September 2011 Newsletter

September ushers in Autumn and cozy knitting! There's already a chill in the air and an orange blush on the leaves, its time to enhance your wardrobe & home with lush, warm sweaters, accessories and bedding.

In This Issue: Madelinetosh Update / 5 New Designs by Chiagu / Celebrate Fall with "Orange" / Stay Connected /

Tosh Merino Light

Madelinetosh Update
If you ordered some Madelinetosh yarn in my May Pre Order event I have good news, this shipment has arrived and orders are being filled. Everything except the Pashmina arrived, Madelinetosh has this yarn on back order. This also means Madelinetosh yarns are back in stock and I've added Tosh Vintage!

Tosh DK

5 New Designs by Chiagu
Designer Ivete Tecedor of Chiagu dwells in New York where she's surrounded by the latest fashions. Fortunately Ivete is a talented knitwear artist who takes the best of what she sees and translates it beautifully into wearable garments for you to knit. These 5 new designs for Fall/Winter 2011-12 are flattering with warmth in mind.

Adrie

Cables are popular this season and Ivete has used them on her new Adrie vest design to make it unique, yet fashionable. The unusual construction of Adrie will keep you interested as you knit and the flattering lines and casual, easy way it wears will make it one of your favorite sweaters. Adrie is knit in only 3-4 skeins of Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, the new shipment has lots of new colorways to choose from!

Adrie

Loreley

Unique accessories are a Chiagu hallmark and the colorful Loreley Scarf makes a statement. The perfect “mindless” knit, it features garter stitch broken up by eyelet rows to keep it fun and its knit in a blend of 8 different colors of Koigu's hand painted fingering yarn KPPPM! Ivete has an eye for color and she's put together very special Kits for Loreley featuring color blends of KPPPM that are unique to my website and once they're sold out, they're gone!

City Cowl

City Cowl is a 2 in 1 pattern: a Cowl and an Infinity Scarf! While the garter stitch is easy enough for a beginner, this pattern uses advanced techniques like provisional cast on and grafting the ends together, making it a great project to expand your skill set!

Runner's Watchcap

And these 2 unisex hat designs are both knit in the round with minimal finishing. Runner’s Watchcap is designed to fit snugly on your head staying put while you run or ski and its knit in only 1 skein of sock yarn!

S3 Hat

The Super Simple Slouch or the S3 Hat uses two strands of sock yarn held together to give it drape. It features the modern slouchy fit that’s seen everywhere on the streets and runways. Designed to be worn low on the forehead, S3 will fully cover your ears & keep you toasty warm all winter.

The Beekeeper's Quilt
Lounge in luxury as the days grow shorter and the nights cooler with these two new home décor designs.

The Beekeeper's Quilt

Have you heard the buzz? Crafted of little stuffed honeycomb shaped puffy pockets Tiny Owl Knits' new The Beekeepers Quilt is quaint, colorful and addictive to knit! The perfect project to use up your left over sock yarn scraps, don't worry for a minute about making colors match, once you begin piecing the honeycombs together you'll adore the way it looks.


And if you love crochet add classic cables to your home with Knotsewcute's Aran Accent Pillow, it will add texture & warmth to any room.

Aran Accent Pillow

Celebrate Fall with "Orange"
A combination of yellow and red, Orange is the color of creativity and it evokes the classic images of Fall! Create something special in one of my many hand painted shades of Orange and you'll enjoy wearing this garment every Autumn for years to come. Be inspired by Tiger Eye, Burnt Orange, Black Spice, Flames and Pumpkin Spice on my Sandrasingh.com 1 Ply Merino Worsted and Lace yarns.

Shibui Knits Sock

Fiery Autumn Glow on Serendipitous Ewe's Fate Fingering, playful Dahlia on Shibui Knits' Sock or creamy Fruit Smoothie on Alpaca with a Twist's Socrates will work for one of Chiagu's new hat designs, or for a special pair of socks.

Anzula Wash My Lace

Pale Georgia Peach on the Alpaca Yarn Company's Suri Elegance or Terra Cotta on Anzula's Wash My Lace or shimmery Grapefruit Madelinetosh's Pure Silk Lace are all perfect for your next wispy lace project. DK weight Kauni Effektgarn 8/2 is very versatile and you'll love bright EX or the more subdued EV and EP.

