Knitting Resolutions

It’s human nature, as the New Year approaches we start thinking about what we want to change in the upcoming year. For many of us it is about make resolutions. And while eating healthier and going to the gym more often are great resolutions, how about a knitting resolution? Maybe a new technique, or finish that project that has been stuffed in the bottom of your closet for a few years now, or maybe even just organizing your stash.

Last year my knitting resolution was to learn Fair Isle. At first it was daunting, but after a few tries I figured out how to hold my yarn in the other hand and work both colors at once.  And while I have not finished my project, Funchal Moebius by Kate Davis, I feel I have mastered the technique.

So what do I do this year? For most the answer is obvious. Steeking. But let’s be honest…that scares me too much. I make a fair amount of socks, and while I don’t suffer from SSS (second sock syndrome), I have always been intrigued by the concept of knitting 2 socks at once, one inside the other. Kory Stamper wrote a tutorial about it on Knitty a few years ago. And while I was immediately taken with the idea, the thought of holding yarn in both hands was just too much for me. But now that I have mastered the Fair Isle technique, I think I am ready to try this new adventure.

Using Liberty Wool Light, I am going to use a basic sock pattern to start with, just simple stockinette. I plan to start in the next few weeks, so check back and see my progress.

What are your Knitting Resolutions for the New Year? We’d love to know!

Lowell Cowl

It happens every year. There is someone who you don't normally exchange gifts with, but they pull the ultimate surprise on you while having lunch or at a holiday get together. I like to have a backup plan in place at all times and keep something already wrapped in my desk or in the car for such occasions. Our Lowell Cowl is the perfect solution.

The recipient will be so impressed that you knit them something. They don't need to know that the cowl is made of a simple 'mistake' rib and garter stitch in the round on larger needles. 

The Lowell Cowl is made with two different colors of Silky Alpaca Lace held together. It is sophisticated and practical at the same time. The silk in the yarn gives it a beautiful sheen, while the alpaca will give it a nice halo and lots of warmth. It will be an accessory the recipient (or yourself) can wear year round. 

The cowl can be worn several ways - a single loop, a double loop, as a shrug or even as a short scarf. With lots of solids and multi-colors available, the possibilities really are endless.

  

Click here to download the free pattern.

Shadow Toque

The days are getting shorter and with a chill in the air, it can mean one thing only...the holidays are closing in on us and our knitting time is running out.

So what is a knitter to do? It has to be fast and yet dramatic. The answer is simple. Hats, and in a chunky yarn.

The Shadow Toque from the Fall 2011 Interweave Knits is the perfect solution. Knit in Tobbogan at 3 stitches per inch on US 10 ½ needles it works up quickly.  The cable detail makes it special without making it too difficult.

Tobbogan is a wool and alpaca blend, so you know it will be very soft to work with and keep the recipient’s head warm during the winter months to come.

Taking only 1 skein and available in 21 colors, you can knit one for everyone on your list, whether they were naughty or nice this year. A second skein will enable you to make a big fluffy pom pom for the top, the design detail of the season.

Purchase your copy of the pattern on Interweave’s website here.

Photos courtesy of Interweave Press, Carmel Zucker, photographer.

Guest Post: Rohn Strong

It has been an indie-designer week here at CEY. On Monday we highlighted our favorite designs in the new fall magazines and then Tuesday our Web-Letter featured indie designs available online. 

Today we celebrate indie designers with a guest post from Rohn Strong about his new book, The Heritage Collection: WWI & WWII. The book not only has 20 vintage-inspired designs (enough to pique my interest!), it also includes essays and stories about the period. Four of Rohn's designs feature our yarns, read on to learn about how he made the pairings.
--MM


When I began writing my book, The Heritage Collection WWI & WWII, I had a vague idea of who I wanted to represent as a designer. You see, as a knitwear designer, the yarn companies are my partners. I love working with yarn companies and showing off their yarns, and having the ability to do that is truly a blessing.

As the knitting process began, my assistant and I sat down to figure out who we wanted to use, and what of theirs would be best represented. The first company I said I wanted to work with was Classic Elite Yarns.

Marshall, knit in Inca Alpaca

We agreed and began looking for yarn that we could use that would fit perfectly. The color palette was solid. I would not budge. We would have military colors such as maroon, khaki, olive drab, grey, and blue. I was unwilling to go outside of this color range. I was able to lean toward colors of the same group but nothing too outlandish.

With that, the task became a bit more difficult. However, I dove in headfirst. The first yarn I chose was Classic Silk. The vintage look and feel lent itself perfectly to one project I had in mind, Bess, a knit cardigan, classic in construction and technique, but modern in the overall look. I knew Classic Silk would be perfect and the colors matched perfectly. I was sold.

