Nelkin Designs Blog

NEW Ribband Kit Colors, and More!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:13:00 +0000

I hope you all had a lovely mother's day weekend! I spent two precious days with my Mom at a spa last week and joyfully discovered how important having R and R with her is! Really, this is the woman who has known me longest, and our chats were the best rejuvenation I could have asked for.

With that, I am ready to hit the ground running this week! In this post I've got new colors for the Ribband kit to tell you about, a winner of the Inpsinknity Blocking Wires to announce, and a little update on the book! You ready?

Behind the scenes I've been working on new kits for Fall to release at TNNA at the end of June. While working on them I noticed I was getting a fair number of e-mails asking me to add new colors to my line of Ribband Kits. Ribband has always been one of my favorite super simple jewelry designs and it was definitely time to give you all some more color choices in it! Remember the post where I asked you to help me choose beads? Well, those new kit colors are ready! Want to see?

I've added the kits to my website, Etsy shop, and wholesale listings... if you are a retail shop and would love to carry them please get in touch, I have them in stock and ready to ship!

Ready for the Inspinknitty Blocking Wire Winner? There were ALOT of comments! I ran a random number generator, and congrats to #58 Sarah Get in touch so we can get your wires out to you!!!!
Remember (if you didn't win): Inspinknity has offered a coupon code to you all! NELKINGIFT will be active through the month of May. It will take $3.50 off any order placed now through 5/31. It is only good for purchases made at www.inspinknity.com.

Oh, and want to hear some good news? I don't want to jinx myself, so I'm knocking on wood as I type this, but I am over 80% done with the knitting for the book.... HOME STRETCH! The first section has already been tested/tech edited and is being tested again. I might just possibly be starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel! Maybe? There is still ALOT of writing to do, but WOOT! I just had to get excited for a second with you! (ok, thanks for letting me get that out of my system)

My Ravelry Group & why they CRACK ME UP!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Tue, 07 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

We are deep into knitting Juego (this spring's Mystery KAL) in my Ravelry group and so it was time for me to run my traditional "What in the hell do you think we are knitting?" contest.

Well, these creative knitter's really put there thinking caps on.... we ended up with 108 different potential knit outcomes, see?

Hooded Shawl
A Net for Catching Cheeky Knitted Object Stealing Children
A Baby Carrier Sling/wrap/magically-turns-into-something fabulous for Mom to wear to cover up the baby spit up down her back when she has to run to the store-thing!!!
Bull Fighters Cape
There are no words for this…
A Superhero Outfit with a magical beaded patch over the heart … like Iron Man, but way cooler! We can all be Juegowoman (or Juegoman, it’s an equal opportunity superhero project) and go off bringing beads and knitting to the world!
A Bed Canopy! Oooo La La
Water Chair
Car Cover
Custom floor mat to hug the bathroom commode
Cover for our Space Ship
Diaper cover, or a Depends cover up, depending on how big it is
Belly Hip Scarf
Salsa Dancing Skirt
Mini-Cabana Cover
Super Knitters Hero Cape
Mariachi Hat
Fancy Bib
Halter Top
Fancyass Toilet Seat Cover
Very Fancy Doily
Beaded Car Seat-Covers
Magic Carpet
Bolero
Convertible Dress
Cushion Cover for a seat at the Mariachi Band concert
Horseshoe Crab Cover
Beehive Poncho
Beaded Lampshade
Spare Tire Cover for a Jeep
Cover for a Chest Freezer
Tray Cover for a High Chair
A Costume
Tardis Cover
Poncho
Straitjacket
A Very Fancy Yurt
A Beaded Cat Suit
Round Afghan
Beach Umbrella
A Designer Cover for a Weber
Veil for a Bride getting married in a traditional Indian ceremony
Hula Skirt
A Skirt to Dance the Flamenco In!!
A Foreign Legion Style Hat
Jodhpurs
A Colorful, Beaded Balaclava!
A Fancy Shade for a Stained Glass or Fan Shaped Window
It’s a cat toy!
A Giant Dream Catcher
A Hammock
Mayan Headwear
A Monkeys Hammock
An Amazing Shawl
Table Centerpiece
a Hooded Cape
Bun Warmer for Nikki Minaj
A Beehive Bover
A Cat Hammock
An Apron, the kind you wear when you go outside to BBQ in the winter!
A Babushka (head covering, not a grandma!)
Pantalones
A Shrug
A Beaded Batwoman
A Plant Cover
A Knitted, Bead embellished password protector!
A Yarmulka
A Bib for the Jolly Green Giant
A Shawl for a Beekeeper
A Chicken Sweater
A Mill Game
Giant God's Eye
A burro serape or saddlebag
A backpack for knitting retreats!
A Taco Warmer?
A Parasail
A Fairy Wing Cover
A Bicycle Basket
A Stash Hammock
First Designer Golf Bag Cover
Halter Top
A “Juego my Eggo” Waffle Catcher- (okay you have to read this post, it has a poem!)
Really Cool Bathing Suit Cover
Lamb Pajamas
Carrying Case for the Guitaron in my Local Mariachi Band
A Large Stuffed Squid
A Pizza Box Cozy
A Sarong
A Market Basket Cozy
A Sling for my Aching Arm after all this Knitting!
A Wine Rack for holding the bottles of wine for drunk knitters
A Horse Caparison
A Shawl for a Beekeeper
A Christmas tree skirt
Grannie Panties
The Top of a Bassinet
A Glamorous Accessory that turns into a safety device when evacuation measures are necessary at high altitudes? Yes, it’s a A Lovely Beaded Parachute!
A Bootie Bag
Hairpiece for Donald Trump!
A Sun Catcher
A Child Sized Cloak of Invisibility
A Thingy
A Bib
Loin Cloth
Fanny Pack
A Cape for Darth Juego

