Early Bird Pricing Extended for Vogue Knitting Live

Because of the storm called Hurricane Sandy and the spirit of the season overtaking them, the good people who put on Vogue Knitting Live have decided to extend their early bird pricing structure through Dec. 4.

This event takes place Jan 18-20 (that’s 2013, y’all) at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square in New York City.

As usual, it will bring together lots of industry professionals to teach, talk, share ideas and show off the latest in knit fashions. This time around there will be more than 200 classes (!) with 80 new offerings at this installment. Another cool option at this event is the Gala Dinner and Design Awards, which will feature Karen Allen as the keynote speaker. You may know her better as an actress (most notably in the Indiana Jones movies) but she’s owned a knitwear design studio in Massachusetts since 2004.

Early bird pricing allows registrants to save up to $400, depending on the number of classes and events you choose.

I don’t often share knitting patterns for pets, mostly because I don’t think of it. I don’t have a dog, and I’ve never knit for my cats except a knit couch and a little cat bed I made on a knitting machine, both of which were pretty much ignored.

I have shared some pet bed knitting patterns, and both hats and sweaters for dogs.

But I don’t think I’ve shared a pattern for a cat sweater, until now.

This one is the Bunny sweater by Sarah Zhou, so named because her cat is named Bunny, of course.

It’s a made to measure pattern because cats come in all shapes and sizes, and you can also use any yarn you like and whatever gauge you are getting with that yarn.

The design is knit from the bottom up, that is, from the tail side up toward the head. Pairs of decreases shape the body as you work toward the armholes, which are made by binding off a few stitches. Then the belly and the back are worked flat, then joined and worked in the round for the chest part.

There are some design options in the pattern, from the look of the photos they include using a contrasting color for the edging, working a scalloped edging, maybe a foldover collar? But of course you can add your own embellishments, stripes, make it in team colors or for a Halloween costume. I’m sure they’re quick to knit so you can make a bunch if you have a cat who is willing to submit to such torture.

Bunny looks like a very good and mostly tolerant girl; I don’t think either of my cats would be willing to wear a sweater. But if you make one (the pattern is available on Ravelry) and successfully get your cat to wear it I would love to hear about it!

[Photo: Sarah Zhou]

Have you read?