the SpaceCadet’s yarn club, the InterStellar Yarn Alliance
$15 Off on Black Friday ONLY
It’s Black Friday, which means it’s time for twinkling lights, canned holiday muzak, and ka-ra-zee long lines at the stores! If you’re one of those intrepid shoppers who hits the Black Friday sales with gusto, then I expect you’ve been out since midnight and come home already.
But if, like me, you’re not quite that adventurous (and you’re still in your jammies!), then I have the perfect, never-have-to-leave-the-house gift for the knitter or crocheter on your list…
For a short time only, we’re opening a limited number of spaces in the InterStellar Yarn Alliance to offer you three special Holiday Gift Subscriptions. And because those of us in our PJs shouldn’t have to miss out on the Black Friday fun, for today only we’re giving you $15 off!
A Holiday Gift Subscription: Normally $85.On Black Friday $70
And if the knitter or crocheter on your list deserves more even more Yarn Alliance goodness, you can add on a 6-month membership ($184 inclusive) or a 12-month membership ($305 inclusive), and you’re still getting that special price on the Holiday Gift Subscription!
But hurry, because after Black Friday, you’ll still be able to get this fabulous Holiday Gift Subscription, but prices will go back to normal.
SpaceCadet ® Creations yarn (light to medium weight) in an exclusive Yarn Alliance colourway (guaranteed not to be offered on the SpaceCadet website for at least 6 months)
A great Yarn Alliance gift tucked into every parcel!
The SpaceCadet’s Log exploring the inspiration for each colourway.
An InterStellar Yarn Alliance group on Ravelry where you can discuss WIPs, ask questions, and share FOs with fellow members.
The InterStellar Yarn Alliance newsletter with periodic special offers exclusively for members.
Black Friday ONLY! $15 OFF!
Shipping within the United States is included in the price; extra charges apply for shipping outside the US.
Six month subscriptions include 3 parcels and are normally priced at $125; twelve month subscriptions include 6 parcels and are normally priced at $235.
Holiday Gift Subscription parcels will be sent out in late December 2011 and late February 2012. Parcels for the 6-month add-on will be sent out in late April, June, and August 2012. Parcels for the 12-month add-on will be sent out in late April, June, August, October, and December 2012, and February 2013.
Normal subscription openings for the InterStellar Yarn Alliance are two weeks only in March and September of each year.
The InterStellar Yarn Alliance Through the Rest of the Year
When you include an additional 6 month or 12 month Yarn Alliance subscription to your Holiday Gift Subscription, your recepient receives all the benefits that other regular members enjoy! With the additional regular subscription, each member will receive an exciting parcel delivered every other month containing:
SpaceCadet ® Creations yarn (light to medium weight) in an exclusive Yarn Alliance colourway (guaranteed not to be offered on the SpaceCadet website for at least 6 months)
A great Yarn Alliance gift tucked into every parcel!
The SpaceCadet’s Log exploring the inspiration for each colourway.
An InterStellar Yarn Alliance group on Ravelry where you can discuss WIPs, ask questions, and share FOs with fellow members.
The InterStellar Yarn Alliance newsletter with periodic special offers exclusively for members.
A 15% off coupon every six months
Parcels will be sent out in late October, December, February, April, June, and August. Subscription openings will be available in March and September. Shipping within the United States is included in the price; extra charges apply for shipping outside the US.
You may recall that my sister, who spent the last two decades pshawing my suggestions that she try knitting, has picked up the needles at last …and discovered that she loves it. She’s on her second garter-knit scarf and carries her WIP with her everywhere. She’s becoming a knitter. I’m more than a little stunned.
But so far, she’s been knitting in isolation. Occasionally, she’s run into a fellow knitter on the bus and they’ve discussed projects and yarns in the short time before her stop arrives but, for the most part, she’s been knitting on her own, without the camaraderie of other knitters. And that’s not right, is it?!?
And so I’ve been encouraging her to check out her local LYS’s knit groups. But it turns out they’re on nights that don’t work with her schedule. And joining a new group can be a little intimidating, especially for someone who has just learned to knit. The one night she did make it there, she wandered around looking at the yarn and peeking at the knitting group from behind the shelves — but never got the nerve to actually sit with them and knit.
