Fickleknitter Designs' Giveaway

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Our 3 Winners

Jenny aka renewedmind on Rav

Patsy aka missbabie on Rav

Karen aka hunnyb on Rav

Please contact me at Sandrasingh@sandrasingh.com

to claim your prize!

6 years ago May I launched Sandrasingh.com, as I reflect I'm simply amazed by how fast the time has went. "THANK YOU!" for being a customer. I'm so glad you found me along the way and thank you for everything you've taught me and shared with me, I couldn't have done it without you! To celebrate my anniversary each week in May I'll be featuring a different knitwear artist for a Blog Giveaway and prizes will include beautiful patterns and some yarns to knit them in!

First up is the brilliant Michelle Miller, aka the Fickleknitter, and I have a very important and timely announcement:

The Fickleknitter will be at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Fest this weekend May 7-8, if you're lucky enough to be attending stop by and see her, she'll be at the Feeling Ewe Booth located at OUTSIDE LC20.

There will be 3 Winners for this giveaway!
#1 Fickleknitter Designs' Pattern Book Collection of 14 Patterns
#2 Sandrasingh.com Exclusive Sookie hat, fingerless mitts & neckwarmer PDF pattern & 3 skeins Sandrasingh.com 1 Ply Merino Worsted in Plum Sky
#3 Shawl PDF Patterns - Limestone, Fleurdelise and Honey Pot

Pattern Book Collection of 14 Patterns

Sookie

Sookie

Sandrasingh.com 1 Ply Merino Worsted in Plum Sky

Honey Pot

Fleurdelise

The advent of Ravelry introduced me to a whole new slew of knitwear artists, yes, I began Sandrasingh.com before Ravelry! And Michelle was one of the first I met, I'm wracking my brain trying to remember which of her patterns first got my attention, but I can't recall! But I do remember her Versacowl was a huge hit and we had a KAL for it in 2009, dedicating it to our beloved HBO series, True Blood. Here's an aside, Michelle likes to say it was me who introduced her to this wild vampire miniseries, but I was just doing my part of share my love of fangs. Another aside, I've had the pleasure of meeting Michelle OFF RAV, twice! We first bumped into one another last summer at the TNNA in Cleveland OH, than she visited me in NY that following Fall and we went to the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Fest, besides being a gifted designer, in person Michelle is very sweet and funny and she knows a lot about all things tech!

Versacowl

Michelle's design talents include a wide variety of garments and styles. She has lovely accessories such as the Lace Leaf and Slouchee hats and the very special Mama Janes slippers with matching Baby Janes.

Slouchee

Momma Janes

Baby Janes

She has taken the mantra "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" and turned it into a saying to live by or rather to knit by with her Eco Knitting Patterns the Go Green Collection. You'll love knitting and carrying her two market bags the Reusable Produce and Lemon & Strawberry. And she has improved our wasteful paper towel and disposable Swifter Mop habits with her reusable versions, both are available in the Go Green Collection.

Reusable Produce Bag

Lemon & Strawberry Produce Bags

Recently Michelle has turned her attention to designing lace and thank heavens she's invested her time and energies into this new endeavor, her work is splendid. She's done a series of scarves including everyone's favorites the Asymmetrical Triangle Shawl, Bird of Juno and the Easy Bamboo Lace. And she has a real knack for designing very pleasing triangular shaped shawls that show off their textures beautifully in your favorite lace or sock weight yarns whether in a solid, semi solid or variegated colorway.

Asymmetrical Triangle Shawl

Bird of Juno

Easy Bamboo Lace Scarf

Besides generously giving us these patterns for prizes Michelle was gracious enough to take some time out of her busy day and answer these interview questions.

Bio: I knit tin hats and write knitting patterns for knitters. Despite my best efforts, I recently graduated with a Masters degree in Applied Physics. Most of my time is spent keeping my four year old from swinging from the chandelier and my husband distracted from the constant influx of new yarn.

