Vintage Modern Knits Blog Tour! {+ a chance to win!}
As many of you probably already know, the blog-o-sphere is hosting a lovely little tour of our book, Vintage Modern Knits. It began on Feb 5th with a interview on the WEBS Ready Set Knit Podcast. The podcast was our first “live” interview, and we were quite nervous, but think it went pretty well! If you missed the podcast when it first went up, you can listen to it here.
Erin Cardigan designed by Kate. Knit out of Savannah in Chambray.
The tour then traveled to Wendy Bernard’s Knit + Tonic blog all the way in Sunny California on the 8th, then back east on the 9th to our friend Cecily’s Winged Knits blog (complete with an interview and a contest – hurry over, there is still time to win!), and then the following day was featured on Miranda’s lovely Narrating Life blog, where she, too, is holding a giveaway that is open until the 16th. (This is about where we really started to blush. You like us! You really like us!)
Brigid Jacket designed by Courtney. Knit out of Terra in Olive Leaf.
Yesterday, our little book was back on the east coast of Maine visiting with Hannah Fettig of Knitbot, with, again, a contest (come on people! We really want to give you some free books!) and some funny photographs we took of the samples right before sending them to Interweave over a year ago.
Baltic Mittens designed by Kate. Knit out of Canopy Fingering in Blue Quandons, Palm Bud, Fern + Orchid.
After a break this weekend, the tour starts up again on Monday at Melissa’s blog, Knitting School Dropout. It doesn’t end there, though, and continues on to some fabulous stops. For a full schedule of the remaining tour, check it out below!
2.14: Knitting School Dropout
2.15: Never Not Knitting podcast
2.16: Knitgrrl
2.17: Sunset Cat Designs
2.18: Neoknits
2.21: Tenten Knits
2.22: Lolly Knitting Around
Not too shabby, eh?
Maple Bay Cardigan designed by Courtney. Knit out of Organik in Loam, River Delta, Arctic Tundra + Highlands.
In conjunction with the blog tour, we thought it would be neat to host a stop on our blog and instead of interviewing ourselves, we want to have YOU be the interviewers. Now is your chance to ask any questions you may have about the book, the design process, our color choices, pretty much anything you can think of. Leave a comment on this post from now until 12 midnight EST Friday February 18th with your question (one per person please, so make it good!) and on the 23rd at the end of the tour we will post a compilation of all of the questions and our answers. Bonus points for those who ask a question we have never heard before!
Innsbruck Mittens + Legwarmers designed by Kate (legwarmers) + Courtney (mittens). Knit out of Canopy Worsted in Palm Bud and Canopy Fingering in Plum, Chiclet Tree + Yerba Mate.
As an added bonus, once the comments are closed on the 18th, we will pick at random a question and the winner will receive a signed copy of Vintage Modern Knits and enough yarn to complete a few projects from the book! Make sure your name + email is included when posting the comment (it will be hidden from the public, no worries) so we can identify your question + and contact you if you are the winner.
We can’t wait to see what questions you come up with!
*Comments are now closed! Thank so much to everyone who asked us a question. We will post our answers (and announce the winner!) next week!*
Tags: contest!, news and notes, published designs, Vintage Modern Knits
February 12th, 2011 at 10:52 am
Was there any specific era and/or design book that inspired your book?
February 12th, 2011 at 11:24 am
What was the most challenging part of working together on your book?
February 12th, 2011 at 11:28 am
Wow, those legwarmers are absolutely beautiful. I’m a big fan of legwarmers, but I’ve never seen ones so wonderfully delicate and ornate. As for a question, I’m just wodnering how you two manage to produce so many unique and interesting designs – how do you keep these good ideas coming, and how do you keep track of them all?
February 12th, 2011 at 11:37 am
now that the book is out and a big hit, have you two thought about doing another book? if so, what eras/designs/techniques do you think you might want to delve into in a similar fashion as this one?
February 12th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
Are your designs inspired by the colors of your yarns, or vice versa? Do you ever dye yarns with particular designs or motifs in mind?
February 12th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
How did you end up as distributors for The Fibre Co. yarns? Was this something you ever saw yourself doing?
February 12th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
Do you have favorite pattern? I know I do from each designer. Which is yours of your own design and your partners?
February 12th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Yarns have changed a lot these past few years, we now have a huge choice of different fibers, alpaca, cashmere, soy, milk, bamboo etc. What do you see as being the next big thing in yarns?
February 12th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
Was it vintage kitsch that made you choose beavers? And part 2 of the question: did you consider doing squirrels? I ask since half the people I show the book to think those are squirrels anyway!
February 12th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
First, I love the classic lines you’ve used for your patterns. As for my question (which is a bit of a two-parter, to be honest), do you draw upon outside sources for inspiration? By that I mean, artists, nature, books, etc. If so, what/who inspires you most and in what way?
Beautiful work!
February 12th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Which pattern in the book would you recommend as quick and/or easy?
(In reality, I do have patience and am reasonably good at knitting, but I had to think up a question for the random book draw!)
February 12th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
Have fun during your tour!
If you were each given a month to travel (illimited money too!) and explore a knitting tradition, where would you go?
