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
Based on patterns I have purchased, my favorites are Susan Lawrence, Miriam Felton and Wendy Johnson (individual patterns and all three books). I also have admired Anne Hanson’s patterns and join mystery knits by Renee Leverington, (Goddess Knits) Birgit Freyer, Monika Eckert, (klabauter) Anna Dalvi, (knitandknag) and Melanie Gibbons (Pink Lemon). I am signed up for four mystery’s simultaneously right now. I also have a very long queue on Ravelry of patterns that have struck my fancy as I come across them and am afraid I will forget them. So many designers, so little time.
Evelyn Clark makes shawls so much fun!
There are so many great designers out there, but the one I keep coming back to, as her patterns just capture my imagination, is Anne Hanson.
Not only are her patterns gorgeous, she is very friendly and helpful.
Wallisknits (http://www.ravelry.com/designers/linda-johnson). She’s a friend too.
I love so many designers, it’s hard to choose just one.
I have probably knit more Cookie A designs that any single designer so I guess she is probably my favorite.
Anne Hanson for lace, Cookie A. for socks…Since I don’t knit a lot of sweaters…Maybe Ysolda Teague for her Little Birds sweater.
Right now I’m really drawn to Ysolda Teague patterns. I just finished her Vine Yoke Cardigan pattern (so fun to knit!), which I’m wearing today.
I don’t really have one.
Cookie A, because I love her intricate sock patterns. Also love Debbie Bliss’s baby designs, because I’m always amazed at how beautifully they turn out.
I don’t have just one, but tops on the list are Anne Hanson, Wendyknits, Kate Gilbert,
and of course, E. Zimmerman!!
I’m a fan of Ysolda Teague~~ I think her designs are clever: wearable and knitable!
Wendy Johnson for socks….Bonne Marie from Chicknits for sweaters and Jared Flood for lots of other stuff! And,,,Loopy Ewe for YARN!
Oh, I don’t think that I could just pick one – there are so many wonderful designers!
Cookie A socks, and then what ever tickles my fancy.
wow – so hard to pick just one!
There are so many, but I’m really in to the Cookie A socks at the moment – looks like I’m not alone!
I like Ann Hanson’s shawl patterns, and she is a nice person too. When you comment on her blog, she acknowledges it with a return message.
I have two favorites (because I can’t pick just one) Veronik Avery and Isolde Teague 🙂
I would have to say Anne Hanson – her designs are challenging enough to not be boring but not overwhelming in detail. Second would have to be Jared Flood – especially those Girasole and Hemlock Ring blankets.
Don’t have one
Don’t have a favorite designer, but love to use Knitting Pure & Simple patterns.
My favorite designer is the one who has designed my next, OMG! I gotta knit that!” wip!
I am a new knitter and have not progressed far enough to know about designers. It seems very complicated so I don’t have one.
My all time favorite is Anne Hanson. I haven’t met a design of hers I didn’t like. Chrissy Gardiner, Jared Flood and Kate Gilbert are tied for second place. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Nearly a thousand comments!! Amazing. I have to say that just based on the number of her patterns I have done ( and they are all beautiful), my favorite has to be Mim Felton.
The yarn harlot has a nice snow drop shawl
It’s a toss up between Anne Hanson and CookieA.
Tough to choose, but I really like Connie Chang Chinchio, Andrienne Fong, and my favorite, Chrissy Gardiner. But so many great choices are listed already!
Jared Flood.
Hmm… favorite knitwear designer? Not sure I have just one. I’d have to say either Nancy Bush or Cookie A.
And I hope to see you tomorrow at MDSW! I’ll be he one with the stroller – yes, I’m going to take the seven month old girl with me. Gotta start her out early! 😀
I don’t have one favorite but one of my favorites for sweaters is Connie Changchinchio, socks by Cookiea, and shawls and accessories by Ann Hanson and others. I never win these lotteries but I thought I would just throw those names in.
Anne Hanson, for one. I’m usually drawn to Connie Chang Chincio’s work. Jane Ellison… There are so many amazing designers around.
Ilga Leja
Hmmmmmm… Judging by my Ravelry projects, it would have to be Cookie A (the many Monkeys I’ve knit definitely skew it in her favor!). I also love Ysolda, Janel Laidman and many, many more!
Anne Hanson with Jared Flood as a very close second.
Ysolda Teague is my favorite designer at the moment, with Debbie Bliss coming in second. Thanks for the chance to win, tho’ wow! there are already over 900 comments!
Seems that my last 6 or so projects have been Barbara Walker inspired!
Ps it’s really hard to scroll through 900 comments on an iPod! But got to love technology when it’s all you’ve got.
This is so hard to answer, but I seem to be drawn to a lot of patterns by Cirilia Rose. And even though I haven’t knit any of his patterns YET, I love Jared Flood’s designs.
I love Debbie Blisses patterns. She came to our tiny local yarn shop here in Limerick Ireland and it was lovely to meet her! I have made one of her complicated celtic inspired cable sweaters and it turned out great! For socks, I like Cookie As patterns!
Ann Hanson is definitely my favorite. I love Wendy Johnson too.
Wendy Johnson has great patterns!
Hard to say. There are so many great designers!
Cat Bordhi is my favourite, if I had to choose just one. There are so many great designers, it’s like choosing my favourite child.
Cat is not only clever and imaginative, she is also a fabulous teacher.
I’d say that Anne Hanson is my favorite designer – she does everything! Socks, sweaters, mitts, scarves. shawls, hats – for men and women. So well rounded!
I don’t have a favorite! There are SO many I like!
My favorite designer is Nancy Bush, because I’m obsessed with all the Estonian designs!
Jeri Riggs!!!!! She’s terrific and she’s just started publishing her patterns on Ravelry. I love her long time!
It’s currently a tie between Sivia Harding and Anne Hanson. Love the lace, and beads make it better!
Cookie A for those stunning socks!