Companies that Care!

 Himalayan Hiking Hats

My Louisa Harding Charity Event
all started with an idea I had and a big box of yarn.

I'm still pinching myself that my little idea has now raised over $1,600.00
for Macmillan Cancer Support.
 I have to say, this was all made possible thanks to
some very generous companies and people
that really, truly care.

I would like to take this time to thank the companies
that embraced my fund raising ideas to help raise money for
Louisa Harding's effort for Macmillan Cancer Support.

 Louisa Harding Yarn

First off, 

I owe a huge thank you to Louisa's American yarn distributor,

  Knitting Fever.  

I took a chance and wrote them a letter about my fund raising idea.  To my surprise and delight, a week later, a huge box of Louisa Harding Thistle yarn arrived
and my idea of a fund raiser became a reality.  

"Thank you" Knitting Fever for your Thistle yarn donation 

which I turned into Himalayan Hiking Hat kits featuring

Louisa's Karuwa and Sardi hat patterns.

Thank you so much for being a company that cares! 

 Soak Sample

Once I was making up my Himalayan Hiking Hat Kits,
I wrote to Soak Wash to see if they could kindly donate a
  Soak Sample for each kit.

Soak is my personal favorite wool wash of choice and my
knitting teacher Danielle Bowen of Knitique, A Yarn Boutique
taught me to always soak my knits because the stitches will settle down and look so much nicer.  Years ago I was so afraid to soak my knits...now I can't wait to soak my projects and watch them come to life!

"Thank you" Soak Wash for generously donating a
Soak Sample for each of my Himalayan Hiking Hat kits!

 Interweave Books

I have just about every Louisa Harding book ever published
in my personal knitting library.

When I decided to have a fun Raffle Drawing at my event, I contacted Interweave Books to see if they would donate a book or two.  They did not hesitate and sent three
 Louisa Harding books that they have published:
Natural Knits for Babies and Moms,
Knitting Little Luxuries and Knitting in the Details.

The books were a big hit and the Raffle Prize Drawing alone
raised $168.00 at the event!

Danielle Bowen

Owner of Knitique, A Yarn Boutique

It was one thing to have an idea but another to find the right venue for my event to be a success.
I turned to my knitting teacher and friend Danielle Bowen, the owner of Knitique, A Yarn Boutique.  It seemed quite fitting to have the event at Knitique because the first Louisa Harding books I ever saw, led me to Knitique and Danielle for knitting lessons.  An added bonus is that Knitique is the cutest and "hippest" yarn boutique around.

Danielle also donated some fabulous prizes for the Raffle Drawing.  She is also graciously hosting my upcoming Silent Auction at Knitique while Louisa is on her
Nepal Hike from November 1-11, 2012
 to raise even more funds for Macmillan.

My "heart felt" thanks to all these wonderful companies that truly care.  Together with their help and donations,
we have all made a difference.

Please patronize these wonderful companies
and support them whenever you can!

We did it!

Louisa Harding Fund Raiser Event

My Louisa Harding Fund Raiser 

at Knitique, A Yarn Boutique on October 5, 2012 

was a smashing success!  

Drum roll please...

I am thrilled to report that the event raised just over 

1,000 Great British Pounds 

which is just over $1,600.00 US Dollars

for Macmillan Cancer Support!  

It was a party!

Thanks to Danielle Bowen and her Knitique customers,

the hat kits sold-out and I exceeded my personal fund raising goal for Macmillan!  The Knitique ladies embraced the Himalayan Hiking Hat kits and Louisa's story. 

The evening was filled with fun, prizes, cupcakes and my heart-felt talk about Louisa Harding and her Himalayan Hiking Hat story.  Louisa wrote a personal letter for me to read that evening and I would like to share this excerpt:

"And to those of you attending this evening...

I would like to thank all you amazing knitters for supporting this event and helping me toward my fundraising goal with your very generous donations.

As most of you will know by now about my fundraising trip to Nepal and the reason behind it, but I just wanted to add that until cancer touches your family in a very immediate way you have no idea of the support network you need to help you.  When my husband Stephen was diagnosed with Lymphoma, Macmillan Cancer Support played a very important and vital educational role for me alongside the comfort that came from family and friends. 

