Before I start a new contest, I wanted to announce the winners from the April Blog Contest (where I asked you about the weirdest thing you have ever cooked with or eaten.) Some of you have eaten some rather disgusting interesting things. YUCK. Wow! I used the random generator to pick 3 winners, and will be sending skeins of Femme Fatale (the color that Claudia dyed up for the Spring Fling) to Betty in Calgary, Marji in NY, and Catrina in NC. Congratulations to all three of you! I have a few extra skeins of this colorway, so you’ll have another chance to win it in our May blog contest as well. 🙂
Speaking of the Fling, when people first arrive and check in, we give them each a Goodie Bag, filled with fun things. Since I’m such a bag and mug kind of person, I have fun picking these out especially for the Fling each year. And then filling them! Here is a photo of this year’s bag and contents. (I was a little into Apple Green this spring – can you tell? It’s such a happy color. I got our new travel mugs in that color as well.) I liked this bag so much that I may order them to sell here (only it won’t say Spring Fling). I liked the mugs a lot, too, but since we have a hard time shipping mugs because of breakage, I probably won’t have those for sale online. But I do have some filled Goodie Bags to give away, and I thought a blog contest would be the way to go. Included: the cute bag (it has an over-the-shoulder strap, pockets under the flap, and water bottle holder), 1 skein of Wollmeise’s Femme Fatale, the Loopy mug, two patterns, a Little Loopy, a post-it holder, a Spring Fling stitchmarker, and a mini skein of Baby Boom. Retail value is $65. We’ll use the random generator to pick the winners from the comments section and I’ll pick a winner for every 200 or so entries. My question for you to answer in the comments is: Who is your favorite knitwear designer? (It’s ok to say “I don’t have one”. I want everyone to be eligible to get in on this contest. But if you do have one, tell us!)
Have you joined our groups on Facebook and Twitter? We just finished up one of our 24 Quick Quizzes over there. I think I need to start doing those on our Ravelry group every once in awhile, too. We love connecting with you in other places, if you have time for those things in your life. (They can take time away from knitting, though. Ask me how I know….)
I‘m heading off to MDSW this weekend and hope to see some of you there! I never did come up with a good meeting place or time for Loopy Groupies. Instead, I’m just going to carry this big red bag, because it’s the ideal lightweight shopping bag, and I do intend to fill it up with purchases. If you see me walking by, grab me and say hi! I’ll be back to blogging on Monday with pictures of SHEEP. I love all of those sheep.
Sheri whowouldbringafewlambshomeiftherewasanywaytodoit
I don’t really have a favorite knit ware designer. I do like Cookie A and Wendy’s sock patterns though.
I love Elsbeth Lavold
My favorite designer is always changing, but Ysolda Teague is always right up there.
I’ve fallen hard into socks, and I love Cookie A! The designs she comes up with are unbelievable.
I love Sandra Backlund ( although her designs are not available and would be daunting to knit and nearly impossible to wear) Connie Chang Chinchio and Ysolda Teague are my top two, cute, smart, well written and very wearable.
I really like two young Scottish designers Ysolda Teague and Kate Davies, and also from the US Anne Hanson.
I like all designers. Each one is unique in their own way.
Just one? Loving Jared Flood these days. then there’s Veronik Avery. And Kristin Nicholas and… 🙂
I love Elsebeth Lavold’s cables and laces. I also love Wendy’s socks.
Cookie A!
OOOOH I LOVE SHEEPY SHEEP – have a great time!
I don’t have a favorite knitwear designer YET but of course I enjoy the pictures of completed projects on your site very much. I belong to a Caring Stitches ministry at my church in northern NJ and the ladies in my group are pretty talented. They’ve been teaching me since last January so I consider myself rather fortunate to have such great mentors.
Keep up the great work, I love your site. : )
~ Christienne
I love Wendy Johnson’s patterns. And there are a lot of others that I enjoy too. I hope to run into you at MDSW! I am planning to be there on Saturday and will look for you.
cookie a and Kate Gilbert
I love all of spillyjane’s fun colorwork & helloyarn mittens are the best.
Hm, I love Cookie A, Ysolda Teague, SpillyJane has awesome colorwork patterns, and I really love Rebecca Danger’s toy patterns.
Wendy Johnson – her patterns are so reliable.
Jared Flood? Ysolda Teague? Elizabeth Zimmerman?
