Marly Bird's Blog, page 195

Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton has NEWS

Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton has NEWS to share and visited the Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird to tell us all about her FIRST and BRAND-NEW Craftsy Class. It’s very kind of her to take time out to schedule us in, she’s preparing to head to her shop in Sweden for the summer!

Cornelia’s design career began when she sold her first piece to Vogue Knitting in the early 80’s. She had been designing ready-to-wear in New York at that time.

Now, she’s multi-tasking with a yarn Line, Heaven’s Hand by Hamilton Yarns, and recently added kits, like the Alcott Laptop/iPad cover, which incorporates texture and her love of color! She’s also been doing a bit of collaborating with Black Bunny Fibers, Carol Sulcoski’s yarn brand, we’ve recently featured on Yarn Thing.

With the New Craftsy Class, Innovative Openwork Scarves, Cornelia can share with us, no mater where she is or our own ability to travel, a unique openwork technique that allows us to knit shapes without cutting your yarn strand. There are many benefits to taking a Craftsy class, among them, that you can take the class on your own schedule, spend as little or as much time as you want, and the classes don’t expire, so you can take it over and over. Marly also mentioned that you can ask questions and the teacher is the one who responds to answer your questions, the classes are so well put together by the teacher and the production crew at Craftsy, there are not a lot of questions to respond to for the teachers. She also says that the students often help other students too, because the answers appear with the class.

Cornelia does still teach classes and offers her yarn in trunk shows, mostly on the East Coast, traveling between Georgia and New York. She is a beloved teacher at the Stitches Events, too, specifically at Stitches West and Stitches South, and Vogue Knitting Live.

It was not mentioned by there is a book that she has contributed to, 50 Garter Stitch Gifts to Knit: The Ultimate Easy-to-Knit Collection Featuring Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted which was compiled and published by Sixth & Spring just last month. Here is the link in Amazon to peek at, or the page in Ravelry to see the various designs include.

This was not Cornelia’s first visit with the Yarn Thing podcast, she has been a great guest and supporter, offering her time and advice. Her first visit was in November 2009, then again about a year ago and about six months ago to share a recent addition to her yarn line.

Be sure to watch Cornelia’s website: Hamilton Yarns and follow her in Facebook, consider yourself invited to her Ravelry group, Designer and/or Yarn groups.

If you missed hearing this live today, it is still in the archives: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/06/04/cornelia-tuttle-hamilton-has-news or in iTunes.

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Jaala Spiro, Knit Circus

Jaala Spiro, Knit Circus’ Master of Ceremonies, joined the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird for a after TNNA (The National Needlearts Assoc) visit!

Jaala learned to crochet when she was young, and didn’t pick up anymore ‘yarn art’ until as a grown-up she went with a friend to The Knitting Tree (a local yarn store) and took a class in something she hoped would be do-able around toddlers. She says she never stopped.

She had been knitting for three years, mastered the basics, when she had a design published in Knitty. (I’m looking for the link to that first pattern…) Later she began an independent magazine, when ‘art-zines’ were big. When Jaala had to stop the magazine, they had 120,000 readers. They were the first to publish Hunter Hammersen, among many others.

Jaala still wanted to pursue a career in fiber world, and had a personal love of self-striping yarns, so she began an Etsy store. After a while, rather than guess what a customer might want, she began custom dying.

A big part of a discussion with a yarn dyer is about bases. Jaala says she uses acid dyes and merino base wool. To get the color saturation she likes, she likes about 70% wool. Silk has been intriguing but does not absorb the color like wool. She likes fingering weight, it sells the best perhaps for shawls or socks and she carries FIVE different fingering bases: The Greatest of Ease, a Superwash Merino and Nylon blend. Opulence is Superwash Merino, Cashmere, Nylon blend. Pixie Dust is Superwash Merino, Silk, Nylon and Silver Poly (for sparkle).  Most of their wools come from the US or UK. 

Marly asked about skeins vs cakes of yarn, Jaala says the skeins are easier for shipping, but the cakes make it easier to see how the yarn gradients flow, which is true if you look at her Core Collection. Last fall, KnitCircus introduced the striped sock collections and became really popular over the holiday season. She began the KnitCircus podcast with Amy Detjen, episodes now numbering in the 50’s. With all of this going on, the basement of her house was no longer working productively. Her 13-year-old daughter suggested after attending Yarn Con that perhaps a yarn store would work better. (She sounds very smart, like her mother!) Jaala found another space for a studio that has separate rooms for classrooms, and began a kickstarter campaign to get the help she needed. The surprise was how quickly the help came!

