Friday, December 28, 2012

NKBN: Aspire










A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry


If versatility is what you're after, look no further that Sonji's Aspire pattern which is a reversible cape, a poncho and shawl all in one.  And with a long AND short version available, the pattern offers very good value!  I have a real soft spot for chunky garter stitched pieces with great structure, and this piece satisfies all those criteria.


Speaking of value, Sonja has generously applied a discount code to all Knit by Nat readers who purchase this pattern by January 16th, simply enter 15%KNITBYNAT   at checkout!






Friday, December 21, 2012

NKBN: Beribboned Hat

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry





Alicia's Beribboned Hat  is just plain pretty!   I love the lace up detail and how versatile it becomes.    Pretty and flirty with the ribbon; fun and sporty with the I-cord.   Great design!!




Friday, December 14, 2012

Happy Birthday to ME! 50% off all my patterns today!

I'm celebrating today and so should you!  All my patterns are half price today!  Whoo Hoo!


NKBN: Debra

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry



Monica is this week's NOT Knit by Nat designer with an excellent little project to whip up in plenty of time for Christmas.   What a great stocking stuffer this clutch would make for someone!   And I think all us knitters could open up their button stash right now and there is the ONE FABULOUS button in there that you don't know what to do with.   This is the project to highlight it!





Friday, December 7, 2012

NKBN: Silverbells, with coupon code!

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry


I was lucky enough to be given a copy of Kate's Silverbells pattern to review for you and I have to say this fabulous pattern is nothing short of a masterpiece.   Admittedly I may be a bit biased, since I HEART  knitting lace in a DK weight.   Anyone who knows me would hardly describe me as "delicate", so I enjoy the meatiness of the knit without sacrificing any of the intricacies of the pattern.










I have long wanted to knit a dark lace shawl with beading and found these Bordeaux coloured beads that are very en vogue right now to be a great compliment to my fall wardrobe.   I love seeing the pattern transform from Kate's lovely, summery blue version to my dark, wintry espresso version.   I'm sure Kate will agree that one of the biggest kicks out of publishing a design is seeing different people's versions come to life!   This is a quick and satisfying knit that is very addictive! I would recommend using the chart for this pattern, as it easy to follow and visualize in this form.  For my beaded version, I used the crochet hook method and on row 1 and 9 added a bead on every yo, k1, yo combo.  

Take a stab at Kate's Silverbells and enjoy 25% from now until the end of December in her Ravelry store.  Simply enter "Silverbells" (with no quotes) at check out for the discount, good for any pattern in her store!   Thanks Kate!





(My pictures suck, I know.   I promise to post better photos when I see the light of day this weekend!)

Friday, November 30, 2012

NKBN: Zephyrus


A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry


If you want to talk value, take a look at Sara Elizabeth's Zephyrus hat pattern with 3 different edging options.   All for $2.50!   How can you go wrong??   Would be great for siblings so they're kinda co-ordinated (think family photo shoot), but not to matchy matchy that you have to hear any unnecessary "Oh Moo-ooom"s.


Friday, November 23, 2012

NKBN: Socks times 4!


A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry


The talented Cindy has not one but FOUR great sock designs for you to take a stab at.   I'm looking at them all and can't pick my favourite.   I love the two toned toe and cuff, but I also can't keep my eyes off those green lace ones!


Which one is your favourite?






Thursday, November 22, 2012

Popcorn Packed Pumpkin Pots (phew!)



Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends!


Little Pumpkin Pots filled with popcorn for our Canadian Thanksgiving 
last month were a big hit!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

NKBN: Giveaway winner!



A "Cherry City" resident won the Cherry Picks Pillow pattern!!   How fitting!  Congrats Jani,  I will contact you via Rav shortly!

Thanks again to Joan for generously offering up her pattern.

Oh my gosh that is so adorable! My daughter loves Cherries and I live in Salem Oregon which is "Cherry City"!! That is so cute!!







