One year ago I had a deadline and some serious doubts. Between working a full time job, running Charitysub.org, and maintaining a happy marriage, I was already busy. Fitting even one more thing into my life seemed impossible. But when I was offered the opportunity to author my very own book, I just had to figure it out. This was an opportunity of a lifetime after all!

One very difficult year later, I am glad to report that I'm still standing. I just packed up all my samples and sent my completed manuscript to my editor. I feel light as a feather! I couldn't be more excited about the collection, and can hardly wait for its release. If you want updates about the release of the book and my upcoming appearances, please sign up for my newsletter.

Over the past year I had a lot of time to think about the direction I want to take KnitDarling. Now that I have all this free time, I feel energized and ready for my next big project. I already have some big changes in the works. I'm taking a little break from pattern design to focus on a shiny new website design. I am also creating a ton of new video content which I am incorporating into my existing patterns. The videos will be mostly technique tutorials as well as some demonstrations of my designs so you can see how they really look on a person. I'm curious if you have any opinions about knitting videos, or maybe is there something that you haven't seen that you'd like me to cover?

In addition to that, I'm taking some time for a few personal craft projects. I love doing hand embroidery, and finally have a little time to devote to it. When I finish this little green piece I'm going to sew it into a small zippered pouch purse. If that turns out well, I'm going to give it to a friend as a thank-you gift.

I'm also working on my first ever pieced quilt. I was at The City Quilter in Manhattan shopping for work, and saw some super cute lion and cub coordinating quilt prints that I just couldn't resist. It's going to be a gift for my adorable 3 month old nephew. I purchased some light blue flannel for the backing, and some thin cotton batting for the fill. I haven't decided if I'm going to hand quilt it, or just do try to do it on my machine. Do any of you quilters out there have any tips for a novice?

I literally squealed when I opened up a package last night that contained Ann Budd's new book Scarf Style 2, because they chose my design to feature on the cover. I was so surprised! I've contributed a number of designs to a few major publications, but this is my very first cover.

This was the second squealing event that has taken place due to this publication, the first of which occurred embarrassingly on the street outside of a subway station. The squeal was in reaction to an email I received from the Author Ann Budd.

You see, I can't shake the feeling that my success as a hand knitting pattern designer is some kind of silly fantasy that I'm imagining in my head. When I received an email from THE Ann Budd asking me to contribute a design to her new book, it seemed like maybe a mistake, or perhaps I was dreaming, or maybe it wasn't actually THE Ann Budd, just some ordinary NON-knitting-all-star Ann Budd.

In any case, my vocal cords are quite reactionary, and as it turns out so are my legs, because on both occations I jumped up and down and squealed like silly little girl. I was so excited last night that I couldn't even be bothered to pull out a chair. I plopped down on the ground right where I stood to examine the book cover to cover.

I actually have two cowl designs in the book, Cross Timbers and Eufaula.
Eufaula, the cowl pictured on the cover, is one of those long
luxurious loops that can be wrapped around in a number of ways. I
chose a delicious alpaca yarn for the design to give the cowl just the
right amount of fluffy drape to go with the textured chevron welted
stitch pattern.

The other design, the cross timbers cowl, is a color work gator type
cowl. The geometric fair Isle pattern was so much fun to knit. In fact, I had so much fun knitting it, that I couldn't stop myself from knitting the whole thing up in one day!

Having already scoured the book, i can tell you that its chock full of
really great patterns.  My friend Melissa Wehrle also contributed
a pattern, the Shadow Play Scarf. She's a very talented designer, and I
strongly encourage you to check out her new book Metropolitan Knits
and her blog at Neoknits.com.

[caption id="attachment_2049" align="alignnone" width="580"] Shadow Play by Melissa Wehrle (sorry for the terrible picture of a picture!)[/caption]

I'd love to hear what you think of the book and my new designs. Please
leave a comment below to tell me what you think.

pinterest-62378

I've been working so hard writing my own book that I neglected to announce some really exciting news: the release of my Cimarron Shawl pattern in the book Free Spirit Shawls (Interweave Press 2013). The pattern is also included in the new Knitscene Accessories 2013 magazine, which just hit the newsstands a few weeks ago. This is so exciting because I've never been in a full length pattern book before. I was extra delighted to see they put a detail of my design on the spine of the book.Lisa Shroyer, includes 20 patterns that run the gamut of shawl design. Apart from the super cool patterns, the book also has some great extra sections that explain the various types of shawl constructions, teach useful techniques, and demonstrate shawl styling tips.

