The holidays are rapidly approaching, we’re making our lists and checking them twice – but what do you give the knitter (or crocheter!) that’s got everything?

We’ve got lots of great ideas for you to give – or receive. (Remember to fill out your wish list at the shop!)

Moving Mud closure

From Vermont glass studio Moving Mud we have gorgeous glass closures for shawls or cardigans, stickpins, darning needles, and even glass knitting needles – each piece is one of a kind so you can be sure your gift is unique!

Moving Mud knitting needles

Moving Mud uses a traditional glassblowing technique called lampworking to create their pieces. Each item is made with borosilicate glass (the same glass used in Pyrex) to make it strong and durable as well as beautiful.

Chic-a Triad set

We just got in a whole range of fun & functional bags from California’s Chic-a, a company started by a knitter who needed a better bag! There are yarn keepers, project bags, and their great Triad set, which includes a mini-tote for small projects, a key ring pouch for notions, and a folding pattern keeper that lets you store your pattern safely and still see it (I definitely want one of these for Christmas – my current “shove all the patterns into a big jumbly mess in my bag” method leaves something to be desired.)

Chic-a yarn keeper

Knitting jewelry from New York company Debra’s Garden is pretty and practical – use one as a pendant, on a key chain, or as a zipper pull for a knitting bag.

Debra's Garden needle gauge

Knitters always need a needle gauge close to hand for those unmarked mystery needles. This one is available in a variety of colors in aluminum – or get one in sterling silver for a really special gift! The numbers are etched into the metal so they can’t wear off.

Debra's Garden row counter

The row counters are really clever – the inner dial counts single rows, the outer dial counts 10s, and there’s a yarn cutter hidden at the 50-row mark too! A Swarovski crystal adds a little bit of holiday sparkle.

But wait, what about the guy crafters on your list? We’ve got them covered!

Family-owned company Namaste from California makes a versatile range of eco-friendly bags – their new Mini Messenger bag has an adjustable shoulder strap and tons of pockets to organize all your gear (and it comes in black!)

Namaste Mini Messenger bag

We also just got in a shipment of KnowKnits GoKnit project bags – these come in a variety of sizes and colors to keep projects from socks to sweaters organized. These are always a favorite – next time you’re in the shop, check to see which staff members have one of these hanging from their belt loop! We even got some in fun fur and fake crocodile this time around!

For a stocking stuffer, how about a Herdy keychain?

Herdy Peep Keyring

This is just a sampling of the great gifts you can find in the shop – stop by to see even more! (After all, who doesn’t need a sheep bank to keep their yarn money in?)

Herdybank

Happy Holidays!

Here in space, we’re starting to get in the holiday spirit…which reminds us of all the gift knitting that comes along! There are only 44 days left until Christmas, but there is still time to knit for the special people in your life. To help you get going, we searched for unique (and fast!) projects for everyone on your list, and wrapped these up with our favorite chunky yarns in a handy Holiday Gift Guide. Stop by the shop to pick up your copy, and view these lovely yarns for yourself. We are offering 20% off all yarns on the guide if you purchase everything on the list—our yarn elves have checked it twice! We have tons of project ideas for these yarns, so take advantage of this fabulous deal!

For mom
Make a luxurious Trellis Scarf with 4 skeins of Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky. She’ll stay warm all winter! Or, make the ever-popular Marian Cowl (pattern available at the shop) and matching Really Warm Hat with the same yarn requirements.

Quincy by Brooklyn Tweed

For him
Whip up a soft and cozy Basic, Ribbed Hat with 2 skeins of Sublime Chunky Merino Tweed. It’ll be his new favorite! For a more challenging knit, try Quincy by Jared Flood – part of the Made in Brooklyn book available at the shop.

For her
Cushy One Cable Mitts will have sisters and girlfriends wishing for cold hands! This project is made with just 1 skein of Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes. The royal alpaca in this yarn makes it both luxurious and snuggly soft!

photo by mistybliss

For baby
Keep little heads warm with a precious Pea Green Beanie, made with 2 balls of machine washable Sirdar Big Bamboo. For an alternative to this baby project, use this plush yarn for our free Cozy-Dee Cowl.

Wherever your holiday knitting takes you, let our gift guide lead the way!

This is the time of year knitters and crocheters look forward to—when we can really justify wearing our wool shawls, cashmere socks, and slouchy hats. Not that this stops me from dressing in handknits the rest of the year, but when the mid-Atlantic chill hits, I especially cherish my craft. This year I’m craving pieces that I can pair together, mostly because that means I can show off more of what I’ve made! I also love the idea of creating unique combinations that can only happen when you make it yourself.

handmake your own luxury

One of my favorite trends is a play on the turtleneck: a pullover with a matching cowl. This textured pairing by Laura Grutzeck, Pullover with Cowl, will keep you warm and chic. When you step into a heated building, simply remove the cowl! Stop by the shop for the pattern and yarn from St-Denis. Knit this in the US-made Nordique for an elegant set in any of our 22 versatile colors. For a hand-dyed option, Miss Babs Yummy 3-ply is a lovely superwash merino yarn in gorgeous, nature-inspired colors.