Madelinetosh Pure Silk LaceLana Wool's Streakers

Lady Madderly is a sweet blend of orange with a natural white on La Lana Wools' Streakers, one skein of this worsted yarn is all you need to knit a hat. Solid Tiger Lily & Rhodesian and variegated Malambo on Malabrigo Merino Worsted are all stunning, as are Coronilla on bulky Rasta and Tender & Liquid Amber on worsted Twist.

Stay Connected
Facebook, Ravelry, Twitter & blogging make it easier than ever to stay connected with your fellow fiber enthusiasts. Next time you're online connect with me, I post about special sales, events & giveaways I may not include in my weekly newsletters.
Facebook - Sandra Singh
Facebook Page - Sandrasingh.com
Twitter - Sandrasinghcom
Blog - knittingwithsandrasingh.blogspot.com
Ravelry Group - Sandrasingh.com

Mountain Street Arts Giveaway!

"Thank You" to everyone who entered the
Mountain Street Arts' Customized Knitting Labels giveaway!

Our winner is biddy05 (Ravelry ID).

Please contact me ASAP at sandrasingh@sandrasingh.com to claim your prize, I need to know the exact name you would like on the labels and your shipping address.

Thanks again everyone for playing!

I have a very special product to introduce and a new blog giveaway, Personalized Knitting Labels from Mountain Street Arts! Pam Parenteau, the owner and creator of Mountain Street Arts specializes in creating custom knitting labels for the hand knitter and after seeing their high quality I now carry them on my website.

Sheep Label

Custom Knitting Labels are personalized with your name and created on eco friendly, natural colored, cotton twill ribbon that you can sew into your handmade garments. You spend hours knitting your handmade items to give as gifts, sell or keep for yourself. Why not personalize them with labels?

Labels measure approx. 2.75" wide x 5/8" deep and are cut to size. Top edges are finished and side edges are cut with pinking shears. They are ready to be sewn into your garment. Label says "Hand knit by (name). Please specify name in the Comments Box during Checkout.

The Labels are easy care and can be machine washed and dried. Set includes 30 labels and they are delivered to you in a small plastic zip lock pack, packaged in a gift folder ready to give as gift, or keep your yourself!

10 designs to choose from!

A little history about Pam and Mountain Street Arts...

One day in 2009 I was searching online for some personalized knitting labels for my own hand knit items and all I could find were the same ones I had ordered in the 1980s. I wanted a design that was simple and more up-to-date. I didn't like the look of the woven ones. So I started thinking about making my own. I was so pleased with the way they came out and after several of my friends started asking me to make some for them, I realized I could sell them and make a little extra money. When we first started, I hand ironed them onto the cotton twill. Now we have 2 commercial heat presses we use to transfer them.

I had no idea how popular they would become over the next year. My husband Roger and I run the company together We started selling them on Etsy and have been very successful. We now have 78 different designs available. Our labels have been featured in "Knitting Today!" on their favorite product page and we sell our care labels wholesale to yarn stores.

This giveaway is for a set of 30 Sheep Labels and the winner can have any 2 lines of type on them. Winner will be announced on September 20th.

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 Sheep Labels.
2. Tell us which Mountain Street Arts label design is your favorite and why.
3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and link it, leave a comment under this blogpost with the link back to your blogpost.
4. Join my Ravelry group, Sandrasingh.com and introduce yourself in the "Welcome tell us about yourself..." thread.
5. Announce this giveaway in your Ravelry group, or in a Ravelry group that allows you to announce Blog giveaways.
6. Friend me a Facebook: Sandra Singh and leave a comment under my post about this Giveaway
7. Announce this giveaway, with a link on Facebook
8. Visit my Facebook Page: www.Sandrasingh.com and hit "Like"
9. Follow me on Twitter: Sandrasingh
10. Announce this giveaway with a link on Twitter
11. Friend or Fan me on Plurk: Sandrasinghcom
12. Announce this giveaway with a link on Plurk
13. Sign up for my Newsletter on my Home Page
14. Sign up to "Follow My Blog"
15. Tell your fellow knitters in your knitting circle about this giveaway.
16. No Purchase Necessary to Enter, but are you a Sandrasingh.com customer? Leave a comment about your experience and purchase.

Inkberry

Sivia Harding's latest shawl design, Inkberry!
Knit in only 2 skeins of Schaefer's merino wool & silk yarn Audrey.

