Knit Up & Dye Episode 127 - In Limbo

Host: Jessica L'Heureux
Ravelry: jesseknits
Instagram: dyemonkeyyarns
Email: jesse@dyemonkeyyarns.com
Shop Online: http://www.dyemonkeyyarns.com
Patreon: https://patreon.com/knitupanddye

Theme Music:
"Throw the Hammer Hard" - Bob Log III
Thank you, thank you, Bob for letting me use this!
Buy his music at boblog111.com
BOB is on WORLD TOUR and might just be near you.
Please visit his website for a show near you.

Featured Yarns, Patterns & Products:

"How to Eat an Elephant Blanket"
My formula is on Ravelry or email me and I will send you a copy.

Adapted/Modified "Brickyard" sweater by Elizabeth Doherty
Pattern available on Ravelry.
Yarn is "Glamrock" colorway on my Rumba Monkey DK base.

"Through the Clouds" by Rachy Newin
Pattern Available on Ravelry

"Jeannie's Cowl" Jamie McCanless
Pattern Available on Ravelry
Kit Available at DyeMonkeyYarns.com

"Losange" by Fatimah Hinds
Pattern in Vogue Knitting Holiday 2019 pg 49
Yarn is "French Gourd" colorway on my
Double Shuffle Monkey Aran base.
My found errata notes on my Ravelry project page: "Million Dollar Sweater"


Upcoming:

"The Shift" by Andrea Mowry
Will be knit using:
"Whisperers", "Brother", and "Call Me Debbie" on Simple DK
by Lolodidit... lolodidit.com

And, I showed you "Rainbow Crow" on Merino Sock
by Serenity Fibers... serenityfibers.com

Dye Monkey Yarns Trunk Show February 2020 @ KnitCircus Yarns
https://knitcircus.com/
592 Grand Canyon Dr. Madison, WI 53719


**********
LIVE EPISODE
Sunday, January 26th
5PM Eastern, 4PM Central, 3PM Mountain, 2PM Pacific
Log in with your google account on YouTube and participate - interact with me LIVE!
***********

AND... Watch for more information about the Squircle KAL & Tutorial!
(finally, right?!?!)

Make EVERYDAY count.
Know you are loved and make sure the people around you know that they are loved too.

Go love someone.

Knit Up & Dye Episode 123 - Can, Can’t, Didn’t, and Will

This episode I feature the projects I can, can't, didn't and will show you, and make a couple of really cool announcements. I talk about how I believe through focus on living in the present we can overcome the stresses of the holidays. Grab a project, a mug of something delightful and come sit a spell with me.

Host: Jessica L'Heureux
Ravelry: jesseknits
Instagram: dyemonkeyyarns
Email: jesse@dyemonkeyyarns.com
Shop Online: http://www.dyemonkeyyarns.com
Patreon: https://patreon.com/knitupanddye

Theme Music:
"Throw the Hammer Hard" - Bob Log III
Thank you, thank you, Bob for letting me use this!
Buy his music at boblog111.com
BOB is on WORLD TOUR and might just be near you.
Please visit his website for a show near you.

Featured Yarns, Patterns & Products:

"How to Eat an Elephant Blanket"
My formula is on Ravelry or email me and I will send you a copy.

Adapted/Modified "Brickyard" sweater by Elizabeth Doherty
Pattern available on Ravelry.
Yarn is "Glamrock" colorway on my Rumba Monkey DK base.

Project Bag by Knitting with Attitude
https://www.knittingwithattitude.com/

Embr Wave Bracelet https://embrlabs.com/
Your Own Personal Thermostat

Jennifer Rundhaug - Driftless Knitter Podcast
Riverbank shawl
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/riverbank-4

Dye Monkey Yarns Trunk Show February 2020 @ KnitCircus Yarns
https://knitcircus.com/
592 Grand Canyon Dr. Madison, WI 53719

"Jeannie's Cowl" Jamie McCanless
Pattern Available on Ravelry
Kit Available at DyeMonkeyYarns.com

Be good to yourself this holiday season.
See you next time.

