"Orange" ya Glad You Went to Rhinebeck?

I just put the Fickleknitter into a cab heading to the airport, thus marking the official end of Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool 2010. What a whirlwind weekend. DH & I were sound asleep when the Fickleknitter slipped into our apartment late Friday night and when we awoke early Saturday morning she had magically appeared on our couch. As we prepared for our trip, meaning choosing which knit items we were going to wear, DH went to get the car and we set off on our journey!

We arrived in time for the last vestiges of the Ravelry noon hour meet & greet, we missed the photo shoot, bummer, but got to talk to some fellow ravelers and eat cupcakes! The rest of the fest & lunch awaited so off we went.

All the usual suspects were there...

long lines...

crowds of excited knitters...

fuzzy angora bunnies...

llamas...

and old farm machinery....

and of course the kids' bouncy castle!

This year as I wandered the fair grounds a theme quickly emerged...not only was it Fall with lots of pumpkins & smiling jack-o-lanterns on display...

...crisp, cool air and tree leaves turning bright colors, but knitters were turning too, everywhere I looked knitters had turned to Orange as the color of choice for their hand knit garments and accessories.

Hand dyers of yarn & roving also showed lots of orange color combos.

And knitwear designers had turned to orange for their samples. So I did what all good bloggers would have done, I decided to document this color phenomenon!

Behold the many glorious shades and hues of orange knit up into as many different garments & accessories imaginable!

At first I was apprehensive to walk up to knitters and ask to photograph them in their orange handiwork, but soon I met so many wonderful knitters who were eager to let me take their picture and proud to show off their creations that it became fun and a game for DH and I to spot people wearing orange. I took so many pics and talked to each person about the pattern and yarn that I lost track of it all, even though I knew I should be jotting it all down, I didn't. So if you recognized yourself or a loved one please give us a heads up about who and what we're admiring.

This woman made the trek all the way from sunny California, she told me the name of this pattern and how she altered the body from a spiral lace to the lace columns going straight down, but now I don't remember the name of this popular design. But I do love the bright color combo & mix of textures of her orange sweater & brown corduroy skirt.

Edited: 10/18 This is none other than Ravelry's Rhubarbear and this pattern is Tree Jacket by Sarah Johnson. It's Rhubarbear's 2nd Tree Jacket, her first she kept the lace pattern spiraling per the pattern. The yarn is Wollmeise Molly in Campari Piccolo. And she was from CA, but now lives some where in NY. Thanks to everyone who set me straight!

And this beautiful hat and shawl set was knit out of a handspun yarn, that our adorable model spun herself! I think the feather & fan shawl pattern she chose worked perfectly to show off the beautiful nuances of her variegated yarn.

No dogs allowed at Rhinebeck?! What?! This isn't a dog, this is a family member and isn't he smashing in his bright orange sweater?

This lovely woman is Jana from Voorheesville, NY and Jana was kind enough to email me the day after Rhinebeck and give me the details about this gorgeous felted scarf she's wearing..."You took a photo of me yesterday for your blog (I was wearing the funky head scarf thing - looked like falling leaves) and I wanted to let you know that I bought the scarf at the festival from Miriam Carter, Felt maker. Her stuff is beautiful - I should have taken the scarf off and shown it to you. If you get this today and have a chance to stop by her booth you'll see what I mean. She's in building 31, booth GG." Thank you Jana!

I love this pixie hat, the bulky yarn, the perfect shade of orange and especially the way it stands up! And though I didn't ask, I imagine our model knit the gorgeous sweater she's wearing too.

As the day wore on into evening the temperatures dropped and it was time for us to leave for dinner and the Ravelry party, it was smart that we had brought an assortment of knits to wear and I was able to change into the Sookie hat, cowl & wrist warmer set to keep warm. I was one of the party sponsors again this year and the party was a lot of fun, very much like last year.

This is the Fickleknitter and I at the Rav party and I'm wearing the Sookie set, its one of the Fickleknitter's original designs.

After some eats, and DH fortified himself with a stiff drink, we met more Ravelers, from all over the US and Canada even, and I continued my quest for Orange. I was fast rewarded with these shots...

