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I have exciting news, many of you have been asking me to add Cascade Yarns to my inventory, I have, and it has arrived!  The Cascade 220 lines are renown for their excellent stitch definition, softness and very generous 220 yard hanks, plus the colors are pure and rich.  I now stock a wide variety of colors in 220 Wool, excellent for felting and the 220 Superwash, ideal for machine wash garments & accessories.   

Both of these yarns are an excellent value and many of your favorite designers use them, they’re also excellent substitute for patterns requiring a worsted weight yarn. 

Enjoy Gardiner Yarn Works’ Winter Branches Pullover, Noni Night Garden Felted Evening Bag, Dawn Brocco’s Baby Crochet Flower Blanket, any of Caffaknitted’s Plush Toy patterns and Sarah Chilson’s Meander Scarf.

I have to give a “Shout Out” to Suzanne Middlebrooks, the owner of my LYS Hill Country Weavers in downtown Austin, TX.  I adore Suzanne and love taking classes there with my talented instructor Deb.  After returning to Austin from my three month stay out in Boston I walked into class and noticed about 4 of my classmates were all knitting the same adorable baby blanket!  Turns out they were creating Suzanne’s very own design, this Sweet Bon Bon Baby Blanket!  Suzanne has graciously allowed me to share this pattern…

Sweet Bon Bon Baby Blanket
By Suzanne Middlebrooks

• Main Color: 3 skeins Blue Sky Cotton (150 yds, 100
g, 100% cotton)
• Contrast Color: 2 Balls Filatura di Crosa Bon Bon (99 yds, 50g, 100% Polyamid)
• Size 9 or 10 needles

Abbrevations:
Kfbf: Knit into the front of the stitch, knit into the back of the same stitch, then knit into the front of the same stitch again (an increase of 2 stitches)
S1, K1, Psso: Slip 1 stitch knit-wise, K1, pass slipped stitch over (a decrease of 1 stitch)

Chevron Pattern (multiple of 10 + 6):
Row 1 (Right side): K3, *K2tog, K2, Kfbf, K3, S1, K1, Psso* repeat between stars 9 times, K3

Row 2 (Wrong side): K3, P until 3 stitches remain, K3

Directions:
Cast on 96 stitches.

Knit 4 rows garter stitch.

Rows 1-12: Repeat Chevron Pattern 6 times.
Switch to contrast color. Do not cut main color yarn. Bring yarn up side of work by knitting first stitch only of Row 13 with both main color and contrast color held together.

Rows 13-16: Knit 4 rows of garter stitch with contrast color. Cut contrast color.

Repeat Rows 1-16 nine times.

Repeat Rows 1-12 one more time.

Knit 4 rows garter stitch.

Bind off.

Lily Go designs the most beautiful and tailored cardigans.  Here she shares her inspiration for her Simple Cable Cardigan…I designed this cardigan because I wanted to try to make cable motifs. Since I didn’t want to overwhelm myself, I just added cable motifs in the neck, sleeve and waist, just enough to accentuate this cardigan.  I love the result and I always like the versatility of cardigans. I can always wear a good cardigan when I go out at night or out shopping in a fully air conditioned departmental store.”

This cardigan is knit in the round from the top down, in one piece, no seaming. Pattern is written for both sport and DK weight yarn.

Needle: size 3 US (3.25mm) and size 4 US (3.50mm) 80 cm long circular needle for Sport weight and size 4 US (3.5mm) and size 5 US (3.75mm) 80 cm long circular needle for DK.
Yarn: Sport or DK Weight
Yarn requirement:
Sport Weight: XS: 900 meter, S: 1000 meter, M: 1100 meter, L: 1200 meter, XL: 1300 meter, XXL: 1400 meter, XXXL: 1500 meter
DK Weight: XS: 750 meter, S: 800 meter, M: 880 meter, L: 960 meter, XL: 1040 meter, XXL: 1120 meter, XXXL: 1200 meter
Notion: Tapestry needle, buttons (15 pcs), marker, scrap yarn
Gauge:
Sport Weight: 25 sts and 30 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch (St st) using 3.5 mm needle or adjust the needle size to get gauge.
Double Knit Weight: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch (St st) using 3.75 mm needle or adjust the needle size to get gauge.
Difficulty: Intermediate

In the August Newsletter we discussed how lace is an easy transition to bridge the end of summer into the beginning of fall.  And Cherry Tree Hill brings you some very special lacey sock patterns that will inspire you to pick up your needles. 

