Call me crazy, but I have never seen the Princess Bride. Until today, as I type, I’m watching it. I DVR’d it a few days ago and thought I should watch it. It’s so stinkin’ cute!! For all my love of awkward love stories, I can’t believe I hadn’t seen it!
Onto the real topic of Free-For-All Friday…KALs!! Ravelry, Instagram, Blogs, and Podcasts are all alight with Knit-Alongs for EVERYTHING!!! It’s got to be the holidays, but there are some really fun things going on out there. First up, how about the awesome
INDIE DESIGN GIFT-ALONG
There are 298 indie designers participating. It runs for 2 months, starting yesterday November 13 at 8pm EST and running through December 31 at midnight EST. Right now, they are running a little 25% off on their patterns from yesterday until Friday November 21 at 11:59pm EST. You can check out the group here on Ravelry. You knit, you post, you gift, and you win. Things. Nice things. If nothing else, it will open your eyes to some great new designers.
Here are a few of the ones I’m definitely scoping out.
Heidi Atwood-Reeves–I’m all about her Cedar Lake Cadigan. I was turned on to this designer by A Playful Day podcaster greentrianglegirl…maybe another few months and when I finish the Wee EnvelopeĀ (that I still need to cast on!).
Alicia Plummer– A link to her GAL bundle. The DownEast sweater, Coalesce shawl, White Leaf Cowl, Birchbark sweater, Salted sweater, postgrad cardigan…Need I say more?
Bristol Ivy– A link to her GAL bundle. The Earl Grey Mitts, Stria cardigan, Triangulate Cowl, Windrow Cowl, Wainwright sweater…I could go on.
Megan Williams– A link to her GAL bundle. She’s Megan of the Stockinette Zombies podcast. And her Cool Clavicle Cover is making the WIP rounds on several podcasts. Definitely on my list š
Sarah Burghardt Abram– A link to her GAL bundle. I’m loving the Stricken shawl, Foxversation Piece hat, Much Ado Shawl, Wicker Park shawl…Beautiful!
Gretchen Ronnevik– A link to her GAL bundle. I want to knit the Clarity Cardigan and the Madame Phelps Shawl has caught my eye as well.
ambah– A link to her GAL bundle. Oh those, mirri mitts, Magine shawl, Kalimna shawl…
Shannon Cook– A link to her GAL bundle. This is Shannon from the Very Shannon blog. I’ve been stalking her new collection, Seasonless…I want to knit her Onward shawl, Downton cowl, Laylow shawl, Antrorse sweater…
Jenny Faifel– A link to her GAL bundle. The Lucky no 7 cowl, her loopdigan, and the sleeveless in Vancouver. Beautiful…
I don’t want to keep you here all night looking at their Gift-Along Bundles…I’m sure you can do that yourself by making your way over to the Ravelry group. These are just a few of the designers that I’ve been eyeing for a while. I can’t think of a better way to explore some of the excellent independent designers out there!!
I know I said I wanted to talk about all the cool KALs out there, but I decided this one is enough to keep you going.
On second thought, if you aren’t in the mood for gift knitting, the lovely ladies over at the Knitmore Girls podcast, Jasmin & Gigi, are hosting a Grinch-Along. There are only two rules:
1.) It can’t be holiday gift knitting.
2.) It has to bring you joy.
What sounds better than that…I think several “Jenna” projects are in order…
Like perhaps these socks that I’ve been knitting forever…My lovely Technicolor Socks Take 2. It’s the Show-off Stranded Socks pattern by Anne Campbell in this gorgeous Pagewood Farm Denali in the Sky Blue Pink colorway. I’ve got them on some Karbonz. Dreamy US size 0 DPNs…
I finished the Rikke hat for Anke’s friend…Now I need to put it in the mail on Monday š
Selfie!! I had to try it on because it looked huge!!
Lastly, you may be asking yourself, what happened to that delectable yarn she showed us on Wednesday?? You know, the Two Grey Dogs??
I decided to wind this one by hand. You know, to get acquainted properly with it.
