TNNA~ Phoebe's Birthday Book Release

by Joanna

I am happy to announce that we will be releasing our newest book, Phoebe's Birthday, on June 23 at TNNA in Columbus, Ohio. We are having books shipped directly from our printer in California to the show, so you will be the first ones to see them! As we have done in the past, shops who place a minimum order at the show (6 books) will get a free signed book at the time of their order. 

I am looking forward to another great show at the Brown Sheep Booth, #1008, and hope to see you there! I will also be passing out review copies at the show, so if you are an editor, book reviewer, or writer and would like a copy, please ask, I will do my best to get one to you!

Phoebe's Party Dress and Phoebe's Sun Romper

Phoebe's Sun Tunic and Phoebe's Party Dress

Phoebe's Birthday News

We are happy to announce that Phoebe's Birthday is officially out of our hands and off to the printer!

Here you see our proof. Are we over the moon? Yes we are! Our printer will be sending us color proofs this weekend, and once we give them a green light, it's time to start up the presses.

We will be updating you soon on all of the details... including specific timelines and some absolutely adorable photos and illustrations. Thanks for being a part of our dream-come-true. We are grateful for your encouragement and support!

Margaret Dashwood Shawl~ Jane Austen Knits

by Joanna

All photos are by Christa Tippmann

My newest design, the Margaret Dashwood Shawl, was just published in Interweave's summer 2012 issue of Jane Austen Knits. It uses just two skeins of Brooklyn Tweed LOFT, which is a delightfully airy woolen spun yarn. This colorway is called Thistle.

The shawl is worked from side to side and the simple garter and lace edging looks stunning in this yarn. It is such a sweet and simple knit that it is suitable for a beginning knitter. You only need to know how to: knit, purl, slip, kfb, k2tog, and yo to complete it, and there are only two sets of 10-row instructions throughout the pattern.

The shawl is long enough to be worn crossed in the back, sonntag style.

But it also looks beautiful just draped across the shoulders. 

I liked making it so much that as soon as I sent it in to Interweave I ordered yarn to make another one. I had a wonderful time being a part of Interweave's second issue of Jane Austen Knits, and loved working with the team on this project.

Klickitat

by Joanna

The spring issue of Petite Purls just went live, and I am honored to have a pattern {Klickitat} published in this season's issue. My hope was to create a "mom and baby" shawl with a wide variety of uses, and I did my best to design the shawl I "wish I had" when our three children were babies. I was never much one for nursing shawls or wraps, but I fell in love with the idea of a woman's shawl that could also be an heirloom gift for a baby. 

In addition to being a shawl, it is a cozy cuddling wrap for mom and baby.

It is a sweet and simple baby blanket.

It works as a nursing shawl, too.

It can be criss-crossed in the front, which would be great for staying cozy while baby wearing.

My favorite part... is that it is also a beautiful shawl for a little girl!

What little girl wouldn't want to wear her own baby blanket as a cape? 

I know our daughter would have!

Knit up in just 2 skeins of sock yarn- (I used Diana from Yarn Love)- I know this will be my go-to baby shower gift for years and years to come.

 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have, along with the wonderful little knitworthy people in your life.

A big thank you to Christa Tippmann for the lovely photos.

Caroline's Hill Top Jacket

On my last trip to The Loopy Ewe I met a knitter who is a friend-of-a-friend (aren't knitters great like that?) named Cathy. We had plenty of little things to chat about, and she was sweet enough to mention that she knit a Hill Top Jacket for her daughter-in-law, Caroline. There is something so perfect about a wooly gray sweater, isn't there?

My favorite part of Caroline's jacket is the button band that Cathy worked sideways onto the front of the sweater. I really enjoy making up a design that can be easily customized like this for size and style. Doesn't Caroline look great? 

Thank you, Cathy and Caroline, for sharing your sweater with us. Although spring is here, I am already planning my knitting for next fall, and I now have a gray cardigan on my list!

Phoebe's Birthday Photo Shoot @ Fancy Tiger

Did you see that Fancy Tiger had a sweet pop up shop at the Makerie in Boulder this weekend? I had been planning all along to have the photo shoot for the sewing patterns for the new book at Fancy Tiger's shop in Denver. But when I looked at the calendar and realized our best weekend for the shoot was also the weekend of the Makerie, I was over the moon! I contacted Fancy Tiger and of course they were great about doing the shoot at their pop up shop instead.

Phoebe's Birthday is inspired by the childhood memories Eric and I have of summers with our grandparents. Every summer Eric went to his grandparents' bungalow at the Jersey shore, and every summer I went to a cabin on a lake in the Adirondacks. A historic cottage was the ideal setting for these photos, and a perfect match for our vision for this new book.

Phoebe visits a yarn shop in the new book, so Fancy Tiger's mini-shop was the perfect setting for some of our interior shots. Our photographer, Christa Tippmann, is so much fun to work with. Kids love her, and since she knits and sews, she really understands what we need in a photo. She is willing to do what it takes to get the perfect shot, as you see above!

It wouldn't be a trip to Fancy Tiger without something to bring home in my loot bag... did you know they now have a private label 100% Romney wool yarn called Heirloom? The color palette is amazing. I simply cannot wait to cast this on.

I also cannot wait to share the rest of our photos with you. We are working literally around the clock to wrap this new book up for you to read with your favorite little people.

Brown Sheep Road Trip~ a photo diary

I took a very quick trip up to Brown Sheep Company today, and enjoyed a visit with Peggy Jo Wells at the mill; picked up some lovely yarn, roving, and new reeds for the Cricket Loom; and had a quick lunch out before heading home. For anyone who wonders why I find a day trip to Nebraska so enjoyable, I wanted to share a bit of the beautiful scenery with you!

Farm and Ranch Museum in Gering, Nebraska 

Scott's Bluff National Monument

Final Destination~ Brown Sheep Company

Wyoming trains, spotted on trip back home to Colorado