knot another hat

winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Thank you to all 54 of you who left a comment on our Contest post! Reading your musings on Fall knitting was quite entertaining, and I just want to share a few of my favorite comments:

The cool air and the changing colors gives me startitis every time! I want to cast on EverythingRightNow! --5ElementKnitr

I love "EverythingRightNow" - I know that feeling well.

I love the colors and crisp air, apples, pumpkins, and the chance to knit with thick yarn to keep me warm. I cannot forget that this is the time of year for festivals and food! --Eileen

OK - as a girl who thinks about food all.the.time. this speaks right to my heart.

I love that it's not hot but it's not too cold yet and I can knit and crochet and feel like I have a purpose -- I can feel it in my bones. --Jen

Amen.

A brisk walk in crunching leaves following my own plume of breath in the cold fresh air along the Niagara River is a daily autumnal regime. Love this designer and her rich color choices. --Maureen

Ooh - that's some great imagery right there.

I like that it's finally cool enough to knit something bigger than a sock. --Laura

There's that, too.

I can do my 2 most favorite things simultaneously: Knitting and watching football! --Creal

Again, a knitter after my own heart. 

OK - Enough of comments. Who is winning this?????

I used the Random Number Generator, and our winner is . .. .

Aaron D! Congratulations!

Thanks everyone for playing along, and happy knitting! Be sure to download the Harvest eBook so you, too, can get started on these wonderful Fall knits! 

mystery KALs left and right

(Off topic: is it wrong that I'm already listening to Christmas music??)

Keep the comments coming! There is still time to leave your comment on the previous post and get entered to win 2 skeins of Malabrigo Sock and the latest eBook by Nichole Reese, featuring 5 designs in Malabrigo yarns!

In the meantime, I forgot to share with everyone the finished product of my Westknits Mystery KAL - the Earth & Sky Shawl. Remember when I showed you this?

 
That is a picture of my madelintosh merino light (in cherry, tart, and blackcurrant), all wound and ready to begin Stephen West's first KAL, a shawl project that was a mystery to us, the knitters. Beginning August 1st, we received a clue each week for four weeks. I know mystery KALs are very popular right now, but believe it or not, this was the first time I had ever embarked on a project without having any idea what it would look like. After my first week, I had this:

 
(I know - not much to write home about). Then after Week 2, things got more interesting:

 
I was very excited by this KAL, and since I absolutely adore merino light, I expected to LOVE the finished shawl.

(No pictures of Week 3 taken. Oops.)

But, I don't LOVE it. I kinda like it. Now that it's blocked, I like it more than when I was finishing the border. The 4th week's clue for the border kind of underwhelmed me. I can't describe why, but it's not my favorite FO. But that's all right.

 
Oh -and because I was so hot-to-trot about the merino light, I decided to make the size Large . . . also probably not a great idea, as wearing the Large isn't as easy as wearing a Small would be.

 
I tend to wear this kind of triangle shawl/shawlette wrapped around my neck like a scarf, and the Large is a lot of fabric to wrap around. For the time being it looks lovely draped over the shop couch:

 
HOWEVER! I am not to be deterred! I decided to jump right back on that Mystery KAL horse and participate in the Knit Purl Hunter's Progressive Needles Knit Along, sponsored by Skacel. Here at the shop we are stocking the KAL yarns, and I hadn't planned on "knitting along", so to speak.

But when October's yarn arrived, HiKoo SimpliCity, I couldn't resist. Normally I am not a big fan of synthetic blends, and I don't really stock any in the shop. But this yarn feels great. I mean it. So, I grabbed my own three skeins (October's Shawlette, Triplicity, takes three skeins) and jumped in!

 
 
I dutifully completed my first clue this weekend, and I'll post a pic for everyone soon. It's not to late for you to jump in, if you want to learn great new techniques and win AMAZING prizes from Skacel! All you need to do is purchase the KAL yarns, take pictures of your progress, and enter on the Knit Purl Hunter's website to win. Prizes are given away weekly and monthly throughout the KAL, with a grand prize at the end!

let's kick off fall with a contest!

Hello Fall!

Do you feel it in the air? The crispness has arrived to the Pacific Northwest. Daytime temps aren't bad, but there's a feeling there . . . it's about to get c o l d. So what better time to breath some life into this stale 'ole blog and have a contest!?!?