Cimarron is a multicolor triangular design that uses chevron shaping to create a zig-zagging pattern. The stripes of color are accentuated by the use of garter stitch ridges throughout. I love stripes but hate all the weaving-in of ends they require, so I eliminated all that extra work by incorporating the ends into the shawl's fringed tassel edging. I really felt like I was getting away with something when I finished this sample and there were no ends to weave in.

This shawl is really fun to wear, and even more fun to knit. It begins at the lower tip, and expands outward with the addition of each color section. I think it would also look really cool if the contrasting stripes where done in all different colors. This could also be a great stash-busting project, if you had bits of multiple colors from similar yarn weights laying around.

What colors would you use? If I made another, I think I would use a charcoal gray background color, with contrasting stripes in minty green and light silvery gray, or maybe something with a little sparkle.

 

Below are 5 tips for weaving in ends on your hand knits that are beyond a simple "how-to"  (here's my "how-to" video, if you're looking for that). Everyone does it a little differently, and there are probably 100 different techniques. My favorite way is to thread the end onto a yarn needle and use the duplicate stitch on the wrong-side, but obviously there are many variables that effect the way I do this and contribute to the success of the outcome.

 

1. Do a little planning. With garments that involve seaming, you can easily hide ends in the selvage, stitching up along the edge then backstitching a little to secure the end. For this reason, it's best to join new yarn at the beginning of a row. Try to pay attention to the amount of yarn that is left as you begin each new row. Also, if you will be sewing a seam, you can strategically place a very long end and use it for seaming, which eliminates two extra ends, and leads to the next tip.

2. Leave long tails. whether it's at the beginning middle or end of a row, you always want to leave enough of a tail to thread one of those giant yarn needles, plus a few extra inches. 8 inches is usually enough. Use your long tails to attach embellishments, sew seams or for closing the top of a hat.

3. Block your knits after weaving to smooth everything out.  It's not always easy to weave ends into smooth fabric textures. Some of your stitches might end up looking a bit distorted but a little blocking can work wonders. Wet-blocking will yield the best results. I cannot stress the importance of blocking enough.

4. Split plies for bulky yarn. This is one of my favorite tips. If you are using a bulky weight yarn, it can be difficult to hide your ends. If your yarn is plied, you can split the plies apart and weave them in separately. Similarly, you can grade, or taper the yarn as you weave it, trimming the plies as you go.

5. Fake the duplicate stitch by doubling your yarn when you join a new
ball. This is a great time saving technique for finer yarns, and especially useful when working in the round. When you have about 10" left on your ball of yarn, join the new ball leaving about a 6" tail. Work 8 stitches holding the old and new yarn together, then drop the old yarn and continue the round (drop the ends on the backside). On the next row, work the doubled stitches normally. When it comes time to weave in these ends, all you need to do is trim them close. For extra security, I usually run the tail through a few purl bumps to keep the ends from creeping out on the right side.

BONUS TIP: SPLICING
Sometimes it is possible to avoid weaving in ends by splicing the ends of two strands together. This works best with especially fuzzy yarns that are able to felt.

 

TO KNOT, OR NOT TO KNOT
Someone recently asked me why they shouldn't just tie a knot, trim the ends, and call it a day.

Knots aren't terrible, but they don't always stay tied and can be uncomfortable to the wearer. Also, they have a tendency to float to the right side. Knitted fabric can be very fluid, especially if you're using slippery yarn.  Over time, the knot can pull and distort the stitches around it. If you weave in your ends, a knot is totally unnecessary.

