Feature Designer: Courtney Spainhower of Pink Brutus Knits

5/24 update: Random.org has chosen comments 1,9 and 10; Christinabpt, Babbett and Milagros please contact me at luckylambyarn@gmail.com OR comment below with your choice of pattern and your Ravelry name.
Thank you!


It's that time again! And this time I'm talking to Courtney Spainhower. She's one of my absolute favorites right now. Her designs grab me every time. I feel like they are creative, wearable and timeless. I've knitted a few of her designs and have several more queued. I just love her work! Not to mention she just seems like a very cool lady. One day I will sit and knit with her, one day!
Let's take a look at some of my favorites!

Arrow Capelet: I fell in love with this one instantly! Such eye pleasing details.

Bailiwick Pullover: The detail is so lovely on this sweater. I've made Courtney's Eyelet Yoke sweater and loved it. This one may be next! 

Seed to Sprout Shawl: Again, detail! Just wow!

Chatting with Courtney was so great. She was extremely accommodating and I just loved her answers in the interview.  

1. What is your first thought when you awake?

The first thing I think when I wake is, "Shit, what time is it?"  Then I fumble around for my phone to see I've woken up 15 minutes before the alarm is set for.  Seriously.  This happens nearly every single morning - especially the sunny ones.

2. What does the perfect knitting evening look like for you? Needles, yarn, environment, music, tv?

Oh, to knit in the evenings without children asking for things like dinner, or the dog running around with someone's shoe, or a cat eating my yarn.... !!  However, the most perfect knitting evening would look like this: Chris & Thomas, a glass of Malbec, a sample ready for blocking, and swatches piling up. (Isn't swatching most knitter's nightmare?)

3. What /who inspires you?

I find inspiration everywhere - each season begs for particular garments, fibers, and textures. I see the world in cables, lace, and very often, saddle shoulders.  My family also inspires.  In fact, my husband looses so many hats that I'm inspired to knit him a new one every fall!

4. What is your favorite part of the design process?

My favorite part of the design process would have to be the plotting of it.  I often have a vague idea and have to zone in on it by sketching it into focus, then fretting over the perfect stitches and how they'll work together.  It's all quite exciting.

5. What is the part you most dread?

I dread size grading.  It's MATH, MATH, MATH.  To be honest, I slept through high school algebra and it's a miracle I'm a functioning designer at all.

6. What was your first knitting experience and how did it influence you?

The first time I ever picked up a set of knitting needles was roughly 7 years ago when I was pregnant with my youngest.  I was at mother-in-law's house and she was telling me she had just taken a knitting class at Jo-Ann Fabrics. I forced her right then and there to show me everything she had learned.  I'll never forget it.  She said, "All I know is how to 'cast-on' and 'knit' but you'll have to look at the booklet they gave me to see how to 'purl.'"  I sat on her couch with a giant belly, the booklet next to me, and a handful of wooden needles fumbling some chunky red yarn into a wonky strip. I've always been hands-on and once I get my hooks into something I'm determined to take it to its end. However, the thing with knitting is, there is none.   

7. Is there anything you've yet to tackle, knitting wise?

I've done just about everything I can think of from felting to intarsia, from socks to shawls, but in knitting, tackling is not the same as mastering.  I even went so far as to buy a spinning wheel and dye my own fiber JUST to dig deeper into the craft.  This, as you can imagine, is positively thrilling to my husband (but i did just learn to Navajo ply and it's magical).

8. What's your favorite FO to date?

My favorite FO to date is actually a complete secret until Spring of 2014 (which is really sad because I'd love to spill all the details right here and now).
    *I interviewed Courtney quite a few months ago. The FO she is referring to is the Bailiwick Pullover. It's featured on the Interweave Spring 2014 cover.* 

9. Who is your favorite person to knit for and why?

My youngest is my favorite person in the WORLD to knit for.  She is opinionated and knows what she wants so it can be a little nerve wrecking, but the girl has impeccable taste and when she lays eyes on the finished piece she lights up like no one else.  She also wears the things she asks for (not necessarily the ones I make out of the goodness of my heart).

10. Favorite knitting book, magazine or festival?

Boy oh boy did The Knitter's Almanac by our beloved EZ change my life as a designer.

