Summer is here, but before we get too deep into heat waves and ice cream let's take a look back at the patterns that cam out in May 2021!  

Knitters often worry that summer is too hot to work with wool.  To that I say pshaw. When the sun goes down, and the temperature drops is a great time to pick up your wool and sticks to work on a shawl for the cooler days of fall that lay ahead.  

The Tidelawn shawl is a perfect, restful knit. Worked in garter stitch it features an asymmetrical triangle shape with lovely stripes to keep things interesting.  And if you finish it before the leaves change? Wouldn't it be lovely to throw in your bag so you have it ready when the A/C is making things a big too chilly? 

To see all the patterns featured in Fiber Happenings in the Month of May, Click on More! 

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Personally, April 2021 was a hectic month full of personal milestones.  April is the moth of my daughter's and husband's birthdays.  I got my first vaccine shot. And,  I HIT 1000 YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS!!!   I admit it's been hard the past few weeks as I've tried to balance life, paying gig, and the channel.  But, sharing knitting and building a community of fiber fanatics has been one of my  guiding stars during this crazy time in this world. 

I also remain committed to sharing the work of Off Rav Designers and Yarnies.  Fiber Happenings is still going strong.  I want to thank everyone who has supported through these endeavors. Whether it's a pat on the back or a tip in the hat, knowing that these efforts have had a positive impact on people is everything.  

I want to thank everyone who has continued to tune into my YouTube Channel and check out Fiber Happenings.  Carrie CraftGeek on YouTube is nearing 1000 subscribers and it is thanks to all of you.  This past month has been busy with work, life, the site and YouTube.  But, speaking with all of you during Livestreams and social media is a true joy in my life.

If you watch Knit Tea Live and stay for Pattern Spotlight, my favorite new pattern will be no surprise: Ozkan-Bullock Designs: March Flower Mitts.  The moment I saw this pattern in the Ozkan-Bullock Designs newsletter all I felt pure joy.  Tulips are one of my favorite flowers, and I think one of the happiest.  I believe whole heartedly that 2021 is the year of stranded colorwork.  I'm seeing so many patterns featuring this technique. This pattern is the perfect pattern if you are new to this technique!   You can find all of Bullock-Ozkan designs for sale on her Payhip store. 

Make Sure to Click on More to see all the new patterns featured on Fiber Happenings in the month of March!

February, the shortest month of the year, certainly seemed to fly by quickly this month.  For me it was a month of new beginnings, specifically I started a new job.  You can hear all about it - and what I do for a living - on my Knit Tea Live! .  Fair warning, moving into March I am still committed to updating Fiber Happenings on Friday, BUT, having a new ball to juggle I may be late on occasion. Thank you for understanding.  For now, let's look back at the amazing work indy designers brought us! 

Lauren Rad of A Bee in the Bonnet is one of my favorite designers. I featured her work in a designer spotlight during the February 14 Knit Tea Live! .  What I love about Lauren's work - aside from he photos that I want to daydream in- is the way she combines texture with lacy details. Her work strikes an elegant balance of cozy and light.  I think her latest pattern: The Snuggery Hat perfectly illustrates what I am talking about.  (Even the name feels light and comfy).  Also, I've said it before and I will say it a million times more. Follow Lauren on instagram.  Not only are her knits beautiful, so are her blooms!

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Of course, there were more patterns in February.  Read More to see all the pretty things made of pretty string. 

One of my New Year's resolution is a monthly post of the new patterns released from the past month and appeared on Fiber Happenings.  There are so many beautiful, original designs that come out  each year that it's hard sometimes to keep up with it all.  So, make sure to check back at the beginning of each month to see what patterns you may have missed OR to take a look at the pretty things again.  

Liz Corke Knits: Nathair-Sgiathac
I discovered Liz Corke while creating The Fiber Indy List and she is now one of my favorite knit designers.  Her work just speaks to me, even if I can't always pronounce the Gaelic names. (I'm the problem, not the Gaelic) This pattern blew me away when I saw it.  It features two stranded color work patterns: one side the tough hide of a dragon, the other side the soft belly. 

 Click to see more of the patterns that were released in January 2021!  Patterns appear in the order they were released. 

And I am now starting a KAL for February 2021.  I have been promising to get this together for MONTHS.  It is finally happening.  From February 1st to February 29th, I will be hosting a KAL for my Mera Fingerless Glove.  This is one of my all time favorite projects.  I dreamed this up while watching Aquaman and reminiscing about my own childhood fantasy of being a Mermaid.  This pattern is free for those taking part in the KAL.  To join sign up for my Fiber Group: Knits Where It's At.  Right now I have the introduction to the pattern posted so you can start gathering your supplies and, if you want, start a swatch.  (Want to learn all about making a swatch in the round? I have a video on that!)

It's New Years Day. I planned on getting this blog post up sooner, but life...what else is new.  Going into this New Year I am, as always, cautiously optimistic.  You may have heard it's been a tough time in the world.  It has.  I do not know what 2021 has in store.  But, to paraphrase Andy Dufresne, hope is a good thing, maybe the best thing.  

