Knitcircus

Guernsey Winner!

Okay, the random number generator says: 8, so that means Katie's our lucky winner! Please email me at: jaala@knitcircus.com and let me know where the postperson can find you and I'll do my best to get it out for you before the holiday sets in!

We're laying the groundwork for our move online a bit more every day, so today there's a new feature at the bottom of the blog (it's the only place it would fit)! Scroll down to let us know your email so we can tell you the very moment that Knitcircus goes live with our Spring Issue.

Take care and sleep well,

Jaala

Guernsey Literary Giveaway!

Thanks again to the generosity of Random House Audio for letting me give away a book! This wonderful story takes place in post-WWII London, told in letters between writer Juliet Ashton and a number of correspondents, all fascinating. She begins corresponding with a member of the Guernsey Literary...Society and becomes drawn in to the world of the island and its inhabitants. The "voices" in the novel are all engrossing and the audiobook is read by a number of different actors, bringing it to life.

You'll definitely know more about Guernsey than as the birthplace of an Aran-type sweater! Great to listen while knitting cables and bobbles for the holidays.

Please leave a comment to enter the drawing (you may ravmessage me: jaaladay if you aren't able to make typepad do your bidding...) This will be a quick one to get in before the holidays, so I'll use the Random Number thingamabob to choose a winner at 10 pm (central time) tomorrow/Tuesday.

Good luck!

Jaala

Baking Season!

Okay, I wasn't planning on blogging today, but I just got so excited. We have a great Thanksgiving tradition going, where all of the grown-ups take up the charge on a specific dish or two (Mom: apple-cranberry sauce and green jello with cream cheese; Mike, green bean casserole, Dad:turkey, my bro:mashed potatoes, etc) and I happily bake the pies. Usually we've just stuck with pumpkin, because, really, what's not to like? And, after years of practice, I make a  pie crust that does our midwestern farming/iron mining heritage justice.

But, this fall, Belle and I had made a blueberry pie using frozen berries and people wanted it again. So, sure, blueberry and pumpkin pie. Then Mike mentioned that his family is from the South, and so...what about a pecan pie? Now, y'all, have I ever tried making one? No. But I love me some Mike, so I said that I would. A discussion ensued among my extended family about how many of them like pecan pie. It turns out, none. Too gooey. And, really, with two other kinds of pie, they'll be fine. But I just stumbled across a very  promising twist on the tradition. 

Oh, yes. With three kinds of pie and 14 people for dinner, we're going to be starting to roll out on Wednesday. Mmm, I can't wait.

Big news

Key to My Heart Mittens, by Nicole Feller-Johnson

We've really enjoyed being a print magazine, but changes are afoot here at Knitcircus--next issue, (due out Feb 1) we're going to go digital!

I admit to having mixed feelings about this, since we chose to go print because, well, we like print. Taking a magazine with you in your knitting bag, to the library, to read in bed, feels very cozy and as a lifelong bibliophile, I have a secret belief that books themselves represent knowledge; each one is like a nugget of magic or new facts. As a kid, I used to read favorite ones (Narnia, Ballet Shoes, Pippi Longstocking, Betsy, Tacy and Tib) until they literally fell apart. But a magazines' a spendy proposition. Working with each individual LYS who carried the magazine is very rewarding, but made it tricky to grow as fast as we needed to to keep up with printing and postage costs.

So  we're expanding into the digital world, and expand we will! Now that we don't have to pay for printing each glossy page, we'll be able to stretch out luxuriously with fronts, backs and detail photos of each design the way we always wished we could. We'll really be able to showcase our designers' patterns and Ms. SABLE's eye for photos that pack a punch.

We're planning to keep the magazine looking like a magazine with virtual pages to turn; all of our articles, reviews and interviews will be free. Only, unlike the print version, you'll be able to click right on a designer or ad to learn more about them, and can instantly email a friend if you see a garment you like. We'll show the pattern previews for each design and people will be able to purchase the whole pattern collection for a very reasonable price. You'll be able to download and print out the collection pdf, so you can take it to the coffeeshop to knit and not even worry if some mocha spills on it! Current subscribers will get as many editions of the magazine as left on their subscriptions, and each magazine will remain up for the three months its current, like our pdf's do now.

