Showing posts with label yarn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yarn. Show all posts

Sunday, July 22, 2018

Mermaids ~ new pattern release!


Hi, Knitters,
I hope you are doing well. We are having a rainshower-filled weekend, very off and on. We had dinner at Evan and Molly's house last night. Along with his brother and dad, he built a new deck on the side of his 100-year-old house and we tested it out with a cookout. They strung white lights and he found a small picnic table for free and he built two benches to go along with it. It is all kind of cozy and perfect. We enjoyed each other, as always, and shared a delicious meal and fun stories. The rain held off until right after dinner where we went inside to chat more and some watched the last inning of the Brewer's game. All in all, it was a successful summer night.

Well, I have a new pattern for you. I have been thinking about knitting a mermaid pattern for a long time, years in fact. I don't know why I didn't ever get around to it until now but I am glad I finally did. I really like the results!

There are Mermaids Kits available on Barrett Wool Co. with lots of options to make one or all three and there is a Mystery Item that can be added to your kit, as well. This item is a useful tool that goes along with the kit. I think you will love it. 


The Ravelry pattern for Mermaids is on discount right now through July 27th, 2018. The pattern price is set at $3.50, no code needed. After that it will be priced at $5.00. 


The Mermaids are knit with our Home Fingering Weight yarn.


Here is the Mermaids pattern information that might be of interest:
Beaches, waves, warm sunshine and of course, Mermaids! In these warm beachy months of summer it seemed the right time to create an adorable trio of Mermaids. These little mermaid dolls are knit seamlessly from the bottom-up with the arms, fins, ears and crown being picked up and knit on. The instructions provide exact placement for all of the appendages and eyes and instructional photos are included to help along the way. There is a necklace of pearls (or maybe French knots!) embroidered on afterward and there is a video tutorial link for this technique included in the pattern.
Instructions include simple guidelines for making a Merman, if interested.
I hope you enjoy knitting these lovely little Mermaids. They make for a joyful set!
Finished measurements 
9-inches tall
Yarn 
Barrett Wool Co.’s Home Fingering Weight (100% American Wool; 370 yards 338m / 100 grams). Samples use the following colors:
Mermaid #1: 
Hair color: Wishing Well (blue)
Bikini, Fin and Crown: Priscilla 
Skin Color: Bear 
Tail Color: Wood Violet
Mermaid #2: 
Hair color: Priscilla (pink)
Bikini, Fin and Crown: Wood Violet 
Skin Color: James 
Tail Color: Wishing Well
Mermaid #3: 
Hair color: Wood Violet (purple)
Bikini, Fin and Crown: Wishing Well 
Skin Color: Tattersall 
Tail Color: Priscilla
Needles 
US size 3 (3.25mm) double-pointed needles
Materials 
6mm safety eyes (2) 
Dark pink embroidery floss for mouth 
Polyester fiberfill
Gauge 
7.5 sts per inch /9 rows per inch in stockinette stitch

My favorite part of seamless toy knitting is working that final stitch and having the toy be completed in that instant! That is a satisfying moment. 


The Mermaids Kit is really adorable! If you give the kit a try, I hope you really enjoy it. 


One last thing I want to mention is the necklace in the photo above. My longtime friend Sheri and her daughter Whitnie are making these necklaces called We Are One. Part of the profits is donated to Global Giving. You can get We Are One stamped in your language of choice. I have purchased several of these for family members and I have my own. I chose Spanish as the language, Somos Uno. I loved it because at that family dinner last night we were all wearing our We Are One necklaces and I felt the sentiment was true, near and far. 


Have a great week ahead. I appreciate you all so much, Knitters.
xo ~ susan

Sunday, April 01, 2018

New Patterns!

photo credit :: evan anderson

Hi, Knitters,
Happy weekend to you all. I hope you are doing well. I have a new pattern release and a pattern that's coming up soon, plus a couple of kits! 

