I just was over at Knitting Babes checking out some old posts, and I stumbled upon this amazing song that I thought we all could enjoy!

HILLARIOUS

Sweaters aren't really what they used to be, I guess. It might be less to do with the sweater, and more to do with the undergarments. Thoughts?

My knitting blog and designer buddy, Allyson Dykhuizen, just published the inaugural issue of her highly anticipated and novel subscription ebook: Holla Knits. Allyson's design sense is right in line with my own so I jumped at the opportunity to review the collection. An $18 subscription will get you 4 issues, each with 6 patterns from various independent designers. Brilliant, and ambitious, I know!

This first ebook has a great quirky attitude featuring summery designs with contemporary silhouettes and funky graphic design. Holla Knit's 39 full color pages are filled with great photography, designer bios, and of course beautifully laid out patterns for the young hip knitter in us all. Check below for details about the awesome giveaway that I've arranged with Allyson.

1. Umbre Lovre: Design by Allyson Dykhuizen
When I first laid eyes on this off the shoulder design, I thought, now here's something I'd love to knit! It features so many of my favorite thing: STRIPES! The design also features a current silhouette that isn't featured much in magazines or books, and isn't overly fussy with unnecessary details. Despite the seemingly simple construction of this summery top, there's a lot to hold a knitters interest here. Also, using FOUR colors, you could really have some fun at the yarn shop! What colors would you choose?

2. Romp Around the Clock: Design by Lilith Ubbelohde
This is such an awesome and unusual piece. The strapless romper design has a lot of interest around the hips adding sweet feminine detailing to an area that some of us might otherwise be a little shy about. I would definitely rock one of these rompers in the spring time in Brooklyn! I love it with a blazer, but I'd also wear a long necklace or maybe a belt slung around the hips. How would you wear it?

3. Put a Belt On It: Design by Allyson Dykhuizen
This might be my favorite design in the collection. I've been dreaming of knitting a vest for like 2 years, but just haven't gotten it together to do so. This design has a lot going on: cable panels on the back add interest, and I'm always a sucker for multi-directional knitting. 

4. Finishing School: Design by Katie Canavan
Finishing School is a sleeveless top with tailored details and a retro feel. Reminiscent of the collar on a US Navy uniform, the striking lines on this top make this an eye catching project that is sure to turn heads. I love the curved hem and contrasting colored details. It has a really interesting construction, knitted from the front hem, up over the shoulders, and worked back down to the back hem. Wouldn't this be a super cute trendy summer shirt in mint green with navy details?

5. In a While Crocodile: Design by Allyson Dykhuizen
This is a great basic raglan style tee with some interesting crocheted details on the sleeves that add depth and texture to this otherwise simple garment. The design features knitted hems, waist shaping, and delicate purl stripes on the sleeves. This a great base pattern with so many possibilities for further embellishment. For instance, wouldn't it be adorable with a button tab at the collar, or in a tunic length, or in stripes? What would you add to this pattern to make it your own?

6. Holla Back Tank: Design by Emma Welford.
It's another clean simple garment from the front, but turn around and surprise, LACE! What a super functional piece for the summer months.  It's hard to believe that this is the first garment pattern from this new designer. I'm excited to see what Emma comes up with next!

Get a subscription (a steal at $18/year) or the individual patterns ($6 per) at the Holla Knits shop now.

Wait, there's GIVEAWAY too!
Tell me which is your favorite design from the Holla Knits collection in the comments section of this post, for your chance to win that pattern. But WAIT, there's MORE! If you tweet about your favorite pattern @alexiswinslow and @sweatshopoflove you'll be entered too. So don't be shy; I love to hear what you think!

CONTEST ENDS ON MONDAY, APRIL 30th

Last Fall, while my dear friend Sascha was planning her wedding, I offered to make her something as a gift. As I mentioned in an older post, she requested that I knit a fancy little bolero to go with her wedding dress. I got to work, and designed the Georgina Cardigan (pattern sold here). Sascha requested a few modifications to the original design, such as a shorter length, an open front with a daintier collar, and tighter fitting sleeves.

Getting this project together was so much fun! Before one of Sascha's dress fittings, I stopped into La Casita Yarn Shop and bought one skein of any kind of yarn that I thought might work. Sascha picked her favorite, and I exchanged all the rejects for this DELICIOUS PILE OF AWESOME!

Louisa Harding Willow Tweed is as beautiful knitted up as it is in the skein. It's a much finer yarn than the Berroco Ultra Alpaca that I originally designed Georgina with. I thought this choice would compliment the antique lace in Sascha's wedding dress nicely.

This is such a fun pattern to knit, I could hardly put it down! I even worked on it while on vacation. It flew off my needles, taking just a few weeks to complete. I was so nervous when Sascha tried it on for the first time!

It all worked out though. Doesn't Sascha looks so pretty?!

This is moments before the wedding. I have no idea what I'm doing there. Pre-wedding massage, perhaps?

