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by Knit Picks Staff on November 11, 2011
Ever since we introduced Chroma, I've been enjoying its versatility for patterns. The subtle color changes turn simple stranded knitting into complicated-looking colorwork, and even plain stockinette into works of art. So how about some stripes? One of my favorite things in Astronomy class in college was examining emission and absorption spectra of various elements and then looking for them in stars. Not only was the science fascinating, but it was beautiful as well. When we were tossing around ideas for a new sweater in Chroma, my thoughts turned immediately to those lovely spectra. Obviously there would be quite a problem working a full spectrum line-by-line into a sweater. There's just too many rows, and the colors wouldn't line up with their correct nanometer values! Not to mention it would need to look nice in colors other than just the bright spectral rainbow. So, I decided that the Fibbonacci sequence would deliver the perfect result. And the Chromatic Pullover is the end product! |
Category Archives: Knit Picks Designers
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by Knit Picks Staff on November 8, 2011
Now that winter is nipping at our heels and the holiday knitting season is in full swing, it's about time to think about quick, warm knits. What better than fingerless mitts? They're versatile, quick to knit, and make great gifts. If that sounds like a good idea to you, why not try the Finishing Touches Fingerless Mitts Kit? This set comes with the patterns and enough yarn for five pair of coordinating fingerless mitts. Each of the five pair is a little different... |
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by Stacey on November 3, 2011
Thanks for all of your suggestions! Comments are now closed - we'll announce the winners soon! Over the past couple years, I would say that the majority of my personal knitting projects are from downloaded patterns. The popularity of downloadable patterns has been growing every year - for instance, we have almost 1400 patterns in our Independent Designers program, not to mention our popular in-house designs, free patterns, eBooks and book patterns available for download as well. I get requests from the IDP designers a lot, asking me what kind of patterns they should be working on. Well, we know what we like & what we think would be popular with our customers but I thought I'd ask our blog readers - what kind of patterns would you like to see more of? Sweaters? Socks? Hats? Easy patterns? Challenging patterns? Leave a comment below & let us know! |
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by Stacey on November 3, 2011
Thank you so much for all of your suggestions on our little survey! They were all really helpful & we'll make sure to pass them along to the IDP designers. We randomly chose the winners for the prizes - I hope they enjoy the pretty Glimmer yarn! |
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by Knit Picks Staff on October 27, 2011
A couple of summers ago, I did a whole tutorial series on knitting Lace. Now that we have better video equipment, I've made a video to expand on some of the information I covered - specifically, how to read a chart. If you're new to lace or mystified by charts in general, this (twenty minute!) video takes you through everything you need to know to get going. It's not just lace specific, either - though lace comes with its own set of interesting features. Since the video is HD quality, you can watch it in fullscreen mode to get a high-quality closer look - and even pause and knit along if you'd like. Read more to see the video! |
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by Knit Picks Staff on October 14, 2011
There are so many reasons to love yarn, and those reasons are as different as the crafters who use it. But, what we can agree on is that using yarn confers a benefit to us. (Otherwise, why would we keep on using it?) One of the greatest benefits for me, is that yarn and knitting give me a way to pass time that otherwise would be wasted, or spent doing something much less pleasant. It allows me to take those little chunks of time standing in line at the grocery store, in the waiting room at the dentist, riding the train, etc., and turn them into productive moments. When you're an on-the-go type of knitter, it's kind of amazing how much time you never knew you had! But, sometimes, life throws you a situation in which waiting is all you can do, and unless you have something to keep your brain busy, it drags on forever. Like the hospital! We checked in at 7am. I pulled out the little sleeves as the nurses went through the pre-op procedure. |
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by Knit Picks Staff on October 10, 2011
With the falling leaves and chilly autumn winds on their way, it's time to start knitting a new hat! This Fall, how about an Andean Chullo hat? This perennial favorite is back in two new colorways: Red and Grey. The Red kit has rich autumnal shades of russet and orange, while the Grey kit has a gradient of black to white shot through with bright wintry blues. Both kits put a new twist on the Peruvian-inspired patterns... |
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by Knit Picks Staff on September 30, 2011
I think it's time to admit that summer is actually over. But, while I'll miss the sunshine, I'm nearly giddy over the prospect that sweater weather is coming! For those of you in the northeast and midwest, it seems like it's already time to dust off the gloves and hats. And, perhaps, just the right time to introduce some Uptown Chic into your wardrobe. The six patterns in this new eBook are a fun way to kickstart your fall and winter wardrobe! The Morrison Beret is a slouchy beret reimagined with heavy Aran texture. Worked in Gloss HW, it has the stitch definition to make the cables pop. The Division Street Scarf is big, bold, and will keep you warm in the worst winter weather... |
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by Jenny K on September 28, 2011
With cooler weather fast approaching, it only seems appropriate that the new catalog is jam packed with all kinds of knitting goodness! And with so many kits to choose from, there is really something for everyone. You will find everything from blankets and throws to hats, bags, mittens, toys and holiday decorations. One of my favorites is the Winter Wonderful Kit, I just love the idea of getting a kit of yarn to make my very own set of holiday decorations! I am a total sucker for the holidays and always get excited when I can fill my house with cozy and festive home decor. There are so many options for knitted toys, little gifts, and decorations - and even though it would be time consuming, the knitted string of lights would be completely worth it. Watch Kerin's designer interview for the Winter Wonderful Kit to see all of the adorable things you could make! |
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by Knit Picks Staff on September 23, 2011
Holiday knitting season! Yes, yes, I know, it's still September. But, if you're planning on knitting some holiday gifts, now is a pretty good time to start! Now, I don't know about you, but I think I've knit just about every type of thing I can think of as gifts, and I'm sure my mom only needs so many scarves. So, what to do? How about giving some lovely ornaments and decorations from the Winter Wonderful kit? This kit includes 15 patterns for everything from a Mitten and Sled (that also function as gift card holder!) to a life-sized Poinsettia and adorable stuffed Chickadee and Polar Bear. Or, make a cute yarn basket for your favorite knitting friend... |