This lovely lady knit this cute beret and I really should have gotten a shot from the back too, her cabling (I mean lace, thank you Nancy) was PERFECT! Nice heathered shade of orange too.

Edited: 10/19 This is Nancy out of Long Island, NY, I found her on Rav or rather she found me. She set me straight that this hat is a lace pattern, not cable. She doesn't have it on her Projects Page and I wish she did, but does have a really cute pic of her Chihuahua dog who is just as sweet as pie.

And my last shot of Orange is the crazy knitter & blogger extraordinaire Steven Ambrose of bitchesgetstitches.com! Love the Orange shorts, I do believe they were a free knitty pattern from a season or two ago and I especially love the attitude he's wearing them with! Steven you rock!

The Ravelry Party Raffle was a huge success and I think my gift was well received, a Jordana Paige "Bella Bag" stuffed with Sandrasingh.com exclusive yarns & patterns (shown above). When the raffle ended I realized my coach was about to turn into (an orange) pumpkin and it was time for us to leave for our long drive back home.

Another great year at Rhinebeck has come to an end, my 3rd year at the fest, and another great time was had by all.

Meet Norah Bellows of Noni

Nora Bellows of Noni is renown for her felted handbags, they're beautiful works of art that knitters worldwide have put their own signature on by creating one in their favorite yarn & color and embellishing it with things that have special meaning for them, just as Norah intended. If you've not yet discovered her delightful bags you're in for a treat. If you've created one in the past its time to rediscover one of her new designs, afterall a woman can never have enough handbags. Her Fall 2010 Collection includes the Clara Bow Clutch, Scoop Bags, Yoga & Everything Totes and the Cross Over and Cinch Bags.

Clara Bow

The Scoop Bags

Yoga & Everything Totes

Cross Over Bags

The Cinch Bags

And knit & felt a lovely flower to adorn your new bag...Clematis, Sunflowers, Gerbera Daisies, Stephanotis & Rosettes and the Sweetheart Roses.

Stephanotis & Rosettes

Gerbera Daisies

Field of Sunflowers

Clematis Flowers on the Vine

Nora also designs fashion for men, women and children. Her beautiful and comfortable pullovers and outerwear, such as her Ella Coat for women and the Dancing Princesses & Ella & The Legume coats for girls, suit many lifestyles and she always includes instrucitons for more than one styling option during the knitting process.

The Ella Coat

Ella & The Legume Coat

The Dancing Princesses Coat

She also has a delightufl line of bath towels and toys for children, Froggie, Little Bunny & Lamb and the Set the Table Felted Placements & Chef Oven Mitts.

Froggie Towel & Scrubby Bath Puppets

Little Bunny & Lamb Hoodie Towel & Blankets

Set the Table Felted Placemats & Chef Oven Mitts

Meet Nora Bellows of Noni: Nora was taught to knit by her mom when she was 12 but did not discover the world of felted bags until 2000. Her first bag was made from a simple pattern, but she immediately began to innovate. Soon, her unusual creations attracted the attention of customers in the Baltimore knit shop (Woolworks) where she worked (like so many of us) to support her knitting habit. In addition, she began making bags exclusively for private commission and for sale in a very few small boutiques around the East Coast.

While at Woolworks, Nora also taught literature and composition at the University of Maryland, where she earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and a PhD in Renaissance English Literature. After the completion of her degree in 2004, she moved (for love!) to Austin, Texas, where interest in her bags came more from other knitters than those seeking to purchase them. Her extensive background in teaching came in handy as she developed classes of all sorts: one on continental knitting, another on fixing mistakes, a third on making a felted bag, several on felted flowers, and, her personal favorite, an intense multi-day workshop that focused on designing one's own felted bag.

It wasn't until 2005 that she, after much pestering from her knitting students and Pat Rohmer (owner of Bluebonnet Yarn Shoppe in Cedar Park Texas), began to make her designs available to the intrepid knitter. During the Fall/Winter 2005 season she founded Noni Designs and launched a line of eight fashionable, innovative bag and embellishment patterns that are as beautiful as the designs they feature.

