New Year Ramblings and Good Wishes

I don't know about you but I am really ready to get back to normal life. I have a lot on my plate coming up over the next few months. My family and I did a pretty complete stop and relax for over two weeks. The Farmer cut back on his chores some and Julia and I had fun spending time together not doing much. It was fun to see family and friends including a trip to Boston but come New Year's Day, I was ready to send Julia on the school bus and work on some of my pending piles of work. That didn't happen as we had a big snowstorm that closed schools for 2 days and temperatures were 15 below zero. We made it through, stoking the wood furnace constantly. Today she left early on the school bus and I have been working on a list of what needs to get done. 

I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions. I'm a list maker but I often lose the list. Just the act of writing something down helps me to figure out what to do first, what is important, what goes to the end of the list. I've tried those computer program "to do lists" but they don't work for me. Wish they did. 

The other day during the snowstorm, we all headed down to Northampton to be interviewed at WRSI for the Local Hero Spotlight feature sponsored by CISA (Community Involved in Supporting Agriculture). Monte Belmonte, a smart and witty DJ who has a great interview style, interviewed us. The Farmer was dreading the interview. He was trying hard to get out of it - there wasn't a prayer Julia and I were going to let him get away with not going! It went well. Monte got some funny stories out of us. Here's a photo just before leaving. All that expensive equipment!

HERE'S THE LINK TO LISTEN. 

I brought Monte a lamb shank braised in tomatoes and herbs with polenta which he is holding in the photo. 

The studio is also the studio where Steve and Kathy from Webs tape their podcast. Speaking of Steve and Kathy - they are the new mama and papa to Teddy the Kitten. 

No more kitten photos until next summer. Miss the kitten energy for sure. What a sweet face.

Work on everyone! 2014 awaits. Let's make it a good one. I really appreciate all your support and wish you all the best for 2014.

Weekend Links including Cast-On Podcast!

Just wanted to let you know that Brenda Dayne's "audio postcard" from her visit to the farm here in May is now up on her Podcast site. I listened last night and she is such a master at weaving audio into a nice, succinct story. Go have a listen if you have time. There is a great giveaway too connected with it courtesy of the fine folks at Classic Elite Yarns. Here is the link to it. Thank you Brenda. What a nice visit we had together. Great memory for me.

My friend Louise Cady Fernandes writes a great blog called Lines of Beauty. Today's post is very nice.

The sunflowers here at our farmhouse are blooming like crazy. We didn't do the big field this year but I couldn't be without them. So many flowers, only so much room and time for picking bouquets.

Meet Gail Callahan, Genius behind the Color Grid and a Giveaway

I'm kicking off the Fall Knitting Season with a fun interview with Gail Callahan. Several years ago, when Julia was quite small, I was at the grocery store at the deli counter. I saw a woman looking at me so I figured she was a knitter. We struck up a conversation and it turned out she was The Kangaroo Dyer - Gail Callahan. Gail and I became friends through fiber and color. She wrote the successful Hand-Dyeing Yarn and Fleece a few years ago. While she was working on the book, she had to write about color and how to use it. Out of that project, she developed her "Color Grid." This past year, Gail launched her "Color Grid" as a stand alone tool for knitters, crocheters, stitchers, gardeners, artists...... anyone who is curious to learn more about using color, or perhaps fearful. 

The other day Gail and I got together for this interview and a little photo session. I hope you enjoy it. Here's the best part - three lucky readers/commentors will receive their very own Color Grid courtesy of Gail!

Gail Callahan with her Color Grid and luscious hand-dyed yarns

KN: Gail, tell us how you got involved in the yarn business. I know you are the colorful creator of the Webs line of hand-dyed yarn and your own Kangaroo Dyer lines. How did it all start?

GC: It sounds silly, but it was because I had to. I was working at Webs (yarn.com) and weaving blankets, using a lovely mohair, available only in natural. Barbara Elkins, the founder of Webs, suggested I try dyeing. My response was that I was afraid to dye. She told me I'd better learn because she wanted me to do a demonstration in the store! Two lessons learned; put yourself on a time line to learn something new, and to create what is not there in the market. I dyed my way through the Cushing dyes, all of the blues and greens, because I knew they would go together, started teaching classes, the name of the first class was "No Fear Dyeing" subtext; if you can cook a potato, you can dye yarn.

