Never Not Knitting: December 2009

12.29.2009

Adorable Sheepish Version

I just couldn't help but share these adorable photos from my talented friend Kate at Tottoppers.

Her little boy Charlie is just the cutest and he wears his new "Sheepish" sweater so well!

It looks so cozy and warm on him, doesn't it?

I'm so happy to see that this little sweater works equally well in a little boy's wardrobe.

Pattern available here.

12.22.2009

This past August I had the privilege of joining the Spud and Chloe design team!
I love working with the Spud and Chloe line of yarns, they are so soft, easy to work with and even machine washable. Perfect for kids!

This is the first of my patterns to be released through the Spud and Chloe company.

This little bulky vest makes the perfect classic, cozy, last minute gift for the little one in your life. It's knit with 3 skeins of Spud and Chloe Outer on size 10 1/2 needles. You won't believe how fast this little thing knits up.. Only a few evenings at the most!

Spud and Chloe named this pattern the "L'il Man Vest", but I think it can be worn by a girl as well. I've always thought it would look adorable on my daughter paired with a crisp white shirt, a plaid skirt and tights.

You will find this pattern at your local yarn shop or online here. Enjoy! :)

12.18.2009

Crazy Lace Giveaway

Please leave a comment under this post to enter the Crazy Lace drawing giveaway!

If you are chosen as the winner, you will receive this signed copy of Crazy Lace by Myra Wood.
Also included in the prize is this gorgeous 950 yard skein of Madelinetosh Lace from
The Backwards Loop to create your own "crazy lace" with.

(Please listen to Episode 30 of the NeverNotKnitting podcast for a review of Madelinetosh and an interview with author Myra Wood.)

You have until Jan 1, 2010 to enter the drawing! Please check back then to see if you've won!

Drawing now closed! Winner is Wooly Knits and Bits! Congratulations!

12.16.2009

The Results Are In...

Thank you to all of you who entered my "blogiversary" drawings! I was delighted to read all of your comments and receive all of your pictures! What fun!

Now to announce the winners...

Drawing #1: I randomly selected one of the comments left under the blogiversary post and I am happy to announce that the winner is Katerina

who wrote: "I found your blog through your podcast, and I found your podcast through searching iTunes for knitting podcasts! (I listen to quite a few of them and always like to hear a new voice!) I enjoy your reviews and laid back style I've only been a reader/listener recently - but enjoying hearing/reading it!"

Congratulations Katerina! I will be sending some of the NNK patterns, a few skeins of yarn and some treats your way!

And now onto Drawing #2!

Here is a collage of all the wonderful knitters who sent me their pictures! I just love this! :)

It was great seeing all of your faces and learning more about your favorite knitting spots.

I randomly chose between all the pictures sent...

And.....

The...

Winner...

Of...

The...

HUGE...

Giveaway...

Prize...

Issssssss........

Tracy!!!

Tracy wrote: "Here is my picture for the NNK Drawing. I was going to take a picture of myself at my LYS where I buy most of my yarn and notions, but honestly I love knitting at home after dinner and a long day of teaching. It is a perfect place for me while knitting and spending time with my husband and the other members of our family (dogs: Bandit, and Bailey and our tom cat Winston). "

Yay Tracy! Congratulations!

This is what you won!

Also included in this prize is a beautiful button selection from Tangled Yarns, (Regrettably the package is being shipped all the way from Australia and didn't make it in time for the photo-shoot) and an ingenious row counter from Pretty Knitty Jewelry!

Well I just have to say that this drawing was sooo much fun! I would like to start running drawings like this regularly throughout the year. If you would like to be a contributor for an upcoming giveaway please email me: nevernotknitting@gmail.com.

Thank you everyone for participating!

12.15.2009

The NeverNotKnitting Podcast : Episode 30 : Interview With Myra Wood

Episode 30

Shownotes:

The Backwards Loop

Smoky Cedar Leaf Shawlette

Cedar Leaf Shawlette Pattern

Malabrigo Silky Merino

Cedar Leaf Knit-a-long

Vine Yoke Cardigan

Damson

Madelinetosh

Tea Leaves Cardigan Pattern

Eyre Cedar Leaf Shawlette

Xiphium Shawl Pattern

Crazy Lace

Crazy Lace Ravelry Group

International Free Form Group

Myra’s Graphic Design Portfolio - (check this out!)

