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Stitches Giveaway for Fiber Arts Fans

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stitches east contestSpeaking of giveaways, here’s another chance to win a really great prize. Do you know about the Fiber Arts & Mixed Media community? It’s a place for fiber artists to share pictures, posts, news and other information, and they regularly have great contests going on as well.

Right now members of the site can win a $595 gift certificate to a future Stitches show, which includes admission to the fashion show, banquet, classes and more. The certificate is good through 2015, so you’ll have plenty of time to decide which conference you want to attend (travel and accommodations are at the winner’s expense).

All you have to do to be eligible to win is to join the community, check out the classes being offered next month at Stitches East and leave a comment about which one you’d most like to attend. (Mine would probably be Swatching for Success, because Deborah Newton is my hero and her swatches are amazing.) You can get extra entries by liking the group on Facebook or sharing information about the contest.

The winner will be chosen Sept. 25. via random drawing. What fun!

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Comments

  1. I have always wanted to learn felting so I’d pick Go Felt a Fish. It sounds interesting even though I can’t see any of the pictures of the classes. They start to load then quickly turn to a red x.

Have you read?

Summer Headband Knitting Patterns

Some knitters have trouble coming up with projects they can both knit and wear when it’s warm outside. Especially if you’re not ready for garments (thought tank tops and summer tops are great first garment projects!) it might seem like there’s nothing to do when it’s hot outside.

One way to remedy this situation is by knitting headbands. Headbands are great any time of year to keep hair out of your face and make you look a little more pulled together without any effort. Wider headbands double as ear warmers when it gets colder, but skinnier ones are great throughout the year.

A couple of great examples are from designer Elly Donner, who has a set of headband knitting patterns on Ravelry you can buy individually or as an ebook. Homebody, shown here, is worked in garter stitch (the ties are crocheted but you could also use I-cord), while Slipstream uses slipped stitches and garter ridges, and Sounds of Spring has little cables. The patterns use DK weight yarn and are a great way to use a little leftover yarn from another project.

I also recently came across the lovely Plush Braided Headband by Yevgeniya Li. A free pattern on Ravelry, this wider design is covered in lush cables for a sleek and fancy look. It uses worsted weight yarn and you can customize the length for a perfect fit.

Celeste Knitwear’s Spikelet is a simple twisted headband with columns of eyelet lace to keep it from being too heavy. It’s worked flat and sewn together to make the twist, and uses DK weight yarn. It has three sizes available.

This skinny lace headband from Lusi Knits is another cute choice. It calls for fine weight cotton yarn, but you could use heavier yarn if you have it on hand to make a wider headband (or use any fine yarn you have available). It uses ties to customize the fit.

And if you want to go super basic but still really cute, try the easy ring headband from Lulu Pattern. The sample is knit pretty wide, but you could make a narrower version if you want, and the little ring turns it from a plain loop into a bow with very little extra work. It calls for worsted weight yarn but you could also use whatever weight you like for this one to change up the look and size.