All Noni patterns are sold as PDFs that are emailed to you after purchase, which means no shipping fees. View Noni's entire Collection:

• Handbags

• Garments & Accessories

• Children

• Flowers

Knitting and Travel

I've been busy lately, working, knitting and traveling. Monday through Friday I work and knit and Saturday and Sunday DH and I travel around NY state and the surrounding area. We've been seeing a lot of this part of the country, places we only knew existed on maps and in books!
As I said I've been doing a lot of knitting, just no blocking! This is my finished, almost finished 5th Ave Infinity Scarf in Sandrasingh.com 3 Ply Merino Worsted. I love this color, I had named it Electric Blue, but easily could have called it Berries. And if I get it blocked in time I may wear it to Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool.

This knit in the round super long scarf was relatively easy and a very forgiving pattern, if you see it up close its far from perfect and this is just fine.

Unlike my Leaf Lace Stole that I knit in my Sandrasingh.com Superwash Fingering, its not pictured here for good reason even though it too is finished short of blocking. The LLS pattern was very unforgiving, one teeny tiny error and the whole thing was a mess. It turned out quite lovely, but without being blocked, not so lovely.

Besides the knitting I've been doing a little knitting related travel. Last Saturday DH & I journeyed to Ridgewood, NJ to attend the North Jersey Fiber Arts Fest and I'm really glad we took the time to visit this tiny show. I met some wonderful people and ran into others I had met before. And through these connections I hope to bring you a few new products you've never seen before!

This is Susan Mayo, a weaver, tatter, author and instructor. She was demonstrating and giving weaving lessons in conjunction with the Palisades Guild of Spinner & Weavers.

This is the owner of Leilani Arts, he specializes in yarns created from old saris, very beautiful and they would be perfect for weaving. He was very interesting, he's from Hawaii and lived on the Big Island, where I had lived, before winding up in NY he lived in Liberty, TX just north of Austin, I live just west of Austin and he currently resides in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, I'm in Midtown East. Coincidence? I think so!

And this fiber artist is Mikae Toma a Co Director at the Fiber Craft Studio in Chestnut Ridge, NY. She was demonstrating felting little bowls with lids from their Felting Sampler Kit.

The Fiber Craft Studio is dedicated to teaching individuals about handicrafts especially fiber related crafts such as spinning, felting and dying yarns in plant dyes. I'm taking a drive out there tomorrow to meet with another director to tour their grounds & learn more about their programs, I'll blog more about that later.

On Sunday DH and I took a drive to the lower Hudson Valley to the town of Sleepy Hollow, yes the home of the Headless Horseman and author Washington Irving. We visited their two famous cemeteries, Sleepy Hollow and the Old Dutch Church, between these two cemeteries there are a lot famous people buried in this relatively small town. The latter was very interesting, it had graves of soldiers from the Revolutionary War. And of course we saw Mr. Irving's family plot.

We had wanted to go on the Torch Light Cemetery Tour but that had long since sold out! The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery provides a very useful map and we were able to find all the major sites ourselves. We wound up having a very nice lunch in Tarrytown (home of IBM) along the river and over looking the Tappan Zee Bridge.

And this of course is Toffee! About two weekends ago we took a drive along the Palisades Parkway to go hiking in Bear Mountain. It was the perfect early Fall weekend and the leaves just barely had a tinge of yellow.

We had a nice hike late in the day. This coming weekend we may head to Greenwich, CT and I hope to get some blocking done.

Karabella Soft Tweed Free Pattern & Sale

Soft Tweed Hat and Scarf

This darling set is a Free Pattern from Karabella for their 100% wool yarn Soft Tweed, the pattern is below. Soft Tweed is On Sale for only $5.95 a ball, and you only need 4 balls to knit this set, making it very reasonably priced and a fast & easy project to knit for yourself or someone special.

In stock I have Green #1110 and Gray #1050 which would look lovely mixed together.