State Street Cowl by Raveler Botzy

Unite a geometric stitch pattern with the State Street Cowl and Monkey socks. I’d love to knit this cowl in the light and fluffy Sirdar Big Bamboo. The stitches appear to float in this yarn, and the misty color palette is perfect for misty weather. This is going to be one of my gift-knitting favorites—super chunky, machine washable yarn is crucial this time of year! Knit coordinating socks in gorgeous SweetGeorgia BFL Sock, as the saturated colors are sure to brighten your day.

One for you, one for me

Stitch something warm for you and your favorite person with He Said She Said. This design features a swirling stitch pattern, and two skeins of Sublime Chunky Merino Tweed will make a couple almost as cute as the two of you.

The Nae shawl and Kozue hat duo has been created with a dilemma in mind: you need two skeins of sock yarn to knit the shawl, but you end up with half a skein left over. Make this beautiful, quiet shawl design in our new arrival SpaceCadet Celeste, and whip up a matching hat with the rest. Stop by the shop to check out these yarns in person!

While I can certainly get behind the growing statement on the internet that holiday decor should stay away until after Thanksgiving, we knitters and crocheters know that for the gifting season to be a success, it’s best to start early. I try to stick to the rule that I will only make presents for family, and mom is always first on my list. I’m lucky, as long as I can find the purplest of all purple yarns, I know she will be thrilled. Last year, I knitted her an “In the Land of Oz” shawl, and she always calls me to tell me that people ask her where she bought it. This year, the new “scorched” purples from Dream in Color Smooshy are calling out to be a cute shawl for mom!

Here are some other great gift ideas for all of the moms out there.

Slippers

Veronica's French Press Slippers

Moms are notoriously hard working, so slippers make a great gift. Not to mention, if you find the right pattern, they can be knit in almost no time at all. My favorites are the French Press Felted Slippers, since they work up fast in several strands of Shepherd’s wool. I watched Veronica knit these last year, and I could swear she finished them in under 2 hours.

Granny Square Slippers from the PurlBee

For me, if a gift needs to be done quickly, the answer is usually to crochet it. That is probably why I love these cute granny square slippers from the purlbee. They remind me of time spent in Russia where everyone had their own house slippers. In a nice bulky yarn like Ella Rae Chunky, these would work up fast enough that you could make a pair for everyone, but if you want an extra special pair for mom, be sure to check out the Blue Sky Techno. She will never want to take them off.

Shawls

Trousseau by Carol Feller Photo by Jane Heller

I love knitting lace, and there is really nothing more satisfying for me than conquering a lace repeat. Even though shawls can seem daunting, they make a great quick knit, and a great gift. Trousseau from Twist Collective has become a go to project for me, as I am currently knitting a second one for a holiday/wedding gift. That really says something about the pattern, because I rarely knit anything twice. I love that there is both a fingering weight option and a DK weight option for this pattern too. It is a showstopper in a solid like Spud and Chloe Fine, but also stunning in Viola Silky DK. I may need to make yet another of these… Pick a color that will match Mom’s new winter coat, and she will love showing it off to her friends.

If you are short on time, the best bet is to go up in gauge to another standby, the Springtime Bandit. With an easily memorable lace pattern in worsted or Aran weight yarn, you really can’t go wrong. And if you happen to get stuck, I think all of the yarnistas at fibre space have knit this shawl at least once (and several have knit it twice), so we will happily get you unstuck. My favorite yarn for this project is the Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Worsted, since it’s 400 yard skeins mean never having to weave in any extra ends!

Fingerless Mitts

Fallberry Mitts by Anne Hanson, Photo by knitspot

Warm hands are important, so every mom needs a pair of fingerless mitts, right? Everyone will be jealous if she has a pair of  Mitt Envy mittens, which can be made with just a small amount of fingering weight yarn. They would be absolutely exquisite in Canopy fingering from The Fiber Company.

For something a little bit more substantial, there is also Fallberry Mitts from Anne Hanson, which knit up quickly in a sport weight yarn. Knit these in Road to China Light for to add a little bit of luxury in mom’s winter wardrobe.