Shawn Glidden’s lacey Brick Yarn Joe Socks are decorated with a fun open and lacey diamond pattern.  These socks are a quick knit for an intermediate knitter, that give beautiful results showing off the extraordinary quality of Cherry Tree Hill’s Supersock yarn.  Also available as a Kit.

Peggy Kassess’ lovely Song of Joy Socks evoke a laughing stream flowing over stones in a brook and birds singing among the branches of a tree.  A frothy picot edge flows into beautiful lacey ribs, which then mingle gently with the design on the body of the sock.  Its a fun, quick knit with one skein of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solid.  Also available as a Kit.

These delectable Lace & Fingering weight yarns are all On Sale!  Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino, Margaret Stove Artisan Lace, Karabella Lace Mohair, Cherry Tree Hill’s Suri Lace Alpaca, Possum Lace, Supersock Solid, Supersock DK and Supersock Merino.

And knit up the very special Library Socks to add to the first care package you ship off to your college bound child so they can hit the books in style!  Sarah Jenkins’ top down Library Socks are knit with a cable in the front and back while the sides have clusters of bobbles and a subtle line of knit stitches winding between them.  They are a quick knit for an intermediate knitter and knit with one skein of Cherry Tree Hill Sockitotme.

Jacquelyn Landry’s Curvy is a perfect sweater for mixing beauty and sass. Whether you like dangerous curves or safe cables this is likely to fit your needs.  The extended size range with more steps in between will allow you to choose the best fit for your curves. Add one part classic cable twists to one part gorgeous Zen Yarn Garden hand dyed yarn. Mix in a little seamless knitting, weave in a few ends and you’ve got a sexy curve hugging top that is certain to raise a few temperatures. Elongated cables keep the silhouette smooth and figure flattering and are simple enough for even beginning cable knitters.

DIFFICULTY: This one is really a piece of cake. Requires working in the round, very basic cabling, and simple ribbing. I’ve provided written and chart instructions for the cable pattern.

 SIZE/FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: The simple cabled pattern will stretch to cling to your curves so I would recommend choosing the size closest to your actual bust if you want a traditional sweater girl fit. If you want a more relaxed fit choose a size larger than your actual bust and be sure to read blocking hints.
Finished Bust 28 [30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62]”/ 71.1 [76.2, 81.3, 86.4, 91.4, 96.5, 101.6, 106.7, 111.8, 116.8, 121.9, 127.0, 132.1, 137.2, 142.2, 147.3, 152.4, 157.5] cm

YARN REQUIREMENTS: 675 [720, 770, 825, 885, 945, 1010, 1080, 1155, 1235, 1325, 1415, 1515, 1621, 1735, 1856] yards worsted weight yarn
Recommended yarns: Zen Yarn Garden Gemilicious Worsted, Louet Gems Worsted, Karabella Aurora 8, Lana Grossa Cool Wool Big
(Model was Zen Yarn Garden Gemilicious Worsted 100% Superwash merino in Rubies)

NOTIONS: US #6/ 4mm DPNs (2 sets or a set close in size to act as stitch holders), US #6/ 4mm 24 & 36” circular needles and US #4/ 3.5mm 24 or 36” circular needle
Yarn needle, Waste yarn, Stitch markers

GAUGE: 20 sts/26 rows = 4” in Stst, 30 sts/24 rows = 4” in cable pattern unstretched
As long as you’re working with a worsted yarn with some inherent stretch and your gauge isn’t way off you should be fine. The nature of the garment is really forgiving so consider the cable gauge more of a suggestion. 

This pattern is available as a KIT with Karabella’s Aurora 8 100% merino yarn.

Visit Jacquelyn Landry’s entire pattern collection.  All of Jacquelyn’s patterns are sold as PDF Files that are emailed to you after purchase with no shipping charges.

Here’s where I’m at with Starsky, I learned how to pick up stitches to add the shawl collar.  It was actually quite easy, just time consuming.  Now the difficult part is sectioning off to knit the actual collar with the decreases. 

The front panels are joined to the back thanks to the three needle bind off and the sleeves are completed and blocked.  Plus the belt is over half done.  The only kicker is I had to get new yarn and its not quite the right shade of natural, too yellow.  But its coming along… 

As knitters we always have an eye out for unusual hat designs to knit for ourselves and to keep our loved ones warm.  Lisa Ellis, the creative force behind Lisa Ellis Designs, has brilliant hat patterns that will keep you entertained while knitting, keep you warm in style and just may teach you a new technique or two.  Each pattern is written for baby/child through adult sizes.

