BAM! POW!! Meet Annie Watts....

With the advent of the awesome Gift-A-Long on Ravelry, I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet some really fun designers!

Introducing Annie Watts.  You might already know her from some of her famous patterns, such as Fightin' Words (brilliant and my favorite of her designs!) or see her Cryptozoology Set that was featured on Knit Picks.

 Let's learn some more about her:

• What is your favorite type of item to design? 
  I love colorwork accessories the best.  I've put out four mitt and three mitten patterns this year, The Mitts of Sisyphus and Medusa Mittens being my favorites.  I really like to design things that will be a little unexpected!  I like her surprises too!

• What is your go-to yarn that you gravitate towards the most?
  This year I've really been trying to branch out and try new yarns but I often come back to Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift.  It's such a great workhorse of a yarn and makes great mittens!  Definttely a yarn that I have wanted to try for a long itme!

• What is your most popular pattern? (you can name a couple)

Hands down it would have to be Fightin' Words.  It is most popular now than when I released it over a year and a half ago and it just keeps snowballing with new fans.  I love seeing what all the knitters do with this one!  

• Any fun projects in the works?
  I always have tons!  There are two patterns slated to be released in December and an ebook in February.  It's going to be a fun winter! I can't wait to see what she has in store!!

Where does Annie hang out? Find out below:

Designer Name: Annie Watts
Ravelry Name: Wattsolak
Blog or Website: Wattsolak.com
Facebook Page or Group: www.facebook.com/WattsolakDesigns 

*~* Mister of Missus Mittens *~*

Mister or Missus Mittens

$2 off pattern from October 28-31! Discount applied at checkout.
Check it out on Ravelry!

Finally finished up this fun pattern!  Loxley likes his new mittens; just in time for the colder weather!

Mister or Missus mittens are the complimentary piece to the Mister or Missus Toque, found here. 

Sized Baby through to adult large, these unisex mittens are fun to knit and make great gifts.  

The baby and toddler sizes have a modified cable in comparison to the larger sizes, but they still match the toque :)

Mister or Missus Mittens $4  

From October 28-32, receive $2 off the pattern at checkout!

Happy knitting!!

Honey Toque - New Pattern!

Honey Toque

        “Honey Toque is the complimentary toque to the Honey Mittens Pattern. This unisex toque is worked from the bottom up, seamlessly and in the round, with a rib 1x1 brim, and a decreasing honey cable pattern surrounded by stockinette stitch. Because of the simplicity of the pattern, it is nice and easy and fun to knit! 

     “The Honey Toque is meant to cover the ears and is a deep toque; perfect to keep ears warm and stylish, too!”

Sample in Madelinetosh Tosh DK, Size 'Teen'

Sample in Naturally Sensation, Size 'Medium' - for my mum :)

Matching Honey Mittens!

Sizes: Toddler, Child, Teen, Medium Adult, Large Adult

Rating: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate

Techniques & Stitches Used:  Knitting in the round, cabling

Yarn Requirements:  110-180 yards

$4.00 - 

Winter Knit-A-Longs....

Since I have started my new Ravelry Group, we have had a fun Knit-A-Long for the Little Willow Pattern.  It ends today so we are getting ready to start some fun KAL's for the winter!  You can join one or both as they both start anytime now and end January 31, 2012.  Still lots of time despite the winter holidays :)  Once your project is finished, share a photo with the rest of the group to be entered into a giveaway for some yarn (yet to be determined!)  Everyone who completes their project by the deadline will receive a free Little Lamby Knits Pattern of their choice :)

First up, is the Organic Seasons Jacket.  This cute hooded jacket is worked from the bottom up, seamlessly, with a seasonal motif of your choice, along the bottom.  The body, sleeves and hood are worked in a wave pattern.  It features an asymmetrical front opening and generous sizing for growing bodies.  It has a complimentary piece, the Organic Seasons Blanket.  The difficulty rating is intermediate as you need to follow charts, written directions, duplicate st or intarsia and graft.  Sizes are 3 months to 10 years.

Join the Organic Seasons KAL on Ravlery here!

Second up, is the new pattern, Honey Mittens and/or Honey Toque (will be released in a few days!).  Toque and mittens are both worked seamlessly, in the round.  They feature a honeycomb cable pattern that is simple to work and adds extra thickness to make the set nice and cozy.  Difficulty rating is advanced beginner to intermediate.  Sizes toddler to large adult.

Join the Honey Mittens & Toque KAL on Ravelry Here!

Happy knitting I look forward to knitting along with you :)

Honey Mittens Pattern Release!