Friday, November 16, 2012

The "IT" factor

You know, it's pretty amazing seeing your child start to grow into their own person.  You can nurture them and teach them to say "please" and "thank you", but when it comes right down to it their personality is a product all of their own.   And with every day, I see this girl of mine grow into a sweet (yet feisty), inquisitive, smart, passionate little girl.  Some say "just like her mama" (especially about the feisty part), but she's got a special spark all of her own.  She's got the "IT" factor.  


She's a natural fashionista, concocting outfit after outfit from her enviable closet effortlessly (100% hand me downs, I am lucky to say!).

That, and the girl can strike a pose!!!








I originally wrote this pattern quite a while ago when I just wanted to sit and KNIT.   I found that I had such little time to squeeze in any knitting that by the time I sat down and got organized finding the spot in my pattern, I often lost that precious window of time.   This knit satisfies that pick up and knit NOW need that we all sometimes have.   Garter stitches, ruffles and a fashionista to model the heck out of it.   Good job, Ella.   I named this pattern "Stella", cuz this girl is a star!





ps.  She is wearing Peyton's Freeway Mitts from last week's NKBN with a couple mods.   Once she saw mine she HAD to have a pair.   I made her version with super bulky wool, only 12 repeats around and 4 rows.   Whipped them both up in less than half an hour.   She's barely taken them off since!

NKBN: Cherry Picks Pillow Giveaway!


A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry




My very first knitting project was a pillow, so I have a real soft spot for any sort of cushion.  Pun totally intended there.  I think Joan's Cherry Pick Pillow is a great way to add some quirkiness and fun to so many different rooms, from a games' room to a kid's room to your craft studio (I want one for my knitting chair!).    In fact, Joan has a great roster of quirky designs.   (Check out her Sheep Mug Mats, you will die!)

And lucky for us, Joan has graciously offered to giveaway a copy of this adorable pillow pattern!   Just leave a comment below before Tuesday Nov 20th at midnight and I will randomly select a winner on Wednesday.   Good luck everyone!!




Friday, November 9, 2012

NKBN: Freeway Mitts


A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry



5 reasons you must read this blog post and start Crocheting Peyton's Freeway Mitts RIGHT NOW:

1.  It's fall and these mitts are a perfect addition to you fall repertoire.

2. You DEFINITELY have enough yarn to hook a pair of these in your stash.   In fact, I bet you have enough yarn to crochet a pair up for every person you know whose name starts with A.  Or M.  Or N (for Nat)

3.  Best gauge measurements EVER.   I quote from the pattern notes: 

"NOTE: The gauge is not measured, but try to stay at a pretty moderate tension."   

   Those words are like magic to a gauge reluctant spontaneous knitter.  (I know, I know.  Always swatch, saves time in the end.   I want instant gratification sometimes.  Sue me)

4.   Start an episode of Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, last night's Grey's...whatever.  Sit back and get hooking.  You'll be done in a flash!

5.  It's a FREE pattern on Ravelry.   Told ya.   Stop reading, grab your hook!


In fact, that's just what I'm going to do right this second.  Rapido!






Friday, November 2, 2012

NKBN: Off the Cuff Cowl


A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry


I'm tempted to call Lindsay the "scarf queen" but, while her designs are an enviable collection of neck accessories, her profile depicts a true artist who loves to create in many different mediums.   Have a peek at all her thoughtful designs here.



(I'm a sucker for anything with an oversized button!!)






Wednesday, October 31, 2012

NKBN: Halloween Edition: Pumpkin Spice Hat


A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry

A picture really is worth a thousand words!   

Erica's design is just fabulous and this picture needs to be in a magazine!!





Friday, October 19, 2012

NKBN: Halloween Edition: Goblin Hat

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry.


How perfect is Rachael's Goblin Hat?!   The details in the ears sets this pattern above all the other goblin hat's out there.   Great job Rachael, all those aspiring trolls and goblins out there should thank you!   (ps, in fuzzy white and brown, i think this would make an adorable little lamb hat)





Friday, October 12, 2012

NKBN: Halloween Edition: Witch's Scarf and Viking Hat

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry.



Today's fabulous NOT Knit by Nat designer, Robin, has an amazing roster of custume like designs.   Here are my two favourites.  