Meet Lisa: Lisa learned to knit from her mother at a very young age.  In college she spent a year abroad in Spain and France and while in Spain her Spanish mother re-taught her to knit, but this time without a pattern.  She would simply drape a sweater over Lisa’s body like a mannequin and decide where decreases should go.  In France Lisa noticed a young Norwegian woman who everyday sat in the back of class knitting.  Seeing Europeans knit in public was common but this Norwegian woman never used a pattern and rarely looked down at her work.  This is where the idea of knitting without a pattern became embedded in Lisa. 

After taking designing classes and upgrading her yarn stash Lisa became a designer.  Four years later she became a knitting instructor in several local shops in and around Seattle WA, and began self publishing her designs.  Lisa is now on her third publication with Leisure Arts.  When Lisa isn’t drinking tea and knitting she’s either gardening, cooking or teaching these skills to her two daughters. 

Lisa’s Basic Twined Hat is knit using an old Swedish technique called tvaandsstickning or 2-end knitting.  This simple method will keep the hat more wind resistant and surprisingly soft.  Its the perfect hat to don when you hit the slopes. 

The adorable ear flapped Twined Ski Hat is also knit in a tvaandsstickning.  The ear flaps are perfect for blocking the chilly north wind while waiting for a bus or having fun cross country skiing or ice skating.

And her ear flapped Andean is knit using both the Twined and Fair Isle techniques.  By twining all solid colors, the hat is of same thickness throughout. 

Another adorable ear flapped hat is her Malabrigo Sampler, its knit in a combination of easy stitches that keep the knitting fun!  Half a skein of Malabrigo Merino Worsted yarn makes either the baby or child’s size.  And Merino Worsted is On Sale.

And the unisex Harris Tweed Hat & Scarf is a fast, easy knitting project that’s excellent for a beginner.  This set is ideal for a last minute gift.  Modeled in Cascade Magnum yarn, this super bulky wool is easy to sub.

All of Lisa’s patterns are sold as PDF Files that will be emailed to you after purchase and zero shipping fees.

Every so often in the forums I read about some one who has a prized hand knit family heirloom from either their mother or grandmother.  The most recent was KarenJo who wrote about her treasured possession in her introduction to my Ravelry group.  She has kitchen Hot Pads that her grandmother knit for her 21 years ago when KarenJo was a newly wed.  She went on to talk about how she looks forward to knitting things that her two young boys will pass on to their children, thus keeping KarenJo alive and well in their hearts.

This got me thinking about this sweater, bonnet & bootie set my mom knit for me when I was born.  Being the youngest out of five children I’m surprised she had time to think about knitting let alone actually completing this set, but here it is, actual proof!  This coupled with the fact that the two before me were boys, I think she was delighted to finally have another girl. 

I want to have this set framed so I can hang it in my office.  Also next time I talk to my mom I’m sending her on a mission to find a pic of me wearing it.

This little green sweater was also knit for me by my mom, but for one of my dolls, probably Chrissy, the red head who’s hair grew when you pulled on it while pushing her belly button or got shorter when you wound the knob on her back.  Chrissy is gone, I sold her on ebay!  But this sweater I’ll always treasure.

Thank you KarenJo for making me remember these keepsakes.      

Katya Frankel, the genious behind Chloe, introduces a new design, Tamzin your perfect summer cardigan.

Tazmin is worked from top down in one piece. The yoke is knit in stocking stitch and then combination stitch used for the main body. No finishing is required apart from weaving in the ends and sewing on the button. It is worked in dk weight silk which can be substituted with silk blends and possibly viscose and cotton. It is an easy and fun knit. The only techniques used are cast on/ bind of yarn over and simple increases.  The pattern comes in sizes 30 through 48 with 2inch increments in two pdf files.

