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For a few years now I’ve been tossing around the idea of a set of colors that had the working title of “Ode to John Cusack.” When I mentioned it to designer Katy Carroll of Katinka Designs she immediately wanted in. We both share a love of pop culture and 80s kitsch. Together we chose a palette with both a strong callback to the ’80s and a contemporary appeal with colorways pulled from the movie posters of Say Anything, Better Off Dead, Grosse Pointe Blank and High Fidelity. Naming the colors was even more fun – yes, “I Want My Two Dollars” is a colorway name.

The kit is called “Sheldon’s Say Anything” — vibrant Say Anything yarn set is paired with two shades of dusty blue in a loving nod to the era’s stonewashed denim. The design is an easy-but-addictive slip-stitch pattern that allows the colors to shine. The kit includes enough yarn to knit both the Say Anything Cowl (design will be released when the kit ships) and the upcoming Say Anything Hat OR a wider infinity cowl.

Of course there are perfectly themed extras and other goodies too! Kits (with other available color options) are currently available for preorder on my website.

I’m kicking off yarn season with a new bulky base — Gusto! It’s a 2-ply Superwash Merino yarn with a soft and gentle feel. It knits up super quick making it perfect for a one skein accessory such as a cowl or hat. Gusto the yarn was named for the first pup we raised for The Seeing Eye — Gusto! And he really did live life with gusto so he would definitely appreciate a quick knit. Gusto the yarn is currently available on my website for preorder.

A new yarn base wouldn’t be complete without a new pattern — it’s the Hunterdon Hat by Katy Carroll. Katy’s latest design features Gusto Bulky and ranges from baby to adult. Top it off with a pom if you like. I’ll have kits at the NJ Sheep and Fiber festival Sept 7-8 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

Lisa Ross’ new Sunspotter shawl is a vibrant color combo that brings a smile to my face. I especially love the story behind the name — the design represents the dark spots “sunspots” that dance across the surface of the sun. Sunspotter is knit using one skein of Scrumptious HT and a Perfection gradient set. The pattern is currently available on ravelry for a $1 with coupon code SPOTTED through this Saturday.

The Oliviana Cardigan for Bigs is a top-down cardigan with a relaxed fit and lace panels. Designer Sheila Stromberg designed this after her Oliviana Cardigan for Littles — a ruffled cardi sized baby to 16 years. The for Bigs version is knit in Scrumptious HT and Aerie for the lace ensuring it will meet all your lace desires.

What’s your Rhinebeck Sweater? Depending on the temperature mine will be either Once Again, a long sleeve DK weight sweater, or Twice Again, a short sleeve fingering weight sweater. Both are designed by Deb Gerhard and feature a colorful yoke. We’d love to see you at Rhinebeck! Deb will be at the Indie Untangled marketplace for the first session and we’re planning a meet up for sometime during Rhinebeck weekend.

Celebrate the 2019 holidays in Marianated style!

Advent Calendars are now available to order through October 1st and will ship in November. There are a few different yarn base options and all kits include 24 mini skeins, goodies galore (I’ve been having fun shopping!) plus a custom dyed full skein just for you!

There are a limited quantity of Advent Calendars available. They can be ordered on my website under Kits.

I’m excited to be participating in the Moms and Makers Event hosted by Knitty City on Saturday May 12th in NYC. There will be several other indie dyers plus makers of other crafts. Proceeds from the raffle and a silent auction will benefit Moms Demand Action Against Gun Violence.

When Deb Gerhard of Spruce Lane Designs first released her Once Again sweater, the yoke was designed using a shaded gradient set in red. The original yoke design was shown in Drizzly Day (MC) and the Unchained Melody Jujubee DK Gradient Set. Due to popular request, Deb updated the pattern to also include separate (non-monochromatic) colors for the yoke. This yoke is shown in Drizzly Day (MC) and the Racing Silks Mixed Marianated Gradient Set.

There is also a bonus pattern included — Sheldon’s Once Again sweater — because booth mascots need a matching sweater too.

All options for the Once Again sweater plus Sheldon will be with me at the Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival March 15-17 at the Double Tree Hotel in Pittsburgh. I’ll be in the Oakmont Room, booths 68-69.

Collaborating with a designer new to me is especially wonderful when it results in a beautiful design. When Deb Gerhard of Spruce Lane Designs originally contacted me about a colorwork sweater in DK weight I was very excited. The excitement grew when she started sending me teaser photos of the sweater. Once Again debuted at VKL NYC this past weekend and it was a blast to wear the sweater – I have never been stopped so many times for something I was wearing.

