 |
by Knit Picks Staff on January 18, 2012
When I first told my friend I wanted to knit Kitten Mittens, she assumed I meant mittens for kittens, not mittens that look like kittens! I've done my fair share of charity knitting, and I do like volunteering at the humane society, but even I draw the line at knitting teeny tiny mittens for little kitten paws. Can you imagine? The poor little cats would slip and slide all over the place! |
Category Archives: Inspiration
 |
by Knit Picks Staff on January 13, 2012
Earlier in the year, I wrote a post outlining my crazy goals for 2011. Well, 2011 is over - how did I do? First of all - the total! I wanted to hit 100 knitted projects, plus 11 sewn projects to make a total of 111 in 2011. Did I make it? Boy howdy, I sure did! 100 knitted projects, from cast on to bind off, finished in 2011. To me, that's really the biggest achievement, considering how much else I've been working on. But, what were they? Well, here you go! (see them all after the jump!) |
 |
by Jenny K on January 10, 2012
Working alongside so many clever crafters, it is easy to branch out of my comfort zone and try my hand at new projects and crafts. In addition to those who knit and crochet, there are also spinners, weavers, and dyers here at the KP office – a wealth of knowledge and inspiration! Over the past year, I have crocheted a few amigurumi toys and learned how to weave on a rigid heddle loom. Not only is it so much fun to explore new ways to indulge my fiber love, but it is also welcomed reality check. It was strange and exciting to be back into that unknown territory where I couldn’t read my stitches and I wasn’t sure if my hands were moving correctly to warp the loom. It was fun to have a project where I could embrace the experience and learning process rather than focus on the finished object.In the spirit of a new year and new projects, I am beginning to plan my list of new things to try out in 2012. First things first – I am starting to realize I have a growing collection of fiber. I have a drop spindle that I play around with from time to time, but I think learning to spin would be a much more effective use of my time and fiber! Wool of the Andes and Hanks in the Hood roving |
 |
by Alison on January 4, 2012
When we released our merino/cashmere blend yarn Capra in the fall of 2010, we were really excited to see the response from customers - it was a hit! After that launch, we immediately started work on developing a finer weight of cashmere-blend yarn that would make super-squishy socks and floaty, lightweight garments. That yarn just launched - Capretta! Capretta is a blend of 20.5 micron merino wool (for softness), cashmere (for that velvety I-can't-stop-touching-it quality), and nylon (for durability). The swatch in the image above is knit at a fairly tight gauge, 8 stitches to the inch, and it feels cushiony and plush with a slight halo. I'm personally dying to try it out using a looser gauge on some lightweight sweater patterns like Pas de Valse by Marnie MacLean or Hannah Fettig's Breezy Cardigan. |
|
by Alison on December 27, 2011
Developing yarn lines takes a long time, and our lead times can be up to a year in some cases! We’re just entering the new year, and we already have to start planning new colors for Fall/Winter 2012. Our meetings aren’t starting for about two weeks, so I thought I would check in with our blog readers and see if you have any suggestions for exciting new shades that you’d like to see in our non-cotton, non-lace yarns (think warm wool, cozy alpaca, and our other cold-weather yarn lines). Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2012 is Tangerine Tango – is there a color that you feel is fresh, new, and just needs to be seen in yarn form? Have you ever played around with sites like ColourLovers or Kuler for color inspiration? Give us your color ideas in the comments below! |
|
by Alison on December 21, 2011
As you already know, everything has been getting more expensive over the last year or two. Gas prices have gone up, along with grocery bills and the cost of various services. The fiber world hasn’t been immune to these global changes, unfortunately, and we’ve seen dramatic pricing increases in the cost of our raw materials and shipping since 2009. We’ve been able to keep our pricing from increasing through the worst of the economic crisis, but wool and other fibers are staying at the higher prices and our new contracts reflect this. On January 4th, we will be increasing prices on wool/wool blend and alpaca/alpaca blend yarn lines. Any lines introduced as new in 2011 already have their price increases built in, since their shipments came in at the new higher prices, and those 2011 new yarn lines will not be increasing on the 4th. Discontinued yarn lines will not ... |
 |
by Knit Picks Staff on December 21, 2011
Wow, the holidays signify the end of the year! Where did it go? 2012 is just a little over a week away and I haven't gotten my 2011 resolutions done yet! So it's a new year and a new list - out with the old, in with the new (or new again!). Has anyone started their 2012 New Years resolution list yet? Here at Knit Picks, we wish you a great New Year. Our wish for you is that 2012 be filled with creative crafting and lots of fiber fun! Happy Holidays & a very Happy New Year! |
 |
by Knit Picks Staff on December 9, 2011
If you're reading this, you can safely count yourself among the comfortably fortunate. Access to the internet, heat, warm clothing and a family with whom to gather this holiday season are things we might all easily take for granted. But not everyone is so lucky. Although need has no season, the season of sharing and giving seems to highlight the contrast between those who have and those who have not. It's this season that reinvigorates my commitment to charitable causes. When I found out about the Mittens for Akkol drive by The Motherless Child Foundation, I knew that I'd found a cause that would truly make a difference. This group of volunteers is spearheaded by parents who adopted children from the orphanage in Akkol, Kazakhstan, but couldn't bear to leave the other children behind. It all started with a Ravelry post in the Charity Knitting board requesting socks. Since I'd knit a bunch of kids' socks earlier this year, I figured a few more wouldn't be a problem. But as I read on about the charity, and especially about the recipients of these socks, it struck me just how much a simple thing like warm socks can make a huge difference in the life of someone halfway around the world. So I started knitting. |
 |
by Knit Picks Staff on December 8, 2011
You don't need to be a spinner to love fibers! I'm not a spinner but it doesn't stop me from indulging in an assortment of fiber. That's why I am so excited that Knit Picks is now selling many types of fiber. There's Wool of the Andes roving in Bare and in colors, recycled fibers with Full Circle Roving; there are spinning batts in many colors and now silk hankies! |
 |
by Hannah on December 6, 2011
'Tis the season for knitting and general fiber craft madness! It's foggy outside and I'm keeping my cocoa mug topped off while I round out my basket full of finished presents for family, friends and... of course, the various pets! I like switching between something that will give me that instant gratification and those complicated heirloom-quality pieces that demand a greater portion of my brain. So, I thought I'd share some of the products of my industrious little needles, just in case there are some of you out there who need a little nudge of inspiration! |