I never looked back, I started dyeing every natural yarn that came in the store. Of course, since I was a dyeing fool, I had no time to use it, so I gave it away. One day, Linda Burt, the Customer Service Manager, asked me if Kathy and Steve Elkins. the owners of Webs, had seen my work. She felt strongly that they should sell my products in the store. That's when the exclusive line was developed. Kathy and Steve have been just wonderful encouraging me and giving me carte blanche to work with their yarns.  The yarns are Valley Yarns by Gail Callahan the Kangaroo Dyer.

KN: Why did you develop your Color Grid?

GC: I didn't understand the color wheel. It just didn't work for me. I was writing my Hand-Dyeing Yarn and Fleece book for Storey Publishing and I had to write about using color. I decided that I had to find a way to explain color in a different way -- without the color wheel.  I figured if I didn't understand the color wheel and I have worked with color my whole life, there had to be others out there. 

KN: How did you do it?

GC: I'm a horizontal thinker. I think about shelves --- putting things on and taking things off. I dreamed up a shelf with buckets of paint dripping down. As the buckets dripped, the colors changed in value and then mixed together.

KN: Wow! That is something else. How is the Color Grid organized? 

GC: It is based on primary colors - red, yellow, and blue. Then secondary colors - orange, green, purple, and then tertiary colors. It shows the different shades from light to dark. But it is built out of boxes so every color and shade is shown, versus the standard color wheel which hides colors and values.

One of my Knit It Felt It Bags illustrating how I use color and how Gail's Color Grid will help you.

KN: Your Color Grid is developing quite the following. Clara Parkes wrote about it on her weekly Knitter's Review column. You have definitely tapped a market that no one else thought about. Congratulations! How do you use the Color Grid? 

GC: The Color Grid comes with a template which has 9 holes punched in it and a long slot. A knitter (or crafter of any type) lays the 9 holes over the family of colors they want their project to be. These colors are all related (or analogous). Then they look at the color that appears in the small slot. That is color they should choose to be the "spark." 

A swatch for one of my new designs again showing how to use The Color Grid

KN: Oh, I get it. The "spark" is what is known in color wheel terms as the "complementary" color. Very clever! Why do you think the Color Grid has taken off so quickly? 

GC: I think there are many people like me who just don't get the color wheel. They are color-phobic knitters. The Color Grid gives them a way to practice selecting and using color without the mystery and the dials of the colorwheel. There are so many people who are fearful of color. I work at Webs one day a week and I see it every day. People need help with selecting and combining colors. They aren't all like you Kristin, using color with wild abandon.

KN: Yes, I understand that - I see knitters all the time who just don't understand it. But once I explain it to them, they become less fearful. Gail, you have developed a product that can be carried around with them, to yarn stores, to fabric stores, to gardening centers that will help people become less fearful! That is awesome. Do you have any funny stories you can tell us? 
GC: I got a large order from a man who owned a tattoo parlor. He purchased the Color Grid for all his tattoo artists. It's nice that it crosses different kinds of arts, crafts, and hobbies and helps all kinds of people out. Color is universal after all. 

For gardeners too!

KN: If there is one part of this business that is your favorite, what would it be?

GC: I love seeing people build their confidence using and choosing color. It happens when I teach dyeing, but that is such a niche population. Now with the Color Grid, I see the lights shine in people's eyes when they figure out how to add a spark to their project. I cannot tell you have many people have said; "I finally get it!"

Thanks so much to Gail for taking time out of her busy dyeing day. You can buy the Color Grid directly from Gail here. Check out the beautiful silk yardage she dyes here (which just happens to have been featured in Elle Decor magazine here) and her gorgeous handknitting yarns here. You can also find Gail's work for sale at Webs where she is the "in-house hand-dyer." 

Contest is over. Thanks everyone for entering! I have contacted the winners and Gail will be sending the prizes.
To enter the Giveaway, leave a comment answering the following question:

What is your favorite color combination and why? 

Contest ends Sunday September 9th at 11:59 p.m. As always, please leave an easy way to get a hold of you - email or Rav id. Good luck everyone!

An Interview with Tanis Gray, Author of Capitol Knits and a Giveaway

Today I am really happy to have a special interview with Author/Designer/Editor and Mama to Callum Tanis Gray. 

