I had a great time working with Cascade Casablanca knitting this cowl! It's a new (FREE!) pattern up on their website and it's a fun way to watch the colors interact with each other. The pattern is part of their collection of free designs and is a great project for someone new to stranded knitting! Worked in the round, this cowl features a geometric pattern that comes alive with Cascade’s Casablanca yarn. Choose two similar colors for a subtle cowl, or go for the dramatic by picking two contrasting colors. Whatever you decide, the result will be a fun, warm cowl full of graphic interest that’ll be well loved when winter arrives. This pattern requires intermediate knitting knowledge including: cast-on, working in the round, reading charts, and simple stranded color work, on circular needles.
The Jack cardigan began its life back in October when I talked with Classic Elite about contributing to a collection of men's garments for release Fall 2013. After a few emails, we agreed on design, materials, and colors. This design began as a swatch in different yarn, and different colors... but once I got going on it I was infatuated with the sheer luxury of Classic Elite Yarn's Inca Alpaca. I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. this yarn. Seriously. It was glorious to work with (and I want to work with it again VERY soon) and the finished cardigan is so comfy and soft it was really hard to send away. I want to knit another for myself for chilly San Francisco days! The pattern is part of Classic Elite Yarn's new booklet #9231: Leader of the Pack, available for purchase on Ravelry, and pattern and yarn both should be waiting for you at your local yarn shop. More information about this and the rest of the collection can be found HERE. Back in mid-March, I mailed off a little bundle to Amy Clark Moore and her staff at Interweave. My very own contribution to the Unofficial Harry Potter Knits! Here it is, 4 month later, and I am finally able to share this project with you. The Order of the Phoenix Winged Vest uses Zitron Lifestyle (100% extrafine superwash Merino) in #54 Nutmeg and #33 Corn. It features a solid front and, when worn with a jacket, others can't know the secrets it holds. The inspiration comes from the idea of the "hidden identity" of everyday superheroes. People (like policemen, nurses, and counselors) in our communities work hard to protect, educate, and serve. Out of uniform (or out of the office!) they blend into the crowd, unnoticed. We don't recognize they are the ones that do so much good when duty calls. It is interesting to me how these individuals carry with them such strength and knowledge, and others can so easily be unaware. They walk by us... on the streets or at the mall... but at work; when they're needed, they dive in. Head-first. Selflessly. While I was designing this vest I had in mind this idea of carrying around that "hidden identity"... it's more than the "secret powers" of heroes like Harry Potter - it's the real power of knowing what to do when a problem arises. It's also important to note that everyone has the ability to make a difference in the lives of others. Listening... Offering emotional support... Teaching "the tricks of the trade" to someone new to your field... Taking time to write a letter... Visiting people in the hospital. The small efforts we make turn us into true heroes in the eyes of others. I hope the Order of the Phoenix vest will help others appreciate the heroes of their communities, and to find time to recognize the knowledge and talents of those around them. The Unofficial Harry Potter Knits will be available at your Local Yarn Shop or through the Interweave website. If you can't wait to cast on this (or any of the other AMAZING projects) in the magazine, you can hop on over HERE and download an electronic copy right now! (Due to copyright restrictions, this magazine is only available for sale in the U.S.)
I've just completed testing of this simple pattern designed for those who are newer to knitting and might want a more interesting pattern without feeling overwhelmed. The Franklin Scarf (named after my father) is just that type of project. For those who are a bit more advanced, this pattern becomes intuitive and is an easy one to carry around as "emergency knitting" or to take on car trips. Read about it HERE on Ravelry. Purchase the pattern there for $2.00. The Franklin scarf is named after my father, William Franklin Kunnecke, who believed in working hard, always doing your very best, and being generous enough to share your knowledge with others. My dad worked in construction, and I grew up around tools and sawdust. He taught me early on that shortcuts lead to a longer path and that almost always, the quickest way to get something done is to do it right the first time. It's a good lesson to learn and not always the easiest one to practice. From my dad I also learned we can find the answer to almost any question if we take the time to research. He was an avid reader, could build (or fix) anything, and I have missed him every day since his death in 2007.
Thank you, as always, for your support of my work. If you have questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you (either via the comments or my email). Kyle I'm happy to announce that I'm part of an upcoming book - this time it's a Hanukkah hat designed for Universal Yarn and Sixth&Spring Books. The goal with this project was to create an easy to follow pattern using the dreidel as a symbol for the holiday of Hanukkah. Judaism is a religion steeped in history. I was drawn to the dreidel not only for its shape, but also because, in addition to it being the centerpiece for a game that millions of kids have played for generations, it is a reminder of how, during the rule of Antiochus, Jews who were reading the Torah would hide their studies and quickly pick up (and play with) the dreidel when armies appeared as a way to avoid persecution. Stories of religions are interesting and full of the unexpected. The little dreidel motif repeated around the hat is a bit camouflaged, but for those that know the symbol, it invites inquiry. And as always, if you ask, you'll learn that there's more to the story. I love the slow striping color change of Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted Long Print (color #05 Midnight Blues). This yarn was the perfect background for using the solid worsted yarn (color #12270 Natural) as the motif in the design. Also in the book you'll find so many other fun projects, including a pattern for a market bag, Christmas tree skirt, gloves, socks, and scarves. This is the kind of book that would be fun to buy and work the patterns as each holiday arrives. I have yet to see the final published book but the issuu link (below) will give you a small taste of some of the projects you'll find in this new book. Hanukkah Hat by Kyle Kunnecke from 50 Knitted Gifts for Year Round Giving, published by Sixth&Spring Books. Photography by Jack Deutsch and text copyright © 2013 by Sixth&Spring Books. All images used by permission. Check with your local yarn shop or bookstore to get your copy of this book - it's scheduled for release in about a month.