A few months ago I was talking with my really lovely friend Debbie (Bliss), asking her if she would write a little piece in her magazine about my fundraising.  "Of course", she replied and added, "I think it is so important that knitters realize that we are real women with real life situations, juggling our family and working lives just as they do."  

And we are real women juggling just as you do, that is why I appreciate your support tonight."
Louisa Harding

I also shared my personal story, connecting my favorite designer Louisa Harding to Danielle (and Knitique) and how cancer has touched my immediate family as well.  The evening was so much more than just raising an incredible amount of money for Macmillan Cancer Support.  It was also about supporting and honoring the women in our lives who inspire us and make a difference in our lives. 

Raffle Prize Winners!

And, of course, there were prizes!

Thanks to the generous donations from Interweave Books and Knitique, A Yarn Boutique

we had a fun raffle prize drawing with fabulous prizes which alone raised $168.00!

Danielle & Lisette 

Louisa wrote a thank you to Danielle and I on Ravelry:

An amazing total Lisette and Danielle and the 

fantastique "Knitique Boutiquer's",

thank you all for being so supportive and generous.  

With love and thanks,

Louisa

Dear Louisa,

It was our pleasure!

All the way from England....

Louisa Harding Book Plates

Look what came in the post yesterday all the way from Yorkshire, England....

hand-signed book plates from Louisa Harding herself 

for my Louisa Harding Event tomorrow night

 at Knitique, A Yarn Boutique. 

This is so like Louisa to do something this lovely 

adding an extra special touch to the event!

The book plates are wonderful for Louisa's American fans 

because Louisa doesn't make many public appearances 
or book signings here in the USA 

due to her busy design schedule and being a young "mum". 

Thanks to Interweave Books generous donation,

 I'll have three Louisa Harding books 

(Knitting in the Details, Natural Knits for Babies and Moms, and 
Knitting Little Luxuries)

 for my Raffle Drawing which will now come with a Louisa Harding signed book plate, thanks to Louisa!

All proceeds will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support 

on Louisa's Just Giving site. 

There are a limited number of Louisa's autographed book plates for her books at the event.  Knitique will offer mail order for Louisa's books they carry and include a signed book plate by Louisa until they run out. If you'd like to purchase one of Louisa's books with a pretty
 Louisa Harding signed book plate 

Please contact:  Knitique, A Yarn Boutique for mail order 
(916) 714-7719

 Knitique even has some of Louisa's early Miss Bea Collection books 

with her adorable childrens patterns!

Okay, that's some of the latest news...

more exciting things are happening but I have to run 

now and put some more hat kits together for tomorrow night!

With a little help from my friends...

 Louisa Harding Charity Event

I believe one person can make a difference...

and a group of knitters can make a huge difference!

My plans are in full swing now for my Louisa Harding Charity Event.  I could not be doing this event without a little help from my friends and the kindness of strangers whom I have never met.  

I have received fabulous support from the knitting industry, local knitters and even a few famous British ladies.  Mum's the word for now...but I will be revealing some exciting details for the fabulous prizes and silent auction very soon!

I have shared the event details with Louisa and she told me, 

 "When I decided in January to take on this trek, I had the idea that I could raise funds by asking my knitting friends to help.  I really had no idea that they would be sooooo supportive. 

 It really has been over whelming."  

Sardi Hat

So like Louisa, I am enlisting a little help from my friends
and fellow knitters to embrace
Louisa's Himalayan Hiking Hats 

and help raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

I will be offering Louisa's Sardi and Karuwa
Himalayan Hiking Hat kits 

 for a *donation at my Louisa Harding Charity Event. 

And as mentioned above, there will also be a fun prize raffle and silent auction. 

Karuwa Hat

And the fun will not end that night... 

With a hat kit donation, you qualify for my "FREE" 

Louisa Harding Charity Knit-Along Class 

at Knitique on Saturdays, 

October 13th and 27th from 4:00PM  to 6:00PM

for support and help knitting your hats. 

You're Invited!