The pattern that is currently released is called Cozy Mouse and it is found in Taproot Magazine, Issue 26 :: Heal. Barrett Wool Co. has the magazines and adorable kits available right now. 




Isn't this a beautiful cover? I love it. Click here to see more about Taproot Magazine!

photo credit :: carrie bostick hoge

The other pattern I have coming out is called Sweet Bee & Flower. This adorable knit toy is coming out in Making No. 5 / Color in a few short weeks. Barrett Wool Co. will have kits and the magazine available for purchase and I'll keep you posted when it all becomes available. 


photo credit :: carrie bostick hoge


photo credit :: carrie bostick hoge

So sweet and fun! This is a perfect companion toy for the Butterfly & Cocoon toy. 

photo credit :: evan anderson

Lastly, there are some Loopy Sweet Sheep Kits in Birch (white) available in the shop, too!


Have a beautiful Sunday! I'll be back soon with more.
xo ~ susan

Sunday, March 25, 2018

D is for Duckling & Door County!



Hi, Knitters,
Well, it's been a busy, busy stretch around here. I've been traveling, teaching and designing up a storm. It has all been a lot of fun but I am ready to have a month off from travel and just be home for a bit. One thing I quickly want to mention is that I'll be teaching in my beloved Door County, Wisconsin this coming fall and I think there are still some spots available. It is an Ann Budd Knit for Fun Retreat and Olga Beraya-Kefelian and Laura Nelkin are teaching along with me and Ann Budd will be there, too, of course. The dates are September 20-23, 2018.


On Friday I released a new pattern called D is for Duckling. These are adorable palm-sized ducklings that are knit from the bottom-up and seamlessly. The pattern is on special discount through Tuesday, March 27th for $3.50 (no code needed) and will be $5.00 starting on March 28th, 2018.


We have put together a fantastic little kit using Home Fingering Weight yarn. You get everything you need to knit the three ducklings in the photos, the stuffing, and thread. The pattern can be included with your kit and you get a set of stitch markers and a hand-stamped project bag to boot. And it is easy on your pocketbook. Amazing all-around!




Here is a photo of the D is for Duckling Kit!



These little guys are so much fun to knit and there are lots of photos to help included in the pattern.



There is a lot of our Wisconsin Woolen Spun yarn available in the shop right now. Since this yarn is milled at a small local mill it is difficult to keep it in stock as the demand is great. We are getting more next week, as well, so be sure to check back to see what's in stock then. 

Click here to see more or to purchase the Wisconsin Woolen Spun yarns! You will love this yarn for any of your projects. There is nothing else like it. 

Have a great Sunday and week ahead, Knitters. I'll be back soon with more.
xo ~ susan

Saturday, March 03, 2018

Going West & Stitches


Hi, Knitters,
On my travels to Stitches West I knitted a new pair of socks. I brought along seven different colors of mini skeins in Home Fingering Weight yarn. I am calling this pair Going West Socks. If you haven't knit 100% wool socks I highly suggest you give these a try. The finished socks are so squishy, cozy and warm. They honestly feel so much better than superwash/nylon yarn. I don't want to take them off.

The socks use my Smooth Operator Socks pattern and I've written out the instructions for the stripes and a couple of other tips along the way. The stripes and colors make the socks incredibly addicting, you simply can't put them down. 


By the way, the clogs in the photo are from Dansko if interested.


Here's what you'll find in the Going West Socks Minis Kit:

The Kit Includes:
  • Enough yarn to make one pair of Going West Socks (about 150 grams) in the following colors of our Home Fingering Weight: Huron, Tattersall, Bluff, Strawflower, Ellie Grey, Big Woods and Folkstone.
  • An optional Ravelry download code for the Smooth Operator Socks pattern. This will be included on a paper card inside the kit.
  • A printed page with specific Going West Socks instructions to be used along with the Smooth Operator Socks pattern.
  • The kit will come packaged in a hand-stamped project bag.


