Breezy Summer Knitting

The first day of summer is near and making your knitting as easy as a Summer breeze is what Sandrasingh.com is all about. My June Special Offer is still in effect: Spend $25 or more on yarn, knitting needles & notions, paper patterns or magazines (any order charged shipping) and you'll receive a Complementary Skein of Yarn! Yarn will be selected for you while supplies last.

And one of these light weight lace projects is the perfect for relaxing with family and friends.

Schaefer Audrey

The Schaefer Yarn Company's Audrey
Lace weight Audrey is a luxurious blend of merino wool for softness with cultivated silk for luster and drape. Hand painted in a wide palette of variegated and semi solid shades, finding just the colorway is easy. And this exquisite yarn is featured in the latest HeartStrings FiberArts' shawl design!

Buds in the Breeze Stole

HeartStrings' Buds in the Breeze Stole is as enjoyable to knit as it is lovely to wear. This light-as-a-breeze stole features a field of flower-like medallions centered with nupp "buds" and is knit in only one skein of Audrey. And if you order the Buds in the Breeze Stole Kit Audrey is 15% Off!

Buds in the Breeze Stole

Nelkin Designs' Eventide

For more project ideas with Audrey try one of these patterns by Nelkin Designs. The beaded Eventide scarf is one of designer Laura Nelkins favorite scarves ever! Eventide is based an incredibly easy 6 stitch "cross stitch" pattern and its made by working double yarnovers that add length to your stitches so they float and appear to be woven not knitted. Beads are used on each end of the scarf creating an arrow of bling.

Aventina is another sumptuous beaded scarf, its oversized so that you may wrap it around yourself more than once and still have fabric to hang down. Its worked in two halves and grafted at the middle.

Nelkin Designs' Eventide

Winterlude is worked from the bottom up with increases on each edge, this triangular shaped lace shawl incorporates both lace and cables on a ribbed base and can be worked with or without beads. As with all Nelkin Designs' pattern, its both charted and written out.

Winterlude

3 More New Lace Projects
Heartstrings also brings you these two new desings, A Touch of Beaded Class Scarf which has a touch of beads in alternating light and dark accents colors adding sparkle and stylish class to this scarf that is wide enough to be worn as a shoulder shawl. And the Peek A Bead Scarf with bead accents nestled within a honeycomb of colorful knit fabric.

A Touch of Beaded Class Scarf

Peek A Bead Scarf

Since Lily Go has began designing lace she has brought you one beautiful design after another and her new Liliiflora shawl is stunning! Its namesake is the purple magnolia flower which Lily saw blooming beautifully in the early spring during her recent trip to southern China. Liliiflora is worked from the bottom up and the narrow curved shape of lace is created by short rows.

Liliiflora

Liliiflora

Ilga Leja Bermuda Kit Giveaway

Thank you for entering this giveaway, it was fun reading everyone comments, especially the ones explaining why they should be the winner! But I use a Random Number Generator to select the winner so I'm not swayed!

And the winner of the Ilga Leja Bermud Kit is Knitmish!

Please email me at Sandrasingh@sandrasingh.com with your shipping address.

Thank you!

To kick off June my first blog giveaway is bright and colorful and features the design work of the Canadian knitwear artist Ilga Leja in the yarn Kauni Effektgarn 8/2. Ilga's "Kauni Collection" celebrates Effektgarn's long, subtle, graduated color changes and she uses these characteristics to showcase each design in this collection.

This giveaway is for Ilga's Bermuda pattern and 2 balls of Effektgarn 8/2 in the EQ colorway.

Ilga Leja wearing her very own In The Piazza from her "City Collection."

Ilga is a brilliant knitwear artist who specializes in timeless knitwear designs. Each season she introduces a new pattern collection inspired by a specific theme which features garments and accessories with lace knitting, intriguing stitch patterns and unique construction all with the end wearer's comfort and style in mind. She's taken a moment from her busy schedule to share her thoughts with us, I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I have over these past few years.

BermudaKauni Effektgarn 8/2 in EQ

Meet Ilga Leja: Knitting has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was about 5 years old, I learned to knit from a neighbour friend. My mother, seeing me struggle with thick yarns and needles far too thin and the English style of knitting, took pity on me, gave me better tools, and showed me the Continental style. I have worked with both styles of knitting ever since and use them interchangeably.

I have had a busy life, balancing career and family. Yet knitting has been the continuing thread through every phase. It has given me solace during troubled times, pleasure in quiet times and joy in happy times. It inspires and challenges me with new ideas for creativity at every turn.

One of my other passions has been photography. I have been taking pictures since I was a child with a Brownie camera. I see photo subjects everywhere I go and these often translate into knitting designs later. By beginning to publish my designs, I have been able to bring these two loves together.

As you can see from my designs, I love to work with pattern and colour. My designs reflect my current interests, whether it is handpainted yarns, working with lace, or experimenting with textures. Yet always I am looking to create timeless designs, ones that will give pleasure for many years to come.