It was SO HARD choosing a winner, I mean, really Darth Juego is TOO much! But, I'm afraid the grand prize goes to the jet-lagged, poetry writing, "Juego MY Eggo" brainchild, LKGervitz... looks like I am sending some of my bead stash to Brussels Belgium : )!

A Craftsy Knit-A-Long Workshop!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:06:00 +0000

I’m thrilled to announce my latest project with Craftsy, aka my latest OBSESSION! After teaching 3 lace classes with Craftsy I have designed a brand new summer pattern for Craftsy's June Mystery knit-along!

Craftsy Mystery Knit-A-Long's are a bit different than the ones I run in my Ravelry group. When you sign up you will receive in the mail one luxurious skein of yarn before June 1st. Then on June 1st you will be granted access to a special workshop I have designed just for the yarn. This workshop will contain the pattern, in-depth instructions and high quality close-up photos of each step. Even more, I will be responding to questions and providing help along the way. I hope to inspire your summer knitting, expand your skills, AND create a new obsession while having FUN with Craftsy!

This mysterious design will be perfect for cool summer days and evenings… expect to create something light, ethereal, and wearable while building your knitting skills! Note: The pattern will not be delivered in clues... but all at once on June 1st!

I can't show you a "real" photo from the shoot... but I can give you an idea of just how windy it was the day we took the photos!

An Inspinknity Blocking Wire Review and Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:25:00 +0000

I do love to wax poetic about blocking, especially blocking lace! If any of you have watched my Craftsy classes you'll know I delve deeply into my adoration of what happens to a piece of lace when you wet it and stretch it out! MAGIC!

But, I've never loved my blocking wires, I always had to be careful with the tips of my wires as they weren't "delicate" enough for the yarns I work with and I easily snagged my yarn. Also, many of the wires in the set bent with use and wouldn't "un" bend again. Blocking takes time, but no where near as long as it takes to knit a whole lace shawl... why not use a tool that makes it enjoyable and fun to do!

So, for my birthday I decided to buy myself a new set of wires... it was an impulse purchase, I didn't do a ton of research. But, I had heard about Inspinknity Blocking Wires, and decided to invest in a set as a little present! (The fact that it was a write off didn't escape my keen business sense!) I decided to start with the Premium Wires as they were described on the site as "Super flexible and strong, you can use premium wires for blocking sweater pieces, scarves, and fingering weight shawls." Since most of my knitting leans in this direction I decided to start with those! I do, though plan on getting the Ultra Fine Wires for a lace shawl that is on my needles next!

Once I got them I decided some testing was in order... right?

First I blocked some Pioneer Cuffs I have almost ready for a kit release:

In this case I was testing how straight I could get the wires to lie. I used my ironing board with it's handy dandy ruler marks to help me keep things line... and it was EASY!

Next up, my Kinetik (sans beads) that I wore everyday in Iceland and really really really needed to be rewashed and blocked.

Kinetik is blocked with a straight upper edge, and two parallel wires coming down each side of the center panel, and finally has wires going up each triangular edge. Want to hear the coolest thing? I've always had to use more than one wire from my set for long straight edges at the top of shawls, but this set has a 67 " long wire that worked perfectly! For the center panel I was able to use one long wire instead of two!

Finally Clarus knit in Anzula Cloud which I always meant to block bigger, and really needed a good soaking as well... this is another shawl of mine that gets alot of wear!

Clarus has delicate points that need to get blocked out in a arc along the sides and bottom edge. Holy moly, these wires were easy insert and the shaping just came together without too much coaxing or finagling!

I'm not entirely sure what the material is that the blocking wires are made of, but the website says they are "Made from a super-elastic wire with seemingly magical flexibility, these blocking wires will not rust, tarnish, corrode, or easily kink. They will not stain your knitting, and will last for many, many, many years! These premium blocking wires are incredibly strong, yet flexible enough to use for curved edges as well as straight lines. You can arch and curve these wires as you need, and they will always return to straight. This special property allows these wires to be used over and over again without weakening from repeated bending and straightening."

I can attest to this last sentence... when I was done with my blocking experiments I wound my wires back up and put them back into their handy bag ready to be used again. They did not show any visible bend or kinks and I was purposefully rough with them! The other thing is that the tip of the wire was so smooth and fine that it slipped in between the stitches perfectly not causing any snags or damage to the yarn.

So, WHO WANTS TO WIN A SET of the Deluxe Premium Wires????? Just leave a comment below by May 10th letting me know what you want to block first when you if you win them! I'll chose a winner by random number generator on May 11th!

