Eek! Happy Dance

Lindsay Lewchuk Announcements, Designers, Pattern Related, Solar Flare MKAL Leave a Comment

Just a quickie today to share Kristen Hanley Cardozo’s Craftsy’s blog post: They Knit That?! 13 Unusual Knitting Patterns You Never Saw Coming Because, eek, a Knit Eco Chic pattern made the list!!!!! I’m more than thrilled :-). Check out number 4 on the blog to see which one Kristen selected and see the other 12 outrageous designs, too. Then spread the word on these knittable patterns “you never saw coming.” Happy knitting!

Vote Results

Lindsay Lewchuk Announcements, Solar Flare MKAL Leave a Comment

The votes are in!  Here is the final tally:Post 3: Jennilynn Solar Flare Circular Shawl 56 votesPost 4: erindee5575 Radiation 81 votesPost 5: rainbow1907 Solar Flare Circular Shawl 9 votesPost 7: Ryna-lyn Blue Flare 28 votesPost 8: einnako Sunflower Sea Star Flare 17 votes And the prize winners for the physical prizes are:1st prize from theuniquesheep: erindee5575 & Happy birthday!2nd prize from MayaB: Jennilynn3rd prize laurelhill3: ryna-lyn4th prize laurelhill3: einnako For the digital prizes, the random generated winners are:swingcat123 – selected Fibonacci Drops Shawlgoosebearknits – selected Sheer Illusion Tank Congratulations knitters!  Thank you for all the beautiful projects and thank you everyone for voting on your favorites. You have arrived at the sun… Mission control over & out!

Upcycling and Ergonomics at Laurel Hill

Lindsay Lewchuk Announcements, Solar Flare MKAL Leave a Comment

As the Solar Flare MKAL winds down, I had the opportunity to interview Laurel Hill, our final prize donor. From production in a socially responsible manner in relation to man and materials, to ergonomic styling, Laurel Hill Fiber Arts Tools embodies many eco properties. At the heart of these initiatives is the founder, Rick, and the passions he holds dear. 1. How did Rick get into knitting needles & crochet hooks? Is he a knitter/ crocheter?Rick does not knit or crochet but is fascinated that no two people seem to knit or crochet exactly the same way. Working at trade shows and displaying Laurel Hill tools at various Hand Knitting events over the years, Rick became obsessed with designing fiber …

Get Out the Vote!

Lindsay Lewchuk Announcements, Solar Flare MKAL Leave a Comment

The Solar Flare MKAL is coming to a close, which means it’s time to vote for your favorite Solar Flare FO (finished object)! Only votes in the official vote thread in the Knit Eco Chic group on Ravelry count. MKAL-ers are in a “like” and “love” race for four really knit-tastic prizes. Vote early & vote often as more and more MKAL-ers add their FO pictures. Here is a preview of current entries: Entry 1: Solar Flare Shawl by Jennilynn (Thread Post #3) Entry 2: Radiance by Erindee5575 (Thread Post #4) Entry 3: Solar Flare Circular Shawl by rainbow1907 (Thread Post #5) Entry 4: Blue Flare by Ryna-Lyn (Thread Post #7) Entry #5: Sunflower Sea Star Flare by Einnako (Thread Post …

Putting the Sun in the Sky

Lindsay Lewchuk How-Tos, Solar Flare MKAL 1 Comment

SPOILER ALERT MKAL-ers!! If you don’t want to see the final design until you are ready, save this blog post for later. The first image is of the graphic you know and love, but other images will reveal the final design! So if you are a: A: non-MKAL-erB: MKAL-er who is on Skein 6,C: MKAL-er who is finished, then continue reading Putting the Sun in the Sky From the conception of this design, I had a vision for how I wanted to photograph it. It was a wild idea & I was told on multiple occasions by many people that I was off my rocker. “It’s impossible.” “Don’t even try it. “It won’t work.” Or my personal favorite, “Just stretch …

Row Stitch Demos for Solar Flare MKAL

Lindsay Lewchuk How-Tos, Solar Flare MKAL Leave a Comment

Hey knitters in the Solar Flare Mystery Knit-a-long. Here is your final how-to video demonstrating some of the unique stitches used in the row section of the Solar Flare Circular Shawl. With just one more MKAL release to come, I’m excited to see all your completed projects!! Be sure to post them in the appropriate spoiler thread in the Knit Eco Chic group. Also to be eligible for prizes, make sure your project pages are linked to the pattern! The sun is closer than you think .

Uniquely Unique “The Unique Sheep”

Lindsay Lewchuk Announcements, Solar Flare MKAL Leave a Comment

You’ve heard me say it, tweet it, & pin it before, “If I could only knit with one yarn the rest of my life, organic Green Sheep Cotton Bamboo hand-dyed by Kelly from The Unique Sheep is on the short list!” So it is with pleasurable yarn-loving bias that I bring you today’s interview with Kelly & Laura from The Unique Sheep and reveal the next Solar Flare MKAL prize. 1. After perusing your website I discovered that environmental impact is an important to you. You highlight the following areas in which you strive to be eco: Re-use water multiple times in our dyeing process Use recycled boxes and bags to pack and ship our yarn whenever possible Use recycled …

Swapping Out Beads

Lindsay Lewchuk How-Tos, Solar Flare MKAL Leave a Comment

Who else is a perfectionist? Well, at least when it comes to knitting I am. While I was working on my own Solar Flare I realized I had used the wrong bead color on one of the ssk, yo sections. Not wanting to rip out multiple rounds of 700 stitches each, I determined to figure out another way. Hey, if it didn’t work out, I’d still have to frog, but if it did, oh how I’d rejoice! I came up with several convoluted methods, until, surprise, could it really be that easy?? Check out the you tube video on how to swap out beads & you’ll never cringe when it comes to swapping out beads again… well, at least not …

Inside Knit With Attitude

Lindsay Lewchuk Solar Flare MKAL Leave a Comment

Hey blog readers, today the first Solar Flare MKAL prize is revealed. Both functional and beautiful, this prize sparkles too! In addition to the prize donation, Maya Bang from Knit With Attitude in London, graciously allowed me to interview her. Enjoy! 1. How long have you been an LYS owner & what drew you to the knitting world?I’ve been a knitter ‘ my whole life’ ever since my Nan put me on her lap and taught me how to knit at the age of 4. Knitting has always been a life style of mine, it never occurred to me that it would become my livelihood as well, but here I am running a yarn shop in London on the fifth …

The Road to Solar Flare

Lindsay Lewchuk Announcements, Solar Flare MKAL 1 Comment

Solar Flare MKAL: The HistoryAside: This blog featuring a non-Pi circular shawl is intentionally brought to you on this day 3.14.15 9:26:53 (the Pi Day of the 21st century – yep, it only happens once every 100 years) A long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away (okay actually August, 2011 just outside Toronto, Ontario)… I attended a lecture at the David Dunlap Observatory on Solar Flares. It was fascinating & I was enchanted. Little did I know that this would be an impetus behind the Solar Flare Circular Shawl. I was just beginning my knitting career – in fact working on writing my first pattern, Black Willow Cowl & Scarf. But the images from the enthralling lecture continued …