Picture Day Worthy (& Giveaway)

What is it about vests on little kids that just screams Picture Day? Perhaps it is because vests make littles look so dapper like miniature grown-ups? Or perhaps all the knitting moms know how quickly they knit up, so it has become the go-to last-minute knit? Either way, I have TWO vest patterns for you to pick from and make for that mini-me in need of a cute Picture Day outfit. I also have TWO giveaways for you - so keep reading!

The Whitby Vest is that quintessential garment that should be in every little kid's closet. Although it is unisex, I immediately picture a little boy wearing one complete with corduroy pants and plaid shirt (which is perhaps why I made mine for my 4 year old, Tommy). The Whitby Vest is a relaxed fitting vest perfect for knitting with a more earthy or rustic yarn like Fibre Company’s Cumbria. It takes 1-2 skeins of Cumbria depending on the size you make, so it is a terrific stash-busting knit!

This vest is worked in the round from the bottom up in stockinette stitch with a double rib hem. The top half of the vest is worked in a double moss stitch. The collar and armbands are created by working an I-cord bind off. As you may have noticed with my children garments, I like button closures (because my beautiful children have large heads and we need the room!). This design also has a button closure on the right shoulder.

You can read more about the Whitby Vest AND enter to win Cumbria yarn AND the Gansey Kids e-book over on the Kelbourne Woolens blog. Courtney Kelly wrote the loveliest review! The giveaway ends Wednesday, August 31st at midnight. So hurry over after reading the rest of this post :).

The Filey Vest  is a lovely little top that can be worn as a sleeveless pullover or as a cozy vest layered with a cute tee. This vest is worked in the round from the bottom up with a single rib hem, seed stitch body, and a single baby cable on the sides. The collar is a mock turtle neck worked flat with two wee buttons for closure (and ease for slipping over wiggly bodies).

When the Filey Vest is knit with a beautifully subtle tonal yarn, such as Sweet Georgia Yarn’s Superwash DK (as shown), the stitches pop, the yarn blooms, and a fabric with depth is created. This vest takes 1-3 skeins of this yarn depending on which size you choose (sizes range from 12 months to 12 years).

Lucky news for you, readers!  I have one skein of Sweet Georgia Yarn's Superwash DK in the Mist colorway to give away to one of you!! To put yourself in the running to win this FABULOUS yarn, hop over to Ravelry and favorite both the Whitby Vest and Filey Vest. Then come back to this post and comment what knitted item YOU would wear to school tomorrow for Picture Day. Be sure to let me know your Rav name (so I can see all those lovely hearts and have a way of contacting you for the win)!  Feel free to favorite as many patterns as you like and purchase your Gansey Kids collection too. You have until Monday, September 5th to participate. I will select a winner next Tuesday, September 6!


Even if you only have a week until Picture Day, then you definitely have time to whip up one of these vests. Which will it be? Filey or Whitby?

Gansey Kids Giveaway on Quince & Co.

Who is ready for another yarn AND Gansey Kids giveaway? 

Today I am a guest blogger on the Quince and Co.'s blog. There you can read all the fun details about two cute unisex accessories from the Gansey Kids collection, which feature beautiful yarns from Quince & Co:  Cullercoats Cap and Fisherman Mitts. 

 

 I think it is safe to say that this hat would look cute on any member of the family. The only question to ask yourself about this accessory is whether or not to add a pom-pom. By the way, did you know that Cullercoats is a fishing town on the North East coast of England?

 

Fisherman Mitts is my favorite accessory from Gansey Kids. After I knit Emma's pair in Chickadee (which was the perfect yarn to showcase that textured cably panel), I had to make a pair for Tommy... and then for me. I am pretty sure I have found my new go-to gifting knit! 

Quince & Co. is hosting a giveaway on their blog RIGHT NOW!  So hop on over to their site to enter for a chance to win the Gansey Kids ebook AND enough yarn to make YOUR CHOICE of either the Cullercoats Cap or the Fisherman Mitts! So exciting!

Classy Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to "amchat"! You have won my Classy yarn giveaway. I will contact you with the details today.

Please keep coming back for more fun, more knitting chat, more patterns and more giveaways. I have SEVERAL giveaways planned over the next month!

In the mean time...


Happy knitting!

It all started with patches...

Two years ago, I had this idea of designing a very classic child's pullover that would feature knitted elbow patches. Then, I had this idea of designing a matching cardigan version of the pullover. Dream in Color was so kind in providing yarn support for these designs... two years ago. Is it that a normal length of time for a designer to self-publish? Nope.

