I've Moved to a Brand New Website!

My poor little blog has been in need of an update for quite some time now. 

Finally I have a fresh, sparkly new website complete with a new online store and I couldn't be more excited about it!

Please click HERE to view my new site!

This will be my last post on this tired old blog, so please update your RSS feeds, and update your bookmarks so you don't miss a thing! :)

The new website can be found at nevernotknitting.com.

Thank you for reading! 

Baa-ble

I recently found myself jumping on the knitting bandwagon with this irresistible knit!

I tried to resist it. I really did.. but adorable versions kept popping up all over the net. 

What was I supposed to do?

The Baa-ble hat pattern is so addictive with that row of fair-isle sheep. Once I cast on I couldn't put it down. This hat was completed in no time at all. 

I knit my Baa-ble hat in Quince and Co. Osprey in colors Storm and Honey and used up some small amounts of stashed cream and dark brown yarn for the sheep.

I modified the original design just a bit by making a shorter ribbed brim. I didn't want to wear mine folded up. I also didn't include that pom-pom at the top.

This pattern is free of charge and can be downloaded HERE.

You know you want one too!

Secret Garden

I am happy to say that my new Secret Garden shawl design is now available to purchase as an individual pattern!

This shawl was originally released as part of the gorgeous Secret Garden Kit from 

Little Skein in the Big Wool. 

I had a new pattern sample knit up in one of my favorite yarns, Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in this eye-catching colorway called Shire. 

This shawl is available in two sizes, medium and large. It fits perfectly around your shoulders as a shawlette or can be secured around the neck and worn as more of a capelet style with the garter edge folded down into a warm shawl collar.

Here is the pattern information for those of you interested in knitting up a Secret Garden shawl of your very own:

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS 

Length: 57 (68)” / 145 / (173) cm from end to end. 

Width: 17.5 (20)” / 44.5 (51) cm at widest point of center. 

MATERIALS 

Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light [100% Merino; 420 yd / 384 m per 3.5 oz / 100 g skein]; color: Shire; 2 (3) skeins or approx 750 (1025) yd / 700 (950) m of a fingering weight wool or wool blend. 

1 40” / 100 cm US3 / 3.25 mm circular needle 

Stitch markers 

Cable needle 

Tapestry needle 

1 medium button for optional button closure 

GAUGE 

26 sts / 36 rows over 4” / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch on US3 / 3.25 mm needle or size needed for accurate gauge.

The Secret Garden pattern will be available in a yarn shop near you very soon!

If you would like to purchase the Secret Garden shawl pattern in print, it will include a scratch off code on the back for you to receive a complimentary pdf download version of your new pattern. And the best news is that the accompanying download with be stored in your Ravelry library!

Purchase the pdf only version below.

Enjoy! :)

The Never Not Knitting Podcast : Episode 92 : Appreciating Helen

Episode 92

Shownotes:

Botanical Knits

Twigs and Willows Cardigan

Quince and Co. Osprey

Baa-ble Hat

Long Island Livestock Company

Wool & Wire Website

Purchase Wool & Wire HERE

The Never Not Knitting Etsy Shop

Cathy on Ravelry

Join the Never Not Knitting Group on Ravelry!

Follow me on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

Enter to win a beautiful Wool & Wire silver-chain stitch marker necklace designed by artist 

Sallee Anne along with 2 packages of stitch markers by leaving a comment below with your 

contact information by November 15th. Only one comment per person please. 

The winner will be announced in Episode 93.

Thank you for listening!

The Secret Garden Shawl Kit

Early on in the year I was invited to be part of something very special.

I was invited by Anne Vally of littleskein.com to design a special shawl pattern inspired by the book  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

I jumped at the chance. 

I not only love the story, but as you know... botanical inspiration is sort of my thing. :)

Immediately I thought of the ivy-covered stone wall surrounding the forgotten garden.

Adapting one of my favorite stitch patterns, I created this delicate textured shawl with the lovely Western Sky Knits Magnolia Sock yarn in the Misselthwaite Manor colorway.

And.. I love it!

The bottom has a lace-border while the sides of the shawl are done in garter stitch which can be folded down and worn in a shawl collar style. It can be wrapped around your neck, fastened with a shawl pin, or you can use the optional button-closure in the pattern to wear it in more of a capelet style.

Anne has kindly created a great video showing a few styling options HERE.

The Secret Garden Shawl is currently available exclusively in kit form through littleskein.com in the following gorgeous colorways from Western Sky Knits.

I especially love this green!

 The kit arrived at my doorstep packaged beautifully. With every Secret Garden inspired element developed by a different artist, this kit is so truly special. I am so impressed by the amount of detail included in every last little item.

I am so grateful to be a part of this project. It really has been a treat.

More information about the Secret Garden Kits from Little Skein in the Big Wool can be found HERE.

Look for the individual Secret Garden Shawl pattern to be released in November!

The Never Not Knitting Podcast : Episode 91 : Knitting On The Go

Episode 91

Shownotes:

Never Not Knitting... The Yarn Shop!