Below is the pattern, the original includes a chart which is not shown here, use this LINK for the chart.

Soft Tweed Hat and Scarf Knitted Measurements Hat circumference: approx 20”/51cm Scarf: approx 8.5” x 56”/ 21cm x 142cm Materials 3 balls 1.75oz / 50g (each approx 108yds / 100m) of Karabella Soft Tweed (100% wool) in color #1090 Oatmeal 1 ball in #1070 Brown Hat: One size 7 (4.5mm) 16” circular needle, or size to obtain gauge Hat: One set size 7 (4.5mm) double pointed needles, or size to obtain gauge Hat: Marker Scarf: Size 7 (4.5mm) needles, or size to obtain gauge Gauge 16 sts and 24 rows = 4”/10cm over St st using size 7 (4.5mm) needles.

HAT With size 7 (4.5mm) 16” circular needle and Brown, cast on 84 sts. Place marker and join in rnd. Knit 1 rnd. Purl 1 rnd. Next rnd: *k2 Brown, k2 Oatmeal; rep from * to end of rnd. Next rnd: *p2 Brown, p2 Oatmeal; rep from * to end of rnd, stranding yarns on WS. With Brown knit 1 rnd. Purl 1 rnd. With Oatmeal knit 8 rnds. Next rnd: *k2 Oatmeal, work from chart over next 10 sts; rep from * to end of rnd. Continue as set until 8 rnds of chart are complete. With Oatmeal knit 10 rnds. Shape crown (Note: change to DPNs when necessary.) Dec Rnd 1: *k4, sl 2 sts tog as if to k, k1, p2sso; rep from * to end of rnd. K 6 rnds; on last rnd move end of rnd marker 1 st to the left. Dec Rnd 2: *k2, sl 2 sts tog as if to k, k1, p2sso; rep from * to end of rnd. K 6 rnds; on last rnd move end of rnd marker 1 st to the left. Dec Rnd 3: *sl 2 sts tog as if to k, k1, p2sso; rep from * to end of rnd. Dec Rnd 4: k2tog around. Draw yarn through rem sts and pull tog. Cut 8 15” pieces of Brown yarn, and make 2 twisted cords. Wrap Oatmeal and Brown together around a 4.5” piece of cardboard 15 times, and make a tassel for each cord. Attach to top of hat. Weave in ends on the WS. Soft Tweed Hat and Scarf KK240 Abbreviations St(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stitch(es) k . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . knit p . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . purl rnd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . round DPN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . double pointed needles Dec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . decrease Sl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . slip tog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . together p2sso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pass 2 slipped sts over k2tog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . knit 2 together St st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . stockinette stitch Rem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . remain(ing) WS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . wrong side RS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . right side St st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . stockinette stitch

SCARF With size 7 (4.5mm) needles and Brown, cast on 32 sts. Knit 2 rows. Next row: k3 Brown, *k2 Oatmeal, k2 Brown; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3 Brown. Rep this row once more, stranding yarns in front (on WS). With Brown, knit 2 rows. With Oatmeal, work in St st for 4 rows. Next row: k1 Oatmeal, work 10 chart sts 3 times, k1. Continue as set until the 8 pattern rows are complete. Continue in St st in Oatmeal until piece measures 53”, ending with a WS row. Next row: k1 Oatmeal, work 10 chart sts 3 times, k1. Continue as set until the 8 pattern rows are complete. With Oatmeal, work in St st for 4 rows. With Brown, knit 2 rows. Next row: k3 Brown, *k2 Oatmeal, k2 Brown; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3 Brown. Rep this row once more, stranding yarns in front (on WS). With Brown, knit 2 rows. Bind off. With RS facing and using Brown, pick up 2 sts for every 3 rows along side edge. Knit 4 rows. Bind off loosely. Repeat on other side. Weave in ends.

