CJ's Garter Cuff Mittens by Denise Balvanz

I was looking for a mitten pattern to try for my charity knitting, when I saw these great mittens with a garter cuff. That garter cuff is extra thick so it will keep the cold out and the warm in!

It turns out that designer Denise Balvanz actually made these for charity knitting originally as a variation of her standard mitten. I also thought that they would be good for stash busting, as you could use smaller amounts for the garter stripes.

These mittens were named for her youngest child, because he usually got the hand-me-downs from older siblings which were in sad shape by the time they reached him, holey, felted or both. He gets new mittens every year, because he keeps growing (funny how they do that)!

There is also a matching beanie, where that garter stitch cuff will make ears extra toasty! I may get that one as well, so that I can make matching sets.

She has lots of other great patterns ranging from Christmas stockings, baby items, and all manner of other things to keep you warm.

Give her a look! You can find her Gift-A-Long bundle here!

CJ's Garter Cuff Beanie and Mitten

Denise's Bundle Cover

Faye Kennington makes me want to knit stranded colorwork

I discovered designer, Faye Kennington of UkeeKnits during last year's GAL which was my first as a designer and participant.

She helped me on some technical and graphics issues, definitely saving my bacon and my sanity. This is also when I discovered her as a designer as well! (I also did a little interview with her, if you want to go back and check it out).

She has a lot of quick to knit items, which definitely help when you are time crunched and need a hat or other item for a quick gift! She has a wide repertoire of designs ranging from fun and funky to downright elegant!

This past year she has been getting my attention because of her beautiful stranded colorwork designs! My experience with colorwork, stranded or otherwise, has been limited to a couple of challenges.
I start to step into the water with a toe and then runaway because it looks too scary! But like a toddler it fascinates me because of all the pretty colors and patterns, and I just can't resist looking and wanting to try again.

This is the technique I want to challenge myself with this year! She has several patterns that intrigue me I just have to decide which one. A few are hat patterns such as Alpenglow, Two Medicine and Christmas Cracker (which I have been secretly scoping out since last year!)

There is also a wonderful Christmas Stocking pattern that lets you mix and match designs to the tune of 512 different combinations! I don't have that many stockings to knit, but what a wonderful thing to be able to make for my grandnieces and grandnephews. I have lots of time in between my own projects and several years. The pattern looks interesting and something you can customize endlessly.
So stranded colorwork, Fair Isle, here I come!

Check out Faye Kennington and if you're wanting to try this technique, she's got the patterns to tempt you! You can find her at Faye Kennington's designer page.

Here are a few that I found......that I will probably purchase at least one from this selection.

A little more than a day until the Indie Design Gift-A-Long 2017 & why I love it so!

Only a little more than a day until the GAL starts! On November 21 at 8:00 pm, the kick off sale starts! It goes until 11/28 at 12:00 am.

I love participating in the GAL, because it truly changed me in more ways than one.  I participated last year for the first time as a designer and participant.  I met a truly caring community of designers and participants.  There were many firsts for me during last year's GAL.

I had tech issues (well my understanding of the graphics, png's, collages), so my understanding of tech issues required a bit of help, which I received in spades.

I have to admit that I went a little crazy and tried to knit something in every category. I managed to do that, so I tamed my first Opadoo. I knitted my first shawl. I also started thinking that I could do more as a designer.  I discovered an untapped well of longing that I thought had been stamped out several years before by the careless remark of someone who was much higher in the design world than I. 

I won’t call out names or give details, except to say that the thoughtless act crushed the spirit of a very new designer. I crawled back into my safe little niche of knit/felted designs and didn’t venture out again until last year when the caring community of GAL designers drew me out.  I discovered that I still wanted to try other types of designing and needed to expand my skills in many ways. 

I started taking every challenge that came up from Conquering Cables, SoleneKnits 5 Day Headband Challenge to ArohaKnits 5 Shawls 5 Days, Colorwork Catalyst and Initiate Knit Design Challenges. 

I blogged about all these challenges (which you can see here in this blog if you like) and then I jumped in feet first into Swatch Studio Design Course with Francoise Danoy and then FiberBoss College with Chelsea Fitch to learn about the business end of the design world. 

5 Shawls 5 Days Challenge

5 Day Headband Challenge

I previously had worked full-time and released patterns now and again as I had time.  I mostly sold copies to my local yarn shop, but them a couple of years ago put them on Ravelry.  I sold some now and then, but never owed Ravelry.  After the 2016 GAL was the first time I ever had to pay Ravelry, but I didn’t mind because it meant that people bought my patterns in enough numbers to make that happen.

During this time, I also discovered about tech editors and test knitters. I had always test knitted my own patterns more than once and had no idea what a tech editor was.  I am hoping to have all my old patterns tech edited eventually as I can afford it, but I have a lot of rewriting to do before that happens. I have also learned more about pattern writing, photography, charting and all the other things that go into writing patterns. 