Bess, knit in Classic Silk

The next yarn I chose was actually my favorite to work with, Inca Alpaca. A luxuriously soft alpaca that would make you want to live in a box of it. The hand is astounding and the colors allowed every design to come together perfectly. The first project I finished was Marshall, a pair of wonderful gloves inspired by a photo my grandfather had of himself. They were perfect, not the normal choice for gloves as alpaca tends to have little to no stretch. However I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

The next project was Pappy, a simple stripped watchman’s cap perfect for warm winters! I love it! The two colors of alpaca sit perfectly together and the softness is astounding.

Pappy, knit in Inca Alpaca

Lastly I had the opportunity to add a project to the book based on a design by my Grandmother. A simple stripped baby sweater, knit in both Classic Silk and Inca Alpaca. The three shades of green truly add to the wonder and beauty of it all. The softness and durability make it perfect for any child. And it’s a super quick knit!

Ann, knit in Classic Silk and Inca Alpaca

I am so proud to be part of the Classic Elite designer family. To use their wonderful yarn in my book was a great experience, and I hope to work with them again. Maybe on the next book?!


We are thrilled to have Rohn join the Classic Elite designer family! More information about The Heritage Collection, including how to buy the digital and paperback editions, can be found here. To keep up with Rohn's designs and day-to-day happenings, follow him on Twitter or visit his blog.

Happy I Love Yarn Day!

While we love yarn everyday here at CEY HQ, this is a day when we should all celebrate our craft. The Craft Yarn Council has designated October 14 as I Love Yarn Day! How are you celebrating today? By casting on a new project? By finishing up that basket of WIP's next to the sofa? Maybe by buying that special skein you've had your eye on? Here on the CEY blog, we thought we'd share what's on our needles in celebration of this day. Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page what you're working on today!

We have two projects in Liberty around the office. I just finished up this Aran Baby Pullover in #7850, a rich gold color. This is leftover yarn from my Elizabeth cardigan from last year...

Speaking of the "Magic Sweater", Meg is working on her Elizabeth sweater in Liberty Print, color #7897, Sunrise. The twisted stitches on the cuff are an inspired choice, twisted rib is so much neater than 1x1 rib. Aren't the colors perfect for Fall?

Cheryl, aka Snuzy, is on her 19th and 20th sweaters of the year and just completed Arabesque in Pirouette. She is also polishing up her Nikko cardigan in Portland Tweed and Twinings from Twist Collective in Magnolia.

 

Tonia just completed her Abstract shawl. It is SO soft and elegant in Magnolia in the Granite colorway.

I have many things in the pipeline for Fall! This box of yarn under my desk is destined for great things:

• Black Princess: another Elizabeth of my own.
• Silver Princess: Tonia Barry's Element cardigan. 
• Moorland: a slouchy, comfy, oversized Grandpa cardigan--pattern improvised, but loosely based on Jared Flood's Redhook Vest.

There are also quite a few Highland Flings around the office. What do you think of this little be-bobbled garter stitch shawl? I've heard it's quite fun to knit...

Ravelry Roundup

Another installment of projects we love from Ravelry! What catches your eye?

Vitamin D by Heidi Kirrmaier, knit by FoggyKnits in Soft Linen

Afternoon Light by Laura Zukaite from our Fall Collection (whoo hoo!), knit by Lippyone in Kumara

These Pinked Socks, designed by Judy Alexander and knit in two colors of Alpaca Sox blew me away
.

The brilliant Presto Chango by Valerie Wallis knit in Chesapeake by Ludistitcher

Hey Teach by Helene Rush, knit in Classic Silk by KnittingPark

The Radian Yoke pullover from the Summer KnitScene, knit in the suggested yarn, Firefly by Austierra.

Bonne Marie Burns's Vonica knit in Allegoro by Sticksnscones.

This Green Point shawl by Nichole Reese was knit in Sprout by Lousquared for her LYS's Spring KAL.

Designer Interview: Cathy Payson

Sparrow in Seedling

Blue Heron in Seedling

Cathy Payson is a prolific knit designer who has been designing for Classic Elite for years. Search her name on Ravelry and you'll find almost 60 patterns, ranging from online publications to books and even to TV with her contribution to Knitting Daily TV. She is the designer behind Sparrow and Blue Heron, two patterns from our Seedling booklet, and was kind enough to chat with us about her career and design process.

How long have you been designing?
I designed my first sweater over 20 years ago.


How did you get started?
I learned to knit while in college and after one lesson was completely addicted. I took every knitting book I could find out of the library and tried to teach myself whatever I could. Luckily the student who taught me to knit was kind enough to never say no when I asked for help, so I could easily move along in my projects. A few years after college I went to work for Aarlan Yarns and started to learn about the handknitting industry. Since then I’ve been fortunate enough to work at a couple of yarn companies (Classic Elite and Reynolds Yarns) and in knitwear design for a women’s apparel company.

Bateau Mittens in Inca Alpaca from Booklet 9121, Wharf

What's the first piece you ever designed?
Actually I designed my first sweater while working for CEY! I dug the leaflet out of my archives and it’s pattern #282 – called “The Perfect First Knitting Project”. It is a pretty easy v-neck pullover vest with a chunky cable up the center front. I think it was during my first season at CEY and was in a great yarn called Applause.

