Straight Needle Gloves - Sneak Peek!

This is the swatch for the first pattern of the Gift Knits Kit Club!  The pattern is finished, and I'm knitting the sample today. (Yep, those are some little bitty cables on there!)  It's for GLOVES, and it is written and charted for BOTH straight needles AND for those who knit in the round.

There will be a contrasting, dark brick colored cuff.  The yarn for the body of the glove is called "Embers", 100% Superwash Merino DK Super Sheep, and it's from Holiday Yarns.  I love it!  It's knits up soft and warm and dreamy. The yarn alone retails for $22.00!  The whole kit, mailed to your door, is just $27. 

I'm making each of these items as a Holiday knit ahead for the 2012 holidays, so next year I'll be less frantic about finishing my gift knits list. 

I've just opened a few more spots in the club, so join us!

Gift Knit Kit Club Features: 
New kit each month including original Liz Marino pattern and premium yarns to make the Gift Knit of the Month, shipped on or about the 15th of the month

Exclusive Liz Marino Club patterns will not be made available to non-club members until 3 months after Club release date

Kits will not be made available retroactively or to non-members

Jan = Straight needle gloves for her (s,m,l)
Feb = Snuggly Socks - adult (men, women)
Mar = Woven-look Purse
Apr = Eco-Friendly Washcloth Gift Pack
May = Holiday Knit-Ahead Hat
June = Yoga Stirrup Socks - one size

No substitutions are available.  Color and size is determined by Liz Marino.  Each month's kit is the only kit available for that month.  Kits are not available retroactively. 

Membership will not be automatically renewed for July-Dec.  Membership will be opened to current members in April and non-members in May based on availability.

Membership is open to North American mailing addresses only.  The price is $27 per month, for a total of $162 USD.  Payment must be received in full; no month to month memberships are available.

Thanks for joining this adventure!  I can hardly wait!

After joining, email me at esliney@yahoo.com with your:

Name
Shipping address

Do this even if they are the same as the ones on your PayPal ID, please, just to confirm!  I want to make sure I know how to reach you via email and USPS.  If this info is not emailed, your membership will be rejected and your payment will be returned.  Thanks!

Internet Knitting Info - Where to Look

A while back I wrote a post called "Pattern Hunger" listing where I like to prowl for new patterns when the seasons change.  I listed some of my favorite Internet outlets, and the response was huge.  Don't get me wrong - I'm a huge fan of the LYS, and try to do most of my shopping there.  If I stop, I'm afraid my only local options will become Michael's, and JoAnn Fabrics.  At the LYS I have a community, experts, lessons, and more variety that I can possibly ever knit my way through.  But I can't prowl patterns as quickly as I can on line, and so I prowl on the Internet. 

The Internet can also be lifesaver for techniques and general information.  I assume by now everyone knows I'm a huge fan of Ravelry, so I'll leave that one alone.  Nearly every major manufacturer has a website full of info, patterns, a newsletter, an advice blog, or all of the above.  (Classic Elite, Cascade, Mountain Colors, Holiday Yarns, Kraemer, Berroco, Rowan, are all faves) - if you've heard of them, they have an Internet presence.  The sites usually have a variety of free and paid patterns, an opportunity to sign up for the newsletter (more patterns and info), detailed information about every yarn in the line, and tales of knitting seen through the eyes of the manufacturer and distributor.  This quick reading is great if you don't have a knitting community nearby, or it's 11:20 pm and if you call your friends to talk about yarn, they may stop being your friends. 

I'm also a huge fan of YouTube for knitting lessons.  I know, I never would have thought of it either, but my intrepid assistant, Colleen, filled me in years ago.  (Thanks as always, Coll!) I still peak at videos of techniques I haven't used in a while, whether it's making bobbles, Kitchener stitch, or (gasp!) brioche.  (No, I haven't finished it.  You want to make something of it?)  I also love to see the excerpts of knitting art installations, knits and knitting featured in movies, and interviews with famous designers.

There are also several good online magazines out there for knitting info.  Knitter's Review is authored by knitting expert and book author Clara Parkes, and she reviews everything to do with knitting.  With 11 years of archives, you'll likely find a review of anything you need.

Knitty is an online only magazine, with an entire community associated with it.  Beautiful patterns (free), great articles, and a helpful community are just a click away.

Twist Collective has articles about knitting history, current knitting issues, an advice column, and of course, patterns.  (These patterns are not free - you click on the title and the pricing info comes up in a separate window.)

The Daily Knitter has daily free patterns (yep, daily), articles, help articles, help videos, and a very thorough list of LYS throughout the country.  If you're travelling, it's a great resource to make sure you can get a knitting fix where ever you go!

Rapid Fire Design



Last season's "Girlfriend Socks"

I've been working like a fiend on designs these last few days.  Usually a deadline imposed by a yarn manufacturer is at least a few weeks out, sometimes even a couple of months out.  This week I recieved yarn on Thursday, and delivered a completed pattern and completed sample on Tuesday.  And then, because I'm crazy, I accepted more yarn, and promised two more patterns for Thursday.  I finished one pattern and sample, and one pattern, but didn't finish the second sample.  I realized that even staying up most of the night won't do it, so I had to ask for more time.