Louisa Harding Charity Event

Friday, October 5, 2012

6:00PM to 9:00PM

Knitique, A Yarn Boutique

8741 Elk Grove Blvd

Elk Grove, CA 95624

RSVP (916) 714-7719

For more information and to donate for Louisa's Himalayan Hiking Hats,

please visit:  http://www.louisaharding.co.uk/macmillan/

*minimum hat kit donation is $25.00

Louisa Harding Himalayan Hiking Hats photo credit:
Stephen Jessup

Hail Britannia!

 Hail Britannia!

You don't have to be a Brit

to be excited about the 

Queen's Diamond Jubilee!  

I'm quite excited and plan on celebrating

 with tea parties and luncheons

all Jubilee Weekend long!

I had planned on knitting Debbie Bliss' Union Jack flag

and her retro Tea Cozy  for my Jubilee tea parties.  

Unfortunately due to my ganglion cysts and hand surgery, my knitting projects of the last six months have been put on hold. 

In the meantime, 

since I'm not knitting much,

I have enjoyed seeing the Diamond Jubilee 

patterns that have debuted in the past few months.  

I thought I would share a few of my favorites. 

Here they are:

 Diamond Stole

I adore lace 

and love Susan Crawford's Diamond Stole. 

It's one of 14 designs in Susan's Coronation Knits 

collection featuring designs inspired from 

Queen Elizabeth's 1950's Coronation era.

Jubilee Bunting

No Jubilee celebration is complete unless you have bunting!

I love this Jubilee Bunting pattern

 by Gemma Atkinson 

for Rowan.
And, it's a free pattern!

Jubilee Placemat

Naturally, the British knitting magazines have special 

Jubilee projects in them. 

I love this Jubilee Placemat 

from the UK's The Knitter, Issue 45.  

I love the placemat's photo styling, too.  

I would love to sit down at that table for an English breakfast!

Knittania!

And, in case you're wondering about my adorable 

"Knittania" Union Jack tea mug...

my Ravely pen pal Jo sent it to me 

all the way from England

 to "cheer me up" after hand surgery.  

If you love knitting and Britain like me,

you can find the Knitannia tea mugs by Mason Cash

 at Lakeland. 

Hail Britannia!

(Photo Credits:  Diamond Stole/Susan Crawford, Jubilee Bunting/Rowan 

and Jubilee Placemat, The Knitter.)

(In the photos:  Brick Stitch Tea Cozy hand-knit by me and Union Jack bunting by Betty and Barclay. 

Not Your Grandmother's Knitting!

 Designer, Joan McGowan-Michael

I love the family stories by top designers in,

My Grandmother's Knitting.  

I bought the book last year as soon as it hit the shelves.  

My favorite design in the book is the 

Angelina Shrug.

This pretty vintage-inspired knit 

just happens to be designed by,

(a favorite local Designer)

Joan McGowan-Michael. 

I often travel miles to meet my favorite designers.  

Yesterday I didn't have to... 

because my favorite LYS,  Knitique

hosted a book signing and fitting clinic with Joan.  

 Angelina Shrug

I loved reading Joan's story in the book 

and how she named her Angelina Shrug

 after her Mother.

The shrug is a tribute to Joan's Mother's fabulous 1940's style 

and is modeled after the bed jackets of that era. 

Joan says in the book:

"My Mother was a 1940's fashionista."

Well, Joan is quite the fashionista  herself!

Throughout the afternoon,
I had a chance to chat with Joan.

 I found out that it was her mother who taught her to knit.  

 Her mother taught her the garter stitch and Joan was hooked.  

As a young girl, Joan went on learning more about knitting 

with the help of Girl Scout books at her local library.  

At the age of 20,

 Joan became a professional fashion designer
after finishing design school. 

She landed her first job with Frederick's of Hollywood. Wow!  

That job obviously had a big influence on Joan because her first book (2007) is titled,  Knitting Lingerie Style!

White Lies Designs Trunk Show

In 2001, Joan founded her company White Lies Designs. 

She is well loved for her romantic designs 

that will "fit and flatter" ladies of all sizes.  

Joan credits working as a 

Custom Bridal Wear Designer (later in her career)

 to really helping her understand fitting different body types,

 including plus sizes.  

Joan took her knowledge from the fashion world 

and transferred it to her knitting designs and patterns.