Cowls

Quinnipiac by Leila Raabe, Photo by Jared Flood/BrooklynTweed

Cowls are a reasonably new craze in the fashion world, and they make a great knitting project. All the warmth of a scarf and probably half the fuss. Quinnipiac by Leila Raabe from the WOOL PEOPLE collection has something for every knitter! With lace, cables, and a tailored hem, this is a quick project that is guaranteed to keep you interested. SHELTER is the natural choice for this cowl and the pattern is also available at the shop if you prefer a hard copy to a PDF download.

Don’t worry crocheters, I haven’t forgotten about you. I am madly in love with the Twitterpation cowl! I spotted this on a customer a few weeks ago, and had one for myself by the next day. I have my eye on the Manos Silk blend for on for mom, I think she will love all of the fun colors the yarn comes in.

Short on time, but like the cowl idea? Grab some big yarn and size 15 needles, Jane’s Cozy-Dee Cowl is just the pattern for you!

Be sure to stop by and join us in the Rocket Lounge to get all of your holiday stitching done. See you then!

We have had two amazing Stitch in Space nights here in space. Last week, the DC Rollergirls were at the shop. Micah stayed late to help a few learn to knit and visit with those that are already amazing knitters and crocheters. (He seemed quite delighted to do so).

For the second year in a row, we are sponsoring the Rollergirls season. Check out their schedule here and get to a bout!

Last night, Wendy Johnson and Laura & Leslie of TheKnitGirllls video podcast joined us for our Stitch n Space and drew quite a crowd (as Wendy tends to do). They attacked the new Brooklyn Tweed LOFT, of course. Wendy seemed to enjoy herself as well. (this is Micah and his goofy hat with Wendy J.)

Jane whipped up this fabulous bulky knit cowl pattern for the holidays! Here are the details:

Cozy-Dee Cowl

Materials

2 balls of Sirdar Big Bamboo (44yd per ball)

US size 15 needles

2 large buttons (2 inches)

darning needle

Abreviations

K1tbl = knit 1 stitch through the back loop.

S1 wyif = slip 1 stitch as if to purl, with yarn held in front.

Directions

CO 17 stitches

Row 1: K1, (P3, K1tbl) 3 times, P3, S1 wyif.

Row 2: K 1, P to 1 st before the end, S1 wyif.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until cowl measures approx. 28 inches; end with a Row 2.

Button holes

Row A:  K1, P3, K1, BO 2 st, P1, K1, P1, BO 2 st, K1, P3, S1 wyif.

Row B: K1, P4, CO 2 st, P3, CO 2 st, P 4, S1 wyif.

Finishing

Continue Rows 1 and 2 for another 5 rows.

BO in pattern and weave in ends.

Sew buttons on opposite end of cowl.

Hopefully you’ve had a chance to meet Lucina and Celeste, our two new fingering weight yarns from Space Cadet Creations. We always love the creativity and talent that goes into making hand-dyed yarns – not to mention the fun surprise that is seeing it all when it arrives! But behind all the yarn, there’s usually a story or two to be told. I wrote to Stephanie Alford, the dyer behind Space Cadet Creations, and she was gracious enough to write me a big long email all about who she is and what she does. [Then I told her that I'd edit it all into a narrative, but I think you'll like her words much more than mine, so we're going to do a little Q-and-A instead.]

So, first things first. Where are you from?

I’ve lived my life split between Britain and the United States.  I was born in Pittsburgh to British parents and, when I was young, I grew up in a big community of British immigrants.  But I went to an American school and made American friends, so I also had a very American childhood.  I moved back to the UK right after graduating from university, and stayed there until three years ago. I’ve literally lived half my life in each country, and they are both home to me.  It’s both a blessing and a curse — when I’m in one country, I miss the other, and when I’m in the other, I miss the first!

I see from your website that you spin, knit, weave and crochet a little, and you have a degree in Textiles and Clothing – and this was all before you started dyeing. What got you hooked?

Looking back, I can see I have always been drawn to the fiber arts, but it’s taken me all my life to realise it.  I remember when I was about 11, we went to a pioneer re-enactment day and I was completely fascinated by the woman spinning fleece on a wheel, and begging my mother for lessons.  The woman came round to our house to teach me — I loved the spinning but hated the carding and she insisted you had to card lots and lots first…  and so I didn’t stick with spinning.  I tried it again years later, when the community center near my house in England offered a spinning and weaving class. Most of the women in the class were shepherdesses and I’d buy my fleeces from them fresh off their sheeps’ backs.  And I found that I still hated carding, so I started to spin straight from the fleece, uncarded and in the grease.  And I discovered that, without having to card, I love spinning!