Knit Up and Dye Episode 59 - Breathe In, Breathe Out

Sorry, no demonstration this week, but I do discuss how I document my colorway formulas, give you some great resources for your business supplies and talk about my healing progress and prognosis. Quick sneak peek (spoiler alert) of the subscriber level custom colorway for my patrons and I show off my most recently completed beaded doll.

Knit Up & Dye Episode 24 - Caffeinated Squirrel

Yup. I had coffee, so this is an experience. I talk about knitting wins for the week, disappointments (there is a rant), suggest podcasts I'm loving, show off my progress, show off my dyeing, and demonstrate three methods of joining yarns. Come along for the ride. Also, there is a giveaway! Enter! Drawing April 1, 2017

Featured Etsy Sellers: 
(they made my stitchmarkers!)

A Needle Runs Through It

WeeOnes

Featured Podcasts: 
(All on YouTube - All have Ravelry groups)

DogDare

Uncreative Crafter

Chain344

GIVEAWAY! 
Head over to the Knit Up & Dye Group on Ravelry and enter in the ”One Liners Giveaway” thread

This is open internationally - One entry per person. 
Please read post #1 for all details.

Episode 23 - Get the Fuzz Out!

I'm under the weather, but that's not stopping me (completely). I show off my progress on my Phoenix Tears socks, Good Vibrations socks and Laurie sweater and demonstrate use of the Gleener de-fuzzing a sweater.

Episode 22 - Knitting to Heal

In which I show off my Intention Knitting KAL progress, Laurie sweater progress and finished Reyna shawl. You get to take a look at my recent purchase from KnitMona as well as one of my new Sweater Quantity offerings “Sand Dollar”. I also discuss the reasons why some of us knit and how knitting can contribute to and even be therapy, in addition to all its other benefits. EMDR therapy is discussed.

Featured Yarns:
“Route 66” colorway on Twisted Mona
400 yards/100g 80% SW Merino / 20% Nylon - 2 ply
by KnitMona on Etsy at www.knitmona.etsy.com

“Sand Dollar” Colorway on Boogie-Woogie Monkey
250 yards/115g 100% SW Fine Merino
by Dye Monkey Yarns on Etsy at
www.dyemonkeyyarns.etsy.com

Featured Patterns:

Laurie Sweater
Renya Shawl
Good Vibrations Socks

Featured Book:
EMDR - Eye Movement Densensitization & Reprocessing
The Breakthrough “Eye Movement” Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety,Stress, and Trauma
Francine Shapiro, PhD., & Margot Silk Forrest

Episode 21 - I'm Back!

Featured/Recommended Publications (Links goto groups):

• Taproot Magazine
• Maine Knits - Beatrice Perron Dahlem
• Extreme Double Knitting - Alasdair Post-Quinn
• The Knitter’s Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters - Ann Budd

Recommended Podcasts:

• The Sockmatician - Nathan Taylor
• Inside #23 - Miss Lavelli
• My Two Tips Podcast - Elise Garnier (Thanks for recommending Laurie!)
• Chain 344 - Kait & Carolyn (Hi guys!!!)
• Round the Twist - Carin
• The Uncreative Crafter - Jen Stormcoast (Go Jen!)

AND… 
I’m open to suggestions! 
Do you podcast? 
Contact me at jesse@dyemonkeyyarns.com 
so that I may become addicted to you too!

Love you all! See you next week. 
Happy knitting & dyeing!

Jumping into the deep end of the pooling

I'm forever trying new knitting techniques, stretching my boundaries and exploring new territories for design inspiration.  Most recently, I've been playing around with the techniques presented by Laura Militzer Bryant in Artful Color - Mindful Knits and her companion class on Craftsy, Color Patterning with Hand-Dyed Yarns. 

