Find Your Perfect Needle with Staci Perry and Knitter's Pride!

We're pleased to introduce Find Your Needle, our new three-part video series featuring Staci Perry of VeryPink.com! These short YouTube videos will take you on a journey to find the perfect Knitter's Pride needles to suit your knitting style, project, and yarn.

In Episode 1, you'll get a closer look at the various materials we use to make our needles: Nova Platinas (chrome-plated brass), Karbonz (carbon fiber shaft with metal tips), Dreamz & Basix (densified laminated birchwood), Bamboo (Japanese bamboo), and Trendz (acrylic). We also take a look at the unique cuboid shape of the Cubics lines of needles offered by Knitter's Pride. You'll learn how to match these materials to suit your project, yarn or knitting style along the way, thanks to Staci's extensive knitting know-how.

In Episode 2, Staci gives you a closer look at the various types of knitting needles we make: Interchangeable Circular Needles, Fixed Circular Needles, Double Pointed Needles (DPNs), and Single-Pointed Needles (straight). Staci shows examples of each type and explains how to match your needle type to your project, yarn and knitting style for maximum effectiveness.



Finally, in Episode 3, Staci shares how to use the information from the first two videos in order to choose YOUR perfect needle! She explains the importance of gauge, and why it is a good idea to have a needle set on hand so that you have a full range of needle sizes at your disposal. You'll also get a look at the Comby I & Comby II Sampler sets, which include interchangeable needle tips to try from our most popular lines: Dreamz, Symfonie Cubics, Nova Platina, Nova Platina Cubics, Bamboo and Karbonz.


We hope these videos will help you find your perfect Knitter's Pride needle! Should you need help locating your nearest retailer, please visit our website.

Also Read: How to get the Best out of your Circular Knitting Needles

Happy Knitting!

Giveaway

This month we'd like to give one of our lucky readers a chance to win a set of our new Trendz needles, so we're giving away a Trendz Deluxe Interchangeable Needle Set! To enter tell us which of the needles from Staci's videos you'd like to try most. Don't forget to leave your Ravelry ID so we can contact you if you're the winner. We'll announce the winner on September 26th. Good luck! 

Free Pattern: Crochet Button Bunny + Winner!

Today we have a free crochet pattern from Handmade by Stefanie, a Chicago-based blogger who knits, spins and crochets compulsively in her free time. She originally designed the Button Bunnies as a knitted toy pattern to celebrate the debut of a friend's hand-dyed yarn company, and has always wanted to convert the pattern to crochet for her fellow amigurumi enthusiasts. For a complete list of abbreviations used in this pattern, click here. 

Crochet Button Bunny

By Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter

Yarn:

218 yards worsted weight yarn in MC

shown in Manos del Uruguay Maxima in Sweet Potato

10 yards worsted weight yarn in CC1 for pocket

shown in Manos del Uruguay Clasica in Forest Floor

15 yards worsted weight yarn in CC2 for tail

shown in Manos del Uruguay Maxima in Nickel

Less than 5 yards of black worsted weight yarn for embroidered features

Supplies:

G (4mm) Crochet Hook

Safety eyes – 1 pair 12mm

½” Button - 1

Fiber-fil stuffing

Tapestry Needle

Knitter’s Pride Rejoice Pom Pom Maker - 5.5cm

Gauge: 14 sts = 4” in SC; gauge is not critical for this project

Sizes:

One Size: Bunny will stand approx. 7” tall, excluding ears

Notes: The body, head and ears are all worked continuously onto one piece.

Directions

Body:

Starting with magic loop, ch 2. SC 6 sts in second stitch from hook. Click here for a free magic loop tutorial from FreshStitches (if you're a knitter, it's not what you think)!

Rnd 1: *SC twice in 1 st, repeat from * 5 more times - 12 sts.

Rnd 2: *SC twice in 1 st, repeat from * 11 more times - 24 sts.

Rnd 3: *SC twice in 1 st, SC in 1 st, repeat from * 11 more times - 36 sts.

Rnd 4: *SC twice in 1 st, SC in next 2 sts, repeat from * 11 more times - 48 sts.

Rnd 5: SC in all sts - 48 sts.