During a brief talk at Knitique,

 Joan mentioned tips about "tweaking patterns" for knitting. 

She shared tips about:  

raising or lowering waists, nipping a waist and widening straps.  

All helpful tips depending on your body type.  

Knitique is also hosting a Trunk Show with 

Joan's White Lies Designs garments.  

The most talked about patterns yesterday at Knitique,

were Joan's Angelina Shrug, Krista Tee 

and her Angelina Vintage Jacket .

I want to knit them all!

Danielle & Joan 

Thank you to Danielle, the owner of Knitique

(and my knitting teacher)

 for such a fun event yesterday with Joan. 

Thank you to Joan,

for being so fabulous and 

for sharing your fashion tips with all of us yesterday!

PS:  I can't wait to knit my own Angelina Shrug...

it just has to wait awhile due to my upcoming hand surgery. 

Go Red for Women!

Fair Isle Hearts

Are you a "Lady in Red" today?

Today is,

 National Wear Red Day 

for the fight against women's heart disease.  

I am supporting

  Go Red for Women
and helping spread the word.

I don't have a red dress 

but since I'm  heading down to my favorite knit shop today...

 I'll be sporting my 

Katie beret with red hearts and 

my Scottish tartan scarf,

red, of course!

What are you wearing today?

Knitted Lace of Estonia

Estonian Lace

Knitting historian and designer, Nancy Bush
wrote the book Knitted Lace of Estonia

and 

there's just a few weeks left to see her personal collection of 

Estonian lace 

at 

Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles

in Berkeley, CA.  

I had the pleasure of seeing the exhibit recently and 

even lucked out with a personal tour

 by Lacis owner, Jules Kliot. 

Here are a few photographs to give you a feel of the exhibit.  

Please note, 

my photographs do not do the lace work justice.  

The lace work details are incredible to see up close and in-person.  

I highly recommend visiting the exhibit before it ends!

 The Shawl Wall

The lace shawls are so beautiful to see in person.

Many of the shawls are from Haapsalu, 

a small seaside town in western Estonia. 

The work on the Haapsalu lace shawls seemed flawless 

and almost appeared to be machine made...

even though I know they are not. 

Haapsalu Shawl

This was one of my favorite lace shawls.

Haapsalu Lace Shawl

Pasqueflower Pattern 4

It's a traditional rectangular wool shawl with a sewn on edge, 

20" x 62".

Maker unknown. 

 The History of Estonian Lace

This is a lovely wall display featuring Estonian Lace shawls 

along with the history of Estonian lace

told through photographs.

 The Nupp

The nupp is a common motif in Haapsalu lace.  

According to Nancy Bush,
the nupp is a stylized bobble of sorts.
It is used for adding texture and creating figures in openwork. 

Jules told me on my tour,

that he had Nancy knit the large sample above of "the nupp"

so everyone could easily see it and it's details. 

Lacis Owner, 

Jules Kliot

For a knitter, like me,

the Estonian Lace exhibit is quite inspiring.  

I know someday now, 

I will knit an Estonian lace pattern 

or take a class from Nancy Bush. 

Thank you to Jules Kliot of Lacis Museum 

and 

Nancy Bush for this incredible exhibit 

and the opportunity 

to see such beautiful Estonian lace work in person.

Ysolda

 Ysolda Teague

She is just as adorable in person!

 Little Red in the City

I met Scottish designer Ysolda Teague last month

when she was in the Bay Area

for a weekend of classes for her new book

Little Red in the City.

 Fiddler's Mitts

I attended Ysolda's book signing during her weekend classes.

I love her Fiddler's Mitts in the new book
 My Grandmother's Knitting.

Ysolda not only signed my book

but also helped me select the colors of

Jameison's Shetland Spindrift

for my Fiddler's Mitts.

I'm going to knit a pair to coordinate with a

 fabulous Fair Isle scarf

I purchased in Edinburgh, Scotland this year.

Cute!

I couldn't help but comment to Ysolda how cute

her fascinator headband was. 

Guess what knitters...

it's a future pattern! 

Thank you Ysolda for being so adorable

and for visiting California! 

