Viking Knitters and Viking Knit

I was in Minneapolis last weekend for the TKGA/CGOA Knit and Crochet Show. As always, I enjoyed meeting new people.

This was a smaller show, but the attendees had flown in from all around the country, so I felt like I was introducing myself to a whole new audience. I had customers who hailed from New York, Massachussetts, Alabama, Texas, California, Washington, and Alaska.

I also made many new connections with other knitting professionals. I was both flattered and excited to be approached by
1) an editor from a craft publishing company about a book opportunity
2) an editor from Creative Knitting Magazine who wants to do a product review of one of my kits (watch for it in the February issue) and
3) Three young ladies from BeadTV and Knit1TV (internet channels) who would like me to produce a knit with wire tutorial video for them.

Wow! Yippee! Yahoo!

I should also mention that I introduced a new product at this show. Voila!



It is called the Viking Knitter's Bracelet. My Minnesota customers thought I created it and named it especially for them (football team=Vikings), but as a true blue Packer fan, I could never do such a thing. The name comes from the "Viking Knit" wirework technique which produces a chain that resembles knitting. As you can see here, I paired it with handmade clasps made from recycled knitting needles. It was a hit! In fact, it was such a hit that I sold out! (Clasps have been ordered, and it will be on my website soon).

So, all in all it was a very nice visit to Vikingsland. I hope to return soon.

Midwest Fiber and Folk 2011, Bubble Wrap, and more

I had a great time, as always, at Fiber and Folk last weekend. Sales were good, perhaps a little too good. I was there by myself, and I was so busy on Friday and Saturday I had trouble keeping up with the pace at times. I apologize to my customers out there who had to wait. Sorry, sorry, sorry!

Some of the excitement in my booth was generated by my new shawl pattern: Bubble Wrap, that you see above. I love this pattern! Except for the fan border, which I admit is a tad difficult (but beautiful!) the pattern is easy to memorize and fast to knit. I love the texture and the fact that it is totally reversible.

The sample that you see here was knit in Blue Heron Rayon Metallic--absolutely gorgeous yarn. The pattern worked great with the handpainted yarn, but I think it might look even better on a solid yarn or kettle dyed semi-solid. I plan to start a knit along for the shawl soon and I will be curious to see it in different colors.

Bubble Wrap is just one of several new patterns and kits that I am planning to introduce. I have new patterns and kit ideas at various stages of development for:

a cute cell phone holder
women's gloves
a dressy summer top
a viking knit bracelet kit

Hopefully, at least one of these new kits/patterns will be ready for my next show, which is just around the corner at the Knit and Crochet Show in Minneapolis at the end of July.

Yikes! I'd better get knitting!

I'm Back!

Okay, this is kind of embarrassing. I've been MIA for (yikes!) 10 months.
I have lots of excuses for this:

1) life intervened -- lots was going on in my nonknitting life. For a while there I wasn't knitting much, and since I would like this blog to stick to my knitting, there were times when there wasn't much to say.

2) I was rebelling a little bit against blogging. Admit it fellow bloggers, after much blogging without comment, don't you start to wonder, is any one out there? Blogging sometimes feels like talking to myself, so is that therapy or is it insanity?

3) I have been keeping a few secrets (which I am about to reveal). For the last 5 months or so, I have been working on new designs and I have been contemplating trying to get at least one of them published by a print or online magazine. Most magazines require that patterns for submission not be published elsewhere, including on blogs or Ravelry, so I have been holding back, but I think I can tell you that since January I have designed the following:

* A new Knitter's Journey necklace kit. (Actually it is a necklace/bracelet--it's convertible!)
* A lovely shawl that uses Blue Heron's gorgeous Rayon Metallic yarn.
* Some very clever gloves that I have already knit up three times with two different yarn weights and 3 color variations, but I am not quite satisfied that I have found the best yarn for the pattern.
* A cardigan using Knit Picks yarn -- this is completely planned out, but as I have only knitted the back thus far, I have a long way to go before this one will be finished.

I am racing to finish as many of these projects as I can before I start the summer show season. My first show is June 3rd and 4th at the Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival in Franklin, Indiana. It will be my first appearance there, and I am excited for a new venue.

---Watch this space, and my Ravelry page-- Secrets to be revealed in the near future!