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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: Inspiration
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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 Kelley on June 19, 2012
These mesmorizingly gorgeous silk hankies from Hanks in the Hood are irrisistable. You don't have to be a hand-spinner to enjoy their beauty. You can actually knit directly from the hankies. |
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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 Kelley on June 13, 2012
(photo from Knitty Gritty Whistler, pattern is #31 Turban by Lola Ehrlich) I like to start my day on Pinterest while I drink my first couple of cups of coffee. I love the creative inspiration I find as I look through the photos. A few days ago I saw this turban and thought maybe I could knit something like it for myself. So, I went to Ravelry and typed in "Turban". |
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by Knit Picks Podcast on June 7, 2012
This week, Jenny chats with designer Nora Bellows, author of the new book Noni Flowers! Hear all about how Nora’s family, gardening, and flowers have influenced her process and designs, in addition to how Nora made the transition from teaching college classes to designing knitting patterns. Nora also reveals a behind-the-scenes look into the process of writing her book, how she began designing the collection of knitted flowers, and what sparked the idea for creating the unique photography of the knitted flowers. In addition to sharing tips and tricks for knitting up the flowers, Nora also shares her favorite techniques for how to use and attach the knitted flowers as embellishments on other projects. After hearing Nora’s enthusiasm and passion for her knitted flowers, you’ll want to cast on your very own garden of Noni Flowers right away! You can find Noni Flowers here: Noni Flowers And ... |
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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 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 Alison on May 17, 2012
Speaking of Hanks in the Hood, I just finished spinning my Seattle Batt! |
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by Hannah on May 15, 2012
I'm sure some of you out there love a good puzzle and we've definitely been seeing some wonderful guesswork about the swatches on our latest catalog cover! I'm here to solve some of them for you by listing what yarns, colorways and stitches we used in this lovely photo. |
