25, 2010
Maybe it’s just foolish optimism, maybe it’s the strangely calm winter we’re having here in the Pacific NW… But I say, spring is coming early! Early, I say! Hear that nature? Why so excited about spring? Well, because I can show off my Fancy Feet! Today it was actually warm enough to kick off my shoes and sit on the grass. (Sorry if you’re blinded by my Oregon tan, though) This is exactly the weather I had in mind while designing the Fancy Feet kit. Those wonderful days that are just warm enough to wear an open toed shoe, but still too cold to do so without socks. They’re just enough to keep my toes warm. What’s really cool about them is the heel. It’s designed to stay put! It’s a modified short-row heel that comes ... |
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by Stacey on May 25, 2010
Erica is definitely a favorite around the Knit Picks office – she was one of the first designers we contacted for the Independent Designer Partnership Program after seeing her beautiful designs on her website and on Ravelry. And not only is she an wonderful designer, she’s an incredible musician as well!! I always look forward to seeing Erica’s new designs and very pleased she’s a big part of the success of IDP. How long have you been knitting? I guess that depends on how technical you want to get. I taught myself how to knit shortly after I graduated highschool (in 2002), but I didn’t stick with it. Knitting went on the back burner once I started college. Since I hadn’t really immersed myself in yarn, I wasn’t addicted yet, and thus promptly forgot about it once deadlines for research papers began looming. When ... |
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by Kelley on May 25, 2010
Well, I have been working on a mitten knitting video series, and a Knit-A-Long so that we can all have mittens!! I think the middle of winter is a perfect time to learn something new and quick to knit. This week I give a general outline of the course including supplies that you will need. < |
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by Stacey on May 25, 2010
As the coordinator for the Independent Designer Partnership program, I’ve seen so many fantastic patterns & met so many wonderful people that I’m so happy to share with the knitting world! As an ongoing series, I’m going to be posting interviews with many of the designers, to get to know them & see what motivates them in their designing. First up is Talitha Kuomi. You’ve probably seen her adorable patterns already – Loved, the super cute crown; Shines, the cheery City Tweed pillow; and her new pattern released this week, the ultra soft & cuddly Line Upon Line. To me, her designs are so whimsical & unique and I am so happy to have her be part of the program How long have you been knitting? Since I was 12. I sat down one afternoon and taught myself to knit from my ‘Pioneer Girl’s Manual’. I learned to crochet ... |
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by Knit Picks Staff on May 25, 2010
This was just way too much fun to design! Kerin and I collaborated on the Land and Sea Playset kit, and it was a realy treat, since this is exactly the kind of toy my brother and I loved as children! I wrote the patterns for the pickup truck and taxi cab (brought it back to my New York routes with a real yellow checkered cab!) and Kerin did a great job on the sailboat and happy choo choo train! These are all knit out of soft, washable shine sport. I wish we had a recording of the squeals of delight when these samples came back into the office–I think everyone reverted to childhood for a minute as we all got down on the floor and pushed the little toys along the roads and tracks on the playmat: The playmat is a downloadable pattern I ... |
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by Knit Picks Staff on May 25, 2010
I must admit, there’s something about foxes that I think is totally adorable. I think of them as ‘puppy kittens’. Just too cute! So, when we were all throwing ideas back and forth about what would make a cute stuffed animal, it just had to be a fox! When I went to swatch to get gauge for Roxy Fox, I couldn’t stop. I ended up with most of Roxy and both her pups. What I love about these little guys is how they showcase a really cool quality of Suri Dream – its fluffiness. What’s interesting about Suri Dream, though, is that when knit at a tighter gauge, it doesn’t look that fuzzy at all. The stitch definition is pretty remarkable, considering what it looks like in the ball! Even though that’s the right gauge to keep the stuffing in, it wasn’t ‘foxy’ enough. ... |
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by Stacey on May 25, 2010
The past few months I’ve pretty much just working on projects for other people & last week I decided I needed to do something quick for myself…which turned into 2 quick projects, which turned into 3! All were slouchy hats – I think I may need an intervention! 🙂 First was Ysolda Teague’s Ripley pattern (Ravelry link) Took just a little bit over one hank of Swish Bulky in Garnet Heather. Man, this yarn is so soft & fun to knit with. I changed up the pattern a bit – I did just a regular 2×2 rib band instead of the band called for in the pattern…mostly out of laziness. I went down to a size 8 needle & I’m very pleased with the fit…not to mention the warmth! Then I had some leftover Gloss HW in Jade from a scarf for my guy’s mom & decided I needed another ... |
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by Knit Picks Staff on May 25, 2010
Now that the holidays are over and my sisters’ birthday has passed (they’re twins), I can finally blog about what I’ve been knitting since last summer! When I cast on, I had no clue that my mom’s socks would take longer to knit than my dad’s Harry Potter scarf. That was my first project on size 0 needles (and probably my last!). Mom saw the yoga socks in a magazine and wanted a pair to wear with her flip flops now that she’s moved from sunny Florida to North Carolina. Like a good daughter I obliged. Yoga Socks in Make Believe Stroll Handpainted Sock Yarn Dad is a huge Harry Potter fan, so he got a Wool of the Andes Gryffindor scarf. The kitties all got felted toys this year. Alison taught me how to make little felted balls using roving and ... |
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by Kelley on May 25, 2010
Maybe the holiday season is hectic so that we appreciate the quiet that follows. Time to ponder plans for the New Year, as I have been doing. Lots and lots of rain combined with a fire in the fireplace makes for a productive weekend. Sorry, Linda, but it was raining so hard on Friday that I didn’t want to go out to find a Hot Chocolate Pot. But, it will be a priority for next week! Let’s play the “Remember This?” game! From Ann Budd’s absolutely fantastic book! Well I am ready to felt it!!! I’m using my copy of Emma as a “before and after” size reference. The trick is to just barely felt it leaving some flexibility. I’m working on the 3 1/2 yards of i-cord for the bridle while I wait for Bob ... |