Tanis Gray and her little sweetheart Callum

I met Tanis it seems years ago when she was the Yarn Editor at Soho Publishing - the umbrella to magazines Vogue Knitting and Knit Simple and the sadly departed Knit.1 (which Tanis co-edited). We developed one of those business/phone friendships which I am happy to say has continued due to the internet and both of us moving on professionally and personally. Tanis has been to one of my "Getting Stitched on the Farm" Retreats and since then, we have shared the woes and joys of book publishing, designing, and motherhood. Last spring Tanis and her husband Roger welcomed little Callum into their family and their lives have not been the same since. That's him in one of her handknits above.  Tanis and her family live in Washington, DC.


Last year, Tanis's book Knit Local was published by Sixth and Spring Books to rave reviews. This winter, she self-published her second book. Tanis is no stranger to having her work published. Her designs have been featured in gobs of books and magazines, many of them ending up on the covers. Today, Tanis is spending some time with all of us and she is sponsoring a Giveaway of her new book Capitol Knits.

Tanis' new book Capitol Knits

For all you locals, Webs is sponsoring a trunk show of Capitol Knits right now and through the next 2 weeks in their store. I have splashed photos of many of the projects from Tanis' Capitol Knits through this post. Check out Tanis' website here. You can listen to a podcast with Tanis here.


KN: Hi Tanis. Let's start with the age-old question most knitters want to know.....When and how did you learn to knit?

TG: My mom taught me when I was 8. She had always been a wonderful sewer and knitter but got busy with my brother and I and didn't have much time for it. She decided to get back into it and make me a sweater. I was absolutely enthralled with the process and would do any little thing I could to help, whether it was to wind her yarn, help her pick out buttons or just sit and watch. She taught me after finishing that little mohair cardigan for me and I've been addicted ever since.

KN: You know, my mom made me a little green mohair cardigan. She saved it and for awhile Julia wore it. Such nice knitting memories for us both! I know your mom has been rather influential in your creative life. She is a painter, isn't she? How has her work been an influence on your creative life?

TG:  Yes, my mom is a very talented painter and pastel artist. You can see her work at www.patriciamgray.com. My mom taught both children's and adult art classes and growing up I'd come to all her classes and "assist." Between going to class with her, volunteering at the local art centers, coming home from school every day to find her working in her studio and sitting there watching her while we rehashed our days to each other, or going on one of our many, many museum trips, she taught me to appreciate art, find beauty everywhere, understand and utilize color and respect other people's visions. Both she and my father were supportive of my going to art school, which changed my life.

KN: What is your best knitting tale.... either personal or professional? One of the most memorable things that has affected your knitting and real life simultaneously?

TG:  I went to RISD for college and freshman year is referred to as "foundation year." You cannot declare a major until you are a sophomore and everyone takes the same 4 classes, 3D, 2D, drawing and art history. For my final project in 3D at the end of the year, we had to create a "second skin for something." That was the only instruction given, so the concept could be wide open. I had really missed my knitting and anyone who knows about a RISD education knows that you work your butt off for 4 years and there's little time for anything but schoolwork and studying. I wished to somehow bring my knitting into this project and in the end decided to knit a "second skin for my hands," ie mittens. Holding fishing line, silver metal strips, silver wiring, cotton rope and twine together, I knit wearable mittens with copper cuffs.  Those were definitely my most memorable pair of mittens and I went through about 8 sets of DPNs knitting them! I got an A in that class and those mittens went on to win many sculpture awards. It married my love of art and my love of knitting.

KN: Wow, that is one great story. I love that you combined art and knitting. It is such a natural although many people don't think of it that way.
Tanis, you recently self-published a beautiful book called Capitol Knits! It is jam-packed with gorgeous sweaters and lots of accessories. What I really like is how all the sweaters and accessories are extremely wearable but stylish too. Congratulations! Great timing with the election coming up. I think you are very brave to self-publish considering you have come out of the corporate knitting/magazine world. What prompted you to do go off on your own and do it yourself?

