Here is a description of the The Yarn Sellar from Carrie, the owner:

"We are a local yarn shop located on the beautiful coast of Maine filled with everything for the hand knitter and crocheter, spinner and needle felter.

Our inventory includes fabulous fibers, patterns, needles, hooks, spinning wheels books and notions.

Follow us on Facebook, Ravelry and Twitter."

Thanks, Carrie! The photos you sent us and those on your website (at yarnsellar.com) sure do convey what a lovely shop you have - very inviting with lots of gorgous yarns and a welcoming, relaxing atmosphere!

Be sure to visit www.yarnsellar.com to see what yarns they carry, what classes they are offering, and more! And let us know if you get a chance to visit this lovely shop in person!

You can find The Yarn Sellar at:
264 Route 1
York, ME 03909
(207) 351-1987
WWW.YarnSellar.com

Carrie, was kind enough to sponsor my newest pattern, the #162 Sweet Hooded Vest. She sent me the Berocco Ultra Alpaca (a yarn I've never had the chance to try!) in the Periwinkle Mix.

The beautiful heathery color and soft hand of this yarn inpsired me to create a long lace vest with lots of feminine touches. Amazing stitch definition really helps the two lace stitch patterns stand out! Pockets and a hood keep it casual and easy-to-wear.

See this pattern at SweaterBabe.com.

See this pattern at Ravelry (you can Fave or Queue it!).

Thanks, Carrie, for sponsoring this new pattern, introducing me and my audience to your pretty shop, and letting me experience this great yarn!

The Yarn Sellar is also sponsoring a fabulous giveaway!! They generously donated more Berroco Ultra Alpaca so that one of you can make this vest!

Here's how to enter the giveaway for a #162 Sweet Hooded Lace Vest Kit ($70 retail value! Includes the pdf pattern + 6 hanks of Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Irwin Green Mix #6273, which is enough to make the XS - 1X sizes):

HOW TO ENTER:
1) Enter a comment here about The Yarn Sellar, Berroco Ultra Alpaca, or the new pattern by 9pm PST, May 8, 2013. One comment per person only, please.

2) Pin this giveaway (using the Pin It button here: ) and follow SweaterBabe on Pinterest by clicking this button: . One pin per person, please. Pin by May 8, 9pm PST.

*** WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT 5/15/13 ***

Thanks for all the great entries here on the blog and through Pinterest!

The randomly chosen winner is. . .  Jan K., who commented here on 4/18/13.

Congrats! I'll email you.

See the #162 Sweet Hooded Vest knitting pattern here.

My version is in a classic grey, so it's so fun to see this same pattern in such a unique color story!

Here are Natalie's comments:

"The pattern was easy to follow and addictive - watching cables take shape motivates me to keep going!

I love this sweater and wear it all the time now. :)

Thanks so much!" -- Natalie C.

Natalie also chose to sew up the sides (whereras I left them open for ventilation!). Cool to see it finished in different ways!

* * Do you have a SweaterBabe.com Pattern photo (on a body!) that you'd like to submit to the photo gallery? * *
If we select your photo(s), you get a free pattern!

Read about submitting photos to our Finished Projects Gallery.

See more finished projects from this pattern on Ravelry:

Fave or Queue this knitting pattern on

Such great results!

Here are her comments on the pattern:

"I found the pattern very easy to follow and I really enjoyed the process, regarding the way the vest was constructed.

I loved doing the lace pattern, and therefore it kept my interest from start to finish.

I added a second pattern repeat for the bottom to make it longer.

I really love your pattern so much.

Thank you so much Katherine, I love your work." -- Wendy-Lynne M. 

* * Do you have a SweaterBabe.com Pattern photo (on a body!) that you'd like to submit to the photo gallery? * *
If we select your photo(s), you get a free pattern!

Read about submitting photos to our Finished Projects Gallery.

See more finished projects from this pattern on Ravelry:

Fave or Queue this knitting pattern on .

See this pattern on SweaterBabe.com.

Esther S. of Seattle, WA

Both are knit in Knit Picks Gloss HW, color Jade.

Here's what Esther has to say about knitting the Lush Lacy Mitts pattern:

"The pattern was very easy to follow. I really enjoyed making the mitts... lace is always fun, and these mitts are different from most other patterns I've used, which made them even more interesting.

I added a few rounds of 1x1 ribbing to the hands and thumbs to make them a bit longer.

Thanks so much for your great designs." -- Esther

Thanks, Esther, for sharing your finished projects with us! Well done!

* * Do you have a SweaterBabe.com Pattern photo (on a body!) that you'd like to submit to the photo gallery? * *
If we select your photo(s), you get a free pattern!

Read about submitting photos to our Finished Projects Gallery.

See more finished projects from this Free Drawstring Cowl pattern on Ravelry:

Fave or Queue the Drawstring Cowl knitting pattern on .

See this Free Drawstring Cowl pattern on SweaterBabe.com.

See more finished projects from this Free Lush Lacy Mitts pattern on Ravelry:

Fave or Queue the Lush Lacy Mitts knitting pattern on .

See this Free Lush Lacy Mitts pattern on SweaterBabe.com.

Here are Sheila's project comments:

"I am so excited.

The pattern was very challenging in terms of having a cable and lace design going at the same time but as usual the pattern is well written and easy to follow.

I loved it and would make it again. " -- Sheila S.

Thanks, Sheila for sharing your finished project photos!

* * Do you have a SweaterBabe.com Pattern photo (on a body!) that you'd like to submit to the photo gallery? * *
If we select your photo(s), you get a free pattern!

Read about submitting photos to our Finished Projects Gallery.

See more finished projects from this Covetable Cabled Cape pattern on Ravelry:

Fave or Queue this knitting pattern on .

