When I was a kid, I always had to either read a story, have my mom read to me, or listen to stories on tape before going to sleep. My favorites were always those that contained either a really solid moral, or DRAGONS! (better if there's both, but well, what can you do.) In fact, there was one tape that was something along the lines of 'Medieval Tales' that I loved so much I wore out the tape itself. I really, really didn't like the stereotypical characters in it, but it had DRAGONS. I mean, like, DRAGONS! Lots of them! And they roared! But, at the end of the stories, the fearless knight would always do away with the dragon. So not fair, because dragons are awesome! I tend to root for the underdog, so I developed a bit of a kinship with that dragon. I felt like he deserved to be left alone to live a long, scaly life! Anyway, that's a really long way of saying that when Nina and I were charged with the honorable duty of coming up with Hobby-Horse-like toys, I HAD to do a Dragon!

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So, it's no secret that I love cold weather. There's just something about bundling up in my winter woollens that I really look forward to. Not all knits are created equal, though - and for warm woollens, just about the warmest you can get is by thrumming. Thrumming is a process whereby tufts of roving are knitted into the fabric. It's really easy and fun, and the result is just amazingly warm and soft. If you've ever wanted to try it but weren't sure where to start, try our Toboggan Thrummed Hat and Mitts kit!

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Wool socks are really so much more than a fashion statement or funky accessory. They are a wonderful year-round garment that will be worth their weight in gold when you're caught in the snow, a freak summer rainstorm, the middle of the desert, or even the mall.

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When the weather heats up around here, it's definitely lace season. It's the perfect time to cast on an intricate shawl to work on during the summer months and have ready for the first few chilly nights in autumn. If you're looking for a new lace project for the summer, try the Baltic Lace kit! This kit has yarn and patterns for both the Karukell Shawl and the Catkin scarf or stole (shown here in stole option).

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It's hard to believe that spring officially starts in just over three weeks. This has been a pretty crazy winter, and at this point, cabin fever is bound to be running rampant. So, to cure those late-winter doldrums, wrap yourself in a warm, colorful blanket! We have two new blanket kits, each with two colorways. While they are aesthetically different, they are both examples of the cool stuff you can do with plain, simple garter stitch! The Flare Blanket comes in Red/Brown and Blue/Grey. This blanket is knit in sixteen squares, all with the same patterning but a selection of four different color sequences. Each square is knit in the round from the outside in - meaning it gets faster as you knit each square. Talk about instant gratification! And once the squares are sewn up - that's it. No fuss, no border, just soft, woolly warmth.

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What I love about Fair Isle sweaters is that they are just so classic. When it was time to design a new colorwork sweater, I took a lot of inspiration from those traditional patterns. But, with modern fashion being a little more sensitive to fit and shape, I added some details that really brought it up to date. The result is the Dogwood Blossoms sweater.

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Winter really is an amazing season. Maybe not as much here in the Pacific Northwest (where the seasons are more like "Rain" and "Bridge repair"), but memories of winters in the mid-Atlantic get me all nostalgic this time of year. There's something so amazing about the stark opposites of winter: Blinding blizzards and ice storms, and the absolute, stunning silence of snow. I've always been fascinated with winter, and fondly remember my first taste of negative temperatures in Syracuse. Somehow, in this bone-chilling season, life goes on. Spring is more brilliant after a hard winter. There's really some magic to it. It was with all of those fond memories of winter that I designed the Woodland Winter Mittens kit. There are six pair of mittens, each pair telling the story of one of the colder months, from October to March.

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Ok, seriously, what is with this weather?! I bet no matter where you are in the country, you're saying the same thing. This winter has already been rough, and it's not even winter yet! (ok, I have been wishing I was back in Syracuse the last few days, I really do miss the snow!) On top of all that, there are only a couple of knitting weeks till the holidays are upon us once more. What to do? Well, for a fabulous, easy and quick stocking stuffer, how about some Cheery Cup Cozies!

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