It's a work-in-progress and we'll keep you posted about specifics as they're firmed up... We're still working on ideas about individual pattern sales, paper pattern distribution and Knitcircus books, so our beloved LYS's still have a vital part in our world.  We're excited to embrace the changes and explore the opportunities the new medium offers for our designers and readers and save some trees in the process.

Thanks to all of our designers and staff members who've gotten us this far, and we look forward to rocketing into the world of online magazines together in style!

Take care and craft on,

Jaala

Sand Dunes

This weekend took us unexpectedly to Michigan for a family health situation; suffice to say that my dear MIL is on the mend now; luckily family there is stepping up to the plate in style.

So while she rested, we took the kids and their young uncle to Warren Dunes State Park. We got an unexpected windfall--a gorgeous afternoon, sunny and 60F.

 

We made it to the top of this big dune, and then noticed that on the other side of the flat, people seemed to be running and jumping into thin air, yelling with joy.

Upon closer inspection, we found this:

 

We weren't sure about it at first, but of course Li'l Buddy dared to try running down, and we soon discovered that the soft sand let you throw yourself down to stop at will.
Getting up, of course, took a little longer...

 

Shortly, two bunches of college and high school kids joined us, whooping, somersaulting and throwing each other over the edge (facebooking it all, of course). Mike and I kept turning to each other and laughing, and I even turned a couple of somersaults, myself.

In knitting news, a lot of design projects on the needles and finally a few FO's! Here's one which I'm calling the Sand Dune Scarf:

 

Made from some Rowan Soft Tweed in color Bark scored at the Knitting Tree's big summer sale. This prototype needs a bit more tweaking, but  I wore it last night and it's soft and warm for sure.

Twilight Winners

Drum roll, please....the winners of the Twilight audiobooks (picked by random number generator) are:

Grace and Lisa! Please email me, jaalaATknitcircusDOTcom with your snail mail addys and I'll get those audiobooks in the mail for you tomorrow.

Thanks so much to everyone for your fun comments; if you'd like to try again, we've got a copy of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society  audiobook to give away next week. It doesn't have a lot to do with Twilight but sounds like a great read. 

 Thanks and good night,

Jaala

Issue #8 pdf available and Twilight Audiobook giveaway!

The latest issue is out and about! All of our stores and subscribers' packages have arrived or are winging their way to their destinations. If you'd like to purchase the pdf of the new issue, you can visit our website to download it without waiting for the mail or using any trees. To download our four free patterns from this issue please scroll to the bottom of this page, click and enjoy!

November means lots of holiday knitting and the release of New Moon! It's a perfect time to settle down with the needles for a cozy evening and listen to Twilight again to get ready for the sequel. (Mike and I always re-read our fave books before the movies...we're a little more smitten with Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Twilight than I sometimes admit.) Thanks to Little, Brown and Company, I've got two copies of the Twilight audiobooks (all 12 hours and 15 minutes) to give away!

Take a listen here:

Twilight clip

If you'd like to win a copy, please leave a blog comment and I'll pick the two lucky winners on Monday (Nov 9th) as soon as I get home from the Madison Knitter's Guild meeting.

Thanks and good luck!

Jaala

Free Top-Down Hat Pattern

 Here it is! When we update our website, we'll add it as a downloadable pdf there, too. And it will include pics of the lovely Mike modeling the adult 3x1 rib version of the hat, but I left my camera at my brother's so he was spared modeling for today. :)

Jenny Hat

A great first pattern to try the top-down technique. The Noro yarn does the fancy color changes for you, and the mock-cable rib needs no cable needle; pattern  includes both ribbed and twist-stitch to make it a great gift for almost anyone! With a polarfleece lining, you’ll add extra warmth and softness and evade the itch.

Please knit these up for family, friends and charities! This free pattern is provided by Knitcircus as part of the Hat Circus event to warm up Wisconsin’s kids. Named after our gracious model--call it the Jamie Hat or other manly name if you knit it for a guy.

