Confession #36: I love stranding. Sometimes when I’m working on a stranding project I sing ‘I Love Paris’ in my head, replacing ‘Paris’ with ‘stranding’ every time.

“….I love stranding in the springtime
I love stranding in the fall
I love stranding in the winter when it drizzles
I love stranding in the summer when it sizzles

I love stranding every moment
Every moment of the year
I love stranding, oh why, oh why, do I love stranding?

Because it is so fun…”

Tous les Jours by Firefly Fibers.

Made with Spud & Chloë Sweater in Chocolate.

Confession #27: When you find yourself huddled over a box of new yarn hungrily inhaling it for the scent of sheep and/or the vinegar-y wonderfulness of fresh dye, you know your fiber obsession has reached a new level.

Confession #28: If you find yourself doing #27 with someone, you probably should befriend them immediately if you haven’t already.

Confession #26: You know you have a special yarn on your needles when you are really giddy to be knitting a swatch.

Confession #24: No matter how much you sometimes wish they would, WIPs will never finish themselves.

Confession #23: Sometimes when I hear there is new yarn at my local yarn shop, I literally drop everything I’m doing to go visit it.

Like so many knitters, I first started paying attention to Hannah Fettig’s Knitbot designs in 2009 when her Whisper Cardigan appeared in the Spring issue of Interweave Knits. Among the attributes that caught my eye was the gracefulness of the design; it was both wearable on a daily basis & yet still distinguished. It was like every sweater I’d ever loved, just better.

Over the years her designs have never deviated from this vision. Simple and yet with a touch of individuality, each of her sweaters & accessories have the power to become an instant staple in your wardrobe. Having now worked quite a few of her patterns, I’ve learned that her talent does not stop at the classic quality of the design  — her pattern writing is clear & concise making these garments not just inherently wearable, they are accessible & realistic projects for knitters of all skill levels.

I have a library of Knitbot patterns which I’ve bought over the years both at my local yarn shop & via Ravelry download, but this did not stop me from purchasing Knitbot Essentials as soon as it became available at Firefly Fibers. The book itself is beautiful — the photography, the colors, the layout — it is a treasure that I almost feel bad using (don’t worry… that will pass). Honestly, what I love most about this book — beyond the beautiful sweaters and the treat of the accessories — is page 10. On this page, Fettig writes about what we love best about her work — her command of drape. Creating the perfect fabric is a key component to her designs and in this one page she gives you all the know-how you need to do just that.

A collaborative effort with the folks at Quince & Co Yarns, I also really enjoyed that this book highlights this company’s yarns knit up with in-depth descriptions by weight. Generally I only use yarn I can purchase locally in order to support local business & my own knitting community (and all but only the tiniest portion of my yarn purchases will always remain dedicated to my lys for this reason), so I have not had the good fortune of trying these yarns. Quince & Co is an enterprise that I hope to dabble in soon, though. I appreciate their roots and have heard nothing but good things about the quality of their yarns. On a wholly personal note, my husband and I are avid birdwatchers, so the fact that each yarn is named for a bird touches a soft place in my heart (Neesha Hudson’s adorable illustrations fuel that fire nicely).  I was also gifted a quince tree for Mother’s Day a few years ago — every time I look out my front window & see my beautiful tree, I think of my family… and Quince & Co. yarns. I think The Fates may be trying to tell me something here…

My own knitting destiny aside, if you haven’t picked up your copy of Knitbot Essentials yet, do so. Now. Whether you are interested in Fettig’s lovely sweaters or one of the quick accessories, I have no doubt that your first Knitbot project will not be your last. Buy the book — it’s an investment you won’t regret.

Confession #22: The most useful tool a knitter can possess is humility.

Confession #18: When a knitter says he/she can’t wait to finish a project, it doesn’t mean he/she is excited to be done knitting. A knitter’s work in never done; cast-on, cast-off ad infinitum.

Happy Friday the 13th!

(Source: the-healing-nest)

Confessions #16: Sometimes a knitter needs a little incentive to finish. I am currently denying myself lunch until I complete my WIP.

Confession #9: I love it when finishing a project feels so far off in the future for so long that the end comes as a complete & utter surprise.