Ilga has also taken the time to answer a few interview questions for us...

1. Please tell us about yourself and what got you interested in knitting and designing knitwear.

I have always loved to knit, from the very first time I took up the needles and learned. That was in childhood and I can still remember vividly my excitement in learning how to knit from the teenager next door. The fact that it was a teenager (and not a family relative) who taught me may have contributed to my excitement at the time.

2. What is your design philosophy?

I don’t think of having a “philosophy” as such. I do what I love. When I am swatching up a design idea and I don’t like it, or it isn’t pleasant to do, then I abandon it. I believe that if I am not enjoying knitting a piece, then I assume others wouldn’t enjoy it either. In the end, it is all about following the heart.

3. Who or what inspires you the most in your design process?

Although there is much that inspires me, it is the beauty of nature that captures me the most. It is what makes me stop and look in awe.

4. What direction do you see yourself heading in as a designer?

I have started experimenting with making tapestries, essentially knitting pictures. This uses all my skills and I get to play with lots and lots of colours and different yarns. It would be a move away from designing patterns—which is how I make my living now. But it is a direction that fascinates and challenges me.

5. How have the advances in technology and the internet helped you (or hindered) you as a knitwear designer?

The Internet has helped me enormously. In fact, I would not have been able to build my business without it. It continues to offer up more opportunities with social networking, different delivery methods, etc. So I just see the technology as enhancing our industry, giving us many different approaches in how we can share all things related to knitting.

Thank you Ilga for speaking with us.

Visit all of Ilga Leja's collections, her patterns are sold as PDFs with no shipping fees.

International Year of the Scarf Collection

Morocco

Far North Collection

Northern Lights

Among the Birches

Kauni Collection

Messenger Bag

Earth Maiden

Linen Collection

Straw Into Gold

Blush

Landscape Collection

Moorland

Seascape Collection

Open Waters

Queen of the Waves

City Collection
In the Courtyard

Antique Lace

Opera Season Collection

Marschillan

Violetta

Mythic Forest Collection

Balsam

Ancient Bark Moebius

Beach Collection

Waves of Lace

Sea Urchin

There will be one winner for this giveaway, prize includes the Bermuda pdf pattern and 2 skeins of Kauni Effektgarn 8/2 in EQ, no purchase necessary to enter and the winner will be announced on June 12.

Enter this Giveaway: The more ways you enter, the more chances you have to win and make sure to leave a comment telling what you did to enter. And please make sure to leave your contact information.
1. Tell us why you should win the Bermuda Kit.
2. Tell us which Ilga Leja pattern is your favorite and why.
3. Tell us which colorway of Kauni Effektgarn 8/2 is your favorite and why.
4. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and link it, leave a comment under this blogpost with the link back to your blogpost.
5. Join my Ravelry group, Sandrasingh.com and introduce yourself in the "Welcome tell us about yourself..." thread.
6. Announce this giveaway in your Ravelry group, or in a Ravelry group that allows you to announce Blog giveaways.
7. Friend me a Facebook: Sandra Singh and leave a comment under my post about this Giveaway
8. Announce this giveaway, with a link on Facebook
9. Visit my Facebook Page: www.Sandrasingh.com and hit "Like"
10. Follow me on Twitter: Sandrasingh
11. Announce this giveaway with a link on Twitter
12. Friend or Fan me on Plurk: Sandrasinghcom
13. Announce this giveaway with a link on Plurk
14. Sign up for my Newsletter on my Home Page
15. Sign up to "Follow My Blog"
16. Tell your fellow knitters in your knitting circle about this giveaway.
17. No Purchase Necessary to Enter, but are you a Sandrasingh.com customer? Leave a comment about your experience and purchase.

June 2011 Newsletter

Sit back and relax this Summer and let self striping Kauni Effektgarn do all the work!

And my special offer for June: Every time you spend $25 or more on yarn, knitting needles & notions, paper patterns or magazines, any order which requires shipping, you'll receive a Free Skein of Yarn!

In This Issue: Colorful Summer Knitting

Colorful Summer Knitting
A new shipment of Kauni Effektgarn 8/2 has arrived bringing with it lots of new colors!

Effektgarn in ED

Straight out of Denmark Effektgarn 8/2 is an amazing sport weight wool yarn that has long self striping color variations. These color repeats give your finished garments and accessories beautiful long lengths of color that work up effortlessly and are beautiful to wear. Let your imagination flow with knit and felted projects for shawls, cardigans, handbags and more.

Effektgarn in EA

Effektgarn 8/2 is put up in generous 130, 140, 150, 160 or 170 gram balls and priced accordingly, make your color and ball weight selection in the listing's Drop Down and the price will be adjusted in your Shopping Cart.

Effektgarn in EQ

And Ilga Leja is an expert when it comes to knitting with this yarn and has featured it in many of her knitting patterns using it's self striping properties to show off her exquisite details. Lighten up your Summer wardrobe with one of her designs!