Here we are before the big Stitches West event in Santa Clara, California began! We are poised and ready for the onslaught of attendees. I had so much fun the entire time and I met so many lovely knitters. It was really a positive experience in all. Our booth was packed full for the majority of the time and we were so busy. Miss Molly on the left and Evan is on the right. 


We shared our booth with Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting. That's her on the left. It worked out so smoothly. Thanks to Alana for a fantastic weekend!

I hope you are well, everyone. I'll be back soon with more.
xo ~ susan

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Stitches West & Loopy Sweet Sheep Kits


Hi, Knitters,
I have a few fun things to share with you. First, I am going to be teaching four workshops at Fibre Space in Alexandria, Virginia, on Feb. 9-10, 2018. Click here to find out more!

And Barrett Wool Co. is hitting the road! We are heading out to Santa Clara, California, to vend at Stitches West on February 22-25, 2018. Not only will this be our first large event for vending but we are thrilled to be combining forces and sharing a booth with the one and only Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting. We are really looking forward to this upcoming event and we hope to see as many of there as possible. Please stop by our booth, #1336 and 1338, to say hello and to see our Barrett Wool Co. yarns in person.

Hope to see you there!




I launched a new kit yesterday over on Barrett Wool Co. Here is some information about the kit:


I've updated an "oldie but goodie" pattern called Sweet Sheep and added an adorable double-loop stitch to the body. I think the Loopy Sweet Sheep looks like it is sitting in a cloud of wooly loops! It's so much fun. The original Sweet Sheep version is just as cute in plain stockinette stitch if that's what you prefer. Using the Wisconsin Woolen Spun Worsted Weight is beyond perfect for this project. The finished Loopy Sweet Sheep is so squishy and adorable. Trust me, it so good you can't stop squeezing it! 
The Kit Includes:
  • Enough yarn in our Wisconsin Woolen Spun worsted weight to make one Sweet Sheep. We have three colors for you to choose from: Birch, Quaker Gray and Stone.
  • An additional printed page of instructions from Susan to go along with the original pdf pattern on how to add the double-loop stitch to your Sweet Sheep. 
  • An optional printed Ravelry download code for the Sweet Sheep pattern, since some might already own the pattern.
  • You will also be given access to an exclusive tutorial video by Susan on the Double-Loop Stitch used in the Loopy Sweet Sheep. The exclusive video link will be sent to kit purchasers in a separate email.
  • A tin of 20 assorted color stitch markers.
  • Black embroidery thread for the face.
  • The kit comes packaged in a hand stamped cotton bag.




Also, there are still some of the Little Hearts Minis Kits available. I made this kit to go along with the free pattern Little Hearts (click here!).



This kit is so much fun and perfect for Valentine's Day decorating and/or gifting. 

I've been doing lots of behind the scenes knitting on a couple of projects for publications that will be out in the near future. I can't wait to share more.

I hope to see you at one of my upcoming workshops or at Stitches West! Have a great Sunday, Knitters. I'll be back soon with much more....
xo ~ susan

Sunday, January 14, 2018

NYC & Baa Kits


Hi, Knitters,
I hope you are all doing well. I am in New York City right before on my last day of teaching for Vogue Knitting Live. This event is like nothing else. It is huge and lively and well-run. I have taught four classes so far and the students have been nothing short of wonderful. Shortly, I will be teaching my last two classes and I am really looking forward to it. If you ever get a chance to go to a Vogue Knitting Live event, do it!

I want to let you know that we have a new toy kit up in the shop over on Barrett Wool Co. for a sweet little lamb with some simple colorwork on the body. The pattern is called Baa. I have created 5 exclusive instructional video tutorials to go along with this pattern. The exclusive links to the videos are on the last page of the pattern! 

The Baa pattern is currently on discount at $3.50, no code necessary. On January 19, 2018, it will go back to the regular price of $5.00. 