Rnd 6: *SC twice in 1 st, SC in next 3 sts, repeat from * 11 more times - 60 sts.

SC all rnds for 2½ inches. I recommend placing a removable stitch marker in Rnd 6 to make measuring easier:

Head :

Rnd 1 (decr): *SC2tog, SC in next 2 sts, repeat from * 14 more times - 45 sts.

Rnd 2: SC in all sts - 45 sts.

Rnd 3 (decr): *SC2tog, SC in 1 st, rep from * 14 more times - 30 sts.

SC all rnds for 2 inches. I recommend placing a removable stitch marker in the same manner as before to make measuring easier.

Remove hook, but don’t fasten off. You will be placing removable stitch markers to use as guides for crocheting the ears.

Get your removable stitch markers ready and fold your bunny in half with the beginning of round at right as follows:

Place markers on the following stitches in round: 4, 12, 18 and 28. The top of your bunny should now look like this: 

You will be crocheting both ears onto the top of the head by working the first and last 3 sts of the round for 2 inches in single crochet to make the first ear, then breaking the yarn and reattaching it at Stitch 13 (where you placed a marker) and working these stitches (13-28) in the round for 2 inches as well. Break yarn. Use tail to sew the tops of each ear closed.  

Arms – Make 2:

Starting with magic loop, ch 2. SC 6 sts in second stitch from hook.

Rnd 1: SC twice in each stitch - 12 sts.

SC in all sts for 5 more rnds. Break yarn and fasten off.

Tail:

Make tail using CC1 with the 5.5cm Rejoice Pom Pom Maker - click here for easy instructions on the Knitter's Pride blog.

Pocket - worked flat:

With CC2, ch 11.

First row: beginning in second st from hook, SC 10 sts, ch 1.

Work 6 more rows SC in all sts.

Buttonhole row: SC in first 4 sts, ch 2 and skip the next 2 sts, SC in last 4 sts.

Continue working in SC for 1 more row. Break yarn and fasten off.

Finishing:  

Stuff body. Weave in ends. Install safety eyes, then lightly stuff ears and arms. Sew top of head together.  Pin arms to side of body and sew on when you are satisfied with their placement. If you need help attaching your bunny's arms, click here for a free tutorial on attaching limbs to amigurumi from FreshStitches. 

Pin tail to bottom center of bunny back and sew on when you are satisfied with its placement.  Using black yarn, embroider a nose on the bunny’s face. Pin pocket to front of bunny and sew on; sew on button to close pocket.

Winner

Congratulations to apeeling, you are the lucky winner of a Waves Crochet Set! We'll be in touch via Ravelry to arrange for the delivery of your prize. Thanks to everyone who participated this month!

Also Read: How to Crochet Short Rows

New at Knitter's Pride!

This fall we're debuting a ton of great new products, and we're thrilled to be introducing our first group of new tools this month! 

Nova Platina Cubics DPNs

Nova Platina Fixed Circular Needles

Nova Platina & Nova Platina Cubics

These needles are an update on our well loved Nova line of needles. The new and improved needles feature longer, sharper tips and a smoother more durable chrome plating. They are engineered from hollow brass pipes making them lightweight and comfortable in the hand--critical for ensuring hours of stress free and satisfying knitting! Both Nova Platina and Nova Cubics Platina are available as single pointed, double pointed, fixed circular, and interchangeable circular needles. 

The new Nova Platina needles are perfect for all types of knitting projects from lace to sweaters, to bulky hats. If you're a fan of our Nova needles we encourage you to try the new and improved Nova Platinas. These are likely to become your go-to knitting needle! 

Trendz Knitting Needles & Crochet Hooks

Trendz Deluxe Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set Our new line of Trendz acrylic knitting needles and crochet hooks allow for easy handling of slippery yarns--picking up stitches is fast and easy! These smooth and lightweight needles and hooks provide just the right amount of flexibility while maintaining strength and durability. These are ideal for new knitters and crocheters, and the fun palette of colors will allow you to organize your tools in color!  Trendz Single Ended Hook The Trendz needles are available as single pointed, double pointed, fixed circular, and interchangeable circular needles.  The Trendz hooks are available as single ended, Tricot/Afghan, and Tunisian hooks.  All of these products should be available at your LYS by the end of August. Ask about them at your local yarn shop!  Giveaway This month we're giving away a Waves crochet hook set! To enter for your chance to win leave a comment on this post telling us what you've been crocheting this summer. Don't forget to leave your Ravelry name so that we can contact you if you're the lucky winner. We'll choose one random person to win the hooks on Friday, August 29! Good luck!