Disclaimer: I was in no way paid by Inspinknity to write this post, I ordered the wires, fell in love, and then e-mailed and asked if they would be willing to give a set away to one of you! When I do reviews like this it is because I have purposefully sought out something I think you would be interested in!

A note: I just found out that Inspinknity is waiting on more premium wire... so they have offered a coupon code to you all! NELKINGIFT and will be active through the month of May. It will take $3.50 off any order placed now through 5/31. It is only good for purchases made at www.inspinknity.com

Birds of a Feather.... A Quick Cowl

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

So this little project is for those Juego-ites who are a bit challenged by Clues #1 and 2! I noticed a little grumbling in my Ravelry group the other day and threatened to make my next Mystery KAL a bulky cowl.....

So, when I saw this yarn at The Yarn Cupboard retreat this weekend, I couldn't really resist and bought a skein to whip something up! I've been SUPER deep into book designing/knitting/writing and this was just the break I needed!

Knit in Plumes, a Super Bulky Single ply merino with dyed chicken feathers hand felted into the fiber.... it took less than 2 hours to whip this cowl up, and since half of that was with knit group, I was laughing most of the time!

One member of my group (SARAH!) even suggested I make kits... complete with sheep, chicken, kool aid (for dying the feathers) and a felting needle. But, since I'm probably not going to do that, I did find out that Knitting Etc has some of this yarn in stock. Just in case you need some Birds of a Feather therapy too!

BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Materials1 skein Pagewood Farms Plume
Size 15 (10mm) 16 inch circular needle
Gauge: Approx 7 sts= 4 inches in st st
Finished Measurements: 34 inches around x 5.5 inches high

Cowl
Cast on 60 stitches, join into the round being careful not to twist your sts. Place a marker.
Purl 5 rounds.
Knit 5 rounds.
Repeat these 10 rounds once more.
Purl 4 rounds and bind off. Weave in your ends, put it on and do the funky chicken... or make your dog wear it, like I did! (because she looked bored!)

You know what they say... Birds of a Feather, we flock together!

Topsy Turvy Turtle-to-Egg

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:38:00 +0000

Earlier this year when I saw this video for Susan B Anderson's new book Topsy Turvy Inside Out Knit Toys I knew I would get it the moment it came out!

Before the book even got here I was lucky enough to meet Susan at Vogue Knitting Live in Seattle and she gave me a "special" pattern to make a reversible Turtle/Egg! So this weekend while chatting away between classes at the Yarn Cupboard Retreat I whipped one up for my 3 year old friend who I've been missing spending time with!

Seriously, how freaking cute, right? I'm a bit addicted! The only mod I made to the pattern was to use my circular cast on for the start of the egg and turtle... you all know that when I am starting in the round with only a few stitches that this is my cast on of choice! It is so FUN to just follow a well-written pattern from start to finish and end up with an adorable project to gift! Next on my knitting wish list is the Egg to Penguin!

Susan will be handing out cards with this pattern at her next few events... you can learn more about those, and the book, on her blog; which is one of my favorites!

Want to help me choose some beads?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:23:00 +0000

I just spent the most wonderful hour in my studio trying to decide on beads for some new Ribband kits for the Fall! It's been great fun watching everyone choose beads and yarn for Juego and I was itching to do some yarn/bead play of my own!

A few of the colors were easy to decide on, but this grey teal is driving me crazy as there are SO MANY beads in my stash that look great on it! Want to help me choose?

Which Bead Combination Do You Like Best?
A- Transparent Aqua with gold lining and Valentinite Crystals
B- Emerald AB with silver lined square holes and Emerald Crystals
C- Silver AB with silver lined square holes and Montana Blue Crystals
D- Transparent AB and Valentinite Crystals
I had a fancy schmacy poll here... but it broke down after the first 24 hours... I will tell you that B was the clear winner before it reset itself!

Also, I instagram'd a version of this photo over the weekend... but want to see the after effects of late Sat night stash diving? My studio is kinda a mess right now!

Thanks so much for helping me out!!!!! (ETA- the poll broke, so I had to fix the post... sorry!)

Thankyou Vogue Knitting Live!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:36:00 +0000

Last weekend I was honored to teach at Vogue Knitting Live in Seattle! What a fun, inspiring weekend! In true Seattle fashion it rained the whole time I was there, but that didn't matter, I was inside teaching my favorite thing: Knitting with Beads! Want to see some photos from the weekend? (please forgive their quality, we were indoors for them all!)

Beads being strung on hemp... a great choice for a summer Ribband!

Karen from One Planet, wearing her Trapeze and knitting a Butin!

I even got Allegra from Petite Purls a bit addicted!

Making a Mudra to match her Signature Needles is totally satisfying this knitter!

Julia and her gorgeous Trapeze....

Gorgeous silk skeins from Red Fish Dyeworks.. I kinda sorta wish I got some!


Yarn Ball Candles from Bar Maids... these babies came home with me!

