Knitting Mondays

TNNA Giveaway – Offhand Designs Bag!

You read that right. Larissa from Offhand Designs has donated a beautiful Iris bag for a KnittyBlog Giveaway! It was one of our favorite things from TNNA. You can read about it in our TNNA round up. To win this beautiful Iris bag for yourself follow our usual rules. Leave a comment on this post before midnight, eastern time, on Wednesday, July 25, 2012. A comment will be chosen at random to answer a skill testing question. If s/he answers correctly s/he will win our prize. Prize value, $110. If you have already won a prize from us in the past year, please give other knitters a chance A huge thanks to Offhand Designs ...

Foot Sizing Survey Results; Contest!

Last year, I ran an email survey: I asked knitters to measure the feet of their friends and family, asking for the following data: I got nearly 400 replies, providing meaningful data for foot lengths 8.5-11 inches, foot circumferences 8 to 11 inches. Disclaimer: although I received replies from all over the world, most of the data I received was from North American knitters. I received more data for women’s feet than men’s. There is inherent risk in getting respondents to take their own measurements: I have to trust that they measured in the right place. I don’t claim that this represents every foot ...

TNNA is more than just ice cream.

Technically, TNNA stands for The National Needlearts Association. Practically, it’s the abbreviation that stands in for the twice-a-year trade show for the business of knitting, crochet, embroidery and needlepoint. And a little spinning. And yes, ice cream. More on that later. Every summer, the industry meets in Columbus, Ohio, for a long weekend of meetings, seeing what’s new, buying and selling. It’s all done on paper…no one walks out with shopping bags full of yarn. Orders are placed and goods are shipped after the show. For Jillian and I [and this year, Kate joined us], it’s about ...

What I’m Knitting: Godzilla Ridge Update

I honestly don’t know why I always end up knitting blanket projects in the summer… I finished up my Lizard Ridge in June of 2007, and here I am, almost exactly 5 years later, making another one – in the heat. (You see, Godzilla is a giant lizard, and Hitsuji is giant Noro, so Godzilla Ridge is a giant version of a Noro blanket….) Still, like Elizabeth Zimmermann and her mittens of May, I’ll be ready when the weather does turn cold. So far, 5 balls of Hitsuji and the blanket is  about 38 inches wide and 40 inches long, and that’s unblocked! Just for context, I cast on the ...

Knitting Mondays: California Revial Knits Winner & What I Did on My Long Weekend

Our winner of the California Revival Knits book and Peacock Mitts yarn pack is Jeanette from Ontario. Happy knitting Jeanette! A huge thanks to Cooperative Press for donating the book and Elemental Affects for donating the yarn pack!   This is is a long weekend in the US. Here’s what I’ve been doing: I’ve fallen down the Color Affection rabbit hole. I’m knitting mine as a holiday gift out of stashed Rowan Felted Tweed. I’m trying to knit one holiday gift per month between May and December, all accessories. But that just might be the beer talking. What did you knit this weekend? ...

Knitting Mondays: California Revival Knits Giveaway

I can’t think of a better way to start the week than to giveaway beautiful things! Today I have a copy of California Revival Knits by Stephannie Tallent.  Have you seen the patterns in it yet? I’m loving the Wrought Mitts and Cardigan.   I also have an Elemental Affects yarn pack to make the stunning Peacock Mitts. Thanks to Cooperative Press and Elemental Affects for donating today’s prizes! One person will win both the book and the yarn pack. The usual rules apply for our giveaway: Leave a comment on this post before midnight, eastern time, on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. 1 comment will be ...

Knitting Mondays: Taking a Class

Every knitter – no matter how experienced, no matter how skilled, no matter how many years you’ve been knitting – has holes in their knowledge. For me, it’s knitting with beads.  I’ve dabbled in it, but I’d never completed a full project, and I knew I wanted to learn more.  As luck would have it, knit designer Laura Nelkin was scheduled to come to Toronto, to teach at class at Lettuce Knit.  Laura’s one of the best designers working with beaded knits; her designs are beautiful, interesting, and clever. She’s got designs for those just starting out with beads, and ...

Knitting Mondays: Groove is in the Heart

Here’s the latest update from the world of Jillian Knits Slowly! I finished Groove from Winter Knitty by Stephen West. I knit my Groove out of Madelinetosh DK I haven’t stopped wearing it since I finished That puts my knit from Knitty count at 3 out of 6 for the year.   Here’s a little more groove for your Monday, I dare you not to dance!    

Toronto Public Library Workers Knit-In

The City of Toronto Public Library Workers were on strike for 10 days or so as their contract ended and negotiations were underway to establish a new contract. The striking workers were marching in Nathan Philips Square, a big open public space in front of Toronto City Hall. Some of the participants are knitters and spinners, and the decided to organize a Knit-In. An estimated 100 knitters and spinners were there, some from the contingent of Library Workers, some supporters from the local knitting community, including our own Kate, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (a.k.a The Yarn Harlot), Knitty designer Natalie Selles, and ...

Knitting Goals: Update

And Kate’s Must Have Cardigan is done! A fun knit, and wasn’t actually a lot of work when I was focused on it. I’m in two minds about the length… It seemed very short, and I would have made it longer if I’d had more yarn. I bought the yarn so long ago that there was no hope of matching the dye lot. But now it’s done, I’m very pleased with the length. There is only one button on it for now, since I haven’t found precisely the right buttons. I’ve got my heart set on those classic leather buttons…     Jillian is knitting along on her third of six ...
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