There’s been a lot of chat in the internet craft community about the joy and power of FREE, as in sharing creative works for free to spread goodwill. I love this idea, sharing tutorials and ideas, but I wanted to take it a step further. So here’s my next big thing, a free online class where I’m not only sharing knitting knowledge, but giving you the opportunity to share some free, too.
Visit my class site to sign up for a completely free online video class on how to knit socks with the Magic Loop technique. The class project is a teeny pair of toddler socks that can be (but don’t have to be, your choice, no pressure) donated to Children in Common. CIC helps provide warm clothing and other assistance to children living in orphanages in Russia and the rest of the former soviet Union.
SIGN UP HERE
So in my excitement and KAL inexperience (it’s my first time as a KAL organizer), I realized that while the Pavo Real KAL began yesterday on ravelry, I completely neglected to post about it HERE. FAIL*. Hopefully, it will sound like so much fun, some of you will still want to join in and forgive my gaffe.
So without further delay, here are the details:
The KAL’s homebase is in the KSD group on ravelry. The only real rules are use KSD yarn (because it’s a KSD knitalong, right?) and check with me if you have any major pattern issues before freaking out mid-forum (I’m not expecting any real problems since the pattern’s been knit by several different knitters, but you never know.).
If you’re on twitter, tweet with the hashtag #PavoKAL to join in on the conversation there.
The KAL’s flickr group can be found HERE.
This is a month-long knitalong for February, so join in at any time and share your projects. I can’t wait to see them. We’ll aim for finished shawls by the 28th, but since life sometimes has other plans, just show us what you’ve got along the way. It’s the journey, right?
And again, not to plug it too hard, except I think it would help new laceknitters, but if you love the look of these lace shawls but are intimidated by hole-y knitting and charts and markers, consider signing up for my online Pavo Real lace class. I promise to make you more confident and capable with lace knitting, and you’ll get a lovely shawl to boot!
*I could blame it on the groundhog. He is awfully compelling.
Are you ready for the Pavo Real knitalong? We’ll be casting on for our shawls tomorrow, Feb. 2nd, and I’m super excited to see what variations y’all are working on!
The knitalong’s home will be on KSD’s ravelry group, and I’ve also set up a flickr group to share photos of your projects.
I’ll start a fresh forum thread tomorrow morning for you to post your progress, photos, questions, and ideas. And, because this everyone loves prizes, there will be random prize giveaways for KAL participants during the event!
Get out your needles and KSD yarn and get ready, this is going to be awesome! Want to participate but feel a little out-of-your-league? This project is much easier to learn than you would think! CLICK HERE for more information on the Pavo Real online class, where I’ll teach you step-by-step from cast on to bind off how to knit this fun (and addictive) lace project.
If you’re in the Birmingham area, be sure to visit us at our yarn party this Saturday, November 7th. Drop by any time between 10am to 4pm to see our newest yarns and colorways. Refreshments will be served.
For directions, e-mail me at mail-at-kitchensinkdyeworks-dot-com.
To celebrate autumn, we’re giving our KSD customers and friends free shipping on all custom orders to help you wrap up in warm wooly yarns! Now through 10/31/09, you pick the color and fiber, and we’ll dye it just for you!
Free shipping discount will be given as a PayPal refund after your purchase. Discount applies to US orders only. Free shipping is good on all custom dyed orders, including Girl Friday sweater kits. Standard order turnaround applies, normally 1-2 weeks.
Browse our custom listings at the etsy shop, or see our yarn and colorways here on our website.
Charlotte shown on Merino Bamboo fine, Seacell Merino Fine, Luxe Merino Fine, and Merino Fine (from L to R)
KSD is now part of a grand collection of yarn pin-ups in the new Year in Yarn calendar, available for pre-order now!
We’re Miss January for 2010, along with a beautiful gathering of indie dyers, to raise money for Knitters Without Borders/Doctors Without Borders. Sexy, eh?
Pre-orders now open, shipping begins on November 2nd.
Eleven indie yarn companies have joined together to create the first Year in Yarn calendar, a must- have for dedicated knitters. Each month features gorgeous photography of hand-dyed yarn and the calendar pages include important dates knitters will want to keep in mind for 2010 – like the deadline to apply for Meg Swansen’s Knitting Camp, when and where Stitches and TNNA shows are taking place, and Elizabeth Zimmerman’s birthday.
Over twelve months, knitters will be greeted with photographs of yarns from established and up- and-coming indie dyers, including:
- The Sanguine Gryphon
- Three Irish Girls
- Rainy Days & Wooly Dogs
- A Verb for Keeping Warm
- Miss Babs
- Creatively Dyed
- String Theory
- Kitchen Sink Dyeworks
- Happy Hands
- Briar Rose Fibers
- Van Der Rock Yarns
The calendar retails for $16 CAD. Three dollars from the purchase of each calendar will be donated to Knitters Without Borders/Doctors Without Borders.
The calendar is available for purchase online at www.yearinyarn.com Order yours today!
Toronto Island Sheep by Duchamp
Southerners, come see us at SAFF in Fletcher, NC, the great gathering of fiber folk for the Southeast!
We’ll have tons of yarns and spinning fibers in booth #113 in the Sales Arena, and we’d love to see you there! Last year Kristin (Girl Friday) and I visited and had so much fun visiting with sheep and alpaca herders, and seeing all the amazing fiber offerings. Someone even came home with an angora rabbit, but you didn’t hear it from me!
Sheep at watering hole by Crowt59
alpaca's Delight by woodleywonderworks
Seriously, you haven’t lived until you’ve met an alpaca (or six). I hung out in the alpaca shed talking to the herders for hours last year.
Sheep Stampede by pussnboots
And Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, too! Order anything in the etsy shop this weekend and the shipping’s on me!
Happy Birthday to me, but there’s FREE SHIPPING for you!
Type “happy birthday” in the notes to seller section at checkout, we’ll refund the cost of shipping!
Free shipping within the continental US. Shipping costs will be refunded through PayPal after checkout and payment are complete. 9/18/9 through 9/21/9.
I’m finally settled back in from our trip to Renegade Craft fair in Chicago this past weekend, and it was so much fun! Kristin Rengren, of Retro Knit, the author of Vintage Baby Knits, helped me in the booth on Saturday and my lovely friend Amanda pitched in on Sunday, and it was so much fun to talk to all the Chicago area knitters and crocheters who stopped by.
The weather was sunny and beautiful! I even came home with a tan!
On the drive up, Chris and I fit in some photography:
And of course some beer!
I snuck away from the booth to do a bit of shopping and came away with some lovely, delicate porcelain earrings from Red Raven Studios.
And a “librarian squid” from Cleo Dee, who stitches up squids for every occasion:
I picked up some sweet block printed tea towels as gifts from Artgoodies:
The shear numbers of amazing, talented artists and crafters at Renegade was mind-blowing! If you ever get a chance to go to a Renegade event near you, I highly recommend it, although your wallet may be a little sore afterwards.
Our Luxe Merino Fine was as popular as ever, and many, many skeins found happy new homes in the Midwest. I just listed stock of Luxe in the etsy shop, which is dyed up and ready for immediate shipment.
We’re on our way to Chicago! Visit us at Renegade Craft Chicago this weekend, September 12-13, booth #19.
Follow our adventures in the windy city on Twitter, @kitchensinkdye.
