Tag Archives: Knitting

One of the things I love most about the Indie GAL (Gift-A-Long) is the chance to discover and/or promote other designers’ work. Over the course of the GAL I’ll be publishing gift-knitting related interviews with designers whose work I admire.

Andrea Rangel publishes fabulous garment and accessory patterns. Check out her Ravelry page here.

Steph: What’s your favorite part of the GAL?
Andrea: I love the idea of indie designers coming together to create this great sale and event for knitters. I’ve always appreciated the supportive environment among designers and this is just another great example of that.

Have you participated before this year?
No, this is my first year! I’m excited to try it out.

Welcome!!!! Are you participating as a knitter? if yes, what are you planning on knitting? if no, what would you, had you the time?
I’m hoping to make Tread by Shannon Cook for my sister, and maybe one for me too! If I get ambitious I may even make her a Cayucos shawl. I love the texture and that gorgeous edging, but I’m nervous about having enough time. I’d also love to work up a Little Dude cardigan for my niece, but again, we’ll see if time allows. (Too many good things to knit!)

Aww, thanks re: Cayucos! Which of your patterns do you think make the best gifts?
Bulky lace shawls like Sentiment and Squam Confidential can be great choices because they’re so dramatic, but also pretty quick to knit. If you’re a fast knitter and you love someone very much, The Knitter’s Dude (and the little version) are amazing gifts. My mom loves the Dinar slippers I knit for her a few years ago too.

Thank you so much Andrea!

Photos © Kathy Cadigan or Andrea Rangel

Don’t forget to check out the Indie Design Gift-A-Long group on Ravelry to join in the fun!

One of the things I love most about the Indie GAL (Gift-A-Long) is the chance to discover and/or promote other designers’ work. Over the course of the GAL I’ll be publishing gift-knitting related interviews with designers whose work I admire.

 
Nim Teasdale publishes gorgeous shawl patterns. Check out her Ravelry page here.

Steph: What’s your favorite part of the GAL?
Nim: It’s hard to choose a single favourite part as I love many aspects of it. The general excitement and energy is so much fun, and I love the opportunity to make new friends and hang out with old friends too. It’s always very inspiring to see all the beautiful things people make too.

Have you participated before this year?
This is my third GAL. It’s wonderful to see how much it grows each year.

Are you participating as a knitter? if yes, what are you planning on knitting? if no, what would you, had you the time?
I am! The last two years I’ve only been able to cheer from the sidelines, but this year I am determined to make something! I’d love to make a serious jumper like Ink or Wink , but I’m going to try to be sensible and not overreach myself, so I’m making some of Gannet’s Paper Snowflakes, and a Dreamy Owl for my new little nephew. I’ve been eyeing off Browneyedbabs’s toys for a long time, and now I have the perfect excuse.

 Which of your patterns do you think make the best gifts?
I think the patterns from the Knitting by the Seat of Your Pants collections (here and here) all make pretty good gifts. They’re all adaptable as to yarn weights, so if you’ve in a hurry, you can knit up something striking very quickly. They’re also simple and fun, which suits this time of year very well.

Those do look great! Thank you so much Nim!

Photos © Nim Teasdale

Don’t forget to check out the Indie Design Gift-A-Long group on Ravelry to join in the fun!

One of the things I love most about the Indie GAL (Gift-A-Long) is the chance to discover and/or promote other designers’ work. Over the course of the GAL I’ll be publishing gift-knitting related interviews with designers whose work I admire.

Barbara Benson publishes intricate, beautiful patterns. Check out her Ravelry page here.

Steph: What’s your favorite part of the GAL?
Barbara: I’m torn between interacting with all of the awesome participants and oogling all of the patterns. I really like going through the patterns and seeing all of the amazing talent out there. I try to keep current on Ravelry but it drives home the fact that I am missing all kinds of stuff. But I also really enjoy having fun with all of the knitters crafting in my thread (Go Team Neck Thingie!).

Have you participated before this year?
This is my third year! I have been a moderator for all three years and it has been amazing to see it grow.

Thank you so much for being a moderator!!! Are you participating as a knitter? if yes, what are you planning on knitting? if no, what would you, had you the time?
I am not ruling it out, but I don’t have anything on the needles yet. This year my son has two teachers and I really should be knitting them something, I am going to have to go through the pinterest boards and find something that fits (and maybe stash dive). In answer to the “what would I make if I had the time” I actually made a video where I picked 3 patterns from each of the categories. You can see it on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/YsTBYoRYcXQ

Which of your patterns do you think make the best gifts?
Hmm, I am all about knitting little things as gifts so anything that falls in the hat/cowl/mitt category. I Can’t Control My Fingers knits up crazy fast and the super stretchy stitch pattern makes it fit a wide range of hand sizes. Also, my new patterns from One Stitch, Two Stitch were pretty much conceived with the idea of gift giving. They are easy patterns that knit up quickly and I bet people might have the yarn in their stash to knit at least one of the patterns right now.

