Hana Hou: A Giveaway!

14FebApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

Is someone giving you roses today? Maybe a huge box of chocolate? Valentine’s Day can be a wonderful bright spot in the depths of winter but if, like me, you aren’t likely to get something from a sweetheart, then let me step in and give you a sweet little treat of my own…

My friend Mel of Singlehanded Knits has just released Hana Hou, a gorgeous new cardigan design that I just love, absolutely love. Knit in sport weight yarn and perfect for SpaceCadet Lyra, it features an asymmetrical style with a really beautiful border detail on the placket and cuffs. It’s just the kind of knit you find yourself itching to get on the needles…

But there’s something more about Hana Hou that knocked my socks off. Rather than simply put together a regular pattern, Mel has turned Hana Hou into a stunning look book, each page filled with the most incredibly luscious photography alongside the pattern instructions. Every image makes you feel like you are falling right into the page and changes Hana Hou from a simple pattern into something that feels more like an escape to the islands. I can’t stop scrolling through it on my iPad…

Win a Copy of the Hana Hou Pattern & Look Book!

So how about a copy of your own? You got it! Mel has very generously given me seven copies of Hana Hou to give away to seven lucky winners!

All you have to do is:

go to Ravelry (click here) and add Hana Hou to either your favourites or your queue
and then leave a comment here on the blog telling me which Lyra colourway you’d choose for your Hana Hou (don’t forget to mention your Ravelry name)

That’s it! Once that’s done, you’re in with a chance to win your own copy of the gorgeous Hana Hou pattern look book! But hurry — the giveaway closes on Monday Feb 17 at 11.59pm EST, and I’ll announce the winner on the blog on Tuesday.

But hey, what if you just can’t wait to get your hands on Hana Hou? Yeah, we’ve got you covered — click here to join the Singlehanded Knits mailing list, and Mel will send you a $2 discount code for an instant download.

Pssst! The Yarn Alliance Is Opening Soon!

Available to new subscribers only twice a year, the InterStellar Yarn Alliance — the SpaceCadet’s premiere yarn club, known for fabulous fingering yarns, gorgeous colourways, and awesome gifts — will be opening again in March for two weeks only. If you want to be the first to know when it does, click here and get on the Yarn Alliance mailing list!

There’s always small print — official rules: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to entrants worldwide, age 5 or older. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Sweepstakes ends 11:59 p.m. EST on February 17, 2014. Official entry is made by commenting on the SpaceCadet blog post titled “Hana Hou: A Giveaway!” and by favouriting and/or queuing Hana Hou on Ravelry. Limit one entry per person. Sponsored by Singlehanded Knits and SpaceCadet Inc, PO Box 113312, Pittsburgh PA 15241. Seven (7) prizes, each consisting of one (1) copy of the Hana Hou pattern and look book, valued at $7. Total prize value: $49. Winner will be selected by random drawing. Prize cannot be redeemed for cash. Prize cannot be substituted. Employees and family of employees of SpaceCadet Inc and/or Singlehanded Knits are ineligible. A list of winners will be available on the SpaceCadet blog on or after February 18, 2014. For full official rules, visit https://spacecadetyarn.com/2014/02/14/hana-hou-a-giveaway

Come Sneak a Peek at the Latest SpaceMonster Parcel!

13DecApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

Warning: If you’re a SpaceMonster who hasn’t received the latest parcel and you don’t want your surprise ruined, look away now!

…Ok, it’s just us now? The coast is clear? I have been dying to share the latest SpaceMonster goodies with you and I don’t think I can wait a moment longer. Here, come take a look…

First, there’s the yarn. It’s been bitterly cold here lately, so I chose Capella — the softest, warmest, most comforting yarn in the SpaceCadet fleet. Its single-ply smooshiness is perfect for these fierce winter nights. And onto I laid all the colours that make me feel cosy and comforted: a vibrant pink that descends into maroon, a touch of midnight blue, and deep eggplant. I wanted everything about this yarn to create a safe haven from the bitter wind and cruel cold outside.

Do you like it? I’m imagining it made into very soft mitts to protect your hands from winter’s chill. Or, my absolute favourite for single-ply yarns: a simple, conical, pointed hat. I love pointed hats — so jolly!

Now, because this is the third parcel in the current series, its time for the SpaceMonsters’ gift and, boy, do we have a cracker! Ever since my assistant Amy gave me one as a gift, I have been a big fan of Amanda Pawley’s hand-thrown yarn bowls, so for this parcel, I asked Amanda if she could create something special just for the SpaceMonsters. Here’s a little peek…

And here’s another…

And here’s the full set…

Aren’t they fabulous?!? Can you see why I COULDN’T WAIT to share them with you?!? And now that they are arriving in the SpaceMonsters’ mailboxes, we are getting the most wonderful emails, full of squeals and delight. It’s so exciting! …Y’know, I think I kinda know how it feels to be Father Christmas right about now.