October 2010 Newsletter

For knitters October is traditionally an exciting month, Fall is here with knitting season in full swing & its time for the Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool Fest in upstate NY. For a second year in a row I'm sponsoring the Ravelry Party, this year its on Oct. 16th. Once again I'm participating in the Gift Bag promotion and I'm also donating a Door Prize - a Jordana Paige Bella Bag filled with 4 different skeins of Sandrasingh.com Yarn, a skein of Serendipitous Ewe's Fate Fingering yarn hand dyed in an exclusive color and 10 of my Exclusive patterns. I hope you get a chance to attend, I'd enjoy meeting you. But if you plan on being there in spirit only I have another Door Prize Contest for you, visit my blog, knittingwithsandrasingh.blogspot.com for details.

Also, Oct. 18 is the launch of Yarns on Stage keep reading to learn more about this exclusive yarn event. And of course Oct. brings you loads of gorgeous new designer patterns.

In This Issue: Yarns On Stage / Sweater Weather / Warm & Cozy Accessories /

Yarns On Stage
Sandrasingh.com is anticipating the arrival of Yarns on Stage, a celebration of beautiful fingering weight yarn and of the artists who make its colors sing. On October 18 ten of today’s hottest hand-dyers will debut unique, limited-edition colorways designed for knitters who know their obsession is not just a craft, but an art.

Great Adirondack

Prism

Dream In Color

Participating hand dyers include Alpaca with a Twist, Cherry Tree Hill, Claudia Handpaints, Conjoined Creations, Dream In Color, Great Adirondack, Pico Accuardi Dyeworks, Prism Yarns, Shibui Knits and Twisted Sisters. Sandrasingh.com will have a limited supply of all these special-edition colors for this unique event, if you see one you like you may Pre Order it today, but when they’re gone, they're gone.

Sweater Weather
To what do we owe Fall's tribute to cardigans & pullovers? Perhaps the return of the cardigan to the European runways has made them popular again or maybe the hit TV series Mad Men with its 1960s charm brought them back into the limelight. Either way with so many stylish designs to flatter your figure and suit your mood you'll be happy their back and inspired to pick up your needles!

Idylewylde

Melissa Wehrle of Neoknits took cues from the little cardis that were 1950 & 60s fashion staples when she designed her vintage inspired cardi Idylewylde. Its simply a classic, with a small dab of lace running along the hem of the body for a bit of texture and small slits on the 3/4 length sleeves. The body is knit in one piece up to the armholes and then divided to work back and forth. Idylewylde is written in 8 sizes and knit with 3, 4 or 5 skeins of Madelinetosh Tosh Sock which is on sale and Pre Order until Oct. 15th.

The Noni Classic

Every woman needs a classic sweater in her wardrobe The Noni Classic pullover, or cardigan, is basic enough to wear with jeans to the farmer's market or dressed up with a pair of trousers for the office. The cardigan - shown embellished with cherry blossoms, is beautiful, and timeless and you can knit either style with straight or bell sleeves at 3/4 length or longer, and a placket that is simply ribbed or ribbed that terminates in a Stockinette roll.

Top Down Ribbed Pullover

And Noni's Top Down Ribbed Pullover sweater is figure flattering and includes options for neckline, sleeve length, shaping and flipping the keyhole from the back to the front, allowing you to create several looks from this one pattern.

One Cute Hoodie for Little Girls and Women

One Cute Hoodie for Boys Men

There are few sweaters as cozy and wonderful on a brisk fall day as a hoodie, knit Noni's One Cute Hoodie for Little Girls and Women or One Cute Hoodie for Boys & Men in your favorite yarn and it will be everyone's favorite sweater. Both patterns include enough sizes for everyone you know and can be knit it in a solid or with color-coordinated stripes for a sporty look. With its easy care & worsted weight Karabella Aurora 8 would be a great choice for these Noni sweaters.

And celebrate fashion's return to sweaters by knitting the most prized, a traditional aran. Knit the one that's perfect for your lifestyle and you won't just have a trendy sweater, but a life time classic you can pass on to the next generation. Gardiner Yarn Works' Winter Branches is a traditional style roomy aran pullover that skims your hips and has all over cables. Or if you love the look of traditional arans, complete with deep skirts or welts but want something longer to wear over leggings or a skirt, plus a zip up front to give you even more options, knit Dawn Brocco's Zipped Up Aran Tunic. Dawn's Working Cables Cardigan has a more fitted silhouette, with just enough ease to fit over a blouse. And if you're after a pullover with a turtleneck for extra warmth knit Dawn's Cropped Cable Pullover with Detachable Turtleneck. Or take a more modern approach and strategically place your cables along the sleeves and side seams with Karabella's Raglan With Cables.