11. Do you have any Tips or tricks for aspiring designers?

For someone just getting started, I recommend the KnitEvenly App (which I still use today), some sort of chart software, and a very thick sketchbook with grid paper.  I think when you first dip your toe into pattern writing, you don't always know what type of designs you're really going to enjoy putting to paper, so leave your options open and sketch out or write down all the things you'd love to create even if you have no idea how you'd make those pieces a reality (because if you stick with it, someday you may).  

Also, it's good to keep in mind that as you move forward, patience and problem solving are the cornerstones of success in this business.  I reply to numerous emails every day from people with questions or comments about my designs and problem solving for them is one of my main tasks.  Most people look to the designer as the expert who will guide them though any problems the run into.  This is an aspect of designing I wasn't prepared for when I first started out and it was, at times, overwhelming. 

You can check out more of Courtney at www.pinkbrutus.com

Courtney would love to offer a free pattern to 3 lucky knitters! Just comment below to enter! Winner will be drawn Saturday, May 24th. 

Feature Designer: Lisa Mutch of Northbound Knitting

Hey All! It's time for another feature designer interview!!

This time I'm laying my questions on Lisa Mutch, Owner, Dyer and Designer for Northbound Knitting.  Lisa is constantly releasing new patterns and shipping out her beautiful hand dyed yarns; a serious, one woman army. I don't know how, but I got her to spare a few minutes for me! So, read about her here then check her out on Ravelry!

1. What is your first thought when you awake?
 I'm one of those annoying morning people who pretty much bounces out of bed each day and gets to work. Every day has a very detailed list, things to do, yarn to dye, emails to reply to, pdfs to edit, etc., and I don't like to waste any time. The quicker I check things off my list, the more knitting time I get later on in the day!

2. What does the perfect knitting evening look like for you? Needles, yarn, environment, music, tv? 

 The perfect knitting evening, ahhhh. I'm pretty easy to please so as long as there's knitting involved, I'm very happy. Working on something in one of my favourite bases like a merino/silk or alpaca/silk/cashmere on my addi circulars, with a fire going, a glass of red wine, an episode of Homeland, The Walking Dead or Sons of Anarchy.....yeah, that sounds about right. :)

3. What /who inspires you? 

 I can honesty say that the knitting community inspires me to create. Seeing photos posted on Ravelry and Instagram of beautifully knitted items and gorgeous handspun yarn motivates me daily. I want to create more colourways, dye more yarn, design more shawls and sweaters and cowls so I can watch what this amazingly talented and creative community creates out of them.

4. What is your favorite part of the design process?

 I love the design process, having an idea, sketching, swatching, watching it come to life is so exciting and rewarding for me. I love watching how others interpret my designs with their own yarn choices and modifications. The whole process is amazing to me.

5. What is the part you most dread? 

 When it comes time to work on the actual pattern, make edits, correct mistakes during the test knitting process, that's when I start to drag my heels a bit.

6. What's your favorite FO to date?  

 My favourite FO's are definitely my shawls. I have an extensive collection and love wearing them daily, except in July and August when it's too hot but even then, you can find me knitting shawls at the beach.

From a designer's perspective, I love how versatile they are, how they can virtually be any shape, any design, colour, size. They're like a blank slate where the possibilities are endless. From a knitter's perspective, I love the long rows, circular needles, how I can scrunch the shawl in progress up and shove it into my purse. And then binding off a shawl, wet blocking it and pinning it out to dry. Suddenly the shawl transforms from what seems like endless crowded stitches on a needle to a beautiful piece of knitted art.

7. Who is your favorite person to knit for and why?

 Well, I used to love knitting for my kids but sadly, they're getting older and prefer the cool store bought winter accessories over mom's handknit mitts and scarves. I used to knit a lot of things for members of my family too but after many handknits got felted in the washing machine, wrecked, lost or just not appreciated at all, I happily became a selfish knitter. (And am very happy with this decision, haha!)

8. Favorite knitting book, magazine or festival? 

My favourite knitting books are by far anything by Elizabeth Zimmermann and Barbara Walker. The knowledge and wisdom those two women alone have offered the knitting community is astounding and I'm so grateful for their books. I don't even know how many hours I have spent pouring over the stitch patterns in Barbara Walker's treasuries, they're my favourite!


