(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO71fU-Lfhg&feature=youtu.be)

How has your mother (or grandmother) influenced your love of crafting? Are you “in it” with her?

Is she your partner in crime? Does she help to make anything possible? Do you think courage comes from her or do you give one another courage?

Happy Mother’s Day Blue Sky Friends.

Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting…together

Katie

It is my pleasure to announce the winners of our Knitting Everyday Finery Giveaway:

Lynette O. ” Love these patterns! Hope I win”

Pamela ” Beautiful! Would love to win this book…then the only problem would be which knitted beauty to knit first!”

and

Regina C. ” Great designs! Love the beret!”

All winners have been notified. Thanks to all for participating.

Knitting Everyday Finery Practical Designs for Dresssing Up in Little Ways

If you weren’t a winner, will you be picking up a copy on your way home? I know I am.

Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting…

Katie

Knitting Everyday Finery Practical Designs for Dresssing Up in Little Ways

Knitting Everyday Finery is the second book by Mel Clark and is a complete success.

Featuring 26 total patterns, there are many beautiful designs in this worthwhile book.

Photo © Mel Clark, Big Houndstooth Cowl in BSA Worsted.

Using Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted is a lush Big Houndstooth Cowl and the Strawberry Beret.

Photo © Mel Clark, Strawberry Beret in BSA Worsted

Photo © Mel Clark, Barcelona Hood and Scarf in BSA Worsted Cotton

Perhaps you are looking to use the more summer friendly, Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton. You’re in luck, the Barcelona Hood & Scarf uses four hanks.

Photo © Mel Clark, Anna's Hair Band in BSA Alpaca Silk

Or there is the Anna’s Hair Band, a one hank wonder in Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk. As someone that likes to wear headbands, this is a favorite project of mine.

With other fun projects including funky bags, great hats, fun mitts, and beautiful scarves, this book is an excellent addition to any knitting library. (It even has a pair of tights!).

We have three copies to giveaway! Just leave a comment on this blog post (one per person please) and we’ll be right back with the winners!

Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting…

Katie

Photo © Heather Dixon

Designed by Heather Dixon, Army of Knitters in Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton.

Featuring unique construction, worked in one piece from cuff to cuff, and a relaxed silhouette for easy summer wearing.

Photo © Heather Dixon

A cable treatment on the sleeves, framed by dropped stitches add a special touch and peekaboo of skin.

Another winner by Heather, added to the queue for sure.

Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting…

Katie

Vogue Knitting Crochet, Special Edition.

What are your weekend plans? Knitting? Crocheting? Reading? Movies?

The weekends always seem to breeze by in a rush of cleaning, errands, and things that must be taken care of.

This weekend though, to ensure a bright, fun spot I’m stopping at my LYS for the newest issue of Vogue Knitting. Their special Crochet Edition is available!

Photo © Vogue Knitting Crochet 2012, photo by Paul Amato

This fabulous Granny Square Dress, design by Mari Lynn Patrick, is crocheted in Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk.

I just think this unusual palette is the best. Something most people wouldn’t have thought of, but with really stunning results.

This magazine is going to be a great way to ramp up my crochet skills too!

What’s your bright spot this weekend?

Just keep knitting crocheting, crocheting, crocheting…

Katie

Perhaps, much like in our projects themselves, we are taught weaving in ends as an afterthought.

Sometimes at knitting classes, especially with time constraints, the whole topic is glossed over.

Even in the best technical books and patterns, it often simply says: “Weave ends away” without ever describing how to execute that procedure.

Or even worse, the crafter wandering about with tails dangling off their newly finished scarf or tails simply cut to the end, a little bump sticking out; just waiting for that loose end to work itself free and unravel the whole thing.

Surely, weaving in ends wouldn’t seem like an ordeal, if we all knew how to do it a bit better. If we were able to execute it easily and simply. The best teachers don’t gloss over this critical element of success.

The link to the video is here.

