Knitter's Pride 2018-19 Collection Reveal

We are pleased to introduce our 2018-19 Collection, arriving at a Knitter's Pride retailer near you next month!

We have made some exciting additions to our knitting needle and crochet hook ranges and are also adding lots of notions, tools, and bags to our lineup to help you stay organized and craft smarter. We will be adding more information to our website in the days to come, and also sharing details on our social media channels soon. For now, we hope you enjoy feasting your eyes on this sneak peek!

Ginger Range

This stunning new range is available in single point, double point, fixed circular, interchangeable knitting needles and single ended and Tunisian crochet hooks. These wooden needles feature a unique tinted look and come in luxury knitting cases we know you'll love.

Zing Range

By popular demand, we are expanding our Zing range to include Single Ended Crochet Hooks and Crochet Hooks Sets, and we're also adding Size US 2.5 (3.00mm) and US 3 (3.25mm) in Normal, Special Interchangeable, and 9" & 12" Fixed Circular knitting needle options.

Bamboo Gift Set

10 pairs of Interchangeable Needle tips made featuring quality Bamboo coupled with copper metal connectors gives a unique feel to the whole set. The set includes US sizes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10.5, 11 and 4 cords to make needle lengths of 24, 32 (two count) & 40 inches and one set of cord connectors.

Row Counter Rings

Keep track of your knitting pattern in style! These rings are made from high quality stainless steel, and are available in 4 sizes.

Magnetic Knitter's Necklace Kit

Never lose another cable needle (or stitch marker!) again with this clever and stylish accessory. The magnetic wooden pendant can be used to keep the cable needles and stitch markers close for easy access. Choose from the two colors shown here; additional cable needle and stitch markers can also be purchased as a separate accessories kit as needed.

Nostepinne

This portable tool allows you to wind yarn into a ball virtually anywhere, allowing you to create a center-pull ball with ease.

Rainbow Knit Blockers

Our popular Knit Blockers now have a playful new look! Knitters can have more fun while blocking their favorite projects with this revolutionary blocking tool, which has been designed to speed up the blocking process for knitters & crocheters alike. Our new Rainbow Knit Blockers come in ten different colors in each set.

Zooni Stitch Markers

Six new super-cute variants have been added to our range of Zooni Stitch markers to add more fun to your project. Each pack of 12 comes in a mesh pouch for storage.

Knitting Charms

These multipurpose accessories each come with a repair hook & needle and can also double up as a key ring or bag charm. They make fabulous gifts for your crafty friends and are sure to draw attention and smiles!

Flora Shawl Pins

We've added 8 new shawl pin designs to our curated collection inspired by nature and the works of our designers. Each pin lends meaning to the garment you wear it with and enhances its unique beauty. They can also be used as hair pins!

Vibrance Pouches

Organize your stuff with these bright mesh pouches, available in button or zipper closures. Three assorted sizes (small, medium and large) and colors mean you have a size for just about anything.

Our 2018-19 collection will be arriving in shops beginning July 2018 - click here to find your nearest Knitter's Pride retailer, or ask for them at your Local Yarn Store (LYS). 

Designer Spotlight: Jana Huck + Giveaway

Jana Huck is a knitwear designer based in Luebeck, Germany; she is mostly known for her patchwork interpretations of the symmetry drawings by Dutch graphic artist M. C. Escher. Jana also designs garments and accessories and blogs in English and German at www.janukke.com.

She has a group on Ravelry, janukke Strickdesign, where you can join KALs and other knitting related activities. Hop over and have a look, Jana loves to hear back from knitters!

How long have you been knitting, and how did you get started designing?
I have been knitting for almost seven years now. Once I had figured out how to follow directions and how the knitting process works, I wanted to realize my own ideas. And it didn´t take long until I wrote them down so that I could share them with other knitters, which is ridiculously easy ever since the invention of the internet and Ravelry. I cannot say enough how wonderful it is to get in touch with other knitters and share ideas, inspirations, techniques and so much more!