That first has to be a Ramones reference, right?? Thank you so much Barbara!

Photos © Barbara Benson

Don’t forget to check out the Indie Design Gift-A-Long group on Ravelry to join in the fun!

One of the things I love most about the Indie GAL (Gift-A-Long) is the chance to discover and/or promote other designers’ work. Over the course of the GAL I’ll be publishing gift-knitting related interviews with designers whose work I admire.

Claire Slade publishes fantastic colorful garment and accessory patterns. Check out her Ravelry page here.

Steph: What’s your favorite part of the GAL?
Claire: I love seeing what patterns everyone chooses to knit as gifts, I wish I was as lucky as some of the recipients, I’d love some handknit socks for Christmas!

Have you participated before this year?
Yes this is my 3rd year now, long may it continue.

I agree! Are you participating as a knitter? if yes, what are you planning on knitting? if no, what would you, had you the time?
This year I am definitely going to participate as a knitter, last year I was so busy I couldn’t. I’m thinking I might knit bubbly ballet slippers by Amy Kenagy or possibly some socks.

Those look like great slippers! Which of your patterns do you think make the best gifts?
I think hats make great gifts, Midnight Owls is my favourite personal hat pattern. I loved stranded colourwork but I know some people find it a bit intimidating, so trying it out on something small like a hat is a great idea.

Thank you so much Claire!

Photos © Claire Slade

Don’t forget to check out the Indie Design Gift-A-Long group on Ravelry to join in the fun!

One of the things I love most about the Indie GAL (Gift-A-Long) is the chance to discover and/or promote other designers’ work. Over the course of the GAL I’ll be publishing gift-knitting related interviews with designers whose work I admire.

Carol Sunday publishes fabulous garment and accessory patterns. She’s also designed an exquisite line of yarns (visit her shop here).

Check out Carol’s Ravelry page here.

Steph: What’s your favorite part of the GAL?
Carol: I love the sale, of course! Not just that patterns are marked down, but I love going through the bundles of patterns and seeing what other designers have been up to. It’s the one time of year that I make time to check out other designers’ work, and it’s always fun and inspiring. I also like setting up my own pinterest board for my personal favorites. And even though I’m sometimes too late to take advantage of the sale, I usually buy a few things for my library.

Have you participated before this year?
I missed the very first year, so this is my third.

Are you participating as a knitter? if yes, what are you planning on knitting? if no, what would you, had you the time?

I’d like to if time allows.

At the top of my personal queue is Cristina’ Ghirlanda’s Ebony. I love the style of this piece. It’s something I could see myself wearing a lot!
I’d also love to make Vikki Bird’s Showflake cushion for my sofa, Jen Lucas’s Regalo and Kerri Blumer’s Blendon Woods hat for my stepdaughters, and Janice Anderson’s Wee Blackface Sheep 2 for my studio. And whether or not I’ll actually make either of them, I’m definitely buying Heike Campbell’s Dancing Dragon Coat and Lotta Groeger’s Im dunklen Wald patterns, just so that I can gaze at their beauty.

 Which of your patterns do you think make the best gifts?
I gave my Broderie Hollandaise hat and mitts as gifts last year, and they were both a huge hit.

My Bohemica cowl also makes a great gift – it’s a super-scrunchy cowl in an unusual stitch pattern – engaging but not too time consuming.

Thank you so much Carol!

Photos © Carol Sunday

Don’t forget to check out the Indie Design Gift-A-Long group on Ravelry to join in the fun!

One of the things I love most about the Indie GAL (Gift-A-Long) is the chance to discover and/or promote other designers’ work. Over the course of the GAL I’ll be publishing gift-knitting related interviews with designers whose work I admire.

Faye Kennington publishes gorgeous, quirky, and thoughtful patterns. Check out her Ravelry page here.

Post your comment on this post what pattern of Faye’s you’d like to knit for someone this holiday season by midnight PST December 15th 2016 for a chance to win one of Faye’s patterns

Steph: What’s your favorite part of the GAL?
Faye: I love the camaraderie amongst the designers. As an independent designer, I miss out on having a team for most the year. This event is a great opportunity to work with people that I really admire that have similar businesses to my own.

Have you participated before this year?
Yes, I have participated in Indie Design Gift-a-Long since the very beginning.

Fabulous! Are you participating as a knitter? if yes, what are you planning on knitting? if no, what would you, had you the time?
I am definitely going to be knitting this year. On my needles right now I have crossing, that I will be giving to my BFF. I will be making Hermia Hat for my daughter. I also plan on casting on Winding Road and Mountain. I’m not sure if those will be gifted or will stay home with me. I actually need a new hat, too.

