Come join the Kellynch Cardigan KAL!

the makings of an Envy-inducing Kellynch Cardigan :)

Today marks the official beginning of my kids' TWO WEEK SPRING BREAK (two weeks, people. two. weeks.). To maintain my sanity, I need knitting. But my JAK yarn hasn't arrived yet (and it isn't easy to design and knit a sample for publication with the gang around), and the backlog of independent designs to be published means I shouldn't start on something new.

To independently publish my patterns for you, I need a sample that fits me or a model that fits my sample. Since I love wearing my designs, I prefer a Kathleen-sized sample. So, now I've started a KAL over on Ravelry to keep me motivated. Care to join us? The "official" start date was Saturday the 14th (belated Happy π Day!), but I'm not big on rules, so come when you're ready to cast on.

If you don't have the Jane Austen Knits 2014 issue, there are a couple of ways to buy it from Interweave, or you can buy the Kellynch Cardigan individual download (the kathleen dames | knitwear design version will be available in October thanks to the knitting of this sample).*

While getting the above links for you, I found this:
Save 30% Off Your Purchase at Interweave with Offer Code LUV2CRAFT

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

*Those are Interweave affiliate links. If you purchase through one of those links, I receive a tiny commission. If you would rather buy the pattern from me directly, please sign up for my newsletter, and you'll be the first to know when it is available.

quick + purly: 5 skirts

Skirts. I love the idea and think they would knit up super-fast. I mean, no sleeve island, right? There is the notion that skirts bag out and are unflattering. These are not those. I think thoughtful yarn choice and careful swatching are critical for success, but I might just be up for that.

Have you knit a skirt? I'd love to hear how it went and if you enjoy wearing yours.

1. "She's Electric" Aztec Pattern Bodycon Skirt by Lauren Riker $5 USD 
   
2. Swirl Skirt by AnneLena Mattison $7 USD 
   
3. Bold Move by Lorilee Beltman $6.50 USD 
   
4. Flouncy Skirt by Cindy Craig $5 USD 
   
5. Take-Two Skirt by Ann Budd $6.50 USD 
   

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - just want to spread the love!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

Add a Jane Austen Knits bundle to your Ravelry library

As you may know, I will have two new patterns in the next issue of Jane Austen Knits, but I can't share them with you until this Fall (and the way this Winter is going, it feels like that day will never come).

To tide you over, now you can add three of my most popular Jane Austen Knits designs to your Ravelry library for $15 ($21 value).

• An Aran for Anne - figure-flattering with delicate botanical cables 
• An Aran for Frederick - a modern take on classic cables for men and women 
• Sotherton - feminine shape thanks to twisted stitches 

Already purchased one of these patterns on Ravelry? Thank you! You will be credited that amount at checkout. Use coupon code jakbundle at checkout or click the link above to add all three patterns to your cart and apply the code (and any credits).

Would you like to join a KAL for my Jane Austen Knits designs? I need to knit new Benwick and Kellynch Cardigan samples and would love some company. Let me know what you think in the forums.

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

Bringing new knitters into the world!

Just got back from a fun morning of bringing new knitters into the world. Actually, some of them already knew how to knit. But still! A dozen grade schoolers are spending the week mastering the basics of knitting. How awesome is that?!

My kids' school does something called "Integrated Projects Week" every year before Spring Break. They break everyone out of the usual grade/classroom format and bring them together in interest groups to explore different topics with different teachers (and hopefully to put some of their academic learning into real-world practice). They visit museums, parks, libraries, even the LYS; they make movies and choreograph dances and a few of them even learn how to sail a sloop. It's a really neat idea that ends with everyone exhilarated and exhausted, including the teachers.

Today is the first day of IPW, so the Knitting Bee teachers invited me in to talk about what I do and answer some questions from the kids, like "what's my favorite yarn" and "how long have I been knitting" and "how many stitches did I know". The last was from a lovely crocheter (there are lots of stitches in crochet, right?), and I got to do my little shtick about knitting being binary (knits + purls = 0s + 1s). I've added a new bit to that, though, after working with more beginner knitters:

Think about it: yarnovers (why isn't the yarn in the back? I'll just wrap it around), short rows (how many times have you picked up your knitting in the middle of a row and accidentally started back before reaching the end of said row?), knitting a stitch in the row below (brioche!).

After talking a little bit about the knitting world, we dove into casting on and knitting away. When I teach a 1-hr class, I usually cast on for beginners and knit one row before class (we learn to cast on with our second swatch; the first we knit and bind off), but since we had the luxury of time (and they will be knitting away all week), we began with casting on long-tail-style. Do you remember when you learned to cast on? I always tell my students that it will take them a while to get it, but when they do it's like a switch was flipped. I love being around when the light goes on.

By lunch everyone was knitting, some with more gusto than others ("It's haaard!" Too true, but only practice will make it easier), and everyone was excited to take a break. But this afternoon they are going to start on actual projects, so they will get to the real fun. I'm going to meet up with them, hopefully, on Wednesday when they visit one of our LYSes. And, of course, I'll visit their Showcase on Friday to see what everyone made over the course of the week.

Have you ever taught someone else how to knit? I hope you found it as rewarding as I do :)

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

Off to talk to my Knitting Bee friends @the_school #tscipw2015

Off to talk to my Knitting Bee friends @the_school #tscipw2015 #iftttkd via Instagram http://bit.ly/1HmQrzw

quick + purly: 5 stoles

Though snow is still part of the picture here, I want something lighter. Don't you? How about some stoles (rectangular shawls), but not the usual lacy ones. I lovelovelove lacy lace, but I'm not quite ready for it full-on. Plus, if you whip one of these out right away, you can wear it as a cozy scarf now and through the Spring/Summer. Here are five patterns that stand out for me right now.

1. Mithrandir by Amy van de Laar $5 USD 
   
2. Ginkgo Stole by yellowcosmo $4 USD 
   
3. Nuvem by Martina Behm €3.80 EUR 
   
4. Oblagon by LondonLeo $6 USD 
   
5. Ruched Scarf and Wrap by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas $5 USD 
   

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - just want to spread the love!

Want to do your own browsing? There are five pages of lovely, lace-weight, rectangular shawls. Let me know what caught your eye.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

P.S. My not-so-lacy stole is in pattern testing right now. Sign up for my newsletter to find out when it's released.

Yay!

Yay! #iftttkd via Instagram http://bit.ly/1zJz5H1