Knitting
Today is the end date for our Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along - are you ready for it to end? I'm sure not! If you'd like an extension for the TTTKAL this year vote in the poll below! I'll share the results in our Ravelry thread later this week. Judging by past years votes though odds are we will have a 1-2 week extension followed by our Starring You Post and a fun giveaway!
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Our Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along is in full swing! I've been so inspired by all of the gorgeous finished projects now popping up in our Ravelry thread for FO's! It's been so fun to watch all of your projects progress from your swatch pictures to now a lovely new garment with you wearing it! I'm so proud of you guys!
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I had the pleasure of designing a pattern for Tanis Gray's newest book 3 Skeins or Less - Modern Baby Knits! This lovely collection features 23 knitted patterns for garments, blankets, toys, and more! The best part is that each pattern in the book takes only 3 skeins or less!! I love that!
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I'm so excited that the fabulous ladies behind Pom Pom Quarterly are back again with another fabulous tutorial for our Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along! I love having them guest post! They always come up with great ideas for new things to teach all of you! Best part is some of their guest posts include FREE printable downloads (see these and more on our Tips + Techniques Page) and today's post is no exception! Read below to get your copy and learn how to do the I-Cord Cast Of! It's a fun and lovely way to finish a summer garment that they've used on some of the patterns in their new Summer 2016 Issue!
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I've been working on my Bridie by Bristol Ivy for the Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along this year and really enjoying it. But being the gemini I am, I also started crushing on the idea of also having a cotton top to go along with my linen Bridie. So along came the Kobuk Tee and some pretty cotton from We Are Knitters. Isn't this color so pretty?
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I'm so excited to welcome Alexa Ludeman of the fabulously talented duo - Tin Can Knits today! Their books and patterns are wonderful and so much fun to make. You can pop on over & check them out HERE! Tin Can Knits is a long time sponsor and participant in our KAL's and I'm so happy to have them back again with another awesome guest post! Alexa's joining us today to chat a bit about ease.
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Unfortunately I had a very hard loss on Sunday. My grandmother, who was very close to me passed away. I was so ✨ blessed to grow up my whole life with her a few houses down. She was such an inspiration to me and inspired my love of sewing - it was her favourite thing to to do (besides gardening). As you can understand I’ve not been well and have been with family.
I was with my Nana for hours on Saturday at the hospital and was knitting up my swatch for the TTTKAL. At one point my nana needed me to help her with some things and I had put my knitting aside. After we were done she said to me “please keep knitting, I like it when you knit” and so I picked back up my needles. I remember looking up at her a few minutes later, and through all of her pain she had this big smile on her face. So my TTTKAL project will always hold a special place in my ❤ heart. She touched my yarn that day and she also touched my heart. Whenever I hold it I will see her smile.
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It's almost time for our annual Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along!!!!! During our TTTKAL (as we like to call it) we encourage you to knit a top, tank or tee (or any garment that doesn't have full length sleeves) to wear during the summer months! I know you've all been waiting so patiently (and excitedly) for the this announcement so here goes.......bring on the warm weather knitting!
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Last week I released my newest pattern - AMBERLE! Will you be making an Amberle shawl? Why not join in the Amberle Knit Along over in the fun Churchmouse Yarns & Teas Ravelry Group? They will be all knitting up Amberle's together! I can't wait to see all the color choices and yarns! You can join in HERE.
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I'm so excited to release my newest knitting pattern - AMBERLE!
Meet a triangular shawl that’s as addictive to knit as it is snuggly to wear. Amberle’s squishy textural stitches bring worsted yarns to life and the repetitive pattern is easily memorized—making it much less complicated than it looks. The wide border creates a gorgeous way to showcase contrasting colors. And did I mention the texture - swoon!
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It's been pretty quiet around here on the blog the last few weeks. I've been busy trying to survive spring break the last 16+ days while still working with the kiddos home. It was fun to have them here but also very hard to juggle/balance all the mom duties with full time work as well. But we made it, I survived, and after I dropped them off this morning I sat and I listened to the quiet and actually missed the chaos......for about a minute...lol.
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So I watched the series finale of Downton Abbey this week....finally. I've been holding off for ages because....well...I just didn't want it to be over. Yes, some of the past season or so have had some boring stages but darn did it pick back up this season. Regardless, I'm a huge fan of the show and it really was one of my favourites. I will miss the characters, yes even Daisy...lol. I thought it would be fun to reminisce a bit about how Downton has played it's own role in my creative journey.
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I love knitting (& sewing books) that hold special stories and treasures inside. When I heard that the talented ladies behind Pom Pom Quarterly were publishing their very first book - Take Heart: A Transatlantic Knitting Journey by Fiona Alice, I knew it was a must have. Pom Pom Press has stayed true to their gorgeous and authentic keepsake aesthetic that they have so lovingly created with their popular magazines. Each one is a jewel to be treasured - and Take Heart fits right amongst them on my shelf.
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Since I've started re-organizing my office and workspace (stash included) I also quickly realized my needles needed a much needed overhaul as well. I have two sets of interchangeable needles (Hiya Hiyas & Knit Picks Nickel Plated Interchangeables) and they were both in separate cases that weren't working and both overflowing. It was starting to get hard to find the right tips and cables and I knew I needed a new solution. Enter the brand new Knit Picks Interchangeable Case!
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I recently got my hands on one of the fabulous kits from We Are Knitters and can I just a woot woot! So fun! I mean who can complain when a parcel arrives filled with this kind of goodness? All the yarn, notions & supplies you need to make one darn awesome project right on your doorstop! It was a happy day when my Udon Blanket Kit arrived and I'm so excited to give you guys a chance to win a kit of YOUR choice from We Are Knitters in today's giveaway!
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I've been working away behind the scenes re-arranging and redoing my office. It feels great to start fresh, organize and purge my creative space. When we moved into our house a year or so ago I literally unpacked halfhazardly because I was so excited to have a room to work in! I didn't put much thought into the arrangement & flow and how it was going to be to really work in the space.
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Ahhh....the joys of swatching. If you knit you know what I'm talking about. I used to be an avid hater of swatching....I'll admit it, I avoided it like the plague. But after a project that turned out wonky in my early twenties I learned my lesson the hard way. I've now since grown to enjoy the process and appreciate the time spent on making lovely swatches. Some become designs, some get unraveled to become a pretty project and some I just hold on to cause they are lovely to look at. It's taken me a few years to grow to respect, fully understand and embrace the enjoyment of this important process.
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I'm so excited that our first book review for 2016 is the stunningly gorgeous CAPSULE! The first book from Brooklyn Tweed, in collaboration with the talented designer Olga Buraya-Kefelian, is truly swoon worthy! In true Brooklyn Tweed style Capsule is definitely not short on quality and aesthetic. It's clean, modern and inspiring.
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Each year I make my nephew a new "christmas hat" and it's become an annual knit I thoroughly enjoy knitting and look forward to. This year was even more fun since I also have a new niece to knit for! Luckily Tin Can Knits always has great patterns for the wee ones that are gender neutral! I love that about their patterns! I chose to make the Bumble Hat from their newest book "Max and Bodhi's Wardrobe" for the kiddos.
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It's never too late to whip up a fabulous handmade gift for that special person in your life! I've put together our favourite Very Shannon quick gifts to sew or knit! Whether it's a great new bag, zippered pouch, or new hat we've got you covered! Happy making!
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