Giving a demo (and fist bump?) at the marketplace.... (photo courtesy KathyCad on Instagram)

There were so many moments with students and friends that didn't get captured... but rest assured, we all worked, learned and played hard! A HUGE thankyou to Vogue for flying me across the country to share my passion and commune with the knittahs!!!!! If you ever have a chance to attend a Vogue Knitting Live event I encourage you to do so... they are beautifully orchestrated knitting events and I'd love to see you in Chicago or New York later this year!

Pinterest.... falling down the rabbit hole!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:17:00 +0000

This week I was invited to be a guest pinner on Craftsy's Pinterest account! I've actually really been trying to STAY AWAY from Pinterest as I'm worried I could loose hours looking at pretty things and become distracted from the tasks at hand. But, laws, it is SO MUCH FUN! So this week, since I've got a "work commitment" to pin, I'll be spending more time getting to know Pinterest better! I started yesterday, and am already having a great time... in fact, it's the first thing I did when I woke up this morning. I think that's a good sign I might be in for a new addiction!

I am guest pinning with Kim Werker who I got to meet in January at TNNA, what a perfect playmate! You might get to see some shenanigans this week.... There's a great interview over at the Craftsy blog about Kim and I and our "pinning" philosophies. My personal favorite use for Pinterest is to be a visual filing cabinet of things, like tutorials, or recipes, that I want to be able to find again!

So, you can follow me on Pinterest, and see the board I am collaborating on with Craftsy. It's sure to be a fun week! (Hoping I can manage to get some work and my taxes finished too!)

Accola!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:56:00 +0000

Great news! Remember Accola, which I designed for my Craftsy class Knitting with Beads? Well since it's a year since the class was released I can make it available as a pdf on my site and Ravelry!

Smaller version in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Midway

Accola is a semicircular shawl that incorporates nupps, placing beads, and double-sided beaded lace. Accola is worked from the bottom up, starting with a long narrow lace border that has stitches picked up along the top edge of it. The shawl body consists of two triangles separated by a center panel that incorporates double sided beaded lace to create a stunning central focal point. The shawl is written for two weights of yarn and two sizes.

Larger version by JanElinRN

To celebrate I've teamed up with Jill Draper to give a the yarn, beads and pattern to March's winner of the 1st Quarter KAL. Since this marks the end of the KAL I thought I would announce the winner here! There were 89 finished Nelkin Designs posted in March! WOW, so many beauties! So, Congrats to MnBerg, who knit ALOT of my jewelry designs this month, I particularly love the Butin on the horse!

Larger Version in Jill Draper Makes Stuff Nimbus, in Bottle I can't wait to design another shawl in this yarn!

This was the first time I did a Quartelry KAL in my Ravelry group... and definitely won't be the last! What a community sprung up around it (and we all found out we are a bunch of Chatty Cathy's!)! It's the perfect time to take a break as the Juego MKAL is released at the end of next week and I think that will keep everyone busy enough for a bit! Expect another KAL later this year!

I'm off to Seattle in the early early early am to teach at Vogue Knitting Live in Seattle... hope to see some of you there! I did check the weather, and are you surprised? It's raining the whole time I'm in town! Luckily, I'm not teaching outside!

Stereo Cuff!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:50:00 +0000

It's the end of March which means the 2nd kit in my Patternworks Knit Kit Club has shipped! Can I get a WOOT WOOT?

Stereo Cuff- A Bold Band of Beads!

Stereo Cuff is deceptively simple... with only 8 stitches with 3 colors of beads slipped up in between, what's not to love? The kit includes everything you need to make a Stereo in one of three sizes.

Simple snap clasps finish Stereo off

The kit contains: 10 yards of Mercerized Pima Cotton, 144 (160, 176) Size 8 glass seed beads;pink luster and lavender 72 (80, 88)Size 8 glass seed beads; raspberry, 2 Snap clasps, Dental floss threader, and the pattern with links to video tutorials.

For those of you who get this kit, I can't wait to see what other versions of Stereo you come up with once you have the pattern.... the possibilities are really endless!

There are still spots if you want to sign up for the Kit Club... it has rolling sign-ups so you will receive the past kit, Cheerio, along with the future ones on schedule. It's been such great fun to see the Cheerio knit up by so many of you and I can't wait to hear what you think of Stereo!

And just because I love being a tease... just wait until you see May's kit!!!!!

ETA: And the winner of the birthday bag giveaway?#24! Congrats to Margot Schips! Get in touch with me so I can send it on out!

One for You, One for Me: A Birthday Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Well, spring still isn't here and over the weekend I thought a sewing session might help save the day! I've been itching to make something with my dear friend Marisa's new fabric line, Locally Grown, and decided project bags were just what the doctor ordered!

Sheep Parade with Prosperity Hens... I LOVE these sheep

I wasn't sure what shape to make, but when I saw Kim's at lunch, I had a plan! A quick google search turned up many different versions of this reversible Japanese bag knot bag.... I think they were "hot" five years ago, but sometimes I'm a little slow with the trends : )! I finally settled on this version over at Martha's and got right down to the sewing! The bag has one short handle and one tall handle, you simply slide the tall handle through the short one, and voila, a sweet little bag. It felt so great to get my sewing Mojo back.

