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.
Meet the team »
If you are considering knitting any of the kits from the latest catalog, we have recorded designer interviews with Nina and Kerin. They show off the projects, and tell you about any special techniques used in the patterns.
Tilt A Whirl Kit
Soleado Bag
New Traditions Baby Blanket
Madison Laptop Case
Fiji Desk Getaway Kit
Backyard Garden Kit
We’d love to hear if you are knitting any of the new kits!
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Read more »Knitters who attended our yarn tasting a few weeks ago heard me talk about my ill-fated idea for a hat–It was going to be really cute, shaped like a beehive with little needle felted bees adorning it. And it was ill-fated because when I pitched the idea to Alison, thinking that it would make a great KP design, she very politely informed me that the pattern already exists–only in one of the most popular knitting books of the last decade. Knitting designer FAIL!
There are 2 kinds of pattern ideas that I get–some of them are patterns that I think will be fun to write, but probably wouldn’t choose to knit for myself (I have 10 years of stash at my current knitting rate so I need to be a little choosy to avoid getting buried in yarn!) and some are ones that I really, really want to make for myself. …
Introducing….
The New Traditions Baby Blanket!
I come from a very crafty family–Every new baby could be sure to be welcomed into the world with a hand-pieced quilt, a knitted wardrobe, a handmade dollhouse with tiny hooked rugs, needlepoint crib bumpers, the works. Some of the quilters and knitters were so prolific that they did not limit them selves to babies in the family either–coworkers, in laws, friends of friends would all receive a little quilt or sweater set when a new person was on the way.
I remember the quilts the best; I’m one of the youngest members of my generation in this family, but I remember the birth of a cousin on my mom’s side when I was 6 years old. No-one on my mom’s side is very crafty, but I remember my Dad’s sister making a beautiful quilt, all in lilacs, pinks, …
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There are some rules that even the owner of Knit Picks can’t break. In preparation for yarn launches, we always receive boxes in advance for knitting up photo samples for the catalog. These yarns are absolutely sacrosanct since everything has been allocated to sample knitters or the photography department.
Yeah, right! Imagine walking into a room filled with all sort of new yarns and/or new colors and not being able to immediately be able to sweep up an armful and head for the nearest comfortable chair – that is my torture. I like to believe that everyone else has a crutch to lean on because their jobs depend on the “proper” dispensation of the limited yarn supplies. But, I’m supposed to be knitting! That’s my job!
When I was finally able to get my hands on the lace yarns, I have to admit I was a bit overwhelmed. …
I’ve just crossed the halfway point for the sleeves on hubby’s sweater!
It’s very weird going from knitting one large body to two small sleeves, and having to repeat the same round twice. So, I’ve had to tink a lot and haven’t made as speedy progress as I’d like! They’re just about long enough to reach his elbows…
and my knee!
These felt so nice as legwarmers when I put them on that I’m pretty sure that’s how any leftovers will end up! I’ve been telling hubby I want to make him some gaiters for his legs so they don’t freeze out there… but I don’t know, I might just need to keep them for myself 🙂
That aside, I’m hoping to get the sleeves done tonight while he’s over at his brother’s for game night. The race is on!
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I use Bloglines to organize and follow blogs that I find interesting.
No one’s life is simple which means blogs don’t always fall into neat categories. But, I think I do a pretty good job. Of course, there are the
‘Knitting Blogs“
Some of my favorites include…
Passing Down Crazy
Wendy Knits
Green Woman Comes Knocking
or Mary Scott Huff
I have another Bloglines Folder titled “Photographically Interesting“. These are blogs that are inspirational to me in terms of improving my blog photography.
Definitely Pioneer Woman
Brooklyn Tweed
Raised In Cotton
or Reclaiming the Home
Oh, and the “Food” blogs!
Bakerella
or Smitten Kitchen
Going to Bloglines is like opening up a huge mailbox! Lots of delightful letters and packages.
None of the blog samples I have …
A lot of excitement around here as we debut our new spring yarn colors! I’ve put together the latest catalog preview for your viewing
pleasure, lots of colorful photos to peruse and fun, spring-y projects to make.
As you may be able to tell, we always have a lot of fun going on location for our photography. And this time we were lucky enough to visit the Kennedy School here in Portland. Everyone was so nice and accommodating, I’d really like to go back for another shoot soon. I also had a pretty good time with our “tropics” theme, I stole Kelley’s office plants and (hopefully) made our set look like a splendid vacation destination. So between the new yarn, and two travel-themed stories I think you’ll find plenty of juicy juicy eye candy in our April catalog. I hope you enjoy it!
April Catalog Preview
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For us anyway – our new Spring yarns were released today! We added colors to several of our cotton & lace yarns and have 3 new yarn lines – Comfy Fingering, Shadow Tonal, and (my personal fave) Stroll Tonal. Want to see some of these beauties knit or crocheted up? Check out our new IDP patterns released today as well.
A crochet shawl in Shadow Tonal Springtime
A beautiful lace scarf, knit in the Shadow Tonal Gypsy
Showing off our new Stroll Tonal Canopy in some lovely socks
And, in case you don’t like socks or shawls, how about a fun hat in Stroll Tonal Foliage?
Now only question is – What do I make first? <
A couple of weeks ago I spent a day gathering up my far-flung WIPs. I had bags in my library, in my knitting nook, in the living room, in the bedroom and in my office at work! Seeing everything piled up in one place was a bit daunting but, in the perverse attitude of a fiber freak, fantastically energizing.
Using Ravelry and my Knit Buddy iTouch app, I arranged everything into two categories. The ones that I felt I could get to at least once a week became WIPs. The others went into my Queue.
As I became reaquanted with my neglected WIPs, I slammed head first into the one rule that I just can’t seem to retain. Make REAL notes! Cryptic jottings do not qualifiy!!
My Stonington Shawl is a perfect example. Here is a reproduction of the notes I made on the Xerox copy of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s instructions.
My Stonington shawl has been one of my Mindless Knitting projects. I usually only have a couple in progress with the rest of my WIPs being more intellectually stimulating.
Well, this weekend I finally finished my other simple project – the Angora Socks! Hurrah!!
I left you in suspense with my last blog entry and the analysis of what I thought was a small mathematical miscalculation.
I had to leave you in suspense because I was left speechless!!
It has taken a couple of days, and a scheduled dinner out with friends tonight, to shake me from my stupor. I have no viable mindless knitting! Yes, I could start something new but the Stonington Shawl “situation”, “mishap”, “disaster” ….. has completely knocked me out of the game. Seriously! It was a simple trapezoid but, NO, that was just too much for my math-challenging little mind. Suddenly …
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