Handmade Holidays Are Here! (It's Never Too Early!)
Dear Friends,
We would love to see the sweaters you have knitted for the Fall / Olga Stripe Along! Some of you have already sent in photos, and they are fabulous. I’d love to see even more! Whether you’ve completed your projects or, like me, are still knitting away, please hit reply and share your photos. We will announce the prize winners next week.
Last week, I mentioned the baby sweaters on my needles, and I am just finishing up the Novice Cardigan Mini. I love knitting baby sweaters: so much happens in a small size, and I never get bored. It makes me happy to think about wrapping a little one up in a woolly hug. This sweater will be featured in next week’s newsletter, so stay tuned! The Crossandra Mini for the baby shower is nearly there, and that scalloped edge turned out just as cute as I’d hoped. I will share a photo soon.
Handmade Holidays are officially here. Yes, any projects that would be great for gifting or help you get ready for the holidays will be tagged with this moniker. We’re diving into holiday gift projects, and I’m really excited about this lineup. If you’re making presents for your loved ones, the Ripples and Rain or Be Simple Variations patterns would make lovely soft gifts for their necks. The Key Mittens will keep your friends' fingers warm - I absolutely love this pattern.
Are you ready to decorate your home? The Christmas Woods design is a subtle nod to the season and can be enjoyed throughout the winter months. Isabel Kraemer is one of my favorite Christmas sweater designers, and she has done it again with Christmas Belle.
One more thing: we’re hiring! We’re looking for a new team member who can work on Saturdays. If you know someone who would love to be surrounded by yarn and an amazing group of people, please pass this along! You can click this link for more information.
Knit...and be happy,
Ann
Highlights
Do you keep a notebook tucked into your knitting bag? I'm definitely a notebook girl, and I rarely start a project without one! From tracking little changes to remembering where I left off, mine is always close by. Pop over to the blog for a peek at how I use it. You might pick up a tip or two!
Featured Projects This Week
Be Simple Variations
Handmade Holiday
A little color, a little texture, and a whole lot of charm! Our lovely client Rita Bryson knit this beautiful Be Simple Variations shawl using just one ball of Zauberball Crazy, and Rebecca was happy to model it for us. We love how the shifting colors make even the simplest stitches something special. Thank you, Rita, for sharing your beautiful work!
Ripples and Rain
Handmade Holiday
A pretty little duo for the season! Ripples and Rain features two delicate accessories, a narrow scarf and a sweet shawlette, both with lovely lace details and rippling edges. Best of all, you can make both with just one skein of Fanshell Fingering! These would be wonderful little gifts, although we wouldn't blame you for keeping one (or both!) for yourself.
Key Mittens
Handmade Holiday
Cold hands, warm hearts! The Key Mittens by PetiteKnit are a sweet addition to your holiday knitting list. We've paired them with Ewe Ewe Worsted for a cozy little project that's perfect for gifting. With sizes for children and adults, you might just find yourself knitting more than one pair!
Christmas Woods
Handmade Holiday
It's never too early for a little holiday knitting! Christmas Woods is an adorable way to add some handmade charm to your seasonal decor. We've paired this festive project with Lamana Como, and we think these little beauties would be especially sweet tucked into a centerpiece or used as gift toppers. Time to get those holiday needles clicking!
Christmas Belle
Handmade Holiday
A little merry and bright for your needles! Christmas Belle by Isabell Kraemer is a festive colorwork sweater with a beautiful patterned yoke and a classic, wearable silhouette. We've paired it with mYak Fior di Lino for a lovely seasonal project. If you've been thinking about knitting something special for the holidays, now is the perfect time to cast on!
Kits to keep you stitching…
In case you missed out on these featured favorites,
here is a recap of last week's projects!
Ingrid Triangle Scarf • Easy Peasy Bandana
Baby Fisherman Wrap • Vara Sweater
Featured in the Shop
It's brighter, bouncier, and officially worsted weight! Spincycle Yarns has given their beloved Dream State a makeover, and we're thrilled to welcome Dream State 2.0! With a new 2-ply construction and all those gorgeous, ever-changing colors we love, this 100% superwash American wool is ready for your next colorful cast-on!
Our Monarch Yarns Are Back in Stock!
Our shelves are full again! We've just received a complete restock of our very own Monarch Yarns collection. All your favorite colors are back and ready for your next cast-on. If you've been waiting to stock up, now's the time!
Take a peek at the newest color in our Fanshell Fingering Bundle collection—Octoberfest! Isn't it a gorgeous burst of color? We're absolutely smitten!
in case you missed it...
Monarch Knitting Spiral Notebooks
Great knitting ideas deserve a place to land! Our new Knit...and Be Happy spiral notebook features our Monarch butterfly on a pretty sage green cover. Perfect for project notes, yarn wish lists, and gifting to your favorite knitter (or yourself)!
Color lovers, this one's for you! Take the guesswork out of choosing colors with this handy little color wheel. Just give it a spin to discover beautiful combinations for colorwork, stripes, and your next knitting project!
The New Color Work by Margaret Holzmann
Oh, the color possibilities! The New Color Work by Margaret Holzmann features 26 stunning geometric blankets using a clever pick-up-and-knit technique—no stranded colorwork or intarsia required! Pair it with our new Color Harmony Wheel, and let the color planning begin!
Classes & Events
We offer a variety of classes and knitting help, both virtual and in-store. Visit our site to learn more about each class, see the list of requirements, and sign up! When signing up for a class, please note the list of supplies and, if required, the homework.
October
Knitting 102 - The Sophie Scarf
Saturdays, October 17th and 24th, from noon to 1:30 pm
Fixing Knitting Mistakes 101
Saturday, October 24th, from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
November
Knitting 101
Saturdays, November 7th and 14th, from noon to 1:30 pm
The New Colorwork: Geometric Knitting Basics with Margaret Holzmann
Saturday, November 21st, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Safe at Home Block Workshop with Margaret Holzmann
Saturday, November 21st, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Shop Small Weekend
Friday and Saturday, November 27th and 28th, all day
Follow along for more boop content! @basherandbenny
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