June 16, 2020 5:13 AM · in uncategorized | Comments

Approaching THE LONGEST DAY

Please join me on The Longest Day, Saturday, June 20, as I knit from sunrise to sunset to raise awareness (and hopefully a lot of funds) for Alzheimer’s awareness and research.

I’ve designed the Fading Memories crescent shawl to represent the increasing holes in the memories of those afflicted with Alzheimer’s, in a colorway inspired by The Longest Day logo.

For every Fading Memories pattern sold, I will donate $5 to Alzheimer’s research.

The yarn I used is The Mystery of The White Plum gradient kit of 6 mini skeins specially dyed by indie dyer Schmutzerella Yarns, who will donate $5 for every pack sold.

The following dyers/yarn shops also have special colorways for this shawl and will donate a portion of the proceeds to Alzheimer’s research.

Not to be outdone by yarnies, master ceramicist Charan Sacher of Creative With Clay has also joined the cause and is taking orders for purple and gray mugs. The 16-ounce mugs are dishwasher and microwave safe, and are available in four knitterly designs.

For every mug ordered, Charan will donate $5 to Alzheimer’s research.

Click here to order your mug.

 

As I knit the shawl on Saturday, June 20, I’ll post my hourly progress through Instagram posts. Follow me at annbuddknits.

Whether or not you want to join the knit-along, please visit my fundraising page and make a donation. Together we can help find a cure!

May 31, 2020 5:34 PM · in Classes, Knit For Fun Retreats | Comments

KFF Beaver Creek!

After having to cancel my last two Knit For Fun Retreats due to COVID-19, I’m delighted to announce that the third one is moving forward!

Join the fun in Beaver Creek, Colorado, September 24 to 27, 2020, with StevenBe, Andrea Wong, and myself.

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa

We’ll stay at the five-star Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa. where you’ll enjoy luxury rooms that include refrigerators, flat-screen televisions, complimentary wireless Internet, premium bedding, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers.

 

Click here to find all the details about classes and costs, and a link to register. Registration opens at 10:00 am Mountain Standard Time on Monday, June 1.

It’s time to knit together again!

 

May 27, 2020 11:52 AM · in Accessories, Charity, crescent shawl, healing, Patterns, Shawls | Comments

A KAL in Support of Alzheimer’s Research

As more of my friends and family become victim to Alzheimer’s disease, I find myself more passionate about the fight against it. That’s why I’ve registered to take part on The Longest Day this summer to raise awareness (and hopefully a whole lot of funds) for the Alzheimer’s Association.

The Longest Day is the day with the most light (the summer solstice), which will be June 20 this year. It’s also the day that the Alzheimer’s Association calls on everyone to fight Alzheimer’s disease by raising funds and awareness for care, support, and research. For my part, I’ll knit from sunrise (somewhere around 5:00 am) to sunset (somewhere around 9:00 pm) Mountain Standard Time.

 

I’ve designed a special project for this event. The Fading Memories crescent shawl (available on Ravelry) represents the increasing holes in the memories of those afflicted with Alzheimer’s, in a colorway inspired by The Longest Day logo.

For every Fading Memories pattern sold, I will donate $5 to Alzheimer’s research.

 

 

 

The yarn I used is The Mystery of The White Plum gradient kit of 6 mini skeins specially dyed by indie dyer Schmutzerella Yarns. The yarn is 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon; there are 92 yards (20 grams) of each color for a total of 552 yards (120 grams). The Fading Memories shawl uses nearly all of the 552 yards in the gradient pack.

For every gradient pack sold (click here to order), Schmutzerella Yarns will donate $5 to Alzheimer’s.

 

I’m delighted to announce that other indie dyers and yarn shops have join in the fight by producing other yarns that work equally well for the Fading Memories shawl pattern.

Sun Valley Fibers has created a merino/cashmere/nylon gradient set of six 100-yard skeins (600 yards total) called The Longest Day.

Kits will initially be available at The Longmont Yarn Shoppe, in Longmont, Colorado, and later at www.SunValleyFibers.com.

For every gradient pack of The Longest Day sold, $10 will be donated to Alzheimer’s.

 

 

Emma’s Yarn, based at Four Purls Yarn Shop in Winter Haven, Florida, has dyed a special Hella Hank (80% superwash merino, 20% nylon; 600 yards). The color, called Bright Spot, is a reminder to look for the positive in any unfortunate situation.

For every skein of Bright Spot sold, $5 will be donated to Alzheimer’s.