SPECIAL CASES
Cotton yarn- It's especially difficult to hide the ends of cotton yarn, but you can almost always split the plies as in tip #4 and get a nice looking result.
Chunky Single ply yarn- You might still be able to divide the ply in two, but if not, you can weave the end in tightly, trim the end at a long angle to taper it, and then stretch the fabric to pull the end into the stitches. Some people actually secure the ends of very chunky yarn with sewing thread and a sharp needle. I've never had cause to try this, but it's worth mentioning.

Do you have any little tricks you’ve picked up along the way? I’d love to hear them in the comments below.

This is part of my ongoing “5 tips” series. Future topics will be swatches, and substituting yarn, and reading a pattern. Please let me if there is another topic you would like to see me write about.

I was so excited to learn last week that Etsy finally added automatic digital delivery as an option for sellers. I've been waiting for this for years! As soon as I heard, I immediately went over to etsy, and revamped my defunct shop that I set up back in 2010.

I always loved the idea of selling on etsy, but before they added digital delivery, it just wasn't a practical option for selling my pattern pdf's. I tried it for a while, and eventually gave up because it was too much to keep track of the orders. I'm really excited about my new and improved Knit Darling Etsy store though, so I'm having a sale to kick things off!

The Sale:
I'd love for you all to come visit my new shop and help me promote it! To show my gratitude for all my wonderful fans, I'm offering my readers a discount.  For a limited time only, get any of my patterns sold on Etsy for 30% off with this coupon code: KNIT30

Feel free to tweet, post, or holler at you neighbor about it! Thanks so much for your help.

KnitDarling patterns finally on Etsy! RT to help me spread the word and get 30% off with coupon code: KNIT30 etsy.com/shop/KnitDarli…

— Alexis Winslow (@alexiswinslow) April 23, 2013

 

The simplest definition of "blocking" is the application of moisture to your hand knits to effect some kind of change. The process might also include heat, steaming, and stretching, but at the core, it's just wetting then drying. The most important thing to know is that blocking will often result in a change of gauge and a smoother fabric texture.

Below are 5 tips that might not be obvious if you're new to the block (pun absolutely intended)

1. Block your swatches the same way you block your finished thing. Write down the gauge measurements before and after to establish a working gauge. This lets you know if you're on track as you knit your garment. I also like to use small swatches to try out different blocking techniques. If you're knitting with a superwash yarn, and you intend to wash and dry your finished thing in a machine, no blocking is necessary, but you should absolutely wash and dry your swatch to determine the correct gauge for your pattern.

2. Wait until its totally, completely, bone dry. If you try on a garment before its dry, you might accidentally stretch it out or deform all the shaping you did in the blocking process. Blocking sort of locks the stitches into place, but not until all the moisture evaporates.

3. Use a fan. Some fibers are very absorbent, and can take forever to dry. It's absolutely legal to speed the process by placing the piece you're blocking in front of a fan.

4. Block to your own measurements. Your knits become very malleable when they are wet. Use this as an opportunity to further tailor your garment. Use pins to shape and stretch areas that could use a little more room.

5. Use different blocking methods for different purposes. I use wet blocking for most everything, but sometimes all you need is a little bit of steam from your iron to get your stitches to lay flat. It's also possible to combine the two methods if you really want to stretch out your stitches, like maybe for a lacy shawl. Applying a little extra steam to something that you are wet-blocking seams to lock the stitches into place better. It should be noted that applying steam or heat to your fabric will drastically reduce it's elasticity, and shouldn't be used on areas like ribbing. If you never intend to wash your finished thing, a light spritzing of water from a spray-bottle and a few pins might be just the ticket.

Do you have any little tricks you've picked up along the way? I'd love to hear them in the comments below.

This is part of my ongoing "5 tips" series. Future topics will be weaving-in ends, swatches, and substituting yarn. I would love to know if there is another topic you would like to see me write about.

3 lucky winners will get a free pattern
Tweet and tell me which Winsome Knits design is your favorite for your chance to win a free pattern! Be sure to mention @alexiswinslow & @Knitpicks and if you're feeling particularly nice, please include a link back to knitdarling.com.  I'll announce three winners on Friday, February 22nd. Every tweet counts, so tweet often!