TO FIT SIZE: Chest Circumference: 30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48)” / 76 (81, 86, 91, 97, 102, 107, 112, 117, 122)cm.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: Chest circumference: 29.25 (31.25, 33.25, 35.25, 37.25, 39.25, 41.25, 43.25, 45.25, 47.25)” / 74.5 (79.5, 84.5, 89.5, 94.5, 99.5, 105, 110, 115, 120)cm.
MATERIALS: modeled in 7 (7, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 12) balls (50g/125m) Debbie Bliss Pure Silk DK
Substitute with approximately 810 (875, 940, 1010, 1080, 1160, 1230, 1310, 1390, 1480) meters / 890 (960, 1030, 1100, 1180, 1270, 1350, 1430, 1520, 1620) yards.
NEEDLES: size 4 US (3.5mm) circular needle and size 4 US (3.5mm) double pointed needles
NOTIONS: 2 stitch markers, darning needles and buttons
GAUGE: 24 sts and 32 rnds = 4inches (10cm)

Visit Katya Frankel’s entire line, all sold as PDF Files that are emailed to you after purchase, no shipping fees.

August 2008 Newsletter

August is a transitional month for knitters, its still very hot but the cool weather & holidays loom large, so often we turn to lace to bridge these elements.  This August I’m very pleased to introduce the lacey, awe inspiring designs of two new designers, the Nautical Knitter and Knitting As Fast As I Can.  Plus your favorite designers, Jane Thornley, Sivia Harding and Norah Gaughan bring us their fresh takes on lace.    

In This Issue: Free Shipping! / Secret of the Stole I & II / Knitting As Fast As I Can / Golden Blossoms Wrap / Harbour Lights Shawl / Holiday Head Start / Norah Gaughan, vol. 3 / Berroco Inca Gold / Berroco Seduce / Vogue Knitting Fall ‘08 / Knitsimple Fall ‘08 / Special Sale Karabella Aurora 8, 4 & Bulky /

Free Shipping!
As a way of saying “Thank You” for being a Sandrasingh.com customer shipping is Free for orders of $100 or more and a flat $6.99 for orders under $100.  And no shipping fees for PDF Files, they’re emailed to you after purchase.

Golden Blossoms Wrap
Jane’s favorite flowering tree inspired her to create the Golden Blossoms multi-directional wrap but, in truth, she sees it as an ode to all blooming things. Knit on size US 13 (9mm) needles in a stash-busting mix of everything from cotton to silk (with all that lies between), this is the perfect project for a summer afternoon while nested deep in your own secret garden.

Harbour Lights Shawl
Sivia Harding designed her Harbour Lights Shawl as a tribute to the beautiful harbor city of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The center panel is meant to portray the lighthouses that flank the harbor, beaming light down to the waves that circle the bottom edge.  It is a top-down triangle with an added centre lace panel, and a side to side edging which is worked around the bottom edge.

Holiday Head Start
Tis’ the season we need a little kick in the bum to get our hooks & needles in gear and begin our Holiday Knits!  Holiday Stockings are the perfect place to begin.  Knit one for baby’s first Christmas or a special little one and remember big kids and kids at heart also enjoy diving into stockings filled with goodies on Christmas morning.   

Gardiner Yarn Works brings us two very special designs this season.  A braided Celtic cable adorns the Glendalough Stocking, simple-yet-elegant and perfect for the holidays.  And the simple colorwork inspired by a Norwegian snowflake motif rings the cuff of the Telemark Stocking.

And Annie’s Woolens’ Christmas Stockings add old-fashioned charm to your home for the holiday.  Her 11 delightful designs, the Ragg, Peace, Joy, Love, Holly, Evergreen, Moose, Snowman, Bear, Angel or Cabin, will be loved by all and look wonderful trimming your mantel or tree.  Each pattern includes an Alphabet Chart to personalize. 

Each Design is also available as a Kit, which includes Pattern and 2 Ply Worsted Wool yarn. 

Cozy up your door with Pick Up Sticks’ beautiful, color saturated Poinsettia Wreath.  Each poinsettia is created in four petal groupings that are knit and felted separately.  Kit includes Pattern and Pick Up Sticks 100% Wool Felting yarn.  Also sold as a PDF Pattern only.

And trim your tree or gift wrapping with pieKnits Double Knit Mini Christmas Stocking, free pattern attached.

Vogue Knitting Fall ‘08
For 25 years, Vogue Knitting has delivered topnotch needlework technique and high-end fashion to hand knitters around the globe and this Fall 2008 issue is one of their best!  Usher in the cold with style, the 37 knitting patterns include cabled pullovers and cardigans, a felted purse, colorwork in socks, cardigans and more, plus a beret, scarves, jackets & shrugs and 7 awesome mitten patterns!    