Designer Spotlight: Teresa Gregorio

Today's designer spotlight designer is Teresa Gregorio. Teresa is a knitwear designer from Ontario, Canada. Her love of fashion, art, and history combine in her designs, which are feminine, young, and wearable. She focuses mainly on garments and accessories for women. You can find her work published in the online publications Knotions and Holla Knits, the book Brave New Knits, Knit Picks, Knitscene, and a number of self-published patterns and collections.

KP: How long have you been knitting, and how did you get started designing? 
TG: I’ve been knitting for about ten years now. I taught myself from the first Stitch n’ Bitch and immediately glommed on to the online knitting community. I was always so inspired by the work people created, many of them without a pattern. Since I’ve always loved to make things, and push the boundaries of my making, jumping to design was really rather quick. A bit too quick, maybe.

Paridae by Teresa Gregorio

KP: Where do you get inspiration? Can you tell us about your design process? 
TG: Fashion, art, and history are my main sources of inspiration. I’ve always been a sucker for costume dramas, window shopping, and style that’s overtly baroque and luscious. My design process starts with a bunch of sketching, a bit of research (I like to test out fun and sometimes challenging techniques) and a generous amount of flipping through stitch dictionaries. I always ask myself if I could see myself wearing the piece; sometimes if I’m feeling really on top of things I’ll fantasize about the romance text, which sort of helps to clarify my ideas.

KP: Of all your designs, which is your favorite? 
TG: Right now it’s Paridae. And I think that’s in large part due to the beautiful Zen Yarn Garden in Serenity Worsted that I was able to use for the sample. It just shines! It makes the waist decreases at the small of the back look lovely and give the voluminous hood some weight and dramatic flair. Plus, I love me some seed stitch.

Teresa's workspace

That one is followed closely by Lucania, which I’m quite pleased with because I think I was able to conquer the bobble-monster and create a design that uses them successfully.

KP: Do you have any knitting horror stories/mishaps? 
TG: My first and worst was also my inaugural design. I wanted a sweater, and didn’t really realize that I had almost no business trying to design a sweater. Especially seeing as I’d never even knit one from a pattern before. It turned out too snug, particularly around the arms. I don’t know where it is now; I likely hurled it halfway around the globe, powered by disappointment, shame, and the realization that I spent so much lovely yarn, time, and effort on this one failed piece.

You can learn more about Teresa on her website, find her designs on Ravelry, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

You can see more of our designer spotlight posts here.

Giveaway Winner

Congrats to Mountain Woman! You're our lucky Karbonz Interchangeable Needle Starter Set! We'll be in touch to arrange delivery of your prize. Thanks to everyone who participated. 

Summer Stitching Inspiration & A Giveaway

Summer is here, and for many people that means spending more time outside. We have some smaller projects for the home that are perfect for summer stitching. These instant gratification projects will satisfy your stitching needs, and they are perfect projects to be worked on when you're out and about! As an added bonus, all of these patterns are available for free via Ravelry! Follow Knitter's Pride on Pinterest to see more stitching inspiration! 

Knit

Make these adorable Leafy Washcloths for yourself or as gifts! You can use any weight yarn and they use less than 50 yards of yarn! 

Leafy Washcloth by Megan Goodacre

The Summer Fling bag is perfect for carrying all your essentials around this summer. Worked in linen, it's machine washable--making it a great bag for the beach! 

Summer Fling by Espace Tricot

Crochet

These adorable Owls could be made into keychains as pictured, but they also would make great bunting, mobile, or accessory to a knit or crochet bag. With so many possibilities, who could resist?

Owl Key Chain by Yarn Artists

These bright and cheery coasters are small and quick. Have fun with combining contrast colors or using variegated yarns. You could also make them larger to make hot pads.

Roller Coasters by Kristen from Sheep and Lemons

Giveaway

This month we're giving away a Karbonz Interchangeable Needle Starter Set! Made with a carbon fiber shaft and metal tips, these popular needles are lightweight and have nice sharp points. 