My dear friend and talented designer, Nichole, has a brand-spankin' new eBook: Harvest (here is the Ravelry link to view and purchase the eBook). Harvest is a collection of 5 stellar patterns, and it is the October edition of the Malabrigo Freelance Pattern Project. Those of you following the Project know that every month this year has featured a new eBook by an up-and-coming indy designer. I can assure  you 100% that Harvest is the best one yet! Let's take a tour, shall we?

 
First up, The Harvest Capelet. This beauty is knit with Malabrigo Silky Merino, and has a subtly beaded border to lend sparkle and weight. The unique shaping of this capelet means that it will curve just right around your shoulders and stay put! Finished off with a bit of silk ribbon and you have the perfect cool weather shoulder cover.

 
The Autumnal Vest is your must-have fashion piece for Fall. Quick to knit out of Malabrigo Rasta, this vest has a leaf motif that borders each front edge and forms the stand-up collar.

 
 
One of my personal favorites in the collection, the Foliage Hat will entertain you as much as it will keep you warm. Knit out of doubled Malabrigo Lace, its subtle cables creates trees and are shedding their stranded colorwork leaves. Though it is beautifully soft in Malabrigo Lace, the colors available in either Classic Elite Fresco or O-Wool Classic 2-Ply make them great choices (single-stranded) as substitutes.

 
These Gathering Mitts are meant for serious coziness. They are made of a felted inner layer connected to a superwash outer layer cleverly knit together. Using Malabrigo Worsted for the inside and Malabrigo Rios for the outside, you can toss the whole project in the wash to felt and have it come out perfectly. On a side note, the pattern also includes instructions to knit the two pieces together just in case you'd like to ever wear them separately!

 
Last, but never least, are the Pumpkin Patch Legwarmers. Grab your favorite color of Malabrigo Sock, double it up, and whip out these ruched legwarmers to keep you warm!

All of these great patterns are available separately as downloads, but if you like them all, then by all means buy the whole eBook! You can get the whole collection as an eBook on Ravelry or on bluegirl's site. Now let's talk about the contest!

 
Nichole is going to give away two lovelys skein of Malabrigo Sock and one copy of the eBook to a lucky winner on my blog! All you need to do to enter is leave me a comment on this post, telling me what YOU love about Fall Knitting Time!

 

a humble thank you to you all

Hiya folks - - -

It's Turkey Day in the US . . . and even though I am not in the US right now, I just wanted you all to know how thankful I am for all of you and for the care and support you have all given Knot Another Hat over the last five and a half years.

People like to say these kind of platitudes all the time... "We'd never be here with you all", yadda yadda yadda. But I really, truly mean it.

To Nichole, Jill, and Destiny - my three rockstar employees who for three and a half years have had flexible schedules, infinite patience (and I mean infinite), and the mad skillz to handle the shop for me when I can't be there - there would be no KAH without you three.

To my amazing local customers, who come in and sit on the couch and have a chat, or a laugh, or a coffee, or a RIIIIIIPPping back of an entire sweater - thank you. Thanks for your stories, your compassion, your willingness to let me run out to the bathroom.

To my wide and varied web customers (some of whom have been local customers at times) - thank you. If you've ever looked at your receipt and noticed we sign a thank you note on every order, you know that we are just one person in a yarn shop filling your order personally, or answering your email, and you have rewarded us for that level of customer service by coming back time and time again.

Thank you - all.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,

Sarah

how's austria doing in the olympics?

Who cares?!?! Sorry, Austria, I mean no disrespect. But right now I'm really more concerned with my knitting that how many Golds Austria is taking home in Vancouver. I just wanted a snappy title to today's post about THESE FREAKING ADORABLE LEDERHOSEN!

• Pattern: Emmitt's Lederhosen, by bluegirl knits, available for download here
• Yarn: Berroco Suede, 3 balls 3737 Roy Rogers, 1 ball 3734 Mattunuck
• Needles: 4,5mm (US7)
• Size: 6-12mos (available from this size to 4-5 yrs) 

The story of these Lederhosen makes them a must-knit. The designer, Nichole Reese, is married to a first-generation Austrian. As a boy he had the real deal - little leather lederhosen, and by all accounts he lived in them! The originals now reside with the designer and her husband, and his childhood love of the little pants inspired her to re-create them in a knitted version.

These are authentic - right now to front placket, button, and pocket details! I test-knit this particular size for bluegirl knits, and it's just too bad that I don't have a little boy to put them in! But lucky for all of us, we have Mr. Ripley here to model them so well.

