Indie Design Gift-a-Long 2014

This is the second year of the Indie-Design Gift-a-long (GAL) on Ravelry and it's bigger and better than last year.

What is the GAL? It's a collective effort to highlight the designs of almost 300 Indie designers. There's 2 parts to it:

1) A sale: From November 13 at 8pm US EST through - November 21, 2014 at 11:59pm US EST these 293 indie designers will be discounting between 4 - 20 of their patterns 25% for this event.

2) KAL/GAL: There are eight KAL/CALs to participate in, prizes of all sorts given out, games, and generally a lot of fun! The Gift-A-Long KAL/CALs will run from November 13 at 8pm US EST through - December 31, 2014 at 11:59pm US EST

You can find out all the details on the Ravelry forum.

Some fun facts about the GAL:

2014 Indie design gift-a-long | Create Infographics

Oh Captain, my Captain

The Captain Hastings knit-along is coming along and we're seeing more and more finished socks. You can see them all here on Ravelry.

I love the blue of this pair:

missbarbara2's Captain Hastings

Captain Hastings KAL

The Captain Hastings Knit-along is just ripping along. We're into week 3 and several pairs of socks are either complete or nearing completion.

Here is Captain Hastings in white, done toe up by knittymamad. All photos courtesy of knittymamad and posted with permission.

Captain Hastings returns

So between the time I posted Chath's photos yesterday and last night, Chath finished her first Captain Hastings socks. And I must say - he looks stunning in blue.

Photos courtesy of Chath.

 

Captain Hastings salutes!

The Captain Hastings sock knit-along (KAL) is in full swing on my Ravelry group. We have over 50 people knitting along and chatting away. It's great seeing so many different Captains come into being.

I thought I'd share some of the socks as they progress. First up is my friend Chath's version of Captain Hastings. Chath has impeccable taste in yarn and colors. I find myself drooling over everything she knits. Perhaps it's her artistic talents shining through?

Chath is doing the cuff down version of the pattern, using Unwind Yarn Company Journey Sock in the Wisp colorway.

All photos courtesy of Chath.

Happy New Year - Happy New Pattern and KAL!

I see that many of the bloggers I read are doing a 2013 year in review post. I honestly hadn't thought of that. I'm too excited about 2014, which is just going to be bursting with new designs. I accomplished way more than I thought I would in 2013, so I've raised the bar for the new year.

I hope you all had a fun NYE celebration and are ready to start your 2014 knitting. I've set up a Knit-along (KAL) and Read-along (RAL) for January and February in my Ravelry group.

SweetGeorgia Yarn: Colorways Charcoal and Pistachio

When I decided to do a KAL, I wanted it to be fun and relaxing. There's no rush, no pressure - December had enough of that! Relax, enjoy, knit an easy pattern. And it is easy - just knits and purls, with just enough variation to keep you awake. This is the calm after the storm. Knit Captain Hastings. Or knit any of my other patterns. Or just read-along. You don't need to finish. Everyone will be eligible for prizes.

The KAL coincides with the release of the first pattern in my upcoming Hercule Poirot series. The Hercule Poirot series will feature characters or novel titles from Agatha Christie’s novels and short stories featuring everyone’s favorite mustachioed Belgian detective.

Mirrored left & right feet.

Also, each of the pattern samples will be knit in Sweet Georgia Yarns range of sock yarns. You don’t need to use Sweet Georgia yarn, but they are delicious to knit with and come in fabulous colors.

The read-along is optional. We'll be reading The Big Four, by Agatha Christie. Your local library should have it. There’s no need to buy a copy.

Pattern: Captain Hastings

Release Details: The pattern for the KAL will be available for $1.00 for 5 days: January 1-5th, 2014. Then it will be regular price. Or purchase the e-book for a discounted price.
KAL project tag: Please tag your KAL project with PoirotKAL2014 so we can admire all the lovely Captain Hastings being created!

KAL dates: Wednesday, January 1st – Friday, February 28th

Guidelines:

• Have fun!
• Knit Captain Hastings or any other of my patterns
• Read The Big Four if you want and discuss.

This is a no-pressure KAL where the goal is to have fun, get to know each other and maybe indulge in some selfish post-Holiday knitting. Finish, don’t finish - just hang out and have fun.
Prizes:

• Skein of Sweet Georgia sock yarn. Randomly awarded at the end of the KAL from amongst anyone who finishes at least 1 sock.
• 2 copies of the full Poirot collection. 1 awarded at midpoint randomly. 1 awarded at end randomly.
• 6 pattern prizes (winner’s choice of pattern) randomly awarded weekly from posters in KAL thread. (That’s 1 pattern per week for 6 weeks.) The more you comment, the more chances you have!

Toe up heel

Cuff down foot

Optional:
Book: The Big Four, by Agatha Christie. Read-along with me. The Big Four is a fun read, comprised of mini-stories within a story as Poirot tackles a cabal of master criminals known as The Big Four.

Cuff down heel