This week on Ready, Set, Knit  Steve highlights the following yarns, magazines & patterns:

YARNS

Ecologico from Schachenmayr
Sierra Color from Regia
Silenzio from Schachenmayr

MAGAZINES

Knitters Magazine Fall 2009
Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2009

PATTERNS

Thermal from Knitty.com reknit in Valley Yarns Huntington
(NOTE:  The pattern must be downloaded from Knitty.com)

Kiyo from Knitting Matters knit in Valley Yarns Deerfield
(NOTE:  We are the exclusive on-line resource for Knitting Matters Patterns)

I get to catch up with one of my favorite guests, Lexie Barnes.  Her new collection is just hitting stores and features 3 new fabrics and several new styles.  My life is pretty hectic but I often feel like a slug compared to what Lexie is juggling!  Besides her bag line, she has just opened Twist Pop-Up  Store in Thornes Marketplace in downtown Northampton.  The store will feature several of the artisans that show at Twist Fair in addition to other indie crafsters.

The next Twist Fair is coming up as well in just a couple of weeks.  It will be held on November 13 & 14 at the Northampton Center for the Arts.  The show is a blast and features some of the best indie craftsters.

If that weren’t enough, she’s also working on her next book, due out in Spring 2011! 

Pixie & I finish up the 3-Button Jacket KAL!

You can listen to Ready, Set, Knit! via our website or you can download the podcast on iTunes.

Enjoy!

Kathy

This week on Ready, Set, Knit, Steve & I talk about several new yarns , a few gift ideas and some of the newest Valley Yarns Patterns!

Schafpate Sock Yarn from Opal
Los Angeles from Wisdom
Cashmere Scarf Kits for Her from Jade Sapphire
Bamboo Interchangeable Needle Set from WEBS
Knitting Bags from Namaste
Christmas Stocking Kits from Judy’s Colors

Thetis Pullover knit in Valley Yarns Colrain

Selene Striped Cardigan knit in Valley Yarns Superwash DK

Hampshire Tweed Cardigan knit in Valley Yarns Williamstown

Soft Cables Afghan knit in Valley Yarns Amherst

Pixie & I continue the 3-button Jacket KAL from Classic Elite  featuring one of their great new fall yarns, Chesapeake.

You can listen to Ready, Set, Knit! via our website or you can download the podcast on iTunes.

Enjoy!

Kathy

Just a reminder that we are just getting started on our latest KAL on Ready, Set, Knit – our weekly podcast.  I was asked in the comments to show a better photograph of the jacket – here it is:

Project:  3 Button Jacket from Classic Elite’s Weekend Pattern Booklet 9102

Yarn:  Classic Elite Chesapeake - 50% organic cotton/50% merino wool

Amounts:  9(10, 11, 13, 14) depending on size 34½ (38, 42, 46½, 50½)”

Needles:  Recommend #7 or whatever size you need to attain a gauge of 21 sts and 30 rows over 4″.  Also one 24″ circular needle 2 sizes smaller than the body needle.

Other:  Size G crochet Hook, cotton waste yarn for stitch holders, 3 buttons, tapestry needle, locking ring markers.

The jacket does have a bit of an A-line flair to it.  The stitch itself is a 4 row repeat of knits and purls and not difficult at all.  Some of the construction portions of the jacket are challening but don’t feel intimidated.  Pixie & I discuss this on this week’s podcast that will be up on Saturday.  I’ve tried the jacket on and it’s really stunning.

If you are knitting along with us or planning to make the jacket at some point, please share your thoughts in the comments!

Kathy

On this week’s episode of Ready, Set, Knit! I have the pleasure of talking with Knitter’s Review Founder Clara Parkes.  Clara’s sophomore book, The  Knitter’s Book of Wool hits stores next week. 

I have to say, after the success of her first book, The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, I wasn’t sure how she was going to top it.

I should never have doubted Clara for a moment.  Shame on me!  The Knitter’s Book of Wool is an in depth adventure into all things wool.  It is informative, interesting and a must have in your library.

You’ll also want to check out this week’s Knitter’s Review in which Clara discusses nine of her favorite woolly yarns.

Before we talked with Clara, Steve & I got pretty silly with this week’s line-up of new yarns.  You’ll have to listen in to truly understand, but here are the yarns we discussed:

New Yarns

Yummy from Fibranatura
Cocoon & Cocoon Multi from Rozetti
North Pole from Wisdom Yarns

Closeouts

Classic Wool from Shepherd
Pastaza from Cascade
Colour 4 Me 8-Ply from Shepherd
Baby  Alpaca Chunky from Cascade
Dolce from Cascade

In the second half, I was tickled to welcome Pixie back to the show after a much deserved vacation.  She was raring to go and we launched right into our next KAL!