The Baa Kit comes in three amazing color choices in Home Fingering Weight, all hand-selected by me. Just for fun we also added a mystery element to the kit and you can add this as an option with purchase. It is a tool and it is 100% adorable and very useful. 




Baa measures in at 5.5-inches tall when seated. It is an adorably sweet little knit! Almost completely seamless. The limbs and ears are all picked up and knit on. The only seam is to attach the head to the body and I go over all of it in the 5 exclusive video tutorials included with the pattern. 


I'll leave you today with our photo from dinner last night in NYC. I am so fortunate to have a lot of family with me on this teaching trip. They are having the best time. My two sons and their significant others came along and my husband is there at the end of the table. I now have a niece and a nephew living in NYC and so we had a mini-family reunion. It was so much fun. We went to the restaurant Kubeh and I highly recommend it. The food was delicious. 

After dinner we went to a tiny and fantastic ice cream spot called Van Leuven's. This is a place not to miss! Salted caramel, honey comb, cookies and cream, black sesame... the flavors were so good. 


My favorite part of Van Leuven's was a little gratitude book left out to sign. My son, The Baker, scratched out what he was thankful for, "Friends, family, good food and visiting NYC." We all signed underneath in agreement. 

I'll be back soon with more! I hope you love your Baa Kits if you get one. Let me know.
xo ~ susan

Sunday, January 07, 2018

Emmen


Hi, Knitters,
Meet my new hat pattern, Emmen! I knit a quick hat for my son right before Christmas and he absolutely loved the way it fit and looked. And I loved knitting it. I quickly knit up another one and this is the one in the photos here. 

So I thought the pattern might be something you'd be interested in, as well.

I have the pattern priced at an introductory special of $3.50, no code is necessary. This price will go through Jan. 12, 2018, and then the price will be set at $5.00.

The other thing is that the hat uses one skein of Barrett Wool Co. Home Worsted Weight. If you purchase any of our worsted weight yarn and write KIT in the order notes, we will throw in a FREE Emmen pattern Ravelry Download Code with your order! This offer goes through Jan. 12th, as well.





The model is a family friend, Mark, who is visiting from Emmen. Emmen is a city an hour or two outside of Amsterdam, thus the pattern name. A few days ago he had to go back to school in Emmen and we miss him around here already. Mark generously modeled for us and the hat looked so great on him and he really liked it so I ended up giving it to him in appreciation. He wore it non-stop for the rest of his visit which I took as a good sign. 


The top of the hat is so pretty. It continues on with strategically placed decreases in pattern. I love the simplicity, look and fit of the hat. It fits men nicely but it also fits me perfectly. I think I am going to knit one up for myself.

The Home Worsted Weight comes in lots of beautiful colors but the color in the photos is Scout, which is a rich shade of teal. 


Also, I just filmed and posted two tutorial videos for the Sven and Solveig dolls. I show how I did Sven's beard and Solveig's hair over on the Barrett Wool Co. Journal.

The pattern booklet for Carol Anderson's Sven & Solveig is available right here! The pattern is only available in this booklet. It is not available for download. 



I love these dolls so much. We have more kits on order for the dolls. I'm not exactly sure when they will be available but hopefully soon. If you would like to get an instant automatic email notice when they are listed all you have to enter your email on the product page. Then you be the first to know!


Have a wonderful Sunday. We have a fresh dusting of snow on the ground and the temperature is supposed to be a little friendlier today. My fingers are crossed.
xo ~ susan

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Pine Star Hat Kits by Mary Jane Mucklestone

All photos of the Pine Star Hat on the model are by Carrie Bostick Hoge

Hi, Knitters,
I hope you are doing well. We've had a couple of celebration dinners this week, well, three to be exact, for my husband's birthday. That's a lot of birthday celebrating I'd say but it's been really fun and we've been having some delicious meals. Last night we had a family cookie exchange and that was wonderful. I made some old standards using my mom's recipes but the kids made some new cookie recipes. Anyway, I've eaten way too many cookies! 