At university, I flailed around from one major to another until I finally settled on Textiles and Clothing.  I had no real talent for fashion or for design, but I love everything I learned about fiber composition, textile chemistry, and clothing history.  I distinctly remember waking up on Thanksgiving morning of my sophomore year with an overwhelming desire to learn to knit. I have no idea why – no one I knew knit, hand-knitting wasn’t even mentioned in my classes, I’d never seen a knitting magazine and this was way before the Internet. And, yet, for some reason, I woke up that morning and knew – knew even before I’d sat up in bed! – that I needed to learn how to knit.  I taught myself from a copy of Vogue Knitting: the Ultimate Knitting Book and started a cardigan about two weeks later  …in cream acrylic yarn!  I still have it — the yarn is hideous, but I love every stitch.

That sounds like something lots of us can relate to! So it wasn’t until later that you began dyeing?

I moved back to the US just as Ravelry was starting to take off and then met some of the members of the Pittsburgh indie fiber arts community – incredibly talented women whose work got me feeling turbo-charged!  I started to experiment with dyeing and…  oh, I loved it!  I felt like I’d finally found my fiber-arts calling! After the encouragement of my friends and knitting group, I set up my studio and started SpaceCadet Creations.  Would you believe, for the first three months of the business, my studio had no running water?!  And I’m married to a plumber!  Eventually, I threatened to ring one of the guys my husband works with and pay them to do the plumbing.  And guess what?  I had running water the very next day!

You say you dye from primaries – what does that actually mean?

When I first started dyeing, I made a list of all the dye colours I wanted to get…  and then I added up the cost!   So instead, I bought just the primaries plus black, and decided to mix my own colours to begin with.  But once I started dyeing from primaries, I realised I really like it — there’s a real art to seeing a colour in your mind and then mixing dyes by hand to hit it exactly.  It makes every colourway feel really special to me — I didn’t just dye the yarn, I created the colours from scratch.

Everybody has a favorite color – and colors they don’t like. How does that work as a dyer?

You can easily find yourself just sticking to the colours you love and never dyeing the ones you don’t, which isn’t good!  For instance, last year I realised I was really avoiding yellow — it’s just not my colour — and I decided to make myself dye more yellow. It was so hard to do!  At first, everything I dyed just felt wrong, none of the shades would work for me — it was really depressing.  But then I realised that even if yellow didn’t work for me, both gold and honey did.  So I warmed things up a bit and tried again and…  fell completely in love with what came out of the pot!  Now I add golds into a lot of my colourways and, every time I do, I feel like I’ve created something really special.

Finally, what’s really fulfilling about what you do?

One of the most exciting things for me is knowing that what I create isn’t the finished product, it’s a part of other people’s finished objects. I want to give my customers’ projects wonderful, intense colour — colour that stays in their minds even after they’ve stopped working on their projects.

I want to extend a big thank you again to Stephanie for sharing a bit of her story, her enthusiasm, and her process with us. Of course, because we’re all space cadets too, I think this is a great match-up!

Bethany submitted this report from her first trip to Rhinebeck this year:

Culinary Institute

When I found my way back to knitting in 2010, whenever I was around knitters I kept hearing one word spoken with reverence:  Rhinebeck.  I soon learned that this was knitter speak for the annual New York Sheep & Wool Festival held at the Duchess County Fair Grounds in Rhinebeck, NY.  About the same time when I was cruising the 746.432 shelves of my local library (aka knitting wonderland) I stumbled on a book by Joanne Seif.  Her book, Fiber Gathering: Knit, Crochet, Spin, and Dye More than 25 Projects Inspired by America’s Festivals, is simply amazing.  The pictures and details about the festivals will make you want to attend each one.  When a friend mentioned she wanted to go to Rhinebeck too, a plan was born.

Many knitters are veteran attendees and have tried and true techniques for getting the most out of the festival.  We had no such plan of attack.  We secured a reservation at a hotel in Poughkeepsie in February and then counted down the months until it was finally October 14.  The six hour drive to  Rhinbeck, NY went smoothly.  Too early to check in to our hotel, we headed to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.  I had read a post by Anne Hanson where she blogged about the Apple Café which does not require reservations.  We decided to go check it out.  We had a 45 minute wait in line before getting into the café to place our orders.  A staffer offered a tip that it was best to come early as the café is open from 11 a.m. – 5p.m, or later. Of course we had arrived in the middle of the rush.  Other than the food, the most incredible thing was the lavender growing at the four corners of the courtyard in front of the main building where butterflies fluttered lazily.  Even an i-phone got a National Geographic worthy picture.

Saturday morning, naively thinking that all fiber festivals open at the same time (as we were seasoned Maryland Sheep and Wool attendees), we left Poughkeepskie at 7:30 a.m. and headed for the fair grounds.  There was no backed up traffic, the lights stayed green, and we got an amazing parking spot on a fairly empty hill. This is when we realized something was wrong.  As we stepped out of the car, we learned the festival opened at 9 a.m. At the same time, I heard my name called.  There was Cindy and her sister – a fibre space™ welcome in the middle of Rhinebeck, NY!

