Indie Design Gift-A-Long 2014!

It’s that time of year, folks! This year I’ve joined the Indie Design Gift-A-Long, since it sounded like such fun last year. I hope you’ll join me.

What is the Indie Design Gift-A-Long?

It’s prepping for the holidays as only fiber folks can, with special deals from tons of indie designers!

The Indie Design Gift-A-Long is a 2 month long KAL/CAL of holiday gifts made from patterns designed by 293 independent designers. From November 13 at 8pm US EST through - November 21, 2014 at 11:59pm US EST these 293 indie designers will be discounting between 4 - 20 of their patterns 25% for this event. There are eight KAL/CALs to participate in, prizes of all sorts given out, games, and generally a lot of fun! The Gift-A-Long KAL/CALs will run from November 13 at 8pm US EST through - December 31, 2014 at 11:59pm US EST

This year the Gift-A-Long is run on US EST so here is a link to a world clock time converter so you can all keep track of how that related to the time where you are: click here

Which Designers are participating?

We have a list of participating designers with photos here. 
We have a page just listing all the participating designers here.

Which patterns are discounted?

All the participating designers have posted in this thread including a link to the bundle of patterns they are discounting, and showing a photo so that you can get a sense of their style, if you aren’t already familiar with them. In addition, some of our industrious indie design elves have put together an amazing group of Pinterest boards that will allow you to browse through lots of designs at the same time. You can find all the links to the different boards here.

How do I get the discount?

It’s easy peasy! Just purchase the patterns you want directly from the designers’ Ravelry shops between 8 pm US EST on Thursday, November 13th and 11:59 pm on Friday, November 21st, and enter the coupon code giftalong2014 at checkout and 25% will be automatically taken off the total price.

And here are the patterns I’ve discounted for the Gift-A-Long:

TEDxYouth

Very excited to share with you all that I will be speaking at TEDxYouth@TheSchool (be sure to check out the charming video at that link) this Saturday. This year's TEDxYouth theme is Worlds Imagined, so I will talk a bit about knitting and creativity, my design process and such. It's only a five minute talk, so hopefully I won't fall over :) The event will be live-streamed along with other TEDxYouth events all over the world, and I'll be sure to share the YouTube video when it's all said and done.

I'm off to rewrite my speech for the umpteenth time and pull together my slide show. Tomorrow I'll share another newly published design, so be sure to visit again soon.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen

New pattern: Strawberry-Picking Shrug

Hop on over to Jane Austen Knits for my next design.

Strawberry-Picking Shrug, Jane Austen Knits 2014

Perfect for Emma to wear on a visit to Donwell Abbey, the Strawberry-Picking Shrug is pretty enough for Emma, while warm enough to satisfy Mr. Woodhouse's fears of catching a chill. Knit in Malabrigo's Lace yarn in the Cactus Flower colorway, this project is a manageable introduction to lace knitting on both sides of the work. 

Strawberry-Picking Shrug, Jane Austen Knits 2014

Since the shrug is worked as a rectangle, you won't have to fuss with shaping within this pattern, which will give you the freedom to concentrate on the two-sided lace. Can you see the delicate single strands radiating out from each strawberry? That's thanks to the decreases and yarnovers being worked on both sides. When you create lace with a stockinette stitch base, you usually purl back or knit alternate rounds, which creates two-strand lines in your lace. While that kind of lace is lovely (and the kind I usually play around with because, let's be honest, who doesn't love a soothing purl-back row or alternate round of knit stitches?), there is a delicacy to lace worked on both sides.

Two tiny seams and a few ends to weave in are all you'll have to do to finish this project. If you're ready to take your knitting skills to the next level, this pretty little shrug should be your next project.

Visit the Strawberry-Picking Shrug page on Ravelry.

Order your own copy of Jane Austen Knits 2014. Or grab one at your LYS - Small Business Saturday is coming up on November 29th!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

Pattern: Ozark Wrap

So, I haven't been particularly busy, knitting-wise of late, but my Springtime busy-ness has finally borne fruit! First up:

Ozark Wrap, Interweave Knits, Winter 2015

The cozy, bulky Ozark Wrap is knit in sheepy Takhi Yarns Montana (a minimally processed, roving-style yarn available in natural sheep colors), shown here in the #001 Natural colorway. This one begins with a stretch of i-cord and ends with an i-cord bindoff. In between you work a textural knit-purl chevron pattern (reversible!) and some i-cord cleverness for a beautifully edged piece. The only finishing you'll have to do is weave in some ends. This one is a perfect winter project, as it can almost double as a blankie, while you're working on it. If we're in for another polar vortex this Winter, you'll be psyched to wrap yourself up in all this sheepy goodness.