I love hand-dyed yarns. I've amassed quite a collection as anyone looking at my ankles can tell you - I've knit MANY socks with hand-dyed yarns! - but sometimes I feel... limited.  What? I know, that sounds really weird.

Hand-dyed yarns, although offering gorgeous colorways with vibrant self-striping patterns often detract from the look of fancier stitch patterns.  Sometimes you want the stitch to be the focus, sometimes you want the color to be the focus, and sometimes you want to approach the delicate balance of both.

Laura Militzer Bryant presents her close study of hand-dyed yarns and the math necessary to CONTROL them.  Through use of a "Magic Number" which is actually a simple measurement and calculation of color repeats, you can actually creatively FORCE color pooling into more pleasing stripes, stacks, argyles and controlled chaos.

Want to play?

I purchased the book before she developed her Craftsy class, and can honestly say I'm not thrilled with the presentation.  It was a lot to swallow and wordy with tons of high-gloss vibrant pictures that left me just overwhelmed.  (That's me - this is my personal opinion.) Then the class came along.  In her Craftsy class she presents the concept, math and examples clearly and concisely with a complementary video format that allows me to go back and watch it again, make notes and even ask HER questions.  Having taken the class and referred back to the book, the book has become more comprehensive and manageable. (Again, all me, all my opinion. You may find otherwise.)

So, what did I learn?

Cool math, neat yarn magic trick, and that overall, I'm not interested in designing with this technique in mind, but I'm likely to try to make someone a gift only because controlling a colorway in this manner is a super-cool impressive knit-master kind of thing to do.

And here's where I tell you, no one asked me to review this. I'm not getting paid.  The only benefit I could possibly get for this is if you use one of the Craftsy links here on my blog to purchase a class, I will receive a minor referral fee (and thank you very much if you do), but I don't request or require it of my readers.  I simply tell you about things I like.

That about covers it.

As I'm not supposed to be knitting, I'm taking online classes and reading and studying all things knitting.  Today I was reading Knitting Pattern Essentials - Adapting and Drafting Knitting Patterns for Great Knitwear by Sally Melville.  In her "Preparing to Draft" chapter she discusses finding the ideal lengths for a long sweater design and writes: "Try on the pants you are likely to wear with it - slim pants or leggings.  Find a point on your leg where you like what is revealed and where everything you want covered is covered."  This made me laugh.  I immediately thought of Uncle Fester Addams long monk-like robe.  Yeah, that about covers where everything I want covered is covered.

I do highly recommend Knitting Pattern Essentials - Adapting and Drafting Knitting Patterns for Great Knitwear by Sally Melville.  The book is very detailed, has a wonderful step-by-step format and is structured for every knitter of every skill set. The is wonderful diagramming and photography throughout the book as well as an excellent focus in her "Preparing to Draft" chapter on measuring to make the garment fit your body properly and look best on you - tips that I'll carry over to my clothes shopping to find more flattering cuts and styles in my store bought clothing.

No, I wasn't paid or compensated in any way for telling you about this book.  I simply share what I love in hopes you'll love it too.

Online Learning

Have you tried Craftsy yet...?
I'm taking this class and LOVING it! (No, they aren't paying me or providing any considerations for saying so - I just tell you about things I love hoping you'll love them too!)



Actually, I'm enrolled in nine different Craftsy classes.  I'll be doing an in-depth review of my latest enrollment very soon - so keep your eyes peeled!

YouTube Tutorials ROCK! Share & WIN!

I learned something today!
Don't you just LOVE YouTube?!?
No?  Not using YouTube?  You should, and here's why:

I'm a visual hands-on learner and sometimes reading the steps of a technique in a book just doesn't pull it together for me.  That's where YouTube comes in.
I'm working on a design right now that I felt could benefit from a provisional  cast on, but would you believe, although I understand the theory and usefulness, I've never actually done it.
Nope, never.
I read about many different provisional cast-ons in several different books but just wasn't getting it, so I looked it up on YouTube and found the following wonderful video.
Thank you Knit Purl Hunter - you ROCK!


