And The Winners Are....

....Karen, who chose the Koigu yarn and the Easy Toe-Up Sock pattern....and India, who chose the Spirit Trail yarn and the Twisty Toe-Up Tube Sock pattern.

Thanks everyone for your funny good comments here and on Facebook. I loved reading them all!

Happy St David's Day!

To all my Welsh relatives and friends and readers out there, here's a bunch of daffodils for you today!

Happy Leap Day! And A Giveaway!

I was watching "30 Rock" the other day; they had a show about Leap Day and how you should do something completely different every February 29. Though of course the show is a comedy, I thought that was a great idea.

I haven't quite decided what I'm going to do differently today, but I thought for festivity's sake, I'd do a GIVEAWAY! Here's two pairs' worth of yummy sock yarn and a free copy each of Easy Toe-Up Socks or Twisty Toe-Up Tube Socks.

Spirit Trail Fiberworks "Autumn Leaves" on left; Koigu KPPPM "P107B" on right; slightly disgruntled cat "Funny" in center (not included)

Leave a comment here or on Facebook about what your Leap Day activity might be today and also which yarn/pattern combo you'd like. I'll have my impartial judge (who, being born on March 2, 2000, was almost a Leap Day baby!) pick two winners at random.

Happy Leap Day!

Cozy Wrap Poncho - New Pattern!

I love a nice poncho or wrap, but I haven't wanted to look like Marcia Brady since 1971.  Enter the Cozy Wrap Poncho, the newest pattern from Momogus Knits! It's one rectangle with one seam - easy-peasy! You can wear it with the point in front, a la Marcia, but I like to wear it with the point off to one side, oh so casually!

Adult Textured Rib in grey, Child's Garter Stitch in red

The pattern is written for two weights of yarn, bulky and super-bulky, so it's perfect outerwear on a late winter afternoon or an early spring morning. I have been known to wear the grey sample in the photo (knit in yummy superbulky Ushya yarn) all day long in my drafty old house.

Back View

There are two stitch pattern options - a simple textured rib and good old garter stitch, and there are two size options - Adult and Older Child. The shape of the poncho is so flexible it really fits a wide range of people shapes and sizes. And though I like the openness of the neck opening, I've included instructions on how to modify it to make it more close-fitting or higher or even into a turtle-neck.

Go here to purchase yours today. It's a great-looking, easy knit perfect for this time of year!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Be My (Knitted) Valentine

I like Valentine's Day. I don't mind all the fuss that merchants make, though i don't love chocolate.... I love yarn!

Here are a few ideas for quick little Valentine's Day presents that a knitter could make.

You can personalize a Valentine's Day card with a little flat garter stitch heart:

 

Wah - sweet! Instructions are here.

You could throw a few littled felted hearts in with a box of chocolates:

Tee hee - those little eyes kill me!! Instructions are here.

For the more practical-minded, you could get some nice nice soap and give it with a knitted heart washcloth:

Instructions here.

Enjoy! Give someone you love a hug.

Fun Gifts to Make - New Free Pattern - Sparkly Little Drawstring Bag!

Sometimes a particular yarn sings a siren song too strong for me to resist. Such was the case when I came across Katia's Gatsby - I am a sucker for sparkle, and this yarn is sparkly and fun. I was seized with the idea of knitting a little drawstring bag from it (why? I do not know...) and poked around Ravelry and everywhere else looking for a pattern I liked. Alas, I couldn't find exactly what I wanted, so I decided to make one up myself! Here's what resulted:

Exactly what I wanted! Small, but not too small. A little bit of seed stitch at the top for interest, a row of eyelets for a drawstring I-cord. It's worked in dk weight, but you don't have to go for sparkle if you don't want. It would be equally pretty in some soft baby alpaca or crisp merino. Done and done. Free pattern is here! This knits up quickly on double-points or Magic Loop, and makes a great gift for a teen or a teacher or a great container for a gift card or other present. Enjoy!