Warm & Cozy Accessories
The preliminary results of my blog Fall Knitting Poll are in (you still have time to respond, Poll ends Oct. 31st) and they indicate many knitters have begun their Gift Knitting and plan on creating Accessories such as Cowls, Mitts, Hats & Scarves followed by sweaters, shawls and socks in popularity. And Gift Knitting for family members is most common. Many of my designers are ready for you with beautiful new project ideas.

Jogless

4 new projects from Lisa Ellis Designs...true to Lisa's design philosophy her new patterns for Winter 2010-11 highlight specific techniques and she walks you through them step by step to completion. Knit the 2 or 3 striped hat Jogless using her simple technique that eliminates the visible ladders striped knitting usually creates. Its easy enough for even a beginner and cute enough & sized for the entire family. Jogless is knit in a DK weight and Karabella's Aurora 4 is machine washable with lots of color options. And get 3 designs in 1 pattern with her Fair Isle Winter Trio. Pattern features matching hat, gauntlets and socks and is a perfect first time Fair Isle project. The sock is written in both traditional double points and Magic Loop method. All three are knit in a fingering weight yarn and a mix of the semi solids of Anzula Luxury Fibers, or Crazy4Dying, would give beautiful results.

Shawl Collared Cowl

As we discussed in September the Cowl remains a strong statement piece and Never Not Knitting's Shawl Collared Cowl is a simple idea with a twist. Alana Dakos thinks that shawl collars are flattering while keeping your neck warm thus the perfect pairing of practical and attractive. The twist is the addition of buttons and you have a cowl that can be worn in different styles and looks wonderful under a jacket. And Karabella's Soft Tweed would add a splendid rustic effect to this piece.

Asymmetrical Triangle Shawl

The Fickleknitter has another take on keeping your neck warm, her new Asymmetrical Triangle Shawl. Michelle Miller's background in physics, mathematics and computer science led her to write this unique pattern as she worked her way through shawl geometry. Its knit by casting on 300 stitches for the long edge and gradually decreasing to the center point, mix & match bright colors or use a semi solid and make yours special.

Confluence Shawlette

And Sivia Harding offers this work of art to wrap around your neck or shoulders. Like bodies of water emerging from a single spring the panels of her Confluence Shawlette flow effortlessly from a few cast on stitches at center back. The simple garter stitch sides and borders combine elegantly with beaded lace, and additional increasing at the center panel provides for a wonderful fit. Its knit with one skein of Jojoland's Consonance lace.

Tallulah

The Tallulah socks are also by Sivia and are short & very sweet beaded toe-up socks. They begin with Sivia's favorite round toe and feature a beaded openwork rib, a sculpturally fitted back, and just a hint of beaded ruffle at the top. Instructions are given for the crochet hook bead method, plus how to work heel stitch over the heel turn stitches, and how to make toe-up length adjustments based on individual row gauge.

Hood River Mitts

And love fingerless mitts but not having leftover yarn? Knit Gardiner Yarn Works' top down Hood River Mitts and keep going until every last bit is used up! The long mitt is knit in 2 skeins of Malabrigo's Silky Merino and the shorter mitt is knit in 1 skein of Cascade 220 Superwash.

I imagine you'll be wanting to cast on one of these lovely new projects so I'll draw this newsletter to a close. Thank you for visiting with me and sharing my news. Remember I'm always happy to help with any of your fiber arts needs, special ordering a yarn or pattern that I carry or helping you locate an out of stock yarn to finish a WIP. I can be reached at sandrasingh@sandrasingh.com, or toll free 877/519-1693 or on Ravelry, I look forward to hearing from you and hope to see you in Rhinebeck!