What can I say? I got distracted by other designs both professionally published and self-published. All along, those sweater ideas were in the back of my mind and then finally last summer, it hit me. Why not do a mini collection? You know, maybe 4-5 designs all about ganseys. I have long loved the look of gansey sweaters, plus is anything cuter than a 3 year old in a little gansey? So cute!

 

 And so the Gansey Kids collection was born. It quickly snowballed into 10 designs, but the initial two were the Patches Pullover and the Patches Cardigan.

Timeless. Classic. Wearable. Comfortable.

 

 

Let's start with the Patches Pullover. This garment has the truest gansey shape: knit in the round from the bottom up, straight shaping (or should I say shapeless?), underarm gussets, drop shoulders with shoulder straps, buttoned collar, faux seam along the sides.  Let's not forget about the adorable elbow patches! This sweater allows the knitter to knit the classic gansey construction without the distraction of textured stitch patterns.

 

The Patches Cardigan has a similar construction to the Patches Pullover: knit from the bottom up (flat- it is a cardigan after all!), straight shaping, underarm gussets, drop shoulders, faux seam along the sides. How cute are those sheepy buttons? I found them at the Yarn Gallery in West Reading, Pennsylvania (a shop you must visit if you are in the area).

 
The Patches Cardigan features seed stitch elbow patches and the Patches Pullover features stockinette stitch elbow patches. Guess what! BOTH patterns include directions for BOTH kinds of patches.

I knew from the very first time I sketched out this design that Dream in Color's Classy yarn was perfect. Classy is one of my favorite worsted weight yarns for children's garments. It is one I often recommend to my knitting class students when teaching at Harps & Thistle's Yarn Imporium. It can handle the rough and tough play of children and still look beautiful (thanks to those gorgeous colorways!) after many washes in the washing machine. Oh yes! Classy is MACHINE WASHABLE! It is my go-to yarn for sweater-knitting for my children.

And guess what, friends? I happen to have a skein of Dream in Color's Classy FOR ONE OF YOU! That's right! One lucky winner will receive a skein of Classy in Punky Fuschia colorway. That is 250 yards of 100% superwash merino wool... just... for... you.

What's the catch? All you have to do is hop on over to Ravelry and favorite the Patches Pullover AND Patches Cardigan. Then come back to this post and comment which you'd prefer to make first- the pullover or the cardi. Be sure to let me know your Rav name (so I can see all those lovely hearts and have a way of contacting you for the win)!  Feel free to favorite as many patterns as you like and purchase your Gansey Kids collection too.

I will randomly select a winner on Sunday August 21, 2016. You only have ONE week! So start "hearting" those patterns!

Gansey Kids

This week, something big happened. Big. HUGE! Gansey Kids was released on Ravelry and Etsy.

Gansey Kids is collection of ten patterns inspired by traditional ganseys. Does this mean you are going to see a classic fisherman sweater on every page? Absolutely not. This is 2016, so the designs in this e-book reflect many of the gansey characteristics on current styles fit for the present day.

Patches Pullover and Patches Cardigan

Coastal Capelet

Whitby Vest

Filey Vest

 

If you are a knitter, then you likely already know all about ganseys or at least would recognize one if you saw it, but for those who are new to the subject, let me paint a little picture for you. Ganseys (or guernseys) are fisherman sweaters from the British Isles, which were knit for male family members for practicality and sometimes for income. There are many characteristics associated with ganseys such as the square-shaped body, all-over textured stitch patterns, underarm gussets, etc. These features made the handknit pullovers both wind and water resistant - rather important for the fishermen.

In this collection, you will find five accessories for children and adults and five garments for children 1-12 years. Some designs, like the Cullercoats Cap and Whitby Vest, are more traditional in color and construction, while others, like the Coastal Capelet and Broadside Mittens, are a bit more modern with bright colors and current shapes. 

Fisherman Mitts

Inshore Cowl

Inshore Legwarmers

Cullercoats Cap

Broadside Mittens

Gansey Kids can be purchased on Ravelry and on Etsy for only $18.00. It is a 54-page document that has been professionally written, professionally photographed, and professionally tech-edited. All of the garments have schematics.  All of the patterns include links for special techniques.  As I said before, there are TEN patterns in this collection. So that means each pattern costs only $1.80. Yes, you read that correctly. Only $1.80 per pattern. Quite a steal if you ask me! So what are you waiting for? Get started on your fall knitting NOW. Make a Cullercoats Cap for everyone in the house. Knit a matching pair of mittens for your kids.

I hope you'll keep checking back on the blog the next two months because I have some BIG things in store! Yarn reviews! Pattern reviews! Yarn giveaways galore! Knit-a-longs! Prizes! And more!

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