Earth Maiden

Wrapped in the colors of the earth, Earth Maiden walks the woods. Her wrap is a long, rectangular stole, laced along one side. Knit from the long edge, the pattern grows organically, highlighting the random coloration of Effektgarn.

Earth Maiden can be worn in a myriad of ways: as a shawl, poncho or wrap, with or without an I-cord closure at the front, at the back, or to the side. The pattern contains instructions for two versions: a full-length and a shorter version.

Morroco Shawl

Using a multi-directional, modular approach the Morocco scarf or shawl is worked from the center diamond outwards, ending in a decorative diamond motif at each end. The two-color striping is enhanced by the use of Effektgarn's long, gradual color changes and you only need 1 or 2 balls of yarn in the same color to achieve this look! Detailed instructions for how to work with this yarn to create the two-color effect are given and the pattern also includes 2 sizes.

Morroco Scarf

Lake of the Woods

Ripples of water, gently lapping the shore, the undulating lines of the Lake of the Woods wrap cascade along its full length echoing the mood of lake and forest. Knit from its lower edge to the neckline, with a self-finishing border, this capelet works up easily and the pattern includes 3 sizes.

Lady of the Forest

While Lady of the Forest evokes the forest's mystery, it's knit in a continuous flow of bias knitting in Garter Stitch until the collar and border are added at the end. Enhanced by the natural striping of Effektgarn it drapes in different directions, when worn in different ways. It can be worn as a shawl or, when sewn together, as a large cape or poncho.

Kauni Messenger Bag

And combine the gradual striping sequence of the unique Effektgarn with the geometric construction of a messenger bag and you'll have Ilga's one-of-a-kind carry-all the Kauni Messenger Bag. Knit in three separate pieces that are then pieced together and felted satchel is the perfect size for your everyday needs.

Large enough to carry a laptop or your library books, without being oversized. And learn a new technique while working this bag, Effektgarn is held tripled using the Navajo Triple-Ply Technique.

Bermuda

Put a little magic of the beach in your wardrobe with Bermuda, the pattern combines the magic of short rows with the changing colors of this self-striping yarn to create this lovely scarf.

Bermuda

Free Yarn Offer: yarn will be selected for you while supplies last.

And stayed tuned the first blog giveaway for June is coming right up!

Do you want to receive this newsletter in your email? Sign up for it on my Home Page.

Rock Island Shawl Kit Winner

This giveaway has been a lot of fun!

Thank you to everyone who entered.

Our Winner is Kristy!

Please email me (sandrasingh@sandrasingh.com) to claim your prize.

20% Off Madelinetosh Sale & Pre Order ends 5/31

The 20% Off Sale on Madelinetosh Yarns is winding down, sale ends May 31st.

Pashmina

Sale includes:

Pashmina	Tosh Merino Light
Tosh Sport	Pure Silk Lace
Tosh Sock	Tosh DK

Tosh Sport

Tosh Sport is a new luxuriously soft yarn crafted of 100% superwash merino wool and is a super soft round 3 ply. Its put up in a generous 270 yards per skein and can be used for a myriad of projects from socks to sweaters.

And if you need some project ideas try one of these new shawls.

Cladonia by Through The Loops knit in Tosh Merino Light

Belle Nuit by Sivia Harding knit in Tosh Sock

This Pre Order Sale will run until May 31st at which time the order will be placed with Madelinetosh. I’ve already spoken with them and their dye time is running 10-12 weeks or longer, this means the yarn will be ready toward the end of August or beginning of September or longer.

Your Credit Card or paypal account will be charged at the time of the order. And depending and how large your order is I will ship in stock yarns out to you even if you have some Pre Ordered colorways.

No other offers apply such as private Coupon Codes or Free Shipping, thank you.

Call or email, sandrasingh@sandrasingh.com with any questions, 877/519-1693

Lacy Summer Socks

Lacy Summer Socks

Lorna's Laces understands that along with shawls socks are another popular summer knit. Their Lacy Summer Sock anklets are quick to knit and will be nice and cool to wear. The socks, by Stefanie Goodwin Ritter, are knit with just one skein of Shepherd Sock (which is on sale) on size 1 US (2.25mm) Double Points. Finished socks will fit a women's size 7-9 foot.

The pattern is available as a Pattern only and as a Kit, you'll make your selection in the drop down at the bottom of the listing.

Shepherd Sock

And tts the final week of May, my 6 year anniversary is ending and I've just posted my last blog giveaway for May in the post below this one! This week I have a special treat for you, the giveaway features the work of master hand dyer Beth Casey of Lorna's Laces and the talented knitwear designer Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed. This pair has teamed up to create a new Lorna's Laces colorway and share their collective inspiration, the giveaway prize is a product of this collaboration, the Rock Island Shawl pattern and a skein of Helen's Lace in Grand Street Ink! Make sure to stop by and enter.