The SpaceMonster Mega Yarn Club is open right now for new subscriptions, starting with the February parcel, but it closes in just a few days. It’s a fabulous club for people who love to work with worsted and bulky yarns, and are ready for a hand-dyed adventure!

And if you’re stuck for holiday gift ideas, a SpaceMonsters subscription is a pretty fab solution for the knitter or crocheter on your list. Make sure we know it’s a gift and we’ll even send them a nice email at Christmas to let them know they’re in the Club!

(Or listen, if you know someone who always buys you the wrong gift? Yeah… Maybe forward this little hint onto them — everyone needs a little help now and again.)

Ready to join the SpaceMonsters? The SpaceMonsters Club is now closed for subscriptions and will reopen in June 2014. Want to be the first to know when it does? Click here and join the mailing list!

6 months: $99 12 months: $194

Very Important: if you are giving this as a gift, please remember to include the recipient’s postal and email addresses in the notes when you check out. We gotta have that to send the recipient their parcels!

Six month subscriptions include 3 parcels; twelve month subscriptions include 6 parcels. Parcels will be sent out at the beginning of February, April, June, August, October, and December. Shipping within the United States is included in the price; extra charges apply for shipping outside the US. The first parcel for new subscriptions is the Feb 2014 parcel (please note: it is not the parcel detailed above — that is the last parcel for members of the previous subscription series). Normal subscription openings/renewals will be available in June and December of each year. Because of the nature of the club set-up, we can accept returns or exchanges of club shipments for faulty yarns only. By joining the club, you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.

Any other questions? Ask us! info (at) spacecadetcreations (dot) com

The Gorgeous, Intricate Designs of Hunter Hammersen

08NovApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

One of the best things about my job is getting to meet our customers and to see what they create with SpaceCadet yarn. We’ll be getting to do just that next weekend at Indie Knit & Spin, and I am sooo looking forward to it.

And one of the other best parts of my job is collaborating with some really fabulous designers (really, sometimes I have to pinch myself when I look at the collection of designs that have been created for SpaceCadet yarn!). And I wanted to take a minute to introduce you to a designer whose work I think you’re going to love..

I had been a fan of Hunter Hammersen‘s stunning botanical knits for a long time before we met. You can see why, can’t you? I’m captivated by the intricacy in her stitch patterns and the delightful details of the construction. Each nature-inspired pattern seems more beautiful than the next.

So I’m afraid went all fan-girl on her when she came into our booth at a show and introduced herself. She handed me her card and, before she even had a chance to say her name, I practically shouted, “You’re Hunter! I LOVE your stuff!” Fortunately for me, she was all grins at that.

Turns out, she’s pretty keen on SpaceCadet too! And to my absolute delight, she’s used our yarn for the very first design in her brand-new book, Ne’er-Do-Well Knits, a delicious little collection of patterns that are both quick and intriguing — perfect for holiday gifts!

(And if you’re in the Yarn Alliance, you’re in for a treat! The parcels went out this week so, as tempting as these patterns are, you just sit tight until your parcel arrives, ok?)

And here’s something to really get excited about: right now, Hunter is running a super fun giveaway –a skein of SpaceCadet Astrid DK yarn in your choice of colours! All you have to do is go and leave a comment on her blog, telling her which SpaceCadet colourway you’d choose for your yarn, and you’re in. But hurry, because entries are open only until the end of today — and you don’t want to miss your chance!

Take a Look: The Latest Yarn Alliance Parcel

13SepApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

I have so much fun dyeing for the clubs that, every time I send out the parcels, I’m always itching to give you guys a sneak peek. And I think most of the current Yarn Alliance members will have received their September parcels by now, so it’s safe to share some photos.

But if you’re in the Yarn Alliance and haven’t received your parcel yet, look away now if you don’t want spoilers!

Ok, here we go… Now, normally the process of dyeing club yarns starts with the inspiration for the colourway. But this time, it came about completely differently — this time, it all started with the gift.

The Capsule (the latest addition to the KnowKnits range) was making a big splash at TNNA (read Knitty’s review of it here) and I was immediately smitten. I loved its mix of practical functionality with funky fabric and bold stitching. And I knew straight away that I wanted to create a a special SpaceCadet Capsule just for the members of the Yarn Alliance.

To my delight, Jennifer Lippman-Bruno, the owner of KnowKnits, was as excited at the possibility as I was! We discussed colours and materials, and how to personalize the custom Capsule with SpaceCadet. Finally, we decided on on a clean black and white exterior, with a pop of bright turquoise for the interior, and that feisty orange KnowKnits tag on the side.