Which of your patterns do you think make the best gifts?
I think Folklore and Gold Standard Cowl would be lovely gifts, however, (2 Hour) Artist’s Loop and 2 Hour Smocked Toque have proven to be very popular with gift knitters that are pressed for time.

Thank you so much Faye!

Don’t forget, post your comment on this post on what pattern of Faye’s you’d like to knit for someone this holiday season by midnight PST December 15th 2016 for a chance to win one of Faye’s patterns

Photos © UkeeKnits

Don’t forget to check out the Indie Design Gift-A-Long group on Ravelry to join in the fun!

One of the things I love most about the Indie GAL (Gift-A-Long) is the chance to discover and/or promote other designers’ work. Over the course of the GAL I’ll be publishing gift-knitting related interviews with designers whose work I admire.

Amy van de Laar publishes fabulous accessory patterns. Check out her Ravelry page here.

Steph: What’s your favorite part of the GAL?

Amy: I’m really enjoying handing out prizes, I love the excitement of it! I have one day each week on drive-by prize patrol, giving pattern codes to whoever posts the next WIP or FO photo. I also love hanging out in the Hand & Arm Things thread (where I’m one of the host mods), seeing what lovely things people are making. I’ve discovered some fantastic patterns and yarns that weren’t on my radar before.

Have you participated before this year?

I’ve participated for two years previously as a designer (and knitter!), but this is my first year on the Mod Team. Can I give a shout-out to all the mods? They’re all so much fun to work with!

The mods are totally awesome!  They volunteer an amazingly generous amount of time. Have you participated as a knitter before?

As for the knitting part, my first GAL project from 2014, a Park Slope tee, was only finished this September – I’m really slow with garments, even short-sleeved ones. In 2015 I did manage to finish a cowl at the eleventh hour, so my GAL cred is improving. Maybe this year I’ll manage more than one project.

Are you participating as a knitter again this year?
I’m working on a pair of Grellow Love socks designed by Clare Devine, using some leftover Vintage Purls yarn. I’m nearly up to the heel of the first one! It’s parked on my desk next to my laptop, so I can sneak in a few rounds when I’m GAL chatting or waiting for Photoshop to load. I’m not very experienced with socks, so each pair I make is a bit of an adventure. If I have time after this pair, I’ll probably go for more socks, maybe Wheatly Socks or Tip Toe Up (which are both in my queue).

Which of your patterns do you think make the best gifts?

I tend to make hats, cowls, and scarves for gifts, because they’re nice and practical. A few of mine that I think are quite quick and versatile are Tailfeather, a worsted-weight scarf with simple feather-inspired lace, Ascent, a textured unisex beanie, Peacowl, a DK-weight lace cowl, and INSULATE, a free Dalek-patterned hat (for the geeks in the family).

Thank you so much Amy!

Photos © Amy van de Laar

Don’t forget to check out the Indie Design Gift-A-Long group on Ravelry to join in the fun!

One of the things I love most about the Indie GAL (Gift-A-Long) is the chance to discover and/or promote other designers’ work. Over the course of the GAL I’ll be publishing gift-knitting related interviews with designers whose work I admire.

Kirsten Hipsky publishes lovely garment, home, and accessory patterns. Check out her Ravelry page here.

Steph: What’s your favorite part of the GAL? Have you participated before?

Kirsten: This is my first time ever participating in the Indie GAL. It’s the first year where I felt I had enough indie patterns to promote! I love how supportive all of Ravelry is of indie designers to make this promotion happen every year. It’s so cool to see designers supporting each other as well! It makes me want to get more involved and help others the same way.

Are you participating as a knitter? if yes, what are you planning on knitting? if no, what would you, had you the time?

As for what I’m going to knit, well, I have to press ever onwards! Writing patterns and knitting prototypes from scratch is my main creative outlet. But I want to give big props to my designer friends Emma Welford (emmawelford) and Sara Delaney (ChickenBetty) for convincing me to do the Indie GAL this year. They’re both awesome, dedicated, massively creative designers and it gives me strength to see them making great stuff.

They both create fantastic designs! Which of your patterns do you think make the best gifts?

When it comes to gift knitting, I’m all about speed speed speed! Quick knit projects are fun, gratifying, and are easier to give to non-knitting recipients without getting an ulcer if you see it in a laundry basket. My super bulky Veinte Cowl is a super fast one skein project that makes a huge impact on knitters and non-knitters alike. Its simple knit and purl stitch pattern make it accessible to knitters of all skill levels.

Thank you Kirsten!!

Photos © Kirsten Hipsky, Two of Sticks, or Lindsey Topham

Don’t forget to check out the Indie Design Gift-A-Long group on Ravelry to join in the fun!

Congrats to Sheri!  I’ve emailed you the code. Thank you everyone for commenting on Evie’s interview!