I was delighted to design this textural sock, Arching Leaves, for the September installment of 

Tanis Fiber Arts Year in Colour Club. 

Photos courtesy of Tanis Fiber Arts

Tanis' yarns and colorways are truly exceptional and this particular skein was of course no different.

When September rolls around every year... I start to think about dreamy autumnal shades. This colorway perfectly reflects the colors of the changing leaves and evokes the feeling of a cozy autumn afternoon when the air is crisp and the world is colorful. These socks combine my two favorite things. A leafy textural stitch pattern and the warm inviting colors of the season.

This pattern is available exclusively to the Year in Colour Club members but will be available to the public as part of my new pattern collection coming in 2013.

It has been practically ages since I knit something in garter stitch on straight needles like this.

It takes me back to when I was first learning to knit and how I wasted  spent so many years of my life knitting nothing but garter stitch scarves in the ugliest most unusual novelty yarns imaginable.

So 2003.. right?

A garter stitch scarf is a great practice piece for a beginner. It's the quintessential "first project" for a knitter. 

In fact the character in our new children's story, like most of us, learns to knit on a garter stitch scarf....

only hers doesn't turn out so well at first. 

Hence the title of the story :)

A friend suggested that there should be a pattern for a "Swiss Cheese Scarf" to match the scarf in the book.

At first this idea seemed odd. Why would there need to be a pattern out there for a messy scarf? I'm sure that all of us have a scarf like that already buried deep in a drawer of early knitting! Something we never wear, but have to keep as a memento of our personal knitting history. 

Does something like this really need a pattern?

Well.. after some consideration I figured.. why not? 

So I am putting together a little scarf pattern that will be a free download on the Anniecanknit.com website. 

A little one skein chunky weight scarf with irregular edges and well placed "swiss cheese" holes, just like Annie's. A perfectly quick and fun little knit to give to the child in your life along with the book so that they can "match" with the story character. I'm hoping that this holey version will remind them that knitting doesn't have to be perfect and will motivate them to try their hand at making their own garter stitch scarf. 

I'm writing up the instructions for the "Swiss Cheese" section and then will pass it off to my 6-year old to knit the rest of the garter stitch. Then this scarf will be from the both of us.

As a perfectionist.. you have NO idea how hard it is for me to knit something that looks messy on purpose!

Things are coming together on the Annie book! This project has taken on a life of it's own and is taking longer than I thought. Thank you for your patience while we finalize everything.

More information as well as pre-ordering will be available soon.

I recently pulled out some of the Fibre Company's new Tundra yarn for a new pattern, and the colors were so pretty I just had to snap a quick picture to share before dismantling these skeins.

This yarn is similar in weight and feel to the ever popular Misti Alpaca Chunky that I used in my Shawl Collared Cowl design. But it has a more luxurious hand with the addition of merino and silk. And who can resist those Fiber Company colorways? Not I.

The colorways shown above are Larch and Mink. I am not planning on using them together.. but the colors look so nicely put side to side.

As a little update.. my husband and I have been working very long hours behind the scenes here to bring you some really exciting new surprises. Hannah and I are working on releasing some new Coastal Knits goodies in honor of our 1 year anniversary. Also, we are working on getting everything in order to open up 

pre-orders for the new "Annie" book. It's exciting! And busy! 

I look forward to showing you lots of fun new things very soon.

Among other large projects I am working on behind the scenes here, I have recently been finishing up a new sweater design out of the very lovely Brooklyn Tweed Shelter yarn in the Hayloft colorway.

I have run into a few snags with this yarn that have made for a few interesting and funny stories that I will be sure to share on my upcoming podcast episode for this month.

Despite all of that however, I have to say.. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with this yarn. 

Its rugged, and beautiful, and just feels... good to knit with. 

This cardigan has some very special little details that I am not ready to fully reveal just yet, so I will leave you with this little collection of annoyingly vague, close-up shots from today. :) 

Because I am mean like that.

I'm on the home stretch.

