SMP Craft

I promised a few weeks back that to celebrate spring, I’d be posting some springtime knit and crochet flower patterns to get you excited for this beautiful season. Here is our first flower pattern from 75 Floral Blocks to Knit by Lesley Stanfield.

(click cover to buy)

This pattern is the perfect inspiration for spring, as flowers begin to bloom in vibrant colors around our neighborhoods. I love taking slow strolls around the block and staring into the gardens to see all the different flowers that have sprung from the ground.

This Flower Bed pattern is a repeat pattern that’s usually worked in two colors. But varying the colors through makes a lovely springtime garden scene. A scheme of slip stitches means that only one color is worked at a time.

MATERIALS
Yarn DK wool in pale gray (A), 4 shades of green (B), and 4 shades of mauve and pink (C)
Equipment A pair of knitting needles

METHOD

Specific abbreviation
mb make bobble: p3, turn, k3, turn, p3tog, take yarn to back.

Note All slip stitches are slipped purlwise.

INSTRUCTIONS

Using A, cast on 33 sts.
1st and 3rd rows (RS) K.
2nd and 4th rows P.
Change to first shade B.
5th row K.
6th row K5, [wrapping yarn 3 times for each st k3, k7] twice, wrapping yarn 3 times for each st k3, k5.
Change to A.
7th row K1, [slip 1, k3, slip 3 dropping extra wraps, k3] 3 times, slip 1, k1.
8th row P1, [wyif slip 1, p3, wyif slip 3, p3] 3 times, wyif slip 1, p1.
9th row K5, [slip 3, k7] twice, slip 3, k5.
10th row P5, [wyif slip 3, p7] twice, wyif slip 3, p5.
11th row K3, [slip 2, drop next st off needle to front, slip same 2 slip sts back on to left-hand needle, pick up and k dropped st without twisting it, k3, drop next st off needle to front, k2, pick up and k dropped st without twisting it, k3] 3 times.
Change to first shade C.
12th row P1, wyif slip 2, * [(p1, k1, p1) in next st, wyif slip 2] twice, (p1, k1, p1) in next st, wyif slip 3; repeat from * once, [(p1, k1, p1) in next st, wyif slip 2] 3 times, p1.
13th row K1, slip 2, * mb, [slip 2, mb] twice, slip 3; repeat from * once, [mb, slip 2] 3 times, k1.
Change to A.
14th row P, working each bobble st tbl. Repeat 3rd–14th rows 3 times more, substituting shades B and C each time. K1 row, p1 row, k1 row.
Bind off knitwise.

Cath Kidston’s Radio Tea Cozy

I once had a friend who told me that she could knit and read a book at the same time. I never saw her do it with my own eyes, so I’m doubtful. I can barely manage eating cereal with a spoon in one hand and holding a book in the other. How can someone possibly knit AND read simultaneously? Well, have I got a solution for you…kinda. Audiobooks! Now you can knit to your heart’s content, while an excellent narrator does all the hard work and reads to you. Hooray for multitasking!

Today, we’re teaming up with Macmillan Audio to give away 3 copies of an audiobook for bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford. Her latest novel Secrets from the Past  follows American photojournalist Serena Stone as she works to uncover long-buried secrets about her family. Much like her famous father, Serena has made a name for herself covering wars in the Middle East. But after years of danger, Serena has grown tired of the lifestyle and decides to turn her attention to writing a biography of her late father. She’s forced out of the safety of her new life, however, when she learns that her former lover Zachary North is hurt overseas. While nursing him back to health, she goes through her father’s papers only to find a shocking secrets which sends her to Libya in order to unravel the mystery surrounding her parents’ lives. Read by Stina Nielsen, the Secrets from the Past audiobook has everything a listening could ask for: deep secrets, romance, betrayal, redemption, and more. The twists and turns will keep you working on projects longer than usual as you get caught up in the narrative and want to hear what happens next.