The move to the big new space is happening TODAY. Jaala says “I’m so glad I got to talk to you today, because there is never going to be another day like it!”

Jaala says they are not ready for wholesale yet, mostly focusing on getting yarn into the knitter’s hands. Currently KnitCircus yarn can be found online, some trunk shows and trade shows, which is where Jaala gets to hear in person what people like or dislike about her yarns. For instance at TNNA, Marly Bird’s Designer Dinner had goodie bags where each person got a skein of KnitCircus yarn. However, Jaala was drooling over the Erin.Lane Bag that was included and didn’t hear any of that!

Next up, KnitCircus is doing a KAL with designer Anna Dalvi. Her shawl design in the KnitCircus yarn reminded Anna of the Swedish story of Lieutenant’s Heart. This yarn is a dip-dye and has a beautiful coloration and is available as a kit.

Jaala has become enthralled with speckled yarns, so watch for those to become super popular, too! Doesn’t speckles and sparkles sound like a natural fit for KnitCircus?

If you missed getting to hear all this fun LIVE, you can catch it in the Archive here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/06/02/jaala-spiro-knit-circus or in iTunes.

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The Distinguished Designer Franklin Habit

The Distinguished Designer Franklin Habit spent a little time with us at the Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird and for that we are always grateful, because he is a very busy fellow.

Franklin says he started knitting in college early 90’s and when the big revival happened where Julia Roberts put a popular face to the craft and the Stitch and Bitch books came out. About that time he began his blog. He named it Panopticon, because he writes from his view, and had initially posted also about his love of photography.

While he is thought of as a designer, he doesn’t consider himself a designer, his passion about knitting really comes through in his teaching and his presentations. He puts a lot of thought into the classes and presentations, making them fun and adventurous as well as informative and challenging. He is stunned to have students who are well-versed in Lace Knitting come to his classes on that subject because they heard and are interested in the history he’s gathered. His presentation list includes The History of the Knitting Pattern (which is a relatively new invention), Weldon’s Impractical Magic (the cool and silly look at a 19th craft publisher) and 5 Women, 5 Shawls (which is a personal sharing of the women that impacted his creative journey).

You can follow his blog also he has an active teaching schedule, and he’s active in Facebook. Here also is his designer page in Ravelry.  He will be teaching at STITCHES Midwest (they are almost full!) and will be doing the 5 Women, 5 Shawls presentation. (Note from Tammy: if you register for anything at Stitches, you are eligible without cost to attend the presentation, but it’s handy for making sure there are enough chairs if you register!) He will also be at Camp STITCHES in November, which takes place in Albuquerque, NM.

If you can’t possibly travel to where he’s teaching, he does have a Craftsy class (this is Marly’s link) and another one will be filmed soon! The current class shares techniques in knitting lace, both the knitted on and the edges that are knit as part of your work. He did give us the hint that the next class is NOT Knitting.  He has taught on cruises, the last one with Melissa Leapman, the next in just a few weeks from Seattle and into Alaska with Barry Klien, mentioned as something to watch for!

Another place to find Franklin is his articles with Lion Brand Yarn blog (this link is to the most recent, it happens about once a month) and in Knitty (I don’t think this was mentioned today, but it is something I watch for). He also has a project with Skacel, which sounds like a wonderful adventure. He is going to take their products and show you what happens, good or bad, when he works with it.

If you’d like to hear his previous visit from April 2013, CLICK HERE.

If you missed hearing this live it is still available as an archive: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/05/26/the-distinguished-designer-franklin-habit or in iTunes!

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Ivy’s Poppy Blanket: Free Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern

This free crochet baby blanket pattern is Ivy’s Poppy Blanket! It is a free baby blanket pattern that I named after my only niece. The blanket is made by making the Ivy motifs and joining them as you go to make a super quick blanket! I’ve provided an optional trim that you can include on your blanket to really finish it off.

Not only will you get a free crochet baby blanket pattern but I am also providing you with an instructional YouTube video showing you how to make the motifs and how to join-as-you-go. How easy is that?

