Podcast 212: New Yarn and Collections for April

This week, Jenny and Stacey get a chance talk about all of the new and exciting things that are out for April! First and foremost is Felici, our limited-edition self-striping fingering weight yarn – hear about all of the wonderful new colors that are now available.

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Next, Jenny and Stacey talk about the two new pattern collections out for April: In Tune by Luise O’Neill and Urban Texture by Tabetha Hedrick. You’ll also hear more about the new kits that are available and which books make out must-have lists while the big book sale is going on!

Finally, Stacey gets a chance to talk with designer Tabetha Hedrick – hear more about her inspiration and design process behind her collection, Urban Texture.

And due to the popularity of the kits, we have sold out of the Dish Towels and Pookies kits but fear not! You can still find the pattern downloads for these kits here:

Dish Towels Pattern by Kerin Dimeler-Laurence
Pookies by Barbara Prime

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Slow progress is still progress.

With the swatches for my dad’s sweater blocked and measured, I was finally able to get to the math of the pattern! I sketched out what I wanted it to look like, and got to work on measurements.
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Casting on after so long was a relief. I feel like I’m actually working towards keeping that promise now! And with an impending trip to see my dad, I’ve got the motivation of a deadline to spur me on.
I haven’t done much yet. Just past the sleeve cuffs and into the rhythm of cables and increases. But it’s progress – and now that I’m past the 1×1 ribbing (beautiful, but not as fast as I’d like!), the sleeves are whizzing right along. I’m working both at once, since the only …

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Sweater Finishing Series: How to Set in Sleeves

Although binding off that last stitch on your sweater is extremely satisfying, there is usually a bit more work left to do in order for that sweater to be truly finished. Whipstitching a hem, grafting at the underarms, and picking up stitches for a buttonband or collar – these are the smaller details that require time and attention but may not be the most familiar of knitting techniques. So what’s a knitter with finishing woes to do? Why ask Kerin, of course!

In addition to designing patterns for our kits and collections, Kerin is also well versed in a huge range of interesting and unusual knitting techniques. So it only seemed fitting that as she was casting off a cardigan and planning out the finishing details to put everything together into a video tutorial series on sweater finishing.
The first part of this series focuses on how to set in the sleeves …

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Tiny Spring Knits

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I rediscovered my size 0 DPNS and some sort of spring FEVER just swept right over me. Before I knew it I had knit up a whole passel of Anna Hrachovec’s Tiny Cupcakes and a Tiny Easter Bunny lined up next to me! All this adorable knitting happened during a burst of sun over the weekend, so I was able to camp out on my back stoop and whip out all of these guys in an afternoon. I had one ball each of Sky, Blush, Wheat, Grizzly Heather and White Palette in a little basket and I just loved peeking at those happy colors together as I worked.

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Podcast Episode 211: Interview with Spilly Jane!

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Kelley has been a long-time fan of Spilly Jane’s designs, so she jumped at the chance to chat with her for the Knit Picks podcast! And those who aren’t familiar with Spilly Jane’s patterns, you are in for a real treat. Spilly Jane is a Canadian knitter and knitwear designer who is in love with colour and texture and habitually translates songs, food and architecture into elegantly quirky handknit socks and mittens. Hear all about how Jane first started knitting and what started her mitten obsession, in addition to getting the inside scoop on her design process for her well-loved patterns.
The Swedish Fish Mittens might be one of my personal favs, but it’s so hard to choose just one! Find all of Spilly Jane’s mitten designs here:
Spilly …

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A Photo Session With Linus

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I love any opportunity I get to photograph my little buddy, Linus. Once upon a time he helped us with a video for our old Special Reserve yarn, Sugarbunny and he was the little cutie modeling a knit sweater on this very blog a few weeks ago. Yesterday, we got to take advantage of his very accommodating personality (and his ability to hold still lying on his back all by himself) to take some fun photos with Palette.

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Last Socks of the Season

Winter is SOCK TIME! Take one glance at my bin (yes I said bin)
of WIPs and you’ll typically see a pair of two-at-a-time toe-up socks on
a pair of size 2 fixed circular needles hanging out among all the hats
and mittens. I like being able to pick them up between projects, cruise
through both heel sections over a weekend and then knit in a rather
meandering way until I just can’t STAND to look at them anymore before I cast off and pop them over my toes.

This particular pair of Imagination foot
cozies have been resurfacing on and off over the past month or so. All
the greenery, daffodils and warm sunshine over the past week has
reminded me that soon it would be summer again and time for me to start
casting on more cute toys and fewer cozy woolens. I plopped down on the
couch with a jar of tea and finished them up this past weekend before
all that lovely sunshine convinced me that I could wait until next
winter to get them off the needles and onto my toes!

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