To enter to win, please leave a comment below telling us whether you can craft and read at the same time. Be honest! I want to know if people are better at multitasking than I am. Also we’d love for you to sign up for our newsletter at the top-right of this page. Please only one comment per person and, sorry, but this contest is for U.S. citizens only. This giveaway will run from May 10 — May 23 and the 3 winners will be chosen at random using random.org on Friday, May 24. Good luck!

If you’ve stopped in to Uniqlo lately, you’ll have noticed the awesome Celia Birtwell-Uniqlo collaboration! Celia Birtwell is the famed textile designer whose work is instantly-recognizable and timeless. A few years ago, we published a fantastic book that delves in to her work and eventful life. Celia Birtwell, featured candid photographs of the designer and the friends who surrounded her (including artist David Hockney and ex-husband Ossie Clark) plus tons of her colorful and charming drawings and fashion sketches. The book is simply stunning.

And now you can own your own piece of Celia Birtwell! Uniqlo’s carrying a range of clothing and accessories that are really well-priced. To be perfectly honest, it’s a little overwhelming! I spent about 20 minutes in front of the little totebags bags trying to pick out just the right pattern for moi. I mean look at this:

Where does one begin?

Well, don’t worry, I figured it out. After stopping in initially to buy a denim jacket, I ended up picking up these little treats as well:

A new scarf and bag!

I love the Beasties print on the tote bag. I chose it because there are so many different things to look at. The beasts are an amalgamation of different animals and prints: a spotted horse body with a lion head or a prancing checkered antelope.

If you love Celia Birtwell’s prints as much as we do, I highly recommend checking out our wonderful book to learn about her life, process, and amazing work!

(click on cover to buy)

Mother-daughter team Bert Rachel Freed and Dana Elizabeth Freed signing books and demonstrating from their book at the Kinokuniya book store

For those of you who missed it, the Kinokuniya book store in New York City hosted a wonderful event for our talented Bead Crochet Jewelry authors Bert and Dana Freed this past Saturday,  April 20 Bert and Rachel were on hand to sign copies of their book,teach the techniques to create their delightful array of projects, and of course, show off their beautiful handiwork!

It was a great turnout and we hope everyone who was able to attend was inspired by our super talented authors and their gorgeous jewelry designs! Keep checking our blog to see when one of our authors is at a store near you so you can stop by, say hello, and maybe pick up a new skill!

Sunflowers from 50 Sunflowers to Knit, Crochet & Felt by Kristin Nicholas

It’s springtime in New York and I couldn’t help but be inspired by the budding flowers outside, so I created a Pinterest page featuring some the beautiful blooms from our books. Oh, you didn’t know that we have a treasure trove of gorgeous floral craft books? Well, now you do. Ever since we published 100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet back in March 2009, which was a smash success, we couldn’t stop giving crafters what they were looking for: flowers and flowers and some cute critters galore! Check out the Pinterest to page to see all the different varieties of flowers, blossoms, vines, leaves, and fruits that you can make from our books.

And speaking of making flowers, Creativebug is currently hosting a giveaway for the book 50 Sunflowers to Knit, Crochet & Felt by Kristin Nicholas on their website. Click on the link to enter to win a copy of the book, 3 skeins of Kristin’s Classic Elite Color by Kristin yarn, and a 3-month subscription to Creativebug. Bonus: You can check out a lovely video of Kristin’s farm and animals, plus her beautifully colorful home. Good luck! And keep checking back on our blog for some free floral knitting patterns in the coming weeks to celebrate the season!

Hear ye, hear ye, fellow guacamole lovers! Do you make mind-blowing guacamole? Then why don’t you put your guac to the test and enter Nachos NY‘s 5th annual Guactacular? On Sunday, May 5 from 2 to 9p.m., at the Bell House in Brooklyn, this epic guacamole showdown will take place. Home cooks will be competing in the afternoon, while food industry pros face off at night. Do you think you’ve got what it takes? Then enter to achieve guacamole greatness by emailing rachel@nachosny.com with the subject line “Guactacular Competitor” to join.