AND, since it's my birthday I decided to make a second one to give to one of you as a THANKYOU for your amazing support this year... I want to celebrate with all of you!

Perfect Knitter Fabric! Sheep on Parade with Thneed Knitters from The Lorax!

So, if you want to win this bag JUST LEAVE A COMMENT! You don't need to join my Ravelry group, like my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter or Instagram, or buy a pattern. Just remember to leave a way to get in touch with you! I'll choose a winner this Friday March 29 after midnight EST.

Life Cycle Shawl

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:55:00 +0000

Alright everyone, ready to hear more about Life Cycle the lace shawl I designed for my latest class with Craftsy? The samples arrived home yesterday and we headed out for a COLD (and fun) shoot!

Life Cycle is a Center Out Lace Square that is designed to be knit either in lace or fingering weight yarn. I knit the larger size in Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace in Treacle Toffee, a yummy wool/silk blend and the smaller size as a baby blanket with Spud and Chloe Fine in Popcorn.

The class takes you through each section of this project, teaching you the skills you'll need to be able to work this heirloom piece of lace. Worked from the center out over a small number of stitches I teach working a circular cast on (both on double pointed needles, and on magic loop), and then jump right into chart reading, Nupps, and advanced decreases. I cover life lines, lace chart tips and tricks (written instructions are included as well), yarn and needle choices, fixing mistakes, in depth blocking, and more!

A diagram of LifeCycle's construction... to see closeup's of each stitch go here.

The stitches in Life Cycle are designed to get increasingly more interesting as the project grows on your needles!

You work the same chart 4 times around for each section which helps you grow more and more familiar with each stitch... a great way to learn to knit more complicated lace!

Finally an edging is worked, perpendicularly to the body of the shawl, binding off your stitches and adding greater detail to the edge at the same time!

So, if you want to learn how to knit this shawl and discover lots of tips and tricks for working a large lace project like Life Cycle check out my newest class with Craftsy, Lace From the Inside Out!

Ricefield Collective: A Kickstarter project

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0000

While procrastinating on work yesterday I stumbled across this kickstarter campaign initiated by Meredith Ramirez, a visionary knitter, who lives in Ithaca, NY... so of course I had to investigate! The Ricefield Collective's goal is to craft handmade knitted accessories to help keep indigenous people of Ifugao, Philippines on their ancestral land. Just watch this video... it explains it better than I ever could!
I adore that one of the mandates of this project is to prove that innovation and tradition can go hand in hand. Of course things change with time, they should, but Ricefield Collective is helping to ensure that those who want to stay in their homes in Ifugao may be able to through the power of craft and knitting!

To learn more about backing this project and in exchange have the option to receive hand knit items from the women of Ifugao knit in Quince and Co yarns please check out their kickstarter page.... I expect you'll be as inspired by the energy behind this project as I am!

(also... if you watch the video, you'll get a pretty good look at what Ithaca looks like in March, pretty freakin' dreary!)

Juego Mystery KAL: A Few Yarn Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 04:08:00 +0000

Well, I know I promised you a post on ideas for yarn for Juego... and here you go! I thought a good way to approach this would be to put myself in your shoes and go shopping at my local yarn store!

So, I headed down to Knitting Etc, and scoured their shelves with its owner, Hickory, to find a few ideas. What I discovered is that finding yarns that will work for Juego is EASY! It took us 6 minutes to come up with these three combos.... I can't even imagine how many more could have been made! (Hickory is very good at buying yarn and beads!)

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Midway with Cascade Heritage Silk in color 5639 with Miyuki Translucent Root Beer AB Beads

Madeline Tosh Sock in Byzantine and Gilded with Miyuki Silver Lined Dark Topaz AB Beads

Pagewood Farms Chugiak in Charcoal and Army Girl with Miyuki Matte Silver Lined Grey Beads
This yarn is perfect as it has 450 yards per skein, so you'll only need one of each color!-
Knitting Etc has lots in stock though it's not listed on their website! I did a quick google search, though and found lots!

Liciniac, posted this combination in my Ravelry Group:Malabrigo Sock in Impressionist Sky and Archangel with gold toned beads.... this is going to make a GORGEOUS Juego!

Another AMAZING Rav member, KnittyTwin2, was inspired by this photo of a stormy sunset and DYED AND SPUN her own yarn for the KAL and then chose beads... she is obviously an overachiever and we all want to be like her when we grow up! I for one am hoping on a plane to Australia to steal her Juego when it's done, because it is going to be NICE!

Important things to keep in mind when choosing yarn for Juego (beads or no):

Choose two colors that really POP off each other.
This doesn't mean that they need to be different colors AND values (light or dark), just either a contrasting color OR a different value of the same color.
Make sure you have enough yardage, you'll need at least 430 of the Multicolor (Col M) and 470 of the Solid (Col S). When I design I always add 15% to my total yarn usage, so this means my Juego used around 380 yards of col. M and 410 of Col S... so that's my way of saying, you can maybe get away with a 400 yard skein, but maybe not! Consider yourself warned! Personally, I always buy MORE yarn than necessary!