 

YouTube is wonderful because it's free, you can watch it a million times, you can pause and replay to your heart's content, and in many cases you can even contact the person that made the video.  How great is that?!?

Now, to be fair... some videos aren't great.  There are natural teachers and there are natural con-founders.  But there are also often many many videos to choose from on any given topic and technique.

So here it is:  I'm looking for the best of the best, your favorites, videos that you actually learned something from.  Share and WIN!

To Enter: Post a comment with the YouTube Share Link (looks something like this: http://youtu.be/Nnu1kk8dUj0) of your favorite knitting technique video.  Briefly tell me what the technique is, why the video is awesome, and how to find you (Rav ID or Email).

One extra/bonus entry for each of the following:

• Follow/Subscribe to my blog
• Favorite or Queue one of my designs @ http://www.ravelry.com/designers/jessica-lheureux
• Sharing this giveaway on your website, Facebook page, and or blog (1 entry each!)

You WIN Two of These!

Please include your extra entries in a comment with links or information for validation.

Eligibility: Open to US & Canada ONLY - entries accepted until 12:00PM MST, Thursday, November 15, 2012.

Drawing: A random drawing of qualified entries will be done using an online number generator on Friday, November 16th.

Prize: 2 Skeins of di.Ve Autunno 100% Fine Merino (50g/98yds each) in Naturals-33410 - Valued at $15.00

Winner will be contacted via email after drawing for shipping information.

(NO, I wasn't paid by either YouTube or Knit Purl Hunter for this endorsement - I'm merely sharing things I love so that you can love them too!)

Yarn Porn: KnitPicks.com

KnitPicks.com - have you been there?  It is a wonderful wonderful place.  This is my most recent order.  I didn't "need" more yarn, but this sale was simply too good to pass up.  ALL this for $100.35!!! plus FREE Shipping.

Clockwise from top left: 24 skeins of Maple Syrup Wool of the Andes (sweater), 1 each of Shadow Tonal in Deep Waters, Springtime and Blue Yonder (shawls),  3 Natural Bare Superwash (hand dyeing and socks), and the Earth Sock Sampler including 2 Felici in Botany, 2 Stroll in Cocoa, 2 Gloss in Doe and 1 Stroll Tonal in Foliage (and more socks).

Sale is still in effect - Save up to 50% on last chance yarns - deep discounts on discontinued colors and overstocks.

And as always, no, I wasn't paid to endorse this.  I'm telling you about it because it ROCKS and you could LOVE IT TOO!!

More Online Learning

Craftsy is always adding more classes to their online learning experience and I've enrolled in yet another: Lace Shawl Design with Miriam Felton.

Miriam Felton goes into great detail explaining lace structure, swatching for design, math, charting, gauge and fiber, tools and so much more.  I've only gotten about 1/3 of the way through the course but have already learned so more much about lace pattern design.  I've been fascinated to learn more about the things I do in my designs automatically - now I know more about why they work.

I highly recommend this class.  If you have always wanted to design your own lace patterns or learn more about how shawl patterns work so you can make modifications to patterns - this is THE class. It's on introductory special right now for just $29.99 (regularly $39.99) and at that price, it is a HOT STEAL!

No, I wasn't asked to review this product, service, class or instructor - I just like to tell you about things I believe in.  Comment about this and other resources so we can all benefit!

New Tools - HiyaHiya Double Pointed Needles

Today I'm playing with new tools.  I just bought my first set of HiyaHiya 6" stainless steel double pointed needles in US2/2.75mm which were highly recommended.  

All of my past experiences with dpns have been inexpensive wood or aluminum needles I'd bought at chain craft stores, and they have all worked wonderfully, however the set I use for socks are showing their wear (color worn off tips, couple of rough spots from being dropped, one slightly bent... you know - loved) so I chose to take the opportunity to try a "high end"set.  

So far, I love them.  They are lighter weight and sharper tipped than my usual set.  I really love a good sharp point and wish there was some kind of standardized taper and sharpness sizing so that I could order needles online and know exactly what I was getting in advance. Until that day, my LYS will remain my primary supplier.

