One more row!

Extension of CD KAL, FOYAL Designer round-up, and other updates.

And just like that Thanksgiving week is behind us and we are in December already. How is your crafting these days? Are you a gift-knitter? 🎁 Do you make things for holiday fairs?

My own make this week, is this skein, spun from Malabrigo Nube 100% Merino combed top. I’m so excited to be able to spin substantial quantity finally. If you are a spinner, please tell me about your first handspun project, in comments. 😍

Handspun from Malabrigo Nube

EXTENSION OF CRAFTDOODLING DESIGNS KAL

If you are participating in CraftDoodling Designs KAL in my Slack community, you might already know that we decided to extend the KAL until Dec 31 2023.

I am surprised but not so surprised by the way, most of us voted to continue knitting. I have found these two things to be true about knitting

Knitters always want more knitting. “One more row!!” is the motto, mantra, maxim of knitters everywhere!

More knitting gets done in group settings than while being alone.

This year, I have gotten together with more knitters in person, as well as online, just for this inspiration, synergy and my love of learning and sharing. And I am so grateful for that! 💝

INTRODUCTION ABOUT FOYAL

I am currently participating in another designer event called the “Fasten Off Yarn-A-long”, which has started last week. 🎉 This is my second year participating as a designer.

You might be aware that the Ravelry’s new user interface became unusable for a lot of people. FOYAL aims to be an inclusive make-along event bringing independent designers and crafters together, mainly focusing on non-Ravelry sales platforms.

About 3700 patterns from participating designers are on sale this year. There is an associated make-along event over at FOYAL Discord Server. And of course there are games and prizes. 🏆 You can check more details here in FOYAL website.

Here is the link to my designer page on FOYAL website. You can find all my patterns there. If a pattern is on sale, it is marked with a discounted price. Use the code FO2023 until the end of December 8 (ET) to get 25% off all discount-marked patterns!🧶

FOYAL DESIGNER ROUND-UP

Here is a little round-up of some of my personal favorites from the event.

GAMER BABE DESIGNS Yvonne Poon is a knitwear designer and knit and crochet technical editor. Her designs are engaging and challenging. She is very knowledgable and meticulous in her work. Yvonne has very patiently edited some of my patterns. And I always get to learn a nuance or nugget about pattern writing that I haven’t thought of earlier.

Garry Hat by Yvonne Poon/Photo Credit: Ksenia Naidyon

NO PANIC KNITTING Pamela Minniear is a knitwear designer and teacher specializing in the beginner knitting patterns. Pamela loves color and loves to tell a story with her design work. Experienced knitters are in for a treat putting together fun color combos for these delightful designs.

Autumn Bliss by Pamela Minniear

PADMA R DESIGNS Padma R designs in knit, crochet and Tunisian crochet. She’s thinks they’’re equally exciting! She loves exploring and incorporating techniques and adores lace, cables and brioche.

Flying by Padma R

SYNAPTIC STITCHES Jenn Lampen is an advocate of fearless knitting and believes that any knitter can knit any pattern with a bit of patience and the right resources. She loves designing brioche knitting patterns that are absolute show-stoppers.

Gilded Grapes Shawl by Jenn Lampen

VICTORIA MARCHANT KNITS Victoria Marchant writes thoughtful, brilliant, size-inclusive patterns. I have mentioned here a few times that I designed Niyat Pullover inspired from Victoria’s blogpost about mix and match sizing in drop shoulder sweaters. Most of her patterns are low vision and color blindness accessible.

Solitary by Victoria Marchant

I hope you find something you love from here and join the make along. 💗

OTHER UPDATES

1. As I had mentioned last week, I am not writing one of my usual essays for a few weeks. (If you are new here or missed reading my older emails, please read from the archives and feel free to comment on posts. 🙂)

2. Reading updates

   1. 📚 Finished: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by

      Oliver Burkeman

   2. 📚 Currently Reading : Fairy Tale by Stephen King.

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