Once Again is a top-down, pullover sweater; knit in-the-round with a fair isle yoke that is coupled with simple cable stitches. Short rows are used to shape the neckline after the fair isle yoke pattern is completed. Gentle waist shaping gives way to a slight A-line look at the hips resulting in an approximate 2½” to 2¾” larger hip circumference than the chest circumference.

Two different versions are shown: the first uses Marianated Yarns Playtime DK in Drizzly Day for the Main Color with a Jujubee DK gradient set in Unchained Melody for the yoke. The second version uses Playtime DK in Spelunking for the Main Color with Hippy Hippy Shake for the yoke.

I’ll have both samples with me along with plenty of yarn to choose from at my trunk show at The Knot House this weekend in Frederick, Maryland.

In a few weeks, both samples will be traveling me to Stitches West at the Santa Clara Convention Center in California. I’ll be at booth #1233.

It’s a lot of fun to collaborate with designers. Sometimes the process is smooth — a design is already in the works and colors are needed. Sometimes the process is a little more raw with lots of changes in design and color options. Either way, the results are beautiful, kits are born and I have a wonderful new knitting relationship.

I recently began collaborating with Carolyn Bloom of Bloom Handmade Studio. Little did I know that we have been quietly stalking each other’s Instagram feeds for awhile. I’m not sure who reached out first but contact was made, yarn was sent and the result is Marilyn’s Cowl and Hat (can you figure out how the name of the design came to be?). The cowl and hat are knit holding multiple strands of different yarns. The resulting texture yields an effortless drape and warmth as well as drawing the eye to the ombre effect of the gradient yarns used. Kits are available on my website and a knitalong will be held in Carolyn’s Ravelry group with a start date of October 8th.

I’ve collaborated with Katy Carroll of Katinka Designs several times — we have miles and miles of text messages. Our latest kits are in celebration of Knitmas! There are two kits available for pre-order: a shawl and a poncho. Choose one or choose both — either way, there are several color options. Kits include all yarns needed to complete your Knitmas project as well as a Ravelry pattern download code, notions, treats and more. The Knitmas Kits have a special introductory price throught October and will start shipping mid-December — in time for Knitmas! A knitalong for both projects will start in January in Katy’s Ravelry group.

I’ll be vending at Knitter’s Day Out this Friday and Saturday in Pennsylvania. I’m also excited to have a trunk show at Knitty City in NYC October 4-6.

Sometimes it’s easy to put together a new set and sometimes it’s not. Perennial Gardens was one of the easier sets to put together. Naming it was even easier — it’s named after a tea house in Vermont. It will be available at my fall events and available to order on my website in September. Gradient sets are available in three fingering weight sizes and in one DK size.

My first festival of the “fall season” is the Lancaster Fiber Festival Thursday, Aug. 16-Saturday, Aug. 18 and the packing has begun! I’m especially excited for this event because designer Casapinka will be popping into my booth on Saturday! I’ll have kits for her newest design, The Crown Wools, a Mystery KAL that is running right now. I’ll also have samples of many of her designs to show off.

Casapinka’s visit to my booth ties into my next bit of news: visit my blog to check out the prizes for the Lancaster Fiber Festival. You could win a day pass, a class pass OR a Jewel of the Nile Crown Wools kit!

I recently started collaborating with Carolyn Bloom of Bloom Handmade Studio — if you’re not familiar with her work, you need to follow her on Instagram and visit her Etsy shop. I love her creative style and we’re working on something for the holiday season. In the meantime, I will also have a sampling of her wares with me at Lancaster.

I hope to see you there!

I’m so happy to be vending at Knitty City’s Moms and Makers Market this Saturday in New York City. The marketplace will feature indie-dyed yarn and jewelry, as well as other arts and crafts. There will also be an auction and raffle with all proceeds going to Moms Demand Action for gun sense in America. I’ll have yarn and color ideas for projects like Pero Shawl by Katy Carroll, Your Slip is Showing by Casapinka, Chevron Cloud by Espace Tricot and more. It looks like it is going to be a beautiful day and if you’re in the area, stop by and support a worthy cause.

Katy Carroll designed her Pero Shawl using a skein of Scrumptious HT and a Perfection Gradient Set. A Knitalong will be kicking off on May 14 on ravelry and there will be prizes including Marianated Yarns! Come join in the fun!