TG: Thanks! We live in the heart of Washington, DC on Capitol Hill. It's an odd experience walking the dog and pushing a stroller passing senators, judges and important political figures on the street. This city is the beating heart of our nation and one of the most beautiful, historic places we have as a young country. I had just wrapped up my first book, Knit Local with Sixth & Spring, had a baby and REALLY wanted to do a small book where I had complete control. I wanted to do the photography, have final say on all decisions and see what I pictured in my head on a page in front of me. It was a giant leap of faith and I worked on it in fits and starts while my son slept, trying to challenge myself and see if I could do it. It was more or less my journals come to life in bound book form for all to see. I love history, plants, interesting facts, maps and knitting. I wanted to share that with other knitters.

 

KN: The book is very beautiful. You put so much of yourself in there. I love all the little drawings, the history of DC, the stories that are added. That is the kind of add-on that makes a book special but which unfortunately doesn't get into most knitting books done by large publishers. Are there any tips you would like to share with others about the process of self-publishing?

TG:  Have patience with yourself. When you're a one-woman show things take a lot longer than if you have a team behind you. There are many great things about working with a publisher, and there are also many great things about working on a book by yourself. They are both unique experiences, one not being better than the other, just different. I wanted to try both.

KN: I know about being a "one-woman show" - it's a tough gig, especially when you have high standards! What was the biggest learning curve you had in self-publishing Capitol Knits?

TG:  Finding the balance between my schedule, my model's, my husband's and my son's. I feel like I should have a degree in scheduling after getting a book done in 3 months with all those schedules!

KN: Wow - three months! That is phenomenal. You are amazing. Anything else really special in Capitol Knits that you would like to share with us?

TG: DC is a magical city. There are so many hidden gems and a wonderful sense of history and duty here. This book is my love letter to this city and I was inspired to do it after researching my family tree and being accepted into the DAR last year. There are write-ups about each location, facts, photos, history... I hope that if you haven't been to DC and you look over this book, you'll want to visit. There's a ton of writing in this book and I hope people take the time to read it. Also, the trunk show is currently at Webs in Northampton and has been traveling around the country. If you want your LYS to host it, let them know!

KN: Many readers here at "Getting Stitched on the Farm" are interested in things besides knitting. Tell us what else informs your design life? What else do you like to do that helps to keep you creating great knitting designs.

TG: With a dog and a baby I take 2, sometimes 3 walks a day. I like exploring the city and my neighborhood. There's so much inspiration here and most of the museums are free, so you can pop in for 30 minutes of inspiration or spend a few hours there. I wish all the museums in the world were free! I also like to bike with my family, am obsessed with jigsaw puzzles, watching sci-fi and when I get some free time (ha), sew.

KN: Jealous - all those museums for free! Nice. Now that you have been in Washington for 3 years, tell me what the secret is to knitting in the heat down there? 

TG: Ugh, the heat. Last summer was one of the worst summers on record. My son was born last April 2 months early with pnemonia. He spent the first month of his life in the NICU and we were instructed to not take him outside in anything over 90 degrees. That meant I spent 99% of my summer indoors in the air conditioning! Even though I've never been a fan of summer and the heat, I truly enjoy knitting all year round, no matter how hot it is! Keep the blinds closed, crank up the air conditioning and drink plenty of iced tea.

I want to thank Tanis for opening up her world to all of us. She has kindly donated a signed copy of Capitol Knits one of my lucky readers. Here's how to enter.....

Answer this question from Tanis in the Comments section. 

What is your favorite monument in DC?

Contest ends Sunday April 22nd at 11:59 p.m. US addresses only.
As always, please leave an easy way to get a hold of you - either blog, Ravelry id, or email address. Thanks for reading all! And thanks so much to Tanis for taking time out of her busy day and life.

Cathy's Big Day, Her New Bag + Knitting Contrissmas

My very good friend Cathy Payson is celebrating a really big birthday this week. Cathy is one of the most generous people on the planet and an amazing knitter and designer. She churns out gift after gift, barely ever making anything for herself to keep. This is what kind of friend Cathy is... When Julia was in the hospital in Boston many times in her first few years of life, Cathy stopped by our "hotel room" (as Julia called it) with fresh dark roast coffee and breakfast for me. Unless you have been stuck in a hospital for several days taking care of a sick child with compromised health, not knowing what is going to happen, you can never know what a nice gift that is. The friendly company, supportive smile and conversation, gossip mags to read and good coffee..... I will never forget that for the rest of my life.