On Fiber Happenings I try not to play favorite with designers and their new pattern releases.  But, I'm only human.  Of course, I have patterns that spoke to my heart and soul strongly.  So, in no particular here is five of my Favorite patterns that appeared on The Fiber Happenings.   (I have more and hope to show off some more favorites from 2020 as we move into 2021!) 

Lovely fiber friends,

First, thank you for stopping by. It's truth time: I did plan to write a blog post to explain what to do after casting on a toe up sock using Judy's Magic Cast On. I still want to write up this blog post. However, I am a little zapped right now.  

In addition to be a full time human, wife, mother, YouTube creator, knitter, new spinner, keeper of The Fiber Indy List and Fiber Happenings....I have been volunteering as a texter for the Joe Biden campaign.  I try to keep politics out of this space. (I promise, I do try.) But, there are three week until the most consequential election of my lifetime.  (The second most consequential was 2016).  I have to believe that in the end I did what I could to make a difference.  

Not everyone may agree that getting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris  elected is the best thing for the United States. But, for me and my family it is.  In the midst of everything I am doing, something has to give. For right now it's the blog space.  The good news is there is only three more weeks until Election Day - the last day of Election Season.  But, until then, unless it's something I can rip off quickly, I'm going to put a pin in the blog.  

With that said, I'm going to ask you a favor: in the next three weeks you will likely get your phone blown up by political campaigns. Trust me, I get it.  These texts can be annoying and feel intrusive.  But, I ask you to assume that on the other end of that cell phone connection is a human being volunteering their time from home in the Unites States.  Please respond to the text like you would a human being standing in front of you.  

The people volunteering to text and call are not paid. We  do not want to annoy you.  We do it to identify supporters, recruit volunteers and encourage people to vote. 

You are very likely getting similar sounds texts from different organizations. Every group gets their contact lists the same ways: publicly available information in voter rolls.  If you are getting too many texts all you have to do is text STOP and you will be opted out.  If you get another text, it's most likely a different organization with a different list created from the same database of information: voter rolls.  Text "Stop" again. 

Profanity does not get you off the list.  Sending GIFS or images does not get you off the list. There's a good chance the tester can't even see it.  Responding with nonsense does not get you off the list.  The best way to ensure you get off a list is text "Stop" 

Okay, thank you for understanding. 

Happy Health and Happy Knitting! 

When learning to knit we are told to "knit a gauge swatch" That's it. But, knitting a fabulous gauge swatch is more involved than just doing it. And when we seek help from other knitters we often get bad advice and incomplete information.

But, I have good news, we do not have to keep living this way. We can get better results from our swatches by following some easy steps. Yes, some of this is about paying attention to details. But, paying attention to details is the difference between handmade and homemade. 

To find my top 10 tips for getting an accurate gauge swatch click below to keep reading

Crochet:
Dissent Cowl by Carissa Browning*: $5.00 Currently 20% of sales will be donated to the ACLU. Fall is coming and this gorgeous cowl will keep you as warm as the quiet fire Ruth Bader Ginsburg brought to a dissenting opinion. The cowl features textured stitches and baubles to mimick the beading of many of Justice Ginsburg's jabots. 

Ginsburg Coller by Sheila Toy Stromberg:  $2.00 Lovely crochet lace collar.  This would work up quickly and easily added to a sweater set, Halloween costume, or to wear when you go out to vote.  Perhaps make it up in Purple to allign with emPower People Project.  (Information on emPower People is on the TFIL main page under Fiber Happenings)

RBandG Tank Top by Stephanie Erin*: $7.91. This very cool top down tank top has a neckline inspired by RBG's Dissnet collar.  No need to wait until sweater weather to show off your admiration for the Notorious RBG. 

RBG Doll and Finger Puppet*: $5.75 Keep  the Notorious RGB memory alive by making one of these toys for a favorite child in your life.  Or make the doll for yourself to keep on your desk, a shelf, anywhere you might need to occassionally look up and feel inspired.  Because sometimes we all need to ask "What Would Ruth Bader Ginsburg do." 

Knitting:
Dissent by Andra Rangel: $10.00 Beautiful, stranded color work yoke cardigan that evokes Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissent coller.  Andrae Rangel also has a pullover sweater version of this project.

Dissent Cowl by Carissa Browning: Mosaic Pattern* $5.00.  Currently 20% of sales will be donated to the ACLU. This is a knitted Cowl pattern by Carissa Browning. This cowl features mosaic pattern work and is a top down construction. It will also keep you as warm as the steely determination Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lifted weight. 

Some things to do:

• Call, text and write your representative.  Tell them what you want them to do with the power We the People have invested in them. Resist Bot can help.
• Make a plan to vote in honor of the Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dissent in Shelby vs Holder. The majority opinion gutted the Voting Rights Act.  Many BIPOC Americans have to work harder to vote than ever.  To restore the VRA we have to show up at the polls.
• Volunteer to be a poll worker in your area, again to honor her dissent of Shelby v Holder
• Do not shop at Hobby Lobby if you do not have to in honor of Justice Ginsburg's dissent in Hobby Lobby vs United States which allows some companies to deny employees health insurance that covers birth control