On the Shore Blanket

Where do you get inspiration?
I draw my inspirations from everywhere. From life really, as cheesy as this is. Everything around me is intense and often pretty. I especially like to be inspired by nature, but I have also often been intrigued by architecture, graphic patterns, the art of M. C. Escher, and the work of other knitters, among other things.
Often the yarn itself is what makes me think of something. It can be anything, for example the way leaves are dancing in the wind on a tree in spring, something completely random like that. With that picture in mind I start knitting.
My goal for every design is that it is new and has never been seen before like this. All inspirations are merely jumping off points and become a thing of their own.

How did Janukke Strickdesign come about?
When I started designing I used the alias “janukke” on Ravelry. Later it became the label “Janukke Strickdesign”.

Swirlybird Shawl

How do you balance your own design and blogging career with curating Janukke Strick Design?
Ah, you are asking the hard questions! … That´s something I come back to every so often to reevaluate. Naturally, I am drawn to designing. That´s what I started out doing and what I enjoy. But caring for the public and social media part of designing is how knitters get to know my designs, so it is very necessary. And I enjoy talking to knitters tremendously – it´s how many new friendships developed over the years. So it´s a balance. Sometimes I feel I am focusing too much on knitting, then again I have the notion that I am not knitting anymore at all. So I guess the average is ok.

Do you have any knitting horror stories/mishaps?
Of course! Who hasn´t. But none of them are too entertaining. There´s the sweater that for some reason fell into my laundry unnoticed and got unintentionally felted, there are the beginner mishaps of choosing the wrong yarn (who knew merino would grow All That Much?) or the wrong pattern (eek, I look like I never heard of such thing as fashion).

What are you most looking forward to in 2015?
This year I have so many great plans that it´s hard to pick only one or two. I´ll be working together with yarn companies, meeting other knitters that I know through the internet, teaching workshops, … and I haven't even mentioned the many designs I cannot wait to get done and put out there. I already had my first small success this February with my new Sea Buckthorn shawl collection, which is a good start into 2015, I think.

Five Rings Cuffs

Giveaway
This month we're giving away a Rhine Needles & Crochet Hook Case to one lucky blog reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post sharing your favorite design from Jana Huck's Ravelry Page. Don't forget to leave us your Ravelry ID so we can contact you if you're our lucky winner!

Last-Minute Gift Inspiration

No matter how well you plan your holiday crafting, there is sure to always be some unexpected gifting emergency that pops up at the last minute! Today, we'll share some fun & fast projects which can be made in a jiffy, plus a few of our favorite Knitter's Pride products which are certain to be at the top of YOUR wish list this year! We also have one last giveaway this year for our fabulous blog readers & the winners of our Mother Bear Project Kit giveaway to announce - read on for more details!

Quick Knits

These projects can be whipped up in no time flat and are all available for free via the Ravelry links below!

L-R: Knitted Pocket Gnome by Jenni Propst, Rikke Hat by Sarah Young, and Non-Felted Slippers by Yuko Nakamura.

Speedy Crochet

These popular crochet projects are all quick to make and available for free on Ravelry, too!

L-R: Mug Hug and Rug by Marinke Slump (top left), 15 Min Coffee Sleeve by Jonna Venture (bottom left), GAP-tastic Cowl by Jen Geigley, and Polar Bear Hat by Sarah Zimmerman.

Knitter's Pride Wish List

Our Interchangeable Knitting Needle Sets and Crochet Hook Sets are always the perfect gift for discerning stitchers. This year, we are pleased to offer the  Limited-Edition MarblZ Gift set for the holiday season which includes 9 pairs of needle tips in sizes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10.5, 11; 4 cords; 8 end caps; and 4 cord keys. The set also includes a pen made from our special Symfonie Wood, a set of cord connectors, and a Knitter's Pride needle gauge!

Our new Knit Blockers are the "it" item of the season! This time-saving tool will make blocking your next project a breeze; they are especially suited for projects with long, straight edges, allowing you to apply consistent tension throughout.