This Viking Hat that I MUST see on a chubby cheeked baby!  Someone out there please make a baby and then make this hat and send me a picture!!






And The Witches Hug Scarf.   How cool is this?  I think it's safe to say you can wear this scarf the entire month of October!   So creative, Robin!




Friday, October 5, 2012

NKBN: Halloween Edition: Crochet Witch's Hat

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry.



This is the hat I want to make for ME for Halloween.  Rhea's  design is the perfect "I'm a cool mom that dresses up, but I don't look like a complete dork" hat to take your kids from house to house!   







And just imagine the coloured band in glow-in-the-dark yarn!   Yes!  

Bernat glow in the dark yarn!!
via Yarngear


This green version would make a great Elf hat!


Thursday, October 4, 2012

Giveaway Winner! Little Pumpkins Pots

And the winner of this week's giveaway is:  



What a cute fall pattern!
strickliesel13 on Rav



Congrats!   I will contact you shortly via rav to get your details.

Have a wonderful day everyone!


Friday, September 28, 2012

NKBN: Halloween Edition: Little Pumpkin Pots Pattern and Yarn Giveaway!

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry.




I'm not sure if it's the utilitarian in me or the multi-tasker, but I just love smart designs that DO something.   Like these Little Pumpkin and Acorn Pots.   Margaret, aka Factwoman (I love that nickname!  I want to be a Factwoman when I grow up ;) includes not only the pumpkin and the acorn pattern, but also great fall themed name tags to transform these into the world's most adorable place cards. 

Could you imagine tucking a little bonbon inside each and adorning your Thanksgiving place settings with these?!   Or for Halloween, a number of these little guys with embroidered jack o' lantern faces lined up along your kitchen counter stuffed with halloween coloured candies?  Or a great little gift for your kid's hard working teacher!?  The possibilities are endless!  Margaret is a smarty-pants, I tells ya!




Halloween is quickly upon us, and seeing the twinkle in my childrens' eyes sparks memories of my own childhood and breathes life back into the holiday in our home, complete with skeletons hanging by the garage and a nest of spiderwebs all along the porch.   It is wonderful!  

To celebrate all that is spooky and magical, October's Not Knit By Nat posts will feature great Halloween inspired designs.  And to kick it all off you can win a copy of this awesome crochet pattern along with 2 hanks of Needful Yarns Amazon yarn in pumpkin orange and some stash busting green yarn to complete lots of Little Pumpkin Pots just in time for Halloween!

Margaret has been so kind to pass on the pattern to me as well and I have had a lot fun whipping up these cuties!   1 ball of yarn gets you 3.5 pumpkins and they take approximately one episode of Breaking Bad to make!  I will post my pics this weekend.


Leave a comment below before Wednesday, October 3rd at midnight for a chance to win!  Anyone who comments that already is and/or becomes a follower on the blog gets entered twice!  (Be sure to leave your Rav ID or email addy).  Contest is closed.

Good luck everyone!!!










Wednesday, September 26, 2012

"What exactly am I focusing on?"


Anyone who knows me knows that I have a major crush on my husband.   You know the kind of crush you have when you're 13 and you're consumed with the thought of a boy and you get the giggles when you talk to him?   Yup, that's me around my hubby after all these years (Here's hoping it never changes!).   So as he sees me approaching him wearing a knit cape in 30 degree weather, camera in hand, already giggling and sheepishly asking him "Can you take some photos of me for the blog?" I half expect him to run in the other direction.    
But God love him, he doesn't.   He even pretends to care.

Now, the quality of photos is another thing all together....


Hmmm...What is this???

When he asks "What exactly am I focusing on?" and I answer dryly 
"The knit cape", 
I sense his patience may be waning...

Almost in Focus...



Here we go.  A winner.  1 out of 26 shots isn't bad!



This pattern is a quick, satisfying knit.   Although I'm not quite sure if I'm exactly a "cape" kind of girl, I'm glad I have this cozy knit for my fall wardrobe repertoire.  



Pattern:  Sweetgum
By: Stacy Simpson Duke


ps despite his lackluster photography skills, I still have a crush on that man.....