Truly Myrtle

AND WE’RE BACK!!

Kia ora, it’s lovely to be chatting to you again!

This week I’m sharing some new sewing and a new pattern with you. And I’m also drawing winners from Episode 100 - did you win???

SEWING

Totally inspired by Vanessa of Hanging Rock Roost, i hacked together a dress from a bunch of patterns and I LOVE it! You’ll see photos of me in it soon because I made it to go with a shawl I’m releasing March.

The patterns I morphed together were:

Ogden Cami

Cleo Skirt

Washi Dress

TUI - THE SWEATSHIRT WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR

You can find my new Tui pattern here on Ravelry.

It’s also in the process of being uploaded to Making Things and will be there shortly too.

I used gorgeous linen/wool fingering from Blacker Yarns.

Tui’s are my favourite New Zealand bird. Listen to them sing!

BE IN THE LOOP TO HEAR ABOUT NEW PATTERNS & SPECIAL DISCOUNTS - sign up to my Mini-Mag!

PRIZES

I got the prizewinners right but I ballsed up the prizes! Winner 1 receives the blocking combs and the bag pin, winner 2 receives a bunch of tools and the fantastic Cocoknits books and winner 3 wins AUS$100 gift voucher from Skein Sisters!! Thank you so much for your support Skein Sisters.

If you’re one of the lucky winners, send me an email!!

Thank you everyone for entering and thanks so much for watching/listening!

Libby xxx

Welcome back to the podcast! It’s episode ….99!! Wow, how did that happen?!

This week I’m talking about my latest design release, our new knit-along, my upcoming trip to Skein Sisters in Sydney and leaving you with a good knitting tip.

REBEL REBEL

I’m loving this fun little cardigan. It’s a light layer perfect for wearing over tops and necklaces you want to show off.

You can find the pattern on Ravelry and on Making Things.

Fancy joining our Rebel knit-along? Head over to the Ravelry group and jump in!

SKEIN SISTERS VISIT

It’ll be an action packed, fun weekend in Sydney next weekend. Come and join me for a knit night and come and try on my samples and talk to me about styling and sizing so your project is perfect for you.

Find all the details about my visit and when we can catch up on the Skein Sisters website.

Have a happy couple of weeks!

See you next time and happy knitting,

Libby xxx

Hello!

I’m chatting about all sorts on the podcast today!

MINDFUL SHAWL RE-RELEASE

I released a new, improved and expanded Mindful shawl pattern last week. I’m loving the new bigger version in the pattern and feel so pleased that the writing style, charts and little techniques I’ve added make the pattern even better than before!

I used beautiful Eden Cottage Titus 4ply (fingering-weight yarn). It’s a lovely Merino/silk blend perfect for shawls and available in a stunning, gentle range of colours.

UNWIND YARN FESTIVAL

I’m so looking forward to heading back to Dunedin in March. I spent 5 very happy years in Dunedin as a student in the early 90’s and it’s always fun to go back. This time I’m heading down to teach some classes and display all my samples at Unwind. It’s a lovely festival, not too big but big enough to feel buzzing.

Sign-up for Unwind and my classes (and bunch of other great classes) opens TOMORROW 1 November. Be quick to grab a spot in the classes you fancy.

SKEIN SISTERS ADVENTURE

I’m lucky to be off to Sydney for the last weekend of November to spend a few days at the very fabulous Skein Sisters yarn shop. I CAN’T WAIT!

I’m teaching a full weekend of classes (which sold out quickly sorry!) and also will be there for knit night on Friday evening and a super fun “style session” on Saturday afternoon. Come, try on my samples and let’s talk about what you love, what suits you and how you can change things to make them perfect for you.

MAKING THINGS APP

The Making Things app is a brand new, subscription based platform for knitters. Think Netflix for knitters ;)

The idea is that you pay a monthly fee for access to over 1500 well-written knitting patterns from a ton of awesome designers. You can use as many as you like every month and the app includes lots of cool features like row counters, highlighters, interactive charts and a 24/7 chat line for questions.

