Hampton Cowl & Knitting Daily!

October 15, 2014

It's been a busy week here at TanisKnits. On Sunday I flew out to Ohio to film my third season of Knitting Daily TV with Vickie Howell! I've always enjoyed working on Knitting Daily TV as it gives you a chance to meet new designers, hang out with designers you admire, learn new things, see old friends and work on a big project together. My old segment, "Tools of the Trade" was switched up this year and became "Stitch Sampler," where I teach viewers interesting stitches. I love teaching and this gives me a chance to go beyond the classroom walls and right into your living room. Getting a chance to be Vickie's cohost (and I'm in every episode) is a wonderful thing. Here are a few highlights!

I also released a new pattern for autumn this week, the Hampton Cowl. Knit in Dragonfly Fiber's Super Traveler yarn with 1 hank of each color, this cowl is designed to be an ideal beginner Fair Isle pattern as well as a quick knit. I chose a variegated and a solid, but any colors would work! I always love the combination of corrugated ribbing and Fair Isle with a bulky yarn and it's so satisfying to knit because to goes so fast. My friend Louisa from Knitting Daily TV was kind enough to be my model and we ran out into the wilds of Ohio between takes of the show for our photo shoot.

Download the Hampton Cowl pattern here. Happy fall!

Work Space

October 10, 2014

I've been asked a lot about my work space lately, especially with the opening of my brand new Etsy shop. People assume I have this amazing, magical, grand-scale, sparkly studio all to myself. And it's true.

Except for the grand-scale part.

We live in a row house built in 1939 when people apparently were very short and didn't need closets. My "studio" is what my neighbor (since we all have the same layout) uses as her closet and I can pretty much stand in the middle and touch both walls with my arms outstretched. However, necessity is indeed the mother of invention and I make it work. The best part? I am able to have all my books readily available, Ikea makes tiny desks, I have a window and most importantly, a door I can close and walk away from if I need to. My sewing machine lives in our living room in the corner and that's the best place for it right now.

Welcome to my studio, fellow knitters! What does your space look like?

Coppelia Cowl

October 8, 2014

Like many young girls, I was convinced that I'd grow up and be a ballerina. I'd live a glamorous life by day, have the best posture, then dance away the evenings on stage in front of thousands.

That didn't happen.

I started ballet classes when I was 3, wore my first pointe shoes at 10 and our Christmas holidays revolved around my Boston Ballet Nutcracker schedule. Dancing was in my soul and I loved it. My ballet dreams died for good when I was 16 and had knee surgery, but I will always love the movement, the feeling conveyed with a simple flick of the leg, the sheer grace and beauty of it and the commitment of the dancers to their art and bodies.

I designed the Coppelia Cowl originally for the 40th anniversary of Webs. Delighted to be invited to be part of a fantastic group of designers, I knew I wanted to design a lace cowl that reminded me of my many years of ballet. This stunning lace pattern is for lace knitters ready to step their game up. Bringing to mind swirling tutus, pink satin ribbons and movement, it has no resting rows and is an exciting knit! Redesigned in a DK weight, the purple version is knit in Sweetgeorgia Merino Silk DK in Mist, with the pink version knit up in Madelinetosh Merino Light in Byzantine.

Named for my favorite ballet, Coppélia concerns an inventor, Dr Coppelius, who has made a life-size dancing doll. It is so lifelike that Franz, a village swain, becomes infatuated with it and sets aside his true heart's desire, Swanhilde. She shows him his folly by dressing as the doll, pretending to make it come to life and ultimately saving him from an untimely end at the hands of the inventor. It premiered on 25 May 1870 at the Théâtre Impérial l'Opéra, and is one of the most popular ballets of all time.

The Coppelia Cowl is now available to all. There's a little bit of dancer in all of us, so wear your cowl with a skip in your step!

Coppelia can be downloaded here.

Get Your Sheep On!

October 3, 2014

I saw this article accompanied by stunning sheep photos and can't stop looking at it! I wanted to share it with you, dear readers!

----------

25 Photos Of Sheep Blanketing The Earth Like Snow

by Lina D.

When you want to photograph clouds but there aren’t any in sight, we suggest trying to find your nearest herd of sheep. Flocks of these cute, fluffy and useful creatures can add an interesting element to landscape photos, but they’re also pretty enough on their own.

Sheep have earned a reputation as dumb and foolish animals because of their flocking instinct, but they are actually quite intelligent, performing as well or even better than monkeys and rodents in certain mental tasks. They exhibit facial recognition, long-term memory, a knack for quick learning, and some have even exhibited intelligent problem-solving capabilities. The best thing about sheep, however, is that, if you count enough of them, you’ll fall asleep ;)