Here we are about half-way in…
And I finished. It’s the cutest little (not really, 420 yds!!) ball of yarn! I think I’m going to cast it on. I am feeling the design bug.
Are you getting involved in any fun knit-alongs or craft-alongs? Are you totally wrapped up in gift knitting?
v’s & bumps,
Jenna
hardknitlife 
I love the Rikke hat, I should make one myself sometime!
Yes! Such an easy knit and it yields a very squishy result š
Oh my, The Princess Bride, what a classic. Truly in my top 10 favorite movies of all time, so glad you finally watched it. I absolutely love joining on-line group projects. I’ve decided though as it is the holiday season that I am at my maximum with a vintage sew-a-long and gift exchange. Those on top of all the gift knitting and crafting that needs to be done is enough to get me just the right amount of holiday stress and joy. Your hat is lovely, the recipient is a lucky one.
She Knits in Pearls
I’m with you that joining on-line group projects are some of my favorites, but I too am almost at capacity š I’m looking forward to seeing your projects! Thank you š
i thought the same thing about the riekke hat….too big to be good, and it’s one of my favorite hats!!! You look so darn cute in it, i hope you have plans to make yourself one, too!!!! (Everywhere I go….hats are being sent to Anke!!! I sent mine over the weekend!!!! Bringing joy! YES.)
And, I love the way you said the hand winding gets you ‘acquainted’ with the yarn….I never thought about that, but I always hand wind, and you know….it’s sort of for the same reason, although I never really thought about it. Just a little more fibery time it spends in your hands!!!
And finally—-thanks for the very poignant comment you left on my blog about the black friday issue. You nailed it!!!
Now—-off to see all those wonderful giftalongs. How did I miss that? I need to spend more time on rav!
I definitely have plans to make myself a Rikke…after I’ve given 2 away, I think I’m ready for my own. I love that we are bringing joy š
I usually use my swift and ball winder, but when I want some extra fibery time, I do hand wind š
I’m glad to hear that others are on the same page about the black Friday thing. It’s refreshing to hear that not everyone is totally caught up in the madness.
I’m glad I could share the Giftalong š Its been haunting my dreams and I’m definitely trying to hold off casting on, but I don’t know if I’ll succeed!
I’m calling you crazy cause The Princess Bride is a must see for saps like us! My co-worker introduced me to it and I watched it so much, she ended up giving me the dvd! LOLOL! š
Thanks for reminding me about the Indie Giftalong. I’ve been much busy finishing projects for the HPKCHC so I haven’t had a chance to check anything else out but I’ll do so soon.
Great yarn and that hat looks great on you. I’m still on the quest to find my perfect hat. For as long as I can remember, I love them but they don’t love me back. LOLOL!
The Princess Bride is definitely on my re-watch list after the first time through š I can’t believe I’ve missed it for this long either!!!
Giftalong could be dangerous, but oh so fun! I’m totally itching to cast things on.
Thanks for the compliment š I’m not usually one for hats and I’m definitely going to have to make myself on of these Rikkes š
I’ve just done (and blogged) my own sweep of the GAL, but I don’t think I’ll be joining in the group for prizes – I promised myself no more -alongs until I got caught up on other things. I’m one of those people who signs up for far too much and gets stressed instead of enjoying it! Although I liked the idea of the Grinch-along very much, and if I can get my present-sewing done by Christmas, that’s the one I might make an exception for š
Your projects look great – love the hat! And I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with that yarn – the colour is awesome.
PS I’ve yet to watch The Princess Bride, thanks to doing the classic ‘save it for special’ thing and never carving out the time. Sounds like I should make sure I do?
I will have to check out your thoughts on the GAL. I’m also trying to hold out on participating…I don’t want to get too overwhelmed with holiday knitting…it goes against my promise I made a few years ago not to do any Christmas knitting due to the stress of it all. I could cast on a few things using the GAL patterns for gifts due later, like birthdays š
I would definitely recommend The Princess Bride š A fun one to watch and knit with š Carve out a little time for yourself!