Important things to keep in mind when choosing yarn for Juego if you are working with beads:

Choose a weight yarn that size 8 beads can slide easily along. All of the yarns listed above will work perfectly with size 8 beads. There are also lots of other options listed here.
I don't suggest choosing a single ply yarn when working with beads as the yarn will "fuzz" up awfully quickly!
When choosing beads you want to choose a color that POPS from both your yarns... sometimes this just means your bead needs a metallic lining so it shines, other times a color that contrasts or shines. See the examples above for a few ideas that work!
A trick: Not sure if your yarn is going to wear well with beads? String a few on the yarn and rub them up and down a length of your yarn.... notice a halo starting to form? If the answer is yes, your yarn is going to look worn before you are done knitting with it! STOP and choose something else for this project! Use that yarn for a cowl and send it to me, I need more cowls!

So, have questions? Post them here, or in my Ravelry group... I can't wait to see what yarns you are thinking of using!

And the moral of the story? Head to your LYS (if you have one).... you are bound to find the perfect yarn, and perhaps inspire a few other knitters to join you in our FUN!

New, On Craftsy: Lace From the Inside Out!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:59:00 +0000

I'm thrilled to announce that my newest class with Craftsy, Lace from the Inside Out has been released!

Lace from the Inside Out builds upon the skills developed in Knit This! Mastering Lace Shawls and Knitting with Beads. There's no secret that I adore working with Craftsy, and this experience was no different. It's certainly getting easier to sit in front of a camera and share my knitting tips and tricks while trying to maintain my composure and not sound like an idiot!

As with my other classes I designed a project that could teach all the skills I wanted to impart in the class. This means that while this class is all about process and learning, you do end up with Life Cycle, a gorgeous shawl or baby blanket, to show off at the end! I hadn't ever designed a square piece of lace before, so designing Life Cycle provided a challenge for me as well. Worked from the center out over a small number of stitches I teach working a circular cast on (both on double pointed needles, and on magic loop), and then jump right into chart reading, Nupps, and advanced decreases. I cover life lines, lace chart tips and tricks (written instructions are included as well), yarn and needle choices, fixing mistakes, in depth blocking, and more!

Life Cycle is a labor of love.... it is the largest lace design I've ever accomplished I spent many lovely hours this fall/winter working on it. Does anybody remember that caramel blob I tweeted about?

Well, it became this:

I've got a photoshoot scheduled soon and will share photos of Life Cycle and tell you more about it next week!

HUGE NOTE: All of the links above provide you with a HUGE discount on my Craftsy classes! 50% off! So, by all means use them, and share them with your friends... once you purchase a Craftsy class it is yours forever to watch as many times as you want whenever you want. I consistently check in with my classes and provide feedback, support and encouragement.... so, let's knit some lace together!

Wow, that was fast...

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:48:00 +0000

Um, WOW? (I'm tempted to make that this entire blog post... but I think I'll tell you more!)

I released Juego last week and am WOWED by the response.... I'm not new to Mystery KAL's, this is my 4th, but it's the first one I decided to offer a kit option on. Part of the fun of running Mystery KAL's has always been helping people choose their yarn and beads before the KAL officially begins... call it MKAL foreplay : )!

During Trapeze a few of it's participants expressed an interest in having a kit option.... so for this KAL I decided to try that out...It was SO HARD to plan for... maybe only 10 people would want one and I'd stick a dyer with a huge overstock of one yarn base. Silly, Silly me....in 2 hours we sold out! I begged, cajoled and whined and got Stephanie to raise the numbers a bit, in 24 hours the rest SOLD OUT! I guess I might have underestimated y'alls shopping prowess!

Stephanie is dying as fast as she can, in hopes she will have time to release more, but in the meantime I want to help you to choose yarn and beads.... there is no reason not to participate just because you can't get a kit... there are LOTS of yarns on the shelves of your LYS that will work for this design. You just need a little help choosing them, right?

I'm working on a more detailed post outlining possible yarn and color choices, but for now, head over to my Ravelry group. There's a whole thread dedicated to choosing yarn and beads... some people are dying their own yarn, some are even spinning it, some are stash diving, and some are shopping. There's plenty of time to enjoy this part of the Juego Mystery Knit-A-Long!

Juego Mystery KAL: Starts April 12th

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:04:00 +0000

It's time for another Mystery KAL, who wants to "JUEGO" with me?
(FYI- Juego (huay-go) means game or play in Spanish....)

Schedule:

Clue #1- April 12th

Clue #2- April 19th

Clue #3- May 3rd

Clue #4- May 10th

Clue #5- May 24th

How it works: Sign up by purchasing the pattern prior to April 12th for a discounted price of $6.00 (You can sign up later and receive the previous clues, but I think it's more fun if you start it right from the get-go!) After April 12th the KAL will be $7.00

When you sign up you will be sent a pdf with a materials list and gauge to be ready to cast on.
The pattern uses two colors of light fingering yarn, one variegated and one solid, 490 yards each, with optional beads (40 grams, size 8 glass seed bead). You will receive more information about yarn and optional bead choices when you sign up, or you can go read here. Beads are easily omitted if working with beads isn't for you!