**UPDATE: Congratulations to the winners: @pdrite, @RegencyKnitter, and @carriejayknit! Thanks to everyone for helping me get the word out. I really loved hearing which pieces were your favorites. Be sure to keep an eye out for future give-aways. I've got a few things up my sleeve, well actually more than a few, if you count those loose ends I never weaved in!

Winsome Knits, my newest pattern collection,  was just released on The Knit Picks website. This collection has been almost a year in the making, and I couldn't be happier with how it all turned out.

an ebook format as well as in a full color beautifully printed soft cover book. Knit Picks is also offering digital versions of the individual patterns on their site.

I am really excited about all of the pieces in this collection. My goal was to make each design entertaining to knit. To achieve this, I incorporated motivating design elements like striping and unusual construction techniques. Also, some of the patterns are just plain quick and easy, and would make wonderful gifts.

Check out the rules for my Winsome Knits twitter contest for a chance to win a free pattern!

THE WINSOME KNITS COLLECTION

MOUNTAIN LAUREL EAR WARMER
This easy to knit ear warmer ties at the back, and features optional flower and leaf embellishments.



This design uses stripes to accentuate its unusual modular construction.


CARDIGAN
This cozy cardigan features a variety of interesting knit-purl textures and has a similar construction to turnstone.


CANOPUS MAGIC SCARF
This color blocked scarf transforms into a super cozy draped cowl or hood, and is right on trend.


ROSENDALE SLOUCHY HAT
This cute slouchy hat features a fun knit-purl stitch pattern that helps the hat slouch in an attractive way.


WESTFALIA TASSELED FRINGE SCARF
This surprisingly fun to knit lacy scarf would look great knitted in a variety of yarn weights.


I'd love to hear what everyone thinks about the collection! Please leave me a comment below. Also, I'm planning a contest with Winsome related prizes. So check back soon!

It's been pretty quiet around here at KnitDarling because I've been busy working away on some super awesome top-secret designs for my upcoming book. I'm so excited about each one, and it KILLS me that I can't share them with you.

With the "half deadline" for my book just around the corner, I have been knitting up a storm –like an F5 tornado type storm (you Okies know what I mean). I have to hand over 1/2 of my patterns along with the samples in less than a month. Since I also have a full time day job, I have had to adjust my schedule to fit in the mountain of extra work. I wake up early to knit with my morning coffee; my needles are in hand during my subway commute every day; I'm busy during my lunch break, and I'm usually stitching away until midnight or later every night. I'm not complaining; I'm just happy that I finally have an excuse for this behavior!

My darling husband has been very patient, but the other night after a marathon knitting session that went far past bed-time, I found this New Yorker cartoon placed on my pillow:

[caption id="attachment1755" align="alignnone" width="580" caption="(cartoon by Harry Bliss)"]<a href="http://www.condenaststore.com/-sp/Enough-New-Yorker-Cartoon-Printsi9345721_.htm">[/caption]

Do you think he's trying to tell me something? I'm thinking a vacation might be in order.

When is your favorite time to sneak some knitting in? I love to get up early before my husband to watch the sun-rise with some coffee and a lap full of yarn.

I finally finished all my Christmas shopping, so I’m going to reward myself with a long meandering blog post. If you (or someone you know, wink, wink) is still looking for a gift for the knitting inclined, you should check out my “Gift Guide for the Knitter In Your Life”.

stitch markers as a stocking stuffer. My darling husband recently confessed to irreverently vacuuming up any stitch markers he sees while cleaning. I’m happy he cleans, but his disdain for stitch markers raises some questions. This explains why I go through a couple packs of stitch markers every year. Sheesh!

I’m always curious about new knitting products. What would you add to my list?

While Christmas shopping on Smith Street in Brooklyn over the weekend, the window display of La Casita Yarn Shop caught my eye. Check this out: a tiny knitted version of Smith Street.

Here’s a photo of the street from Google Maps. Their attention to detail is incredible!

The only thing that's missing is Santa's sleigh on one of those rooftops :)

La Casita always has interesting window displays, so I usually walk on their side of the street to see what’s new. I’m lucky to have such a gem of a yarn shop so close to home! The ladies who work there are super friendly, AND they serve wine and cookies.
Yarn + Wine = Awesome (the unofficial motto of my knitting club)