NNK Press

The Secret Garden Shawl

The Secret Garden Shawl Kit

Trailing Ivy

Dapper

Welcome Mocs

New Guy

Hello Kimono

Wee Hat

Quince and Co. Tern

Augustbird Yarn

Augustbird Tea Time Club

The Best Tea Ever

Bowerbird

White Gum Wool

Enter to win the secret November Tea Time Club Spot from Augustbird by leaving a comment below with your contact information by October 15th. Only one comment per person please. The winner will be announced in Episode 92!

Thank you for listening!

Dapper

I am so happy to have a pattern included in the Knittin' Little Fall 2015 Collection!

Knittin' Little is a new website created by designer Andrea Sanchez. This awesome site is dedicated to providing knitters with patterns for children as well as ways to engage little ones in the love of fiber arts.

For the premier collection, I wanted to design something special for my little guy to wear... 

A proper, gentlemanly jacket for Fall appropriately named "Dapper".

Knit in squishy Garter st, Dapper is complete with all of the pleats, buttonbands, and pockets, of a traditional suit coat. The handsome notched collar and buttonbands are worked right into the jacket fronts for reduced finishing work at the end.

This pattern contains lots of little special details that are fun to create, 

and make for such a beautiful finished product.

Here is the pattern information for all of you interested in knitting up this jacket for the little one in your life:

SIZE

2 (4, 6, 8, 10, 12)

FINISHED SIZE

Chest: 24.75 (26.75, 28.75, 30.75, 32.75, 34.75)" / 63 (68, 73, 78, 83.5, 88.5) cm

Length: 14.5 (15.5, 16.5, 18.5, 20, 21)" / 36.5 (39, 42, 47, 50.5, 53) cm

Shown in size 2; to be worn with 2-3" / 5-7.5 cm of positive ease.

YARN

Cascade Yarns 220 Heathers [100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 220 yd / 200 m per 3.5 oz / 100 g skein]; color 8011; 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) skeins or approx. 550 (625, 700, 800, 925, 1025) yd / 500 (550, 625, 725, 825, 925) m of a worsted weight wool or wool blend.

NEEDLES

2 US 7 / 4.5 mm 32” / 80 cm circular needle

Stitch markers

Stitch holders

Tapestry needle

3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4) buttons 1”/ 2.5 cm for body

6 buttons ¾” / 2 cm for sleeves

GAUGE

20 sts / 40 rows over 4” / 10 cm in Garter st on US7 / 4.5 mm needles or size needed for accurate gauge.

As with any photo-shoot with a 3 year old, there are always the most spectacular out-takes. 

I call this one... "The most awkward pose ever..."

and finally... his "musical number"

Dapper is available for purchase HERE.

Add it to your favorites on Ravelry HERE. 

I hope you enjoy it! :)

Adorable New Greeting Cards

I'm kind of in love with this adorable set of 3 greeting cards illustrated by the 

talented Neesha Hudson.

You may remember Neesha as the illustrator of our Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf book published in 2012. 

I have greatly admired Neesha's amazing artwork for the past several years and her illustrations have appeared in all of our self-published knitting books to date including

 Coastal Knits, and Botanical Knits 1 & 2. 

I thought it would be fun to ask Neesha to take on the task of producing a small line of all-occasion blank cards featuring wool-producing animals. I love giving hand-made gifts whenever possible and I thought that these cards would make the perfect addition. :)

Cards measure 5 x 7" and are sold in a collection of 3 with accompanying envelopes for $12. 

Each card is blank inside to allow them to be used for all occasions.

They would also be so cute in a frame, don't you think?

Cards are available for purchase in my Etsy shop HERE or on nnkpress.com/gifts.

New Knits for a New Guy

I recently knit up this sweet little set as a gift for my cousin's soon to be born baby boy.

This is the Hello Kimono and Wee Hat pattern from Kate Oates new booklet, "New Guy" and I loved every second these were on my needles!

It has been maybe years since I did stranded colorwork in my knitting.  Now after this project, I feel obsessed. Now I am spending my evenings pouring over colorwork patterns on Ravelry.

I. Want. More. 

It's nice to change it up once in awhile.

For this project I used Quince and Co. Tern in Kelp, Aventurine and Popham. 

My favorite part of this little set are these sweet rocket-ship buttons. I purchased them months ago from Monarch Knitting in Pacific Grove and was happy to finally have a chance to use them. 

I'm a firm believer in buying up cute buttons at every opportunity. They can be hard to find! :)

I just gave my cousin this set at her baby shower this last weekend with a few pairs of hand-sewn baby pants. 

I can't wait to see her tiny new baby in them! :)

Welcome Mocs

I simply could not resist knitting up these sweet tiny moccasins for a friend of mine who is expecting.

The pattern is called Welcome Mocs and is included in the adorable new booklet, New Guy, by designer Kate Oates. 

I used Quince and Co. Tern to knit up this little pair and it hardly took any time or yarn to make them! I could probably squeeze two more pairs out of the remainder of the skein.

I am so happy with these cute little shoes. 

It almost makes me want to have another baby of my own... almost.