Category Archives: giveaways

VK Virtual class winner and more frog hats

Posted on November 12, 2025 | 1 comment

Wow, 11/13 of the commenters want to cut their knitting! We could all use a friend when it comes to that first steek. I’m that friend!

The winner of a Vogue Knitting virtual class with me is Judith Grant. I used a random number generator to choose. Congratulations, Judith!

If you’re interested in cutting with me, you can still register for this class here. Use coupon code NOV25 for 25% off the class. We’ll discuss ways to reinforce your steek before cutting, cut the steek, and pick up stitches for finishing. Class is on Friday Nov. 14, but it’s also recorded and available for 2 weeks after the event.

I was away for the weekend, and talked a friend through cutting some knitting! She doesn’t knit, but she wanted to make a frog hat. She bought a green chenille cardigan at Goodwill. The back of the sweater was wide enough that we could use it for the hat, including the ribbing for the bottom. It’s just a rectangle straight up, seamed to make a tube (she put the seam at the back, since there was only one seam), then seamed across the top. It turned out great.

I finished my worsted weight frog hat, too. Free pattern from me, for worsted and super bulky weight yarns! This yarn was burlier than most worsted, so it’s a little bit big on me.

Green knit hat and Feminist Knit Club patch

I’d like to sell it for a good cause. $100 for the hat and a Feminist Knit Club patch, with all money going to my local food bank (Northeast Emergency Food Program).

Thanks to Thao from Nerdbird Makery for the patches! These are the last of the last; there are no more patches or other Feminist Knit Club swag available. Come and get it!

How was your weekend?

1 Comment

Posted in classes, giveaways, Knit, Other craftiness

Tagged NerdBirdMakery, portland frog hat, steeking, Virtual Knitting Live

VK Virtual class giveaway

Posted on November 8, 2025 | 12 comments

I’m teaching two classes next weekend for Vogue Knitting’s November virtual event. This is the last VK Virtual event of 2025; the next one will be in February. They’re running a sale, use code NOV25 for 25% off all remaining classes. The classes are recorded and available for 2 weeks after the event, so you can sign up for class even if the time isn’t convenient for you. I’m signing up for a class that’s at the same time as one of mine, and I’ll watch it a bit later.

I’m giving away a spot in one of my classes; would you like to win that spot?

Tink Drop Frog teaches you how to identify and fix mistakes in your knitting. This is a great class for advanced beginner to early intermediate knitters. This class is on Saturday November 15.

Sheepy Steeky Coasters walks you through reinforcing and cutting your first steek. You knit your coasters before class, so there’s some homework. This class is on Friday, November 14.

If you’re interested in winning a spot, leave a comment telling me which class you’d like to take. I’ll pick a winner on Wednesday November 12. Good luck! (Edit: I’m changing this to Tuesday Nov. 11, to give time for homework…)

12 Comments

Posted in classes, giveaways, Knit

Log Cabin Knitting winner, classes

Posted on April 14, 2025 | Comments Off

And the winner is Helen Brisson! I’m emailing you so you can register for class. Congratulations!

If you didn’t win, you can still come to this online class. Register at the Vogue Knitting Live website; class is Saturday April 26. Edited to add: Flash! Use coupon code APRIL20 for 20% off remaining classes for this event.

Collage of shawlette, detail of shawlette, and the assigned pooling yarn

I’m teaching three classes via three venues that weekend. I’m teaching brioche + pooling in-person at For Yarn’s Sake in Beaverton on Sunday, April 27. Class is for knitters who can knit brioche rib. We’ll cover the increases and decreases, syncopation, and assigned pooling in class. Fun!

A brioche knit hat and cowl in shades of blue

And I’m kicking off that teaching weekend with Brioche Beginnings for Modern Daily Knitting online. Class is on Friday, April 25; you can register here.

Busy busy! These are my last classes for spring. May is…unsettled. Juggling lots of stuff in real life…

brioche knitting with assigned pooling, and a glass of wine

But I’m still knitting! Current project on the needles in Black Orchid and an unnamed green from Yarn Snob. I love this color combo.

