Patterns

Knit with me on The Longest Day!

May 29, 2021 / Charity, Patterns, Socks / Leave a Comment

Please join me on The Longest Day (Sunday, June 20) as I knit to raise awareness (and hopefully a whole lot of funds) for the Alzheimer’s Association. Each year the Alzheimer’s Association challenges individuals to help fight the disease by raising funds and awareness for care, support, and research on the day with the most light.

For my part, I’ll knit from sunrise (somewhere around 5:00 am) to sunset (somewhere around 9:00 pm) Mountain Standard Time on a pair of socks I designed specifically for this event.

The cable-and-eyelet pattern in my Fading Memories Socks represents the twists and turns in the memories of those afflicted with Alzheimer’s, in a gradient colorway inspired by The Longest Day logo.
For every Fading Memories Socks pattern sold, I will donate $5 to Alzheimer’s research.

The yarn I used is Fading Shadows gradient kit of 5 mini skeins specially dyed by Greenwood Fiberworks. 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 gradient kits are available through Longmont Yarn Shoppe of Longmont, Colorado.

For every gradient pack of Fading Shadows sold, Longmont Yarn Shoppe will donate $10 to Alzheimer’s.

On Sunday, June 20 (the longest day of 2021), I’ll knit another version of Fading Memories Socks and post my progress in hourly (or somewhat hourly) Instagram posts.

Because it’s better to knit together, some of my favorite yarn shops have joined in the fun. In addition to donating a percentage of their sales to Alzheimer’s, they will host free Zoom knit-a-longs (I’ll be there), complete with prizes and special offers. Contact the shops directly to register. Those who join all four knit-a-longs will have a chance for special awards.

Four Purls of Winter Haven, Florida: 10:00 to 11:00 am Eastern Time (9:00 to 10:00 am Central Time, 8:00 to 9:00 am Mountain Time; 7:00 to 8:00 am Pacific Time)

River City Yarns of Edmonton, Alberta: 12:00 to 1:00 pm Mountain Time (2:00 to 3:00 pm Eastern time, 1:00 to 2:00 pm Central Time, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Pacific Time)

Bazaar Girls Yarn Shop of Port Townsend, Washington: 1:00 to 2:00 pm Pacific Time (4:00 to 5:00 pm Eastern Time, 3:00 to 4:00 pm Central Time, 2:00 to 3:00 pm Mountain Time)

Longmont Yarn Shoppe of Longmont, Colorado: 4:00 to 5:00 pm Mountain Time (6:00 to 7:00 pm Eastern Time, 5:00 to 6:00 pm Central Time, 3:00 to 4:00 pm Pacific Time)

Follow me on Instagram at annbuddknits. Better yet, join me in the knit-a-longs and support a great cause!
Either way, please visit my  fundraiser page and make a donation.

Thank you.

 

A KAL in Support of Alzheimer’s Research

May 27, 2020 / Accessories, Charity, crescent shawl, healing, Patterns, Shawls / 1 Comment

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.

Yarn Support

March 23, 2020 / Patterns, yarn stash / 2 Comments

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!

 

 

 

 

Port Townsend Swing Pullover

March 3, 2020 / Patterns, Sweaters / 5 Comments

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.

A Year of Patterns

November 24, 2019 / Accessories, Baby, blanket, Cowls, Patterns, Sweaters / 2 Comments

I’m not one to make New Year’s Resolutions (too much pressure), but I do find myself reflecting on my accomplishments at the end of each year. I posted nine (9!) projects on website and I’d like to celebrate that with you.

From now until midnight Sunday, January 5, you can receive 30% off the Ravelry purchase price of all of my 2019 patterns. Use the code 9in2019 when you check out with any (or all) of the following patterns.

1.Aubrey Cardigan                       2.Beach Cusps Cowl                       3.Dalton Cardigan

 

4.Florentine Filigree Cowl     5.Junior Goat Herder Pullover       6.La Jolla Shores Cowl

 

7.Mont Tremblant Cowl       8.Port Townsend Swing Cardi           9.Walker Baby Blanket

Twelve Days of Fun

November 24, 2019 / Gloves and Mittens, Home, Patterns / 4 Comments

As an ongoing project throughout the year, I knitted all 12 mini mittens in Kathy Lewinski’s 12 Days of Christmas Mitten Garland as a gift for an unsuspecting friend. The mittens are quite addictive and I found them hard to put down for other obligations. I’m planning to attach the mittens to a long I-cord to form a garland.  However, if I don’t get to it, they’ll be adorable as separate ornaments.