I bumped into Cindy, her sister and several others that I knew from Ravelry, once again standing in line to enter a particularly hot booth.  The line was already about 20 people deep waiting for the festival’s official opening.  At 9 a.m., a swarm of knitters invaded the small booth and then the truly crazy line began – the payment line.  One woman’s husband stood in line for two hours while she enjoyed the festival.  Talk about enabling a yarn addict love!

I saw my first fuzz ball angora rabbit and met Nike, the alpaca who was one of a group of alpacas who stood around for petting.  He was the alpha male of the group and had the coarsest fiber.  There were sheep being groomed for the judges, blue ribbon sheared sheep and Corriedale sheep who also had the best marketing (see below).

Angora Bunny

Nike the Alpaca

Corriedale has the best marketing

I’ve heard it’s a Rhinebeck tradition to wear a finished sweater but space in my suitcase was limited so I wore my Springtime Bandit instead (which I finished recently using one skein of Neighborhood Fiber Company Worsted). It did a great job of keeping the chill at bay and got a lot of compliments throughout the day.  I was just as busy giving out compliments as I was completely surrounded by mind boggling knit wear.  Mitts, sweaters, shawls, hats, and skirts like Knitty’s Lane Splitter. I saw five and they all looked fantastic even though their creators were different heights and sizes.

I lost count of all the vendors that I visited and the food I tried because there were so many choices.  The lamb vendors were located in a group downhill from the cider donuts.  The fried artichokes were across from the main food vendors where spaghetti on a stick was selling well.  On Sunday to counter some of the festival food indulgences I walked  across the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world known as the Walkway over the Hudson.  Check out some of the breathtaking views here.

Having survived my first Rhinebeck, I am looking forward to attending next May’s Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.  If you’ve never been to a fiber festival before it would be a shame to miss it!

Pat sends us the most amazing notes, so I have to start sharing. Pat says,

Seldom do I go to Trivia games. However, my son’s team was going to be short so I went Tuesday night. The bonus (last) question – worth $100 was – “what do garter, cable, and moss have in common?  Only one team out of eight got the answer correct – our team! I couldn’t believe the question was sooooooo easy!  Everyone else tried to relate the terms to the environment.

Last weekend the wonderful ladies of Kelbourne Woolens, authors of Vintage Modern Knits, were in town for a color work workshop. Having totally failed to complete any of the plaid projects that I had planned to complete before this workshop, I spent Saturday morning tearing apart my sweater stash looking for something appropriate to wear. I came up with several hats designed by either Kate or Courtney and several sweaters knitted in their yarns, but I couldn’t quite put my hands on the sweater that I thought I owned. I had vague memories of having knitted something from their book in Terra but couldn’t figure out what it was and was thoroughly confused about it not existing in my closet. After about 40 minutes of putting on various outfits and not really finding what I was wanting, I realized that the sweater that I was thinking of was the Brigid Jacket that we hosted as a knitalong back in February. I found it in one piece in my yarn stash, the sleeves set in and one of the two side seams seamed up…but no button bands. I gathered the silly thing up and went to work and set out to finish it before the ladies arrived. I did have to sew on the buttons while we were standing in line for lunch, but it is done!

Several rather dedicated folks did finish and wear plaid things that day and brought them all upstairs to show off to Kate and Courtney. The hats that Trudy, Lesley and Jane are wearing is the Bismark hat by Kelbourne Woolens – available at the shop. It uses two skeins of Road to China (yum!) and is worked in the round. The sweater that Jennifer is wearing is a completed Emerson (also available at the shop).  She is the only person who actually finished this sweater. It is most definitely not worked in the round. Flat fair isle is not for the weak at heart. I appear to be weak..mine is in hibernation until further notice.

photo - Interweave Press

The leaves are changing, pumpkin spice lattes are back, and it’s finally crisp & cold enough to wear sweaters! It’s the perfect time of year to curl up with a pot of tea or hot apple cider and break out the serious knitting. Just in time, Knitscene has released their first-ever winter issue with 22 patterns to keep us busy all season long.

This issue starts out with “A Brief History of Angora,” with fun facts on the fuzzy bunnies that give us fluffy yarn – did you know that the German name for Angora rabbits, Menschenheilkaninchen, means “human healing rabbit”? Or that Marie Antoinette kept them as pets?

The Beatriz Dress has a dramatic deep yoke and a hint of leaf lace at the hem –  knit this up in a lofty worsted weight like Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool and be a hit at all your holiday parties.