This sweater just needs some final finishing touches. 

Thank goodness I have my little "helper" to lend a hand. :)

Oh.. and please do disregard the pile of laundry lurking in the background. :)

Episode 65

Shownotes:

Rufus Textured Cardigan Pattern

:( The last sweater that fits! :(

Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf

Neesha Hudson

Coastal Knits

Coastal Knits Ravelry Group

The Knitter's Curiosity Cabinet

Hunter Hammersen

Hunter on Ravelry

Chrysanthemum Frutescens Socks

Join the Never Not Knitting Ravelry Group!

Follow ME on Twitter!

Enter to win a copy of the book, The Knitters Curiosity Cabinet by leaving a comment under this blog post by September 15, 2012. Please do not forget to include your contact information!

The giveaway winner will be announced on Episode 66. 

In my last post I mentioned that I had a big surprise and a special new someone to introduce.

The time has now come!

I would like you to meet Annie.

Annie is the main character of a new children's book that I am working on with my daughter and super talented illustrator, Neesha Hudson! The story is titled Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf and is about a little girl who faces the challenges of learning to knit.

What a super exciting project this has been thus far! It has been so much fun to work on this with my daughter. As you might remember, she is six years old and is learning to knit herself.. and it is pretty obvious that the character of Annie is modeled after her. :) You may even recognize Annie's sweater too. :)

I hope that all of you will visit Annie's brand new website found HERE and enter to win a free book!

I am hoping to open up pre-orders sometime in September if everything goes as planned.

I have lots of special surprises in store.. I know that it will be a fun-filled next few months for us as we get everything together and finalized. This is obviously our first time working on a project of this nature and we are really enjoying watching this take shape.

I can't wait to release this book!

A new one-skein cabled hat design fresh off the needles!

This is another piece for my upcoming design collection.

I am slowly but surely making progress, and it feels so good to every day get a little bit closer to my goal.

Thank you to everyone for your support and patience with me. 

I look forward to releasing all of these new patterns!

Pssstt.. and also... Keep an eye out for my next post... I have a BIG announcement AND

a new special someone to introduce to you. :)

I bet you can't guess!

Episode 64

Shownotes:

Charlene on Ravelry

Stephanie on Ravelry

Cathrine on Ravelry

Kerstin on Ravelry

Nicky Epstein

Knitting on the Edge

Knitting Beyond the Edge

Join the Never Not Knitting Ravelry Group!

Follow me on Twitter!

Enter to win a copy of the books, Knitting on the Edge and Knitting Beyond the Edge by leaving a comment under this blog post by August 15, 2012. In order for your comment to qualify as a drawing entry please include the following:

-Your contact information so that I can contact you if you are the winner!

-In your comment please tell me your favorite knitting story shared on the podcast. I'm curious to find out which stories you like best! (Choose any story(s) featured on Episodes 1-64)

The giveaway winner will be announced on Episode 65. By the way... would you like to go on a "Knit-cation" this summer? Sign up for Veronika's awesome knitting vacation with designer Stephen West! Mention NNK and get $50 off! Check it out HERE!

Thank you for listening!

Another new sweater design completed! A top down raglan cardi with some very special little details.

It's knit from The Fibre Company's Organik yarn. So unbelievably soft and warm!

And I happened to find the perfect little buttons for it at my LYS.

I just love hand-painted buttons like this. I think that they add a little feminine charm to the finished cardigan.

Many of you have been asking when I am going to publish all of these new patterns. 

Thank you for your interest in my designs!

I am trying to get an entire new collection together to release at the beginning of the new year. 

That is my goal.. but I have a lot of work left to do. I better get back to it!

My new design project on the needles knit in Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Copper Penny.

Isn't this colorway gorgeous?

A prototype of a new sweater design.. fresh off the needles.

Perfectly cozy in Quince & Co. Osprey with a stylish wide collar.

Whenever there is the "click" of a camera.. my six year old isn't far behind.

She loves to photo-bomb my knitwear shots.