Well, I just wanted to touch base today to let you know we have some fantastic new hat kits in the shop over on Barrett Wool Co. and this one is designed by one of my favorite knitters in the world, Mary Jane Mucklestone. She is the queen of colorwork and this new hat is knit in our beautiful, squishy Wisconsin Woolen Spun Worsted. 

Click here to see more about the Pine Star Kit! These kits are easy on the pocketbook, too!

The kits were released on Friday night and they have been flying out of the shop at a very fast pace. We had a lot of kits in stock but it looks like they may not last too long. 


I love how dainty the colorwork is in this design. There is a lot of white space and it looks so fresh. I also love the name Pine Star. It is all kind of perfect but that's Mary Jane for you. She is kind of perfect in every way just like her designs. 


We have two different colorways of the kit. The first two photos are hats worked up in the Oats and Hawthorn colors and there is a deeper contrast. The hat above is worked in the colors of Rain Shower and Coal. These colors have a softer more heathered look to them.

I cast on a Pine Star for myself and I am making the one above with the Rain Shower and Coal colors. I love the heathered yarn. Both kit colorways are beautiful.



I am crazy about the tiny pom-pom Mary Jane put on the top. It is so cute. 


A Ravelry download code for the pattern is included in the kit.


A Ravelry download code for the pattern is included in the kit.

Happy New Year to you all! I can't believe it's going to be 2018 tomorrow. Time is flying by at a faster pace than I ever imagined possible. I hope you are doing well and that your knitting is keeping you company and also keeping you warm during this bitter cold winter stretch.

I appreciate your support and friendship here on the blog, as always, and I am sending it right back to you. I'll see you next year right here on the blog.
xo ~ susan 

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Sampleri ~ new pattern & kit!


Hi, Knitters,
I hope you are doing well. It has finally turned chilly around here and I am full-time wearing wool sweaters and handknit socks to stay warm. It seemed to take a long time this year. It has been a really good fall season so far and I hope it's been the same for all of you. 

I was teaching at the Signature Needle Arts retreat a couple of weeks ago and I had such a nice time. Tomorrow I leave for Edmonton, Alberta to teach at an Ann Budd Knit for Fun retreat. Those are always such a great time. I'm really looking forward to teaching with Ann and Joji Locatelli. I haven't met Joji before so I am really looking foward to it.

Today I want to let you know that I have a new pattern out called Sampleri and it is a simple colorwork hat sized from newborn up to adult xl (fits a man size head). Sampleri means sampler in Finnish. 

The pattern is on discount right now for $3.50, no code needed, through Nov. 6th, 2017. Then it will be priced at $5.00. 



The kits include our Wisconsin Woolen Spun Worsted in gorgeous rich colors. 


Here is some information you might like to know:

Sampleri

Knitting
October 2017
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
5.5 stitches = 1 inch
in stockinette stitch
US 5 - 3.75 mm
US 6 - 4.0 mm
250 yards (229 m)
Newborn (baby, child’s small, teen/adult small, adult medium, adult large, adult extra-large)
This pattern is available for $3.50 USD  buy it now
Sampleri is being offered at an introductory price of $3.50 starting today, Oct. 30 through Nov. 6, 2017. After that it will be priced at $5.00. 
Over on Barrett Wool Co. we have Sampleri Kits available!
What could be better than a cozy handknit hat made with squishy worsted weight wool? Well, better yet is all of the above plus some simple colorwork charts thrown in for fun! Sampleri, meaning sampler in Finnish, is a quick adventure in stranded colorwork using four or five (depending on the hat size) simple charts along the way. The crown is worked in the main color only and ends with four tiny and charming I-cord loops featuring the four colors used in the hat. It’s the perfect finishing touch for a perfectly festive hat!
Finished measurements: 12 (13, 14.5, 16, 17.5, 19, 20) –inches in circumference (the measurements have been rounded slightly).
Sized to fit: Newborn (baby, child’s small, teen/adult small, adult medium, adult large, adult extra-large)
Sizing Note: The larger sample is knit in the adult extra-large size and comfortably fits my son, Evan, with a little room to spare. Evan has a 22.5-inch head circumference. I would make the adult medium size to fit me, I have a 22-inch head circumference. The yarn does soften and bloom quite a bit with washing and blocking.
Yarn: Barrett Wool Co. Wisconsin Woolen Spun Worsted (100% American Wool; 100 grams/250 yards, 228 meters)
Samples were made using different colorways.
Sample 1 (made in the Adult Extra-Large size): 
MC: Oats 
CC1: Penny 
CC2: Harbor 
CC3: Jam
Sample 2 (made in the Newborn size): 
MC: Rain Shower 
CC1: Penny 
CC2: Hawthorn 
CC3: Jam
Yarn Note: The MC for the Adult Extra-Large size used less than 50 grams and the Contrast Colors used under 20 grams each.


