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)

I can't believe how much money we have raised for Hurricane Sandy relief in just one week. In this very short time, we have raised almost $800 with sales from my Caring Cowl knitting pattern! Though my fundraiser continues, I am donating this amount to the Red Cross now to help those in immediate need.

This fundraiser has far exceeded my expectations, and all due to my awesome fans here at KnitDarling.com. I never could have reached so many people without your help. Nice work guys; I really appreciate you!

There are many people still in need, so my fundraiser (as well as my giveaway) will continue until the end of the year. Check back for updates!

From now until the end of the year, I will donate all proceeds from my pattern, The Caring Cowl, to the Red Cross to benefit Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. In addition, if you help me spread the word, I will send you a free pattern of your choosing (any from my Rav Store). *details at the end.

[caption id="attachment1713" align="alignnone" width="580" caption="The Caring Cowl is a super quick fun knit that is perfect for gifting. The pattern is easy enough for beginners, but still manages to be entertaining, not to mention ultra hip!"]<a href="//s3.amazonaws.com/knitdarling/attachments/367/original/Newcowlmedium2-KD.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1713 " title="Newcowlmedium2-KD" src="https://knitdarling.s3.amazonaws.com/attachments/367/blog/Newcowl_medium2-KD.jpg" />[/caption]

As you all know, I live in Brooklyn and work in Manhattan. The last week has been surreal. Last Sunday (one week ago) we were gathering supplies, and hoping for the best. The weathermen stopped using the cute nickname "Frankenstorm" and starting calling Hurricane Sandy the "storm of the century". I actually saw an Oklahoma "storm-chaser" on TV who traveled to NYC for what he thought would be a storm on the scale of Hurricane Katrina. People living in "Flood Zone A" areas were being asked to evacuate (just a few blocks away from our apartment). This was terrifying.

Honestly, my experience being in the hurricane was not that bad. Our lights flickered quite a bit, but I still managed to get a lot of knitting done. We lost television reception and internet, so we played board games and made up a new cocktail recipe. We stayed up late, and slept-in the next morning.

We faired pretty well in this neighborhood of Brooklyn, but it would be 3 more days before we made contact with my parents who live in lower Manhattan. I probably called them 100 times. I was sick with worry. Finally on Wednesday, they showed up on our doorstep, haggard and with all their luggage in tow. They had been in the dark for days, both literally and figuratively. We showed them all the devastating pictures coming in from Breezy Point and Atlantic City, and our hearts were broken, but at least we were together. They stayed with us until today, when their power was restored at their apartment.

Thanks to everyone for your kind words of support. Everything turned out okay for us, so it is now time to turn our compassion outward towards the folks who have really been affected.

** Please help me spread the word about my fundraiser! If you tweet, post on Facebook, or include a link to Caring Cowl or this post on your blog, I would love to send you a free pattern from my Ravelry Store. All you have to do is comment below with your pattern choice and include a link to your mention. Thanks again!

Interweave Knits just came out with a new ebook, and my Chivalry Mitts are on the cover! The ebook is a collection of 5 color-work patterns that would all make great gifts. It also includes an interesting article about color theory, where Beverly Roberts explains the concept of color blending, a technique that uses two different colors of yarn held together for interesting visual effects.

check out my paintings), and now work as a printed textile designer, so I think a lot about color. I haven't tried the technique of blending two colors of yarn, but I'm eying my stash right now getting ideas!

In fact, my Chivalry Mitts design was inspired by the colors of yarn I had in my stash. One time, I went a little nuts and ordered like 10 different colors of Knit Picks Palette yarn. I was trying to choose yarn for my Broccus Gloves design, and just kept hitting the "add to cart" button. When the order came, I lined up all the balls on my coffee table to see what two colors would work best. I remember how bright and cheerful that Caribbean Blue looked next the Raspberry Heather. Though it wasn't right for the design I was working on, I just knew I had to do something with that combo.

I was delighted to see that Interweave Knits chose my design for the cover of this ebook! This design was one of my first to be published. I submitted it in response to a call for entries for Knitscene Magazine. I remember being so nervous that my package wouldn't make it to Colorado by the due date. The design is customizable and includes an alphabet for you to fill-in what ever initials or symbols you want on the thumb gussets. I was afraid that the magazine wouldn't go for that kind of thing, but it was worth a try! I was over the moon when I found out it had been accepted to Interweave Knits Gifts Magazine!

The ebook is available for purchase on the Interweave Store. The Chivalry Mitts pattern is still also available for purchase individually here.

Aside from all my knitting shenanigans, I've been busy pouring my heart and soul into my own little start-up called CharitySub.org. We've grown steadily since our January launch, and are now giving away almost $2K every month, which feels awesome!

For those that don't know, the whole idea is that if everyone in our group gives just $5 each, collectively we can make a big impact for a charity that could really use a little extra help. We start over every month with a new cause, and 3 great organizations.