More leafy lace appears on the Francisca Hat  – luxurious Mirasol Miski (100% baby llama) will keep you warm all winter long.

Vera Cardigan - photo Interweave Press

The Designer Collection in this issue features Alexis Winslow, who sums up her style aesthetic by saying “There’s something about knitting stripes that makes you want to do just one more!” You’ll agree when you see her four delightful designs!

The Vera Cardigan‘s clean lines and strong graphics combine with knitterly details like welted rib cuffs and contrasting button loops. Add a touch of tweed with Brooklyn Tweed’s SHELTER and you’ll be snuggly warm & stylish too.

Nora Dress - photo Interweave Press

The 1920′s inspired Zelda Cloche might have you rouging your knees, rolling your (hand-knit) stockings down, and all that jazz – or maybe just grabbing your needles! Pick two colors of Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk and a great button (check out our selection of handcrafted buttons from Annie Adams, Moving Mud, and Perl Grey, or visit our neighbors BW Antiques for a one-of-a-kind vintage find!)

Try your hand at a little colorwork with the Canyon Mitts - I’m already thinking of which three colors of St-Denis Nordique to use for these! Make a few pairs for holiday gifting (and one for yourself!)

The Nora Dress uses super-smart striping to flatter your figure – and works up fast in Cascade Eco Wool. It’s knit from the top down so it will be easy to get the perfect fit. Super cute!

The next story, “Born to Wander,” gives us a bit of Bohemian style, starting with the striking Jenica Pullover. Hold a drapy DK weight yarn together with a laceweight mohair & silk blend for this – Louisa Harding Grace Silk & Wool and Cascade Kid Seta Noir will make a stunning holiday sweater.

Jenica Pullover - photo Interweave Press

The Ileana Pullover (shown on the cover) will be light yet warm when you knit it in Berroco Voyage, a soft & lofty alpaca blend. Wrap up in an Oana Shawl on cold winter days – make a luxe version with hand-dyed Madelinetosh Tosh Chunky or go rustic & woolly with Imperial Yarns Columbia 2-ply.

Work up the Madalina Mittens in machine-washable Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in colorful combinations from subtle to bold. The Tereza Pullover has a pretty lace yoke & knits up super fast in Sublime Chunky Merino Tweed – light, lofty, and warm.

The Ramona Cowl will take a bit longer but is definitely worth the effort – the combination of self-striping and solid yarns in a paisley colorwork pattern creates an amazing effect. Try Crystal Palace Mini Mochi or Sausalito with Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine – or go for your favorite hand dyed fingering weight yarns!

Miercoles Tam - photo Interweave Press

Been avoiding patterns with bobbles because you weren’t sure how to do them?  ”5 Ways to Work a Bobble” will get you bobbling along so you can knit a cute Miercoles Tam (Dragonfly Fibers Blue Face Worsted will make those stitches really pop) or Geraldine Cardigan (Miss Babs Northumbria DK is another BFL yarn with great stitch definition.)

Mix your bobbles with cushy garter stitch for a Petra Shawl in locally-dyed Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Worsted, or make a pretty Pomes Beret in Canopy Fingering from The Fibre Company.

Next up, designer Stefanie Japel discusses “Gauge, Drape & Yarn Weight,” and demonstrates how to use them to best effect in the Bermondsey Cardigan (try naturally dyed Swans Island Certified Organic Chunky) and the delicate Nevis Cardigan (grab some Viola Merino Lace before it’s gone!)

Uxbridge Cardigan - photo Interweave Press

A few more cardigans are in store for you – knit a pretty little Stanmore Cardigan in Road to China Light for lovely drape and warmth. Add your own style to the blazer-inspired Wragby Cardigan with your choice of yarn – this pattern will show off a snuggly tweed like Berroco Tara Tweed or a rich semi-solid hand dye like Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Worsted equally well.

Play up the simplicity of the Netherleigh Cardigan with a textured yarn like The Fibre Company Acadia, a beautifully drapey blend of Merino, silk, and alpaca. Finally, finish off your fall fibre fashion with the swingy Uxbridge Cardigan – this dolman sleeved style requires a lot of yardage, but Berroco Vintage DK will keep it an affordable knit.

With all of these great patterns, you’re sure to be warm and well-dressed this winter!

Erica Patberg's Shaped Capelet will bring out your chic side.

The knit.wear Premiere issue is flying off the shelves at fibre space, and we’re here to help you plan some projects out of it. Boasting “simple handknits for the thoughtful knitter,” this new magazine has garments for everyone – just browse through its pages, and you’ll be inspired.

First, the obvious. The cover project, the Shaped Capelet with Braided Cables by Erica Patberg, is amazing. Not only has the designer given you a chance to show off your cabling skills, but she’s added shaping to the garment so that it shows off your figure, too. All too often, capes and ponchos make the wearer look, well, a little slouchy. Not this one – you can wear it with your little black dress to a holiday party, or even use it to dress up a pair of blue jeans.