I like the feel of these needles - just enough tooth to the surface that my stitches stay on the needle without tempting me to tighten my tension to keep them there.  Another (silly) bonus - the size is labeled on the needle shaft.  I'm not sure how well that labeling holds up over time - I'll try to let you know a few pairs of socks from now - but I love that I don't have to check them in my needle sizer (which I can NEVER find when I need it) or try to remember the size based on their color.

Really, the only "negative" thing I'd say about them isn't even about them, it's about me.  I'm used to working with slightly longer needles (7" dpns) and am finding that the tips of the shorter needles rub the heel of my palm.  When I first begin working it's kind of a tickle, but after a while it becomes sensitive and uncomfortable.  I'm trying to adjust.  I'm wondering if others have had this issue and if this problem might be resolved by going with the even shorter "sock" dpns.  Any insights?  What needles do you love?

No, HiyaHiya did not request or pay for me to endorse their product - I just write about what I like.

My Fantastic LYS: Village Wools

I want to take a second to share some photos of my local yarn store (LYS) Village Wools in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  This place is my second home, teaching facility and "candy store".

I get unbelievable creative support, encouragement, and inspiration from the staff every time I visit.  There is always someone willing to discuss pattern designs or problems, color theory, spinning, weaving, techniques or dogs with you.  Even the shop dogs offer a friendly smile when you arrive.

Village Wools is the largest yarn shop I've every had the pleasure of visiting.  I've become completely spoiled by the range of fiber types (wool, alpaca, camel, cotton, bamboo, hemp, silk, mohair.... etc. etc.) and colors (they seem to have every color imaginable!) and my personal stash continues to grow with each incoming shipment they receive.  I've also made a rather significant dent in their book shelf, buying up stitchionarys and technique books.  They have buttons and washes and needles and bags and dyes and and and well everything!

I'm very proud to be among the instructors that offer classes at Village Wools.  They offer a wonderful teaching environment with one giant dividable lecture room and two dedicated classrooms for weaving and dyeing.  All the rooms are equipped with giant whiteboards, tables, chairs and excellent lighting.

When my husband and I travel, I always stop at yarn shops and try to purchase local products.  As a result, I've been in many yarn stores, especially on the east coast and in the southwest.  I'm always eager to find another yarn store. Consider adding Village Wools to your itinerary the next time you are in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Village Wools has a large collection of local yarns as well as spinning fibers.  Where is your favorite LYS?

No, they didn't pay me to advertise them, I simply show you things I love.

Congratulations Harbor House Baskets!

Harbor House Baskets is celebrating their GRAND OPENING!

You can purchase these beautiful fabric baskets on her Etsy site HERE - and right now during the Grand Opening you can save 10% using the coupon code "grandopening"!

We have three of her bowls.  I use one in the kitchen and two in my design studio.  I simply LOVE them for my knitting projects.

Be sure to visit the their Blog and  Facebook page too!

Non-stop Needles!

Lately, my needles have been working non-stop.  I've got a lot of things either in process or recently finished.

Currently I'm working on my Charms OWL at Hogwarts (see HPKCHC group on Ravelry), as well as my Dozen Shawls in 20Dozen KAL (group also on Ravelry) with this project - the Aeolian Shawl by Elizabeth Freeman.  This pattern is available for FREE over at Knitty.com in the Spring '09 issue.  I'm working this out of Madelinetosh Tosh Lace in the Saffron colorway - 950 yards of orange, gold, copper, rust and 100% superwash merino beauty!  I fell in love with this yarn several months ago and bought a skein with no real plan - I only knew that it was for me and had to be made into something special and beautiful. When my wedding anniversary came around in December and I bought a new black dress for our dinner celebration, I found myself yearning for this in a shawl as it would have been a spectacular accessory.  Early this month I cast-on and look forward to wearing it well before our next anniversary, if not also then.  This is the first pattern I've ever worked that featured nupps - a new technique for me.  Nupps are essentially bobbles in lace and need to be worked very loosely.  For this pattern, I'm working 7-stitch nupps.