Special thanks to Lisa for being a part of this series! She's offering up a free pattern of choice to 3 readers! All you have to do is tell us here in the comments what your favorite NBK pattern is and why to be entered. Winner will be drawn Thursday, March 27th.
Happy Knitting everyone!
Amanda

Winners have been drawn!

Charity
Babywearing/Cloth diapering Mama
Pamela Burns

Please email Lisa at lisamutch312@gmail.com for your free pattern of choice! 
Thanks for playing everyone and thank you Lisa for sharing your beautiful work!

Feature Designer: Stephanie Dosen of Tiny Owl Knits

I'm opening this series with the beautiful, and magical, Stephanie Dosen.  Her designs are intriguing and whimsical, and easily transport one to a place of instant happiness.  I dare you to search through her designs and not "oooh" and "ahhhh".  My favorites include the Moonbeam Duster and this wonderful Gypsy Petticoat.  And who isn't working up hexipuffs for this amazing blanket?!

I recently got a chance to ask Stephanie my spotlight designer questions. She was so lovely to chat with and will continue to be an inspiration to me; and probably you too!

Me: What is your first thought when you awake? 
SD: OOh definitely coffee! Then I take my kitty Ruby outside to graze in the yard. Normally I’d want to get straight to my computer to start answering emails and working on patterns, but Ruby squeak-meows at the top of her lungs until I take her out. It’s nice though because then I get to spend some time under my favorite tree.

What does the perfect knitting evening look like for you? Needles, yarn, environment, music, tv? 
It definitely involves a big puffy chair and lots of blankets and pillows. Candles and cinnamon/patchouli oil burning on tiny lamps around the room. I’d have my best friend by my side and we’d be having a Harry Potter marathon.

What /who inspires you? 
I’m very inspired by nature and animals, trees and flowers. I’m inspired by the shapes and structure in knitting more than the stitch patterns. I get inspired when I wander flea markets and see old color patterns in furniture or stained glass lamps. Then I cant wait to get home and pick up the needles.

What is your favorite part of the design process? 
I love starting, and I love finishing. It’s the part in the middle that gets us all isn’t it? But then, that’s what creating is all about. I think the major goal of creating is to be comfortable with the entire process. The ideal scenario would be to enjoy every single stitch and every single mistake along the way, which for me are many!

What is the part you most dread? 
Having the guts to start over when it doesn’t work out perfectly the first time. That moment when I look at it and realize that it would have been so much better if I had done “this or that”. Then ripping (or throwing it out if its felted) and starting from scratch. That’s the part that can really break your heart if you don’t just kind of shrug your shoulders and say “oh well, no biggie!”

What was your first knitting experience and how did it influence you? 
I got hired at a yarn store as a crochet teacher, but I didn’t know how to knit. Some of the ladies showed me and I went home and made this weird looking random poncho in the round. When I brought it to the store everyone loved it for some reason and they helped me write up the pattern. It was so surprising and strange to me that people wanted that pattern. I think that really got me started on my way. I just couldn’t stop making things up and bringing them in the shop for everyone to join in!

Is there anything you’ve yet to tackle, knitting wise? 
I know there are always lots more things to learn. I tend to take a crack at whatever looks like it might stump me. Maybe that’s my personal form of self torture. “That looks really hard, hmmm… let’s try it!”

What’s your favorite FO to date? 
It’s either the meow mittens or the faerie wings.

Who is your favorite person to knit for and why? 
Oops. It’s me. That’s so terrible isn’t it!!?? I always mess up or knit the wrong things for other people. It never fits them or it’s not quite what they were imagining. They never wear the things I make. It’s always more frustrating than fun for that reason. Except I knitted my Grandmother a pair of socks once and she loved them.

Favorite knitting book, magazine or festival? 
When I was working at the shop we would get so excited when a new shipment would come in with magazines, or the new Rowan books. We would squeal and rip open the boxes and all sit around and pour over them. I worked with some of my best friends and I honestly think looking through a new Rowan mag is maybe the most fun thing ever. Wait, do I need to get out more? :)

Do you have any Tips or tricks for aspiring designers? 
Don’t worry or take any of it too seriously. Only make things that you love and you want to wear. If you really really want to design, then just do it and never give up even when you hit brick walls and feel like you are failing. It’s natural! Keep going and good luck!

