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Giveaway :: Whisp cowl kit!

It’s Giveaway time!!!  

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As you may already know, I released my Whisp cowl pattern to Ravelry last week!!  You can read more about it in my previous blog post, here. Well, did you also know that you can purchase kits online with Feel Good Yarn Co??  YES!!!!  These kits are quite amazing, and include two skeins of yarn (one skein of SilverSpun® Sock, and one skein of Backyard Fiberworks Meadow Light), as well as the original pattern PDF.  Be sure to follow this link here to view the kits on their website. There are three different color ways available:

Coastal (color ways of my original sample)
Coastal (color ways of my original sample)
Sailor's Delight
Sailor’s Delight
Galleon
Galleon

I know, those colors are so beautiful.  I especially love the POP of gold in the Galleon combination.  Can you imagine the folded collar of the cowl in that gorgeousness?

Ok, now for the GIVEAWAY!!!  Together with Feel Good Yarn Co., I would love to offer one lucky winner a Whisp cowl kit in the color of their choice!!  This is a $68 value, and all you have to do to enter is leave a comment here and tell me the following:

  1. Which color combination would you pick?
  2. Your email address. This will automatically sign you up for the Feel Good Yarn Co. email newsletter.

That’s it!!  The giveaway will run through Sunday, October 23, and I will choose and announce the winner sometime next week. I can’t wait to hear what colors you all would choose, and good luck!

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New pattern release and Brioche-A-Long :: Whisp cowl

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Happy Friday!!  I am so pleased to announce the release of my newest brioche pattern, Whisp :: an asymmetrical cowl with wind and cloud lace, knit using the two-color brioche stitch.  You can find this pattern on Ravelry, here!

This design is an exciting collaboration with Feel Good Yarn Co, and Backyard Fiberworks, and was created to feature at Indie Untangled in Rhinebeck, today only!  You can find this pattern as a part of kits at their trunk show, so if you’re heading there, be sure to check out their booth for three beautiful color way combinations!

I had a lot of fun coming up with this design.  The whole idea behind it was inspired by the SilverSpun® yarn itself, which is quite remarkable.  The combination of cotton, silver, and nylon make this yarn some of the softest I have ever worked with.  And yes, I did say silver!!  So the idea was to create a “silver linings” piece, and two-color brioche was the perfect stitch pattern!  Warm wooly outside, soft squishy inside.  I totally ran with this for my design, using wind and cloud-like shaping within the brioche.  This cowl is worked flat, starting at the widest end and then decreasing slowly at one edge until binding off. The cowl is then seamed together, with the angled side creating a folded fabric to show off the Contrast Side, keeping the soft SilverSpun® cotton on your skin at all times.

 

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Styled the way I wear my Whisp cowl.

Kits for this pattern and yarn will be available through the Feel Good Yarn Co website, starting on Saturday, October 15!

I am also hosting a BIG Brioche-A-Long with my sister in law, Andrea Mowry!!  We are very excited to share our very beloved brioche stitch with the world, and hope that you will join us!  Come and knit Whisp, or any other brioche pattern! Follow the link here to my Ravelry group for fun and the chance to win some amazing prizes!!

Be sure to check out my Ravelry page for more photos and information!  Also be sure to take advantage of my introductory offer :: receive a 20% discount using coupon code WHISP all weekend long!  Offer ends on Sunday, October 16 at midnight Eastern time.

Thank you, and happy briocheing!!

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New pattern release :: Parlour shawl with La Bien Aimée!

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Introducing Parlour shawl :: Elegance with a wild side :: An asymmetrical triangle shawl knit flat from tip to edge, with a thrilling combination of two-color brioche, mesh lace short rows, and a simple eyelet garter stitch.

I am so excited to be finally sharing this very exciting collaboration with you!!  I started knitting this shawl back in the spring, and maybe you can tell that by the color palette that I chose in this beautiful yarn.  Seriously, I have to just gush here.  I fell in LOVE with La Bien Aimée when that adorable shop first opened.  A boutique yarn shop, in the middle of Paris, dyeing some of the most gorgeous yarn I have ever seen!!  I still remember when she had her first online shop update, I pounced on some of her Rainbow Graffiti DK yarn (because how could I not??), and was hooked.  I actually designed a pattern with that yarn!!  But back to the point.  To be collaborating with her is such a dream come true for me.  Paris, tea shops, colorful flowers – it all inspired this design. I just pictured myself sitting in her shop, knitting this shawl, drinking tea, and talking with friends.

firstphotoLet’s talk more about this yarn :: La Bien Aimée Merino Singles, light and airy, and great for any season.  For this shawl pattern, I used 3 full skeins, and 1 mini skein to add a pop of color and interest to the piece.  Aimée is working on dyeing up some fabulous kits for this shawl, so keep an eye out for an update sometime later this fall, which you will be able to find online at L’oisive Thé, as well as locally in her shop.  There are going to be some amazing color combinations!

Now, more about the pattern itself :: Parlour is an approachable, easy-to-wear color block shawl. It will keep you on your toes, starting with two-color brioche with twisted eyelets, adding a pop of color and interest with a mesh lace short row wedge, creating some relaxing simple eyelet garter fabric, and ending with another small mesh lace short row wedge to finish the look. It’s knit flat from tip to edge, and I promise, you will never get bored!  I think this could be a fantastic stash-buster too, I mean, think of the possibilities!!  Be sure to check out my Ravelry page for all of the information regarding the pattern.