The yarn used in this free crochet baby blanket pattern is Red Heart, “With Love” which comes in MANY different colors. Choose one that is right for you. This one is for my Niece who is in love with pink and purple.

Gentle reminder:  It has just come to my attention that many people are unaware that free patterns still have copyrights and it is not legal to distribute. I ask that if you like the pattern and want to tell your friends that you share the link to the pattern. This includes all charts and schematics that are providing with the pattern. By doing so you are allowing me to make a little money via advertising which in turn makes it possible for me to keep designing fun and free patterns.

Thanks so much!

*Disclaimer: this post includes affiliate links**

Ivy’s Poppy Blanket
Finished Size 

37 x 43″ / 94 x 109 cm

Materials and Pattern Information

Yarn Red Heart, “With Love” (100% acrylic, 370 yds / 338m, 198g / 7 oz):

Tan #1308 (A) – 2 skeins

Bubble Gum #1704 (B) – 1 skein

Lilac #1538 (C) – 1 skein

Or colors of your choice

Hook Size H-8 (5 mm) hook or size required for gauge

Notions Removable stitch markers, yarn needle

Gauge 1 Motif = 6½” / 16.5 cm from corner to corner

Notes

The body of the blanket is made up of 58 Motifs and 6 Half-Motifs.

Motifs are worked in rnds, while Half-Motifs are worked back and forth in rows.

Use color A for Rows or Rnds 1, 2, and 4 of each piece. Use color B for Rnd 3 of 30 of the Motifs, and for Row 3 of all 6 Half-Motifs. Use color C for Rnd 3 of remaining 28 Motifs.

Join these Motifs as you go following the written instructions, charts, and / or the companion video. Arrange them as shown in the assembly diagram, or in the order of your choice.

Abbreviations

beg – begin(ning)

ch – chain

dc – double crochet

rep – repeat

rnd – round

RS – right side

sc – single crochet

sk – skip

sl st – slip stitch

sp – space

st – stitch

WS – wrong side

Yo – yarn over

Special Stitches

Beg Cl (Beginning Cluster): Ch 3, [yo, pull up a loop in indicated st or sp, yo and draw through 2 loops] twice, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Cl (Cluster): [Yo, pull up a loop in indicated st or sp, yo and draw through 2 loops] 3 times, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook.

PATTERN

First Motif

Using A, ch 6, and join with a sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) and mark the 3rd of these ch, 23 dc in ring, join with sl st in marked ch, remove marker – 24 sts.

Rnd 2: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch) and mark the 3rd of these ch, (dc, ch 1) in next st and in each st around, join with sl st in marked ch using second color (the color to be used for Rnd 3, either B or C), remove marker.

Cut A.

Rnd 3: Beg Cl in first sp and mark this Beg Cl, ch 2, (Cl, ch 2) in each sp around, join with sl st in marked Beg Cl using A, remove marker.

Cut second color.

Rnd 4: Sl st in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp and mark this sc, ch 3, (dc, ch 5, dc) in next sp, * (ch 3, sc) in each of next 3 sps, ch 3, (dc, ch 5, dc) in next sp; rep from * 4 more times, (ch 3, sc) in each of next 2 sps, ch 3, join with sl st in marked sc, remove marker.

Fasten off.

Remaining 57 Motifs

Work same as first Motif through Rnd 3, and cut second color.

Rnd 4 (joining rnd): Sl st in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp and mark this sc, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, sl st in corresponding corner sp on adjoining Motif, ch 2, dc) in next sp, * [ch 1, sl st in corresponding edge sp on adjoining Motif, ch 1, sc in next sp on current Motif] 3 times, ch 1, sl st in corresponding edge sp on adjoining Motif, ch 1, (dc, ch 2, sl st in corresponding corner sp on adjoining Motif, ch 2, dc) in next sp; rep from * for each joined edge, complete rnd as established by first Motif.

Fasten off.

6 Half Motifs

Using A, ch 5, and join with a sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Row 1 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) and mark the 3rd of these ch, 12 dc in ring, turn – 13 sts.

Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch) and mark the 3rd of these ch, (dc, ch 1) in next st and in each st to last st, dc in last (marked) st and remove this marker, turn.

Change to B.

Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) and mark the 3rd of these ch, Cl in first sp, (ch 2, Cl) in each sp to end including last sp, dc in last (marked) st and remove this marker, turn.

Row 4: Ch 4, sl st in corresponding corner st on adjoining Motif, ch 2, sc in first dc, * [ch 1, sl st in corresponding edge sp on adjoining Motif, ch 1, sc in next sp on current Motif] 3 times, ch 1, sl st in corresponding edge sp on adjoining Motif, ch 1, ** (dc, ch 2, sl st in corresponding corner sp on adjoining Motif, ch 2, dc) in next sp; rep from * twice more ending 2nd rep at **, (dc, ch 2, st st in corresponding corner sp on adjoining Motif, ch 1, dc) in last (marked) st and remove this marker.

Fasten off.

Edging

With RS facing, join B with sl st in bottom corner ch-5 sp of right edge, as shown in layout diagram.

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 1, (sc, ch 4, sc) in same sp as join, working up right edge of Blanket, (ch 4, sc) in each sp to next corner ch-5 sp, working across top of Blanket, (ch 4, sc) twice in each corner ch-5 sp and once in all other sps, work left edge of Blanket same as right edge, and bottom edge same as top, ch 4, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnds 2 and 3: Sl st in each of next 2 ch, ch 1, sc in first sp, ch 4, (sc, ch 4) in each sp around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 4: Sl st in next sp, ch 2, 4 hdc in each sp around, join with sl st in first hdc.

Fasten off.

Finishing

Weave in all loose ends.

Schematic for motif placement

 

 

 Video to help you with Ivy’s Poppy Blanket: Free Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern

Looking for more? I love making quick projects and even wrote a leaflet with Leisure Arts on how to do some fun things! If you too are looking for fun and quick projects go and check out the One Skein or Less book by Marly Bird.

 

 

Like this pattern on Ravlery

Look at some other Marly Bird Designs






Written pattern copyright Marly Bird Designs, a division of Yarnsports LLC (c) 2015.
Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.
If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern that is permitted.

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New Scrubby Yarn

NEW Scrubby Yarn!  Having a chance to see new yarn before it hits the market is a definite perk to working with RedHeart.

Like many of you, I will usually crochet or knit up quick washcloths for housewarming gifts. They are fun, fast and are always loved. So, when I saw the new Scrubby yarn by Red Heart which is made to use for just such a project I was totally excited. I couldn’t wait to show you the yarn and offer you tips on how to work with it.

While I was working with yarn of course I worked up a quick pattern that is already one of my favorites You can get it free below; it is called the Flower Dishcloth Scrubby.

One of the great features of this yarn is that has wonderful nubbies (yes that is a technical term, LOL) that are perfect for scrubbing your body, face, or pots and pans! Plus, it dries quickly so you don’t get that funky sour smell that most hand knit dishcloths get when made out of cotton.

But, you don’t only have to use my pattern. There are so many wonderful free patterns over at RedHeart.com that use this yarn. Go take a look and see if there is one there that strikes your fancy.

Now, grab your hook, some Scrubby yarn, the free pattern and you too can make this fun and fast dishcloth. With the free crochet pattern and the free video tutorial taught by me, Marly Bird you will have nothing but success.

*Disclaimer: this post includes affiliate links**

Scrubby Patterns!

There are many patterns at RedHeart.com to use for with this fun yarn. Not only will you find the free patterns at RedHeart.com but you will be able to purchase the yarn directly from them!

To follow along with the video all you need to do is buy 3 colors of Scrubby and you will have more than enough yarn to make at least 10 of the Flower Scrubby Patterns below.

FREE Pattern from Red Heart:

Here is the link for the FREE Crochet Turtle Bath Scrubby, Chevron Dishcloth, Fancy Flower Scrubber, and the Flower Bath Scrub, from RedHeart.com

FREE Flower Dishcloth Scrubby Pattern shown on Video:
Supplies:

RED HEART® Scrubby™: CA: Yellow, CB: Purple, CC: Blue

: 5.5mm [US I-9],

Susan Bates® Split Lock Stitch Markers–optional, see note below

Susan Bates® Steel Yarn Needle–to weave in ends

Stitches Used:

Magic Loop

Slip Stitch Join

Chain Stitch

Single Crochet

Double Crochet

Finished Size:

Flower Scrubby is approx. 6.5″ (16.5 cm) in diamater.