Knitsimple Fall ‘08
And pile on the Fall knits with the Fall 2008 issue of Knitsimple.  Featuring 33 designs for sweaters for the whole family, bags & totes, figure flattering pullover and cardigan designs for all shapes and sizes, scarves and wraps, stash busting afghans, kitchen decor and socks, mittens & hats.  The stunning Colorblocked and Striped Afghans will look great on either your couch or your MIL’s!

Special Sale Karabella Aurora 8, 4 & Bulky
And here’s another good reason to begin your holiday knits, select Karabella Aurora 8, Aurora 4 and Aurora Bulky are now 25% off.  The Aurora collection are their Karabella’s signature yarns and crafted from a smooth yet lofty 100% Italian merino that is incredibly soft, with a buoyancy and elasticity that make it a pleasure to work with.  Coveted by top designers due to their many plies, it showcases your knitting so incredibly well that once you’ve knit with it, you’ll be hooked.  And, it gets even better….the wool is preshrunk in a special process so you can wash it in lukewarm water!  It is a great choice for adults and children, and all types of garments. 

 And Malabrigo Yarn is on sale too, Malabrigo Merino Worsted, Silky Merino and Lace Baby Merino.

Thank you for visiting with me and sharing my news, enjoy your August!  If you’re on Ravelry please stop by my group, Sandrasingh.com and share a comment or two.  And if you need any assistance with your fiber arts call toll free 877/519-1693 or email, sandrasingh@sandrasingh.com       

As you know I’m constantly searching near and far to bring you talented Independent Knitwear Designers and today you’re in for a real treat, meet DK otherwise known as the Nautical Knitter and the secret behind the famous Secret of the Stole series.

DK has this to say about herself…”Hi to everyone. I am DK, aka the Nautical Knitter, welcome. For those interested in my school background, I completed a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science from UAB and also did some masters work in History before my husband and I started our own business.

We, my DH and I, have owned our own business for almost 15 years now, mostly in crafts and hobby businesses. In the past year we sold our quilting related business, Pieces of the Past, to start an online book business and we currently sell thousands of used and new books online. The name of our company is actually Island Zephyr but I am still the Nautical Knitter.

For the past 15 years while in the quilting business our company invented, designed, and manufactured several products, like the Stick-n-Stitch® stencil, the Quilt Lap Hoop, and the Quilt Hanger. We sold products world wide, while traveling to every state in the continental U.S. in our motor home (also formally know as a Greyhound Bus; see my other blogs if you want photos) to promote and sell our products.

In that time, I have held classes and designed all kinds of patterns from quilting, cross stitch, crochet, to knitting. As a national teaching, specializing in hand quilting, I have the pleasure of teaching in some of the largest shows in the country like the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah Kentucky, the Road to California Quilt Show and the International Quilt Festival in Houston.

Over the years, knitting has become my passion beyond many other crafts or hobbies that I still enjoy and I am glad to share some of it with you here. I have several designs in progress, some finished, and some of my muse waiting in the wing. After doing several KAL’s I have decided to take some of my designs and make them into something that everyone can enjoy.

Many people ask… why D K ? Well, after doing business on the Internet for more than 15 years that is just what I use for my online name. You can call me D, or DK, or whatever you like. Nautical Knitter? Well, of all places, I like to knit on our sailboat the most. If you want to know who I am… I am a knitting, nautical wheeler, living behind door number three, trying to reason with hurricane season, dreaming of island zephyrs, dancing in three quarter time with my husband and two dog children.”

Guinevere

Nautical Knitter’s elegant, beaded, Secret of the Stole I Guinevere is basically a large rectangle.  The pattern includes both written directions and charts.

Finished Blocked Dimensions: 19 x 78″
Difficulty: Intermediate
Yarn: 1200 yards Lace
Knitting Needles: 3 US (3.5mm) circular
Gauge: Swatch chart provided to obtain gauge

Charleston

Nautical Knitter’s graceful Secret of the Stole II is sold as two patterns, the Charleston and the Savannah.  Both are basically a large rectangles with slight modifications.  The pattern includes instructions to knit it in them in either a lace or DK weight yarn and features both written directions and charts.

Finished Blocked Dimensions: 20 x 61″ lace and 24 x 93″ DK
Difficulty: Intermediate
Yarn: 1200-1300 yards Lace and 1182 yards DK
Knitting Needles: 3 US (3.25mm) Lace and 5 US (3.75mm) DK
Gauge: Swatch chart provided to obtain gauge

Savannah

All three patterns are sold as PDF files will be emailed to you after purchase, no shipping fees.