What does the fox say? Meet Simone!

Meet Simone!  A very talented indie designer who has fun with colour!  

Want to knit one of Simone's designs? Leave a comment (with your email, which will only be visible to me), like her Facebook Page, join her Ravelry Group, and like Little Lamby Knits Facebook page for extra chances to win!  Please come back and leave a comment which groups you liked or joined!  Giveaway runs from Friday December 6th to 12th, 2013....

• What is your favorite type of item to design?

I have been knitting since I am about 5 years old and growing up, I made a  lot of cold weather sweaters, think Lopi, cables and thick chunky stranded designs, which can come in quite handy in Switzerland. Most of that era stayed with their respective owners back over there, since when I moved to Pa, I thought it would be quite warm here (look at the latitude, my gosh, south like Lisabon!) but that's s different story...  I later learned to appreciate 'the finer yarns in life' and these days I thoroughly enjoy creating unique lace patterns for shawls like my 'Ipomoea' . But honestly, I can't really say I have a favorite, I just love playing with color and texture and so I think I rotate through things I like to make, sort of seasonally!  Ipomoea is stunning!  

Ipomoea  Pattern

• What is your go-to yarn that you gravitate towards the most? 

Oh I don't know if I can answer that one, tough call, there are so many really nice yarns out there. I really like natural wool, especially merino wool, and silk, who doesn't like silk?  I love all of Dream in Color's and Cephalopod's colors, and anything by Malabrigo is going to be gorgeous, I am working on a couple of wintery items in Malabrigo 'Twist' at the moment... But I tend to work with a lot of different yarns by Cascade as well.  I love these yarns too!  So luxurious :)

• What is your most popular pattern? 

Right now my 'Hedgerow Jam', a convertible cowl and the cute and cuddly 'Fox Crossing Mittens' are getting a lot of love, but for the summer months, the lace shawls, especially Ipomoea are a big draw for anyone trying to avoid sweaty fingers!  Beautiful designs.  My favourite is Fox Crossing Mittens! (must make these!)

Hedgerow Jam

Fox Crossing Mittens

• Any fun projects in the works? 

Well, a couple. I am working on a really neat cardigan in Dream in Color's Perfectly Posh, and I am working on a outdoor themed e-book...  I look forward to seeing your new cardigan design and the outdoor eBook!

Want to knit one of Simone's designs? Leave a comment (with your email, which will only be visible to me), like her Facebook Page, join her Ravelry Group, and like Little Lamby Knits Facebook page for extra chances to win!  Please come back and leave a comment which groups you liked or joined!  Giveaway runs from Friday December 6th to 12th, 2013....

Want to find Simone and see all of her stunning work?  Visit her at the following places:

Designer Name: OwlCat Designs
Ravelry Name: simone77
Facebook Page or Group: https://www.facebook.com/owlcatknits                                            Ravelry group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/owlcat-designs-studio

Little Lamby Knits Pattern Giveaway (closed)

My good friend and fellow Canadian designer, Elana Nodel, is hosting a *Wish Day* for any one my my independently published patterns!  It is valid for 24 hours only and started about 2 hours ago.  You make your wish and at the end of the 24hr period, Elena will randomly draw a name and send a pattern to the winner!

What a great way to end the year!  Feel free to pass this on :)
Note:  You need to be a member of Ravelry (free to join!) to enter.

1)  If you are NOT a member of Ravelry, join here for free.  Have I ever mentioned what a great resoucre and community for knitting and crochet this is?

2) Visit my Little Lamby Knits Ravelry Pattern Store to chose your pattern.

3) Hop on over to to Elena's Ravelry Group to leave a message with the pattern of your choice.

Happy knitting and many blessing for New Year!

Toadstools and Tadpoles Pattern Giveaway! **CLOSED**

Kesha E, is the winner of the giveaway! Congrats! Please send me your email and I will send out the pattern to you promptly :)

Ready for another giveaway?  

I just received my right back for this adorable pattern :  "Toadstools & Tadpoles".  It has been reformatted and is ready to go!  It is fun to knit and combines cables with intarsia or duplicate stitch.  It is mostly seamless too; my favorite!

Ready to enter?  For each of the following, you will get 1 entry each; 4 chances to win!  On Tuesday, November 20, I will do a random draw and announce the winner here, so be sure to check back :)

1. Leave me a comment to let me know that you are a follower of Little Lamby Knits blog.
2. Leave me a comment to let me know that you are a member of my Facebook Group.
3. Leave me a comment to let me know that you are a member of my Ravelry Group.
4. Leave me a comment to let me know that you follow me on Twitter (I am a terrible Tweeter!!)

 Toadstool detail along back of cardigan

 Cute little toadstool can be worked in intarsia or after the set is knit up in duplicate stitch

Ok, now for some more fun stuff! Are you ever curious to see how these designs come to be?  Sometimes I start with a sketch, sometimes I just start knitting.  There is always a swatch involved; something I used to never bother doing, but I have since learned saves me A LOT of trouble in the end!  

Here is my original sketch of the jacket.  I usually write down a lot of the construction notes here, but I think I put all that into the proposal instead.  I did the bootees and bonnet on another page.  The ideas look SO much better within my head and therefore, I am very thankful for editors who can see that :)

My original swatch.  I still really like these colors.  These were all Cascade 220 colours in heathers and solids that I had around.  

Once the proposal is accepted and I know which yarn is coming, I start my schematic, excel spreadsheet and basic pattern.  Then once the yarn arrives, I am ready to start knitting!

...don't want to wait a week? 

Sneaky Peaky & Give Away !!

Contest is now closed! Thank you for all the great comments; winner will be announced on the 25th.

Next week, Wednesday, August 24th, Knitcircus Fall 2011 goes live!  I am VERY excited about this much anticipated issue because it is going to be HUGE (27 patterns!!!) And..... I have a pattern in there too :D  Here is a little sneaky-peaky:

Can you guess what this is?  No? That is ok :) You will find out soon :D

Now here is the BEST part:  Listen up all you knitters & want-to-learners:  I have 3 full Fall 2011 Pattern Collections AND a One Year Subscription to Knitcircus to give away! Isn't that exciting?  All you need to do is post a comment and let me know these 2 things:
1) Tell me what you think my pattern is in the upcoming issue of Knitcircus
2) What is your favorite pattern in the current Knitcircus, Summer 2011?

Check out the Knitcircus blog for more sneak peaks

I will announce the winner on Thursday, August 25th, the day after Fall 2011 goes live!  Happy Knitting!