Wednesday, February 28, 2007

The Bag

The Bag by Wendy Wonnacott just spells summer to me. I gave up buying yarn for Lent so come April 9, I'm placing an order for the yarn. This bag is shown in Cinnamon & Pumpkin - I am planning on making mine in greens & blues - perhaps Sprout & Sapphire. Estimated yarn cost: $42 + shipping (can't find it local). I also love Tuscany but who doesn't? That's on my more distant list.

Aside from the great patterns, this book is a great reference for non-animal fibers. It's truly readable & provides valuble information for experimenting with new yarns. I know I'll use the reference section for years to come. :)

Happy Fur-Free Knitting!

- Kate

Thursday, February 22, 2007

It's a Poll

What is your favorite non-wool fiber?
Silk
Cotton
Linen
Soy
Bamboo
Hemp
Corn
Rayon
Seacell
Modal
pollcode.com free polls

Friday, February 2, 2007

Join the No Sheep Party! KAL now accepting members

Are you a lover of nonwool yarns but feel like you have a lot more to learn about the new alternative fibers? Perhaps you are allergic to wool (like Amy Singer), don’t like how it feels against your skin or just don't wish to use anything that came from an animal? Or maybe you prefer knitting with cooler plant-fiber yarns for hotter weather? Do you want to belong to an online community of other knitters who feel the same way? Join the party as we celebrate the publication of Knitty.com editor Amy R. Singer’s No Sheep For You: Knit Happy with Cotton, Silk, Linen, Hemp, Bamboo, and Other Delights.

This knitalong is for knitters across the globe who are interested in creating something from one or all of the 21 knockout patterns appearing in No Sheep For You. You can post photos of finished objects or works-in-progress, share ideas for variations, and talk about your experiences working with non-wool yarns. Amy encourages participants to show their individual creativity as they work with each pattern, and be sure to let us know about your own successes in making successful sheepless substitutions.

Here's your guide to the nonwool fiber families covered in the book:

The Cellulose Group: Bast Fibers (Hemp, Linen) and Seed Fibers (Cotton)

Protein Fibers: Silk (For the record, The Woolies also are in the protein fiber family, but not permitted in this KAL)

Manufactured Fibers from Natural Materials: Rayon, Bamboo, Corn, Lyocell, Modal, Seacell ®, Soy Fiber

Synthetic Fibers: Nylon, Acrylic, Polyester, Spandex (For the record, Amy says these yarns are best used in blends with other fibers, with some exceptions).

To join, simply email us at knitalong AT interweave DOT come and we'll send you an invitation email that outlines how to post to the site. Happy knitting!