Awww....

Double Awww.... (awww...)

It was such an honor to create something for Sascha, someone who is so special to me, to wear on her wedding day.

Did you wear something handmade on your big day? Did you make it yourself? Was it a gift, or borrowed? I thought it would be a good idea to make my own wedding dress. I was obviously out of my mind!

Delancey Cardigan pattern in five new plus sizes (yay!). I've posted it for sale here at knitdarling and on my Ravelry page.

I was inspired to do this because of the upcoming knit-along sponsored by Allyson Dykhuizen at her Sweat Shop of Love blog. A nice lady who wanted to participate wrote me to see if I could help her modify the pattern to a plus size. I thought I'd do one better!

I'm publishing this pattern separately for several reasons. Most importantly, because it's not just the same pattern in bigger sizes. I've done some research on grading for plus sizes, and have learned that they work differently than their smaller counterparts. While the end result will look just like the original Delancey, the instructions are different, and the fit is intended to flatter a different type of body.

I hope to get some pictures soon of one of the plus sizes, so please stay tuned for that!

I'm so curious, what are some of your favorite plus size designs/designers? What do you look for in a plus size pattern that some designers just don't seem to get? I'd love to hear your opinions, so please leave a comment below!

 

I am so happy to introduce my latest pattern, the Arrowhead Mittens, that were just released in Brooklyn Tweed's "Wool People Volume 2" Collection!

The pattern features a bold zig-zag and arrow color-work design that is worked from a chart, and an unusual twisted garter stitch hem that looks something like a cable, but a bit softer. Both design elements make for a unique look that is both interesting to knit, and is sure to inspire compliments.

They were a lot of fun to design, and even more fun to knit. Even though I used size 1 needles, I couldn't believe how fast they knitted up (done in under a week).

The pattern, selling for $6, is available on Ravelry, or through Brooklyn Tweed's Website. I've posted some of their pictures on Knit Darling here.

I love the strong contrasting colors in this sample, because they really show off the design. I used a beautiful pinkish grey called Postcard, and a nice dark brown called Pumpernickle in the Brooklyn Tweed Loft yarn.  I think the mittens would also look great using a neutral color for the background and an intensely colored bright yarn for the contrast. Maybe a light tweedy taupe with a bright turquoise or burnt orange. What colors would you pick for your arrowhead mittens?

You may have noticed a few weeks ago that I slipped in a couple new patterns; The Juris Mitts and the Tilt Cowl were released in the new Interweave Knits Accessories magazine.
You can purchase and download this issue here.

The Juris Mitts pattern is for a basic uni-sex pair of convertible mittens with tipless gloves. The Mittens have gotten a great response and have been gaining popularity on Ravelry. It’s so neat to see everyone’s project pictures!

I love this pattern so much, that I made myself a pair. It’s been absolutely frigid in New York, so needless to say, these mittens are my new favorite thing! I left the tip off of the right thumb so I could still use my iphone, though having my thumb out all the time has been amazingly useful for all sorts of things. For example, just check out this super awesome thumbs up I am able to achieve.

I originally made these gloves in secret as a Christmas gift for my husband. I started them when I was picked to serve on a jury. The trial lasted for more than two weeks so I had the perfect opportunity to knit under the radar! Below are the original gloves that I made for him:

My other pattern in the magazine, the Tilt Cowl, is another must-have basic that would make a great easy gift for a guy or a girl.

I also originally made this for my husband. He's not a big fan of scarves, which would be absolutely heartbreaking for many knitters. Despite his egregious misjudgment of neckwear, like any good knitter, I insisted that he needed something to keep him warm. After all, he does ride his bike to work everyday, even in January.  This cowl seemed like a good solution for his neck coldness issues. I'm happy to say that he does actually wear it.

I’d love to hear what you all think. Does your husband think scarves are sissy too? Please leave a comment in the section below!

Thanks to everyone who made it out to my trunk show & runway event at Anty Shanty vintage shop last week. With a packed house (standing room only, people) I think the event was a huge success! Something went wrong with my camera, but fortunately my brother and SIL got some really fantastic shots. Thanks a mil' Nathan & Susannah!

[caption id="attachment_1419" align="alignnone" width="580" caption="Me & Julia, co-owner of Anty Shanty, going over some final details before the show"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment1422" align="alignnone" width="580" caption="This is looking down the runway right before the show began. You can see me on the right standing with a microphone, trying not to seem nervous!"]<a href="//s3.amazonaws.com/knitdarling/attachments/329/original/RunwayAnnouncer.jpg">[/caption]

Julia was an absolute delight to work with. She put together 16 unique looks for the models, pairing my hand-knitted samples with pieces from her shop. Here are some of my favorites:

[caption id="attachment_1420" align="alignnone" width="580" caption="From left to right: Vera Cardigan, Bergen Street Cardigan, and Nora Sweater Dress"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1421" align="alignnone" width="580" caption="From left to right: Miss Myrtle Mitts, Delancey Cardigan, and Georgina Cardigan"][/caption]

A lot of my designs are inspired by vintage clothing, so everything worked together really well. Julia, who went to school at F.I.T in New York, focused on details in my designs and elaborated on them with the dresses and accessories she chose. Each look was stunning. I was very impressed!