Alice Starmore's Colorful Life!

Welcome Alice Starmore

Alice Starmore
certainly needs no introduction.

She is a legend in the knitting world.

I feel so fortunate to have attended
Alice Starmore's talk
"My Colorful Life"

at
Interweave's Knitting Lab.

Alice captivated myself
and the capacity-filled ballroom of knitters

for over 2 hours

with her delightful Scottish accent,

humor and wonderful stories

about growing up
on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland.

My Colorful Life

"Color, texture and pattern

these are the elements I always work with."

Whether she's designing knitwear, artwork, tapestry, photography or environmental education

Alice always works those three elements.

And so began Alice's speech and slide show presentation

 My Colorful Life.

Alice grew up on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland where she says,

 "The coastline is pounded by the ocean."

According to Alice,

where she comes from and its physical landscape,

 shaped her.

She lovingly called the Isle

"A place that fires the imagination." 

Here's how growing up on the Isle of Lewis

its landscape and colors

shaped her as a designer and artist.

Growing Up on the Isle

Alice grew up in a traditional Lewis fishing family. 

You could sense her "Scottish pride" the way

she spoke lovingly about her family 

and life on the Isle of Lewis.  

She told us,

"My Grandfather was a fisherman in the era

of wooden ships and iron men."

She learned how to knit as a little girl from her aunties.

Her aunties taught her to knit

Gansies (fishermen sweaters).

Alice said , "I was fascinated with Gansies." 

Her father was also a fisherman

who eventually came to shore

(as they say on the Isle)

and became an engineer for Harris Tweed.  

Her father's career at Harris Tweed 

had an enormous influence on her.

 As a child she loved the going to the plant with her father

to see the dye vats and bolts of Scottish tweed. 

There was a lot of fabric at home, too.

Alice's mother was a skilled dressmaker, originally from

 Glasgow, Scotland. 

She continued dressmaking after marrying.

 Alice fondly remembers rushing home from school

just to see what new bolts of cloth had arrived. 

It was her mother who taught Alice Fair Isle knitting.  

Alice's mother had learned Fair Isle knitting

as a young nurse in Glasgow from her best friend from Shetland.

Alice obviously took a liking to stranded color work.

In her teens,  Alice told us she loved fashion magazines

and sewed all her own dresses for the

Friday night Disco dances. 

And how about this...

Alice said she "Always loved knitting."

She called herself "A bit of a secret knitter" as a young girl,

 because it wasn't thought of as cool. 

Hearing her story,

it was easy to see,

that Alice was destined to be a designer.

Signing My Books

Alice also talked about her knitting books
and their inspiration.

.In 1992 she wrote her  Fishermen's Sweaters book
with traditional Guernseys patterns.   

She wanted to "carry on those wonderful garments"

that her aunties taught her.

Her book The Celtic Collection was influenced

by her Celtic past. 

She grew up speaking both Gaelic and English.

She began the design process for this book

with Celtic doodles. 

Alice told us she doodles all the time.

As for her patterns,

she hand draws all of her designs

so they have swing and movement. 

The Celtic Collection has been her most popular book

and has never been out-of-print.

It's now in its 14th printing. 

(My copy is now signed by her.) 

As for Alice's beloved book, Tudor Roses. 

The number one question she is always asked,

 "Will it ever be reprinted?" 

Alice's response in her fabulous Scottish accent...

"You never know!"

Her Colorful Life
 

"My soul is where the moorland is".

~ Alice Starmore

As a child, Alice grew up playing on the moors

during the summer months.

The moors had a profound effect

in her design work and love for color.

Alice says "Color is everywhere."

"Forget the color wheel and look at nature around you."

Today, Alice Starmore is so much more than just a

 legendary knitter famous for color and pattern.

She is also a respected artist,

author, textile designer, photographer,

 environmental educator and conservationist.  

Alice said she was privileged that the

 "fireside craft of knitting"

 brought her to America back in 1985. 

For the next 15 years she came to America every year. 

This was her first time back in over a decade.

All I could think

during her entire talk,

 was how privileged we were at Knitting Lab

and that Interweave brought her all the way back to America 

so we could all learn about Alice's...

 Colorful Life!