Knit this one in Berroco Peruvia Quick or Sublime Chunky Merino Tweed. Plus, knit in a thick gauge, it’s a speedy and rewarding knit. After you knit one, you might want to knit another – but we encourage you only to give it to a really important gift recipient, like your best friend or your mother. It’s too pretty to go to just anyone.

The Mistake Stitch Moebius features a fun and easy stitch pattern that will earn you second glances from one and all.

If you’re looking for something to keep you warm a bit earlier in the season, the Mistake Stitch Moebius is a fun and easy opportunity. Again, it’s knit in a thick gauge, and we suggest you try Berroco Sundae for this pattern. The different strands of color in the yarn will really pop in the mistake stitch pattern.

Another great option, for those who like solid colors, is Spud & Chloe Outer – available in so many colors! This cowl would be a great gift, as well – quick to knit and impressive-looking. We bet that you could make one in Sundae and one in Outer and they’d look different enough to be given to more than one person on your list. Hey, it’s worth a shot, right?

The Osprey Hooded Cardigan will keep you warm and happy - both when you're wearing it and when you're knitting it!

If you’re more of a traditionalist, you’ll want to make the classic Osprey Hooded Cardigan by Pam Allen. The pebble rib that Pam uses in this cardigan gives the fabric a squishy texture, while the clean lines of the design keep the finished product sleek. This could easily become your go-to garment as the weather gets colder and you want something with which to layer.

The pattern will look amazing in the new Swan’s Island yarn we just got in, or in Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes, which offer a rainbow of colors to choose from. Or, if you want a machine washable option, try Ella Rae Classic Chunky Superwash – another yarn that comes in a host of colors. Consider choosing a shade that matches your eyes to make them stand out, or a darker shade of your favorite color for easy outfit prep.

Stefanie Japel's Off-Rib Cardigan is simple, flattering, and gorgeous.

If you’re looking for a sweater that will really turn heads, try Stefanie Japel’s gorgeous Off-Rib Cardigan. Stefanie has taught several design workshops here in space, and we know first-hand that she makes designing look simple. Her patterns are easy to follow and fun to wear. The photo of this one alone is making us drool – and that’s before you add, say, Neighborhood Fiber Co. Worsted or Dragonfly Fibers Blue Faced Worsted.

Come on down to space and choose some yarn to make these babies your own! We can’t wait to see what you come up with.

I don’t usually recommend that a bride knit items for her wedding. I was talked out of this very activity a couple of years ago when I had the grand idea of knitting my flower centerpieces. (well, mostly by my stepmother who insisted that a wedding wasn’t a wedding without real flowers). I imagine though that the knitting world would probably have tried to convince me that it was a bad idea as well. The last thing we need when planning a wedding is a high pressure knitting job too. So when Sarah told me that she was going to make shrugs for her brides, I probably gave her a big speech about it being a terrible idea. But she just sent me the photos from the wedding…and I must admit that I was wrong.

No matter how much stress or work or whatever this may have (or may not have) caused her, it was absolutely worth it. These photos are stunning. She created an amazing one of a kind gift for these ladies and added a unique and stunning element to her wedding. And the COLORS! I love the colors, I love the vintage vibe of her dress which matches the bolero so nicely. I love everything about it…makes me wish I had actually had a wedding with bridesmaids.

Sarah used the ruffled bolero pattern available from Ravelry. The flowers were the peony from 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet. The yarn is Snuggly Baby Bamboo DK by Sirdar which is a wonderful blend of merino and bamboo that is machine washable and has a nice shine to it, like a silk blend.

It is rare that a book comes along that contains more than two or three garments that I want to knit. Today we got a delivery of the brand new Hannah Fettig (Knitbot) and Alana Dakos (Never Knot Knitting) book, Coastal Knits. It is just stunning. Hannah and Alana decided to pair up to produce a book that combined both of their creativity. They settled on a “coast to coast” theme, given that Hannah is an East coast native and Alana is a West coast native. Each pattern is inspired by one of their favorite locations, and the book includes stunning photography of the site and inspiration for the garment.

Coastal Knits contains five sweater patterns and five accessory patterns. They are all classic and gorgeous. Let’s start with this one, the Rocky Coast Cardigan which is made in the Fibre Company Organik. It uses 800-1800 yards. The cable pattern is straightforward and can be memorized after a bit…don’t let those cables scare you! This garment is amazing.