February 12th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
You ladies have a wonderful knack for modernizing vintage style elements and creating unique and timeless designs. Do you ever get the urge to create (or actually create!) trendy, kitschy, or out-of-your-aesthetic pieces? It seems that everything coming out of Kelbourne Woolens is elegant–where are the flubs, the pieces that didn’t work? Are there any pieces that didn’t make the cut for the book?
(Sorry, I realize that was several questions!)
February 12th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
1. I can’t believe there’s another Thea in the comments! I never run into other Theas!!
I so love the idea of the blog tour, it’s awesome. And a question for you guys — you have been doing some amazing stuff in both design and in yarn – which is your fave? Or do each of you kind of spearhead one? I”m so impressed that you can balance both!!
February 12th, 2011 at 10:56 pm
Have you knit any of the projects from the book for yourselves? Which would be your first project from the book that you would knit for yourself and why?
February 13th, 2011 at 12:24 am
I love your work. Hm, I guess I would like to know how long it took to bring about this book; from the first idea in your head to create it, to the actual completion date?
February 13th, 2011 at 9:01 am
I’ve entered every contest for your beautiful book. Bravo to you guys for an amazing collection.
Did you/would you consider including a guest submission in your collection?
February 13th, 2011 at 10:02 am
Love what I’ve seen of the book so far! My question – when you design, do you design for yourselves or for the public? By that, I mean, do you create items based on your own personal tastes (which is what I think I would do!) or on what you see a need/desire for out in the world?
February 13th, 2011 at 10:28 am
Really like all your designs and looking forward to perusing the new book.
THe names have peaked my curiousity. I like all the nature references in Collection 2… rock tree octopus! (course there the ‘nice hat’ thrown in there?). Is there a Swedish or Finnish connection?? Collection 1 seems like it could be all colleges or universities. Was there some special criteria? And was there any plan to the naming of the patterns in the new book?
February 13th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
I love that your yarns are made in the 1)USA & 2) in Philly! I didn’t know that the Philly part was a connection when I fell in love with your yarns.
My question:Do you have tours at your mill?If not why not?Thank you ladies!I Your book is on the way to my house.
February 13th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
I do love your yarns, you really do an amzing job! Right now I am knitting Jared Flood`s girasol blanket out of Road to China, a beloved christmas gift from my husband. Since I am living in Germany and always have to buy the yarn when we are travelling in the U.S. or order it online, my question is whether there are any plans to sell you yarns in Europe as well?
And how did you come up with the name “Vorderrhein”?
February 13th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
I would like to hear about your collaboration – how do you divide up the tasks, was each person responsible for so many designs?
February 14th, 2011 at 8:56 am
When I am reading or listening to music, I love to design knitwear for a character in the book or song lyrics. Do you ever use such techniques to get your creative juices flowing?
February 14th, 2011 at 10:23 am
What would you want your knitting legacy to be? Think of Elizabeth Zimmerman and the legacy she has left for future knitters.
February 14th, 2011 at 10:46 am
Any advice for aspiring designers?
February 14th, 2011 at 11:04 am
When you design, do you think first about what you’d like to knit or what you’d like to wear?
February 14th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Hey, thanks for the book and the giveaway – will seek you out on the blog list!
Anyway – here’s my question – were there any patterns you were longing to include that had to get cut for space reasons?…and if so will we see them again?
Cheers! Rebecca
February 14th, 2011 at 6:00 pm
thanks for the giveaway — the book looks great!
Did you have all the patterns ready when you pitched the book to Interweave, or did you get inspired by the book project to make up the patterns?
February 14th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Did you have to reknit any of the projects in either a different yarn or a different color based the editors’ suggestions for how the book should look?
February 15th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
How does one get a job with your company? I would love to be involved in a creative fun company.
Elise
February 16th, 2011 at 9:47 am
You both have a lovely sense of individual style in your design – how do you feel you have been inspired by and learned from each other during the writing of the book?
February 16th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
did you ever fall out-of-love with a design during this process? if any designs hit the cutting room floor, would you consider reworking them for a later release?
February 16th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
What a lovely book. Such wonderful patterns to showcase equally wonderful yarns. My question: As you both have an obvious affinity for vintage fashion and a flair for styling, do either of you collect vintage patterns or vintage clothing?
February 17th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Congratulations on Vintage Modern Knits. My question: What inspires the yarn colors selected for each pattern? The colors in your designs are lovely.
February 17th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Are there any people or characters — real or fictitious — you would like to design something for? If so who, what would you outfit them in? Is it something you’ve already designed or created, or would it be a new challenge? And of course the “why” behind your answer
February 17th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
Boy, you girls really are everywhere! All my favorite knitting blogs have featured you recently and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of your book and some of that fantastic fibre company yarn!
As a new and young (16 year old) knitwear designer, how did you get started on your book? What drove you to begin in your career in knitwear designing? And how did you come up with your idea for this book?
February 18th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Have heard quite a few of the podcast interviews, came over from never not knitting’s blog.
What was the inspiration behind the Maple Bay cardigan? It reminds me a bit of the old Mary Maxim cardigans that were super popular when I was a kid.
All the best with the book!
February 19th, 2011 at 12:13 am
I’ve heard you both talk about vintage patterns and books as sources of inspiration, but which modern fashion designers do you especially admire or look to for ideas?