I wanted to mark her big day with a really nice gift. And I knew I had to make it because Cathy would appreciate it. I hate making things for someone who doesn't know what goes into them. Cathy, like every true knitter, has a lot of bags for carrying various projects. She lives in Boston and travels on the "T" (Boston's Public Transport system of buses and subways) and she always has her knitting with her. I thought she might like a handmade bag to carry her knitting. Cathy loves the color orange and luckily I found some beautiful orange wool coating fabric. I found some pretty cotton fabrics for the lining fabric in my stash and started sewing.

I must say, I love to make bags - they are quick to make and not too hard. They don't have to fit anyone and they make a fun statement. Here's the bag I made Cathy. It has short fabric handles like a shopping bag. I also made a long strap that is tucked inside in the photo so she can sling it over her head and shoulder in that city kind of way.

Before I sewed the lining in, I hand-sewed some of my Felted Zinna Flowers from my new PDF Pattern onto the wool. The flowers remind me of the Mary Quant flowers from their 60's packaging - love their bright colors and smily feeling. Each flower was decorated with French knots. Here is the link to buy the pattern on my website or on Ravelry. The cost is $6.00 and they make great quick gifts to knit.

Cathy is off on a big trip to celebrate her birthday with her twin sister and the orange bag is going with her filled with her knitting. What a nice thought - my friend enjoying her birthday with her sister and exploring a new country. Happy Birthday Cathy!

Hop on over to the Knitting Contrissmas series done by Tina. I'm the featured interview today. The series interviews creative people the first 25 days of December. What a great thing Tina is doing for the creative community - energizing all of us by reading about creative people. Thank you Tina for inviting me.

Interview with Gudrun Johnston + A Shetland Trader Giveaway!

Meet Gudrun Johnston.....

 Gudrun is the author of "The Shetland Trader," a self-published book of ten knitting designs, many featuring lace. I met Gudrun through the world wide web. I got an e-mail from her a couple of years ago when I was sharing photos of a litter of Lily Pons' kittens. She and her family were moving back to western Massachusetts, not far from where I live. They wanted to adopt one of the kittens on the occasion of her daughter's 9th birthday. I love being able to place our kittens with knitters. On the appointed day, Gudrun, her two beautiful children Maya and Sage, and her novelist husband David Anthony Durham, arrived to pick up Persy. Julia wasn't home but she knew one of the kitties was leaving that day to go to live with a family whose Mom was a knitwear designer. She was okay with this. I watched Persy grow into a full-grown beautiful cat on Gudrun's blog. How nice to see one of our kittens all grown up as an adult. 

I check in on Gudrun's blog every once in a while. I marvel that she is able to homeschool her children and be a prolific knitwear designer, much less self-publish her first book. Gudrun and her family are packing up to move to Scotland where she grew up. And Persy is going with them. Who would have thought that one of Lily Pons' kittens would be moving to Scotland. Lucky Cat! Lily Pons would be proud of him.

I thought it would be fun to interview this up and coming talented knitwear designer here on my blog before she moves across the pond to her home country. By the way, all of the photos were shot on Shetland by Jared Flood. They are extremely gorgeous - lovely light and colors. Gudrun and I are also hosting a Giveaway of "The Shetland Trader." At the end of the interview, I'll tell you how to enter. Enjoy!

KN: I love the introduction you wrote.            

From the Foreword ... The Shetland Trader, Book One

            “I was born in a wee cottage beside the beach in Levenwick, Shetland in 1974. As was the case with generations of Shetland infants before me, I was wrapped in a traditional hap shawl moments after inhaling my first breath. Wool and lace, family and home, peat fires and a silly red setter....”

It goes on beautifully from there - lovely descriptions of your family’s story. I know your husband is the novelist David Anthony Durham. It seems his love of words has rubbed off on you. Do you find that there is any connection between writing and knitting?

GJ: David and I often find ourselves comparing our respective crafts. Both knitting and writing require a creative mind, one that is inspired by the daily goings on in life and one that needs to be flexible to the changes that will take place during the design process. He admits to stealing from the things he sees on a daily basis and using them in his writing. He has his ear out for inspiration; I have my eye out.

    I also think there are similarities when it comes to the nuts and bolts. We both have to deal with getting on with our work when resistance strikes, and we both have to keep an open mind about the success/failure of any of our pieces. 

KN: This book is a lovely collection of lace designs - from small (some fabulous hats and leg warmers) to a gorgeous skirt and some sweaters. Do you work exclusively in lace?

