One of the great things about knitting is that you don’t need a lot to get started. However, there are an quite lot of fun gadgets that make the knitting experience that much better. Many of the knitting do-dads I’ve accumulated over the years have been the best Christmas presents. I’m sharing some of my favorites here, in the hopes that it will help out some poor husband type that may be desperately searching for a last minute holiday gift.

This list is ranked in order from beginner accessible, to the most advanced esoteric stuff you don’t really need (but is still cool to have). Or in other words, from easy to awesome. They’re all worth looking into. Click the links to get full details, I’m just here to hyperbolize!

1. Interchangeable Needle Set.
My dear husband, many moons ago, was an adorably clueless boyfriend. He knew nothing of my craft, but had sense enough to go to my favorite yarn shop and ask them what I might like. The nice lady there set him up with one of the best gifts I’ve ever received, the Denise Interchaneable Needle Set. This set has withstood years of abuse, and I can confidently endorse it’s value and quality.

2. Needle Roll. (Etsy is the place for this)
Do you often see your favorite knitter riffling through their needle collection like a crazy person, throwing long pointy things aside without regard to nearby eyeballs or kittens? This person may be afflicted by a disturbing state of disorganization that is disrupting your happy home! Don’t worry. I’ve got the solution: Get your lady an attractive needle roll and all will be well. Sunshine and crocheted flowers.

3. Double Pointed Needle Set (in a range of sizes).
 To the untrained eye, this item may look an awful lot like #1 on this list, but don’t be fooled. Both sets will end up saving your knitter hundreds of dollars, but this set will yield many more hats, mittens and gloves. So if you’d prefer to receive hand knitted gifts on the smaller side, go with this option. I’d recommend a mid-range of sizes (US 5 to US 11, perhaps).

4. Scale
Now here’s a multifunctional tool that’s fun for everyone! A scale is useful for any knitter, especially if your recipient meets any of the following criteria: 1. She is meticulous. 2. She is not a robot with extra special sensors in her hands. 3. Or, most likely, if she’s got an unusually large stash of half used balls of yarn. A scale can help her figure out how much yarn she’ll need for her projects. My husband, Brian, knows that I’ve been touched with a bit of inspiration when the scale comes out and my stash erupts all over the living room (sorry about that, hun!) Another cool thing about a scale is that it is useful in the kitchen, or in Brian’s case, for measuring home brewing ingredients (everyone wins!)

5.Yarn Swift.
Now this is some serious business! Aside from looking like the coolest thing that ever to happened to yarn, the swift will also improve your life! Has your knitter ever asked for your assistance in winding a ball of yarn? If she has, you know how boring holding that stupid loop of yarn can be. The yarn swift will make your hands obsolete, freeing you up for much more important things, like head scratching and nose picking.

6. Ball Winder.
The ball winder, like the yarn swift, is another super cool fast moving gadget. Be warned though, the ball winder is almost useless without a swift, so either get them together (advisable), or just go for the swift if your knitter doesn’t already have one. Both of these gifts are perfect for the zealot knitter types that have really latched on to the craft and are never looking back! Continue reading →

People ask me all the time where I get the inspiration for my designs. I hesitate to reply with the same old cliche, “I’m inspired by everything around me,” because it’s so much more than that! A more appropriate answer would include everything I’ve seen, done, or heard of– ever.

I’m amazed sometimes how little bits of this and that from my past will creep into my work. Even if I didn’t correlate the relationship at the moment of inspiration, I think it’s important to try to recognize the connection. Knowing where my inspiration comes from, helps me better talk about my work.

When I started designing the collection for my knitscene feature (pictured above), I didn’t think about a source of inspiration. I just started to draw. Looking back with a little perspective, it’s plain for me to see that this collection draws inspiration in part from the bold design aesthetics of Navajo rugs and Native American pottery. Thinking about this, I realize that these strong geometric and linear motifs have been present in much of my work, often with an added vintage flair.

Being from Oklahoma, it was an easy family vacation to drive out to New Mexico. My parents began collecting Navajo rugs and Native American pottery on our trips. I remember visiting the rug shops in the outskirts of Santa Fe and Taos. The rooms had that New Mexico smell; pinion or cedar or something woodsy like that, mixed with that dusty old wool scent. I’d walk through the aisles, grazing my hands along the waist high stacks of rugs, feeling the channels of coarse wool under my fingertips.

This is my adorable mother, posing with a painted portrait of me as a child by artist Kathleen Jardine. You can see in the scene she chose to include part of her rug and pottery collection. Also interesting to note, I’m seated in a chair that was designed by my father, cutting out hand-drawn paper dolls.