 

 

The Bazaar Girls Yarn Shop and Fibre Emporium in Port Townsend, Washington, is offering three yarn choices.
They will donate 10% of proceeds of each skein of the following yarns sold to Alzheimer’s if you mention the Fading Memories shawl.

Elemental Affects Civility (70% US merino, 30% mulberry silk; about 600 yards) in the special Fading Memories colorway.

Available at The Bazaar Girls Yarn Emporium in Port Townsend, Washington.

 

Colinton Lace Blends (80% unbrushed mohair, 20% silk; 250 yards) in the Slate Variegated colorway.

You will need two to three skeins for the Fading Memories shawl shown above.

Colinton Lace Blends are only available at The Bazaar Girls Yarn Emporium in Port Townsend, Washington.

 

 

Jorstad Creek has a three-skein set (600 yards total) of Ursa Minor fingering weight (75% superwash merino, 15% nylon, 10% silver stellina): 1 skein each of Silver, Lavendar, and Sapphire. The kit colorway is called Stardust Memories.

Available at The Bazaar Girls Yarn Emporium in Port Townsend, Washington.

 

On June 20 (the longest day of this year), I’ll knit another version of my Fading Memories shawl and track my hourly progress through Instagram posts. Follow me at annbuddknits. Better yet, join me in the knit-a-long and support these yarn shops and indie dyers while donating to a great cause!

Either way, please visit my fundraising page and make a donation. You don’t have to wait until June to give — funds are welcome right now.

Thank you.

April 21, 2020 4:09 AM · in Children, Sweaters | Comments

Son of a Goat Herder

In response to the popularity of my adult-sized Goat Herder and infant/toddler-sized Junior Goat Herder pullovers (both available on Ravelry), I’ve reworked the design in sportweight yarn for in-between sizes of 3 to 12 years and named it Son of a Goat Herder.

Like it’s siblings, wide ribs in the lower body give way to a chevron pattern worked with twisted stitches—no cable needle is necessary! The body is worked in rounds from the hem to the armholes, then the back and front are worked separately in rows to the shoulders. Stitches are picked up around the armholes, the sleeve caps are shaped with short-rows, then the rest of the sleeves are worked in rounds down to the cuffs. There are no seams to sew.

Finished Size: About 231/4 (28, 32, 36)” (59 [71, 81.5, 91.5] cm) chest circumference. To fit approximate sizes 3 (5, 8, 12) years. Sweater shown measures 28” (71 cm).

Yarn: Sportweight (#2 Fine). Shown here: Elemental Affects Cormo Sport (100% wool; 400 yards [365 meters]/4 ounces [112 g]: #31 Limoncello, 2 (2, 3, 4) skeins.

Needles: Size U.S. 5 (3.75 mm): 24” (60 cm) circular (cir) and set of 4 double-pointed (dpn). You may substitute the magic-loop method using a single circular needle for the double-pointed needles.

Notions: Markers (m); removable markers; small amount of waste yarn for marking sleeve caps; tapestry needle; stitch holder (optional).

Gauge: 24 sts and 36 rows/rnds = 4” (10 cm) in St st, after blocking.

Use the code GOAT to receive 20% off any (or all) of the Goat Herder family (Goat Herder Pullover, Junior Goat Herder Pullover, and Son of a Goat Herder) between now and midnight Sunday, April 26.

Below left to right: Goat Herder Pullover, Junior Goat Herder Pullover

March 24, 2020 5:28 AM · in Patterns, yarn stash | Comments

Yarn Support

Dear friends,

I do hope you and yours are safe and well. The corona virus epidemic has certainly changed life as we know it.

The practice of social distancing has its challenges, but I’m keeping up with friends and family through video conferencing (in-person meetings may become obsolete!). I’m entertaining myself by learning to cook with what’s on hand, binge watching PBS shows, and, of course, knitting.

Sadly, social distancing has caused a lot of small businesses to suffer reduced sales. Most of those in the fiber industry, who don’t have much of a cushion to begin with, are truly struggling. To encourage yarn purchases, I’m discounting all of my independent patterns (those published through Ann Budd Knits) in my Ravelry store through midnight Friday, March 30. Use the one-time code KNIT! to receive 50% off the regular price of these patterns.

Stay healthy and knit happy!

 

 

 

 

March 17, 2020 4:28 AM · in Books, Raffle | Comments

Book Winner(s)!

Thank you all for jumping in the raffle for one of my books. It’s especially nice for me to see so many comments on a blog post!