PATTERN

Using CA and magic loop, ch 3 (counts as dc), 8 dc in loop. Pull the magic loop closed and join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of beginning chain–9 dc.

*note: if you place a stitch marker in the chain that you will be joining to at the end of the round it makes it easier to find it when you need it.

*note: if the magic loop is too difficult you can begin with a ch 3 and join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring; then ch 3, 8 dc in the space created by the ring, join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of beginning chain–9 dc. Now, you can continue in pattern as written.

Round 1:  Ch 3 (counts as dc), 1 dc in same stitch as joined to in the previous round, * 2 dc in next st; rep from * to last st, join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of beginning chain. Finish off–18 dc.

Time to change colors–

Round 2: With CB, join with a sl st to any dc. Ch 3 (counts as dc), * 2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc; rep from * around, join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of beginning chain–27 dc.

Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 4 dc in same stitch as joined to in the previous round, ch 1, *sk 2 dc, 5 dc in next dc (shell created), ch 1; rep from * to last 2 sts, join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of beginning chain. Finish off–9 dc-5 shells.

Time to change colors–

Round 4: With CA, join with a sl st to any ch-1 sp.Ch 3 (counts as dc), 4 dc in same stitch as joined to in the previous round (shell created), *sc in 3rd dc of next shell of previous round, shell in next ch-1 sp; rep from * to last shell, sc in 3rd dc of shell of previous round, join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of beginning chain. Finish off–9 shells and 9 sc’s.

Time to change colors–

Round 5: With CC, join with a sl st to any 3rd dc of a shell, ch 1, sc in same stitch, shell in next sc, * sc in 3rd dc of next shell, shell in next sc; rep from * to end of round, join with a sl st to the first sc. Finish off–9 shells and 9 sc’s.

FINISHING

Weave in all loose ends.

YouTube Video by Marly Bird:

YouTube Video Notes:

 

Looking for more? I love making quick projects and even wrote a leaflet with Leisure Arts on how to do some fun things! If you too are looking for fun and quick projects go and check out the One Skein or Less book by Marly Bird.

Look at more patterns by Marly Bird

Check out Marly Bird Designs

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Abby Franquemont of Abby’s Yarns

Abby Franquemont of Abby’s Yarns was the guest today on Yarn Thing with Marly Bird, and it was a fun and intelligent conversation.

To begin with, Abby’s parents were anthropologists with interest in textiles and moved when she was a child to Peru to study. A fond memory for her was falling asleep under her father’s loom. Living in a spinning and weaving community, where all of her peers also did weaving and spinning, it was natural for her to pursue fiber arts as well. As a teenager, of course, she wanted nothing to do with it but thought she would be a musician then with computers. Found later that what she’d learned as a child, many crafts begin with yarn, Knitting, Crocheting, Weaving, and spinning is how you GET yarn; and there’s always more out there! IT’S A YARN THING!

She says, ten or twelve years ago, there wasn’t as much out there as options for purchasing yarn. She became what she calls Professional Yarn Dork, dividing her time between production, teaching and other business activities. Traveling to teach, too, fills a lot of her time and she will be going to Norway, Rhinebeck and SAFF later this year, teaching spinning with some weaving.  When someone wonders why yarn ‘didn’t work’, Abby says a little bit of spinning knowledge or effort can either make us understand what can be done with a skein, or how to make that beautiful skein work how you would hope. Sometimes those discoveries just don’t become apparent until they are put to needles or hooks.

An interesting discussion here was that some Yarn Shops hesitate to offer spinning classes for fear that those students will cease to by yarn. Abby’s answer is to compare with cooking, that just because you can cook doesn’t mean that you’ll never eat out again. Later she said, the POTENTIAL of the yarn in your shopping bag, or sitting on your desk, even before you started working on it, is like the food in your cupboards and fridge. She herself appreciates the yarns that are available, perhaps with a bit more understanding. Having multiple yarn projects and it’s benefits, was also discussed, so that you always have something in case of emergencies and teaching opportunities.

We also heard here a lot of interesting things about the history of fiber:

how textile creation became the basis for computer programming based on the punchcard technology used to create jaquard, was shared by Abby, who learned this from her dad who would speak at MIT about this.
learning and understanding math, LOTS of personal struggles shared here.
Gandhi’s spinning for the good of his countrymen, for industry also on a personal level, to be patient with the world situation, even requiring his cabinet to start their day with spinning.