Want more Stephanie? You can find her (and all her helpful videos) at www.tinyowlknits.com You will probably spend hours there!

Big thanks to Stephanie for being a part of this series! 

XA!

Happy Holidays!

It's that precious time between Christmas and the New Year and I love it. Its the pause I need after 365 days of madness, and a quiet time for me to reflect and a plan for future adventures with my lovely husband and beautiful boys.  It also happens that there is a lot of knitting happening, too.

The past few days have been filled with sketching up patterns to work up in the new year, planning colorways, mapping out kits and contemplating yarn clubs. As I was working up the new patterns, my thoughts drifted to my favorite designs of 2013. One in particular stuck out because of this time of year and the season, so I thought I would share it with you.

 A few weeks ago, I knitted a crown for my oldest son. It's always fun to pull out crowns at Christmas or Birthdays, or just everyday creative play. I wanted to present the pattern here on the blog for free. I love how it looks in Variegated yarn but a few of my friends have made it in solids and its just as adorable. Here it is modeled by my girlfriend's beautiful daughter.

Child Crown

Needles: Size US2 16” circular

Yarn: Fingering weight of choice. you will need about 18g.

CO 120 sts onto size US2 16” circular

Join in round

K2P2 rib for 12 rounds

Round 13: knit all sts

Repeat 1&2 four times total.

1) *M1, K4, Slp 2tg, K1, pass 2 slp sts back over, k4, M1, K1*

2) Knit

Picot BO (CO 2, BO 4 *for fewer points on crown, BO 6)

Weave in your ends and make your little ones royal!

You have to block those picot point up! So, pin them or string them up in the blocking process.

Happy New Year everyone! 

Amanda

A new series...

If you know me in real life, you know that I have a great love for all things fiber. Where the fiber comes from, how it is processed and the creation of fine yarns is just one aspect!  I have respect for the weavers, the spinners, the dyers and the designers. The craft, as a whole, is pretty incredible! Rich in history and diverse enough to entice and encompass a huge number of people across the globe. A passion so great, (sometimes born out of necessity or tradition, and other times a hobby) spread through all countries and cultures, that you could say, "it knits the world together."

I, myself, am a dyer, knitter, crocheter and have taken to designing recently. I wanted to chat with some other people that love these things as well, and what better place to start than at the very end? ;) The people who sketch, chart, create and design the patterns you love to knit. The people who make Ravelry one of your favorite places to spend your time!  Your drooling over cardigans and cowls, hats and mittens, shawls and sweaters is the effect of the hard work that these designers do; so I've picked a few of my personal favorites to spotlight. I'm sure you know their names and have probably even knit a design or two that they have created.

 I'm thrilled with the responses I've received from the women involved. (You know knitters are some of the nicest people on Earth, right?). I hope, that through this series, you will get to know the people behind the designs a little better and understand what great lengths they go to to help you on your knitting journey!

Enjoy the series!!
Amanda

What's new?

Oh my goodness! Have I really not blogged since June?! I need to catch you guys up!

My family and I did quite a bit of traveling over the Summer and settled in Charleston for the Fall. It's a gorgeous city with a ton of wonderful inspiration.
I did some dyeing here and there for Lucky Lamb over the Summer, but mostly focused on knitting and designing.
I released 3 Native inspired shawls; Rock Skipper, Freebird and the Dancing Shawl.
There also happens to be a Free cowl pattern here.

Now that we are somewhat settled, I've release some new colorways and hope to get some kits underway too!! There are some Winter designs on my needles now and I'm also busy with some Holiday knitting for family and friends. So much fun stuff happening!

Sorry to type and run, but my kiddos are whining, the dishes and laundry need done and of course, those projects are not going to knit themselves!

There are some great things coming to the blog soon so be sure to check back!
XX
Amanda

Latvian Braid Belt

I've been in love with the Latvian Braid since first seeing it. I have been super excited to use it somehow, some where!!
I ended up knitting this belt in the round, left a long enough loop of yarn, and cut it right down the middle for the fringe on the ends. Then just tied those loose ends off. :)
It worked up awesome with a Lucky Lamb dark blue and Treasure Island in worsted weight.
My sweet sister then sewed a ribbon backing on it leaving about 15" on each side for tying room.
The belt measures about 64" long minus the fringe.
It was just what i needed to funky up some of my summer wardrobe. :)