Episode 63

Shownotes:

Quince and Company

Puffin

Osprey

Brooklyn Tweed

Shelter

Knit and Pearl Boutique

Knit Local: Celebrating America's Homegrown Yarns

Tanis Fiber Arts

Tanis on Ravelry

Join The Never Not Knitting Ravelry Group!

Follow Me on Twitter!

Enter to win a copy of the book, Knit Local, as well as two beautiful skeins of Tanis Fiber Arts yarn by leaving a comment under this blogpost by July 15, 2012. Please do not forget to include your contact information!

The giveaway winner will be announced on Episode 64.

Please email me your personal knitting story to share on a future episode! Send your 5+ minute story recording to nevernotknitting@gmail.com and receive a knitting related thank you gift from me!

Contact me for details.

Thank you for listening!

Every night for the past month or so I have been knitting...and knitting...and knitting some more.

I wish that I had something truly magnificent to present to you to show for all of this hard work.. 

but instead all I have is this.

So pretty... riiiiight? 

Although this is merely a big old pile of ugly swatches, I feel that it is the beginning of something truly great.

I am working on a new collection of patterns that focuses on botanical elements in my favorite Autumn colorways. It's so "me".. and it is so very self indulgent. I am loving it and I hope that when I finally finish it.. that you will too.

I will keep you updated as to my progress!

This is unfortunately the last time my almost seven month old son will wear this treasured handknit, 

the Gramps Cardigan by Kate Oates.

I knitted this for him at the very end of my pregnancy and thought of this little guy with every stitch. When I hold the cardigan in my hands, all of those sentimental feelings and memories of awaiting his birth come flooding back to me. I love this sweater for many reasons.

The funny thing is that once he was born I took the sweater out of the closet and held it up to him. 

It seemed so large at the time... surely he would never ever fit into it. 

But now seven months have passed and it is practically bursting at the seams.. 

(You may have noticed that one of the buttons has popped off.)

I am happy to report that this little cardigan has been well loved and well worn.

But now with my son growing larger and the weather growing hotter every day.. it's time to pack it away in his baby keepsake box. 

I just had to share this final photo taken last weekend at our friend's fancy anniversary party on the coast. 

It was the perfect opportunity for this cardigan's final outing.

You just gotta love a baby in a bow-tie and hand-knit cardigan. The three go together so very well. :)

A few weeks back my husband and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary.

Every year around this time we do a little family gift exchange, so I indulged in a few 

quick and tiny little knit toys for the kids.

Meet Birdie and Bunny. 

These toys were knit from the Chubby Chirps and Bunny Nuggets patterns by Rebecca Danger. Her toys are always so fun and quirky. I knit up one of her monster patterns for my daughter a few years back and have been following this designer's work ever since.

These patterns were so incredibly quick to make and would make an excellent last minute gift for any child. 

My daughter has seemed to really enjoy them. And my son...

...finds them delicious.

Episode 62

Shownotes:

Bunny Nuggets

Chubby Chirps

Coastal Kids

Wee Wildflower

Little Oak

Little Oak Photoshoot Fail

HERE

and

HERE

Knitted Dinosaurs: 15 Prehistoric Pals to Knit from Scratch

Jen on Ravelry

Down Cellar Studios Podcast

Join The Never Not Knitting Ravelry Group!

Follow Me on Twitter!

Enter to win a copy of the book, Knitted Dinosaurs, by leaving a comment under this blogpost by June 15, 2012. Please do not forget to include your contact information!

The book winner will be announced on Episode 63.

Please email me your personal knitting story to share on a future episode! Send your 5+ minute story recording to nevernotknitting@gmail.com and receive a knitting related thank you gift from me!

Contact me for details.

Thank you for listening!

Congratulations to Tracy and Nemesis! The winners of the Coastal Kids Drawing Giveaway!

Didn't win this time? We still have a happy surprise for you.

Happy Knits is offering free shipping to the Never Not Knitting readers all day today, May 18th!