The top of the Sampleri hat is finished with four charming looped I-cords and I think it is my favorite topper ever. 


The Wisconsin Woolen Spun lends itself to colorwork so beautifully. This is really one of my favorite types of projects. The hat whips up in no time, it looks more complicated than it really is and the finished hat is lovely and fun to wear. All of that adds up to a great knitting experience!


The Sampleri Kits include enough yarn to make the adult xl size. If you make the baby size you will be able to get more than one hat out of the yarn provided. 

There are two choices for the Main Color yarn, Rain Shower or Oats. And there are two Contrast Color choices, one includes Harbor (navy blue) and the other includes Hawthorn (brown). All are beautiful options.



Well, have a super week. Thanks for all of the support. I'm off to the great north. I hear it is really cold and wintery in Edmonton right now so I am packing warm wooly clothes and pulling out my winter coat. 

Sounds kind of perfect for a knitting retreat, doesn't it?
xo ~ susan

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Making Magazine No. 4 / Lines & Sleepy Kitten Set Kits


Hi, Knitters,
Yesterday Making Magazine No. 4 / Lines was released and we also released our kit to go along with the magazine, the Sleepy Kitten Set Kit! I am so excited about this project and kit and the magazine.

Over on Barrett Wool Co. have the magazine for sale individually as well as included with the kit, or you can purchase the kit without the magazine if you already have your copy. 

Click here for more information or to purchase Making No. 4 / Lines! You will love this magazine. We also have copies of Making No. 1, 2 and 3 available for purchase as well in the Mercantile.



photo from makingzine.com

The Sleepy Kitten Set Kit includes enough of our Wisconsin Woolen Spun yarns to make both kittens, the knit-in stripey jammies and the separate nightie, and enough of the same striped fabric to make two sleeping bags (you have to stitch the sides of the fabric together to make the sleeping bags). You also get whisker thread and embroidery floss for the face. The kit comes packaged in a hand-stamped cotton project bag. The only thing you'll need is a little stuffing!


photo from makingzine.com

This is one of the most charming projects I have ever designed. I love the little beds!

photo from makingzine.com

These little kittens have a really fun construction. You knit the legs, arms, tail and ears first. Then when you knit the body and head the work the appendages right in as you go! The only seam is to attach the head to the body. It is slick and satisfying and the finished kittens are adorable.


The pattern will be available for individual purchase in 6 months over in my Ravelry pattern shop. For now, the pattern is only found in the Making Magazine No. 4 / Lines.


The kittens are knit in worsted weight yarn. The nightie is knit in fingering weight yarn.


Good night, sweet friends (the kittens, I mean). I love how little ones love to put things to bed over and over again. These two seem to fit the bill for hours of playing and cuddling.


The kits are selling really fast, so if interested hop on over quick.

Have a great weekend, Knitters! I'll be back soon with more.
xo ~ susan