Tag: raincityknits

A Christmas Sneak Peek

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sneak peek

Hi everyone! I can’t believe that it’s been weeks since I’ve posted. Things have been busy around here with my return to work. I have also been working on things behind the scenes, getting patterns ready for testing and trying to wrap up a couple of projects. There’s always more projects than time!

But what’s this? It’s a sneak peek of a recently finished project using lovely bright RainCityKnits yarn. I’m currently writing up the pattern and should have it very soon ready for test knitting on Ravelry. I love my test knitters! I have a hat project though that will go first for testing. Let me know at theredfoxandgown@gmail.com if you are interested in test knitting for me.

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Last but not least, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. And happy solstice too! It’s fitting that there is snow on the ground in Vancouver for this first day of winter. The best part is that the days finally start getting longer at last. Hooray!

x Rena

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Fall Round Up

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The autumn has been a busy one so far. I thought it’s time for a bit of a recap, starting with Knit City 2013, which was held last weekend in Vancouver, Canada. It’s really exciting to have such a wonderful knitting show here in my backyard. The show was amazing, pulled off by the talented Amanda and Fiona of Knit Social. I’m still recovering from the busy weekend! There were 60 vendors and I don’t know how many visitors, but it was a blast.

I had a booth for The Red Fox and Gown, sharing space with Rain City Knits. We had our own space amid the vendors. It was great to meet so many enthusiastic knitters. I sold a lot of patterns and a few books too! I had help on Saturday from the lovely Brooke, seen hard at work in the photo below.

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Brooke at work at The Red Fox and Gown booth.

Krista was helped out by Sarah, who is a big supporter of Rain City Knits and even does the occasional blog post for the Vancouver company, as well as yarn wrangling as needed as you can see in the next photo. Krista was too busy to sit still long enough to have her photo taken!

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Sarah finding a new home for a fresh Rain City Knits skein.

The weekend passed by in a fun blur. The pace was nice and steady this year, and both Saturday and Sunday were busy despite the glorious weather outside. Knitters are a dedicated crowd.

Aside from Knit City, lots has been going on…

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Double Rainbow is live in the new Deep Fall Knitty.

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Glaslyn was released.

And there was the launch of my new book Urban Knittting. No wonder I’m tired!

And that’s not all. There’s been plenty of designing and knitting going on behind the scenes. There’s also a backlog of design work due to the fall’s busy schedule. But when I feel like I am not getting anywhere, I step back and realize that actually quite a bit has been going on, especially with the Knit City preparation. Now life returns to normal, at least for the next little while before Christmas shenanigans begin. Happy November–or should I say, Wovember!

x Rena

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Getting Ready for Fibres West 2013

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Apologies for the radio silence – things have been busy around here as spring approaches amid the Vancouver rain. Lots of projects are on the go and I’m busy getting ready for Fibres West on 22 and 23 March 2013, held at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds in Surrey, BC. It’s hard to believe that the event is only 10 days away.

 

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As for The Red Fox and Gown, work has been going on behind the scenes on getting my booth display prepared. Things are mostly together at this point, I’m happy to say. I’m excited to sell printed patterns (on heavyweight paper and kept in a plastic sleeve) at the show, with samples of the different projects on display at the table (guess which one is me below).

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I have about 10 accessories patterns ready to go, including favourites such as the Sage Woodland Hood, Cloud Cowl, the Foxy Business Hat, and the Star Slouch Hat.

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I’ve also helped out my sister Krista with her preparations for RainCityKnits’ booth for Fibres West too. I spent the afternoon yesterday helping out with her beautifully dyed yarns. I got to play with Babycakes (yay!) and her gorgeous electric coral yarn in worsted weight.

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I’m so glad that the Vancouver area has two major fibre events per year, 6 months apart to keep you going. I’ll also be at Knit City 2013 in October. But there’s lots to come before then, with some mysterious pattern designs in the works, including garments as well as accessories. 🙂

Please stop by at The Red Fox and Gown booth at FIbres West and say hi!

x Rena

Signature Red Fox Fingerless Gloves and Knit City 2012

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Our signature Red Fox Fingerless Gloves.

Autumn is seriously kicking up its heels here in Vancouver, Canada. Our seasonal rains arrived with a roll of fog mid-month and hasn’t let up since. The good news about this rather abrupt transition from the hot weather we had previously been enjoying is that it is perfect knitting weather. And some fun stuff has been in the works for the season, not least of all The Red Fox and Gown’s new signature Red Fox Fingerless Gloves knitting pattern.

The cozy gloves are warm and ready for new fall and winter adventures. The gloves can be made in two lengths, short and long, as well as in two sizes, s/m and m/l. The short version in m/l is shown.

RainCityKnits colourful booth at Vancouver’s Knit City event during October 2012. Complete with guide dog in training in crate under the table!

Last weekend, despite the horizonal lashing rain, throngs of knitters descended on Vancouver’s first annual Knit City event. I was proudly helping out Krista of Rain City Knits at her booth. Her gorgeous yarns are now also available in a worsted weight in a range of colours. I spent the weekend imagining which colour I’d pick for my next pullover or cardigan.

Do you have any fall knitting plans? I have so much more to share with you, stay tuned!

x Rena

RainCityKnits: Gorgeous Yarn Colours

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Gorgeous yarns from RainCityKnits from Gastown in Vancouver, Canada. Source: RainCityKnits.

I must tell you about RainCityKnits from Gastown in Vancouver, Canada. And I’m not just telling you about the yarn because it’s masterminded by my sister. Her yarns are incredible, with beautiful on-trend colours and ethical sourcing.

Sock yarn in berry purple.

RainCityKnits yarns are made from 100% merino wool, spun by a worker’s collective in Uruguay. Krista, the owner / designer of RainCityKnits, hand dyes each skein individually in her studio in Gastown, Vancouver, Canada. Each skein is unique and vividly coloured.

Currently available in sock yarn / fingering weight, with more weights to come in the future, the line includes 13 colours: Heliotrope Purple, Berry Purple, Vermillion Red, Hot Pink, Bright Orange, Lemon Yellow, Wasabi Green, Kelly Green, Blue Teal, Rain Drop Blue, Royal Blue, Midnight Black and Natural. There are also several Ombre, or variegated, versions of the colours.

Swatch.

I am lucky enough to have gotten my mitts on a couple of the colours and I am in the process of designing an accessory pattern to showcase the lovely yarn from RainCityKnits. I’ve made a swatch in the natural colour so as not to use any of my precious coloured yarn!

RainCityKnits yarn colour perfect for some colour on a grey West Coast day.

I hope you’re excited as I am about this yarn. In Vancouver, you can find RainCityKnits yarn stocked at the new Wet Coast Wools shop in Kitsilano. Online, RainCityKnits has an Etsy shop where you can purchase any of these colours. I really encourage you to try this yarn out.
x Rena