NeverNotKnitting Ravelry Group

Get free shipping through The Backwards Loop until Jan 15th by entering code: “freeship” in the checkout process. Also be sure to listen to episode 30 to get an alternate discount code for selected Madelinetosh yarns. The special podcast code applies to all yarns with an *.

Episode 29 drawing winners: Michelle is the winner of the signed copy of Made In Brooklyn, and Donita won the skein of Classic Elite Princess from Dancing Ewe Yarns! Congratulations!

This is the last episode for season 3. Please join me back for Episode 31 on March 1, 2010.

Thanks for listening!

Download Episode 30 MP3 here

Crazy Lace

12.14.2009

A New Sweater And The Bag It Calls Home

I recently fell in love with yet another sweater pattern. The Tea Leaves Cardigan by madelinetosh. Even though I still have a few projects currently on the needles, I felt the need to cast on for this one right away.

Do you blame me? Seriously.

Is it just me.. or is this ruched yoke pattern in this colorway of madelinetosh merino pretty much the most beautiful thing ever?

I decided that I had to go with the Tannehill colorway for my sweater, just like the original pattern photo. This color intrigued me in the pictures and is equally stunning in real life. Usually I would be scared of so many colors thrown together in one yarn.. but its so elegantly executed. It's truly unique and lovely.

(Be sure to listen to Episode 30 of the NeverNotKnitting podcast airing tomorrow.
There will be a special offer from Backwards Loop for the madelinetosh yarns.)

Plus I had to have something exciting and new to put into my new RoseKnits project bag.
If you aren't familiar with these bags, I highly suggest you check out RoseKnits etsy shop and the selection at Backwards Loop.

I am in love with this little bag. It holds 2 balls of yarn, my work-in-progress and the pattern quite comfortably with room to spare!

And it's a whole lot cuter than the gallon size ziploc bags that I normally use...

I also love that it has its own handle! Perfect for knitting on the go!

12.05.2009

Smoky Cedar Leaf

My second Cedar Leaf Shawlette is now finished!
I'm so happy to have another in a different color. This one goes perfectly with my winter coat.

Also, this will be the sample that travels around in my trunk show.
So if your local yarn shop is carrying my patterns, you might get to see this one in person.

This was knit from 2 skeins of Malabrigo Silky Merino.
I have no idea how I squeezed it out of only 2 skeins!
I think I've been rather stressed lately so I must be knitting tightly. :)

I used the beautiful gray colorway "Smoke".

(Yarn available here. Pattern available here.)

My favorite thing about this pattern is seeing the leaves overlap eachother.
I love knitted leaves.. and seeing them altogether like that.. just makes me happy. :)

I also really enjoy wearing the shawlette wrapped around my neck (as shown above)
so that all the leaves are showing at once.

So far this design has proved to be a very wearable knit for me.
This is the first scarf I go for in the morning. I hope to make more in different colors soon. Wouldn't it look gorgeous in an autumn colorway?

If you are interested in this pattern, I'd love for you to join the Cedar Leaf Knit-a-long.
Click here!

12.03.2009

Made In Brooklyn Drawing Giveaway

This signed copy of Made in Brooklyn could be yours!

Enter to win by leaving a comment under this post before December 15th.

I will choose a commenter at random and be announcing the winner on the podcast and blog, so be sure to check back!

This book contains the Laurel hat pattern that I just knit, and it is chalk full of other beautiful designs as well.

It will surely make a wonderful addition to your knitting library. :)

Drawing Now Closed!

Winner is Michelle! Congratulations!!!

12.02.2009

Laurel

Here is the lovely new hat I just recently completed.
The pattern is named Laurel and it's from Jared Flood's new book Made in Brooklyn.

(Book found here.)

It truly is a stunning pattern isn't it? I love how all the cables and bobbles twist together and join into the center of the crown.

The knitting of Laurel was fun and kept my interest, but was a bit on the tedious side with all of the cable crosses.

(Can you tell that I took this picture myself?)

If you are interested in knitting this hat, be sure to take a look at this errata page before starting. Also, I would suggest different bobble instructions than those presented in the book.

I found my bobbles to be kind of irregular and puny. I would definitely work them differently if I was to make this again.

I worked this hat out of the suggested yarn Classic Elite Princess in the Milord's Madder colorway. It's such an ideal Autumn color.

(Yarn found here.)

The great news is that I made this hat out of only one skein of the Princess yarn! With some to spare even!