If mashing avocados isn’t your thing, but eating delicious, creamy guacamole is, then buy your tickets here to take part in the festivities and to fill your bellies full of yummy. The Coolhaus truck will be there during the afternoon session selling their insanely-good ice cream sandwiches, and Mexicue will be slinging their tacos and sliders at night. The Sporkful will also be present, covering the day’s festivities for their weekly podcast.

Have I made you hungry? If you want to guac out in the comfort of your own home, then check out our new book from the founders of Nachos NY and the Guactacular, Lee Frank and Rachel Anderson. In Ultimate Nachos there are over 80 recipes for nachos, guacamole, salsas, queso, cocktails, and more. With this book, you can seriously eat nachos for every meal of the day with dishes like Sunny Side Nachos, Nachos with Lamb and Black Bean Chili, and Nachos Panna Cotta! The best part: former Guactacular-winning recipes are featured in the book. So you can try your hand at Ricotta and Red Onion Guacamole or Ginger Guacamole with Vegan Sriracha Mayonnaise. You know you want to!

(click on cover to pre-order your copy)

I love when I get to be crafty at work! Courtesy of author Molly Suber Thorpe of Plurabelle Calligraphy (whose book Modern Calligraphy comes out in September) I had another round of office crafting at my desk when I got to make pretty little packages!

Molly calligraphed the names of some friends, digitized her work, then had them turned into rubberstamps. Then I had the pleasure of packaging these awesome little gifts. I went to my favorite papercrafting store in NYC, Paper Presentation, which is just a few blocks from the office and found the perfect way to giftwrap these packages with just the right touch. I bought some bright ink pads, some bright blue circular seals, and notecards and envelopes, and then I found the piece de resistance! These adorable gift bags that look like looseleaf paper. Perfect for stamping the names on!  In my humble opinion, I think this package came together quite well!! I’d be psyched to receive a gift like this.

Want to make some beautiful calligraphed rubberstamps of your own? Look out for Molly’s book,  Modern Calligraphy, which comes out September 24. (I apologize for the long wait, but we’re working as fast as we can to get the book in tip-top shape. I promise, it’s gonna be worth the wait!) In it, you’ll learn not only how to perfect this gorgeous hand-lettered script, but you’ll get step-by-step directions to create some wonderful projects like these stamps, as well as cupcake toppers, invitations, etc… Also, check back on the blog, as I’ll post more materials from the book as we get closer to the pub date!

(click cover to buy)

There’s nothing like a thick, creamy milkshake to make you feel like a kid again. In this book author Autumn Martin, an award-winning chocolatier and owner of Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery in Seattle, shares a range of 60 new and old dessert drinks that will have you salivating and ready to get your milkshake on! I guarantee you that there’s something within the pages of this gem to satisfy any sweet tooth. Relive a nostalgic moment by indulging in one of the Soda Fountain Classics like  Banana, Butterscotch, or Strawberry.

Strawberry Shake

Or how about creating these Salted Peanut Butter Cookies Ice Cream Sandwiches that are to die for?

In the Modern Flavors chapter, Autumn shakes it up by adding unique twists to time-honored flavors that both kids and adults will love like Salted Caramel, Not Your Grandma’s Apple Pie Shake, Strawberry Cheesecake, and much more.

It’s Peanut Butter Jelly time!

Molten Chocolate Cake Shake

Lemon Curd Raspberry Shake

Finally, the Boozy Shakes chapter is the one to turn to late at night when the kids are in bed. Sip on Chocolate Espresso Whiskey Malts, Mojito and Campari Shakes, or try the Jalapeno Tequila Shake for a kick!

St-Germain and Huckleberry Shake

Are you drooling and ready to get started making some of your own malts and milkshakes? Do you have an ice cream maker? No? Well, not to worry! For anyone without one, all the recipes in the book can be made with store-bought ice cream or using one of the three basic ice cream recipes given at the beginning of the book for chocolate, vanilla, and ginger. And for complete beginners, an overview of blenders and ice cream and sorbet makers is given, along with notes for how to choose the best ingredients for your frozen treats. Autumn also provides a host of ideas for variations and side dessert, as well as bonus recipes for mouthwatering syrups and sauces for drizzling onto your malts and shakes. With all these delicious possibilities, who can pass up a milkshake?