Three patterns in 6 days is pretty fast, and yet I'm feeling a little down.  I set a goal for myself, and I missed it.  (Kind of like the 10 pounds I was going to lose two years ago...)  The good news is I really like these designs!  My eldest child insists that she's at her most creative when she's under serious time constraints.  I've always had my doubts.  There is something to it, though.  Designing on adrenaline is a unique experience.  It's not going to become a habit (if I can help it) but it's good to know I can handle it.  I'm sorry I can't share the designs here, but the yarn manufacturer (Holiday Yarns) will have them available soon enough. 

Which brings us to the "Super Secret Sock Design Project".  Socks are there own universe, far different from my usual mittens, blankets and children's clothes.  They're also addictive, as any sock knitter will tell you.  There's very little as lovely as slipping on a pair of hand knitted socks that fit you perfectly.  It's a cool opportunity to make sock pattens to share! The yarns are inspiring, and I can't wait to see where this project takes me. 

I Am Yarn's Bitch

I'm not a fast knitter.  I think if I were better at Continental method I might be able to lay on some serious speed.  And these days, I really need it.

In the last few weeks I've been very fortunate to have received yarn sponsorships for a number of projects, leaving me with a knitwear designer's version of a ton of homework!  Believe me, it's a good problem to have.  With the craziness of my life, the holidays coming, and a job, knitting is a creative outlet, peaceful, and a point of pride.  Yet, let's face it.  It's also pressure and deadlines.  Yarn has made me her bitch.

Mountain Colors Crazyfoot in Juniper

I hate that to protect publishing and ownership agreements I can't show you finished projects, but I can at least show you the yarn!  In order (I think) -

Mountain Colors:  I've made one of two mittens I designed for them.  The yarn is Crazyfoot, and I particularly love the green.  "Juniper" is the colorway.  I'm seriously thinking this could be a Knitty submission.

Holiday Yarns:  A pair of "Man" mittens for the upcoming season.  The pattern is largely written, but is likely to change as I knit it up.  Ideas always hit me mid-project.  This DK weight yarn has lovely shproing to it.  It's got a nice loft, a high twist, and I love the Cafe Au Lait colorway.  It looks like a variety of kinds of mocha desserts to me!

DirtyWater Dyeworks: Socks or mittens in a semi-baroque pattern.  This pattern is fighting me a bit, but I will prevail in the end. These two colors together feel very French Provincial to me.  The yarn is Julia, 50/50 merino and tencel, and seductively soft for its strength.

A Christmas Stocking for a "shall remain nameless" company.  The group of colors feels very Normann Rockwell, doesn't it?  I'd like to do something that looks vintage without being campy.  Editing well will be key.


An outstanding design for Buffalo Gold, colors yet to be determined.  I love this pattern. I know I'm not supposed to pick favorites, but sometimes it can't be helped.  I can't wait to see the color choices they make!

Plus, because I'm silly, I grabbed some yarn at a festival so I can knit up my next free mitten pattern.  It's from Into the Whirled. 

An embarrassment of riches.  Or a guillotine over my head, depending on whether there's a deadline looming.  I think I need to go have some chocolate.  To bring balance to the universe.  You know.

More Adirondack Fiber Festival

As I was finishing setting up in my classroom at the Washington County Fairgrounds on Sunday, I was told by Festival personnel that my class had been cancelled.  The students who had signed up pulled out.  They blamed the economy; folks want to save their dollars to shop instead of take a class.  I get it.  I had a free day at a fiber fair, and no obligations to be anywhere else.  I could stay and enjoy the festival. 

Into the Whirled Sock Yarn

Enjoy I did.   There were 120 vendors, and I visited every single one.  Into the Whirled, shown at right and below, is a dyeworks run by the magnificent Cris.  She and I chatted about environmental friendliness, color, and the many uses of sock yarn, and I was fascinated.  Dreamy colors and great personality come together in her entire line.  The two skeins that came home with me will soon be mittens.

Into the Whirled booth at the fair

Next, I met Jill Draper.  Yep, the Jill Draper.  We were chatting at her booth, and all of a sudden I said, "You're Jill Draper!  I love you!"  Her mother, sitting and spinning quietly, burst out with a belly laugh like Santa Claus.  "Well, I love her, too."  Jill showed me some of her recent designs, and we chatted about festivals we've worked, classes we like, and of course, yarn.  I picked up some cerulean blue angora/silk, and I can't wait to make it into a cozy cowl for the upcoming chilly season.  I thought I'd give it to my daughter, but I just might keep it for myself!

I also was lucky enough to meet Jennifer, intrepid owner of Holiday Yarns.  Jennifer is like a caffeinated version of the knitter I want to be when I grow up.  I love her spunk, her joyful colorways, and the fact that she has a little bit of an edge to her.  After chatting a bit, we decided to collaborate on a menswear pattern with her "Super Sheep" yarn. It's DK weight sock yarn, and it's very "shproingy".  It's got great loft, which makes for toasty toes.  I'm so excited!  And check out her new "Bacon" colorway.  Delicious and no animals are harmed because it's all wool.

Julia, from Dirty Water Dyeworks

Bacon!

Across the aisle I met the owner of Dirty Water Dyeworks, Stephanie.  Her yarns have a wonderful watery quality to their coloring which lends itself to designs in subtle jacquard and damask styles.  Well, at least in my head it does.  I chose Julia, a 50/50 merino tencel blend in a sock weight.  Sock yarn is great for colorwork, as it allows for more stitches per inch, and therefore more complex designs.  As I went to check out, Stephanie said some very nice things about my idea, and gave me the yarn as a gift.  (I know!  How cool is that?)  The design is feeling a little French Provincial in my head right now.  I can't wait to start swatching.