Today I'm talking about our trip up NORTH to the Eden Valley, what I was knitting on the trip and I announce the winners of the Curious Collective DKAL. Show Sponsor - Meadow Yarn Meadow Yarn is an inviting online retailer selling yarn, needles and notions. It's a small, family business based in rural Suffolk in the UK. Meadow Yarn was born out of a passion for beautiful yarn and knitting accessories and aims to bring you a range of great products. Yarns stocked include madelinetosh, Eden Cottage Yarn, Hazel Knits and many more. What's in the WIP Knitting "up NORTH" Bobble Hats - My free pattern Dream Big The last two designs in the Dream Big collection coming out next week will be the Eden Fells Hat and Scarf The model is the lovely Mattieu and photography by Vicki. Christmas Gift Knitting ideas If you would like to get organised and plan your knitting projects for the holiday season you can signup for my free Holiday Knitting planner. You will also be signing up for my mailing list and will get updates for the Knitvent collection and quite possibly some nice discounts! Some girls cardigan suggestions -  Sunday Sweater by Ginny Sheller  - suggested by Libby of Truly Myrtle blog Miss Marple by Nadia Crétin-Léchenne - suggested by marynvoight Other holiday knitting ideas -  3 Gnomes suggested by PrairiePoppins New shawl design by BostonJen from Down Cellar Podcast, the Aila Grace Shawl As always....don't forget to play the Instagram game!

Talking about initial planning for Christmas knitting and newly published Knitsonik book. Show Sponsor - Meadow Yarn Meadow Yarn is an inviting online retailer selling yarn, needles and notions. It's a small, family business based in rural Suffolk in the UK. Meadow Yarn was born out of a passion for beautiful yarn and knitting accessories and aims to bring you a range of great products. Yarns stocked include madelinetosh, Eden Cottage Yarn, Hazel Knits and many more. Holiday Knitting Planning Am looking at these patterns for Sophie and Lexie for Christmas cardigans. I really want to participate in the Double Knit Cardi Party! Granny's favourite Mini Manu Book Review Knitsonik Stranded Colourwork Sourcebook

  I’m talking about colour theory in the 10,000 hours segment and how it can help knitters choose yarn for multicoloured projects. Show Sponsor - Meadow Yarn Meadow Yarn is an inviting online retailer selling yarn, needles and notions. It's a small, family business based in rural Suffolk in the UK. Meadow Yarn was born out of a passion for beautiful yarn and knitting accessories and aims to bring you a range of great products. Yarns stocked include madelinetosh, Eden Cottage Yarn, Hazel Knits and many more. 10,000 Hours - Colour Theory I'm definitely not an expert on colour theory but I wanted to share a few tips that I have learnt recently that might really help you with colour choices for knitting projects. There are some gorgeous multicoloured projects around such as Veera Valimaki's Colour Affection shawl and of course lots of Stephen West’s shawls and garments including his new mystery shawl. Does anyone else have as much trouble as I do choosing colour combinations for these type of projects? Back in June I did a Colour Theory class with Amy Hendrix founder of madelinetosh and it really ignited my interest in colour theory. I have always LOVED colour on a kind of emotional and intuitive level but having even just a tiny amount of theory is proving to be invaluable. My prompt for talking about this today is the Global Nomad pieces from the Dream Big Collection. Back in May I released the Global Nomad Cowl and this week I released the Global Nomad Handwarmers both in grey and yellow (grello!) and both knit in madelinetosh yarn Global Nomad Cowl was knit in madelinetosh tosh sock Composition Book Grey and Chamomile Global Nomad Handwarmers were knit in madelinetosh tosh DK (bought recently from our sponsor Meadow Yarn shop in Charcoal and Winter Wheat Colour theory definitions Hue = “colour” e.g.  yellow and red Hues mixed with white are tints, those mixed with grey are tones, and those mixed with black are shades. Value = Lightness and darkness Trick is to take a picture in greyscale on your phone. If you have an iphone there are three different B&W filters and after some research I think that the mono is best to use. Saturation = the purity of a colour Hues mixed with white are tints, those mixed with grey are tones, and those mixed with black are shades. Resources mentioned: Colour Theory with Jared - Jared Flood on the Brooklyn Tweed blog Colourlovers - a colour community and has some fun tools. Color: A Natural History of the Palette Knitty article Knit FM Episode 9 Hanna Fettig and Pam Allen talk about choosing colours for the Quince and Co yarn lines DKAL Announcement If you’re participating in the Curious Collective DKAL – don’t forget to post your finished shawl by this Sunday 19th October. And I’ll be drawing for the prizes next week. The sponsor is Juno Fibre Arts. Are you on Instagram yet? Join in the fun and the amazing yarny knitting community there! Play the instagram game and tag me with a pic of where you’re watching the podcast.

This week I'm answering a listener question about how I juggle designing with family life. What's in the WIP? A lot of secret knitting. Next Dream Big pattern will be released next week. Next week is the last week of the Curious Collective DKAL. The Simple Life - a listener question Today I'm answering a question from TanyaMarie who hosts the Sampler Girl podcast about how I balance design and knitting time with my family life. Giveaway Stay tuned to the end of the show as I draw the lucky winner of the madelinetosh Prairie yarn from commenters on last week's episode. Thanks so much to everyone who commented. Don't forget to play the Instagram game!

I'm talking to my special guest and good friend Vicki Hillman, fashion stylist about the trends in knitwear for the Autumn/Winter 2014 season. Trends we discussed: Sweater Dresses Pinterest board: Sweater Dresses Chunky Hats and Scarves and Texture Pinterest board: Chunky Hats and Scarves Knitted Trousers Pinterest board: Knitted Trousers Fabulous fluffy pom poms can be found at TOFT Alpaca Giveaway AlpakkaAnna’s comment about holiday knitting got me thinking about how many of us, me included love to knit gifts for family and friends but often find it a bit of a challenge. I am planning a wonderful Knitvent collection for you again this year so I’m really curious this week to know – What is it about gift/holiday knitting that you find most difficult? Anyone who leaves a comment below by 9 October 2014 to help me understand the challenges of holiday knitting will go in the draw for a skien of divine Madeline Tosh Prairie in the Posy colour. This is the yarn I used to knit my Cloud Wrap with.