Thanks!
Miriam

Yeah. That’s where I am. I’m winding up the prep to film a class for Craftsy.com, and honestly, it’s a pretty epic class. It’s sort of blowing my mind. I’m feeling quite confident in my ability to convey the info, but I’m just not sure about my ability to do it RECORDED.

I’ve got all the knitting (sans a few swatches for demo purposes) done, and I’m putting together a box to ship out to Denver with materials and knitted pieces I’ll need while I’m there. I still need to sort out all the outfits I’ll be wearing for each of the different segments, and plan what I’m bringing vs. what I’m packing.

I feel about as prepared as is humanly possible, and yet I feel like I’m struggling through a pool of molasses to reach the other side. I’m feeling twitchy and ungrounded, and nervous as hell. And 10 days more of this seems like a REALLY long time. I’m hoping not to develop an ulcer as a result of it.

Perhaps more yoga, more mediation and less caffeine….

Honey Badgers are amazing! They live mostly in Africa and the Indian Subcontinent and eat poisonous snakes, bee larvae, and honey. Their skin is so thick that bites and stings rarely penetrate it. Honey Badgers have been known to chase off young lions to take their kills! They are very persistent animals, and now you can knit one for yourself or for everyone you know. Make him with happy nice honey badger eyes or red evil ones for when he’s particularly pissed. Domesticate a Honey Badger!

Yarn: 50 yards in Color 1, and 60 yards in Color 2 of Sport Weight yarn. Sample shown in Cascade 220 Sport (100% Wool, 164 yds per 50gm skein) in 8401- light grey (Color 1) and 4002 – charcoal (Color 2); 13 wpi Scraps of red, brown and black yarns for embroidering eyes, claws, and nose respectively. Use brown for happy honey badger eyes.
Needles: Set of 5 double points in 3.25mm (US 3) or sizes needed to obtain gauge. Also either one long (32” or longer) circular needle in same size, or 2 of any length in same size (see note).
Gauge: 24 stitches and 35 rows per 4 inches (10cm) square in stockinette stitch.
Finished Size: 13 inches (33cm) from nose to tail, 4 inches (10cm) tall at widest point.
Notions: Tapestry needle to weave in ends and embroider features, stitch marker to denote beginning of round, crochet hook to pick up stitches.
Pattern Includes: Written instructions
Stitches Used: knit, purl, knit front & back, knit front, back and front, m1, m1p, k2tog, k2togtbl, ssk, p2tog, p2togtbl, slipped stitches, picking up stitches, basic embroidery.
Other Details: The lighter back piece is worked first from the tail to the head, with a slipped stitch (I-cord type) edging. Stitches are picked up all around the back piece and the belly is knitted on and attached row by row to the live picked up stitches until you reach the snout, when you begin knitting in the round. Ears are knit from picked up stitches and legs are picked up from the finished body and knitted seamlessly down to the feet.

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1. Print out the Flat Stanley pdf file, and cut Stanley out.
2. Take a(many) photo(s) of Stanley in an interesting place, or even just in your backyard. Stanley likes all sorts of places!
3. Send the image files to me at miriam AT mimknits DOT com by May 1, 2012.

Pretty please can you help? Who could resist this face!?

This subtly curved shawl uses short rows to create the shaping, with a lovely lace and cable trellised pattern along the edge. The garter stitch edging along the top binds off the stitches and makes the edging continuous across the top of the shawl.

Yarn: 525 yards of laceweight yarn. Show in A Verb For Keeping Warm Reliquary II (80% Superfine Merino/20% Silk), 875 yards per 100 gm skein), in ‘Rustling Leaves’; 23 wpi
Needles: 3.5 mm (US 4) straight or circular needle for flat knitting.
Gauge: 24 sts and 36 rows per 4 inches (10 cm) square in stockinette after blocking.
Finished Sizes: 62 inches (157.5 cm) long, 9 inches (23 cm) wide at widest point.
Notions: stitch markers if desired for edge stitches and wrapped stitches (see note), tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
Pattern Includes: Charts and written instructions
Stitches Used: knit, purl, k2tog, ssk, sssk, ssssk, p2tog, p2togtbl, yo, wrap & turn short rows with detailed instructions, various cable stitches with detailed instructions, sl1 k2tog psso, slipped stitches.
Other Details: The finished length of this piece can be easily changed, and instructions for adjusting are in the notes. When working the Bind off/Edging, it can be helpful to work the ‘sl1, k2′ by knitting backwards. If you’re not familiar with this technique, its a great time to learn! It saves flipping your whole piece over again and again for just a few stitches.