Photo from Coastal Knits

The Bayside Cardigan is also on my “highly recommend” list for one big reason: it uses fingering weight yarn. Who doesn’t have a pile of this gauge sitting around the house? It uses 950 – 2175 yards. I love the cable details on the yoke and the sides. Try this one with a machine dyed yarn like Spud and Chloe Fine or Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine. The solid dye will really allow the cables to shine.

Bayside Pullover - photo by Coastal Knits

I have two favorites from the accessories collection: Sand and Sea Shawlette and the Cambrian Cowl. The shawlette uses two types of yarn, combining a shiny silk with a wool to create the “sand” and “sea” affect. I would suggest a merino or merino blend laceweight for the main color: Miss Babs Yet or Manos del Uruguay Lace and then use the Neighborhood Fiber Co penthouse silk for the edging. (or perhaps Dream in Color Starry for a glitzy edging!) I also think that this shawlette would be very cool in the Louisa Harding Grace Silk and Wool with the Beaded Grace for the edging. These last yarns are DK weight, so the shawl would be larger but rather stunning…just a thought.

Sand and Sea Shawlette. Photo courtesy of Coastal Knits.

The Cambrian Cowl is a quick knit, which we all need at this time of year. My favorite part about this project is that it could potentially show off a couple of very cool buttons! For yarns, I recommend Sublime Chunky Tweed or even Blue Sky Alpacas Techno for a snuggly soft option.

Cambrian Cowl. Photo courtesy of Coastal Knits.

Did I mention that these savvy ladies sent along a fab shopping guide with each copy of the book to help you pick out yarn?

Every year I swear that I won’t be knitting gifts again and then somehow I manage to do it. Since time is of the essence (you have just two months!!), I thought I would share some of my favorite quick knits for the dudes in our life.

Hats

Striped Hat pattern available online or at the shop

Hats are a fast knit. Although they generally require two or three sets of needles, they can be done in just a day or two. My hubby loves a simple beanie hat. The striped hat in Hand Dyed Worsted from Blue Sky Alpacas does just the trick. AND you can easily use the new Swan’s Island organic merino for this pattern or even mix and match the two yarns. Play with the color combos a bit but remember that most dudes will request “black, grey, and navy” if you ask them for color direction.

For the more hipster guys in your life, I love a good slouchy ribbed hat. Check out my quick pattern from this post last year.

Scarves

Brooklyn Tweed Cinder - available online or at the shop

Micah will tell you that the general rule with a scarf is to knit it as long as the person is tall. For a dude’s scarf, this can be a lot of work. Given the timeframe that you are working with, I would recommend knitting in an aran, chunky or superchunky weight to get it done faster. This aran weight scarf pattern by Gina Waters has you cast on for the length. I like this because it allows me to easily create vertical stripes on the scarf.  It looks cool but doesn’t require a lot of work.

If cables go quickly for you, I would recommend the Cinder pattern. It is done in bulky weight yarn, is reversible and works up fast! The Sublime Chunky Tweed is tweedy (guys seem to like this) and is super soft.

Socks

Photo courtesy of Purl Soho

Not that I recommend this, but you can actually make a pair of thick socks in 24 hours. I did it once. They were sport weight. If you jump to DK or Worsted, you are probably cutting that time down to 18-20 hours of knitting. Since guys have no need for lace on their socks, do it simple. Pick a nice luxury yarn and knit in ribbing! Let the yarn do the work for you. Need a basic pattern? Purl Soho to the rescue! They have a pattern called “Men’s Socks for Giving Away.” Sounds like what you need, right? To top it off, it is worked in DK weight. yay! Try the Miss Babs Northumbria DK for a hand dyed option or Shepherd’s Wool DK for a soft merino option. If this guy is going to destroy these socks, I recommend Berroco Vintage DK but definitely include the two colors to fancy them up a bit.

Don’t have time for DK weight? Check out the book Knits Men Want for this basic sock pattern by Jared Flood done in worsted weight. Grab a hank of Neighborhood Fiber Co (just in!) for a luxury hand dyed pair or a ball of Ella Rae Superwash for a pair he can abuse. Dragonfly Fibers BFL would also be super durable! By the way, if you knit for guys a lot, this is hands down the best book out there for reliable simple patterns that they will actually wear.

Photo by Jared Flood

Sweaters

Now if you haven’t listened to anything that I said about timelines and deadlines and shortness of time and such, then you might still be thinking about knitting a sweater.  Can I convince you to do one without sleeves? An argyle vest perhaps? No? Still want to knit a sweater? Well at least shoot for bulky yarn! Check out the Devon pattern in the Norah Gaughan Men bookle

t by Berroco. It calls for Peruvia Quick and US10 and 11 needles. If you are going to get this done, you have to be on atleast a #10!

Photo courtesy of Berroco. Pattern found in NG Men and available at the shop