 

Detail shot of the tiny "brioche buds" next to the lace wedge
Detail shot of the tiny “brioche buds” next to the lace wedge

Also, be sure to take advantage of my introductory offer :: Receive a 15% discount using coupon code PARLOUR at checkout all weekend long! Offer ends Sunday, September 11 at midnight Eastern.

Happy briocheing, dear friends!

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New pattern release :: Sonnen shawl!

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Introducing my newest brioche shawl design with KNIT in COLOR :: Sonnen ::  a half circle color blocked shawl, knit using syncopating two-color brioche stitch.

Syncopated two color brioche is used to achieve eye-popping color blocks! There are two size options for this shawl: Small and Large. They both start the same way, and the pattern repeats are simple and easy to memorize. The real creativity comes from how often you change colors!

This collaboration with Vicky, the creative mastermind behind Baerenwolle yarn, started back in 2015 when KNIT in COLOR was first materializing.  I knew I wanted to design with her yarn, it is so magical.  When I received my custom colors (which I used for the large shawl sample), I immediately started sketching and came up with this color blocked shawl idea.  I used her BAERfoot Sock yarn for both samples :: 2 skeins total for the small, and 4 skeins total for the large.  The pattern is so simple, and can be treated almost like a blank canvas on which to paint with all of your favorite colors!  Grab all of those fun, bright, speckled yarns in your stash and create a striped version that you won’t want to put down!  Or use just two different colors, and alternate them to create something similar to my small shawl sample.

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You can really see the color blocks here.
You can really see the color blocks here.

See my Ravelry page for lots of more photos and Creative Diagrams to help you in your creative process!

Also, be sure to check out Andrea Mowry’s newest shawl design, Briochealuscious!!  We may live far away from each other now, but we are still so excited to continue working together. We would love to have you join us in the KNIT in COLOR KAL, starting today and running through the end of September!  Andrea will be hosting it in her DreaReneeKnits Ravelry group, but we will both be there for fun and moral support!

Don’t forget the Introductory offer :: Receive a 25% discount using coupon code SONNEN until midnight Eastern on Wednesday, August 3, 2016!

Live Life Brighter, and happy briocheing, friends!!

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We Are Knitters :: Steam Coat and Giveaway!

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Drama, texture, and wardrobe staple. That is the definition of my new Steam Coat by We Are Knitters.  Seriously, I finished this super fun vest last night (on a 90+ degree day here in Michigan), and the first thing I did was put it on!  I am so looking forward to adding this piece to my autumn / winter wardrobe.  And the other really fun fact is that I will be living in southern Texas, where my hand knits will shine and not be covered up by a big, bulky coat!! Layered over a cotton tee, or long-sleeve thermal, this is the ultimate statement piece.

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The Steam Coat kit came with everything I needed to knit up this garment – including the yarn, shown here in Spotted Beige, giant wooden knitting needles, a small pamphlet of the pattern, garment tag and tapestry needle. The pattern was simple to follow and super fun!!  I had not tried “loop knitting” before, and was very intrigued by the look this technique creates.  Almost like I’m wearing a sheep’s coat!  With the generous gauge of the yarn and needles, super bulky and size US 19, this vest knits up so fast.  I made only one modification – I did not seam the ribbed edge at the bottom. I love the split hem look, so I decided to try it out!  You can check out my Ravelry project page for more photos and details! 

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So funky and fresh.  I think I’m going to give it a good blocking before I wear it this coming fall / winter.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!  I know you were waiting for this!! One winner will be chosen on Friday of this week to receive a KIT OF YOUR CHOICE from WeAreKnitters.com (with a $100 value or less)!!  To enter, all you need to do is:

  1. Comment here on this post telling me your email address and which kit you would love to knit (and color choice, too if you want!!)
  2. Sign up for the We Are Knitters newsletter – follow this link, here. That’s it!!

Again, I will choose a winner this coming Friday, June 17, at 8pm Eastern time.  I will announce it in the comments here on the blog, as well as send the winner an email to let them know.  Only entries from the US, Canada or Europe are eligible at this time.

Also, be sure to take advantage of a 15% discount using coupon code KNITGRAFFITIWAK on their website!!

Happy knitting, friends!!

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New pattern release and Big Moving Sale!!

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I am so excited to introduce Midnight Madness to all of you!!!

Midnight Madness is an oversized cape with a dramatic brioche triangle motif, surrounded by two-color garter stitch stripes and two-color brioche borders. Knit this fun brioche project all summer, and be ready for autumn with a new garment / accessory to add to your wardrobe!

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This is my newest pattern with KNIT in COLOR, and has been a serious dream of mine since Andrea and I started our collaboration last summer!! Heather from House of A La Mode created this exclusive color way, Strawberry Rhubarb, especially for this design! You can find lots of her other gorgeous color ways in Stunning Singles at Happy Knits, or in Dreamy DK at Do Ewe Knit?!!

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The back detail of Midnight Madness, one of my favorite parts of this design. Using simple brioche increases and decreases, this creates drama and interest to the base of the cape.

Also, be sure to take advantage of my BIG MOVING SALE!! Starting today, receive a 35% discount on Midnight Madness, and ALL Knit Graffiti patterns and e-books using coupon code MOVING! This sale will be going on for the next two weeks as we pack up our family and move to Texas, ending on June 21, 2016 at midnight Eastern!

Happy briocheing, friends!!