Project:  3 Button Jacket from Classic Elite’s Weekend Pattern Booklet 9102

Yarn:  Classic Elite Chesapeake - 50% organic cotton/50% merino wool

Amounts:  9(10, 11, 13, 14) depending on size 34½ (38, 42, 46½, 50½)”

Needles:  Recommend #7 or whatever size you need to attain a gauge of 21 sts and 30 rows over 4″.  Also one 24″ circular needle 2 sizes smaller than the body needle.

Other:  Size G crochet Hook, cotton waste yarn for stitch holders, 3 buttons, tapestry needle, locking ring markers.

This is a truly great jacket. 

Just a reminder that Clara Parkes will be teaching at WEBS on November 7th.  We have a few spots left.  You can read about the class and register here.  She’ll also be signing books after her class so be sure to join us!

Kathy

Note:  Edited to add links to new yarns.

This week on Ready, Set, Knit! Jackson is back at the microphone while Steve was in Chicago at Stitches Midwest. 

He and I get the distinct pleasure of introducing our new Bamboo Interchangeable Needle Set.

I also continue my conversation with Linda Pratt of Westminster Fibers.  This week we talk about the new yarns & pattern books for Nashua Handknits.

Pixie and I continue the Summer Petals CAL and I say au revoir to Pixie as she heads to France for a much deserved vacation.

The pattern can be found in the Summer 2009 issue of Interweave Crochet.

You can listen to Ready, Set, Knit! via our website or you can download the podcast on iTunes.

Enjoy!

Kathy

On this week’s episode of Ready, Set, Knit, Steve reviews some great new yarns:

 Ella Rae Latte (new fall yarn)
Araucania Panguipulli (new fall yarn)
Tahki/Stacy Charles Jeans (closeout)
Takhi/Stacy  Charles Sky (closeout)
On-line Supersocke Candy Color (new fall yarn)
On-line Supersocke Sierra Color (new fall yarn)
Silk Garden Lite (discontinued colors)
Debbie Bliss Fez (new fall yarn)

I talk to the fabulous Linda Pratt of Westminster Fibers.  Linda is an industry icon having worked for several of the major yarn companies as well as having owned her own shop.  We discuss all of the new Rowan yarns introduced for Fall 2009, Rowan Magazine 46 and the Rowan Anniversary Celebration.

Kathy & Pixie get rolling on their latest project – the Summer Petals Cardigan from the Summer 2009 issue of Interweave Crochet.

You can listen via our website or you can download the podcast on iTunes.

Enjoy!

Kathy

P.S.  Sorry for mix up with yesterday’s upload.   The right podcast is up on iTunes and our website.  Also, my apologies for the small picture of the Summer Petals Cardi!  Also, I’ll ad the links to the two Supersocke yarns as soon as they are live.

This week on Ready, Set, Knit Steve highlights some fabulous new luxury yarns that we’ve recently received.  Yummy yarns & new colors too!  Some of my favorites?  Jade Sapphire 2-ply Cashmere, Jade Sapphire Silk Cashmere, Rowan Pure Cashmere DK and Madeline Tosh Lace!

Pixie and I were able to make some great progress on the Botanica Medallion Cardigan too!  You can find the cardigan on the cover of the summer issue of Vogue Knitting.

You can listen to Ready, Set, Knit  directly on our website or you can download it via iTunes.

Enjoy!

Kathy

This week on Ready, Set, Knit we changed things up a bit.  We went back to the future in a way.  As most of you know, we started as a weaving business with my mother-in-law Barbara teaching weaving classes out of the basement in her home.  Fast forward 35 years and how times have changed.  Although the art of handweaving remains about the same, it has certainly benefited from modern day technology.

Enter a new social networking just for handweavers called Weavolution (www.weavolution.com) recently launched by Claudia Segal, two partners and a bevy of developers.  Weavolution is still in beta, with new and improved portions still in the alpha phase.  If you are a handweaver or are thinking about taking up handweaving, take some time to listen to my conversation with Claudia and definitely check out the site.

Pixie and I also get started on the Botanica Medallion Cardigan, which is featured on the cover of the summer issue of Vogue Knitting.

You can listen to Ready, Set, Knit  directly on our website or you can download it via iTunes.

Enjoy!

Kathy

Hi Everyone

I had the privilege to interview Debbie Bliss on this week’s podcast.  We had a great discussion about her background and inspiration.  Steve was not with me on this week’s show so our son Jackson filled in as co-host with me.  He now wants to be on the show every week! 

You can listen to Ready, Set, Knit  directly on our website or you can download it via iTunes.

Enjoy!

Kathy

P.S.  Pixie will be back this week and we’ll get the Botanica Medallion Cardigan KAL rolling!

Just a quick post – we did a short video of our live broadcast of Ready, Set, Knit! and thought you’d enjoy seeing a clip!

Don’t forget – the Anniversary Sale ends on Monday (Memorial Day)!

Kathy