Comments Off on Log Cabin Knitting winner, classes

Posted in classes, giveaways, Knit, yarn

Tagged Brioche knitting, for yarn's sake, knitting, knitting classes, log cabin knitting, modern daily knitting, vogue knitting online, yarn snob yarns

Log Cabin Knitting class giveaway

Posted on April 7, 2025 | 13 comments

I’m teaching Log Cabin Knitting for Vogue Knitting Online on Saturday April 26. And I’m giving away one seat in this virtual class!

Log cabin blocks are made with oodles and oodles of simple garter stitch. Sometimes you just need something soothing to knit. In this class, you’ll learn how to pick up stitches, and how to shape your blocks. A little simple garter stitch math, and you can make it work for whatever size you want.

Cherry Blossom Wrapture shawl featuring log cabin knitting — Cherry Blossom Wrapture

And you’ll be ready to take log cabin knitting to even more fun heights.

Sign up for the class at VogueKnittingLive.com and/or enter to win a seat in this class by leaving a comment on this blog post telling me that you want to WIN! I’ll choose a winner on April 14. Good luck!

13 Comments

Posted in giveaways, Knit

Tagged knitting class, knitting class giveaway, log cabin knitting, vogue knitting online

Squirrel! I should be packing, but…

Posted on July 28, 2023 | 3 comments

I’m supposed to be packing for my teaching gig in Bellingham, on the Zodiac schooner, and Ellensburg. I’m leaving tomorrow morning. But I was daydreaming in my aqua-fit class at the gym (I do a lot of designing in my head during class), and I had an idea.

So of course I had to come home and cast on. It’s brioche, my true love. This beautiful yarn is Anzula Lucero, a DK weight yarn that’s 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, and 10% Stellina (sparkle!). The colors are Storm (blue) and Hippo (gray). It’s so bouncy and fun to knit with!

It was so tempting that I now have TWO projects on the needles, which is pretty wild for this monogamous (monomaniacal?) knitter.

My other project is an assigned pooling shawl, the second knitting of this design. I need to check some numbers along the way so I’m knitting it again before putting out a call for test knitters. The first colorway turned out gorgeously, although low contrast tonally, so I’m going for high contrast this round. More about that later.

Right now? I’m still supposed to be packing (7 classes packed for next week, but no clothes yet) something besides my knitting projects, but I need to announce a winner!

The winner of the Nature Walk ebook from Knit Picks is Lynne. Congratulations! I’ll be in touch via email to work this out with you.

I’m thrilled that Honey Bee Mine is part of this collection.

Have a great weekend; have a great week! I’m leaving DH home in charge of the cats. Or the cats at home in charge of DH. It’s a mutual aid society.

3 Comments

Posted in giveaways, Knit, pattern design, yarn

Tagged anzula yarn, Honey Bee Mine, knit picks

Winning brioche

Posted on May 30, 2023 | 1 comment

I’m taking a break from my assigned pooling project to knit some brioche. You know I can’t resist.

It feels so good to have brioche in my hands again! I’m knitting new samples for Brioche Pastiche to use in a class; I’ll show you more in the next post. But for now, I just wanted to announce that Martha is the winner of my Next Steps in Brioche: Increases and Decreases class at Virtual Vogue Knitting Live! I’ll email her to let her know.

If you’re not Martha, there is still room in this class for you! It’s on Sunday, June 11 at 2 pm Eastern. Register here!

1 Comment

Posted in classes, giveaways, Knit

Tagged Brioche knitting, Virtual Knitting Live

Win my brioche class at Virtual Vogue Knitting Live

Posted on May 25, 2023 | 6 comments

I’m teaching Next Steps in Brioche: Increases and Decreases for Virtual Vogue Knitting Live on Sunday, June 11, 2 – 4 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific). Vogue is generously letting me give away a seat in this class via my social media channels.

Deep End Hat and Cowl, and Madrona Cowl in lower right corner

In this class you’ll learn how to knit brioche increases and decreases that create the lovely patterning in two color brioche. We’ll also talk about fixing mistakes and reading a chart. Prerequisite for the class is knowing how to work two color brioche in the round. To enter to win a seat in this class, leave a comment on this post telling me what you want to knit with these increases and decreases. For an extra chance to win, leave a comment on my Instagram post for this giveaway. Contest closes at 11:59 pm Pacific on Monday May 29, and I’ll let the winner know on Tuesday, May 30.