I’m having a long chat to Megan, the founder of Making Things in this weeks podcast and you’ll hear how enthusiastic she is to create a beautiful, simple to use, inspiring and exciting space for modern knitters.

The payment model for designers is interesting and quite different to any we’ve had before. With Making Things designers receive payment in two ways. Firstly, through affiliate links, so we are paid a fee if someone clicks our designer link and eventually signs up to the platform (like the one I’ve got below) and secondly, every time someone uses one of our patterns in the app. I’m waiting to see how that goes over time.

You can take a look at the full library before you sign up - pop in for a look. I can’t wait to hear what you think!

HAPPY KNITTING!

Hey lovelies!

I’m not in my usual spot. The builders are in and my house is CHAOS!

STASIA’S STYLE SCHOOL

I started this amazing course this week. I’ll tell you all about it when I’m finished. But, in the meantime, go follow Stasia on Instagram, check out her website and definitely make time to watch her wonderful, brand new, TED talk. It’s wonderful.

FLOOZY PARTY

It was fantastic to see you last weekend! We had fun didn’t we?!

Every couple of weeks I try to head down to Stitch and Bitch for their Thursday knit mornings. Will I see you there?

QUINCE AND CO KESTREL

I’m working on a summer top in this ribbon organic linen yarn and am finding it much easier on my hands than regular linen yarn. It might be worth a go if you suffer with tired and achy hands when you knit with plant fibres.

I got my Kestrel from Skein Sisters in Sydney.

See you soon! Hopefully with a new office wall?!

I'm back from Knit August Nights and I'm a little little husky! That's what happens when you talk non-stop for 5 days!

KNIT AUGUST NIGHTS

I had a blast. Held every year in the last weekend of the month, it's a New Zealand yarn festival not to be missed.

I teach and also have a stand with all my samples for you to try on. 

Next year is the 10 year anniversary! Will I see you there?

FRUITY KNITTING PODCAST

I was absolutely thrilled to be featured on the Fruity Knitting podcast recently! I've got a short segment in Episode 60 where I chat about 5 of my garment designs, the inspiration behind them and interesting techniques in the patterns.

Andrea creates a very professional podcast, a proper TV show, full of fascinating interviews and snippets of their travels. I learn something every episode and I really enjoy catching up with people as passionate about their knitting as I am.

Excitingly, I've got a special discount on all my independently published patterns just for Fruity Knitting Patrons until Midnight, Sunday 16 September, 2018. You'll have to be a Patron to get the discount.

Fruity Knitting is an independent production. They don’t receive any money from YouTube ads or sponsors. At the moment, Andrea is working full time on the show including evenings and weekends. Andrew supports the production around his day job. It has become clear that this level of work is not sustainable, so their goal is to have the financial support for Andrew to work on the podcast as well. There are currently around 1700 patrons.

Head over to their website to find out how to become a Patron. There are different tiers of support you can sign up to, but basically, Patrons agree to a regular monthly contribution, starting at $5 per month (which is around $2.50 per episode). There is a small processing fee, and Andrea and Andrew pay tax, but most of your money goes directly towards supporting the Fruity Knitting Podcast. You can change or stop your payments at any time.

What will you get? Andrea and Andrew have worked out some "rewards" to show their gratitude for your support.  There are lots of behind the scenes discounts, interviews, chats and more. And, you also get to know that as a Patron you are keeping the Fruity Knitting on air, and that's great too.

FLOOZY PARTY!

Floozy madness has been so good! I'm loving seeing all your Floozy cardigans grow (have you joined the knit-along?!)

Our next exciting event in the Floozy calendar is a party! Will you join Catrien and me for a fun afternoon of knitting, yummy drinks and food and prizes? And, of course, lots of Floozy fun :)

Join us from 3 - 6 pm on Sunday 23 September, 2018 at Stitch and Bitch Lounge Cafe, 225 Parnell Road, Auckland. We've got the whole cafe to ourselves for our party and there is parking right across the road.

It would be really helpful for our planning if you'd book a free ticket so we can make sure we've got enough chairs, staff and goodies for you all.

Bring your current wip and your knitting buddies. Can't wait to see you!!