 

Skill Level – Beginner

Skills needed: knitting in the round, kfb increase; twist st if you choose Twist St pattern.

 

Gauge:  19 st and 32 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in St St.

Size

Child’s (19-20”),  [Medium Adult (21-22”), Large Adult (23”)] Large and small sizes shown.

Yarn

Noro Kureyon, 100% wool, (100 m/50 gms): ), 1 skein

Needles

Size 7 dpns and 16” circ or size needed to obtain gauge.

Pattern Notes:

The Small version is made to have a longer ribbed bottom so you can turn it up for extra warmth and to show the underside (as shown on child). Not recommended for the Mock Cable Twist edging.

Mock Cable Twist  Rib

Worked over a multiple of 5 sts:

Round 1:

*p1, k1, p1, sl 4th st to R needle, drop 5^th st off L needle; slide 4^th st to L needle, pick up 5^th st on L needle; knit both sts.*

Round 2-4: *p1, k1, p1, k2* around

Repeat Rounds 1-4 for pattern.

3x1 Rib St.

 Worked over a multiple of 4 sts

Every round: *k3, p1*

Hat Instructions:

CO 5 sts on 3 dpns.

Round 1: Join for working in the round; *kfb every st* (total 10 sts.), using 4^th needle to knit. Pm to show beginning of rnd and mm every rnd. 

Round 2 and all other even rounds: *Knit*

Round 3: * kfb* (total 20 sts.)

Round 5: *k1,kfb*

Round 7: *k2, kfb*

Round 9: *k3, kfb*

Transfer sts to 4th needle when sts seem too crowded and add 5^th as working needle.

Cont in this manner, inc sts between kfb by 1 each odd round, through Round 19:*k8, kfb.* (90 sts).

For med and large: Round 21: *k9, kfb* (100 sts)

For large only: Round 23: *k10, kfb* (110 sts)

Switch to circ; cont in st st (knit every round) until hat measures 5.5” (6”, 6.5”) from top of crown.

Decrease set-up round:

For Mock Cable Twist: dec 5 sts evenly spaced.

For 3x1 Rib, dec 6 [8, 10] sts evenly spaced.

Ribbed section: Begin working Mock Cable Twist Rib patt; or 3x1 Rib; cont until just enough yarn rem for BO round (approx 16 rnds S, 14 rnds M and 12 rnds  L).

Bind off all sts in pattern.

Finishing: Weave in all ends. If desired, cut 2”x 20” [22”, 23”] piece of fleece material and hand baste inside ribbed section of hat for softness and extra warmth.

Below: small/child's version with turned-up cabled section.

Enjoy!

Jaala

Hat Circus Winner!

The winner of Inspired to Knit is Carol, who came to the Hat Circus event! Carol, shoot us an email and we'll send your copy of the book right away.

 

In Knitcircus news, the Number Eights have flown the coop! All of our stores' packages are winging their way to LYS's and all of our subscribers and designers' envelopes will hit the post office this morning as soon as the kids are in school.

Happy Halloween!

Last week, we went to Halloween at the Zoo--here Little Red Riding Hood is helping my surfer dude give us a smile. Watch for the Noro hat to appear here soon as a free pattern!

Yesterday, Belle and I spent the morning making a Fern the Green Fairy costume, which she loved so much she wanted to sleep in, but no pics yet! We've been working our way through the Rainbow Magic books at bedtime, and while I'm a little snooty about how only books I read as a kid are the good ones, they can't get enough of them.

Between soccer, a Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF party (gingerbread and musical chairs are on the menu), jack-o-lantern carving plus trick-or-treating, it's going to be a big, fun pumpkin-y day around here.

We're carrying on my dad's tradition this year of buying a Giant Size Hershey Bar and then surprising one trick-or-treater with banging of pots and pans and yelling, "You're the 40th Trick-or-Treater! You won the big candy bar!" You have to arrange it so that this pleases, rather than scares, the kid in question, so some creative counting can ensue. It's also good if your own kids are back from their outing so they can bang and cheer.

Happy day, everyone! Hope it's safe and sweet--but just a little spooky.