I’ve taught a lot of knitters to knit two color brioche with my Petite Brioche class and pattern. If you don’t know how yet, sign up for my Zoom class via For Yarn’s Sake! The class is on June 3 at 10:30 am Pacific (1:30 pm Eastern). Learning from this class or from my free Petite Brioche pattern on your own will have you ready to learn increases and decreases.

Big thanks to Julie Rosvall (@julierosvall on Instagram) for letting me use her giveaway graphic! She’s teaching at Virtual VKL too, and I’m looking forward to taking her First Impressions: Print Making with Knitting class on Saturday June 10 at 10 am Eastern (7 am Pacific, oy!). Luckily, Vogue is recording our workshops during the June event, so I can replay it if I need a reminder from this early (to me) morning class.

Here’s a description of Julie’s class: Join textile artist and printmaker Julie Rosvall for a hands-on textile printmaking workshop. Julie will share how she went from knitter to printmaker, and why she loves capturing the pattern and texture of knitted shawls and swatches on paper. Participants will have the chance to try textile relief printmaking in a simple hands-on process, no experience necessary. Julie will provide information in advance for preparing textiles to print, or if you’d like to use stencils or other materials to mimic the textiles she will provide alternatives that can be picked up at your local dollar store or craft supply store.

You know I’ve been playing with block printing. Printing from knit fabric swatches will be next level fun!

6 Comments

Posted in classes, giveaways, Knit, Other craftiness

Tagged Brioche knitting, Virtual Knitting Live, Virtual VKL, Virtual VKL class giveaway

Project bags in play, kit winner

Posted on October 6, 2022 | 8 comments

What makes a good project bag? It needs to be roomy enough to carry the yarn and the project. And I like an inner pocket to corral my essential tools. The project bag needs to fit in my tote, which also carries everything else I would otherwise carry in a handbag. I swap project bags in and out of my tote, depending on what kind of project I want with me.

This cat-themed bag from Grace’s Cases holds one of my current projects, the beginnings of an Embellishment Cowl. It’s a class sample. I love that the colors on the bag coordinate with the yarn. A happy accident?

Peek inside the Small Double Sack Divided Project Bag. It has a snap pocket between two sections that can each hold a 100g cake of yarn. Grace Fross makes beautiful bags; I have two of her totes, too. And she does custom orders!

This RBG-themed bag currently holds the beginnings of another Bonnie Isle Hat. I need to get a sample set up for class. The bag is from Nerd Bird Makery, and it has two pockets on the back wall inside.

As well as a little inspiration above the pockets. I’m pretty sure the bag is no longer available, though.

But let’s get down to business! I loved reading all your comments on why you should be the winner of this bag full of goodies. And the winner of this Knit Fit kit is postmandeb! I’m sending you an email; please reply by October 10 with your mailing address. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll pick another winner.

I have one more bag to give away, but the winner will have to fill it on their own. This fun bag was a prize during knitting bingo at Knit Maine with Peacetree Fiber Adventures! The long handle loops through the short handle, and it makes a perfect wristlet. Pamela Howard is the winner of this bag. Please also reply to my email with your mailing address by October 10.

If you’re not the winner, that doesn’t mean that you can’t try to walk and knit at the same time. You just need a small project bag that hangs on your wrist, and a small project that doesn’t take too much attention. A plain stockinette hat on circular needles would be perfect! I’m guessing that you have some things that might fit the bill.

What kind of bag do you like for your knitting project?

8 Comments

Posted in giveaways, Knit

Tagged grace’s cases, Knit Fit kit, knitting bag, knitting project bag, nerd bird makery

The other Portland (port o’ call)

Posted on September 26, 2022 | 8 comments

Our Vogue Knitting Cruise also made a stop in Portland, Maine.

Unlike Newport, Rhode Island, and Bar Harbor, which involved a tender (small boat to get from cruise ship to port), Portland has a deep water harbor that accommodates cruise ships. We could just walk on and walk off! With proper documentation, of course.