To enter leave a comment on this post telling us what you're stitching this summer. Don't forget to leave your Ravelry ID so we can contact you if you're the winner. We'll be announcing the winner on July 25th. Good luck! 

Designer Spotlight: Bristol Ivy

Today we have another post in our Designer Spotlight series. Bristol Ivy is a knitting designer and fiber artist from

Portland, Maine. Her work focuses on the intersection between classic tailoring and innovative technique, and includes publications with Brooklyn Tweed, Quince & Co., Twist Collective, Knitty, Interweave Knits, Knitscene, and knit.wear. You can follow her adventures at her blog, on Ravelry, Twitter, and Instagram, and in her Ravelry group, Bristol Ivy Designs.

KP: How long have you been knitting, and how did you get started designing?

BI: I've been knitting since I was six, so around 22 years.  I wasn't into fiber arts until I was about 16, despite the fact that I grew up with it; my mom was a quilter, knitter, and threadwork whiz all through my childhood.  But just before I headed off to college, it felt like a little switch flipped, and the obsession became full-blown!

I started designing about five years ago.  I've always been someone who likes trying their hand at the creative side of their obsessions, if that makes sense: if I read, I wrote; if I danced, I choreographed; if I knit, I designed.  I sent in my first submission in 2010 while I was traveling around New Zealand, working on sheep and fiber farms, and published my first pattern a few months after I got back home.  It's been a whirlwind since then!

KP: You work within the knitting industry for your day job and design

Kit Camisole by Bristol Ivy from Quince & Co.

on the side. Do you ever get sick of talking about knitting, fiber, and yarn? 

BI: Haha, never! Knitting and the knitting industry satisfy so many different parts of my brain; creative, analytical, logical, social.  I don't think I'll ever be sick of it--though sometimes I do like not having to think about what I'm knitting so I can just zone out in the evenings!

KP: When you're not knitting (or sleeping) what do you like to do? 

BI: I love cooking and baking, and the impromptu kitchen dance parties that go along with it.  I also love other fiber arts--spinning, weaving, dyeing, felting--and am working on my sewing skills.  I also go running when I can, which is a great way to shake loose any stuck ideas!

KP: Of all your designs, which is your favorite?

Oh, that's a hard one! There are a couple that just came together better than I could have ever envisioned--the perfect combination of yarn, styling, and photography doing more for my original idea than I thought possible! The Kit Camisole with Quince & Co., in their fingering weight linen Sparrow, is one of these, and Winnowing in Wool People 2, in Brooklyn Tweed's Loft, is another.  It's always a good day when you see the pattern proofs and the photos for the first time and you get shivers of excitement!

Winnowing by Bristol Ivy from Wool People 2

KP: Do you have any knitting horror stories or mishaps? 

BI: Oh my gosh, so many.  Most involve fingering weight, late nights, and tight deadlines! My most recent project just wouldn't die: fingering weight, lots of stitches, unusual shaping and construction--I was so ready to be done! I finally got everything seamed at around midnight and went to go take a look in the mirror, and I was SWIMMING in it.  We're talking 16" of positive ease at the hips.  Luckily, with the construction I was able to rip back a few inches and snug things up, but that cascaded into other problems, and then I re-seamed it twisted THREE times... needless to say I wanted to throw it in the corner for a while! But I'm really happy I stuck with it and I know I'll wear it a lot.

Bristol's workspace

Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Rachel Laughlin, you're our lucky winner! You've won a Karbonz Interchangeable Starter Set! 

Needle Mischief

You may have noticed we've been posting some silly photos on Instagram and Facebook. Here at Knitter's Pride we've noticed our needles seem to get into some pretty strange situations, and we felt it was time we started capturing these picture perfect moments! We're going to keep sharing our photos of our needle mischief, and we invite you to share yours too! Just use #needlemichief and don't forget to tag us @knitterpride so we can share your photo!

Here are a few more #needlemischief photos!

Giveaway

This month we're giving away a Karbonz Interchangeable Needle Starter Set! To enter leave us a comment telling us where your knitting needles and crochet hooks like to hide. We'll pick one random winner on June 27!