Indie Designer GAL - reporting day 5

We are coming up to the end of the discounts. The 25% discounts (with the coupon code giftalong2015) end this Friday.

With this in mind, I will get right to my final grouping of patterns picks.

Let’s start with Karen Robinson. Karen’s bundle is filled with cables, lace, and twisted stitches all of which are cleverly combined to form hats, shawls, and cowls. My favorite has got to be Blanchefleur. Love the story, love the lace, love the red!!

Blanchefleur by Karen Robinson

As an aside, I must say I found it prudent to not look away from Karen’s “Don’t Blink Illusion”…if you know what I mean. ;)

I have had so much fun just reading the names of C.C. Almon’s patterns. The references to Doctor Who and Firefly are just so clever! I think my favorite pattern name can be attributed to River Tam…“Also, I Wan Kill You with My Brain.” I miss Firefly.

My favorite pattern, though, conjures up standing stones and kilted warriors. I really like the cables and button finishing of The Lady of Lallybroch socks. Nice job, C.C.!

The Lady of Lallybroch by C.C. Almon

The stranded/colorwork pick today is a delightful pair of lightweight damask-inspired hand warmers by Ella Austin. Leighton House Handwarmers.

Leighton House Handwarmers by Ella Austin

These just seem so delicate and lovely.

Winter's Edge by Varian Brandon

The choice of my own pattern falls to Winter’s Edge which is worked with three colors of lace weight yarn help double. A simple stranded cowl that is light, soft, and also warm. Nice combo. 

That’s it from me. You can find my entire bundle here.

Hope you have enjoyed these daily selections…and I hope you have found some wonderful patterns to fill your knitting hours.

Indie Designer GAL - reporting day 4

Day 4...selections from Ravelry's Indie Designer Gift-A-Long.

Oh, my, Mindy Wilkes has such lovely shawls to offer for the Gift-A-Long! I have struggled over this decision, but have settled on Laidley. Just love the use of color and lace!

Laidley by Mindy Wilkes

I actually don't crochet beyond single crochet and a chain stitch, but Karen Whooley's Spring Leaf Shawlette has me thinking about expanding my skill set. This piece is so elegant!

Spring Leaf Shawlette by Karen Whooley

The stranded pattern today is the very clever, oh so cute, Cluaran Tea Cosy by K. W. Bedigan. How can you resist the thistle top knot!

Cluaran Tea Cosy by K.W. Bedigan

For my pattern today, I'd like to show off Criosanna...one of my favorites.

Criosanna by Varian Brandon

That's my selection for the day. Remembe you can get 25% off all of these patterns with the coupon code giftalong2015.  Enjoy!

More tomorrow.

Indie Designer GAL - reporting day3

Ok, we’re up to day number 3 of searching on the Indie Designer Gift-A-Long.

Here’s what I have found to report on…

My friend Kathleen Dames is a sweater designer who loves a little romance. Currently, she has a number of designs in the various Jane Austen Knits collections. Several are included in her GAL bundle. My favorite has got to be An Aran for Anne, named for Anne Elliott from Persuasion. Just lovely!

An Aran for Anne by Kathleen Dames

Have you seen Tanja Osswald’s mitts patterns? Incredible! She also includes some very lovely shawls and even a pair of gingerbread men in her GAL bundle, but I am really mesmerized by the mitts.

My favorite? Cranberry Mittens…which are actually mitts…and wonderful!

Cranberry Mittens by Tanja Osswald

My favorite stranded pattern today is the Thrumviator by Michele Bernstein.

Thrumviator by Michele Berstein

This pattern has been out for a few years and I know it is thrummed and not actually stranded, but I just love it!

For my shameless plug, here are the Knights Banner Mitts.

Knights Banner Mitts by Varian Brandon

Made with 3 colors of Mountain Colors Weaver’s Wool, these guys have an easy stitch repeat which reminded me of the tents used by medieval knights.

You can find my complete bundle here.

That’s it for me today. More tomorrow.

Ravelry's Indie Designer GAL - reporting day 2

My second day searching and researching the Gift-A-Long.

Here's what I have found...

Two designs from fellow designers.

Jill Wolcott is not only a good friend, she is a clever designer and an excellent teacher. Her offerings for the GAL contain a collection of accessories that show off her skill as a creator and help the knitter learn a variety of easy to master techniques.

The most adorable is quite obviously the St. George's Baby Hat...

St. George's Baby Hat by Jill Wolcott

....but I am partial to the Point Roberts. I just love the felt balls at the corners!