Check out Ozark Wrap's pattern page on Ravelry.
Order your own copy of Interweave Knits, Winter 2015. Or better yet: visit your LYS to pick up your own copy. Small Business Saturday is coming up on November 29th - be sure to support your favorite!

Ozark Wrap, Interweave Knits, Winter 2015

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo,

Kathleen

Sad news

This is strange to write, but it is part of my life and so are you, dear reader.

My ex-husband passed away unexpectedly ten days ago. I am sad that he is gone yet relieved that I don't have to worry about him now. We are all coping as best we can. There will be a memorial service down the line.

I'm not sure how much I will be on the blog for a while, but I will keep knitting (and designing - I can't help it), and there are some upcoming publication designs, as well as things I need to convert from samples and notes and charts to patterns for you.

Sorry for the weird post, but thanks for stopping by. Happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen

New pattern: Thistle Leaf Shawl

I've got a new one for you! Thistle Leaf Shawl is now available on Ravelry for your knitting pleasure.

Thistle Leaf Shawl by Kathleen Dames

One skein of fingering weight yarn (approx. 400yds) - I used Julie Asselin's lovely Milis in the Confiture colorway - will give you this lovely small shawl with a deep Thistle Leaf edging. Worked in one piece from the neck down with a simple bindoff that highlights the scallop-y beauty of the thistle leaves. As you can see, I often wear mine "bandit style" around my neck to keep me warm and bring a pop of color to whatever I'm wearing.

The pattern is in my new layout. What do you think? The cover has the lovely photos, the second page has all the information you'll need to get ready (specs, notes, abbreviations), and the pattern itself (charted and written) is on the third page. So, if you want to save ink/paper, page three is the one to print.

And, since I have my patterns printed for distribution (ask your LYS to contact me), there is a fourth page with a catalog of my other designs. You don't need to print that one, either, but you might find another pattern you like :)

Now that my summer travels have come to an end (sob), I'm over the flu thing that had me in bed with a fever for two days (can't remember the last time I was that sick), and the kids are back in school (finally), I plan to write up a bunch of patterns for you. Stay tuned :)

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen

New pattern: Honest Woodsman Pullover

Exciting news! Pattern number two (of six) from my crazy spring of knitting has been released! Honest Woodsman is one of 27 knitting patterns in Interweave's newest specialty publication Enchanted Knits. You can find the Ravelry pattern page (size info, etc.) here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/honest-woodsman-pullover

Have you got a man on your hands who needs a new pullover (the holidays are closer than you think, especially if you're thinking of knitting a man's sweater by then!)? The soon-to-be-released Enchanted Knits contains my latest design: Honest Woodsman Pullover. 

Worked from the bottom up in the round, this pullover is finished off with a shirt-yoke pullover a la EZ while the body is covered with the easy to work (and remember) Woodgrain cable stitch. A rolled neck and turned hems finish things off. 

The shirt yoke is worked with short rows joining front to back body and closed up with a bit of Kitchener stitch at the side of the neck. 

My sample was worked in Madeline Tosh Vintage (7, 8, 8, 10, 11, 13 skeins) in Bark, and I think the handdyed yarn makes this sweater a knockout. Little flimmers of different tones add  depth to the cable stitch, as well as making the stockinette portions a little bit special. 

Enchanted Knits should appear in your LYS any day now and is available for immediate download from Interweave here: http://www.interweavestore.com/enchanted-knits-group

For those of you only interested in Honest Woodsman, Interweave's policy is to make the pattern available for individual download once the print edition has sold out. My downloadable version will be available from Ravelry/Craftsy/Etsy one year after the magazine publication date. And for those of you kind enough to be concerned, I do receive a royalty for those Interweave downloads :)

Hope you like this one. I'm looking forward to wearing it this winter in unisex slouchy style :)

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen