Sliding into 2017 with more love .......

Plain and simple....Here's hoping for a better year in 2017...more love, less contention.💖💙💚💛💜💖💙💚💛💜💖💙💚💛💜💖💙💚💛💜💖💙💚💛💜💖💙💚💛

All patterns will be 25% off from December 25, 2016 until January 5, 2017 end of day.  No coupon code required.

On knitting Either/Or Mitts from leethalknits

I am having a wonderful time constructing my Either/Or Mitts.  I say constructing, because they are a modular knit that starts at the thumb and expand across the hand.  They are fully customizable by striping sequence, fingerless or full mitten,  and length of wrist section.  They may also be made in nearly any yarn weight. That being said, I will move on to my yarn selection.

I had some Noro Silk Garden #1 (the first colorway ever dyed) of this popular yarn that I have been saving for just the right project.  I had another ball of an unknown color way that I was given a while back (somewhat contrasting, but not crazy different). The #1 isn't a good picture of the skein, but you can see the change from brown, to beige, to a lavender and then black, with gray beyond that.  The other skein so far is blacks, browns, with a blue gray in the future (beyond that I'm not sure. It'll be a surprise.)

So far I have one mitt done, and I'll post more when I have the other one done.

Mitt under construction

First Mitt Done..more to follow

 

An interview with designer Lee Meredith of leethalknits

When I was deciding on my various projects for the Indie Designer Gift-A-Long KALs, I came across a pattern for modular mitts constructed from the thumb across.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the pattern for Either/Or included instructions for multiple yarn weights, as well as multiple styles from short, fingerless mitts to full mittens. I liked them so much, that I asked Lee Meredith (aka leethal on Ravelry) to do a little profile for this blog.

She has a variety of patterns and constructions that are quite compelling.  I am enjoying the pattern and will post about it separately.  Without further ado, my profile with Lee Meredith:

Lee Meredith aka leethal

Tell us a little about yourself and where you are from.

·        
      I grew up in Southern California, and moved to Portland, Oregon in 2007, the same year I wrote my first knitting pattern! I have a degree in art (emphasis on photography) and I’ve been self-employed doing mainly knit design and also lots of other assorted craft-related things since 2008. I’m currently back in school to learn graphic design.

How and when did you begin designing?

·        When I learned to knit (in college, around 2002) I started improvising right from the start. What I liked about knitting was thinking up something I wanted to make and figuring out how to make it, or experimenting and seeing what would happen. I was already knitting for a few years before I even tried a pattern, or learned how patterns worked. So, basically I was always designing, but once I starting learning how patterns worked, and once ravelry launched so I started seeing a lot more patterns, that’s when I took the step into writing down what I was doing in a way other people could follow. The first pattern I ever wrote was published in Knitty in Fall 2007, and I’ve been obsessively writing patterns ever since!

You have such interesting construction on some of your patterns. Where do you find your inspiration?

·        
      Ideas usually come out of other knitting projects – knitting one thing gets me brainstorming about a new idea. Or seeds of ideas will just pop into my head, and then I’ll sketch and swatch until they develop into something. I don’t go seeking out inspiration; I have no dearth of design ideas.

Do you have a favorite item that you enjoy designing?

·        
      Hats are what I always come back to and could design over and over and never get bored. I do like jumping around to other items, but if I had to choose just one item to design forever, it would be hats.

What advice would you give to a budding designer?

·        
     Umm, it depends what said budding designer is aiming for. I’m currently back in school for a career change, so if they were asking me about how to be (financially) successful, I’d have no answer ;) I also wouldn’t advise doing it only for the love with no goal of making money, because it’s hard work that deserves compensation. So I’d pretty much avoid giving advice to anyone. Sorry that answer was so honest, hah!

Do you have a website, blog or newsletter that you would like to share?

·         My knitting pattern website is leethalknits.com; I’m leethal on ravelry; I’m most active on twitter @leethal and I’m leethalknits on instagram and leethal.leemeredith on facebook.

Full Mittens from Either/Or

Short Fingerless Mitts from Either/Or

Long Fingerless Mitts from Either/Or

Newest Promotion for December -Adopt a Critter

In addition to the 20% off all patterns, I have added a new secondary promotion with a deeper discount.  In honor of shelter animals everywhere, I have added a discount of 35% on all my softie patterns until midnight 12/22/2016, using the coupon code ADOPT.  

George T Dawg is giving tours at the shop, but  he will follow you home, if given the opportunity.  Don't look at the eyes! He'll get you with those mournful looks every time. So stop by Paula King's Ravelry store (aka KraziKnitz by Paula).

Make a cuddly friend for yourself or someone you love.  Soft and cuddly creatures can be a great comfort to all of us, young or old.  You can tell all your secrets to a special friend and never worry they will be shared with anyone else.  George is like that, he makes a great confidant who would take all of your secrets and lock them in his heart forever.