I'm also working on a pair of bed socks for John, having just completed a pair for myself.  For these I'm using  Malabrigo Worsted.  His are being worked in Ravelry Red.  I worked my pair in Lime Blue  This yarn is incredibly soft, smooth and down-right yummy.  No, it is not the ideal yarn for socks... it does pill, and I am making socks out of a worsted weight yarn, but these are for sleeping in, and do not get any more wear than kicking in the night will cause.  Being 100% pure merino wool, they are delightfully warm.  Since completing mine I've actually seen a significant improvement in the quality of my sleep (amazing what warm feet will do) as well as a significant increase in my desire to stay in bed in the morning relishing their warmth.  


I particularly loved how the striping lined up in these without even trying.

Friday concluded my most recent session of the Skill Sampler Hat class I teach at Village Wools here in Albuquerque.  I re-knit whatever item I teach with ever session, and therefore I have yet another (5!) of my Gracie hats.  This time I chose Cascade 220 Heathers in Nectarine.  It's a brighter color than I've worked this pattern in before and I really like it.  I really enjoy working with this yarn.  You get a lot of "bang for your buck" with 220 yards of 100% Pure Wool for an affordable $9-11.  This hat pattern works up in 140-170 yards (depending on embellishment), well within the 220 yards Cascade provides.  This yarn blocks well, and I've not had a problem with splitting.  My students almost always have favorable things to say about it in class.

Also on the completed works list is this adorable change purse - Coin Pocket - Monster Fish by Daniela Nii, available on Ravelry for just $4.00 US.  I simply couldn't resist.  This was a quick project, that I was able to knit and felt in one day. To be fair, I modified the eyes from the instructions... somehow a fish out of water for that long seems more natural dead to me - I have an odd sense of humor, I know. 


This was my first hand-felting project… I’ve always just thrown it in the washer before, which I learned gave me a whole lot more control over the felting process, however I will be needing to pick up some good rubber gloves before I do this again as it was a rather harsh process for my hands.  Sewing the zipper in was a bit clumsy at first - place it, pin it, UNZIP it and then sew. I ended up ripping it out once just because I wasn’t thrilled with the placement. Next time I’ll baste it in place first. (Lesson learned!)  It also occurred to me that sewing in hook and loop tape, you could make this a cat toy with a catnip pouch inside and when it gets frayed, simply remove the catnip pouch and toss in the washing machine to re-felt.   I’m thinking a whole lot of people and fuzzy friends will be getting these for Christmas.  I have two more awaiting fins.  For this project I used two of my own Kool-Aid dyed yarns.  100% wool (duh, felting!) and I loved the effect the color changes had once felted.  

Also on the needles, lest I be without something to do, is the Holden Shawlette by Mindy Wilkes available for FREE on Ravelry, which I'm working from Twilight Luxury Wool in Teal Sparkle by SoftnShiny (keep your eye out for a Dyer Moments Interview with her in the near future!)  I've got 870 yards of this gorgeous dark teal (picture color is quite off, sorry) that features 75% superwash merino, 20% silk and the sweetest little 5% bit of silver stellina which adds a nice accent.  Normally, I don't go for sparkly yarn - glitter just isn't my thing, but this one is delicate enough that you have to look twice to be sure of what you saw.  I have modified Mindy's pattern slightly, to work less of a stockinette field.  As I've blogged before, I do not like being a stockinette-zombie, I prefer the action and challenge that you can only get whilst running from zombies.  (Shout out here to both Ray and John, brothers both in blood and spirit who have action plans in place for the inevitable Zombie Apocalypse - I love your kind of crazy!)   Therefore, I did a little math and am working the wave charts earlier, as well as many more of them - the original pattern calls for just 450 yards.  My finished shawl will be larger and slightly lacier than the original, but will feature all of Mindy's design aesthetics in heart.  This project also counts toward my Dozen Shawls in 20Dozen KAL, effectively as number 3.