More information from Abby can be found at her WEBSITE and she is also on Facebook, so knowing if she will be at your next local event would be easier to find! Her YouTube channel was mentioned (I got sidetracked there!) and her book Respect the Spindle (Amazon Link). Because, as her tagline says, ‘One way or another, it’s all about Yarn.’

If you missed hearing this wonderful visit live, it is available as an archive: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/05/21/abby-franquemont-of-abbys-yarns or in iTunes.

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Amy Herzog, Author of Knit, Wear, Love

Amy Herzog, Author of Knit, Wear, Love was the guest on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird, which makes for Happy Tuesday!

Amy has been super busy helping people achieve ‘Happy Sweater Face’ by creating books, website and an ap to achieve great fit. Her first book was Knit to Flatter helped many people achieve a garment that fit based on silhouette, understanding your style and learning about fabrics. It’s been described as a choose-your-own-adventure book for knitters.

From there, she found people need help with the math and getting gauge and created CustomFit.MakeWearKnit.com which is a membership based website where you plug in your numbers and a pattern is generated that works for you!

Knitter’s Toolbox was forged from Amy’s background in computer programming, and is NOT necessarily a sweater knitting ap, but assists you when you have to pick up stitches for a button band, for instance…

Most recently, another wonderful book, Knit, Wear, Love has been loved on from all over the yarn industry.

Amy travels all over the country with her Make Wear Love Retreats. The next one is in the Fall, located in Maine and has recently been posted on her website. She also has a Craftsy class which is great for those who can’t travel or spend a weekend, you’ll be able to learn a bit by that method too!

So, you may have thought we skipped the bit where we learn how Amy got into knitting. As a child, she was very active and a grandparent suggested that she be given needles and yarn, to focus her. Now, she carries her knitting with her everywhere! Here is the link to Amy’s visit with Marly in 2011.

If you missed getting to hear this visit live, it is still available in the archive: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/05/19/amy-herzog-author-of-knit-wear-love

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Knitting Through the Loops, Kirsten Kapur

Knitting Through the Loops, Kirsten Kapur is a designer of some of the most popular shawls because of their beauty, was the guest today on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird.

Kirsten is proud to say she came from a family of crafters. She went to art school and became part of the fashion industry as clothing designer for department store manufacturers, later with fabric designs. When her children came along, it was harder to continue that, but with the internet and blogs, things changed for her.

The trepidation of posting a first pattern on the internet Kirsten says, which was prior to Ravelry being what it is now, is similar to posting a pattern today. Even with tech editors, mistakes in patterns happen, although chances of it happening are greatly reduced. Kirsten’s first publish pattern was in Knitty and received a positive response that surprised her. That happened because she was wearing it at an event when Amy Singer walked up behind her and whispered that she would publish it if Kirsten submitted it. Amazing!

Marly asked a great question here about how does Kirsten design, and her answer was that it’s different for sweaters where she charts the designs for the multiple sizes before she knits it and with shawls that she designs while it’s on the needles. Shawls became her ‘THING’ for multiple reasons, that it only takes a skein or two which makes it a portable project that she takes with her everywhere and having one is a comfort when you find your self in a restaurant with good air-conditioning. The combination of stripes and lace attracts her too, because Kirsten doesn’t find herself as the ‘girlie’ type, her projects can be two-color. 

Her new Shawl Book One; Ten Best Loved Shawls from Through the Loops, is a collection of previously published patterns and she focused on the patterns being yarn store friendly, not so much the indie-dyed or gradient yarns that she loves. The photos are beautiful and were done by Gale Zucker, with her daughter and Gale’s niece among the models.

Mystery Knit-a-longs or MKAL for Kirsten’s designs started with socks and have progressed to her shawls, which explains how popular her patterns have become. She has another one starting June first, that she just started posting about yesterday. Check out her Group in Ravelry for more information about participating.

To catch a class with Kirsten Kapur (she’s teaching that beautiful shawl shown there on the cover) at Trillian Yarns in NJ this weekend, and visiting a couple places on the East Coast, you can find that at her website under Events. PS: Check out the cruise from NYC to the Caribbean!

Kirsten Kapur can be followed at her website, Ravelry and Facebook.

