It's been a great week for Etsy Knitters!

I've probably said this already, but I love being a part of the Etsy Knitters Team. The email communication between artists is excellent. I know I can contact the team with any question and receive tons of helpful information. The amount of talent and wisdom in the group really is quite incredible. Two knitters, Zoe from Seaside Knitting Patterns and Elaine from Granny Knits, had really great press!

Zoe had her first pattern published in this month's edition of Interweave Knits. She submitted a pattern for her Nautilus Mitts last August and finally saw it published this week! You can check them out here: http://www.interweaveknits.com/preview/summer-knits-2010.asp#Nautilus_mitts. On her facebook page, she talks about the process from beginning to end. After having her pattern accepted, she had two months to knit the pattern in yarn chosen by the magazine. Interweave Knits is one of the most popular knitting magazines, so hopefully this is the beginning of very good things for her!

Elaine had her biography published on the Etsy blog. She has a very inspirational story, where she took in her two-year-old grandson, Jordan, who is diagnosed with Autism after her daughter was in a fatal car accident. She loved to knit for Jordan and her younger grandson, Damion, and eventually turned this love into her own store on Etsy. You can read the full story here: http://www.etsy.com/storque/handmade-life/working-overtime-grannysknits-8004/.

On a bit of self-promotion (although it's not quite as exciting as the above news), my Carnival Criss-Cross Scarf is featured in a great mother's day gift guide put together by Jenjie's Crafty Stuff. Be sure to check out the full gift guide: http://www.jenjiescraftystuff.blogspot.com/. 

More Reversible Cables!

Okay, I'll be honest - I have not yet tried out reversible cables. I put my magazine on the bookshelf for safe keeping and proceeded to forget about it! Since I am now in between projects, I might just have to give it a try. This week, I came across patterns for a scarf with reversible cables and a matching hat that has a cabled brim (reversible cables of course!) When I saw these, I realized it was time to test out these cables! These patterns look really nice, so I wanted to share!

Here are pictures of the scarf and hat:

And here are links to the free patterns:

Scarf: http://www.cometosilver.com/patterns/palindrome.htm
Hat: http://www.cometosilver.com/patterns/palindromehat.htm

These are known as the Palindrome Scarf and Hat because a palindrome is something that is the same forward and backward. I wonder if my new yarn will work for this scarf?? I think the pattern uses a heavier yarn than what I have coming in the mail, but it might be worth a try! Now I don't feel so guilty about buying it! :)

Sarah's Spotlight - Sweaterettes

Happy one month anniversary to Sweaterettes! This great shop opened one month ago today and has already had one sale! The shop owner began knitting over 30 years ago when she was only 7. You can visit this shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Sweaterettes.


I have to admit that I found this shop through Link Love. I came across so many great shops this way and thought it was only appropriate to spotlight one of them this week. This shop features both knit and crochet fingerless gloves and gift bags. What really drew me to this store is the mini-sweater gift bags featured! These are incredibly adorable and the perfect gift wrap for a small gift - jewelry, ipod, gift cards, cell phones, etc.

I come across a lot of knitting patterns for fingerless gloves. Since I'm always so cold, I can never quite imagine wearing gloves without fingers. But this shop owner makes them look fashionable and fun. I can definitely picture myself in a pair of these on a crisp fall day when you just want a little extra warmth but don't need to pull the winter gloves out yet!

In addition to etsy, this shop owner also has her own website: http://www.sweaterettes.com/. This site sells knit and crochet patterns for fingerless gloves, mini-sweater gift bags, hair pin lace, scarves and scarflettes, and handbags. One set of patterns that intrigues me the most is the 3-D Afghans. These finished products  must be truly impressive! Several patterns, such as these afghans, are available in crochet, hand knit, or machine knit. All patterns are available by PDF through email or through regular mail.

You can also follow this shop with Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Sweaterettes