Follow along and discover your next inspiration as we cast on for projects we love, explore new techniques, and dish about the latest and greatest from Knit Picks.
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So as I said last week, Alisha, Jenny & I all headed to sunny Phoenix for The National Needlearts Associate (TNNA)‘s winter show. It was so much fun! Not least of which was the beautiful Arizona weather we got to enjoy.
But sadly, we weren’t there for vacation – we were there to work! First step was to set up our booth for yarn shops to order needles & tools for their stores.
The little girls’ scarves are finished! I’m quite pleased with them – I like the length of both. I used Jared Flood’s Noro Striped Scarf pattern both the short way and the lengthwise way. The yarns are Palette and Stroll Handpaint. The scarves worked out perfectly as projects over the holidays with so many visitors. Easy to knit so I could enjoy conversations and football games.
It’s the time of year for shifty, cool weather and I’m definitely
bundled up all the time. When I’m knitting I have a blanket over my
shoulders, when I go outside there’s always a hat on my noggin, and even
when I’m working at my desk I have a scarf (or two!) on. This time around I knew that I wanted to knit a super cozy cowl that I
could wear outside to the market and inside around the office.
Something substantial. I spotted the Toast Wrap over on Ravelry and had that little fluttery heart moment when I know I’ve found the perfect project.
I may have told you this before, but it’s a truth that I need to say again. I love books! A book is a tangible item – you can touch it, turn the pages and (of course) it can inspire you! Our book list is constantly changing as I search for wonderful new books. Now, to make it even better, the books are on sale for 40% off!
I’ve recently added several new books that have caught my eye.
We’ve been chilly here in the Pacific Northwest this week so our thoughts have been turning to snuggly cowls. If that is the case for you, check out Bella’s Cowl, a free pattern by Rosi Garmendia!
Back in August I bought a cross stitch cell phone case (you can purchase them at Connect Design).
I stitched my first pattern using embroidery thread and was thrilled at
how easy it was to work with. Fast forward a few months and it’s time
for a new design! This time I found myself reaching for a lace weight
hank of Shadow Tonal in Springtime and it worked like a charm!
So Jenny, Alisha, and I are all heading out to Phoenix AZ for TNNA! This is a industry only trade show for retailers, wholesalers, designers, and other professionals in the needlearts community. You may remember our trip from last summer!
We are all very excited to be attending, getting to meet local yarn stores from all over the country that carry our needles, meeting with designers we work with & getting to look at all the new product being offered. What I want to know is what sort of new products would you like us to carry? We’ve been expanding our accessories & tools recently but we’re always on the lookout for new things to play with!
Kelley talks about one of her favorite things – sock knitting!
Listen along as Kelley shares all of the reasons why socks make the perfect travel
companion. Kelley also offers words of advice and encouragement for those new to
sock knitting. Next, Kelley follows up her chat on socks with three wonderful book
reviews – The Knitter’s Book of Socks by Clara Parkes, Sock Knitting Master Class
by Ann Budd, and Socks a la Carte Colorwork by Jonelle Raffino and Katherine Cade.
Finally, Kelley catches you up on how her works in progress are coming along.
Books Reviewed:
The Knitter’s Book of Socks by Clara ParkesSock Knitting Master Class by Ann BuddSocks a la Carte Colorwork by Jonelle Raffino & Katherine Cade
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!
Anytime you are involved in a creative or visual craft, having a good understanding of color relationships is a foundation that you will appreciate over and over again. Color is all around us. It has the ability to affect our mood, it can make us feel energized, it can make us sleepy, it can make us hungry, and yes, it can even effect our knitting and crocheting. The study of color is complex and can sometimes feel overwhelming, but getting comfortable with the basics will empower you to create stunning sweaters, hats, mittens, and so much more.
As we embark on another year filled with fiber fun, we will be crafting through the seasons! During the next few months of cooler climates and dreary weather, we will be warming up our winter blues with projects, ideas, and inspiration that focus on shades of blue.
Here is a basic color wheel that includes the primary colors – yellow, blue, and red – along with secondary and tertiary colors. Although only twelve colors are show, it can go a long way in translating color relationships. More advanced color wheels also include a large range of these basic colors in different hues and shades.