The unusually shaped wrap Inkberry utilizes the Sivia's favorite center back panel treatment, this time with wide, half-circular side panels. The overall effect is of wings which are anchored beautifully by the intricate leafy cables at the back. Interestingly, the combination of shaping techniques produces a wrap that will stay put where it is supposed to, and feels wonderfully generous to wear.


Subtly textured in reverse stockinette stitch with beaded accents and with a minimalist feel, this wrap is warm and light as air. The beads, which are placed with the crochet hook method, add weight where it is needed and reveal glints of treasure hidden in the leaves which circle the bottom edge.


Finished Measurements: 26" long measured from top of neck to bottom of shawl, after blocking
Yarn: 2 skeins Schaefer Audrey (50/50 wool & silk, 700 yds/4oz)
Needles: size 5 US (3.75mm) 32" circulars
Gauge: 19.5 sts and 28 rows = 4"
Bead requirements: 296 size 6/0 beads

Inkberry is available as a Pattern only emailed to you after the purchase a pdf with no shipping fees and also as a Kit with two skeins of Schaefer Audrey.

Happy Anniversary Noni Designs!

September 2011 is Noni Designs' 6 year anniversary! Congratulations to designer Nora Bellows, for her hard work has paid off and her beautiful creations are loved.

Celebrate this milestone with 10% all Noni Patterns!
Sale Ends Sept. 12th

Handbags

The Cinch

Bedouin

Flowers

Field of Sunflowers

Clematis Flowers on the Vine

Garments and Accessories
Top Down Ribbed Pullover

The Ella Coat

ChildrenNot Just a Baby Bag

Bunny & Lamb Hoodie Towel Blanket

Plus Noni's line of Crocheted Handbags.

All of Noni's patterns are sold as PDFs that will be emailed to you shortly after payment.

Fall Fashion Trends: Knit Outerwear Revisited

In August we discussed knit outerwear designs for Fall and before I launch my September Newsletter I want to "wrap up" this discussion! A new knitwear artist has joined Sandrasingh.com, Stephanie Dosen of Tiny Owl Knits, and she has her needles on the pulse of this new favorite garment. Stephanie's outerwear collection has perfectly captured these modern classics, but with some interesting techniques & whimsical twists.

Grimm's Cottage

Warm and cozy Grimm's Cottage is an easy to knit capelet with matching gauntlets. Both capelet and gauntlets are knit in the round with no seaming!

Grimm's Cottage

The Forest & Frill shrug is a combination of knit & crochet with cables & lace. As with many of Stephanie's patterns, Forest & Frill is written to customize the fit and includes sizes from small to XXXL.

Forest & Frill

Forget-Me-Not

Darling Forget-Me-Not cape is also super easy and done entirely in crochet. Your results from this fast project are a romantic and sophisticated look.

Forget-Me-Not

Oh My Bear

Love colorwork or have you always wanted to try it? The Oh My Bear sweater will keep you warm with its rounded hood and optional bear ears. The pattern includes a full page color bear graph.

Fawn Poncho

Stephanie's Fawn Poncho is knit top down making it very easy to try on as you go and adjust the size by simply working more, or less, shoulder increases and adjusting the length before binding off. The fawn design is also fully charted.

Fawn Poncho

Woodland Hoodlet

Cables are popular for Fall and these two designs showcase them beautifully. The Woodland Hoodlet is a cozy hoodlet made for picking berries in the woods, or looking fantastic while running your errands! The woodland cables are knit lengthwise in short rows to make a nice curved yoke. The back is knit straight with a cabled border and the hood is picked up afterwards. Knit yours up fast in your favorite super bulky yarn.

Woodland Hoodlet

Snake-A-Licious Sweater

And you'll adore the Snake-A-Licious Sweater, cables run up and down the front and back and across the yoke.

Parseltongue Hat

Layer it with a long sleeved top, colorful scarf and top your look off with the matching Parseltongue Hat you're ready to stylishly face your day.

Opposite Pole

And designer Joji Locatelli of JOJI has also played with cables this season and her new cardigan Opposite Pole is flattering and a fresh take on a classic. This seamless, A-line shaped cardigan features a reversible shawl collar and set in sleeves, but what gives it a Wow factor are it's bold cables!

Opposite Pole