The KPPPM skeinlette designs are in, so scroll down and try to pick a favorite before casting your vote! I say "try" because all three designs are phenomenal. When I received the pictures it took me several hours to recover from a double attack of IKG and UOC (Inspired Knitting Genius and Unexpected Overwhelming Cuteness... don't say I didn't warn you!). But enough of my ramblings and onto the designs themselves!

Gorgeous Fingerless Mitts!

Behind Curtain #1 we have a stunning pair of exquisite fingerless mittens. The hand-warming body of these Fairisle wonders are charming, colorful and unique with the perfect finishing touch of lacy swallowtail edging around the fingers. I'm especially impressed with how well the color transitions melt effortlessly from one hue to the next incorporating the whole rainbow into one beautiful work of fiber art! Not to mention anyone wearing these trendy mitts is sure to turn a head or two with this eye-catching design wrapped around their digits.

Scarf In Progress

Curtain #2 yields a coy Koigu design for your neck! Unfortunately we received this particular piece late in the game (due to communication issues that are no fault of the designer), so you will have to combine this picture and my powers of description with your imagination :) The design itself was inspired by a simple, ribbed scarf with a lacy, over-sized flower that reminds me of something a flapper from the '20s might wear to a speakeasy. As you can see, this project starts out in a simple fisherman's rib using the warm reds, browns and oranges that abruptly switch to cooler blues, greens and purples for a "fire and ice" effect. This scarf does a stellar job of letting the hand-painted colorways shine and I'm just bummed we don't get to see the finished product!

Lola Lookin' Pretty in Koigu

Last but not least, Curtain #3 is an adorable knit for woman's best friend! This delightful dog sweater was designed for fashion-conscious Lola, a 9 pound shiatsu who shares her name with a character in the musical Damn Yankees originally played by the legendary actress/fashionista Gwen Verdon. Featuring a ruffled hem and sleeves along with a bright red flower on the shoulder, this feminine roll-neck sweater may be inspired by '50 fashion, but decades later it is a glamorous garment any dog would love to show off!

Congratulations to the three finalists for their incredible creations, we are all thrilled and awestruck by these marvelous designs! Readers, please chose your favorite and vote now! The poll (located in the top right hand corner above our Tweets) closes this Friday, January 28th at 3pm PST and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter. The design with the most votes will receive 3 skeins of KPPPM, and to ensure a fair vote we ask that you only vote once :)

Thank you!
Leanne

Another week, another roomful of new yarn, accessories and more! Of course Sandy Clause, December's Limited Edition Color is here! On top of offering this color in the traditional spectrum of Lorna's yarns, we also have a small quantity of the luxurious Baby Me Boo from Misiti Alpaca dyed in this vibrant colorway. Just one hank is great for a pair of festive fingerless mits or plush cowl. Also here for the holidays are Limited Edition tubs of Heel featuring Sandy Clause! This all-natural foot cream smooths and moisturizes feet, which is a definite plus during these cold, dry winter months. And with a name like Sandy Clause it seems almost wrong not to gift a tub along with a pair of hand knit socks or as a clever stocking stuffer!

Another excellent stocking stuffer or gift for your favorite knitting pals are the new Ewe Cuties Beaded Stitch Markers from Victoria S! These ultra-adorable glass bead sheep stitch markers come in sets of three and are sure to bring a smile to any knitter's face :) If you love the Cuties, be sure to check out the Holiday Snowmen and Holiday Chicks for Christmas-themed cuteness!

I harbor a (not so) secret addiction to knitting magazines, so I would be remiss not to to highlight the latest Winter Issue of Interweave Knits! Full of knitting articles and fabulous patterns, I've flipped through this magazine over a dozen times and still pick it up every time I walk by. This particular issue has several knee-high sock designs I am just dying to try! Of course there are also a ton of spectacular hat, scarf and glove patterns, as well as some fantastic pullovers and cardigans! If you're searching for some stylish winter knitting inspiration, the Winter Interweave Knits has you covered!

As you know, Koigu's KPPPM is finally here in 120 one-of-a-kind colorways! If you're just waiting for your killer design to be picked for the giveaway (see post below!) but jonesing to work with this gorgeous yarn in the mean time -or you just need an excuse to work with a couple hanks- consider Barb's Koigu Ruffle! One of our most popular patterns from Churchmouse, this exotic ruffle scarf uses just two hanks of KPPPM. While it makes a great gift, you may have a hard time parting with such a striking scarf :)

Have a wonderful week and happy knitting!
Leanne