See this pattern on SweaterBabe.com.

Little Pig Pottery makes very unique yarn bowls. They are almost too pretty to use (I said, almost!).

What's nice, is that these bowls easily pass for expensive art objects in your craft room, while being easily accessible when you need to tame that ball of yarn as you knit or crochet!

The concept of a yarn bowl is simple, but these bowls are far from basic. The larger sample is an adorable pig pot! A nice size for any larger balls of yarn and plenty sturdy to sit on the ground by your feet or on a side table to feed you your yarn.

Great craftmanship cannot be faked. These are hand-made and hand-finished and definitely one-of-a-kind pieces.

The smaller yarn bowl is perfect for the smaller balls of yarn that you will get with the lighter weights of yarn. The notches on the side are angled so the yarn can't just slip up and out, which is very clever.

The larger Pig one is quite substantial in height and could handle a fairly big ball of yarn! Adorable pigtail detailing on the back.

Both have very smooth surfaces and edges, of course, so there is no concern about catching your yarn.

Here are the descriptions from Jean Ann, the artist behind Little Pig Pottery:

"Ms. Pig is a smug little character with a lovely satin surface.  She, like most pigs, is of generous proportions. She began as a stoneware cylinder on the wheel and sports a casual cord cut foot.  A curly rim cut for a tail was made to allow a yarn thread to pass through.  Ms. Pig's dimensions are 6" high by 6" diameter. She also is a sturdy weight, around 3 pounds, to help her make a stand with the yarn pulling." Retails for $88.

And her description of the above yarn bowl: "Small Copper Red Yarn Holder that will hold a ball 3.5" in diameter.  Copper Red will also brighten any corner in your home.  It began as three pounds of stoneware thrown as a cylinder. A tight little rim cut was made to allow thread to pass through.  Exterior glaze is copper red; interior is a dark satin mat. Yarn holder is 4" high by 4" by 4” Its mouth is approximately 3.5 inches in diameter and stands on three chunky feet." Retails for $38.

Thanks, Jean Ann, for your fabulous artistry and for sending us these lovely yarn bowls to review and give away!

Be sure to visit https://littlepigpottery.etsy.com for more of Jean Ann's work - she has a wonderful collection of whimsical yarn bowls that you just have to see!

*** The Giveaway! ***

Enter to win the Small Copper Red yarn bowl from Little Pig Pottery ($38 value)!

Here's how to enter*:

1) Make a pattern purchase from now through April 15, 2013, 9pm PST. Choose from all of my knitting patterns or crochet patterns. Each order counts as one entry, so multiple entries this way are ok!

2) Be a member of the SweaterBabe.com Knitting Club! All members that are still active through April 15th, 2013 will be automatically entered. Not a member? Join by April 14, 2013 for your automatic entry and get all of the April (and March if you join in March!) pattern downloads with your $7.99/month Club subscription!

3) Pin this giveaway (using the Pin It button here: ) and follow SweaterBabe on Pinterest by clicking this button: . One pin per person, please. Pin by April 15, 9pm PST.

4) Post a comment on this blog post telling us what you think of these yarn bowls!  One comment per person, please. Comments must be posted by April 15, 9pm PST.

Sorry, this giveaway only open to those in the continental U.S. If you enter via Pinterest, make sure you are on my email list so you will get notified if you win!

*** WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT 4/16/13 ***
And the randomly chosen winner from all entrants is . . .Ita - who posted a comment here on 3/13/13. I've emailed you, Ita. Congrats!!!

I like to use this cord because it's fast to make (no turning your work!), and you can just keep going until you have the length you want (vs. pre-planning the length with a long chain, then working a row of sc).

Here's how it's done.

Ch 2, work 1 sc in second chain from hook. DO NOT TURN.
NOW, notice that the "post" of the sc you just worked has one strand at the far left (in the front). Or you may consider this the left side of the finished sc. Insert your crochet hook into that (picking up one strand). See the pink arrow below.

After inserting your hook there, this is what it looks like:

NOW, work a sc by yo, pull loop through (then you will be at the photo above, with 2 loops on your hook), yo, pull yarn through both loops on hook.

You've now done a second sc. Let's go through one more sc just to reiterate.
* DO NOT TURN. Find the far left strand of the sc you just worked and insert your hook just under it (just like you did above). See the pink arrow below.

This is what it looks like once you've inserted your hook under it:

Work a sc by yo, pull loop through, yo, pull through both loops on hook.
Now, you've completed the third sc:


Repeat from * to make a single crochet cord as long as you'd like!

Here are three upcoming knitting patterns that take full advantage of their chunkiness!

This Eternity Scarf wraps around your neck twice, with the contrasting textures of a thick, chunky ribbing against an intricate lace design. Oh-so-wearable and flattering - all you have to do is loop it once or twice around your neck and you look instantly well put-together!

Then, this sweater is all about chunky cables. Front, back, and sleeves all feature a wide, chunky cable design that is fun to knit and wear!

Boxy fit, with dolman sleeves makes for a fun shape to toss over skinny jeans or a pencil skirt.

This sweater dresses up nicely for work or feels like the modern take on fishermans' sweaters for casual weekend attire.

Third is this beautifully cabled Malabrigo hat in a stunning hand-dyed color, called Fuchsia.

This one is modeled by my oldest daughter, whose head seems to have grown to be pretty close to my head size, makng her an ideal head model! This pattern will include this pink version, which is a more traditional fit, plus a slouchier hat, which is so everywhere this season! PLUS, both hats only use up less than one hank of Malabrigo Worsted!

ALL THREE of these knitting patterns are coming in the next few months. . . so stay tuned!

Meanwhile, see ALL the SweaterBabe.com Knitting Patterns in bulky yarn