If you missed getting to hear this LIVE, it is still available as an archive: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/05/07/knitting-through-the-loops-kirsten-kapur and in iTunes.

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Jessie at Home, Designer & Blogger

Jessie at Home, Designer & Blogger Jessie Rayot was the guest today on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird. This is part of the continuing series of Crochet Bloggers that Marly has featured this year.

Jessie was taught to crochet by her great-grandmother when she was 9. Great-grandma was a perfectionist and pulled out Jessie’s work when it was wrong, much to the consternation of other adults in her world. She says now, that when she has to rip something out, she’s not afraid of it and would prefer to get it right than finish it and never use it because it was wrong.

As an adult she went to DePaul University for the theater department and was the Costume Designer department head at Adelphi University, then moved New Jersey when she married her husband Doug, became mother to twin daughters. Her blog, Jessie at Home, was a way to keep family far away apprised of everything going on at her house. ‘Yarny stuff’ became the priority of the blog eventually. She was also told it would be smart for her to attend the CGOA and to enter something for the contest. Without having any idea what to submit, it was suggested that she enter something already finished so she put in an afghan that she had finished and was ‘loved’ — as in, taken everywhere she went, made into blanket forts… And that afghan got her 2nd place! With it came recognition, offers of mentors, design and publishing opportunities.

Jessie and Marly really believe in the power of attending these events as far as putting a face to a name to designs. The progress Jessie made toward being published by Red Heart Yarns, and the Crochet! magazine (the Octie Throw). Sometimes Jessie will create something that nobody will purchase so she will put it on her blog and make money that way from it, and sometimes they will as her for something with with a theme and she will create something with those ideas and it will be a successful that way.

Jessie feels with her patterns she has three options, selling to someone else and let them publish, publish it and sell it herself or to offer it for free herself; she considers with each design whether to design for her blog with the advertising on the page or by submitting to a magazine. For Jessie, she makes the choice based on the pattern. Fortunately she’s got the freedom to do that, but it really depends on the support she receives from her followers.

Jessie at Home is a website you can find here, she can also be found in Facebook and in Ravelry.

If you missed getting to hear this LIVE, it’s available as an archive at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/05/05/jessie-at-home-designer-blogger and at iTunes.

The post Jessie at Home, Designer & Blogger appeared first on Marly Bird.

How to Knit: Drop Stitch Cowl

CLICK HERE for Drop Stitch Knit Cowl Free Pattern

Drop Stitch Cowl by Cathy Payson is just one of the many wonderful free patterns over at RedHeart.com. This cowl is part of their ‘Learn a Stitch, Make a Cowl’ series and I just LOVE IT!

This is my first knit video in my new partnership with Red Heart and I can’t even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed working on the step-outs for this video. Honestly, I’ve been wearing the sample for a couple weeks and I’ve gotten so many compliments on it!

Now, you too can make this fun and fast cowl. With the free crochet pattern and the free video tutorial taught by me, Marly Bird you will have nothing but success.

*Disclaimer: this post includes affiliate links**

DROP STITCH KNIT COWL

Make this amazing cowl with the knitted drop stitch rows that allow it to drape and make it comfy to wear! Drop stitches are created by adding yarn overs on one row and dropping those same YO’s on the next row. Choose from the great colors in this fashion yarn for the free pattern.

Pattern:

Here is the link for the FREE Drop Stitch Cowl pattern 

Supplies:

RED HEART® With Love®: 1 skein 1938 Beachy

Susan Bates® Knitting Needle: 5.5mm [US 9]

Susan Bates® Steel Yarn Needle

 

Stitches Used:

Knit Stitch

Yarn Over Increase

 

YouTube Video by Marly Bird:

YouTube Video Notes:

In this video you will learn how to increase stitches with a yarn over on one row then drop the yarn overs off the needle on the next row. This is what creates the long stitches.

You also get a tip on how to count the garter rows to know what row you are on as you work along.

Looking for more? I love making quick projects and even wrote a leaflet with Leisure Arts on how to do some fun things! If you too are looking for fun and quick projects go and check out the One Skein or Less book by Marly Bird.

Look at more patterns by Cathy Payson

Check out Marly Bird Designs

The post How to Knit: Drop Stitch Cowl appeared first on Marly Bird.