in threes: weigh in!

Hi everyone!

As I’ve said, I’m putting together an updated version of in threes: a baby cardigan. I’ve taken to heart all of the feedback I’ve received over the past three years, and want to make this pattern as practical and functional as possible.

One of the biggest things I’ve noted is that some people feel that the pattern (with between 2-4 inches of positive ease in each size) runs a bit big.

Has this been an issue for you, and would you be interested in some re-sizing when I update the pattern? Re-sizing would most likely also feature the inclusion of a size 6 and a size 8…the biggest requests I get from knitters.

I’d really love to hear feedback from you all. Do you like the pattern as is? Would you like the sizes to be slightly reduced, featuring less ease in each size? Are you interested in sizes 6 and 8?

Thank you!

Giveaway winner!

Congratulations to devinf, who was randomly selected to win a free copy of the Sunfest e-book!

Enjoy, Devin, and thanks to everyone who entered!

Eat.Knit.Blog.Win.

Would you like to win a free copy of my new e-book? Well, I’d like to give one to you!

Contest starts NOW and runs through Sunday at noon EST. Enter by posting a comment here on this post including your first name and favorite yarn or favorite color.

I’ll randomly select one winner from the entries to win a copy of Sunfest!

Good luck!

Something big. Huge.

On Friday I have a pretty big project being released. As an independent, self-published designer, it’s the first project of this size that I’ve ever thought to undertake. For me, it’s huge.

I’m equal parts of nervous and excited, which I suppose is only natural when you’ve committed the greater part of a year to something. Mostly, I’m proud of myself. I undertook items and designs that were out of my comfort zone, and I was afraid a time of two (or daily) that I wouldn’t be able to pull it off. But I did.

Friday is almost here! Here’s a sneak peek!

A history of my world in 100 objects #25

A quarter of the way there…wahoo!

This is my first (pitiful) attempt at a sock from 2008. It’s pretty atrocious. It’s too small. It’s mate is missing. The toe is twisted because I thought I could just do the decreases any old place I pleased. My stitches are twisted because I was still knitting backwards. I never weaves in the ends.

But I wore them with pride. I still would, if I had both of them. They were a case of sheer sticktoitiveness. They were hard.

I’ve knit dozens of socks now. But I still keep this lone sock as a reminder of where I started.

One Thousand Threes

in threes: a baby cardigan, to be exact.

kelly without a net is really excited to announce that we are preparing for our one thousandth person to cast on their version of in threes: a baby cardigan.  One Thousand.  That’s a one, with three zeros after it.  I am totally floored and awed and appreciative and excited (that’s a lot of adjectives).

I’ve put together a small giveaway commemorating this event!

Right now, 980 people have cast on and entered their in threes: a baby cardigan in the project database on Ravelry.  Once we reach 1,000, I’ll open a thread in my kelly without a net group on Ravelry entitled, “One thousand threes!”  Every one who posts in the thread (post whatever you want!) will be entered for a chance to win one of 5 prizes (randomly selected).  The thread will be open for exactly 48 hours, so be sure to check back regularly.  One entry/post per person, please (I’ll delete any posts after your first).  You do not need to have knit in threes before to win.

First Prize:  One skein of Malabrigo Rios, your choice of colorway

Second Prize: One skein of Malabrigo Worsted, your choice of colorway

Third Prize: One skein of Malabrigo Dos, pantano colorway

Fourth Prize: your choice of kelly without a net pattern

Fifth Prize: your choice of kelly without a net pattern

Please spread the word to your friends, be on the lookout for the post in the kelly without a net group, and THANK YOU for helping make in threes: a baby cardigan successful!

Nolan is live!

My newest knitting pattern, Nolan, is now live!  Yay!  I really do adore this hat, and it may be my new go-to for babies, toddlers, children, and maybe even for myself.  I’m not just saying it because it’s my pattern, either!  I promise!

Now that we’ve gotten the exclamation points out of the way, let’s talk details.

I got the idea for a garter rib body after knitting about a dozen Snow Day Cowls, a pattern by my friend and fellow designer Sue.  I loved the idea of a hat that had a garter rib body, and was surprised that I didn’t find one.  But I never sit down to put the hat together, mostly because I was intimidated with finding a way to make the crown come together nicely.  Then my sister got pregnant with her second child and decided not to find out what she was having.  Suddenly, I *needed* a gender neutral baby hat, and I knew this was where garter rib could work.  So I went to work.

Nolan is sized for newborns, infants, toddlers, and children.  I had a variety of head sizes to work with here at the house, but I also referenced Kate Oates’ great head sizing chart.  Because heads come in many different shapes and sizes, this was a wonderful resource for me as a designer (and a knitter).

Nolan is knit in sportweight or DK weight yarn.  I knit my first sample in Huckleberry Knits Nootka Merino sportweight (the Huckleberry colorway) on 3.25 mm needles.  I knit my second sample in String Theory Hand-dyed Merino DK  (the Nevirrik colorway), also on 3.25 mm needles.

One of my favorite things about this pattern is the stretch that the the garter rib has, without all the work of regular 2×2 ribbing.  In fact, if I had added extra length to the toddler-sized hat I knit for Jessica, I could have worn it!

Nolan is priced at $4, but between now and the end of November 2011, if you purchase in threes: a baby cardigan or Wyatt, you will receive Nolan free of charge!

I hope you enjoy Nolan as much as I have!

 

Nolan

There’s a new hat pattern for newborns (infants, toddlers, children) off to the test knitters today!  Aptly named for Nolan, my newest nephew who inspired the design, I hope to have it released in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the pattern details:

 

Yarn:  Any sportweight or DK yarn that you can get gauge with, approximately 50 (65, 80, 100) yards per hat

Needles: 1 set of 3.25 mm dpns

Additional Notions: 1 stitch marker, darning needle

Gauge:  Approximately 12 stitches to 2 inches over in garter rib (unstretched)

Sizes: Newborn (Infant, Toddler, Child) These translate to approximate head circumferences of 13.5 (17, 19, 21) inches when stretched.

Stitches/Abbreviations Used:  CO cast on; BO bind off; K knit; P purl; P2tog purl 2 stitches together; K2tog knit 2 stitches together; SK2TogPSSO slip one stitch, knit next two stitches together, passed slipped stitch over that new stitch

 

So get that yarn wound and your needles ready!  This is a quick knit that is perfect for all those little heads this holiday and winter season!

In which I truly love blogging (and bloggers!)

Today I woke up to a pleasant surprise–all of you visiting my site!  My friend Samantha informed me that awesome author, blogger, mother, and knitter soulemama had knit one of my designs and blogged about it.  I cannot tell you how excited I was…there just aren’t words!  I love knitting, knitters, blogging, bloggers, and the online community that so many of us share!

What a great way to start a week!

the original "in threes: a baby cardigan"

If you’re looking for details about in threes: a baby cardigan, you can purchase the pattern via download at Ravelry (you don’t need to be a member to purchase…but join…Ravelry rocks!).  I really hope you enjoy it!

Have a spectacular day!  I know I will!

WIP Wednesday

What’s Kelly knitting this week?

Same old, same old!

I’ve actually finished all the eyelet row and am ready to start on the fleurette mesh. Unfortunately, the end of the month has pushed this to the back burner. I’m hoping to have knitting time tonight…we’ll see…