GJ: I don’t work exclusively in lace. I would say that the majority of my designs so far have made use of it. I have particularly enjoyed exploring the lace designs that come from Shetland and seeing how they can work in a more contemporary context.

KN: What do you find so appealing about knitting lace?

GJ: Sometimes it’s just the challenge of working the lace itself, keeping track of all those symbols in a chart and making sure they all line up as they are supposed to. Seeing the shapes appearing, especially after blocking, is also very satisfying. I’m not all that attracted to knitting very complex lace designs on a large scale but I’m certainly very impressed with those who do. I’m definitely more intrigued by seeing how lace can be used in non-traditional ways.

KN: Did you knit as a child? Tell me about the first thing you knit?

GJ: I didn’t knit as a very young child. I think I first learned around the age of 10 or so. The memory I have of my first piece of knitting is a rather nasty pale green vest, which thankfully I didn’t keep! I do however own some beautiful Fair Isle sweaters that my mother designed and which my siblings and I wore over 30 years ago. Those sweaters were passed on to me by my mother and worn by my own children. I’m very glad to have those and not the vest!

KN: I have met your beautiful family. I’m wondering if either your son or daughter are interested in taking up knitting?

GJ: Maya and Sage both know how to knit. I taught Maya a few years ago and she takes sporadic (but intense) interest. Sage learned when we spent some time in Shetland a few years ago. The kids went to school there for about 12 weeks and had their very own knitting teacher. I believe Sage completed a little knitted worm during that time which he still treasures!

KN: The colors in the photos are so blooming gorgeous. Do you think growing up on the island of Shetland has influenced the colors that you use in your work?

GJ: I do think the colors in a Scottish landscape have influenced my personal palette. I find I’m usually drawn to more natural or muted shades. Getting the right colour for a design is almost as important to me as the design itself. Often I’ll see a particular shade of yarn and know it needs to come home with me and make it’s way into my designing!

KN: The index of the book has a beautiful photo of sheep amongst the fields of the island. Are the sheep an important part of the commerce of Shetland? Do farmers (I think you may call them crofters) still earn part of their income from sheep farming or is a world that has disappeared?

GJ: Although there are still many more sheep than people in Shetland they don’t really provide much of an income for crofters anymore. Crofter’s are heavily subsidized by the government and owning a croft is really more about keeping a way of life going.

KN: There are many photos of heather blooming in the book. Do the sheep eat the heather? Are there any traditional uses for the heather?

GJ: Yes, the sheep do eat the heather! As they are out on the hillsides all winter long it’s their main winter fodder.  I’m not aware of any other uses for heather in Shetland though. I’m told by my father, who is a naturalist, that heather in Shetland is living at it’s climatic extreme!!

KN: I know that you and your family are moving back to Scotland. Do you foresee that the culture and knitting landscape will change your work?

GJ: I actually don’t think it will change my work. I’m already so heavily influenced by it that being back in Scotland is… well, it’s going home.

KN: You write that your mother had a knitwear business called The Shetland Trader back when you were a child. Now that you have revived that business, do you have any future plans that you would like to let us in on? More books? More patterns?

GJ: Hopefully, I’ll always be adding more patterns to my design portfolio. They won’t always exclusively have a Scottish/Shetland connection, but that will continue to play a big part I’m sure. I’m giving serious thought to another collection, but I’m not certain yet what form it will take. I know I want to add more books to the Shetland Trader series but I’m also interested in doing something on a larger scale.

KN: I have been on many photo shoots over the years and I know they are grueling but fun and creative. Can you let us in on a funny story of the behind the scenes on your trip to Shetland?

GJ: I have to say that nothing about that day was grueling for me! I had so much help and things went very smoothly. Jared did get us up very early so he could shoot in the morning light; we had plenty of sheep poo to avoid; there was a little weather to contend with later in the day; we nearly lost a light deflector over a cliff; and models were at chilly at times! However the day ended with a delicious meal of Cullen Skink made by my dad and David, whiskeys all around and a slide show of some of the images captured. It’s a day I will always have very fond memories of. I hope all my photo shoots go that well!

KN: Well, that does sound like a fabulous end to a busy day. I think my favorite project in the book is the scarf design called “Shoormal.” I like the chunkiness of the yarn mixed with the lace stitch. Do you have a favorite design from the book?