Point Roberts by Jill Wolcott

Joeli of Joeli's Kitchen is another friend and designer who has created a community of support for knitters in all of her various endeavors into the craft. Her bundle of patterns for the GAL includes adorable and practical (a wonderful combination) designs for small children and a few things for their moms.

My favorite has got to be Pepo Pie...so debonair!

Pepo Pie by Joeli of Joeli's Kitchen

Now...my favorite stranded pattern for the day...

Since we are on the subject of knits for kids...aren't these cutest ever?

Stripy Ziggy Stripy Zaggy hats by Kate Bostwick

This is the Stripy Ziggy Stripy Zaggy hats from Kate Bostwick. Just precious!

...and finally one from my bundle. Unfortunately, I am not offering any children's patterns. I can continue to hat theme and show you the West at Heart Hat. 

West at Heart Hat by Varian Brandon

I'll talk more about the accompanying mittens on another day.

Ok, that's my report for Day 2. More tomorrow.

Brandon Knitting Designs - website
Brandon Knitting Designs - Facebook
Ravelry - varianbrandon
Twitter - @vbknits
Pinterest - Varian Brandon
Instagram - varianbrandon
Periscope - @vbknits

Ravelry's Indie Designer Gift-A-Long 2015 - reporting day 1

The Indie Designers Gift-A-Long is in full swing….November 19-November 27….25% off patterns offered in bundles by participating independent designers (including me!) You can find more information here.

Many knitters have said how overwhelming the sheer numbers of patterns offered is this year.

To help sort some things out, for the next few days, I plan to do three things…

1 - Highlight my favorites in the bundles of a group of fellow designers who are also friends,
2- Feature a couple of my favorite stranded patterns,
3 - Indulge in a bit of shameless self promotion and showoff one of my patterns.

So lets start with a couple of my fellow designers…

Clare Devine’s pattern bundle contains several lovely lace edged shawls, wonderful socks, and lots of gorgeous fun lace hat designs. Peppermint Leaves is one of my favorites…

Peppermint Leaves by Clare Devine

Libby Jonson designs under Truly Myrtle. Her design bundle includes drapey lace shawls and interesting lace hats. I had a hard time deciding which pattern I liked the best. The crescent-shaped Antipodes shawl won out.

Antipodes by Libby Jonson (Truly Myrtle)

Now for the stranded pick of the day…

Stephannie Tallent’s Byzantime Cowl has always been a favorite. I like both the pattern and the color selection.

Byzantine Cowl by Stephannie Tallent

Now for one of my patterns…

Here’s Weyburn.

Weyburn by Varian Brandon

FYI..the Weyburn’s rib is used in my business logo.

That’s it for now. More later.

Brandon Knitting Designs - website
Brandon Knitting Designs - Facebook
Ravelry - varianbrandon
Twitter - @vbknits
Pinterest - Varian Brandon
Instagram - varianbrandon
Periscope - @vbknits

New Adventure - Periscope!

I have been a having a great time creating Periscope broadcasts.

What is Periscope? 

Image being able to receive a video broadcast directly from another location live..

"That's just live television," you might say.

What if you had the ability to communicate directly with the presenter. To reply to their "Good Morning!" with a good wish of your own. To ask questions about what they are talking about...live...not in a comment section to be read later?

From what I can gather, Periscope was originally designed to take the viewer a little closer to where the sender is...to experience parasailing through the helmet cam of the sailor...while he is sailing! To view the Macy's parade live and to be able to ask the sender to questions about the floats.

Ok, fine, you say...but this is a knitting blog, what does it have to do with watching a parade?

The cool thing is a number of creative people are using Periscope to short broadcasts about craft related things. 

Here are some examples..

Ann Tudor, glass artist...sits in front of her oxygen touch and creates adorable glass objects....including hummingbirds, fancy fish, and even holiday stitch markers 

Kathleen Dames, an incredible sweater designer out of NYC...talks about her designs and offers tips and techniques for knitting her sweaters...and knitting in general.

Joeli of Joeli's Kitchen, a tech editor and designer, talks about knitting in general, tech editing and offers advice to new designers.

These are just to name a few.

...and where am I on Periscope? You can find me @vbknits. What do I talk about...stranded colorwork...what else!

So how do you join us? Download the Periscope app on your smart phone to be able to comment live....or go to the links above and watch the replays.

Please join me! I "scope" most weekdays except Wednesday usually between 10 and 11AM eastern. I'd love to say hello...live!

Brandon Knitting Designs - website
Brandon Knitting Designs - Facebook
Ravelry - varianbrandon
Twitter - @vbknits
Pinterest - Varian Brandon
Instagram - varianbrandon
Periscope - @vbknits