Nicky Epstein

Teacher, designer, and author of more than twenty bestselling books on technique and design, Nicky Epstein learned the basics of knitting from her Italian grandmother and later studied fashion design and fine art at Columbus College.  It was during a stint as art director at a design firm that she took a chance and entered a handknitting contest sponsored by McCalls Needlework magazine.  That  winning entry was a colourful sweater with a unicorn motif and Nicky’s playful embellishments.  She currently lives in New York City, spending time promoting her love of knitting through workshops, special events, and as a frequent host of Vogue Knitting Tours.

Bewitching Hooded Scarf

Like pieces of a puzzle, knitted triangles fit together in a series of blocks to form a ‘scood’ with a center back seam.  Crocheted corkscrew tassels and faux fur add an extra touch of luxury and whimsy.  Its the hidden back seam that keeps the hood in place.  Knit in Artesanal, a blend of cotton, alpaca, and nylon. 

Cosy Cable Coat

A hit of bright contrast in Del Zur luxurious merino goes a long way in this bulky jacket with cable detail on the pockets, front panels and back.  Los Andes, in Indigo is the main colour, a thick slubby merino blend that knits up on 9 mm needles.  Raglan sleeves give it a smooth fit across the shoulders and the collar is knit into the front sections, so no extra finishing required.

Heavenly Cardigan Shrug

Look once, look twice, Nicky baffles us with this crocheted shrug.   Its really two separate panels, criss crossed and joined at the centre back neck and side seams leaving ample room for armhole openings.  Butterfly wings, a sprinkling of leaves and flowers with beaded centres are the icing on the cake.   

Back of the Shrug

Spellbound Woven Vest

Clever construction makes this vest stand out in a crowd.  Look closely to see knitted strips are interwoven and attached at side edges with Nicky’s signature I-Cord closures.  Knit in a simple cable rib with Del Cerro, merino wool in Khaki.

Magical Two-Way Capelet

You may want to give yourself more than just one option with this floral inspired capelet, knit in Pima Clasico, a pure cotton with all the sheen and substance of silk.  Four squares are knit, pieced together and edged with I-Cord.  Wear it horizontal as shown, or swing it one half turn and change the look to a V-shaped front and back.

Transitioning into the first frosty mornings of Fall may not be the easiest, but with the changing weather comes a profusion of cosy handknit styles to choose from.  Its a season for building up warmth gradually in layers.

Capes are making a comeback, hot off the European catwalks, and showing up in a mesmerizing variety of styles and shapes.  What makes a cape unique is the ease of movement, it lacks the restrictions of jackets and coats, simply by having no sleeves.   There is plenty of room for layering under or over a cape, yet its as easy to wear as a scarf or shawl.  

Here are the Top Ten Capes For Fall, each one distinctively different from the last-   

Shoulder Cape by Debbie Bliss

Noro Book #28

The beauty of Eisaku Noro’s nature-inspired colourways are unmistakably Kochoran- in just the right blend of wool and silk with a wispy haze of angora.  When a jacket is too confining, slip into this innovative cape from Book #28 , allowing plenty of arm movement without letting the cold air in.

Organic Cape by Rico

New from the Rico Design team in Book #321, a polo neck cape designed with side openings, makes it snug and cosy and a breeze to slide your arms through.  Try out the all-natural Organic Trio, merging bio cotton and organic wool together in a great new polar weight yarn.  Five earthy shades are in stock now and ready for Fall knitting.   

On Line Winter 2010

Well-sculpted, and hugging the shoulders in a sideways fashion, this capelet displays a clever interplay of cables.  Knit in Divano from On Line, a new quality; merino wool infused with baby alpaca available in eleven neutral shades.   

Cabled Cape by Debbie Bliss

Featured in Snow Queen, part of the most recent Debbie Bliss design collection, this richly coloured cape shows off long flowing cables in Como, a bulky outerweight yarn which knits on 10 mm needles.  Four new shades have been added to the palette this season; coral, moss, mauve and teal.

Garden Cape by Katia

From Katia’s Teen Collection- a bubbly textured yarn called Garden is hard to resist in a chic cover up.  Its a bulky weight novelty yarn with a range of eight shades to select from.  Keep the trend going with a pair of arm warmers, they are in vogue and very necessary for texting.

On Line Winter 2010

Feel like spreading your wings?  Slide into this uniquely designed half poncho/half cape with loads of extra room.  Lucido is a new quality from On Line, a plush wool/acrylic blend in a polar weight, boasting nine fresh tone-on-tone colourways. 

Indie Cape by Sirdar

Already a big hit in the stores, Indie from Sirdar has the ‘wow factor’ that inspires knitters to pick up the needles and learn how much fun knitting can be.   Take a browse through Book #385  and you might be amazed at what great styles 12 mm needles can whip up.

Cable Edge Wrap by Louisa Harding

Stunning in midnight blue, Louisa Harding enchants us with gentle sophistication in her latest Dream Catcher Collection.  Narrow cables define the yoke while a chunky edging adds weight and balance in a contrast colour.  Knit in Rossetti, a softly twisted mix of merino and silk in eleven inspiring shades.  