You can purchase the pattern for all 12 designs in the 12 Days of Christmas Mitten Garland on Ravelry for $5.00, which includes the written pattern and 26 charts (a mirrored version and numbered version for each of the twelve days, plus an alternative picture for day seven). You can also download the patterns separately for free, though I think the $5 price is a steal for all the clever charts!

The mittens are worked with fingering weight yarn on size U.S. 1 (2.25 mm) double-pointed needles. Each mitten measures about 4.5” tall and 2.25” wide (not including thumb). I purchased one 400 yd skein each of three colors for the mittens shown here and I’m fairly certain that there’s enough yarn left to knit another set. That one will be for ME!

Port Townsend Swing Cardi

December 4, 2019 / Patterns, Sweaters, The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns / 3 Comments

I’ve uploaded the Port Townsend Swing Cardi on Ravelry. This lightweight cardigan features a crewneck, three-quarter-length set-in sleeves, folded hems, and an A-line silhouette. It’s an ideal layer that spans multiple seasons. The swing shape is achieved by mirrored increases worked along most of the center back.

The sweater is worked from the top down following the general template for set-in sleeve construction in The Knitter’s Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters.

The brushed 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.

The pattern is provided in nine sizes ranging from 34″ (86.5 cm) to 60 3/4″ (154.5 cm) bust circumference.

Use the code SWING to receive 20% off Port Townsend Swing Cardi by midnight Saturday, December 7.

 

Advent Fun

October 23, 2019 / Accessories, Notions, Patterns, Toys / 1 Comment

My friends at River City Yarns in Edmonton, Canada, have put together another Advent Box for 2019. The box contains 24 individually wrapped gifts, marked with a do-not-open-before date. Each day of December you get to open a package to reveal a skein of River City exclusive yarn, a special pattern or project kit, a tasty treat, or an indispensable tool. Every year River City Yarns creates a new set of treats: so far, there are no repeats. The photo here shows a variety of knitted trees, just one of the gifts from a previous Advent Box. I can’t tell you how delighted I was last year to discover one treat included a skein of yarn and the pattern for my Peaks and Ridges Cowl. This year I’ve designed something new that will remain a secret until its designated date.

If you don’t live in the Edmonton area, you can order your box online at rivercityyarns.myshopify.com/products/rcyadventbox2019. The quantities are limited, so don’t wait. The boxes will begin shipping October 27; in-store pick-up begins November 9.

Junior Goat Herder Pullover

September 12, 2019 / Baby, Children, Patterns, Sweaters / Leave a Comment

In response to the popularity of my adult-sized Goat Herder Pullover, I’ve reworked the design in fingering weight yarn for baby and toddler sizes, and named it Junior Goat Herder Pullover.

Like the adult version, the body is worked in rounds from the hem to the armholes where wide ribs give way to a chevron pattern worked with twisted stitches (no cable needle necessary!). The upper 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!

The pattern is written for four sizes: About 17 1/2 (21, 24, 27)” (44.5 [53.5, 61, 68.5] cm) chest circumference to fit 3-6 (6-9, 9-12, 12-24) months.

I used Emma’s Yarns Practically Perfect Sock yarn (80% superwash Merino, 20% nylon; 400 yards (365 meters)/100 g) in the color Beach Please on size U.S. 2 (2.75 mm) needles at a gauge of 8 stitches and 10.5 rows/rounds per inch.

Use the code JUNIOR to receive 20% off the purchase price of the Junior Goat Herder Pullover on Ravelry through midnight Tuesday, September 17.

A New Cowl Pattern

August 26, 2019 / Accessories, Cowls, Patterns / Leave a Comment

Designed for my Fall 2019 Knit For Fun Retreat in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada, The Mont Tremblant Cowl features cables and directional decreases in a diagonal pattern that makes me think of ski and snowboard trails in the snow.

The relatively simple pattern repeats over18 stitches and 6 rounds. The yarn, a delightful DK-weight blend of 90% superwash merino and 10% silk was specially dyed by Canadian dyer Julie Asselin in a colorway inspired by the blue water of Lac Tremblant and named Knit For Fun.

Both charted and written instructions are provided.

Use the code TREMBLANT to receive 20% off the Ravelry purchase price of Mont Tremblant Cowl between now and midnight Mountain Standard Time on Friday, August 30, 2019.

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