The Perfect First Knitting Project, available on Patternfish!

What pieces did you design in the Spring Collection?
I did two pieces in Seedling – I love that yarn and all the yarns in the Verde Collection. One is the hooded capelet Blue Heron and the other is a cabled necklace called Sparrow.


What is the timeline for one of your designs, from swatch to pattern to sample?
It varies and every project is different. I think ideally it’s great to have 3-4 weeks to work from beginning to end but that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes a yarn is late coming in from a mill and/or photo shoot dates are imminent so you’re given just a very short time to complete a project. You just have to be flexible and work with what you get but basically it’s sketch, swatch, write and size the pattern, knit.

Princess Mixed Rib Turtleneck from #9084 Uptown Knitting

Do you use test knitters?
Not usually. I’m sort of the chief cook and bottle washer, doing much of my knitting myself. I like to write and size a pattern first before knitting the sample. That way I sort of test the pattern myself and can edit as I go along.

Unisex Seed Stitch Pullover from #9074 Essentials

What is your "design process"?
I’m not sure if I really have a process but I think in a nutshell I always keep my ears and eyes wide open. You never know when an idea will come to you or where it will come from. I am equally inspired by home magazines as I am fashion magazines and always am looking online for trends and what’s going on in the world. I don’t think that we need to necessarily be on the cutting edge of fashion in the handknitting industry but it’s always good to see what’s out there and what may be applicable. I try to design more timeless pieces that will be challenging enough for a veteran knitter but also accessible for a novice knitter too – the main goal being to end up with very wearable pieces.

Two, Two Cabled Pullover from #9061 Beginnings

Where do you do your design work? What does your "creative space" look like?
This photo is of my workspace. But nothing beats my favorite place to knit, which is in a cozy corner of our couch. It’s a sectional with one corner which is the exact right spot to sit and knit.

What is your favorite piece you designed for the Spring Collection? What was your inspiration?
I’d have to say Blue Heron, the hooded capelet. It’s sometimes hard to think of accessories to do for the spring season but I had seen a photo of a suede hooded capelet. It looked like it was something you’d want to throw on over everything but it was a woven piece. I thought it would be a good idea to make it into a spring accessory in a cozy yarn – for a chilly night or even over a bathing suit at the beach.

What's on our Needles?

As you can imagine, we're always knitting around the office here at Classic Elite. After our usual lunch around the conference table, you can always find someone knitting away on a new project, whether its a top secret sample from next season, or a new independent design (we're lucky to have some fabulous in-house designers...) But most of the time, we're making the things lined up in our Ravelry queues. I thought you might want to see how we're using Classic Elite yarns.

Susan, our creative director, completed an adapted Annis in Firefly to wear to TNNA.

Meg, our graphic designer, just finished up a Starry Night Stripes blanket in Liberty Print to brighten up her living room. This pattern is her own design, and is one of our Liberty Print Subscription patterns, free to subscribing LYS's.

Tonia, you remember her from her designer interview a few weeks ago, is knitting up Parkhurst, also one of her own designs. I love Silky Alpaca Lace!

TNNA Hooray!

What a weekend. I love reading all the recaps about TNNA, and can sympathize with those who wish they took more pictures!

How it all begins...

As you might have heard, pictures are not exactly allowed on the show floor, so I have few to spare. I can show you our yarn wall though...cue angelic voices...

Expert packing

 Classic Elite is know for the Yarn Wall, and I can see why. Its high drama all the way. Betsy and I thought, way too late, that we should have filmed us putting it up. Next time, right? Thank goodness I had the help of some seasoned sales reps to make me feel necessary, otherwise I would have just floundered in the wake of so much to do. Before you know it, the booth was set up and the new yarns were out. I can't wait to share Fall. Soon, soon...

June Liberty Print Colors and Patterns!

Yes, it is upon us...the final monthly release of Liberty Print for Spring 2011. Our experience with the subscription program has been great! We got some awesome feedback from local yarn shops and crafters all over the country; stores that participated in this program loved it! Wish you had signed up? Stay tuned! We will be offering it again starting in January 2012.

Without further ado, our June colors, Starry Night and Red Rock Canyon!

We also have two new free patterns to share. Though these are currently available free only to our subscribers, you can still find them on Patternfish once the month is over.

Starry Stripes Baby Blanket
A colorful blanket every baby and mother will love in machine washable Liberty Wool. The subtle slip stitch chevron showcases the stripes in Liberty Wool Print to their best advantage.

Liberty Wool by Classic Elite
8 balls 7811 Starry Night

Button Center Pillow
A simple to knit Stockinette stitch pillow that highlights the stripes of Liberty Wool Print. This pattern is easily adaptable to different size square pillows. Another option? Knit each panel in a different Liberty Wool colorway!

Liberty Wool by Classic Elite
4 balls 7812 Red Rock Canyon