Contests from Vogue Knitting

Enter to win a copy of Knitted Flowers by Nickey Epstien, here:
http://www.vogueknitting.com/node/608

Enter to win a copy of Iris Schreier's Reversible Knits, here:
http://www.vogueknitting.com/node/607

Angela Hahn's leafy lace puts a new twist on the traditional beret, in rosy "Baby Cashmerino" by Debbie Bliss/KFI. Deadline for entry for this contest is October 1, 2009.
http://www.vogueknitting.com/node/605

Pretty Penny Designs - Unique Chokers

Red Vintage Silk Covered Beads Choker
Pink Silk Ruffles Necklace

Pretty Penny Designs is "a jewelry store that brings you brand new vintage jewelry hand crafted by the designer. She uses non-traditional materials such as vintage fabrics, re-purposed buttons, antique lace, tie silk and reclaimed leather. Each piece of this beautiful handmade jewelry will come ready for gift giving in a colorful box with a ribbon."

Also, check out the designers inspiring and fun blog, for great information and tips:

The Pretty Penny

Knitting How To Videos from Berroco and Lion Brand

Berroco and Lion Brand now feature detailed how to videos about various techniques to help you with your knitting and crochet projects. You do not have to be a registered user to view the video clips!

Knitwear on sale at Buckle

Daytrip Cable Knit Babydoll Sweater

Daytrip Cabled Pointelle Sweater Vest

There is a great selection of beautiful quality knitted sweaters, vests, and cardigans at Buckle, right now. Some of the heavier sweaters are on sale for half of the original price. This is a sale to be taken advantage of.

Special perk:

Military Orders: All military orders going to APO/FPO, AA, AE or AP addresses are shipped via United States Postal Service (US Mail) and qualify for free shipping. Military orders shipped to standard US physical addresses will ship via UPS or FedEx and applicable shipping charges will apply. See shipping chart for additional details.

Lilly*blossom "Book Bags"

Lilly*blossom designs showcase quality hand made products, created with the best designer fabrics to date. In addition, each book cover has a cute book mark sewn into it, with added bead embellishments. The beads are perfect for added weight to keep the book mark in place, and give it extra pizazz. What better gift than this?!? Any reader in your life will love and appreciate these book covers as a gift. They are so useful, and easy to carry. I love my "Turquoise and Taupe" cover, and use it daily.

"The Paperback covers are so easy to use and they are unique on the web! Simply slip the front and back cover of your favourite paperback into the cover and use the beaded bookmark to keep your place, close the book and you have a bag! I use them for commuting everyday and they are so eye catching, people often ask where I get them from and if they can buy them! We also sell lots for holidays & travelling - no more struggling to the pool or beach, just slip on your arm and have your hands free for those essential items such as sunglasses and cocktail! Keeps your book splash free." -Helen Newton of Lilly*Blossom Designs

You can purchase directly from the website, and on the Lilly*blossom Etsy page.

Lace Sweater Dress by Berroco

This is a really cute dress to knit. It is from a new Berroco pattern book, #288. The dress featured here is knitted with a yarn called Blackstone Tweed. Blackstone Tweed comes in 12 beautiful colors (one of my favorites is "Patriot Blue"). It is a yarn made up of wool, mohair, and angora.

Crocheted Neck Accessories

Crochet Triple Wrap - this one can be worn as a necklace, bracelet, or anklet.
Toros Fringe Choker

Add these types of necklaces and chokers to your ensemble for added interest and to draw attention up, to your beautiful face.

Dark and Sexy Knits at Mark Fast

Mark Fast's Fall 2009 collection showcased some almost unfinished dresses that are very interesting. I really like how they used nude heels with black dresses. It makes the idea of knitted dresses much more modern. Another unique technique used in this collection is knitting garments with velvet. NOTE: See the Mark Fast website link on the right side bar.

Crocheted Headbands

Fisherman's Headband

Crochet Lace Stretch Headband

Images from FreePeople.com

These cute crocheted headbands are a perfect solution to keeping hair out of your eyes and off of your face for these hot summer months.

Billion Dollar Babes - Society for Rational Dress Knitwear Sale

Billion Dollar Babes is a new website (but not new to the fashion scene) that holds three high end designer sales per week. Here I am featuring a few knitted pieces from the Society for Rational Dress sale going on right now.

"Structure Vest" - an alpaca/merino blend yarn. The vest features two leather and chain link closures at front. The collar is a fold over that covers the upper shoulders in the back. It is a very stylish cabled design.

"Pleated Jacket" - this over sized sweater drapes nicely. It has a bubble hemline, and comes in three natural looking colors. Also made of alpaca and merino.

"Cropped Wrap Jacket" - unique wrapped effect accomplished by wrapping the floor length front around the body. You cannot duplicate this look with your regular jackets. (only available in XS).

All of these items are on sale. The sale ends in one day, and eight hours. Register and join Billion Dollar Babes today.

Hemp Market Bags at olivebrown

olivebrown has created a beautiful hand knit hemp market bag so you can take it along with you while you shop. This bag was featured in Bon Appetit Magazine.

Betty's Loft Sale

Betty's Loft has a sale on this featured item! Is it a scarf? Is it a shawl? Who cares- this is a fun accessory for dressing up or going casual! Hand-crocheted from hand spun, hand-dyed cotton, Betty’s shawlettes are one-of-a kind, authentically crafted with a personal touch.