Happy knitting!

Wow guys! I'm totally thrilled that you love Floozy as much as I do! It's been so exciting to share her with you and I can't wait to see your Floozy cardy's grow!!

This week on the podcast we're lucky enough to peek behind the scenes into the studio of Catrien from Yarnfloozy; the magical Floozy yarn dyer!

FLOOZY CARDIGAN

You can grab the Floozy cardigan pattern here. The discount is still on, until Midnight, Friday 17 August 2018, with the code FLOOZY.

Check out all the gorgeous kits put together by so many fabulous dyers from all over the world! Click the highlight tab "Floozy Kits" in my Instagram bio.

I was thrilled to collaborate with Catrien for Floozy cardy and her colours and yarns are glorious. You can find more about Catrien and her Yarnfloozy yarn on her website: www.yarnfloozy.co.nz. A new pre-order goes live tonight, 8pm Friday 17 August, 2018 (NZ time)!

STAY IN TOUCH!

Instagram

Facebook

Ravelry group

Subscribe to my mini-mag to learn a new things, find out what's happening behind the scenes and get great discounts on new patterns!

Happy knitting!

Lib xxx

This week on the podcast we are talking all things FLOOZY!!

I'm joined by the very gorgeous Catrien from Yarnfloozy to celebrate the launch of Floozy cardigan; my design and Catrien's beautiful yarn.

We're chatting about how Floozy came to be and what inspired the colours we came up with as well as how to choose a size, techniques that we've enjoyed and the variety of options available in the pattern.

Catrien has created some beautiful colourways for your Floozy cardigans and you can grab a kit off her now. Just head over to www.yarnfloozy.co.nz to choose yours! What will it be? Traveller, Dreamer or Still Waters Run Deep! There's a flat rate for international postage but be quick! I think they'll fly out the door.

The pattern is available now on Ravelry as a pre-order. Use the code FLOOZY for a 15% discount.

As I explain in the video, this week you'll get everything you need to choose a size, yarn and start swatching. In two weeks our grand Floozy KAL begins in the Truly Myrtle Ravelry Group and the full pattern will drop and will be added to your Ravelry Library on 17 August 2018. Who's joining us?! We're going to have a ball.

Check out the gorgeous Yarnfloozy colourways below. 

Happy knitting!!

WOOL ON WHEELS!

Get ready New Zealand! Wool on Wheels is about to hit the road for an awesome national tour!

I sat down with Julie to chat about how Wool on Wheels has grown over the past year and hear about her plans for the rest of the year. You can find the tour schedule and more information on the Wool on Wheels website. Don't miss out!!

DEALING WITH MOTHS

After my workspace tour last time I had lots of messages about moths and this week I'm chatting about my many and varied ways of trying to deter them and what to do if moths strike.

Let me know if you have any tried and true tips!!

Happy knitting!

Libby xxx

This week after a morning of sheep wrangling ... I'm showing you around my work space. I have a cosy nook in our house where I do a lot of my work and store my stash, notions and knitting books. Join me for a look around!

Happy knitting!

Libby xxx

WOOLFEAST

I spent last weekend at Woolfeast in Christchurch. Find a show,  festival or knitting retreat near you!

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

I have a bunch of books on my shelves, I'm a bit of a book fiend! Often I borrow books from the library before I buy them and I encourage you to try out what you like by borrowing from your Library.

My top books are:

Anything by Elizabeth Zimmerman - particularly Knitting Workshop

Vogue Knitting, The Ultimate Knitting Book - I have the new edition and an older one and they're both great. Basically,  grab yourself a knitting encyclopedia! I've also got The Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt which is a tomb - jam packed with information but more wordy than the Vogue books.

Little Red in the City by Ysolda Teague. More than a pattern book, nearly half is dedicated to knitting techniques and lessons. It's a wonderful resource if you're a sweater knitter.

Cast On, Bind Off by Cap Sease. A super handy, very clear technique book that is easy to follow and includes 211 techniques. I use this one a lot.

Have a great couple of weeks!

Happy knitting,

Libby xxx