I am hoping to continue expanding my design portfolio with more non-felted patterns. I have recently released my first two non-felted patterns, which are offered in my sale bundle for GAL 2017. I released my shawl pattern, Infinite Surf in October and Stella Eve's Snoozle, a baby blanket pattern last week.
 

Infinite Surf

Stella Eve's Snoozle

I also recently participated in a knitting cruise sponsored by my local yarn shop, the Knit and Stitch boutique and Cascade Yarns. We were fortunate enough to have StevenBe on board as one of our “star” instructors.

He is a very genuine and exceedingly positive person.  I told him I appreciated his kindness toward a fledgling designer and briefly told him about the experience that had stunted my growth as a designer (still no names mentioned). He put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in for a half hug. He kissed my forehead and said that the aforementioned crusher of dreams didn’t know what they were talking about.

That night at the StevenBe Style Show on board, as I was carrying out my social media duties, he called me out from behind my camera and introduced me as an up and coming fledgling designer. You could have knocked me over with a feather at that point. He didn’t have to do it, but he did. It was so amazing and felt so good to have a designer at his level take the time to undo some of the damage done so long ago.  I’m getting misty just thinking about it, because it was monumental for me.  It gave me a much needed boost in confidence.

StevenBe and I at his Style Show on the cruise.

So I love the GAL, because it was the catalyst to me coming out of my safe little niche of knit/felted design into the wider design world.  It was the cooperative spirit that nudged me into trying new things and trusting a new group of designers.  This cooperative spirit makes me think of a saying from Chelsea Fitch of FiberBoss College, “A rising tide lifts all boats!” which remind me there is room enough for all in this world of Ravlery and knit design.

So, I’ll see you at that party known as Indie Design Gift-A-Long 2017! Be there or be square and see you on the flip side!

Trying a hat pattern by Ranée Mueller of Arabian Knits

One of the best parts of the GAL is trying other designers pattern!
Ranée Mueller of  ArabianKnits has these two great hats! And I'm going to knit one or both of them! Ziyad on the left and Spume on the right. Both knit worthy and use either worsted or bulky, which means quick to knit! Important for when making them for charities!
I do most of my knitting knitting for love between Thanksgiving and Valentines Day! Most people call it charity knitting, but I prefer knitting for love!
At this special time of year, it's my way of giving back to the world by helping others.
Anyone who knows me or has read my posts for long, knows I love doing things For The Children of Pineridge! They are my preferred group on Ravelry to knit for or donate to because their motto is "Do what makes your heart sing!"
I love to knit hats, but like to change it up now and again with a new pattern!
Both have visual interest with spiraling stitches or cables! I need more practice with cables always!
Support a new to you indie designer! You might find some new favorites!
💖
•
Photo credit: Ranée Mueller of ArabianKnits
•

It's only 5 more days .....

The Indie Design Gift-A-Long is in its 5th year! For the last four years, there has been much gift knitting, chatting, playing of games, winning prizes, gift crocheting, recipe swapping and more because of this 6 week long party!
"What's a Gift-A-Long?"  you may ask if you weren't around last year for the festivities!

It’s a multi-designer promotion to help you kick your holiday gift-making into high gear! The Indie Design Gift-A-Long is a 6 week long KAL/CAL of holiday gifts made from patterns designed by a rather extensive list of independent designers. From November 21, 2017 at 8:00 pm US EST to December 31, 2017 at midnight US EST there will be fun games, contests, and 8 KAL/CALs that will help you get your holiday knitting and crocheting done with companionship and fun!

From November 21, 2017 at 8:00 pm US EST to November 28th at 11:59pm US EST tons of indie designers will be discounting between 10 - 20 of their patterns 25% for this event. Use coupon code: giftalong2017.

Once you’ve got your Gift-A-Long patterns, we encourage you to join a relevant KAL/CAL! (For instance, if it is a cowl, please join the Cowls, Scarves, & Other Neck Things KAL/CAL.) To join, simply write a post in the KAL/CAL thread you want to join, including the pattern name you will be knitting and a link to your project page. KAL/CAL participants are eligible for lots of lovely prizes but you’ve got to post to win Please Note: all prize winners must be group members!
KAL/CALs will run from November 21, 2017 at 8:00 pm US EST to December 31, 2017 at midnight US EST, plenty of time to knock out all your holiday knitting and crocheting. We have tons of prizes, games, and great conversation, plus a lot of other fun, so pull up a chair and join us!
On your mark…get set…. GIFT!!
Other things:

• Please use #giftalong2017 to tag your social media-ing!
  
• Please only share Giftalong projects in the “shared projects” section of the group.

Another new pattern!

In the next few days, I will be releasing Stella Eve's Snoozle. This is a baby blanket that I designed for my grand niece.  I got so many compliments I decided to make it into a pattern.
I'm wrapping up test knitting and tech editing, so I will release it shortly.
Look below to see a picture of it and watch my designer profile page for the release!

I will also be participating in the GAL again this year, so select patterns will be on sale. Watch here for more about GAL 2017 as I will be posting about it again this year.