I understand. It’s hard to join a new group, knitting or not. And… well… she’s seen with her own eyes how crazy knitters get! So, yeah, I can understand…
I was on the phone to her this week. “Oh! Oh! I have to tell you!” she suddenly exclaimed. “It’s about the knitting…” She’d been chatting to a neighbour who, out of the blue, mentioned something about knitting. My sister pulled out her WIP. They discussed projects, yarns… and then, the neighbour said she wasn’t going to the knitting group that week.
“The knitting group?” my sister inquired.
It turns out that there is a knitting group in her apartment building. What’s more, it turns out that there are a lot of knitters in her building. So many, in fact, that there isn’t enough room for all the knitters in the building to join the group. My sister has been knitting in isolation in her flat whilst, all the while, surrounded by knitters on all sides, and never knew it. She squealed a little as she told me.
Here was a group she could join! These were people she already knew, and liked …and they’re knitters too. It couldn’t be more perfect.
BUT… this group also meets on a day that doesn’t work with her schedule. Ok, I said, so maybe you could open a sort of second “branch” of this knitting group, on a day that works for you. And people could go to either or both, whichever best fits their schedule.
She laughed out loud at the thought. “You mean, in a few weeks’ time, I could actually belong a knitting group? That meets in my flat?!?”
Yeah… I guess she… well, she really could.
You remember I said up at the beginning that her knitting adventure has me a bit stunned? Yep, at that moment, you could have knocked me right over with a feather.
Oh, hey, listen… Thursday is Thanksgiving (which has totally taken me by surprise — were you ready for it?!?). So first, a very Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.
And then, of course, Thanksgiving starts the madness that is the holiday shopping season, so I want to give you a heads up that I will be launching a special Holiday Gift Subscription the the SpaceCadet’s yarn club, the InterStellar Yarn Alliance. It’s a fabulous way to give a gift to a knitter or crocheter in your life that will keep them happy all year long.
And be quick, because spaces are limited and the Alliance doesn’t open to new members very often at all. But more than that, I’ll be offering a special one-day introductory discount on Black Friday only. So, enjoy your turkey, have a wonderful wonderful Thanksgiving… and then, on Black Friday, let everyone else go mad rushing off to the shops, and you can score yourself some great Gifts of Yarny Goodness without even changing out of your PJs!
(Want a reminder on Friday morning? Do make sure you’re on the mailing list!)
The InterStellar Yarn Alliance parcels went out last week and I think that excited me the most about it was that it included exclusive access to a beautiful knitting pattern created especially for the Alliance Members by the designer at Rock & Purl, Ruth Garcia-Alcantud. I’ve admired her work for a while now and it’s easy to see why.
(Ten points to the first commenter to guess my favourite out of these four! Hint: the answer is further down in this post.)
Her designs have appeared in Interweave Crochet, Vogue Knitting, KnitScene, Knit Magazine, and Yarn Forward. So when Ruth offered to create an exlcusive pattern for the InterStellar Yarn Alliance, I was absolutely over the moon. And I can’t wait another minute to show it to you! This is Medianoche, a pair of beautifully delicate gloves with an amazing, double-layer cuff: a flouncy, lacy outer cuff conceals a fitted ribbed inner cuff. They’re fabulous!
When she sent me Medianoche, Ruth took the opportunity to interview me for her blog, and I decided to ask her a few questions as well. Here’s our conversation, and don’t miss the exciting announcement at the bottom!
Ruth, I love your patterns. I am crazy for Moore. I am over the moon with Medianoche (can’t wait to cast it on!!!). Can you give a brief walk-through of where you grab your inspiration and how you turn that into a pattern?
Some ideas form perfectly in my head from the moment the yarn hits my
hands – Medianoche is a clear example of it! Before I got the yarn, I
knew I was going to transform it into gloves, but once I touched it, I
knew a lace cuff detail would be the center of attention and worked
from there.
Other times, like with Moore, it takes a little longer – Moore was
originally a scarf/wrap! It was the first garment where I applied the
sideways technique, and I’m quite glad I thought of discarding the
scarf idea now.
All in all, while I may have an idea such as “I want to make a
sweater” and want to pair it with a worsted weight yarn… I have to
let the yarn be what it wants to be!
So, when did you move from being a knitter to a knit designer? How did you know, in your mind, that you’d made that leap?