What a treat to be part of the new Quince and Company collection: Scarves Etc. 2013! My contribution, Caden, is a scarf designed for anyone to love and cherish. It's soft, flowing, textured... and the pattern is a gentle repeat that's easy to remember, making it perfect to take along to knit night! As always, the folks at Quince provided beautiful images. If you haven't worked with Quince yarn before, now's your chance. It's available at Quince and Co's online shop, and select yarn shops, including A Verb for Keeping Warm in Oakland, CA! A preview of this and some of the other scarves appeared today on Quince and Co's blog HERE. It feels great to have a piece among the other gorgeous submissions... I am really excited about seeing the final e-book too! I'd love to know what you think of my latest design, and can't wait to see it in different colors of Chickadee. This pattern includes a suggestion for a special cast on and bind off. I created tutorials for each of these techniques and added them to the videos tab of www.kylewilliam.com. I announced the cast on tutorial on February 5, and below, you'll find the bind off video. Working with Quince and Company Chickadee was a dream. The stitches are crisp, the fabric soft, and the final scarf is one that I'm quite pleased with. I hope you'll like it too!
© 2013 Kyle Kunnecke I'm happy to share with you my latest hat pattern! This time it's a design inspired by old quilt patterns. Using a number of different colors throughout the hat, it's fun to knit... and the pattern would be a great opportunity to use scrap yarn (perhaps some leftover sock yarn?) What's involved in this pattern? It starts with a provisional cast on and a lining worked in the round using a main color and smaller needles. Once a turning row is completed, the stranded knitting begins. I worked most of this hat on circular needles, switching to double points for crown shaping. (Some people would use magic loop at this point.) Once the project was complete, it was time to find a place to do photography. I did a lot of research, looking for an exterior location that would offer the right feeling. I settled on the Palace of Fine Arts. San Francisco is an amazing city for photography - lots of hills, water everywhere... and even the fog can make things interesting. Anyway, The Palace of Fine Arts was built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Expo. Built out of paper mache, It was only meant to exist for a few years and actually fell into disrepair until the 1960s. After some generous contributions, it was re-created out of concrete and lasted for a good while. The past few years brought a re-furbishing of the monument and visiting it was truly a magical experience. I look forward to discovering more places in my hometown for photoshoots! © 2013 Kyle Kunnecke We took photos in a few different spots at this location. The doors in the background of this photo are used in a lot of wedding photography. I thought it was really interesting how the pattern in the door is almost identical to the motif in the hat! Knitting this pattern went pretty quickly. The chart is easy to follow, and the color changes encouraged me as I worked. I am excited to see the color combinations others come up with!! I'll leave you with a few images of the architecture around the Palace of Fine Arts. I hope you like the new hat! $4.00 (.pdf download)I'm happy to announce my latest hat pattern! Meet Emeline: a stranded hat that celebrates individuality. It begins with 2-color ribbing, blossoms into a engaging chart, and finishes with striped decreases at the crown. It's a comfy, slouchy, stylish hat and is going with me everywhere I go. After the bind off, a wonderfully lightweight hat like this encourages us to venture out on chilly nights. Emeline, comfortable and stylish, celebrates the unpredictable and unexpected adventures of working simultaneously with two skeins of Noro Silk Garden Lite. The pattern, inspired by 18th Century ironwork, is interesting to knit and satisfying to wear. As a compliment to the rigid structure of the chart, gentle color changes within the yarn guarantee a unique hat. This pattern requires intermediate knitting knowledge including: working in the round, two-color ribbing, reading charts, simple stranded color work and decreasing, all on double point needles. So, Emeline is available on Ravelry and in the Shop. I hope you enjoy knitting this one; it really is a rewarding project! Now that Emeline is completed, I can get to work on some of the other fun things I have in the works. There are so many good things happening right now, and believe me when I say it pains me not to talk about all of them. All I can do is ask you to "stay tuned" - In the meantime, I'll continue to keep you updated on what I can talk about. In website news, I added a link to a page of abbreviations most commonly used in my patterns. It'll be updated as needed, and the current version is included with the Emeline pattern. This seems a good way to make sure people are aware of the abbreviations I use, and could also become a good tool for people as they work on other patterns. So, here's hoping you fall in love with Emeline - if you're still searching for a gift for a knitter, perhaps this pattern along with a gift certificate to their local yarn shop would be loved?
The interesting thing about working for publication like this is that the hat was completed and sent away almost a year ago! I am actually looking forward to knitting one for myself (if I ever find time!) If you'd like to own your very own copy of Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Hat Book, including 50 designs, as well as historical and technique information, click the "Buy Now" button below. I am pleased to announce the release of Angkor - a hat I designed for Blue Moon Fiber Arts. Offered in two sizes, this project takes full advantage of the saturated color in the yarns offered by Tina and her team. Many people already know the yarns that Blue Moon Fiber Arts offer are AMAZING - and getting to design using her fibers and colors was truly a treat! I hope you'll purchase the pattern (by clicking HERE) and make one for yourself. Be sure to share your project on Ravelry so that I can see your version! Along with the pattern, I created a tutorial video that shows how to do stranded or Fair Isle knitting. The technique is simple and this pattern is the perfect opportunity to try it out! The video (below) is also in the tutorial library accessed through the VIDEO tab at the top of the screen. The project is now posted on my ravelry page - HERE - and I'm really happy that I can (finally) share the good news with everyone! It was a great experience to work with Tina and I look forward to doing more work for Blue Moon Fiber Arts!
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