We had a trolley tour of Portland, which ended at Port Fiber yarn shop. Port Fiber is owned by Casey Ryder, with whom I’d meet up again the following week at Knit Maine.

Designers Mary Jane Mucklestone and Bristol Ivy came to show samples and talk about knitting in Maine. Seeing and touching samples in real life is always so compelling!

Selfies were taken, of course.

You know I’m not much of a yarn stasher. But I love a yarn with a story, and couldn’t resist this.

Casey imports and distributes yarn for Cashmere People Yarns. These yarns are ethically sourced, handspun and hand-dyed by women in Tajikstan and Afghanistan.

Each skein has a picture and bio of the spinner, which I find charming. My skein is a two ply fingering weight cashgora, which isn’t a blend of cashmere and angora fiber. It’s actually from cashgora animals, which are a cross between Russian fiber goats and cashmere-type goats in Tajikstan. My skein is in the Atlantic colorway, which I thought was appropriate for this cruise souvenir. I’m planning to knit a Zephyr shawlette, which starts at the skinny end and I can knit til I run out of yarn. Or if I get wild, I’ll design a new thing that’s similar. (If you want your LYS to carry this luscious yarn, have them contact Casey Ryder at Port Fiber.)

I also took the opportunity to meet a longtime friend from my piano forum. I’ve met up with other piano and knitting friends after knowing them online. It’s fun to meet in real life; you just pick up the chat where you left off. (The first time I ever did this, DH was worried that I was meeting up with an axe murderer. Hasn’t happened yet!)

We went to Gritty’s so I could fulfill the lobster roll on my bucket list. It was delicious! But spendy. I think I enjoyed my unphotographed lobster Cobb salad at Stewman’s in Bar Harbor even more. Less guilt…it’s a salad, right? (And split with a friend…with fries…)

Don’t forget I’m giving away my Knit Fit kit; see this blog post for details on how to enter to win! We got these in Bar Harbor, which I previously posted about in order to get this party underway. My next post: O Canada! Two more ports…

8 Comments

Posted in foodies!, giveaways, Knit, travel, yarn

Tagged cashmere people yarns, Knit Fit kit, lobster, port fiber, Vogue Knitting Cruise

Knitting on the go go go!

Posted on September 22, 2022 | 48 comments

It’s true, as knitters we tend to sit a lot. Have you ever thought about walking and knitting at the same time? It’s possible, given a simple enough project and the tools to handle it.

This is the premise behind the Knit Fit kit. These were a gift from Michelle McCann of Knit Fit LLC. The kit includes a ball of yarn and needles to practice knitting while walking, a hat pattern and 3 balls of yarn to knit the hat, and various tools (snips, stitch holder, stitch markers). The lining of the bag is printed with tape measures.

We met Michelle in Bar Harbor, Maine, a stop on our Vogue Knitting Cruise. She told us all about Knit Fit, and then we walked, knitting, to La Rochelle for a tour of this lovely mansion.

I’d love to share my kit with one of you! Are you ready to walk and knit? At the same time? Willing to give it a try? Leave a comment and tell me why I should pick you! I do need to limit this to USA addresses due to shipping costs. And note that my sample knitting is still on the needles, so the kit is not perfectly pristine! I’ll choose a winner after September 30.

I’m going to be posting bits and bobs from my travels as I catch up. It’s too much for a giant post; you wouldn’t hear from me until next month if I waited to put it all together! More soon. Miscellaneous photos from La Rochelle below.

The Norwegian Breakaway, home away from home, outside La Rochelle

You may play it, gently. I played a few arpeggios

Carpet sweeper, same brand as the one I grew up with

The surrounds on the fireplaces are most ornate in the public rooms. The bedrooms, a bit less so. The servants’ quarters? Minimal. Same for the crown moldings and baseboards.

Strawberry Thief wallpaper on the entry staircase

This William Morris wallpaper is appropriate to the age of the house, but is not original. Gorgeous, though.

Bar Harbor was one of my favorite stops on this trip; the town is touristy but cute. There’s a great bookstore with some good craft supplies, Sherman’s, where I found a small quad ruled flip notebook. So helpful for charting knitting on the go! Nice selection of pens, games, and books.