KIS Designs

Who couldn't use some Sweet Ballroom Glitz this Christmas? This is a shimmering little knitted bracelet that I made as an example for a client.   My desire was to combine hand-dyed silver yarn with bright, gleaming silver and crystal beads in an effort to promote maximum sparkle and shine.     ...Nailed It! Wouldn't this make a wonderful bride/bridesmade bracelet? Want to make your own?  Check out my Cast On!  page for pattern purchase options/locations.  Or you can purchase the finished piece here:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/173066218/ballroom-glitz-knitted-bracelet?ref=shop_home_active

"One-Nighter Cowl" is ready for Cast On! This is a super-speedy knit which uses only one skein of Malabrigo Mecha, a deliciously soft and colorful yarn that lends itself well to this textural piece.  Start it tonight--wear it tomorrow  (it's That Fast) !  

To my wonderful test-knitters:  I tip my hat to you! Thank you Barb Barraclough, Carol McDonald and Lisa Jeffers, for testing my "Sea Urchin" hat pattern.  You ladies are the best! And a great big thank you to Sydney Asman for braving the rain and lending your beautiful smile to my knits once again! Pattern is now available online here:  <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/kis-designs-designs/182062">buy now</a>

Two new patterns out for testing: "Sea Urchin Hat" and matching "Blissful Mitts"    Hat pattern includes sizes from Newborn - Adult, and the fingerless gloves allow for two sizes also. Stay tuned for more pattern details!

Like a whisper, Naseem is a soft and subtle breeze.  Whimsical, yet intentional.  Sharp points are softened with a fine thread and sparkling jeweled accents give movement and life to the finished piece which is as much a pleasure to knit as it is to wear!

This week, I won a skein of yarn from Shalimar Yarns  For those of you who do not know me, I must confess that I have earned several... shall we call them "nicknames" in my knitting career.  Here are a few of them: Yarn Snob Yarn  Pusher Yarn iac Yarn addict Yarn Ho Are you seeing a pattern here (no pun intended...........ok, maybe it was intentional)?   So you can imagine my extreme excitement upon being notified that I  was the winner of this GLORIOUS, deep red skein of "Breathless" by Shalimar Yarns and believe me, I have been "Breathless" with anticipation ever since!  Is it as beautiful as the photograph?  What is the texture like?  Is it as soft as I imagine?  What shall I make?? (gasp, pant, drool!). Yesterdays mail arrived with its precious cargo and I am happy to announce that this skein, "American Beauty" is everything I'd hoped for!  The color:  The exact shade of "L.O.V.E".   The texture: ...

Sweet Little Swing Cardigan is Tested  and Approved for all Audiences! Knit from the top down, this sweet little  swing cardi   is an  easy, no-seam  project that you will want  to make for  your pride and joy  again and again!   The sizing   roughly  translates to child’s chest  sizes 24-30 inches.    (Child pictured is  2 years old and she is wearing the  smallest size).   Sweater is meant to be  worn open in the front with a  single or double button closure.   Find this new pattern ( and many others)  on Craftsy.com Happy Knitting!

The color purple is very significant when it comes to Casting On for charity!  This little cap was designed for the Period of Purple Crying Program .  This program educates new parents about the normal developmental stage of crying and teaches coping skills in an effort to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.  For more information on this program, check out their website at:   www.purplecrying.info .   From now until October 31st, hospitals across the U.S. are collecting little purple hats to be distributed to newborns during the month of November.   Want to lend your needles to the cause?  Contact your local hospital for their Period of Purple Crying Program details and Download this pattern for free here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/novembers-child   Happy Knitting!

Sweet Little Swing Cardi This sweet little swing cardi is out for testing and should be completed and ready for Ravelry, Craftsy, Etsy and YOU by the end of the week! This little cardigan uses very little yarn (a mere two skeins) and comes together quickly as a no-seam, top-down project.  It's a quick knit for your cutie-pie, pride and joy!  

"You say that Gainesville's got no soul Well that sounds like a good excuse for coming home And this Tallahassee skylines that keeps singing out a song And now it's your song they've been singing all night long And this Tallahassee rooftop just keeps calling out your name To come and stay... So stay So stay...." -Mayday Parade This IS Your Song......Simple.  Subtle.  Soft.   An all-season, wear-anywhere cowl which uses approximately 400 yards of fingering weight yarn.  Shown here:  Textiles A Mano, "La Habana"; 100% silk (Blue)  and Black Trillium, Pebble Sock; 100% Superwash Merino Wool, Color: Mallard (Green) See my "Cast On" page for pattern ordering details, and contact Apples to Oranges Fine Yarn and Gifts ( www.applestooranges.net ) for yarn ordering details.

