Weekend Hats

The newest book—Weekend Hats—by Cecily MacDonald and Melissa LaBarre has finally hit the stores! Amongst designs by the authors, are hats designed by many talented knitwear designers, such as Gudrun Johnston, Jared Flood, Carrie Bostick Hoge, Susan B. Anderson, Mary Jane Mucklestone, and many others.

You'll also find a hat designed by Caterpillar Knits founder, Kristen TenDyke (me). The Shore Hat is knit in one of my favorite organic cotton/organic wool blend yarns—O-Wool's Balance.


The hat is worked in the round from the top down beginning with an I-Cord knot at the top, and an attached I-Cord around the circumference of the brim. Some jewelry wire is enclosed in the attached I-Cord to give the brim a sturdy edge. A great all-year hat to protect the eyes from the sun, or snow.

Find this hat on Ravelry.

Petrel

This Petrel shawl is named after the species of bird. Petrel birds are a small web-footed, seawater birds, returning to land only to breed.

The word "petrel" comes from the Latin name for St. Peter, who was said to have walked on water. It refers to the habit of the bird species to hover just above the ocean waves. During a storm, because the birds can't actually *walk* on water, they need to remain in the air day and night, enduring the rough weather over the ocean until the storm passes.

There is a fossil record for Petrel birds assumed to extend back about 60 million years showing that the species has survived through many eras of history, and is still going strong today.

May this shawl, with its wings spread across your back, bring you the strength, perseverance and longevity of the Petrel bird.

Help me choose an ad, and win a free pattern!

I'm working on an online ad for the upcoming issue of Knitty.com, and I have a few options to choose from. Please take a look at them and leave any comments and/or suggestions you'd like to share. Each person who shares a comment will be entered into a drawing on Friday (June 17) to win a free Caterpillar Knits pattern of their choosing!

Critique away!
What do you like? What do you think could be better? Offer suggestions, or just toss out some ideas!

This is how the ad will look on Knitty.com:


Here are the ad options so far:
Please use the numbers beside each ad when referring to them.

#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7

Thank you all so much for your help!

Spring designs & Mudita

As you may or may not know, I'm in the process of writing a book. Therefore, everything else in my life has seemed to slow down. But fret not! There is a small spring Caterpillar Knits collection in the works! Each of these spring patterns will be published one at a time, as they're finished.

To start off the collection, here is Mudita (pronounced moo-DEE-ta)

Mudita is knit in Pakucho's worsted weight organic cotton yarn. This yarn fits into six, yes SIX of the seven Caterpillar categories. It's a super-eco-friendly yarn. The only one it isn't list in is "animal friendly". But that's because it's vegan, and there are no animals involved! Read more about Pakucho.

A free pattern for Earth Day.

Berroco and Caterpillar Knits have worked together to bring you a beautiful FREE pattern—Gaia—in celebration of our Earth.

It's knit in Berroco's Remix yarn—a great, inexpensive, earth-friendly yarn made from recycled fabrics. The yarn is not re-dyed, all the color comes from the recycled fabrics. I just love that!

Come see Caterpillar Knits in MA on Friday.

The North Shore Yarn Crawl is this weekend—March 10th - 13th, 2011.

As part of the festivities, on Friday afternoon, March 11th, I'll be hanging out at Butterfly Yarns, in Wakefield, MA, sharing my designs with who ever wants to see.

Printed patterns will be available and you'll get to see many finished projects in person—try them on, man handle them, etc…

I'll be bringing the whole Caterpillar Knits collection—Waipio, Kukui, Mauna Kea, Molokini, Petrel and Anthurium, as well as many garments from my self-published collection—the Fresco Shrug, Gardening Tee, Diamond Lace Tee, the Crochet Motif Cardigan, Beatrice Rib Tie Coat, Stormy Diamond Eyelet Vest, the Petal socks and River of Life socks.

In addition, Butterfly Yarns will be having raffles, sales, give-aways and much more all four days!