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It’s been a while since I’ve sent anything out, because things here have been INSANE.
My husband and I traveled to New Mexico in June (so amazing and gorgeous), and while we were gone, our apartment was robbed. Little did we know this was just the first incident in what we first dubbed “The Week of Doom,” which snowballed into “The Month of Doom,” and in reality was six solid weeks of stressful DOOM. More thefts, very sick pets (still reeling from vet bills), total chaos.
Things are thankfully much quieter now. *sigh of relief*
We’ve moved to a safer apartment in a lovely 1920s building in a cute Birmingham neighborhood. I’m writing you from my little screened-in porch with my dog, Leelu, at my feet. I’ve also moved my work stuff into a new studio space, so the apartment doesn’t look like a yarn shop blew up all over the furniture. Chris is very happy about this last part.
If you’d like to write to me, send cookies, postcards, whatever, I have a new mailing address. It’s a rented mailbox and they take all carriers’ shipments:
1116 20th St S #203
Birmingham, AL 35205
In the calm after the storm of June/July, I’ve been able to FINALLY finish up two sweater patterns that have been waiting in the wings. Both are sponsored by Blue Water Fibers, the US distributor for Erika Knight’s luscious classic British wool yarns.
Meet Highland Avenue and Cobb Lane!
Highland Avenue cardigan
Cobb Lane pullover
Both of these sweaters, along with everything available in my Ravelry pattern store, are now 30% off, now through my birthday weekend, 9/21. Grab one (or three?) for yourself, gift a pattern to a friend, or perform a random act of kindness for a fellow Ravelry group member. No need for a coupon code, just shop to your heart’s delight and all items will be automatically discounted in your shopping cart. Easy peasy, rice and cheesy.
The Brioche Knitting Made Easy class on Craftsy is still going strong! If you still haven’t signed up, come on over and join us. I’m so proud of what my students are knitting up!
How has your summer been? What are you planning for autumn? Tell me all about it.
Have you ever wanted to learn brioche knitting? Join me on Craftsy for my new class, Brioche Knitting Made Easy! I’m incredibly excited to finally be able to share this class with you. After several months of work, the Craftsy team and I created a class full of helpful videos, tips, and beautiful brioche knit projects to share my love of brioche knitting. Love may be an understatement. I’m OBSESSED with brioche knitting.
Follow along with me while we knit three brioche projects: a simple hat, faux-cabled fingerless mitts, and a stunning brioche cowl that you can knit in one color or two. I’m on the Craftsy platform to chat and answer your questions, so as you learn, you’ll have my support all the way!
Once you sign up for the class, it never expires, so you can revisit the videos and patterns any time you like. No worries if you have a busy month and have to put down your knitting for a while, the class will be there for you whenever you get back! I love that option on the Craftsy courses I’ve enrolled in.
Learn more about the class and check out the video preview at Craftsy.com. Brioche is one of those knitting techniques that can look intimidating to begin, but I’ve broken the technique down into easy-to-learn lessons. The videos are incredibly helpful, and the Craftsy platform has a handy 30 second rewind feature that lets you back up and check out how to work stitches over and over until it “clicks”. I love that!
If you’ve been following me on twitter, facebook, or here at the Mercedes Knits blog, you know how much I love brioche knitting and sharing the technique. After crafting the manuscript for my upcoming book, the process of creating this class was such a joy, and an amazing opportunity to share what I love with you.
Join my growing army of brioche knitters!
Join Brioche Knitting Made Easy at a discount by enrolling today!
The title is more accurate than the usual San Francisco based song lyric. Not that I didn’t enjoy SF, but my time in Oakland with the Kristine and Adrienne (and CLEO!) of A Verb for Keeping Warm and my friend Karen Templer definitely left me with a case of the warm fuzzies. And an almost pathological avoidance of my inbox.
I left the day before Halloween to teach two days of Brioche Knitting classes at Interweave Knitting Lab in San Mateo, CA. My classes were delightful! Afterward, I stayed in Oakland for a few days of mini-vacation, exploring San Francisco with K&A: visiting The Presidio to see the Andy Goldsworthy installations, shopping in Japantown, and hunting for treasures at the enormous Alameda Flea and Antique market (where I bought a suh-weet vintage CAST IRON SKILLET, which I toted home in my carry-on suitcase like a crazy lady).
On the way home, I managed to miss my connecting flight through Chicago, so I called my bestie Amanda, and zipped over to her place on the Blue Line train. I got to visit her, her husband Derek, and the lovely Lorna’s Laces yarn studio for about 24 hours before hopping back on another plane. And then I slept. And slept. And slept a little more for good measure. And ate restorative Alabama BBQ.
Here’s a visual travelogue of my adventures and treasures.
 This sums up my California/Chicago travels. Dogs and yarn.  Spire by Andy Goldsworthy. Epic.  Goldsworthy installation. We hiked up and down the whole thing and met a little dog in a crocheted sweater, so much fun.  Flea market finds.  Shabu shabu dinner with A-day, Kristine, and Mary Jane Mucklestone. Fun dinner!  Spirit tasting room at St. George Spirits, home of Hangar 1 Vodka. We’re VERY happy.  Car ride with Cleo.  Kristine in the Verb dye studio.  A-day scouring and mordanting some California Pioneer yarn!  My beloved skillet.  Sam the dog at the Lorna’s Laces studio.  Treasures from Verb.  These sewing books from Kunokiniya were irresistible.
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