I’ve been knitting for a very long time and I found this video extremely useful. I hope that you do too! Be sure to share it with your knitting friends, we would like for all of Blue Sky’s Friends to be pros at weaving in ends.

Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting…

Katie

Photo © Libby Krueger

Ms. Savannah looks smashing in her big, beautiful bow. Her Mom, inspired by baby love, knit this bow in Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes in Strawberry (2018).

What inspires you?

Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting…

Katie

The interview is cross-posted here, but be sure to read about all the Stitch Red participants and let’s “Stick it to Heart Disease.”

Blue Sky Alpacas chose to be involved with the Stitch Red campaign because when Laura at Jimmy Bean’s Wool asked, we knew it was the right thing to do. Ten of eleven employees have been touched by heart disease here at Blue Sky. With this disease affecting so many near and dear, becoming a part of Stitch Red was a great way for the whole Blue Sky staff to become involved in awareness and prevention.

Blue Sky Alpacas TECHNO in Cha-Cha Red

Blue Sky Alpacas had already designed the TECHNO yarn in Cha-Cha Red when we were invited to participate in the Stitch Red campaign. We felt that TECHNO Cha-Cha Red was perfectly suited to Stitch Red because of its duality. TECHNO is new technology; the latest advancement in how it is possible to create yarn. Blue Sky thinks all knitters and crocheters deserve the latest and greatest. We certainly feel that all people deserve the best technology when it comes to taking action to fight heart disease. Blue Sky Alpacas TECHNO may be new technology, but it is also yarn; used to make garments for centuries. Knitting and crocheting can be a slow task that takes time and perseverance. Much like heart health, you have to be committed, you have to want to be healthy. It takes time, but the results show one step stitch at a time.

The Jazzy Cardigan by Olga Buraya-Kefelian

The Blue Sky Staff is taking a heart healthy step in the right direction. We try and go for a walk together everyday. That time sure flies by when you have good friends to chat yarn with! It’s always easier to do something difficult when you aren’t alone.

Photo © Chad Niemeyer

Here at Blue Sky our hearts melt for the newest member of the Blue Sky Family! Jones joined the herd in late February and we just cannot get enough of him.

If you love the Jazzy Cardigan, you’ll be pleased to know that this Stitch Red pattern and the Stitch Red TECHNO yarn in Cha-Cha Red it’s shown in are available together in kit form here. Just find your size to purchase the pattern and all the yarn you need for this cardigan. Of course, 5% of Blue Sky Alpaca’s gross profits from sales of both the pattern and the yarn will go to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health in support of The Heart Truth®.

Don’t forget to visit Stitch Red’s Blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Ravelry Group for more info!

Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting…

Katie

Photo copyright Kate Oats When I Grow Up

Antilogy, designed by Kate Oates of Tot Toppers is a bit of a contradiction.

This is a looser gauge knit in an open lace stitch resulting in a breathable knit.

Yet, this sweater is ultra cozy worked in Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino, shown in Wildfire (424).

Kate designed this pattern to be knit in one piece, in the round, from the top down; wonderful for warm climates and transitional seasons.

Photo copyright Kate Oates When I Grow Up

Antilogy is an opposition in thoughts, views, statements, and/or words. Thanks handy, dandy dictionary.

Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting…

Katie

Photo copyright The Purl Bee

Many of us will never outgrow our love of stuffed animals. And with cute, cuddly bunnies like the Purl Bee‘s who would want to?

For many, bunnies, specifically the Easter Bunny are another harbinger of Spring.

Which has me thinking…

Springtime Bunny

Photo copyright The Purl Bee

And Big Snowy Winter Owl

Photo copyright The Purl Bee

What rotund animal does Summer have in store?

(I’ve got my fingers crossed for a whale!).

Both the adorable Big Snowy Owl and delightful Big Cuddly Bunny are knit using Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky.

These would be great Easter or Springtime presents for a little one in your life. Or, if you are like me, a good excuse to knit an adorable “decoration” for the house.

There is something wonderful about never outgrowing charming, handmade toys.

Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting…

Katie