Izzy Lane Ethical Fashion Handmade Shoe Sale

Izzy Lane is having a shoe sale! From heels to flats, buy a pair from Izzy Lane, and feel good about purchasing a product that is completely animal friendly with no animal derived products used in their manufacture. Each pair is hand made by a traditional cobbler in the East End of London and the entire collection is approved by the Vegetarian Society.

Featured products are on sale for £75.00

Offer available from 20th June 2009 to 27th June 2009

Unique Patterns at ASOS

Sass & Bide Laddered stocking print tee

ASOS Lace pattern print leggings

Shape Up your Wardrobe with ModeInHolland

This is actually a custom made knitted dress that can be created to your body.

There is an interesting shopping website called ModeInHolland, in which you enter in your measurements when ordering your custom made garment. Each item is created especially for you, and you even have assistance such as telephone support or web cam, if you need help with figuring out your correct and precise size. Yes, this company ships internationally, for a reasonable cost.

More interesting services:

Fashion Parties (The Netherlands): "At the Fashion Parties we will bring the collections and show them to your audience. There will be time to get some insight in the world of designing and the inspiration of the particular designers. Of course there will be a lot of time to try all clothes on and see what fits you best."

Denim: Distressed or Repaired?

Hot, ripped rock star jeans are super trendy and, in my opinion, always fashionable. Elle UK has featured a nice collection of distressed denim choices at various prices.
This cute pair by 7 for all mankind, sold at Net-a-porter, is lightly distressed, and fairly affordable.

I must admit I am strangely enamored with these white ripped jeans sold at Topshop.

~

However, some love the sleek look of smooth, richly saturated colored jeans, and how they lengthen and slenderize your hips and thighs.

K Karl Lagerfeld, classic straight leg jeans

You may have an old pair that cost you a small fortune, but you will never wear them again because they have an unsightly rip that you just can not stand. Denim repair by Denim Therapy is your solution!

"Denim Therapy’s denim assessment and reconstruction is done individually, one denim patient at a time. Every jean is different in its construction and wear. And of course, every ripped area is different. That’s why when repairing jeans, Denim Therapy does so one repair at a time. The repair is a genuine reconstruction of the original denim material. It is not a patch. It is new cotton thread and stitch applied to the broken denim area. Denim Therapy uses the MatchPerfect™ cotton thread selection process to create the best looking repair possible."

The results are phenomenal, and the cost of doing so is well worth the price, which is extremely reasonable. Check out the website for more information and images!

P.S. Click over to the Denim Therapy blog. It features all kinds of great sales on amazingly fashionable denim! I'm so glad I found it!

Vogue Knitting's New KnitBook!

We all know how stylish and classic Vogue Knitting patterns can be. Now there is a way to get only the patterns that you really want from the company, in one printed book, specialized for you. Vogue Knitting is now offering KnitBook!

"A KnitBook is just like any professionally printed pattern book…with one difference—it’s created by you. You choose the cover design, the title and most importantly, the patterns. Now you can have all of your favorite patterns in one book, printed and shipped right to your door! Books start at $24.95."

This is very interesting and economical because you only get what you really want to make and wear!

Tracey Ambrose UPDATE

Here is the link to the Simply Smashing fashion show featuring Tracey Ambrose's designs. Check out her HOT crocheted bikinis!

Knitted Sweater Sale at Forever 21

Maddie Cable Sweater Tunic

This is the best time to stock up on cute sweaters and other knitwear since it is so hot outside that nobody is buying them. Take advantage of this as they sell out fast.

Liana Sweater Cardigan

Placement of the Hook when Crocheting

Yes, where you put the hook matters and makes a difference. It can change the thickness and the way the piece you are crocheting looks and feels. Here is an excerpt from a recent email I received from Interweave Press:

"Where you put the hook when you crochet makes a difference in both the look and movement of the fabric. Inserting the hook under both loops of the stitch produces a sturdy fabric suitable for a variety of projects. But inserting the hook in the back loop only (blo), front loop only (flo) or alternating blo and flo can produce very different kinds of fabrics. Over the next few weeks, we'll look at the effect of these stitches and when you might want to use them. And we'll show you a pattern that uses each technique. We'll start with back loop only (blo). Blo stitching produces a stretchy fabric much akin to ribbing in knitted garments. As such, it is suitable for cuffs and collars. It's also a good way to add fluidity to an afghan, to keep it from being too heavy. But what happens when you work an entire garment in blo? Good things happen. A case in point: The Big Bow Cardigan (Interweave Crochet Winter 2008). The stretchy rib of blo worked vertically creates a sweater that hugs your shape. If this sweater were worked through both loops, it would produce a garment more like a coat. Working through the back loop only makes a cardigan that can flare at the shoulders and narrows at the waist, creating a slimming vertical line. In addition, it keeps the warmth in. To work blo, insert the hook in the back loop only of the two loops at the top of the stitch. Work blo every row for a completely ridged look. (Working the right side only in blo will produce a fabric that has a wider stripe of flat crochet between the ridges; it will not be quite as stretchy.)Other uses for blo: working a row of blo on the edge of a bag will produce a turning ridge for the bottom. Work a row of blo at the top of a hat to produce a flat top. For pictures of swatches worked in double crochet and double crochet blo, see the blog."

Crochet Me is definitely a blog worth visiting, even if it is just to take a quick glance at the nice photographs.