1. Please tell us about yourself and what got you interested in knitting and designing knitwear.
I started my business because I didn't have enough to do each day between the sleepless nights and constant nursing when I was staying at home with my daughter and while dragging my feet on finishing my Master's Degree. Writing patterns lets me stretch all those math and physics muscles I developed in college and graduate school and allowed me to work from home all in the name of procrastination.

Two things I didn't realize about working at my own business at home was that

• I'd spend so much time in my pajamas with unwashed hair.
• I'd let my child and husband turn feral for a time while writing.

Three more things I didn't realize about working at my own business at home was that

• Over time you save a lot of money by wearing pajamas and washing your hair every other day.
• You can spend that money on yarn.
• Eventually your husband will get sick of dirty dishes and laundry and do them himself.

2. What is your design philosophy?
I specialize in one skein projects using luxury yarns and write simple patterns that only look complex. For me writing and knitting a shawl out of one skein of sock yarn is magical. You're completing a garment with a small quantity of yarn which also means the knitting doesn't take as long as a shawl that requires 1,200 yards. It's instant gratification in knitting and yarn.

3. Who or what inspires you the most in your design process?
Elizabeth Zimmermann and Meg Swansen of course. Vibeke Lind's Knitting in the Nordic Tradition is my all time favorite knitting book. Mary Thomas's Book of Knitting Patterns is also chock full of wonderful information. I'm inspired by complex looking knit objects that are made up of simple repetitions.

4. What direction do you see yourself heading in as a designer?
I'm currently writing and knitting for my first book which will be out this some time Winter. I enjoy the art and technical aspects of writing and knitting so as long as I can continue both I'm content. I'm also passionate about meeting other knitters mainly through vending at knitting shows all over the country. Last year I was able to meet wo many very wonderful knitters at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival, Rhinebeck (where I stayed with Sandy and her wonderful husband), Stitches West, and a scattering of local shows. This year I was a guest artist at an industry party at Unwind in Burbank, vended at Stitches West, and will be vending at Sock Summit as well as exhibiting at TNNA this June. I love meeting new and old knitters and I love to talk about anything knitting related. So if you see me at one of these events please stop by and say hi!

5. How have the advances in technology and the internet helped you (or hindered) you as a knitwear designer?
I can tell you with certainty that I wouldn't have my business if it weren't for Ravelry. Ravelry made designing seem accessible and allowed me to develop my style in my time line. I embrace technology every day including social media. I'll be releasing my first book in print as well as eBook, stay tuned to my blog for details (http://www.fickleknitter.com)

Thanks Sandy for interviewing me!
xo
Michelle

Thank you Michelle for taking the time to talk to us and we look forward to seeing even more beautiful work from you.

Please take a moment to enjoy all of the Fickleknitter's designs. All of her patterns are sold as PDF downloads, and there are no shipping fees.

Lace Shawls & Scarves

Limestone

Cowls, Hats & Slippers

Lace Leaf Hat (sized for adults and children)

Go Green

Go Green Collection

Children

Wee Baby Socks

There will be 3 winners for this giveaway, no purchase necessary to enter, and the winners will be announced May 7, 2011.

Enter this Giveaway:
The more ways you enter, the more chances you have to win and make sure to leave a comment telling exactly what you did to enter. And please make sure to include your contact information.

1. Leave a comment about your favorite Fickleknitter pattern, under this blogpost.
2. Blog about this Giveaway on your blog and link it, leave a comment under this blogpost with the link back to your blogpost.
3. Join my Ravelry group Sandrasingh.com and introduce yourself in the "Welcome Tell us About Yourself..." thread.
4. Announce this Giveaway in your Ravelry group or in another Ravelry group that allows you to announce Blog Giveaways.
5. Friend me on Facebook: Sandra Singh and say you "Like" my post about this Giveaway.
6. Announce this Giveaway (with the link) on Facebook
7. Follow me on Twitter: Sandrasingh
8. Announce this Giveaway (with the link) on Twitter.
9. Sign up for my Newsletter on my Home Page.
10. Sign up to "Follow my Blog."