Musketeer Cape by Sublime

Last but not least, try an open approach to the new trendy cape.  Sublime Book #646 leans towards a sporty style in Cashmere Merino Silk Aran.  Introducing three new shades;  porthole, russe, and peking duck, adding to an already impressive list of thirty-three colours.

Many of us are well acquainted with The Shop On Blossom Street, the first in a series of heartwarming books about knitting and friendship by Debbie Macomber.  The story centres around a group of women who meet for the first time at a weekly class held at a new knitting shop, A Good Yarn.  Over many dropped stitches, sharing both laughter and heartache, lifelong bonds are formed.  Debbie’s inspiration for The Blossom Street books developed from visits to her favorite yarn shop, being in the company of fellow knitters and their encouragement to try new projects.  At the time, a busy travel schedule prevented her from signing up for classes.  Writing a book became the next best thing, a way of spending time with other knitters, even if they were fictitious.  

Debbie Macomber

Debbie Macomber is a successful author with more than one hundred and fifty million books in print, spanning a thirty year writing career.  Hot on the heels of the Blossom Street series, comes a brand new venture for Debbie, the introduction of her signature line of handknitting yarns and pattern books.  As a big supporter of programs for children and families in need, Debbie is donating proceeds from The Blossom Street Collection to charity.

Here is a look at her new collection-

Lakeside Cardigan in Cashmere Fleur De Lys

One of six exciting new qualities from Debbie Macomber- Cashmere Fleur De Lys combines the suppleness of extrafine merino wool with a gentle whisper of cashmere in an aran weight yarn.  The Lakeside Cardigan is a pretty sampling of the styles featured in The Blossom Street Collection Book  Two

Fair Isle Bands Cap in Gerbera Print and Solid

Gerbera Print stands out vividly with six splashy self-striping colourways, oopsie daisy, purple prose, tequila sunrise, lazy river, blue moon, and black dahlia.  Meanwhile, Gerbera Solid settles quietly in place as a backdrop for this design, the perfect accompaniment in an aran weight wool.

Bridget Vest in Wild Meadow

For easy care in a preppy tweed yarn, Wild Meadow combines the simplicity of acrylic and the warmth of wool in a double knitting weight, available in six shades, including this pick of the crop- Juneau, an interesting swish of two current colours, charcoal and teal.  Add the finishing touch to the Bridget Vest with shiny hardware, fashionable pewter closures.  

Grow With Me Child's Cardigan in Rosebud

A washable merino wool in a classic dk weight yarn, Rosebud has a whopping selection of fourteen solids to choose from.  This little girl’s garter stitch cardigan with fair isle detail is included in Book Three. 

Twist n' Stripe Socks in Petal Socks

From the tips of your toes, Petal Socks generates long-lasting heat with the right balance of ingredients, superwash wool, nylon, and the cloud-like softness of angora.   Six diffused colourways are ready for sock knitting weather.

The much anticipated Fall/Winter Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine has just fluttered in, landing directly on the bookshelves in your LYS.  A blaze of fiery fair isle stands out boldly on the front cover in this fifth issue to date from well-known British knitting icon, Debbie Bliss.  She continues to capture our interest with her unique lifestyle magazine, covering the gamut of designs from babies to adults, home decor to gift items, tossing in an occasional glimpse into her design studio and favorite recipe file.  Its an emporium of creative new patterns and a few favorites revisited.   

Debbie Bliss Magazine Cover

Note:  The gorgeous cover model is Grace, who grew up in Muskoka Falls, Ontario and was scouted by an agency while working at a local grocery store.  

Lets take a glance inside this current issue and get inspired!

Moss Stitch Jacket

Debbie salutes Scottish tradition- plaids, tartans, argyle and fairisle are back in the limelight, freshened up with a lively burst of colour.  This modern little jacket is knit in Luxury Tweed Aran with plaid pocket accents in Rialto DK.

Fairisle Beret

A cheerful tam o’ shanter sets its mark on first-timers to practise the art of fairisle.  Lightweight and warm, its knit in Rialto 4 ply, extrafine merino wool spun into twenty-six colours.  The trick to fairisle knitting is carrying the yarn loosely enough across the back to allow for stretch.   

Pocket Pals

Moms-to-be will appreciate this practical solution for baby’s essentials.  Knit in Rialto DK, each pocket is worked in intarsia with moss stitch borders and and sewn into place on a larger rectangle piece.  An ideal shower gift and sure to become a treasured keepsake.

Cowl

Covering up your head, ears and neck in one giant cowl, Debbie Bliss highlights her newest yarn- Glen, an alpaca/merino blend in tweedy self-striping colourways.  Cables and ribs add extra texture and interest.

Cushion Covers

Isn’t it time to start writing out your holiday gift list?  Home accessories are always a popular feature in Debbie’s magazines, and this latest issue shows a hint of nordic inspiration in pillow covers, slippers and small gift items.  Just check them off one at a time and they will be ready to wrap for Christmas.

Zip Up Hoodie

After a day on the ski slopes, a cosy hoodie will take away the chill.  Breaking all the rules, this design changes background colour across the yoke which carries nicely into the hood.  Knit in three shades of Fez, a soft blend of camel and extrafine merino.