(click on cover to buy)

With the weather changing, it’s time to clear out your closet and add in some lighter, airy, springtime garments. Our new book Bold & Beautiful Easy-Sew Clothes features stylish separates that are easy to sew and flatter every body type. The range of tunics, vests, dresses, jackets, and skirts are versatile, comfortable to wear, and contain a one-size-fits-all construction that’s a cinch to make up. The designs are filled with subtle interesting details, which are highlighted on the pattern pages of the book, from pleats to pockets and drawstrings, and author Habibe Acikgoz provides concise instructions to for how to add these details and get the right fit for your garments.

The 15 designs in the book contain step-by-step instructions, pattern pages for reference in the back of the book, plus a CD which contains all the patterns for you to print out in full size at home! A Pockets section provides clear directions for how to add a range of these practical design elements to your garments for added interest. The Easy-Sew Techniques are straightforward and easy to follow, so you can do everything from sew simple seams to add facings and finishings.

Check out a sampling of pages from this fantastic illustrated book below. I hope you like what you see and are inspired by the modern, swinging silhouettes that Habibe is known for.

(click cover to buy)

Today we have an excellent guest blog post from author Leonie Morgan. Her new book 100 Colorful Granny Squares to Crochet: Dozens of Mix and Match Combos and Fabulous Projects is filled with cheery granny squares in bright, eye-popping colors. Below she shows you how nature inspires her color choices when she crochets and for crafters who are a little intimidated by color, gives advice for how to construct a bold palette. Leonie also includes a link to a Pinterest board she created that displays a collection of wonderful crochet projects that provide color inspiration for her.

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We are surrounded by color every waking moment. There is so much inspiration around us! I take inspiration from absolutely anything and everything.

Here’s a holiday photograph I took in Norway.

I love the colors in the picture, the contrast of blues and reds with touches of yellow and white. Using some of the colors in the photograph, I have planned the color combination of my next crochet project.

The colors are beautiful and so wonderfully evocative of my holiday!

I love choosing color combinations for new projects – I get giddy with excitement. There are so many colors to choose from, so where do you start?  Here are some things to keep in mind:

A mixture of light and dark colors provides plenty of interest. Too many dark colors can look flat and too many light colors can look faded. Mixing light and dark colors will boost the contrast of your color palette, adding punch and interest. Don’t forget neutrals, such as, gray, cream, black, and white. I tend to choose palettes with a light, a dark, and a middle shade. Even though the three colors may be completely different or shades of the same color, the light or dark value is as important as the color. As an example, picture a beautiful tree decked in green leaves. It may seem that the leaves are all just green, but when you look closer, you can see a whole range of greens from the very palest tint of green, to deep, dark, shady greens. Our eye is drawn to contrasts so it’s good to keep in mind that a mixture of lights and darks will look the most stunning.

There are handy tools online for picking color combinations. Browse the Pantone website for current color trends, try a color theme generator, or browse through photographs on Flickr and Pinterest. Here is a Pinterest board I created of other people’s crochet work that I absolutely love!

Ultimately, color is a hugely personal thing. One person’s favorite color can be someone else’s most hated color! The truth to color choice is that there is no right or wrong, it’s all relative and my best advice is to just go for it! Mix colors you love to your heart’s content and see what you come up with. You can always make a test square to doublecheck your choices. Remember: Rules are meant to be broken!

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Like what you see? We’re giving away a copy of Leonie’s fabulous book, plus two skeins of Vanna’s Choice yarn to two lucky winners. To enter to win, please leave a comment below telling us your go-to color combo (also we’d love you to sign up for our newsletter at the top-right of this page). Please only one comment per person and, sorry, but this contest is for U.S. and Canadian citizens only. This giveaway will run from April 1 — April 11 and two winners will be chosen at random using random.org on Friday, April 12. Good luck!

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Winners!

Congratulations to Sarah H. and Patty, the winners of our book and yarn giveaway!

Thank you to everyone who entered and for the overwhelming response! Check back again soon for more giveaways!