It's all possible through the power of "collective giving", so the more members we get, the bigger our impact can be. This month, I'm making a big push to grow our membership base, and I'd like you all to sign up!

Check out this fun stop-motion video I made with my animator buddy, Jake Armstrong:

If you're not sure that you can afford $60 a year, I understand, but before you decide let me sell you on it a little more:

1. It's a little tiny, totally hassle-free and easy thing that makes you feel really good every month.
2. You can pick which charity gets 100% of your donation, or if you're too busy, we will divide it up among the three.
3. You'll get to learn about 12 important causes, and 36 awesome organizations every year, (and we won't give out your email address to anyone)

PLUS, If you sign-up and comment on this post with your member number, I'll send you a free pattern of your choice from my Ravelry Store!

So go ahead and sign-up! It's so easy to make a big difference. AND I would love you forever.

My very talented and adorable seamstress friend, Chris Bobin, just got back from a trip to England. While she was there she visited the Imperial War Museum and picked up these interesting post card versions of old wartime prints asking women to lend a hand.

Chris gave me the one on the left, and she kept the one on the right (appropriately).  Don't you just love the little button feet and the thimble hat on that guy? And that tangle of yarn is a sight I'm pretty familiar with.

They are both a really interesting look into England's dramatic WWII history. They are so lighthearted and whimsical. It's hard to imagine how terrifying those times must have really been.

Just a quick note today, because I have really big news. I just signed a book contract with Interweave Press! My book is scheduled for release in the fall of 2014, and will be a collection of about 20 all new garments and accessory designs. I'm so excited!

My husband snapped a pic of me signing the contract. There's nothing like legal forms and champagne!

Unfortunately for my blog, I am unable to talk much about the new designs until the book is released. I'm going to try to make up for it though, with a new series of blog posts that I'm calling "5 Things". With each post, I'll talk about 5 things you should know about a variety of knitting topics and techniques. Also, to keep things lively, I am inviting some guest bloggers to contribute some very special posts (I'm looking at you, Mom!)

My newest design, The Reine Cardigan, was just released in Brooklyn Tweed's third Wool People Collection! Yay!

The design has a classic silhouette and interesting details. I used Brooklyn Tweed's Loft, which is a fingering weight yarn, at a larger gauge to make the cardigan light and airy - perfect for summer.

The design features a reversible cable edging, slanted patch pockets, and garter stitch details. The main part of the cardigan is knitted in one flat piece from the bottom up, then the sleeves are worked circularly from the top down. There is one seam that runs across the back of the shoulder which adds structure, preventing the shoulders from sagging. (more details & pictures here)

My goal with this design was to make a really wearable cardigan. The challenge is that wearable can often mean ordinary. I used special details like a reversible cable edging, slanted patch pockets, and garter stitch stripes to bring this design to the next level.

I originally submitted this design along, with a couple of others, when I was invited to contribute to Wool People Volume 2. Brooklyn Tweed decided to use my Arrowhead Mittens for that collection, but asked me to hold the other two designs to potentially use in their upcoming WP3. It's hard to just sit on designs without commitment, but Reine was just so perfect for BT's new Loft yarn, that I was happy to wait. I ended up developing the third design submission for an upcoming book. I'll have more on that later!

It's always hard putting my samples in the mail, but this one was particularly difficult to let go of. Reine is such a delightful thing to wear. It goes with almost everything and it's sure to be in heavy wardrobe rotation, just as soon as I get my sample back. Here's a cool picture from BT's blog showing two ways to wear the cardigan (with positive or negative ease).

It was such an honor being asked to contribute a third time to BT's Wool People collection. Of the three, this is definitely my favorite. I'd love to hear what you all think too, so please leave a comment below!

I'm so excited because my latest pattern, God's Eye Mitts, was just released in the new special accessories issue of Knitscene Magazine. The design features a funky asymmetrical diamond color-work motif, a cute little button tab, and striped garter stitch edging.

I feel like I made these FOREVER ago. I sent them off to Knitscene way back in December. Now, in the heat of the summer, they seem a little funny. I know I'm really going to love these come fall, though. Last year, I wore my Canyon Mitts all through fall, my Juris Mitts on the coldest days of winter, and my Mrs. Myrtle Mitts through the spring. I still occasionally wear a pair of mitts in my freezing cold office!

The diamond pattern reminded me of the god's eyes I used to make when I was a kid. That craft project was probably my first introduction to yarn, so God's Eye seemed an appropriate title, especially knowing the mythology around the symbol.

For the Huichol peoples of western Mexico, the God's Eye is symbolic of the power of seeing and understanding that which is unknown and unknowable, The Mystery. -Wikipedia

I'd love to hear what you all think about this new design. Drop me a note in the comments section below!

Check out the God's Eye Mitts pattern page here on Knit Darling for more info.