Having never done anything like this before, I really didn't know what to expect. The event ended up being so much fun, and I even sold some patterns! I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Thanks again to Julia and her husband Cory (who dj'd the show), all the models and make-up artists, and especially to Barb Hill who had the idea. Also I had a lot of help from my darling husband Brian, and his darling mother Kathe, so thanks to you guys as well.

[caption id="attachment1423" align="alignnone" width="580" caption="Me, Barb Hill, and my mother-in-law Kathe after the show"]<a href="//s3.amazonaws.com/knitdarling/attachments/330/original/TheGirls.jpg">[/caption]

I spent New Year's Eve celebrating not only the beginning of 2012, but also the launch of a new web site, CharitySub.org. It's a new philanthropy site that my husband and I, along with our friends Jim and Amy, have been building for the last 6 months. Though this is a knitting blog, it behooves me to tell you all about this new project. Besides just being super cool, we need all the help we can get to spread the word!

CharitySub is basically a subscription for giving. Every month, we pick a new cause and three great charities working for that cause. As a subscriber, you donate $5 every month to one of these charities, that you choose. We're making it super easy to decide who gets you donation by breaking down the facts in videos, graphs, and interesting write-ups.

Here's a stop motion video we made to explain the site with my good buddy Jake Armstrong. Jake is incredibly talented, and we thank him so much!

Those are my hands on the bottom!

Here's a video we made for our featured cause in January, childhood obesity, with our buddies at Plywood Pictures.

We've been pouring our hearts into this project, and now that it's live, I couldn't be prouder! Please go check it out, and for goodness sake, sign-up!

You can also help us out by liking CharitySub on Facebook, tweeting, or blogging about us. Many thanks to all our supporters!

Also, I'd love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment below.

Wednesday evening, (December 28, 6-9pm) I'll be in Norman, Oklahoma debuting my collection of individual printed knitting patterns for sale at a unique vintage fashion show event. If you're in the area, head on down to the coolest vintage shop this side of the Canadian River, Anty Shanty (318 E. Main St.), who along with L&B Yarn Company , will be hosting a trunk show and runway event featuring my designs.

The show will include 9 designs from Knitdarling.com as well as the original samples from Knitscene Magazine's "The Next Big Thing" feature collection, and two brand new pieces from Interweave Knits' special Accessories issue. Julia Gingerich, expert fashion stylist and owner of Anty Shanty Vintage, is putting together more than a dozen looks using my designs and pieces from her own vintage collection. The show is sure to dazzle, and should be a fun time even if you're not a knitter!

I'm so excited about this show, because I love seeing my designs reinterpreted through someone else's eyes. I think Julia's collection of vintage clothing is a great match for my design aesthetic, as many of my pieces have a bit of vintage flair.

The yarn mavens at L&B Yarn Shop have put together a beautiful selection of yarns for the show as well. Come see what these super talented ladies have picked out especially for my designs. I'm sure you'll be impressed!

If you're in the area, this event is a MUST! I'll be there wearing some of my hand-knits, and I encourage you to do so as well. Better yet, if you've knitted one of my designs before, wear that, and don't be too shy to come by and say hi!

 

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!<!--more-->

7. Big Heavy Old-Man Calculator.
I've always had a special love for calculators. It is most certainly a little bit of my inner mathlete shining through. Earlier this year, I wore out my calculator, and thought I could get by with the calculator app on my iPhone. WRONG! How annoying is it to always be unlocking your calculator every minute? Admittedly, this isn't just for any knitter. It is one reserved for the few dorky knitter nerds like me that see every creative challenge as just another math problem to be solved. This is only appropriate for the budding designer types, if she's that, she'll love you forever when you get this for her!

8. Blocking Wires and Board.
These are super useful, and should probably be a little higher on this list. Actually, I have a little confession about this. I've never owned these items, but really REALLY want them. I'm adding this to my list in the hopes that someone will buy them for me this Christmas (hint, hint, Brian!).

Gift Certificate to a Local Yarn Shop.
When in doubt, a little mad money to spend (guilt free) on some yarn is NEVER a bad idea. If she's like me, the yarn shop is her favorite place, and she'd love any excuse to spend some time there. Though this is only a gift certificate, it is still extremely thoughtful, and she will appreciate that you're supporting her hobby.

10. Massage. The best gift of all! Your knitter works so hard to produce beautiful hand-made gifts. These things are made with care for people that probably don't even know or appreciate that she spent an entire weekend making a tiny little hat, or weeks of her free time on that fuzzy scarf. She's stiff and could use a little pampering, so go ahead and treat her to something she could really use!

Now, don't I look happy with my new calculator?!