Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Folly's Cove and Much More

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Hi, Knitters,
I have a fun review for you today. Julia Farwell-Clay has created a beautiful new collection in book and digital form for for Classic Elite Yarns. It is so pretty and fun and varied. There are 11 patterns in the book that include a hat, shawl, a sweater, cardigans, a dress, a skirt, a scarf and a short sleeve pullover. Everything is photographed beautifully and Julia is a very talented pattern writer and designer.


The collection is available as an ebook, individual patterns for download and as a printed book.

Click here to see all of Julia Farwell-Clay's designs on Ravelry. She designed the Hiro Sweater amongst other well-known designs.


This week is the blog tour for Folly's Cove. Here are some things you should know about the blog tour:
1. For this week, all patterns, both individually and the entire ebook, are 10% off on all Ravelry purchases for any Folly's Cove item using the coupon code: FFC10

2. I will draw a winner for the patterns Iarrobino Butterfly Cowl and Vest which are pictured below. Please leave a comment on this post to enter to win these two digital colorwork patterns.

3. There are lots of cool stops on the Folly's Cove blog tour. After my stop is Indigo Dragonfly. Other stops include Kristin Nicholas, Kay Gardiner of Mason-Dixon Knitting, and Talitha Kuomi. These all include fun giveaways and reviews.

4. At the end of the week, check into the Classic Elite Blog for a chance to win yarn for the project of your choice from the book. Click here for more information.

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Above is the Iarrobino Butterfly Vest that is part of the giveaway for one lucky winner along with....

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Leave a comment to enter to win these patterns. One winner will win both of these patterns. Please leave your Ravelry username or email in your comment.

 copyright of Classic Elite

My personal favorite from the book is the Meteori Shawl. It is really a lovely piece. Thanks, Julia and Classic Elite, for the book, the discount code, and the opportunity for one of my readers to win the patterns.

Now for a couple of miscellaneous knitting-related topics.


Here is Ida B. Knitting, an Opal Sock Yarn Bunny that travels to and from various Itty-Bitty Knitters'  (my Ravelry group) homes and events just like Flat Stanley. I had to share this photo from Carrie or cstein on Ravelry. Carrie took my class at VK Live in NYC and she brought Ida along for the ride. Thanks for bringing Ida and for making the effort to come to class. I love seeing you, Carrie.

The SBA Shawl Knitalong is in full-swing. There are already 77 finished shawls posted (remember you can post past knits) and there are almost 130 shawl knitters joined in the Knitalong. If you are at all interested you may want to sign up by the end of the week (although you can join anytime through March 1st). I will be drawing for the first prize from the participant sign up list in a few days and the first prize is HUGE and really good. I have a bunch of fantastic prizes already lined up and I am gathering more as we go. Don't miss out.


Don't forget that through Friday, Jan. 30th I have a 20% off discount code: SBASHAWLWKAL

Included in the SBA Shawl Knitalong and the discount code are the following shawl patterns: 
Yowza Weigh It Shawl 
Yowza Weigh It Shawl 2 
Hayward 
50 Row Shawlette 
Prairie Ridge Shawl 
Quaker Ridge Shawlette 
Drawing Nigh (not included in the discount code because Quince owns this pattern)


In other sheepy news, I am in the process of re-fluffing several of my patterns which will become available as updated downloadable pdfs through Ravelry but also as high-quality printed patterns for local yarn shops to carry wholesale. Many more details are coming soon and I am super-excited to share more with you.

In the meantime I have been re-knitting, rewriting and photographing the new samples for these patterns. There is a graphic design team working on the patterns, too.

I am telling you this because.....


..... the prices are going to be changed on several selected patterns, some will be slightly higher and some will be slightly lower. This has to be done for consistency purposes. I am really excited about this new venture and as I said more information will be coming soon.

The pattern called Lamb from Scratch, in the photo above, is one of the patterns that is going to have the price raised slightly. I originally knit this up in my very first handspun yarn several years ago. I was so thrilled with my uneven lumpy handspun yarn that I created a sheep pattern in honor of it. 

The older, more homespun, original version of the pattern is still available for $4 on Ravelry for a short while longer. I want to give you fair warning that the price change will be happening in the near future.

When the new version is available I'll send out the update to everyone who has already purchased the pattern in the past.


The newer and fancier version will be $6. I am not sure exactly when this will be changing but probably in the next few weeks. Grab it now if interested and you don't mind the older scruffier version (the pattern is the same as for the newly knit sheep in the photos here).



The new version of the pattern will be called Sweet Sheep and the samples are knit in the wonderful Solitude Wool Romney 2-ply Aran weight. It is a cute, simple sheep pattern.


One last quick thing. I was surprised to see that I am nominated for the Best Craftsy Knitting Instructor's Blog Award for 2015. Thank you for the honor if you were one of the nominee voters.

Craftsy has been very good to me over the last few years and although I don't promote my classes too often on my blog I do appreciate everything Craftsy has provided for crafters in general and knitters. It is a great new and innovative platform for learning and teaching.

Now the voting is on through midnight on Wed. Jan. 28th, 2015 (tomorrow) to select the winner of this and many other great categories. 


I'll be back soon to share some sock and shawl knitting progress.

Don't forget to leave a comment to win the vest and cowl pattern.
xo ~ susan