Woohoo! New mittens for winter! Just in time, too, as it started snowing this past weekend!

Honey Mittens are perfect to knit in a weekend when you need something cozy on your hands in a hurry.  I used Naturally Sensations Merino/Angora but most worsted weight yarns will do!

“Honey mittens are perfect for when the weather is starting to get cool and you need something sweet to knit! These mittens are knit in the round, with a 1x1 ribbed cuff, the palm is in stockinette and the top of the hand in an easy cabled honeycomb pattern. Once the decreases at the top are complete, the remaining stitches are grafted together for a clean finish. The thumb is knit last, in the round.

“Cozy mittens for the winter with only a few ends to weave in!”*

Gauge: 32sts & 32 rows = 4” (10cm) in Honey Cable Pattern with US 6 (4mm) needles OR size needed to obtain gauge

Difficulty Rating: Intermediate

Skills Required:

• Knitting seamlessly in the round with circular or double pointed needles
• Cabling
• Reading from a chart
• Grafting

"Honey Mittens" Pattern PDF - $4.00 - 

Odds and ends...

This Autumn has turned into a really busy time of year for our family.  Between working part time, knitting, homeschooling, cooking & cleaning, I have quite a few projects in various stages.  I dug out some photos from now and earlier to chronicle a little bit of what is going on in my world.

Scarlett loves to dress up!  I don't really know if this outfit works, but she is definitely working it!

Again, rocking a new outfit! This top will be in testing soon.  Thinking of testing it? Volunteer in my Ravelry Group here.  I knit this sample over a year ago in Knit Picks Shine Sport. Time to finish it up!  Ravelled here.

 Elizabeth Zimmerman's Mitered Mittens from the Knitters Almanac.  Still picking my way through that great little book.  These will be a gift, for I-can't-say-who :)  Ravelled here.

Honey Mittens....a new pattern! Almost set to be released.  I would really like to finish the hat pattern to go with it. Maybe this week?  Ravelled here.

This is one of my favorite patterns, not yet released: "Mrs.Warford".  I knit this sample 2 years ago (yes, that's right, folks!) and have had the pattern all written up and sitting here.  I am determined to get this finished and released.  It is so pretty and feminine.  Totally seamless construction; worked from the waistband up, and then from the waistband down to ensure the perfect fit.  Ravelled here.

So, those are a few things on my needles.  What are on you needles?

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for the "Toadstools & Tadpoles" Pattern!

Leanne Mittens for ME!

My sweet, India, knit me some mittens :) In one of my favorite colors; purple!  It is the "Leanne Mittens" By Trisha Paetsch (I hoped I spelled that right!).  They are a free pattern that comes with her e-book; "Grand Prairie Hats"

India used Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool Chunky in Grape heather and Noro Silk Garden Chunky.  Very comfy mitts! I love them :)

For my sweet girl, who is always knitting something for someone, I knit her a Mister or Missus Toque in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tweed, colour "Dill Heather". 

Of course, I will knit matching mitts for her :) We just knit back and forth for each other :D

I am working on a Tree Fort Jacket right now for a sweet friends and can't wait to share those photos!

Happy Knitting!

Remember this cute little Twiga?

Twiga Hoodie Pattern $6.00 -

I have had this pattern back for a while, but haven't had time to re-release it.

This jacket is knit with South West Trading Company's "Saphira"; a supersoft superwash 100% merino wool.  Delicious to knit with!

"Twiga Hoodie" features an asymmetrical front opening, spots are worked in intarsia, seamless, bottom-up construction.  Only a few stitches to graft together under the arms!

Mittens are knit separately, then one edge is sewn to the sleeve.  They flip up and can be buttoned to the sleeve to be out of the way.

"Twiga Hoodie" can now be purchased through Ravelry or here on the blog.

$6.00  

Twiga Hoodie

Knitcircus Issue #15, Fall 2011 can be see here!

Some of you had some pretty close guesses; pullover, hat, fair isle. The part of my design that I asked you to guess on was the inside of the hood!

Twiga Hoodie is a giraffe hoodie with mittens that can be turned back while not in use.

Yarn: South West Trading Company, "Saphira", bulky weight; fun and fast to knit up!

Before I sent off my sample, I made Loxley be my model :)  He just didn't want to do it!

The mittens are stitched on the the cuffs at the back of the mitten, then they can be flipped up and buttoned onto the sleeve.  Those mitts will NOT get lost!

Top view of the hood, horns and ears.

I will announce the winners tomorrow, so please check back here if you don't hear from me :)

Happy Knitting!