GJ: I was very pleased with the results of all of the designs but I’m definitely partial to the cover design, Laar. It was one of those designs that really held true to the initial sketch I had for it. I love the lace-weight yarn worked on larger needles. It produces such a beautiful fabric that almost feels like a second skin. I like too how the delicate details of this design, the lace, picots and scoop neck, are subtle in their beauty. It’s a garment that looks equally good with jeans as it would over a summer dress. As someone who doesn’t dress up much this versatility appeals to me! However, the sample doesn’t fit me so I need to re-knit it sometime.

Thanks so much to Gudrun for taking the time out of her extremely busy life to answer my questions. You can buy The Shetland Trader directly from Gudrun via her website where you can see all of the beautiful designs. Gudrun also has many single patterns which are available for PDF download.

To enter to win Gudrun's printed book, answer the following question in the Comments section. And please, as always, leave an easy way to get a hold of you.

Q? What is your favorite knitting technique? Lace? Cables? Colorwork? Stockinette? And why do you enjoy knitting it?

Contest closes Friday at midnight. I will post the winner's name and contact them by Monday morning.
Contest is closed! The winner is Connie who wrote: I usually love whatever I'm knitting at the time. Most of the time a new project involves something I haven't done before, but lace has been a favorite from the beginning! Congratulations Connie. 

An Interview with the Talented Children's Book Author/Knitter Joanna Johnson + a Giveaway!

When I was in NYC at VKLive, I ran into Joanna Johnson standing behind a pile of her delightful children's/knitter's books - Phoebe's Sweater and Freddie's Blanket. I had heard about Joanna from our mutual friend Karin Strom so it was a really nice end to my day to meet her in person. Joanna lives in Loveland, CO with her husband and three kids. I took a good look at her books because I hadn't yet seen them in person and was mightily impressed. The books are self-published by Joanna's family press but they look and feel like they were done by a real publishing house. A couple of weeks later, I received both books in the mail to my surprise. 

Both of Joanna's books carry the theme of family, knitting creation, and love through them. Joanna's husband Eric illustrated the books. What a talented family they are! I love the fact that not only are the stories about family and knitting, but at the end of both of the books there are patterns given for a knitted toy (Phoebe the mouse and Freddie the Platypus), knitted toy clothes, knitted children's clothes and in the case of Freddie, a baby blanket and baby envelope. Both the books would make a lovely baby shower gift for a knitter (or wannabe). 

I asked Joanna if she would do a interview for my blog and she said "yes." AND for all of you, Joanna and I are hosting a giveaway of BOTH of Joanna's books. Read through the interview below and at the end, I'll tell you how to enter the GIVEAWAY.

Phoebe, the Mouse, has her own blog here. You'll find Phoebe and Freddie on Ravelry here on the Slate Falls Press Ravelry Group. You can order signed copies of Phoebe's Sweater and Freddie's Blanket directly from Joanna and Eric at their Etsy Shop here.

Thanks to Joanna for taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions. Read on! This interview may just bring tears to your eyes. It did mine!

KN: Joanna, you are the author of two fabulous children's books that are based on knitting. Tell me how you got involved in writing children's books…..

JJ:  Reading was my favorite hobby as a child, so a degree in Literature was the logical path for me when I went to college.  I studied Children's Literature along with the classics: Eliot, Austen, Milton, and so forth, but it was having children that really made my favorite genre of literature come alive for me.  My husband Eric and I have three children, and have enjoyed finding wonderful children's books and reading them as a family.  Eric has always loved to draw as much as I love to read, and we just always figured that this was something we would do together someday, although it took us a while to figure out how that would happen.  Our first book, Phoebe's Sweater, spent a lot of time in draft form in a drawer before we knew what to do with it!

KN: Your husband Eric illustrated the books. How do you find working together? Are there any tricks to keeping your relationship happy when you are also trying to make the business work?

 JJ:   It is really unusual for a children's book author and illustrator to work as closely together as Eric and I do.  I am really spoiled in that I am able to have a lot of input into the tiny details of the artwork, and, in a similar way, Eric has a lot of influence on the way the stories develop, too.  We both have really different strengths, and always approach our work with a common vision.  The fact that we each have our own studio helps, too!  We both understand the creative process, and how to step back when the other one is really in their stride and needs room to work, and we also know what it means to have good words of encouragement for each other when we get stuck creatively.  