Don't you think you need some Lederhosen in your life???
 

#27

I have a new sweater!

Most of you probably remember my post about my dear friend, Nichole, and the excitement surrounding her first pattern in Vogue Knitting: #27, Fair Isle Collared Jacket. Well, I have just finished my very own #27!

• Pattern: #27, Fair Isle Collared Jacket by Nichole Reese from Vogue Knitting, Fall 2009
• Yarn: Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Chunky, 4 skeins 01, Charcoal; Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran, 2 skeins each #15 charcoal and #16, maroon, and 1 skein each #07 natural, #19 deep violet, and #21 fuschia
• Needles: US 10 1/2 and US 8 from my Click set
• Size: 36" finished chest
• Mods: longer sleeves - read below
• Note: Don't forget to check VK's errata for this - they WAY overstated the yarn requirements.

First up: let's talk sleeve modifications. Nichole's version is short-sleeved and super cute. I, however, didn't want my sleeves to end at the widest part of my upper arm, so I brainstormed ways to elongate the sleeves but keep the knitting interesting. I decided to make a 3/4 length sleeve, and add the same fair isle motif from the collar around the cuff.

The change was an easy one to make since this is a top-down pattern (thank god for top-down patterns, right???). I just returned my held sleeve sts to the needles and kept knitting, putting in 2 decrease rounds as I went to bring them in slightly. Just past my elbow I put in the contrast color edging from the bottom of the sweater, increased sts and change to the size 8 needles, worked the fair isle chart (center bolded repeat only), then decreased back to the bulky sleeve stitch count and size 10 1/2 needles and worked the contrast edging once more. Voila!

I love everything about this sweater. The yarn is delicious and worth every penny. The pattern is great and the perfect mix of straightforward, fast, easy knitting and colorwork entertainment. The swingy shape is dead-on for fitting my big 'ole hips but staying flattering around my waist and chest. This whole project was a big fat WIIIINNNER in my book!

 

check out that cover!

 

 

 

Another design by

Nichole gets published,

and this time snags the cover of the

Knit Simple Holiday 2009 issue!

 

The designer herself is offering this cute holiday cabled shrug as a class in November - sign up today (click the link to see the back view)!

A designer in our midst!!!

ETA: The new Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Chunky (as well as its little sister DLT Aran) can now be found on the website HERE!

Woo hoo - check this out. Recognize the above picture? It's from the Fall 2009 Vogue Knitting, and it is designed by our very own Nichole Reese! Many of you know Nichole from seeing her here in the shop, but did you also know she is a successful knitwear designer? Her entire pattern line, bluegirl knits, can be found on our site, available as instant downloads. One of our favs? The Machu Picchu Hat:

This warm earflap hat is knit with one skein each of Alpaca With A Twist Big Baby. . . delicious.

Another favorite, (and I swear I'm not biased just because it's my cutey-pie modeling...) the just-released Little Miss Sunshine:

This lovely is knit out of Bambino, the good-feeling and make-you-feel-good yarn by Be Sweet. Its blend of organic cotton and bamboo is perfect for kids' stuff. This pattern would also work with any other dk or light-worsted weight yarn. 

So let's all give Nichole three cheers for her first published design - and keep your eyes out for more great designs by Nichole in upcoming publications!  

Nichole can be found on ravelry as yarnpusher.

When chunky works, or, Lessons in knitting with chunky yarn, part II.

So have y'all met Nichole? She and I met here at the store when she first walked in as a customer and told me I had a severe blue shortage. We clicked, I ordered more blue stuff, friends forever, yadda yadda yadda. Sometimes she works here at the store, a lot of times she does accounting stuff, and a lot more times she designs beautiful knitwear under the label bluegirl knits. (Buy her patterns as downloads here.) To top it all off, she and I started a company together called Purlaway, and we put on knitting retreats and workshops.

She and I went together to Chicago in March to the Yarn Market News Smart Business Conference. We had a fantastic time, and met fantastic people. Yarn Market's parent company is Soho Publishing, which is also the parent company of Vogue Knitting. And it just so happens that the first night, at the opening cocktail reception, Nichole wore her newly finished Cropped Turtleneck from the Winter 2008/09 Vogue Knitting!