I was always a “Ms Perfection Knitter” – I took great pride in
finishing, perfect gauge, etc. I once knit this horrible jumper that
was completely off in the measurements area, the waist was
non-existent and the cross back was WAY too big for me. I reworked it
to my measurements, and I guess that was my first non-artistic move
into the design world.
Fresh out of a job a couple of years ago, I went a little bananas and
thought I’d jump in with both feet, but I wanted to explore the
knitwear design world before launching a venture that could have
fallen flat on its face – I researched yarns, swatched lots, read
everything I could on sizing, grading, fitting and eye-catching
details to ensure designs are one-of-a-kind.
In the meantime, I designed accessories, where the fit and the
modeled sample didn’t have to be perfect, until I thought I was ready
to move into the garment arena. My first garment acceptance came from
Shannon Okey (aka knitgrrl) who has since then become a very good
friend and mentor.
If you had to stop knitting — I know! It’s a ridiculous thought! — but if you did, what would your ideal job be? And how would your experience of being a knit designer
influence that?
Mmmmm…. I like jobs that have plenty of small pieces to fit into a
bigger one. I liked my old PA role in which I had to organize agendas,
trips, events and yet ensure that the day-to-day running of the office
did not go unattended. So I’d like a job with defined, visible, key
details.
Now, I know you grew up in Spain but now live in England. How is knitting in Britain different to knitting in Spain? Has your
style or way of thinking about the craft changed from one country to
another?
Wow, you’ve no idea how the internet and Ravelry have changed the
mentality of knitting over in Spain! Knitting groups have multiplied
and the one I visit when I go visit my parents used to be about… 6 people? They now have to ask permission to “camp” at Starbucks in
town, there’s that many of them!
My father works in fashion and his mum was also involved in it, so my
view about the craft has always been about couture, delicate,
made-to-measure pieces. I would like to think I transported those
ideas with me – as a good visitor, I always buy yarn when I go there
too! We get fantastic finds in bright coloured cottons and some
interesting wool blends for those who don’t have vicious winters.
If you were hosting a dinner party that included the most influential people in your life, who would they be and (more importantly!) what would you cook?
Difficult!! My dad, both my grandmothers, my husband-to-be Brian and
my aunt. I pride myself in my duck with lime sauce and coconut rice ..
would you like to try it when you visit England next?
Yes please! Ok, so, when you design, do you have a specific person in mind? Are you designing for someone, or for yourself?
I’d tell a lie if I said “nooo I don’t think about myself”. When I am thinking of a self-published pattern, I need to make it fit me as I’m the model for the photographs, but I also want to make sure it fits a
variety of bodies, so if I don’t believe it will fit anyone above a 38” bust the idea gets scrapped.
I have a funny story about it – I created Anchored with no intention of releasing it whatsoever as I thought people would think it too risque and flashy. In the end it’s been one of my best-sellers, so sometimes it’s obvious I’m not right!
What is the best bit of being a designer? What part of it brings you the most joy?
I love grading, calculating, adapting and playing with numbers – and
while I moan a lot about Illustrator and InDesign not doing what I
want them to do, I enjoy creating schematics and laying out patterns.
Publishing is such a thrill – will it do ok? will it flop? But nothing gives me quite as much satisfaction as seeing pictures of the objects people create with my patterns, and getting good comments on them.
Ruth, you and I are both expats, so I know we both understand the internal conflict that comes from having two places to call ‘home’. When you think way ahead into your future, where do you see yourself pulled to? Where do you see yourself living as an old lady?
I truly don’t know. My other half and I always joke about moving countries, and not just in Europe! But we’re so settled in our little home now that I’d be heartbroken if I had to leave. That being said, the warmer winters from Valencia (where I come from) would be a delight compared to the chill of Blighty!
And finally, I’ll ask the same great question you asked me… what
do you hope to infuse into knitters that work with your patterns?
There’s NOTHING you cannot achieve. I hope to teach you some tricks or
techniques that will make your knitting easier, or perhaps create that
one garment that will make you feel like the million dollars you
already are worth – but remember… it’s YOU who makes it, and you
should be proud of that and every single stitch you pour onto your
work.
