6 New "Season-less Knits" from JOJI

Stylish, comfortable, unique describe JOJI's new collection. Knit one of these timeless garments today and enjoy wearing it the rest of Winter & into Spring. 

Oh la la

Even Flow

Lemongrass

Meridien

Autumn Blush

The way from Brighton

All of these patterns are sold as PDF downloads, just follow the links on my website after purchase.  

Visit JOJI to see all her collections. 

15% Off Malabrigo Yarn

Malabrigo March! 

Its that time of year again, time to visit the "Malabrigo Junkies" Ravelry group and plan which Knit or Crochet Along you'll be in for their Mal March event. To help you celebrate and get organized all my Malabrigo Yarn is 15% Off. Prices are marked and there are lots of beautiful colorways in stock. 

Mia Rinde's Firebolt knit in 1 skein of Sock

Sweater quantities of Merino Worsted, Rios, Twist and Silky Merino. And enough Arroyo, Sock and Lace for all your accessory projects!

AND if you send $50 or more you’ll receive a Free Skein of Yarn or Pattern. This offer is good while supplies last and the yarn or pattern will be selected for you.

Sale ends Sunday March 3rd. Order online or call 877/519-1693 or email sandrasingh@sandrasingh.com with any questions or to place an order.

JOJI's Lemongrass knit in Twist, Merino Worsted or Rios

Win a Mindie Tallack Pattern & Kit

Thank you for entering...

Our 3 Lucky Winners!

 

First Prize: Duffers (revisited) pattern & 2 skeins of Cascade 220 Wool - Kathie aka itssewnice on Ravelry Second Prize: Greengage scarf pdf pattern - Marilyn aka Merry Third Prize: Little Duffers pattern & 1 skein of Cascade 220 Wool - Lori Houston aka
Indulgence on Ravelry

Please email me at sandrasingh@sandrasingh.com to claim your prize.
This knitwear artists' designs keep your feet toasty and warm!  From across the pond in Devon, England please welcome designer Mindie Tallack. 

There will be 3 lucky winners for our giveaway!  Mindie has generously donated her three patterns and I've thrown in some yummy yarn. 

First Prize: Duffers (revisited) pattern and I'm including 2 skeins of Cascade 220 Wool 
Second Prize: Greengage scarf pattern 
Third Prize: Little Duffers pattern and 1 skein of Cascade 220 Wool

Duffers (revisited)

The Duffers (revisited) felted slippers pattern is an expanded version of the original Duffers slippers pattern.  This unisex design is now in the following finished foot lengths: 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11" (CM: 23, 23.5, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28).  Knit in Cascade 220 Wool and felted they look great in either a solid or 2 contrasting colors.  

Greengage

Greengage is a long scarf with small slip stitch cables and a garter stitch edge which curves in and out following the lines of the cables.  The pattern has both charted and line by line instructions so you can choose whichever you prefer.

Little Duffers

And Tallack's Litte Duffers is the toddler and child version of her Duffers (revisited) pattern and they are also knit in Cascade 220 Wool.  

Let's get to know Mindie a little better, she's been very kind and agreed to do this interview for us.

Meet Mindie: My name is Mindie and knitting is a huge part of my life. I’ve been knitting since I was a small, which is too many years now to admit without giving away my age!  I have a bit of a compulsion to create, so I also spin, weave, sew, garden and cook. Mostly this is a good thing, but it can also lead to shortages in our household because I quite often refuse to buy anything I could make, even if I don’t have time to make it!  Here is where I keep a record of what I’m up to in the garden, kitchen and in my studio.

1. Every knitwear artist has an interesting story about how they began designing.  Please tell us about yourself and what got you interested in knitting and designing knitwear.  I have knitted since I was very small ( a long time ago!) I started with just blankets for toys etc.as children quite often do and a few dolls clothes, but really got into it when I started to have the patience to knit myself sweaters; although to begin with I did end up with several where the sleeves were too short as I got bored and just thought 'that will do'! Both my Mother and Grandmother knitted beautifully so I had two good roll models.  My Grandmother also sewed and embroidered wonderfully and I do those crafts too, although not as well as she did; during the 1920's she made skirts for Harrods. One of my earliest memories is sitting on the floor of my grandmothers' dining room knitting while she instructed me from the table as she sewed and drank whisky!

I always played around with other people's patterns (still do) and quite often can't find what I want in a ready written pattern so put together my own as I go along.  I am very bad at writing things down as I knit though so have a bit of a collection of things that I designed and love but never got around to writing the patterns for ( or I can't remember how I got over a particular problem so can't write the pattern up!) 

2. What is your design philosophy?  I'm a very practical person and tend towards everyday practical things.  It is ok to knit something beautiful but, for me, if it isn't practical, I won't end up wearing it.  I also think that patterns should be right and I test knitted the Duffers patterns until I just couldn't bring myself to knit another one.  It infuriates me when I glance over a pattern and can immediately see something wrong.  I always think 'how did they have the cheek to print that when it's just not right'!