Just enter the code "NNK" in the checkout process.

Click HERE to start shopping!

The very friendly Happy Knits yarn shop is kindly sponsoring generous yarn giveaways for our new 

Coastal Kids patterns!

Please leave a comment (with contact information) below to enter to win both the pdf pattern as well as the yarn needed to make Wee Wildflower or Little Oak. Remember.. only one comment per person please!

Two winners will be chosen randomly and announced on Friday, May 18th.

One winner will receive the Little Oak pattern pdf along with 4 skeins of the lovely 

Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK in any in-stock color of their choice. The second winner will receive the pattern pdf for Wee Wildflower along with 2 skeins of any in-stock color of Madelinetosh Pashmina.

Happy Knits has a wonderful selection of many of our favorite yarns. Check out their shop HERE. In addition to this lovely giveaway, they are also offering blog readers free shipping on all orders placed on Friday, May 18th. Just enter the code "NNK" during the checkout process.

Oh... and be sure to enter Hannah's giveaway on her blog as well!

Thank you Happy Knits!

Our final pattern from our Coastal Kids pattern collection is now available!

The adorable child size version of the VERY popular Rocky Coast Cardigan 

from our book Coastal Knits.

Here is Tiny Rocky Coast by Hannah Fettig modeled by her adorable niece.

Click HERE for more information about this pattern.

The Tiny Rocky Coast pattern is available for purchase HERE!

I am happy to tell you that the third pattern in our new Coastal Kids collection is now available!

Meet Wee Wildflower. The pint sized version of my original 

Wildflower Cardigan from our book Coastal Knits!

The delicate details of this cardigan lend itself to a little girls size so well.

I love how this little sweater looks on my daughter. 

It's lightweight and soft and just so perfect for a little springtime layer.

Here is the pattern information:

SIZE

6 months (12 months, 18 months, 2, 4)[6, 8, 10, 12, 14]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest circumference (closed): 20 (20.75, 21.75, 23.5, 25.25)[26.75, 28.5, 30.25, 32, 33.75]” / 51 (53, 55, 59.5, 64)[68, 72.5, 77, 81.5, 85.5] cm

Body Length: 10.5 (11.25, 12, 12.75, 14.25)[15.5, 18, 20, 21.5, 22.5]” / 26.5 (28.5, 30.5, 32.5, 36)[39.5, 45.5, 51, 54.5, 57] cm

Shown in size 4; To be worn with 1-2” /  2.5-5cm positive ease.

MATERIALS

2 (2, 2, 2, 2)[3, 3, 4, 4, 5] skeins Madelinetosh Pashmina (75% Merino Wool, 15% Silk, 10% Cashmere; 360 yd / 329m per 3 ½ oz / 100g) in Mulled Wine OR 400 (450, 500, 575, 700)[800, 975, 1150, 1325, 1450] yds / 375 (425, 475, 525, 625)[725, 900, 1050, 1200, 1325] m of a sport weight wool blend such as Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight or Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.

US3 / 3.25mm 24” / 60 cm circular needle

US2 / 2.75mm 32” / 80 cm circular needle

US1 / 2.25mm  32” / 80 cm circular needle

  

2 stitch holders, stitch markers (m), cable needle (cn), 2 (2, 2, 2, 2)[2, 3, 3, 3, 3] buttons 5/8” / 1.5 mm diameter, tapestry needle, sewing needle and matching thread

GAUGE

28 sts and 34 rows = 4” / 10 cm in St st on size US3 / 3.25mm needles or size needed to obtain gauge.

In these photos, my Dad took us kite flying at the wildflower meadows on Shell Creek Rd. 

This is the same inspiration spot highlighted in Coastal Knits for the original Wildflower Cardigan.

So. Much. Fun.

I hope that you and your little one enjoy Wee Wildflower as much as we have!

Purchase the pdf below or look for the pattern in print at your local yarn shop.

Also be sure to check Hannah's blog on May 11th for the release of the final pattern in our collection...

Tiny Rocky Coast!