Do I really have to pick just one?
I would have to say my favorite is Wendy Johnson. I love her socks so much! I wear a size 9 1/2 or 10 and it’s so nice that she has larger sizes.
It’s so hard to pick just one…. I love WendyKnits, cosmicpluto, Ysolda Teague, Hannah Fettig…..
Wendy Johnson
Elizabeth Zimmerman, Wendy Johnson, and the Master Knitters of Estonian Haapsalu shawls (presented in various books). All have given me tools to make my own designs. There’s a lot of freedom that comes with that.
Thank you for the chance.
Wow! Over 700 comments! I have to say Anne Hanson would be my favorite designer. I’ve made a few of her things and her patterns are wonderful. 🙂 Many more on the list!
Elizabeth Zimmerman; I love her inventive and elegant designs.
Anne Hanson is my favorite designer. I love her shawl patterns most of all and have knit many of them.
It’s a tie between Cookie A and Ysolda Teague for me. Love them both!
I’d have to say Anne Hanson and Ysolda Teague – oh, and Jared Flood. Oh – and there’s this great new Wooly Wormhead book…….how CAN we choose 😉
My favourite is Anne Hanson, at the moment.
Jared Flood!!!! I’m knitting his “Girasole”…..
Anne Hanson!! Beautiful patterns, and very well written. Plus she’s such a nice person to chat with!
Janel Laidman is my favorite right now. I have long been in love with the Eclectic Sole and now I am so infatuated with her designs in the Enchanted Sole. I don’t know if I will ever be able to make all her socks, but I really plan to try!
Right this second, its Ysolda, but that will probably change in no time – I am so fickle
For socks, Wendy Johnson, with Cookie A a close 2nd only because I prefer toe-up. For non-socks, lately I find myself queuing almost everything that Heidi Kirrmaier has designed. That bag is fabulous! I had finally gotten over my not-getting-into-Fling-malaise, but now I’m sad again.
I would have to say Nancy Bush! Her sock patterns are always amazing!!
I’ve really been into Ysolda Teague’s patterns right now! I’m kind of obsessed with Liesl.
LOVEING TO KNIT SOCKS LIKE I DO,IT HAS T0 BE WENDY KNITS, COOKIE.A, CAT BORDHI, NANCY BUSH ALL ARE FAVORITE’S AND WONDERFUL. ALSO, I LOVE ALANA DAKOS FROM THE “NEVER NOT KNITTING” PODCAST. HER DESIGNS ARE WONDERFUL & FRESH.
The only thing I can knit is socks, so my favorite is Wendy Johnson. I have her “Butterfly Socks” on the needles right now.
Cookie A and Wendy Johnson (socks).
Jared Flood – This is just three but there is alot more.
This is a hard question. My all time favorite is Elizabeth Zimmerman. Recently I have knit a couple of Ysolda Teague’s little shawlette patterns. Jared Flood for hats. Ann Budd for many inspirations. Betsy McCarthy and Cookie A for socks. Wendy Johnson for toe up socks. Sharon Miller for lace. Those Mason Dixon ladies. Mariaanne Isager, Ruth Sorensen. The list could go on and on. Often my favorite designer is the one who’s pattern I am knitting at the moment (which could even be me).
Elizabeth Zimmerman
Solveig Gustafsson
OH, I have so many. My favorite favorite is probably Kaffe Fassett, because his sense of color is just incredible.
I don’t really have a favorite…But If I had to put one down it would be Laura Chau.
It depends what I am knitting … Jared Flood for a bunch of stuff, Cookie A for socks, Ysolda for…OK, I guess I don’t have a favorite!
Wow, this is such a challenging question…I admire so many. But I have to say that I am a huge fan of a young designer who has been churning out a slew of creative and stylish designs. Her name is Emily Johnson and I urge everyone to check out her web site, http://www.familytrunkproject.com . She is emilystarr on Ravelry, check out her projects page…just beautiful stuff!!
Wendy Johnson – she got me hooked on socks. For non-socks, anyone goes.
I LOVE yarnissima! Her brainless sock pattern was the first toe up sock pattern that really fit, I’m a convert 🙂
Wendy Johnson!
Today,Jared Flood is my fave.
Wendy Johnson
Hmm so many Anne Hanson is my current fave!
It’s so hard to pick one! But I’d have to go with Ysolda Teague.