2014 - The Year of the (First) Book

I'm thrilled to share that I'm working on my first book! It's a collection of 19 brand new designs, both garments and accessories, that are a modern take on classic feminine silhouettes. The designs in the book can be styled for the office, the weekend, and a night out. I love the act of dressing and with the designs in this book you will too!

The book is slated for release in Fall of 2015. I know, that's so far away. Alas, I need time to write the patterns and knit the samples, and my publisher needs time to take photographs and put it all together. Fear not; follow me on Instagram and Facebook to get extra special sneak peeks of the process. In the meantime you can check out my back catalog here. If you'd like to receive an e-mail when the book is available and get a heads up when there's a new contest sign up here.

Piles of yarn have started arriving at my design studio. In the next 9 months I'll be knitting through 39,888 yards (22.5 miles) of yarn, making 15 garments (pullovers, cardigans, and dresses!) and 4 accessories. I've organized the projects and am ready to get my needles moving. To celebrate I'd like to offer my fans a chance to win a knitting book that will help you get organized, too. Good luck!

Contest #1- Win a Copy of Knit Notes - US Residents

In the comments below, share how you like to organize your knits- baskets, project bags, ravelry, spreadsheets, etc.- and tell me from what state you come. I'll randomly select one winner in a week's time. Check back on Monday, February 17 to see if you've won. (sorry, anonymous commenters can't win)

Contest #2 - Win Your Choice of One Worldknits Pattern - Citizens of the World

In the comments below, share how you like to organize your knits- baskets, project bags, ravelry, spreadsheets, etc.- and tell me from what country you come. I'll randomly select one winner in a weeks time. Check back on Monday, February 17 to see if you've won. (sorry, anonymous commenters can't win)

Substituting Yarn - Part 1: The Why

***This is Part 1 of a 2 Part Series for "The How" Click Here***

I recently started a project that had me thinking about substituting yarns. The project is the Cropped Cardigan by Robin Melanson (#9) from Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2010. The yarn called for in the pattern is Louisa Harding La Salute, a mohair, nylon blend (25g/115 yards). The cost of this project if I used La Salute would have been $64. I looked on Webs and was able to find a similar yarn at less than half of the cost of the original. I chose for this project Classic Elite’s Giselle, a mohair, nylon, wool blend (50g/230 yards). My project total was $27.20. After receiving the yarn I knit a gauge swatch and am happy to report that this yarn is working beautifully for this pattern.

After looking at finished projects of this same cardigan on ravelry I came across a delightful version that took a left turn from the original. Without any of the fuzzy halo of mohair, the clear stitch definition Andrea Rangel* achieved using MadelineTosh Sock, a 100% merino yarn, is stunning. I contacted her to ask about her yarn substitution.

Photo courtesy of Andrea Rangel Knits

WORLDKNITS: What made you decide to use MadelineTosh Sock for this project?


ANDREA RANGEL: I wanted that sweater. Bad. I love lace and intricate, sweet little things, so it was perfect. I looked in my stash and saw that gold MadelineTosh sock yarn & realized that I really wanted a gold lace cardigan. I love lace worked at a loose gauge and I’m not too worried about things being too small for me, so I worked up a swatch on bigger needles and got gauge.


WORLDKNITS: Were you worried how it would turn out?


ANDREA RANGEL: When I blocked the sweater, it stretched out WAY long, and I thought it might even end up too big, which was really surprising. But God bless wool; when it dried and I put it on, it scrunched right back up, but now with that incredible blocked-lace drape and it fit perfectly.


WORLDKNITS: Did you have to rework the math in the pattern to get it to work or did you change needle size to get gauge?


ANDREA RANGEL: I did no math. I’m a designer, so when I follow a pattern, I’m willing to swatch and block my swatch and measure gauge. Beyond that, I want them to do everything for me. Knitting from a pattern is a vacation for me. So yes, I changed needle size & it worked perfectly.


WORLDKNITS: Thanks Andrea for your thoughtful responses.


We substitute yarns for different reasons, the color, the cost, stash busting, the appearance of the finished project. Later this week I’ll share with you how to successfully substitute yarns to get the look you want at the right price.




*Andrea Rangel is a knitting designer and teacher out of Seattle, Washington. Check out her website where you can view her patterns, read about what’s on her needles and check out her class schedule.


Read Part 2.

The Challenge - Foot This

I started my twitter account maybe a year ago and have been taking full advantage of it for the last few months. I love that twitter allows you to talk with people who have shared interests - in my case knitting, spinning, anything yarn related - from all over the world. Because of twitter I found out about the challenge.

This week is Sock Summit. For those of you not in the knitting world Sock Summit is a huge convention held every year in the US with tons of classes taught by the rock stars of the knitting world. In addition there's a marketplace filled with gorgeous hand dyed yarns by indie dyers. Unfortunately I didn't make it to Sock Summit this year, but knitters, Kimberly Reynolds (@somebunnyslove) and Jenn Wendell(@happyskrappy) saved my day. They came up with the Couldn't Foot It Contest. The challenge: to make a pair of socks in 4 days, the same amount of time as the Summit. Lots of yarn dyers generously donated some of their beautiful hand-dyed yarn as prizes. Worldknit & Handspun threw in a Sheepy Project Bag and a pack of Good Intentions Knit Cards to sweeten the pot.

The contest started today at 9am. Before leaving for town I got prepared- yarn caked, pattern and needles ready. I'll be posting photos of my progress over the next few days so check back. I hope I Can Foot This!

So here is my progress from yesterday:

After getting home from knit night I decided that I wasn't happy with both the size of the sock and the pattern definition. Happy Feet is a pretty lofty yarn, which I think makes it knit up at a larger gauge than other sock yarns. I also think that the extreme variagation of the yarn hides the cool Spring Forward sock design. I decided that I would like these better as legwarmers. These will be put on hold to be completed in the near future.

For the contest, a little after 11pm I cast on for a new pair of the Spring Forward socks this time using Inca Sportlace, a wool, polymade blend in a beautiful hand dyed rust color. After knitting the ribbing I put them down and went to bed. Today I hope to have finished at least to the heal.

Second and third day was filled with too much socializing and too little knitting. After the third day I had turned the heel. The sock was knitting up huge, so I decided that they would be for A2 because he has bigger feet. That meant though that I'd have to knit the sole longer.

Today (Sunday July 31) was a knitting filled day. I started at 9am and had both socks off the needles at 4:29 eastern. I can't believe I knit 9" of sole in one day. My fingers feel like they are about to fall off. The contest officially ends at 4:30 pacific time. I can't wait to see what prize I've won. I'll post a picture as soon as it arrives.