I’m super excited that not only is my Cryptid collection out this week but that it comes in so many varieties!  You can get the whole ebook or individual pattern downloads through Knit Picks, or buy yourself a real paper physical copy!  I KNOW, right?  I love digital patterns but the non-techie in me loves the paper version.  Luddites unite!

To share my excitement, I am raffling off one of these here books!

To enter the drawing:

1.  Leave a comment here or on the Wattsolak Design Facebook contest post telling me which Cryptid creature pattern is your favorite.  Sasquatch?  Krakens?  Who’s got the most love around these parts?

2.  Leave a comment on the Cryptozoology Contest thread on Ravelry, linking and telling me your favorite pattern.

3.  Tweet about the book or share the Facebook contest post, and then drop me a line letting me know.

Enter once, twice or thrice!  You have until noon MST, Friday May 17th to enter!  I’ll randomly draw a name that evening.  Good luck!

The cover shows the Neck Kraken scarf in Knit Picks Gloss DK.  This entertaining scarf has tentacles in place of fringe, plus a hidden loop on the underside to draw one end through and keep it snug around your neck.

My absolute favorite of the bunch is Bigfoot + Yeti.  These felted slippers come in six different easily customizable sizes.  These are done in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted, then felted.  I can’t express to you enough how perfect fitting these things are.  There is shaping that makes these slip on your feet like buttah.

Sea Serpent Squish is a soft toy for the Nessie fans out there.  At a width of 19″, it would also make a super fun throw pillow!  This is worked up in Knit Picks Biggo.

Chupacabra Mittens feature the feared ‘Goat Sucker’ of Mexico and Central America.  El Chupacabra’s menacing face graces the backs of the hands while goats tile the palms.  Knit Picks Palette is used for these.

Knit Picks Stroll and Stroll Tonal blend for this easy colorwork Mermaid Cowl.  At a distance the image, like the mystical Mermaid, is hard to spot at first.  Upon closer inspection, you can see the tiled mermaid silhouettes.

Rounding out the Cryptid medley is the one closest to home for me, the Jackalope!  The Jackalope is a super cute jack rabbit with a twist.  This version is quite floppy and squishy.   This guy also uses Wool of the Andes Worsted.

Whew!  There you go!  These six are available on the Knit Picks website, as either individual downloads, an ebook, or as a physical book!  Check it out!

Like its namesake, Browns Crossing is beautiful without being cutesy, utilitarian without being pedestrian. A scarf-like length and width allows for it to be worn quite a few different ways for added versatility.

The yarn for this, Cephalopod Traveller, is incredible.  It’s super soft and the colors are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen.  When I was at Stitches West this February I was getting to the point of overload with all the yarns to look at and fondle, but when I came across their booth I was rejuvenated and excited, like I was seeing something entirely new.  I want one of every colorway they do!!

The Details:

Yarn: Cephalopod Traveller, 2 skeins in Gallifrey (how could I pass up yarn with that name??)

Yardage: Approximately 560yds

Gauge: 18sts and 24 rows = 4 inches / 10cm in Stockinette st

Suggested needle size: US size 10

Price: $5

Find this pattern on Ravelry!

 

Need some fancy adornment while trying to make a decision? Great for when flipping a coin or drawing straws just won’t do!

I am loving these new mitts.  I love making fingerless gloves that make me giggle and flash a huge grin.  This has turned out to be quite a conversation piece.  Take these babies on the bus and make instant friends!

The Details:

Price: $5

Find this pattern on Ravelry

I swear the city of Prague glows at night.  Unlike many western cities with their neon and eerily green-blue nights, central Prague radiates this love with its warm lighting.  It’s so welcoming and cozy, like the illumination itself is wrapping you up and keeping you warm.  This sensation is what inspired this cowl.

I have two pet peeves with most cowls for winter-wear: 1) looseness in the neck makes them drafty and 2) my lower chest often feels unloved and naked unless I have my jacket zipped.  This cowl was my answer to both.

Praha is worked flat then seamed in the back. Ribbing creates a very elastic cowl, allowing no need for closures. Short rows give it a close fitting shaping.

The Details:

Yarn: DK weight yarn. The sample above is shown Tosh DK

Yardage: Approximately 150yds

Gauge: 26sts and 25 rows = 4 inches / 10cm in k3p2 ribbing, unstretched

Suggested needle size: US size 7 and 8

Price: $4

Find this pattern on Ravelry!

To me, this is the best ever time of year.  Pumpkins, soups, sitting in the sun without sweating, but most importantly, the return of wool accessories!  Oh, such a relief to allow my hands to no longer be naked.  To celebrate, here is the first of the hand-related Wattsolak patterns of the fall.

This is my second pattern based on a drawing of my husband Daniel’s (the first of which was Bean Monster).  The original drawing was for a show poster for his band In Better Senses.

I love the early 20th century horror film feel to the poster.  You can almost hear Orson Welles’ voice in the background.  When I first saw his sketch I knew this had to be translated to colorwork!

I’m quite happy with the end result!  I know this is partially due to the Malabrigo Finito of the sample.  Drool.  I can’t wait to nest my hands inside these on snowy days.

There is also a special significance of the release date of this joint creative project: today is our 9th wedding anniversary!  Hooray for us!

The Details:

Price: $5

Find this pattern on Ravelry

Warning: it is impossible to wear these gloves or mitts without feeling the need to wildly wiggle your fingers!

This is such an addictive pattern.  Seriously, I’ve knit three versions and I still want to make more.  It’s one of those where you finish one and immediately want to start another with new colors.  Oh, who am I kidding, I was already planning the next before I’d finish the first glove of a pair.  I never, ever take commissions to knit things but I have already accepted one for these since the person who suggested them came up with a really fun version that I was eager to attempt.

The background and palm-side consist of an easy to memorize four row repeat while the back shows off the kraken whose tentacles are your fingers!  The fingerless version works best when the kraken color is close to your skin color, allowing the two to blend together.  For this reason, I highly suggest Jamieson Shetland Spindrift or Knit Picks Palette, both of which come in an array of neutral tones.

The pattern includes four charts.  There are separate left and right charts for two versions, one for light colored kraken and one for dark.  There are also instructions for working a full glove or the fingerless version.  Two different sizes use the same charts, the sizing determined by the needles and gauge.  Lots of room for customization here!

And hello there, little baby cephalopod on the thumb gussets!  Try to hide but you are oh-so cute that you are hard to miss!

The Details:

Price: $6

Find this pattern on Ravelry!

Yes, that’s a TWO PAGE spread!

There were so, so many incredible photos from that day.  I wish you could see them all!  I might have to go through and share some more of the cute ones.  There was a lot of hula hooping and belly laughing that day!

I can’t wait for this issue to arrive stateside!!  If you can’t wait for the paper version, you can buy the iPad/iPhone version here and the digital download here.  Or if, unlike me, you are patient, Joanns and other local craft places will have these in stock in a few weeks!  Really, go out and buy it because there is some really cool stuff in this issue!!

Thanks, Mollie Makes, for including me in this fun set of designers!

As promised, here is an update of the paper piecing quilt!  Still a long way to go, but it’s getting there.  And it’s still fun!

I have already received fabric from three family members and three friends, and there is still a lot more fabric to collect.  I now understand the joy of being able to just buy quarter yards of amazing fabric, the small amount lessening the guilt of the cost.  I’ve also discovered a few select thrift stores where I can get cheap nice fabrics.  So fun!!

I’m only about 1/5th there, if that, but plugging away!

I have so many other things I should be working on right now, but instead I’m drawing charts for a brand new pattern.  Those of you who like stranded knitting will have lots to look forward to this fall!