Wow!  I'm starting to realize, I knit a lot.  My first clue should have been that weird dream I had in the early hours shortly before the alarm where I was walking down the street seeing stitch patterns appearing in the asphalt beneath me.

And of course, this isn't all that I'm working on.  There are a couple projects in hibernation (always!) including another shawl and a hat.  There is one new pattern design in the swatching department.  And there will forever be projects in my queue.

What are you working on?  What amazing project do you suggest I add to my queue?  Let me know!

Oh yeah, and no, I wasn't paid or asked to review any of the patterns I linked to above (not that I am or would be opposed to such - hint, hint!).  I link to what I love to share great things with you!

The Joy of Knitting Socks & Turning Heels

Is there anything in knitting more joyful than turning a heel?  I suppose weaving in that final end might come close, but I love, love, love turning heels.  I grin like a fool.  There is great magic in making your knitting turn 90 degrees without seeming.

Why have I brought this up today?  Well, because I'm on the verge of turning a heel today and I'm very excited about it.  As soon as I started the heel flap I announced to my husband "Oh look!  I get to turn the heel today!"  He wasn't quite as excited as I was, but he did ask if it was the first or second sock of the pair.  He's a good man, he humors me.

I'm working the Monkey Socks pattern by Cookie A.  This pattern has been wildly popular on Ravelry, where you can find it for $6.00 OR you can purchase her pattern book Knit. Sock. Love. containing 19 patterns for $16.95.  I have the book and am entirely too eager to knit several of her designs.

I'm using KnitPicks Imagination Hand Painted Sock Yarn in Wicked Witch.  The yarn is lovely to work with, and contains alpaca, which I'm told is 8 times warmer than wool.  Sadly, I'm allergic to alpaca, so this pair is being lovingly made as a gift.  I expect the recipient will love her handknit Wicked Witch Flying Monkey socks (once she gets them)!

(No, I was not asked for an endorsement by either Cookie A. or KnitPicks.  I wasn't compensated in any way.  I just tell you about things I love.)

Great Resource & Free Patterns

If you haven't checked out Knitty.com, you're missing out.  I love this knitting e-mag.  It's published four times a year and every issue is jam packed with wonderful new innovative knit patterns.  Their Deep Winter issue was just released and I've already picked out a couple of favorites for my knitting queue:  Sleepless by Mary Keenan and Groove by Stephen West  Visit Knitty today and tell me which patterns speak to you!

(No, Knitty didn't ask for a review, nor did either designer.  I wasn't compensated in any way.  I just tell you about things I love!)

Online Learning Opportunity

I found a wonderful new online learning opportunity - Craftsy.com.  Craftsy features online video classes in such subjects as Quilting, Sewing, Crochet, Jewelry, Paper Crafts, Cake Decorating and Knitting.  They also offer Free Patterns.

I'm currently enrolled in two classes: Knit Sock Workshop with Donna Druchunas and Mastering Lace Shawls with Laura Nelkin.  I haven't started reviewing the Shawl course yet, but I have begun working in the Sock course.  I find the video format easy to watch, pause and jump-to-points when life interrupts or I need to re-review.  I haven't used any of the other various resources such as video note-taking, online Q&A, or course discussions.  I've really only scratched the surface of this resource, but thus far, I'm a believer and recommend this to anyone interested in taking a knitting class online from home. (No, I haven't been asked to review this site, to endorse it or any one and no, I haven't received ANY compensation.  I simply show you what I believe in.)

Some of you may be wondering... Why are you taking these classes?  You already knit socks and shawls.  Yup, I do, but there is always room for improvement, opportunities for new techniques, and tips you can gain from other teachers.  And at the price of just $29.99 each - it's a opportunity that simply shouldn't be passed up.

Have you found great online class resources?  Please leave a comment and tell me about them!