All Photos Copyright Caro Sheridan, 2011.

This pattern was originally published as an exclusive club selection for AVFKW’s shawl club.

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In the past I’ve taken a digital photo of my yarn and converted it to black and white, which is the quick and dirty way to check out the relative values. By discarding color information you’re left solely with the relative light/dark values. Since I had neither my DSLR nor a Photoshop enabled computer on hand I was sort of stuck…. Until it hit me that my cell phone camera had a black and white shooting mode!

I took a color photo of the yarns, then a black and white photo of the same yarns, and voila! Instant value grading! Hope that helps you in your next colorwork dilemma!

I promise not to spam you, and I will NEVER share your information with anyone else because that’s just rude. Also, you’re free to unsubscribe at any time.

As an added incentive, if you sign up before the end of February, I’ll send you a specially licensed pdf of my most popular free pattern, the Adamas Shawl for you to distribute free of charge, and with my blessing to your customers. Use it to sell yarn, use it for a lace class, use it as a gift during a shop hop. When it’s licensed for distribution by your shop, you’re welcome to distribute it as you wish, as long as its free. It’s a great lace pattern, with a really easy repeat, wrong side resting rows, and it even looks great in a heavier yarn for customers who aren’t comfortable with really fine yarns.

So, now to the nuts and bolts. To sign up for the LYS newsletter, just visit http://eepurl.com/iV5VP and fill in your shop’s information. I’ll use the shop info to create your licensed pdf and send it back to you ASAP.

LYSs are the heart of our industry and I’m really looking forward to your feedback, and developing a deeper relationship with you all. Happy knitting!

Best,
Miriam

If you’re gonna be there, come and say hi! I’ll be wandering the aisles, but the whole Confluence Collection is going to be on display in the Deep South Fibers Booth, #240.

The Assemblage Mitts will also be in the Artyarns Booth, #821. A Rivel Cardigan and Bevy Sock will be in the Lorna’s Laces Booth, #400. You can also check out Mariposa, the yarn the Clustered Vest was designed in on the Great Wall of Yarn or in Anzula’s booth, #439.

I’m trying to sort out what knitting project(s) I want to bring along…. I really ought to be working on my new collection, but I don’t think the swirling mass of inspiration has congealed into a cohesive vision yet, so I’m procrastinating it. Good thing my boss is cool about it

Now through the end of January, gift one of my patterns or collections through Ravelry to another Ravelry member and get a pattern or collection for yourself! Just gift the pattern, then either send me a Ravelry PM (to mimknits) or an email to miriam AT mimknits DOT com with your Ravelry ID and the pattern you’d like free and I’ll gift it to you. Your gift can be any pattern if you gifted a pattern or any collection if you gifted a collection.

Have a browse through the patterns in my Ravelry store, and have a look through your friends’ queues. Nothing says Holiday Season like giving presents!

Hope everyone is having a great holiday, no matter what you celebrate! Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and have a wonderful New Year!

Mim

p.s. Forgot to mention that if you give more than one, you can get that many too Give 3 individual patterns and you can get a collection for yourself!

I used a pure white skein of Cascade Heritage for the white snowy bodies, but delved into the leftover basket for all the adorable scarves (the same leftover basket that all the bits for my sock yarn scrap blanket live in).

I fell in love with Bonnie’s amazing group of snowmen last year, and this year found any excuse to make my own

They’re gonna get made into magnets (I did gnomes last year) with just a few being made into ornaments. They’re so much fun! If you need a few little gifts, it’s a great pattern and a great project!

M