On each scheduled clue release date an updated pdf will be sent to you with the next clue. There will be videos made just for the KAL to help you, and an active thread in my Ravelry group so that you have lots of support and FUN while you are knitting.

Exciting News! Last MKAL, many of you asked for kits! So guess what? I teamed up with SpaceCadetCreations, and we made some just for you! I used Celeste in my version of Juego with a lovely Matsuno rainbow topaz bead. Stephanie and I came up with 3 different colorways for the kits with optional coordinating beads... you can see them here (and in the photo above!).

So, Sign UP! Sign up for the KAL on Ravelry or my website and then get on over to my Ravelry group and start chatting about your yarn (and bead) choices!

Note
This is a brand-new never released design and it is sure to teach you TONS! Video tutorials will be included along the way... I had such fun incorporating new techniques into this design, I hope you like it as much as I do!

Have Questions?
Ask them below... I'll answer in the comments so everyone can benefit from the answer.... if you have questions, I'll bet someone else is wondering the same thing too!

Saba.... and back again!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:59:00 +0000

The grey and cold finally got to us, and we headed out on a family get away last week.... BEST.DECISION.EVER!

We ended up on the island of Saba, which is home to the highest peak in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the shortest commercial runway in the world, the birthplace of Saban Lace... and no beaches. So we got to hike, dive (I stay on shore for this), eat fish, drink rum, and attend a Lace Guild Meeting (aka Saban Stich N' Bitch!)!

As I like to do, here's a peek at our winter escape in pictures....

Walking towards Mount Scenery on our first day

Getting ourselves psyched for the climb

These stairs are my new favorite work out!

A birds eye view of the world's shortest commercial runway

Me and my trusty map....

Another day, another hike, and a view of a dive boat and The Pinnacle

My girl and I learned to make lampwork beads at JoBean's....
we are signing up for more classes in Corning this spring, SO FUN!

Watching a Saban Lace Sampler in action

WOW.... Saban Lace makes what I do seem like a walk in the park!

A VERY special pillow case....

The view from our porch in the early morning.... I'll be holding onto this until winter is over!

Of course the whole time I was there I worked on projects for the book... maybe not the most cost effective way to get a book written : )!

Tutorial: Yarn Weight vs. Bead Size

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Last week, Maureen, a bead knitter from Buffalo, asked if I would post a chart showing what size beads she should choose based on her yarn weight. This is a chart I often supply in classes when I teach and I wanted to share it with you too!

Bead Sizes- It's important to note that the larger the bead size number, the smaller the bead! You'll notice that for worsted weight yarn I note a size 5 bead.... I've actually never worked with beads on yarn this heavy, so I am guessing here, but I know a size 6 bead won't fit. If you are pre-stringing your beads they should slide on the yarn easily without tugging them too much! If they don't move easily on the yarn they are probably too small; but on the other hand if they slip all over the place, they are too big!

Prestringing vs. Placing A Bead- I bet you are wondering the difference between these two techniques, aren't you?

Undulating Waves:
Beads are prestrung and added on yarnovers

*When beads are prestrung on yarn they are slipped up and worked as you knit, sometimes they are in-between stitches, and sometimes they are placed on the stitch or yarnover as you work it. In this technique only one strand of yarn goes through the bead. I've made Video Tutorials for stringing on beads and slipping beads!

*When a bead is placed on a stitch the bead goes over two strands of yarn (each side of the stitch) and gets locked into place on the stitch. You can use either Super Floss or a small crochet hook (.75mm- 1mm) to do this. I've made a Video Tutorial showing this technique in detail!


Mica Mitts: Beads are placed onto stitches in a pattern

Hope this helps! Any questions?

Spreading the Love....

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:12:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day All!

I thought I'd spread a little love around this Valentine's Day to celebrate... you ready?

First off, Craftsy is having a SALE ! Are there any Craftsy classes you've been waiting to get? Now's your chance!

Next.... the Knitty Blog is having a Valentine's giveaway for one of my NEW SOUTACHE KITS!

Noble Knits has one of my FAVORITE yarns on sale (through the end of today)... Sweet Georgia Cash Silk, MMMMMMmmmmmm!

Aaaand, have you ever knit with Candy Skein? I haven't yet, but golly, I keep hearing awfully yummy things about it! There is a coupon for 15% off on their Facebook page.... have at it!

Random Bits and Bobs...

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000

I've landed back from an epic trip away to film my next class for Craftsy and go to TNNA.... I had FUN! (and made more work for myself, WHOOPS!) So, while I attempt to catch up I wanted to share a few things that have caught my attention that I think you'd be interested in!

Crappy Pictures- I've a new favorite blog... I wish it existed when my girl was small, and really I can't wait until Amber's kids are teenagers, she is going to have some epic blog fodder! For now I read one a day as a reward for a job well done. (and I just pre-ordered her book on Amazon!)

Are you on the Knit Circus mailing list? If so, you've got to read an in-depth interview with Stephanie from Space Cadet Creations. If you read to page 5 then you'd know that Stefanie and I are teaming up to offer kits for the next MKAL. Working with her has been such a blast, and so easy : )! I am planning to release that Feb 28th... so stay tuned!