3. Who or what inspires you the most in your design process?  Originally the Duffers came about through a local knitting shop.  I was asked to come up with a slipper pattern for them to promote some yarn they had.  The brief was to make them fit well but also be easy to knit. It took a long time to work out but in the end I think I managed it.

  I do love tradition and what I call real wool so although my designs on the net don't show it, I knit with quite a bit of shetland and rare breed wools.  I think it's the history of knitting that inspires me most. All those women (and men) through the ages that kept their patterns in their heads and knitted to keep themselves warm.  They could have knitted just plain things but the art of knitting was also important to them as well as the practicality.

4. What direction do you see yourself heading in as a designer?   I would really like to get a few of my sweater patterns written up and have a few ideas for some pretty children's clothes but I need more time than I have at the moment so I am not sure how long it is going to be before I get these out.  I am also very fussy about the pattern being exactly right in design and fit, as I said before, so it does take me too long to get the pattern writing done. I am working on things though.

5. How have the advances in technology and the internet helped you (or hindered) you as a knitwear designer?  I love how the internet has brought knitters together, and of course you can't talk about knitting or crochet and the internet without mentioning Ravelry. Without Ravelry and the internet I wouldn't be selling my patterns at all. On the whole I think that the technology we have today is keeping craft alive, which can only be a good thing. It's a sort of marriage of the old and the new. 

The 3 winners will be announced on March 5th.  The patterns will be emailed to the winners as a PDFs.

Enter this Giveaway: The more ways you enter, the more chances you have to win. Make sure to leave a comment(s) under this blog post telling what you did to enter. And please make sure to leave your contact information.

 
1. Tell us which Mindie Tallack pattern is your favorite and why.
2. Blog about this giveaway on your blog & link it, leave a comment under this blogpost with a 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 a Ravelry group that allows you to announce blog giveaways.
5. Friend me a Facebook: Sandra Singh and write a comment on my Wall about this giveaway.
6. Announce & link this giveaway on your Facebook Wall.
7. "Like" my Facebook Page, Sandrasingh.com
8. Follow me on Twitter: Sandrasinghcom
9. Announce this giveaway with a link on your Twitter page.
10. Follow this blog.
11. Sign up for my Newsletter on my Home Page.
12. Pin and link your favorite Mindie Tallack pattern on your Pinerest page.

Introducing: Fresh Designs Hats

Cooperative Press has done it again! Working with top designers from around the globe they've introduced another eBook in the Fresh Designs series: Fresh Designs Hats. 

Featuring 10 patterns by artists Alexandra Virgiel, Christa Giles, Erica Jackofsky, Julia Calagiovanni, Kendra Nitta, Linda Wilgus, Rose Beck, Sarah Wilson, Stephanie Chow, and a long time favorite at Sandrasingh Woolly Wormhead. 

Follow the links after purchase to download this eBook and visit Cooperative Press to see all the Fresh Designs collections.

Update: On the Hudson KAL

Our On the Hudson KAL is off to a fast and furious start and we already have our First and Second Place Winners!  Coming in First at an amazing pace is Jossroll from Quebec, Canada!  Jossroll won the $25 Gift Certificate to my website. 

On the Hudson by Jossroll

Every stitch is perfect and these colors are very smart and will look sharp with an overcoat.  Jossroll knit his in Elann Peruvian Highland Wool and Fiddlesticks Knitting Luscious Tweed.

Swangard's On the Hudson

And our Second Place winner is Swangard from Lupfig, Aargau, Switzerland, she won the $15 Gift Certificate!  I'm loving the fact that we have knitters from literally across the globe!  Anyway, Swangard knit her On the Hudson in Garnstudio DROPS Lima and this color mix will see her through Winter and well into Spring.  Love it!

Its not to late to cast on, the KAL goes until March 11th and there is still Third Place to knit for!

Leafwise

Leafwise by Sivia Harding

New crescent shaped shawl 

The leaves have it in Harding's delightful crescent-shaped shawl Leafwise. The crescent shape enlarges into a wrap silhouette with a charming double-wide beaded swath of leaf lace motifs.  Features three sections: a wide lace edging, the stockinette stitch center that shapes the crescent, and a clever tubular edge on top. Worked from side to side the beads are placed with the add-as-you-go crochet hook method.

Follow the links after purchase to download this PDF and visit Sivia Harding to see all her collections.

February Knit Along: On the Hudson

On the Hudson KAL 

Join the fun,

Knit the long or short version.

On the Hudson

Join our On the Hudson KAL and you could win a $25 gift certificate to Sandrasingh! Cast On (in any yarn you desire) Monday Feb. 11th and the first three knitters finished by March 11th win!

Stark granite bluffs, fiery foliage, the sound of swiftly rushing, alternating currents, all under a crystal blue sky; this is my view and the inspiration for my first knitwear design, the On the Hudson cowl! This scene spoke to me when I picked up my needles, I selected a beautiful mix of yarns, my Sandrasingh 1 Ply Merino Worsted with Malabrigo Merino Worsted and reversible stitch patterns, so you can enjoy wearing this cowl however you please.