Wednesday Inspiration + Free Pattern Alert!

We’re excited to show off some images from Japan for this week’s Wednesday Inspiration…

From the magazine “KEITODAMA,” we love how they are showcasing our Magic Ball, our most popular yarn. Stunning!

We also have a new FREE pattern by Caroline Moore, the Golden Coast Hat.

Caroline says, “It was inspired by the (naturally) Golden Coast of NorCal, where a cabled hat is always appreciated as the cool winds blow in from the Pacific. It uses 2 skeins of Satisfaction and is knit in the round. The pattern features a rope cable and a moss stitch diamond, reminiscent of the spires of the Golden Gate Bridge. This hat is a fun, fast knit and a great way to try out Be Sweet’s Simply Sweet Satisfaction.”

Download the free pattern here.

Free Pattern Monday!

Mondays never get better, that’s just a fact of like. Just as the sun rises in the east, autumn follows summer, and things always look better in the morning, Mondays are always Mondays.

To cheer you up, we’re offering up a new free pattern, the Marbled Rocks Hat.

Knit with our Simply Sweet Satisfaction yarn and Marbled Mohair held together, this quick knit will get you through winter and into spring.

Download the free pattern here.

 

Ponchello Invasion!

Remember we introduced you to StevenBe’s Eyelet Ponchini a while back, readers?

The pattern has taken off and it seems like everyone is knitting it! StevenBe has introduced a new version with multiple colors called the Poncello (same pattern, more colors). Check out our very own Nadine Curtis modeling it at TNNA!

Nancy Queen (left) & Nadine Curtis (right)

Amy Small (left) & Nadine Curtis (right)

Looking for the pattern? Download it here.

Wednesday Inspiration

Wednesday again, readers! That means we’re halfway to the weekend!

Our founder, Nadine Curtis, is very much into the music scene. Nadine grew up in Boulder, CO and recently stumbled across Muscle Shoals, a documentary featured in Sundance.

Located on the banks of the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of the most creative and defiant music in American history.

Under the spiritual influence of the “Singing River” as Native Americans called it, the music of Muscle Shoals is some of the most important and resonant of all time. “I’ll Take You There”, “Brown Sugar”, “When a Man Loves a Woman”, “I Never Loved A Man the Way That I Loved You”, “Mustang Sally”, “Tell Mama”, “Kodachrome”, and “Freebird” are just a few of the tens of thousands of tracks created there.

At its heart is Rick Hall who founded FAME Studios. Overcoming crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, he brought black and white musicians together to create music that would last for generations while also giving birth to the unique ‘Muscle Shoals sound’ and the rhythm section ‘The Swampers’.

In this movie legendary artists including Aretha Franklin, Greg Allman, Bono, Clarence Carter, Jimmy Cliff, Mick Jagger, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Wilson Pickett, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge, Steve Winwood and others bear witness to the magnetism and mystery of Muscle Shoals and why it remains a global influence today.

TranqWool

We are always excited to feature a yarn shop that carries our Be Sweet yarns, and we’re especially excited to introduce you readers to Jenni Pfaff of TranqWool. TranqWool is a yarn shop in Spencer, NC that is currently hosting the Be Sweet Trunk Show. You can join their Facebook fan page here. Jenni was kind enough to sit down with us amongst the hustle and bustle of hosting a trunk show and answer a few questions for us…

Be Sweet (BS): What’s your favorite aspect of owning a yarn store?

Jenni Pfaff (JP): My favorite aspect of owning a yarn store is the sense of family that comes from the community of wonderful customers who walk through our door.

Julie in our Ostrich Shawl.

BS: When did you start knitting?

JP: I learned to knit from my Grandmother, about 20 years ago.

Teri (left) who catered the event and Jenni’s daughter, Taylor (right).

BS: Do you have a favorite Be Sweet project or yarn?

JP: My favorite Be Sweet yarn is the Bamboo.  I knit the Layering Shrug on Ravelry with it, as well as a pair of boxer briefs for my husband.  Pictures of those are in the “What We’re Knitting” section of our website, www.tranqwoolknittingprovisions.com.

BS: What is your favorite thing to knit?

JP: I don’t have a favorite thing to knit, but enjoy interesting projects.  I just finished a pair of split-toe socks for my son to wear with his flip flops, and also enjoy Amigurumi.

Be Sweet in the window!

BS: What is your favorite sweet candy?

JP: My favorite candy (of the moment) are Dark Chocolate Mint M&M’s.  They taste just like Girl Scout Thin Mints 🙂

Jenni’s shop moved in with the Green Goat Gallery. That’s the gallery owner, Anne (left), Jenni’s husband Brian (center) and Jenni (right).

Thanks, Jenni! We’re so glad you’re enjoying the trunk show!

If you are a yarn shop owner or would like to see your LYS host the Be Sweet trunk show, please contact us here.

Be Sweet & The Today Show!

Did you know that Be Sweet was mentioned on the Today show?

In a short and sweet segment, designer Diane Soucy designed these cute, free fingerless mitts out of our Stitch Red yarn Whipped Cream. Watch about 7 minutes into the video!

http://www.today.com/id/29054368/ns/kathie_lee_and_hoda/#50665655

 

The pattern will be up for free on her website later in the week here.

How cute would these be to knit for your Valentine?

Wednesday Inspiration

Time for your weekly dose of inspirations, readers!

If this doesn’t make you smile (or want to visit Scotland) we don’t know what will!

Spring 2013 Preview

We’re excited to give you a sneak peek for our Spring 2013 pattern preview! Details coming soon…

Wednesday Inspiration

It’s Wednesday, readers! Time for your weekly dose of inspiration!

Check out artist Michelle Holzapfel’s stunning carved wooden (that’s right, it’s wood!) knitting still life!

Her work begins with a hunk of native hardwood burl, harvested from local sources. Burls are caused by a virus which causes bulging growths on the host tree – more analogous to a wart than a cancer. Sanding reveals the extravagant swirling patterns of burlwood. She uses many wood-carving technologies – bandsaw and chainsaw, heavy and light duty air powered grinders, as well as hand tools.

She says, “I use the materials, tools and techniques of woodworking to render images from daily life: textile, plant, animal and human forms. This vocabulary emphasizes the tactile possibilities of wood: from smoothly pleated forms and carved basketweave motifs to corduroy-textured surfaces.Through these efforts, I honor the spirit of my artisan ancestry and the quiet heroism of daily life while contributing to the changing forms of human culture.

Violence has been a central impetus in my work for many years: the violence I do to the wood, the physical wear-and-tear to my joints and muscles, the wresting of attention from the viewer, and the relentless brutality of our commercial age. But when these forces are momentarily focused….and skill serves intention….a small, temporary truce may be won—at a cost.”

Check out more of her work at Applewoods here.

Free Pattern Monday!

It’s Monday, readers.

I don’t know about you, but where I am it’s ice raining, cold and overcast. Let’s brighten things up, shall we?

We’d like to introduce you to a free pattern this miserable Monday knit up in our Be Sweet T-Shirt yarn designed by Tanis Gray! A four-stranded braid, you can make this simple necklace as long or as short as you want, no knitting needles required. 4 Hanks of yarn will make up multiple necklaces.

Download the free Plaited Necklace pattern here.