December promotions

I currently have two promotions running.

First, a general sale of 20% discount on all patterns with no coupon code needed until midnight 12/24/16.

Secondly, I will have a rotating promotion on different patterns until the end of the month. My current additional savings is on all patterns with the word SLOUCH in the title.  These patterns have a 35% discount until midnight 12/18/16.  The coupon code is SLOUCH.

My shop is KraziKnitz by Paula aka Paula King's Ravelry Store.  Check the blog regularly or my group on Ravelry which by coincidence is called KraziKnitz by Paula.

New promotions will pop up every few days at least through the end of the year.  Happy Knitting!

Merengue Knot Bag & Skein Shop Independent Designer Program

I am proud to announce the release of Merengue Knot Bag, in conjunction with the Skein Shop Independent Designer Program.  I was fortunate enough to become acquainted with Alexandra Parks (aka Sasha) of Skein Shop and Dashing Mouse Designs, while buying some yarn for another design that I am currently in development.
She expressed an interest in my designs after looking at my designer page.  She asked if I would be interested in participating in their Independent Designer Program.  After receiving the details, I told her that I would love to collaborate on a design. This pattern is the result of that collaboration, with Skein Shop providing yarn support, tech editing and a lot of promotion.  I provided the inspiration, design and prototypes.  Sasha is a designer herself, but prefers to spend her time dyeing her line of yarns. You can find more information about the Independent Designer Program on the Skein Shop blog.
The Merengue Knot Bag inspiration came from the extravagantly ruffled costumes of some Latin dances. I love the sculptural qualities of felted ruffles.  I wanted to pair those ruffles with a simple knot bag.  The pattern has a nice photo-tutorial to help with construction of the ruffles.
So, without further ado, please take a look at the pictures below and start thinking of what colors you want to use for your own Merengue.
I am also offering an introductory promotional discount of 25% until 12/15/2016 midnight.  Take advantage of this and make yourself a tropical delight to chase away the winter cold (at least for a little while).  My shop is Paula King's Ravelry shop...KraziKnitz by Paula,

Latest Gift-A-Long 2016 projects on my needles currently...

I am currently finishing up my first shawl ever as part of the Shawl/Stole KAL. I chose Wraptastic from Stitchnerd Designs.  I have had more fun than I expected, so I will give it a thumbs up👍, as it was well written, had a lot of good tips and pictures showing how to read the wrap & turns. I chose a darkish denim blue Cascade 220 for my yarn and knitted it on US 9 needles.

I have also chosen to make Baguette Socks by Kirsten Hipsky (Two of Sticks Designs).  I am using 220 Cascade Superwash Sport in a dark green on US 2 (since I knit big).  It is slow going because of my carpal tunnel doesn't like little needles.  However, it is an excellent portable project for going to appointments and I hope to finish it before the end of the KAL for Giftalong 2016 Feet. 

And the winner is...

Well, I only had one person who left a comment about which UkeeKnits pattern that they would like to try.  She is by default the winner.  Judith, thanks for leaving a comment and becoming the winner of a free pattern from UkeeKnits.  I will be in touch with the information you need to redeem your win of the pattern prize that Faye so graciously donated.

Thanks again, Faye for agreeing to be profiled and providing a prize for a lucky winner. She loves your 2 Hour Smocked Toque.

Knotions, December 2016..has one of my patterns....ChaCha going live....WOOT!!!!

I just want to let everyone who reads this to go check out the new issue of Knotions.  You can find the patterns that will be in the issue going live December 3, at Knotions, December 2016.  There are 16 patterns and one of them is my ChaCha Backpack in two sizes.  There are additional pictures of the backpack appearing in the issue.  Those pictures and probably more will also be on my pattern page shortly, so that you can see both sizes and all the cute details.  My friend Teri's daugher Carla & niece Nicole modeled for me, since I have no young ladies in my immediate family who could fulfill that need.  The ladies were a blessing and were real troopers.

I am so excited about this, because it was my first ever submission to a magazine and it was selected.  I worked really hard on it and had no idea the amount of work that goes into a magazine submission.  Jody (the editor of Knotions) has been phenomenally helpful and patient with this newbie to the publishing world.  I will probably submit more ideas time goes on, but for right now I'm going to concentrate on some of the patterns that have taken a back seat to this project.  Keep your eyes peeled here for another new design soon..

I am partnering with someone to bring another design to life.  It should be a really fun knit.  That's all I'll say for now, because I'm still in the middle of the Indie Designer Gift-A-Long KAL. I am having a blast, and I will post more projects and hopefully more designer profiles before it's over.

Knit on!

Close up of ruffles on child size

Butterfly buttons add a touch of whimsy

Carla is modeling the child size

Nicole is modeling the teen/adult size

My friend's daughter Carla & niece Nicole  made lovely models

Cute flip flop buttons make this fun!

Close up of ruffles