The Patternworks Kit Club is going strong! I'm thrilled with the response, many have received their kits and have already knit up their Cheerios... want to see?

While away I got sheep fabric that my dear friend Marisa designed, and I WILL be making a project bag or two, and if I'm really on it, one will go to this swap.

Are you participating in the 1st Quarter KAL in my Ravelry group? Want an idea for a quick Valentine's project that will make you eligible to win February's prize (a set of Chiaogoo Bamboo Interchangeable Needles!)? What about my Wee Little Hearts?

I've been getting some great ideas for future blog posts lately from readers/knitters... is there anything you wish I would blog about or do a tutorial on? I'd love to hear! In the meantime, I'm going to go ski with the family before the snow melts... (again).

Smitten Kitchen: A Book Revew (and not about Knitting!)

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

I'm off for a week of filming at Craftsy and schmoozing (and yarn squeezing) at TNNA so I decided to go out on a limb and share a book review with you that's not about knitting! It's on my second favorite subject... FOOD! Over the holidays my in-laws gifted me the Smitten Kitchen cookbook by Deb Perlman. I've followed her blog for years and some of her recipes are family favorites. We make her granola bars every time we go on a road trip, her Shakshuka is a brunch stand-by, and her pumpkin muffins have become my daughter's signature baked good. I'm going to tell you that her cook book has not disappointed us yet! Over the holidays I worked my way through it making many of the recipes in a week's time.

My Favorites?

Spicy Brittled Peanuts, pages 286-287
Mod: I used Ground Chipotle Powder instead of Cayenne... yum!

Kale Salad with Cherries and Pecans, pages 67-68
Mods: I used cranberries and tamari almonds, as they were in the cupboard!

I did notice a theme in the book... it seems that Deb likes her caramelized onions as much as I do. At least one to two meals a week seem to start with them in our house, so her recipes taste just like home! She also is a wiz at combining sweet, salty and spicy, and really, how can you go wrong with that?


Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Galette, pages 99-100 Paired with a Gruner Verliner

I love her writing style, it's laugh out loud, no-nonsense, and informative all at once. A favorite quote from the peanut recipe "...the sugar will seize up a bit, making the peanuts look grainy and crusty, and it will be harder to stir them- you'll be convinced that it's gone irreversibly south, cursing me under your breath, but fear not, keep stirring..."

Next for us to try are the potato crisps, rosemary gruyere and sea salt crisps (think grown-up cheez-its), pistachio masala lamb chops with cucumber mint raita (I've not cooked lamb before, but I think I'm ready!) and marbled pumpkin gingersnap tart. Mmmmm, are you hungry yet?

Have you tried any new recipes/cookbooks this winter? I'm always on the lookout!

Video Tutorial: Binding Off with Beads!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:54:00 +0000

I've another video tutorial for you this week, this time on working a beaded lace bind off! This bind-off is worked with beads that are pre-strung on your yarn. The technique is show both knitwise and purlwise. I use this bind off on Clarus, Trapeze and Selata Shawls and it is one of my favorites! You can use it on the edge of any top down shawl or scarf to add a little bit of bling and weight.

It's easy to calculate how many beads you will need, If you work with a bead every other stitch, divide the number of stitches you are binding off by two, and string on that many beads. If every third stitch, then divide the total number of stitches by 3! You'll want to swatch and see if you like the bind off with size 6 or 8 beads, that depends on the size yarn you are working with!

Disclaimer: this video was made at my kitchen table, with minimal equipment and lighting... Enjoy!!!!

Patternworks Kit Club with yours truly!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Nelkin) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:35:00 +0000

I've had a little secret up my sleeve... and it's finally time to share it with you! Last spring Patternworks asked me to do an exclusive Bi-Monthly Knit Jewelry Kit Club with them.

The Club runs every other month for one year, and has 6 shipments. Designs range from necklaces, and bracelets to earrings and maybe another accessory goodie! These are brand new patterns... ones that have never been seen before and I am in LOVE with them! The first two (January and March's shipments) have been released to give you an idea of what is in store should you sign up.... want to see?

January's Kit: Cheerio

Cheerio is a short row shaped necklace that incorporates three kinds of beads, Czech Glass Donuts (aka Cheerios), size 8 seed beads, and matte triangular seed beads. I found the cheerios when I was in Canada last spring and played with them all summer long to find the perfect way to incorporate them into a necklace.... the teens that work with me decided that this design is decidedly tribal, and we love it!

March's Kit: Stereo Cuff

Stereo Cuff is a new style of jewelry for me, one that plays even more with color. The fabric of the cuff is more bead than yarn, and I love the end result. It has a substance and weight that feels just perfect on the wrist. Beads are prestrung and then just slipped up in between stitches. This is not a new technique for my designs, but definitely a new look!

Video tutorials are included in both of these patterns for any techniques that you haven't yet tried.... so don't be worried that these new patterns will be too tricksy.... they won't be!

These designs and kits are exclusive to Patternworks for a limited time and supplies are finite... the only way to get them NOW is sign up for the club! Go here to read all the details, and sign up! If you have any questions feel free to ask them here, that way every one can benefit from the answers!

Now that the cat is out of the bag I get to wear these two designs... WOOT!