• Pattern: Cropped Turtleneck by Leena Sullivan, from Vogue Knitting Winter 08/09
• Yarn: 3 skeins Cascade Magnum in #4009, Aporto
• Needles: size US 15 (10,0mm)
• Mods: Nichole modified to knit the 1st sleeve in the round, split open for the body, then return to the rnd for the 2nd sleeve

Doesn't she look fantastic?? Sometimes we call her nasty names, just because everything looks great on her (see my last post). Luckily she doesn't take us too seriously. (BTW - this picture and the following courtesy of Trisha Malcolm, editor of VK - thanks Trisha!)

Here are some of the great peeps we met, from left to right: Nichole, Brook from Kirkwood Knittery, Patty from Lion Brand Studio in NY, me, Della from DellaQ, and Beth Polish, who spoke in a seminar on finance. 

This conference was a lot of intense fun and learning - I'm very glad I decided to go this year. Here's one last, blurry picture of Patty, Nichole, and I...   

not my knitting . . .

I have a post for you all with some incredible knitting content - it's just that it's not my knitting. First up?

The Fancy Pants.

These amazing fair isle pants were knit out of DB Cashmerino Baby for Mallory by Ms. Destiny, who is due any time now with a wee one of her own. They fit Mals perfectly right now, and so she wore them last week. Of course, she had a blowout in them about midday. Of course. (No worries - all came out with a little Soak and a good washing). Some of you may remember my post showing the absurd amount of ends Destiny had to weave in when she finished these. The craftmanship is really outstanding - and this was her first fair isle project! There is not a pucker or pull to be found, and not an end sticking out anywhere - I don't know how she did it. Next up?

The Campbell Sweater.

This was a Christmas gift to Campbell from Yvonne. The sweater is out of the new book Twisted Sisters Knit Sweaters, and Yvonne dyed, spun, and knit the entire thing. All the different colors, all the fair isle, everything. It is so beautiful that the picture definitely doesn't do it justice. And it has these cute little lime green daisy buttons. It also fits CK perfectly right now.  Many, many thanks go to both ladies for gifting my children with these special projects!

I have been doing some knitting lately, but some of it is top secret and therefore I can't share...for now! More to come!

Inspiration

Kaet, the Nantuckit Knitter, recently tagged me as a blogger who inspired her (a great honor - thank you Kaet!).  This really made me stop and think about what inspires me, and to realize that lately I've been feeling a bit inspiration-starved. It's no surprise, really, given that I've been super busy with work and family, and am more than two months (I know - two months!!!) behind in my blog reading. (I thought my Bloglines would blow up when I returned to it.) But staying up to date with all of you out there really, truly keeps me inspired, and I decided today was as good a day as any to get back on that train.

Staying inspired is so important to what we do. Without the spark of inspiration, we'd be trodding along in the same rutted tracks, probably content enough (for the love of the craft) but without the added zest of anticipation for our finished work. In that vein, I'd like to pass along to you my top ten bloggers that keep me inspired:

• Kaet - back at 'ya! Kaet blogs about great food and city living in her blog, Nantuckit Knitter. Even though she's leaving NYC, I know her adventures in her new home will be just as fun to read about.
• Leslie - aside from making my stomach positively groan when I see her cookie-of-the-week post, Leslie creates some fantastic knitting (among many other things). She proves that you can never have too much of a good thing.
• Octopus Knits - amazing knitted work, amazing photography. She really makes me try to improve the quality of my own photos.
• Destiny, over at AHouseFullofBoys. What can I say? She has 4 boys and a babe on the way, and she's spectacular!
• e.soule - a Portland knitter and professional photographer who does amazing photo portraits of miniatures - go check 'em out.
• Jared at Brooklyn Tweed. What more needs to be said?
• Mims, who blogs about knitting for the Oregonian newspaper. How on earth she manages to stay on top of the knitting related news in the PNW is beyond me, but she and her partner Peggy do it incredibly well!
• Vicki at Peace & Sereknitty - she lives in the Valley and takes stunning photos of her gardens, and knits projects that always make me want to be a copy cat...
• Pikku-Kettu Knits - she was my downstream Sockapalooza pal, and she picks wonderful projects that are just my taste and knits them up so quick you hardly have time to blink. Not to mention she blogs flawlessly in two languages.
• John at Yarn Ball Boogie - this guy makes me laugh. He's a designer and knitter/crocheter and photographer, and blogs about his work with hilarious irreverance.

There you have it folks, though this list is by no means the end of my blogland inspiration! Thank you to you all for showing up day after day to share your creativity with all of us!

I'll leave you all with a picture of Mallory, taken by Campbell...

Mallory Rose, eight months.