It’s been such a pleasure for me, working with Ruth and getting to know her better. And so exciting to send out the InterStellar Yarn Alliance parcels, knowing that every one of the Alliance Members was getting her beautiful Medianoche!
And would you like to see what else was in the parcel? Well, the first thing in the box was the SpaceCadet’s Log, to explain the inspiration for the colourway.
And then there was the yarn of course! It was Izarra, an absolutely beautiful blend of 80% Superwash Blue-Faced Leicester (BFL) and 20% Nylon. It’s going to look fantastic as a pair of gloves!
And then, just for fun, I included a few holiday gift tags, specially designed to help the gift recipients to realise just how lucky they are to received a handmade gift!
The InterStellar Yarn Alliance Gift Subscription
If you’ve been thinking that a gift subscription to the InterStellar Yarn Alliance would make the perfect present for a knitter or crocheter on your holiday list, then I have some great news. Later this month, we will be offering limited number of special Yarn Alliance gift subscription packages. We’re putting the details together now, and to be the very first to hear about it, make sure you’re on the Yarn Adventurers’ mailing list!
This blog post was supposed to be a shop update, but my chief yarn-prep guy (my husband!) has been a bit under the weather, so I have to delay the update for a couple of days. Look for those new yarns to go into the shop on Friday instead. And if you’re on the Yarn Adventurers mailing list, keep an eye open for an email sometime in the next week!
In the meantime, let me share a little teaser with you. The InterStellar Yarn Alliance parcels went out in the post yesterday, and the Alliance members are in for such a treat. I can’t wait for their parcels to arrive! Can you guess what’s in them?…
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And ooooh! I just wanted to share this with you…
Ever wondered what forty pounds of yarn looks like all in one place? Well, that’s what it looks like! That’s forty pounds of freshly-dyed SpaceCadet yarn, all headed to fibre space in Alexandria VA. fibre space is one of the coolest LYSs in the country (I think my SpaceCadet might just have a crush on their space cadet!). And I am so excited to have SpaceCadet yarn there!
So if you’re in the DC area, do go check fibre space out — and look for the SpaceCadet yarn, because I’ve dyed some really gorgeous, never-seen-before colourways that you won’t want to miss!
Usually when I do a Pattern Roll-Call, I like to feature several patterns by different designers. But as I was sifting through all the mini-skein patterns on Ravelry, I came across a little treasure trove full of patterns that I just love so much that I had to dedicate a whole blog post to them.
It started with this sweet little Pinwheel Purse. Isn’t it lovely? It’s the same origami you did as a kid — but in knitting! So cool.
And so from there, I began looking through the rest of the designer’s work, and found that her sense of colour and shape really spoke to me. I love the gentle, organic changes of colours and yarns, the very simple shaping, the modular construction, and — maybe most of all — the almost complete lack of sewing up!
There’s a lot of yarns that would work well with these patterns, but I love how well these patterns would suit mini-skeins of fabulous variegated and semi-solid yarns. Can’t you just see it? All the colours coming together to compliment each other in some places and contrast one another in others. Beautiful!
If you’d like some amazing mini-skeins to knit these patterns in, check out the SpaceCadet’s new Mini-Skein Club. Each month you’ll receive a surprise selection of gorgeous SpaceCadet yarns delivered to your door, so that you can try out all the SpaceCadet bases and feed your mini-skein project addiction!
This is just a quick reminder that subscriptions to the InterStellar Yarn Alliance close at midnight tonight. If you’ve been considering joining, thinking about it, checking out all the fab parcels and the lovely yarns… now is the time!
Each member will receive an exciting parcel delivered every other month containing:
SpaceCadetTM Creations yarn (light to medium weight) in an exclusive Yarn Alliance colourway (guaranteed not to be offered on the SpaceCadet website for at least 6 months)
A great Yarn Alliance gift tucked into every parcel!
The SpaceCadet’s Log exploring the inspiration for each colourway.
An InterStellar Yarn Alliance group on Ravelry where you can discuss WIPs, ask questions, and share FOs with fellow members.
The InterStellar Yarn Alliance newsletter with periodic special offers exclusively for members.
Parcels will be sent out in late October, December, February, April, June, and August. Subscription openings will be available in March and September. Shipping within the United States is included in the price; extra charges apply for shipping outside the US.
Remember, subscriptions close at midnight tonight! Join now!