The winner is Roxanne Smart, who wrote: “Scarf Style 2 would be a delight for me to own. Why? 1. Because I don’t have it. 2. Because an old lady never has too many scarves. 3. Even if an old knitting lady has too many scarves they make wonderful gifts for others.”

After drawing Roxanne’s name, I was feeling generous and drew a second winner.

The second winner is Karen Berger, who wrote: “I would be very happy to win a copy of Simple Style. Thanks for the raffle!”

Congratulations Roxanne and Karen. Please reply to me at annbudd@annbuddknits.com to give me your mailing addresses.

March 10, 2020 5:54 AM · in Books | Comments

Raffle Time!

It’s raffle time again!

In appreciation for the joys I get from knitting and helping people knit, I’d like to give away one of my books.

Tell me which title you’d like to win and why, and I’ll enter your name in a drawing for a free copy. You can find all of my titles on at annbuddknits.com — click on books.

The winner will be announced Tuesday, March 17.

 

 

March 3, 2020 5:03 AM · in Patterns, Sweaters | Comments

Port Townsend Swing Pullover

I’m quite thrilled to announce my latest design, Port Townsend Swing Pullover, which debuts just in time for the Bazaar Girls Getaway Retreat 2020 in Port Townsend, Washington.

This pullover version of my top-down Port Townsend Swing Cardigan features a V-neck, long set-in sleeves, folded hems, and an A-line silhouette achieved through mirrored increases worked along the center back.

The yarn, Colinton Australia Lace Blends, is a luxurious blend of 80% fine mohair and 20% silk that is hand-dyed in Australia and exclusively distributed in the U.S. by The Bazaar Girls Yarn Emporium in Port Townsend, Washington.

I’ve included nine sizes in the pattern: 34 (37 1/2, 41, 44 1/2, 48) (50 3/4, 54 1/2, 57 3/4, 60 3/4)” or (86.5 [95, 104, 113, 122] [129, 138.5, 146.5, 154.5] cm) bust circumferences, which require 6 (6, 6, 7, 7) (8, 9, 9, 10) skeins of yarn.

The gauge is 23 stitches and 36 rows to 4″ (10 cm) on size U.S. 4 (3.5 mm) needles.

You can get 20% off the purchase price of Port Townsend Swing Pullover by using the code SWING! by midnight Mountain Standard Time Saturday, March 7, 2020.

February 25, 2020 10:16 AM · in Charity | Comments

Looking Forward to the Longest Day

As more of my friends and family become victim to Alzheimer’s disease, I find myself more passionate about the fight against it. That’s why I’ve registered to take part on The Longest Day this June 20th to raise awareness (and hopefully a whole lot of funds) for the Alzheimer’s Association.

The Longest Day is the day with the most light — the summer solstice. And it’s the day the Alzheimer’s Association calls on everyone to fight Alzheimer’s disease by raising funds and awareness for care, support, and research. For my part I’ll knit from sunrise (somewhere around 6:00am) to sunset (somewhere around 9:00pm). I’ll track my progress in hourly Instagram (annbuddknits) posts.

By supporting me as I knit on The Longest Day, we can stand up to the darkness of Alzheimer’s.

Can I count on you to help by making a donation?

Please visit my fundraising page and give today. Thank you!

Sincerely,
Ann
February 18, 2020 5:42 AM · in Charity, Home | Comments

An Inspiring Book

I’ve been in a bit of a nesting/cleaning mode the past few weeks.

So far, I’ve gone through 80% of the closets, drawers, and cabinets in my house (excluding my yarn stash) and have donated boxes and bags of excess clothing and household items to charity. Honestly, I believe the gust of wind you might have felt was my house exhaling a huge sigh of relief.

I bragged to my knitting group about my progress and one knitter nodded her head and said, “Oh, yes. Swedish death cleaning.” I had never heard of such of thing (my roots are Norwegian, not Swedish) and thought she was kidding.

She has since loaned me a fascinating book written in 2018 by a woman “somewhere between eighty and one hundred years old” who has death cleaned for so many others that she’s “dammed if someone else [will have] to death clean after [her].” Having cleaned out my parents’ house, I completely agree with her. With the exception of my precious yarn stash, which my family knows to distribute among my knitting friends, I don’t want my husband, kids, or siblings to have to deal with what they will see only as clutter.

Perhaps I’m procrastinating on “more important” work that has to be done at my desk, but I now feel the need to revisit all those closets, drawers, and cabinets for a second sweep!