Q is for...

... quilt.
Specifically, all the beautiful and unique Modern Quilt Wraps that are out there!
Thank you... your creativity is thrilling!!!


A true coincidence....
I had this post already done and scheduled for today when I got an email informing me that Knitting Daily TV had just aired their segment on Modern Quilt Wrap Variations!!
You can watch it here....

WOW!!! You guys are truly inspiring!!!

Colour...

If I only had a nickel for every time someone asked me how I developed a palette... well, you know the rest...

This site makes life easy for those who consider themselves "colour challenged". I am a big believer, however, that each and every one of us has a unique and wonderful sense of colour. Once in a while we just need a little reassurance.

These are some that I whipped up. Have fun, but don't let the fun suck up too much of your real creating time!

Portland Flowers Colourway

San Diego Treats ColourwayPrince Edward County Poutine Colourway

One year ago...

today!!!
That is when I began sharing my wabi sabi country life.
Yipppeee!!!!
I found it fun reviewing my year...

First...

magazine cover... ever!! It is always fun anticipating the arrival of a publication containing a project I have contributed... and a good smattering of patience must be kneaded into that anticipation.

This cover story started way back in February....

As with most publications, a "Call for Submissions" is sent out to designers on a list and--- these days--- announced on web sites. I found the "Call" for the Interweave Felt issue on Ravelry. Though I had a lot on my plate at the time, I also had a felt project rattling in my head waiting for a reason to pop out.

My drawing skills are sketchy-- just a bit of a pun intended--so I thought it best to quickly whip up a prototype to best share my idea. With a shallow dig through my stash, I found a few hanks of discontinued Rowanspun 4ply in the fantastic and aptly named shade Squirrel. After some serious quick-step knitting in very loose stocking stitch, a rapid run through the washer-- fingers crossed-- and some flat drying I was ready for the fun part... needle felting with some stashed sliver!

Then, the final step... get it "submission ready" for the editorial eyes of Lisa Shroyer and the rest of Felt's selection team.

Tada!!! This was my submission....

Curious..... the styling of the cover?.... the styling of my submission?..... hmmmm..... curious.... ;-)
Look for this issue of Felt-- sporting my Suri Spot Mitts on the cover-- on newstands everywhere starting September 9th!

Who'd a thunk...

... getting a colourway named after you would be so easy...

The yarn and sliver used to create my Suri Spots Mitts is produced by the magical Canadian yarn company, Fleece Artist. I have loved their yarns for years and have created a few things for myself during that time.
The following is the back and forth of emails between Fleece Artist and myself as we worked through the colour of the sliver used in the making of my "cover project":

Hello,

My name is Mags Kandis. I am designing a project for the upcoming Interweave Felt 2 publication. I recently received yarn and sliver from you for the project... thank you! However, I was disappointed with the colour of the merino sliver--- yes, I know the taboo. Do not order colours from a monitor! Anyway, the colour ordered from the web site was Cosmic Dawn. I chose it because I thought it to be fairly close to a Fleece Artist Merino Sliver I have in my stash-- rich coppers and rose, chartreuse to dark, dusty olive, greyed blue and mauve . The one I received was very bright lime and jade and parrot blue and fuchsia. To shorten this story, I ended up using my stashed sliver to complete the project that is now on it's way to Interweave. This is where I need your help. Attached are photos of the sliver I used. I hope you are able to give me a name for the colour so that it can be included in the pattern.

Thank you in advance,

Mags Kandis

ps-- I love your yarns!

Hi Mags: Are all the pictures from one braid of roving? Kathryn

Hi Kathryn, Yes... one stunningly inspirational braid of roving! Mags

Hi Mags: Well we do a lot of " one of a kind" colours. This looks like it could be muted Hercules. Why don't you call it "Mags Colourway" and I will keep it on file for when we get folks looking for it. Cheers Kathryn

Wow! A Fleece Artist "Mags Colourway"! Too cool.....

P is for...

... Paris!

Paris has the most inspiring places for the dead...

and the living...

Today...

... I found this!




scary.... I'm not ready for summer to end.

Kudos Vogue...

How brilliant the minds are at Vogue Knitting!!!

Click here and you will have a close up view and construction commentary of all eight Canadian designer projects found in the hot of the press Fall 2008 issue.

I hope this is only the beginning....

I must say, I really like how whimsical the wiggling toes make my Fall Bloom Socks appear in the video. These, my dears, are not serious socks!