Playa del Cardi workshop on Knitting Paradise!

I will be hosting another workshop on Knitting Paradise, this time for my Playa del Cardi!

This cardigan has been very popular lately, so we thought a workshop would be nice for the many people who have the pattern.

For those of you who haven't found this pattern yet, here are some details:

Playa del Cardi is a seamless, hooded cardigan that is incredibly light and airy. Perfect for those warm summer nights that require a little glitz, or wear it with jeans for a day of shopping.

I, personally, wear mine a lot and I get complements on it regularly! It is soft and comfy!

Also, as an added bonus, I will be offering this pattern at 50% off to workshop participants! That means that you can get this pattern for only $2.50 USD! Just go to either Ravelry or Etsy and enter the coupon code KPcardi at checkout.

I hope to see you there!

New Workshop and Coupon Code!

It's time for another workshop on Knitting Paradise! This time it will be for the Commuter Capelet.

© Michael Ritz

I am going to be active in the workshop, so I will be able to answer any questions that pop up. You do need to be a member on Knitting Paradise, but membership is free, and easy to sign up for.

As an added bonus (and to celebrate the mad rush to finish all of our Christmas knitting) I am currently offering 25% off of all of my patterns for sale on Ravelry and Etsy!

Just use the coupon code "25for25th" (without the quotes of course) on either Ravelry or Etsy.  This coupon will be valid until the end of December 25, 2013, so be sure to use it before then.

See you there and Happy Knitting!

Join the Drop Leaf Shawlette Workshop on Knitting Paradise!

Starting August 25, 2013, Knitting Paradise will be hosting a workshop for my design, Drop Leaf Shawlette.

I am going to be active in the workshop, so I will be able to answer any questions that pop up. You do need to be a member on Knitting Paradise, but membership is free, and easy to sign up for.

As an added bonus, I will be offering the pattern for sale at 25% off! Just use the coupon code "KPDS25" (without the quotes of course) on either Ravelry or Etsy.  This coupon will be valid until the end of September 9, 2013, so be sure to use it before then.

See you there and Happy Knitting!

Infinity Cardigan!

In February, Knit Picks released their spring collection, called First Light. It is a fantastic collection of patterns that are perfect for the beginning of spring.

I am proud to say that I have a pattern in this collection, called the Infinity Cardigan. It is a circular style cardigan, but isn't constructed like any out there. It is knit in one piece without seams so that the cables flow without end. I also designed it with reversible cables so that there is no wrong side showing when the front folds!

Infinity Cardigan by Tamara Ell, available from Knit Picks

There have been a few questions about the provisional cast on portion after the sleeve, so I have put together a quick photo tutorial for anyone who may have become hung up on that part of the pattern.

First, you will finish the 7th row of the last repeat of the sleeve. On the 8th row you will be adding extra stitches to accommodate the front, so make sure you remember this step. After this row is complete, you will take the specified number of stitches you just worked (based on the size you are working on), and put them on hold with waste yarn or stitch holders.

You will have your working yarn coming off of these held stitches.

Switch to straight or circular needles if you are working on DPNs.

Next, pick up the back loops of your crocheted chain with the empty needle.

Work Row 1 across these back loop stitches.

Now you are all set up to begin working the front charts. 

Six weeks later...

Phew! I have had a very busy six weeks!

It all started on Canada Day (July 1st for those of you who aren't lucky enough to live here). We picked up our newest family member, Rebel.

Rebel Boy

He is a very goofy boy, and is still very much a puppy despite his large size. He is much bigger than our other greyhound, Sally, but will not have his second birthday for another few weeks!

He loves to snuggle on the couch with us, and he loves his puppy sister. His sister loves him too, and he is fitting well into our family. He is 99.9% house trained now, though he still can't be trusted outside of the kitchen when we are gone as he likes to chew our son's toys.

Monkey and Rebel watching cartoons

At the very end of June I found out that one of my designs ideas was selected to be in a new eBook for a very well known online knitting retailer, so I have spend the last six weeks designing like crazy to get the pattern just perfect. While the construction in the end is very easy, it was like figuring out a 5000 piece puzzle without a photo. Only this puzzle not only had no photo, it was also only in one color, and not rectangle! I love how it turned out, and after I finally finish my Lady's Bumbershoot, I will cast on my own copy of it. I have the yarn that the retailer sent me, and I have some 100% cashmere from Colourmart, so I have to decide which one I am going to use first! The design itself is due to be published in February, so you will all have to wait 'till then to find out more about it. Trust me, I can't wait either.

In July we went on our family vacation (by family, I mean family - 17 people this year!) and had a great time. The weather was better than last year, and not stupid hot like the Columbia Valley usually gets this time of year. Lots of pool time, and, of course, knitting and spinning.  This was Renee's second trip, and she loves the view ;-)

I also finished my second Drop Leaf Shawlette, and I am very happy with it. I love how the colors turned out!

So there you go. Between work, WCOBBS stuff, visiting Heritage Park with the kids and everything else, that has been my last six weeks!

Happy knitting!

Drop Leaf Shawlette

About a month ago I released my Drop Leaf Shawlette pattern, and I have been pleasantly surprised about how well it is being received.

I don't remember what originally inspired this shawlette, but I have had a sketch of it in my notebook for at least a year.

Being part of the JulieSpins Handspun Swap group, I received an amazing fingering weight skein of handspun (along with some other yummy stuff) from silmiriel, who was my swap partner. It was the most beautiful arrangement of colors and I knew I had to use it right away. I thought of the shawlette that was still picking away inside my brain and decided this was the perfect project for it.

So, I started working out the details at the beginning of May, and finally finished my trial by fire sample not too long after. It turned out beyond perfect, this handspun and this pattern were born for each other.

Anyway, here is my Drop Leaf Shawlette:

It is available both on Ravelry and Etsy.

Happy Knitting!

Happy Margaritaville to me!

Another birthday has come and gone, and now I have a Margaritaville! This puppy is soooo coming to Radium with me this year! I spent both Saturday and Sunday evenings 'perfecting' my concoctions... ok, not perfect yet, but working on it! Besides, the more you have, the better they taste, right? Right!

The best thing, is I was able to make the 'virgin' versions in plastic margarita glasses for the kids. They were really happy to be part of the party too :-)

I had lots of laughs with family all weekend, and I was glad to have people to celebrate with. Hopefully this year will be full of new adventures.