Knit Blockers in action, courtesy of the Fibre Space Instagram feed

Our fashionable storage solutions will delight knitters and crocheters who are looking to get organized in the new year! Choose from several styles of needle and hook cases in three stylish color options, each with a coordinating tote bag.

Mother Bear Project Kit Winners

Congratulations to littlemomto2 and NanaMamah, you have each won a project kit generously donated by the folks at the Mother Bear Project! Click here to learn more about this wonderful charity on our last blog post. We will contact the winners to arrange for the delivery of their prizes; thanks to everyone who entered this giveaway!

Holiday Giveaway

This month, we're giving away a Deluxe Karbonz Interchangeable Set to one lucky blog reader! To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling us which Knitter's Pride product is at the top of your wish list this year! Be sure to also include your Ravelry ID or email address so that we can contact you if you win. We'll randomly select a winner to announce on our next blog post on December 30, 2014. Good luck!

Lace Blocking Wire Tutorial + Winner

Our new lace blocking supplies are the perfect way to finish your projects (and they can be used for more than just lace!). If you have never used wires before, you will be astonished at how easily they create neat edges and professional-looking results. Just follow these six easy steps to finish off your next project like a pro:

1.  Gather your supplies: a set of Knitter's Pride Blocking Mats and a Lace Blocking Wire Kit which includes 15 stainless steel wires, 15 rust-resistant T-pins, and a measuring tape. You may also wish to have extra T-pins on hand.
   
2. Wet block your piece or use a spray bottle to dampen the piece in preparation for blocking.
3. Beginning with the straight edge of your piece, pick up each stitch along the edge with a wire. The more stitches you pick up, the neater your edge will be.
   
4. When all of the straight edge stitches are picked up, lay flat on your blocking mats. Beginning at the center, insert t-pins between the knit edge and the wires. This is a great time to make sure your piece has the correct dimensions; feel free to make any adjustments necessary before proceeding to the next step. 
   
   
5. Beginning at one top edge, use a blocking wire to pick up one stitch from each point along curved shawl edge til you reach the center. Adjust the fabric until you are satisfied with how it looks, then use a few t-pins to stabilize wire as you did in step 4. Repeat for other side of shawl.
   
   
6. Once your piece is dry, carefully remove the pins, then the wires. Enjoy!

Congratulations are in order for Heidi A, who was randomly selected to win this month's prize, a Knitter's Pride Lace Blocking Set. Heidi commented, "My knitting resolution is to finally publish some patterns. I have several first drafts; I just need to see them through to completion! " We have contacted her via Ravelry to arrange for prize delivery. Thanks to everyone who entered our giveaway this month! 

Winners + Felted Bags for Fall

Thanks to everyone who entered this month's blog giveaway! Our lucky winners are:

Raveler Globalite, who won the yellow Thames bag, and Raveler knittingdork, who won the red Thames bag! We have contacted the winners to arrange for the delivery of their prizes.

Knitter's Pride Faux Leather Purse Handles, shown here with hook option.

Felted bags and totes are a great project to make this time of year; they are handy, fun, and make great gifts, too! We have a variety of new bag handles that are perfect for accenting your hand crafted bags: Genuine Leather Handles are available in 3 beautiful natural colors shown below, and Faux Leather Handles come in the rainbow of colors pictured above. Both are available with or without hooks so they can be easily attached to your bag.

Knitter's Pride Genuine Leather Purse Handles

If you need a little project inspiration, here are some great patterns from Ravelry which we think would look great with any of our new bag handles.

Clockwise from top left: Winterbloom Bag by Amy Gunderson, Amethyst Organiser by Diane Bertolatti, Molly's Carpetbag by Cricket Toomey, Ripple Tapestry Tote by Ellen Gormley, Red Rose Tote by Debbie O'Leary, and the Cappuccino Felted Bag by Emma Vining.

We look forward to seeing your bags, totes, and other creations in the Knitter's Pride Ravelry Group. Thanks for joining us!