KN: And your books are published by your family's press Slate Falls Press in Loveland, CO. I think that is really great that you and your family have started your own press. Do you have any words of wisdom for those that are thinking about self-publishing?

JJ:  The doors are certainly wide open these days for self-publishing.  That being said, it is not a "magic feather" by any stretch of the imaginaton.  To do it well requires a lot of time, work, and endurance.  I encourage people to read, research, and read some more in their intended genre, educate themselves about what work is already out there in that subject area, and practice and hone their craft, whatever it might be.  We have found it to be an incredible process, and very rewarding creatively and personally.  It is losing the stigma of "vanity publishing" as more and more high quality self-published books are being released as the months pass.

KN: I have always worked with traditional publishers, taking the easy way so that I don't have to warehouse my books, ship them, distribute them, and front the printing, editing, and desktop publishing end of the process. Is there one thing that really is key to making your press work?

JJ:  Eric and I do this as a team, and I just can't imagine going it alone.  That is probably the best thing we have, is each other.

KN: It seems that your business is a family affair. Do any of your three children help you with the story line?

JJ:  We spend a lot of time conversing about our story ideas, characters, and settings.  Our children love stories, art, animals, and our daughter is a talented "crafter" in her own right, so we do talk with the children about our ideas, they are a great resource!  We read to them, show them the knitting projects, and especially see what they think about Eric's sketches.  It is hard for us, as adults, to remember what things are actually important to children sometimes, and observing and listening to them is a great inspiration to us.

KN: Do you have any one awesome experience with a knitter who has read or gifted your book that you would like to share with my readers?

JJ:  I have so many amazing stories about the way these books have touched people.  A recent one that especially stands out to me is the story of a friend of my mother's who overcame cancer a few years ago.  My mom and dad recently went up to visit her, knowing that her cancer has returned and she will not recover this time around.  Our new book was recently out, and my mom brought a copy of each of our books to her friend.  "How did you know this is what I am doing?" she said to my mom.  She had decided that she would spend the last months of her life learning to knit and making things for her first grandchild, who will be born this summer.  Just last week she just sent my mom a "thank you" card and said she is knitting the Baby Envelope from our new book as a gift for this grandchild she may not be here to meet.  I feel very humbled to be a part of this brave woman's life, and to have made something that brings people together in such a personal way.

KN: In your most recent book Freddie's Blanket, you chose a Platypus as your main character. All the support characters are animals from Australia. How did you choose to feature Australian creatures?

JJ:  We talked about a few different animals for the Freddie character, but once we started talking about the platypus we knew he was the one!  They are just such interesting creatures, and once Eric researched their habitat and the other fascinating animals, plants, birds, and bugs of Australia we were hooked.  Even our kids want to go to Australia now!  I have a fellow knitwear designer friend who lives here in Colorado who is Australian, and she and a friend lent us wonderful advice and reources as we did our research, which was a great help to us.  I love it when I meet readers from Australia at book signings and they give us their approval on the details, because then I know we got it right.

KN: I love Eric's illustrations. They have such a lovely soft quality, similar to Beatrix Potter's lovely drawings. Did he train as an artist and has he done any other illustrating of children's books? What medium does he use for the illustrations?

JJ:  Eric has a degree in graphic art, but took as many fine art classes as he could fit in while he was in college.  He grew up helping his father run his graphics studio, and has always enjoyed drawing and illustration.  These are his frst books, and I do hope they are the first of many, because this is something he truly loves to do.  His illustrations are done in pencil, ink, and watercolor.

KN: Any new plans you want to let us in on?

JJ:  Well... we are busy at work on our third book, which we hope to publish in 2012.  It will include some new crafting patterns alongside the knitting patterns, and we are really excited about who we are working with on that.  I hope to start sharing peeks of it at TNNA in June...

    (Are you listening all you retailers out there? Another great new kids knitting book for your store!) 

PHOEBE'S SWEATER AND FREDDIE'S BLANKET GIVEAWAY

Here's what you do to enter. Answer the following question:  

What is your "go-to" knit or crochet baby gift that you make for a friend who is expecting or has just given birth?

Added 3/24/11: THE CONTEST IS OVER. THE WINNER IS SARAH K. Joanna will be sending her the books!