And here’s the thing… Once those sweet little Capsules arrived, I realised I wanted to use those same colours for the yarn as well. I mixed the dyes and tested the yarn… Ker-pow! The perfect mix of bold and exciting colour!

I can’t wait to see what the members of the Yarn Alliance make with it!

The Yarn Alliance will close to new subscriptions and renewals on Mon Sept 16, and there are just a few spaces left. If you’ve been considering joining, now is the time to grab your spot! Click here to get all the details.

Seven Weeks Later…

30AugApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

I’ve just gotta share this with you because, this week, we have been doing the happy dance — a lot. As you may recall, we had a slight disaster midway through the summer when a big (biiiiiiiiigggg) storm rolled in and dumped approximately 25 feet of water in 15 minutes (or maybe a little less) which completely overwhelmed our drain and so the water surged in under the door instead and partially flooded our family room. If you never saw it, all the sorry details are here.

Fortunately, the damage didn’t reach the levels of a lot of lower lying areas around us, and I was able to get most of our stuff up and away from danger, but the carpet was a complete (uninsured!) write-off. And the asbestos flooring we discovered underneath it meant that the room was wholly unusable until the carpet could be replaced.

That was seven weeks ago. Seven weeks ago. And it’s taken this long to get the room dry, the carpet ordered, and the installation booked. But on Wednesday….

…on Wednesday, THEY INSTALLED OUR NEW CARPET!!!!!!! Wooooot!!!! I know it’s only our family room we were missing but, somehow, it feels like we have our whole house back again. Things that have spent the last seven months in the wrong place are finally able to go back to where they belong. And we are able to sit in the family room again of an evening, have a cup of tea, and discuss the day just like we used to do. I know we could do that anywhere in the house, but somehow it feels so much more right now.

And all I want to do, every time I see that lovely expanse of fresh, new, clean, lovely carpet is to cheer. Hoooooooray!!!!

Speaking of cheering, here’s something to make some noise about. If you’ve been waiting for the InterStellar Yarn Alliance to reopen for subscriptions, your wait is almost over. The SpaceCadet’s premier yarn club opens this Sunday Sept 1 (actually, midnight on Saturday) until Sept 16. Spaces always go really quickly, so be ready.

And for those of you who’ve clicked here and got yourselves on the Yarn Alliance mailing list, I may just open up subscriptions a wee bit early for you. …Such are the perks of reading all the way to the bottom(!).

Straight from the Sandy Beaches of Hawaii

16AugApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’ve been a fan of the Singlehanded Knits podcast ever since I first discovered it. I mean, Mel records right on the beautiful beaches of Kauai, with the waves rolling in and palm trees swaying — what’s not to love?

And I knew she’s been a member (and huge fan) of the Mini-Skein Club almost since it first began as well, so I felt comfortable asking her to share her thoughts on it in a new video for the Mini-Skein Club page. Here, come escape to Hawaii for a few minutes and sit on the beach with Mel and chat about yarn. (I don’t think it can get any better than that, can it?)

As you can tell from the video, Mel is an absolutely lovely person — warm and genuine, and with a positive attitude that’s just infectious. Watching her podcast is always a surefire way to bring a little sunshine to any cloudy day.

So I was startled to find myself with tears in my eyes as I read this beautiful blog post she wrote about her dear friend Miss Carol, and the money she is helping to raise for the MARSOC foundation in Miss Carol’s memory. The response from the knitting community has been swift… and incredible! But there is still a way to go to hit the goal, so I urge you to click here and read Mel’s story about Miss Carol for yourself.

Ohhhhhhhhh…. did I mention there are prizes? Oh yes there are! Lots of wonderful yarny prizes to encourage you to read and donate, including a SpaceCadet Gift Code worth $40. So seriously… Go. Click. Read. Give. It’s all good.

And now something I just have to share with you guys… I was stunned — stunned! and thrilled! — to discover that SpaceCadet was featured in the latest issue of Knit Simple magazine, in a round-up of their favourite yarn clubs. Go look — it’s on page 12. Or here, wait, have a look here…

Isn’t that exciting?!? I’m over the moon! Squeeeeee with me!!!!!

And hey listen, the club that Knit Simple mentions there, the InterStellar Yarn Alliance, opens for new subscriptions next month for two weeks only, from Sept 1 to 16. This is the club that everyone talks about — beautiful hand-dyed yarn, fantastic SpaceCadet gifts and loads of fun! Spaces are limited and last time they went incredibly fast, so if you’re not already on the mailing list, click here to get on it and be the first to know when it opens!