These are a few pieces from my miniature pot collection. As a child, my parents encouraged this odd little hobby. I think this was mostly to keep me from totally losing-it on the long, torturous car rides in the back seat with my menace of a big brother (don’t worry, we’re friends now!).

If you think about these adorable little pots, they are not unlike a knitted hat, turned upside-down. Looking at my Arbuckle hat, it’s easy to see the relationship, don’t you think?

How could I possibly describe how excited I am? “Very” would be an understatement. “Extremely”, doesn’t quite cut it either. Something more like “titanically” or “colossally” seems more apropos. Okay, so I’m gargantuanly excited about Knitscene Magazine’s winter 2011 issue which profiles YOURS TRULY and features a 4 piece collection of my original designs! I’m still not sure that “gargantuan” aptly captures this, but oh well.

So the whole thing started about 9 months ago when I got an email from Lisa Shroyer, Knitscene’s editor, asking if maybe, possibly, would i perhaps be interested in such a thing. I remember reading this several times thinking, is this email really for me? Is this a prank orchestrated by international association of jerk-faces?  I quickly replied YES, before she had a chance to change her mind!

I think I squealed, I know I danced, and though it was a long time ago, I’m pretty sure I made jazz hands.

I immediately began designing. Here are some of the drawings I sent for my proposals:

I remember being so excited when I sent-in my proposals. I knew it would be a big job with a tight deadline, but I’m nothing if not enthusiastic and ambitious!  It is with equal enthusiasm that I share these designs with you now! The Canyon Mitts, The Zelda Cloche, The Vera Cardigan, and The Nora Sweater Dress.

With all those stripes, flattering design details, and contrasting color choices, I feel that this collection really captures my design aesthetic. I’m so proud of each piece!

I’ll be doing a blog post for each of the designs over the next week. Stay tuned for my design inspiration, and extra photos of each design. I’d love to hear what you all think, so please leave a comment in the section below!

Last week I published my latest pattern, the Georgina Cardigan.

I was inspired to design Georgina by my dear friend Sascha. I offered to knit something for her wedding, and she requested a lacy little bolero to wear with her dress. After a bit of discussion (Sascha is the opposite of a bride-zilla, perhaps a bride-chinchilla) she decided on something a bit more like a cardigan, with 3/4 sleeves and waist length with buttons.

As some of you may gave noticed, I am a bit of a cardiganaholic. It is an affliction that plagues many a knitter, and I am nearly defenseless to its powers. The moment the syllables card-i-guuuh left Sascha’s pretty little lips, I already knew what I wanted to do!

Here is one of the sketches I did when I was working out my idea:

I think it turned out pretty close to my idea!

We’ve just picked the yarn for Sascha’s Georgina. It’s Louisa Harding Yarns Willow Tweed in color 1. It is knitting up so gorgeously and will really compliment the antique lace in Sascha’s dress. I’ll be sure to share pictures after the big day.

The pattern is available for sale here at KnitDarling, and on Ravelry. I’d love to hear what you think, so please leave a comment below!

Look at what hand-made cuteness I got in the mail this week:

(Card and friendship bracelet made by my awesome sister-in-law, Susannah)

Multiple Choice Question: How adorable is Susannah?

A.  Cuter than a puppy wearing a bow-tie sitting in an upside-down top-hat?

B. More darling than a teddybear wearing a pink dress carrying a parasol?

C. Sweeter than a caramel covered, powdered-sugar dusted, doughnut eaten in the sunshine?

Answer: All of the above! (Thanks so much, Susannah!) You can envy more of Susannah’s  work and bask in her stunning style at her blog, My Grammer of Ornament.

In other news, this exciting little package also came in the mail this week. What’s in there has been absolutely dominating my weekend (in the most delightful way, of course):

I won’t reveal its contents, but I will say that you should be on the lookout for my next delicious wooly design in the upcoming Wool People 2!

Wow, what a busy week! So much has happened that I don’t even know where to start.

Last Thursday my husband and I went to San Juan, Puerto Rico for our first ever beach vacation. That same day I released my newest pattern, the Georgina Cardigan. Also this week, my feature spread in Knitscene magazine came out! I’ll have more on both of those later. I also visited the Lion Brand Yarn Studio where I got a personal tour of the company’s entire line.

I didn’t get much knitting done in Puerto Rico. Being a beach babe and a knit darling don’t really go together, but I did manage to fit in a few stitches!