NO.......Not THAT 5-0!!  Endless Summer  marks my 5oth pattern  listed in my Ravelry shop.   So to celebrate this milestone I am offering this pattern at a discounted price. Knit it While it's HOT!  This offer expires August 4th ;-)

New Pattern out for testing:  Endless Summer "Endless Summer"  is a speedy, one-skein project that is worked in one piece from the top down.   Knit in Luna , a gorgeous, glowing, 100% rayon hand-dyed yarn from Textiles A Mano, this wear-anywhere tunic features generous sizing with 3/4" sleeves and strategically placed eyelet detail to draw the eye away from "trouble areas".   It's a great "cover-up" over a swimsuit, tank top or sheath-style dress! Want to be part of a Great Cover-Up?  Keep a look-out on my "Cast-On" page for pattern availability and order details ;-)

  "For Luck" has been tested and approved for all audiences! All the inspiration needed for this tam-style hat was derived from the gorgeous, shiny hand- dyed merino/mulberry silk yarn from Black Trillium.  The end result is a light-on-weight, but heavy-on-style tam.  Tiny cables frame lacy horseshoes adding texture to the vibrant yarn. Thank you Deb Engelhard for testing this pattern, and to Sara Nathan for lending me your lovely smile!  I think you are both "Tam-Tastic" (I couldn't resist)!

I know it's been awhile since my last post, and I may not have had much opportunity to knit lately--but I can promise you that I have NOT been sitting on my hands! I have been given the wonderful opportunity to manage a new yarn shop, and it has been so much fun selecting yarns, needles, notions, baskets, bags, books, patterns, etc!! Soooooo much fun that "work" has felt like "play" much of the time ;-) Among the larger brands of yarns such as Cascade, Plymouth, Noro, Kramer, Malabrigo and Misty Alpaca, we have an impressive sampling of "Home Grown" yarns (yarns from local hand dyers) such as Black Trillium, Textiles A Mano, Alexandra's Crafts and Spinners Candy. Here is a look inside the shop: If you ever find yourself in Silverton, Oregon please stop in and say hello, pet some lovely yarn and sit and knit awhile with us.  

Testing is complete (Thank you Barb Barraclough!) and "Prairie Fire" is "Hot" off the presses and ready for publishing  (please see my "Cast On" page for ordering information).     This lightweight shawl features bouncy, merino wool by Malibrigo which I paired with the subtle haze of Cascade Kid Seta mohair. Simple shaping techniques were used to give the finished piece plenty of movement while glass beads add a touch of glamour and sophistication.  

New Tam pattern is out for testing. For this hat, I used some of the gorgeous Black Trillium Lilt Sock that I picked up at our Pints and Purls gathering (see previous post)..  Amazing color and gorgeous shine--I couldn't wait to get it onto my needles! This is a great all-season, lightweight tam that comes together quickly and you can easily get two made from one skein.  It might also be fun to incorporate a second color (any excuse to use more of Black Trillium's lovely yarn)! Look for Black Trillium at Apples to Oranges Fine Yarn and Gifts, opening in June.

Once a month a bunch of us get together to knit and crochet at a local brew pub.  This is a tradition started by my good friend, Celia Stapleton.  It's a great time for us to catch up with each other, share projects, sample some great beer and some fabulous food courtesy of Seven Brides Brewing . This month I asked Melanie from Black Trillium Fibre Studios to join us and bring along some of her wonderful yarns for show and sale.   Bring it, she did!!   Soooo much yarn to choose from.  Each colorway was spectacular!   I can't wait to see the projects made from this yarn at our next Pints and Purls. Beautiful Yarn makes for Happy Knitting, don't you agree?

"In The Loop" pattern is now available  (see our "Cast On" page for pattern purchase information) This has been a great project that worked up quickly in an amazingly soft, beautifully colored hand-painted yarn from Textiles A Mano in Eugene, Oregon. Check out their yarn here:  http://www.textilesamano.com/ I have another skein of Hand Painted yarn from Textiles A Mano in my yarn basket.  I think I shall have to get my hands on it quick!   Lovely yarn makes for Happy Knitting!

I sometimes get so caught up in my knitting-obsession that I forget what started KIS Designs:   Jewelry Design.   Here are a few of my designs.   I love to work with natural stones, fossils, handcrafted beads and silver and copper in combinations that range from simple, to surprising.          See more KIS Designs' jewelry here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/KISDesigns?section_id=6334146

From the Vine Pattern has been Tested and Approved for publishing! Get your KIS Designs patterns at these fine locations: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kelly-forster/patterns http://www.craftsy.com/user/128689/pattern-store https://www.etsy.com/shop/KISDesigns

Testing is complete and "From the Vine" is now available for download on Ravelry, Craftsy and Etsy (please see the "Cast On" page for more details) This was a relatively quick knit and looks great either pinned flat, or cascading from your shoulders in ripples.  Gorgeous yarn to work with (courtesy of my friend, Becky)!  Madelinetosh makes inspirational yarns in colors that drive you to knit!