Ribbed Baby Beanie

Ribbed Baby Beanie knitting pattern
Sizes 0-3 and 3-6 months.
Below is a video tutorial for the i-cord portion of the hat.

The pattern is available here in my Etsy shop or search
KatePrestonHandknits (no spaces) on Etsy.com
It will cost you $4 bucks.
Thank you for your purchase!

(This beanie was made with love for baby Anna, my newest niece. xo)

https://youtu.be/OQ4k0hwYl9g

TKGA's Knit and Crochet Show 2014

Finished my first gig at a national conference.  Many thanks to The Knitting Guild Association for having me and to a fabulous group of craftepreneurs!  

Cable Ribbed Hat for All Sizes

This hat is worked - from the bottom edge, up to the crown - on circular needles, switching to double-pointed needles when necessary. The entire piece can be worked on the DPNs if desired. With five different size options ranging from newborn to adult, the pattern will suit all ages. 

Enjoy knitting this hat for every special person in your life!
Pattern available here in my Etsy shop.

Join in-the-round for Circular Knitting

Autumn Leaves Cardigan

How to Market Your Knitting or Crochet Business

Join me at The Knit and Crochet Show in Manchester, NH on Friday, July 25

Learn the basics to promoting your knitting business. In this crash course, we'll discuss a multifaceted approach to increasing your business’ position in the marketplace. Topics will include public relations, social media, community involvement, website presence, photography, direct mail, email marketing and more. If you strive to increase your sales, please join us for this very special session.

Join me in Manchester, New Hampshire

I am thrilled and honored to share this news:  I will be teaching at The Knitting Guild Association's national conference  in Manchester, New Hampshire in July!

On Thursday, July 24th, I will hold a full-day workshop on The BABE Sweater, a one-piece, cabled baby sweater.  My design for the sweater is inspired by my knit swimsuit that was featured in the 2013 issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine. The suit was worn by the world's hottest supermodel Kate Upton, hence the name for the baby sweater - the BABE sweater.  The BABE Sweater knitting pattern will be available for purchase after the workshop.  If you'd like to receive notification when it's available, please email me today, and I'll gladly add you to the list.  katieopreston@gmail.com

On Friday, July 25, I will hold a lecture titled How to Market your Knitting or Crochet Business.

Perfect Pom Pom Baby Hat

The Perfect Pom Pom Baby Hat knitting pattern
for sizes Newborn, 3-6 months and 6-12 months.

This PDF knitting pattern is available here in my Etsy shop or search KatePrestonHandknits (no spaces) on Etsy.com   Includes my pom pom making tutorial.

Use coupon code HELLO for a discount!
(Made with love for my little boy Charlie. Here he is wearing the 6-12 months size.  xo)

POM POM-obsessed

I'm so in love with the Clover Pom Pom Maker, and lately, I find myself sticking a pom pom on everything I can.  Enjoy making your own!  And remember, the more you wrap your yarn, the fluffier your pom will be.

The PDF knitting pattern is available here in my Etsy.com shop.  Use coupon code HELLO for a discount!  

Sizes Newborn, 3-6 months, and 6-12 months.  

(Made with love for my little boy Charlie. Here he is wearing the 6-12 months size.  xo)


This post was featured by CRAFTgawker on January 22, 2014.

Kate's Seed and Braided Cable Cowl

The Braided Cable Cowl pattern was a great success in 2012.  So, I developed a similar pattern for 2013, but this one incorporates a band of beloved seed stitch.  The cowl sold before it had ever made it to my Etsy shop, but I'll be selling the pattern.  Be sure to use the coupon code HELLO for a discount.

The original Kate's Braided Cable Cowl is posted here.

Made the baby and the sweater

My baby Charlie at 10 months old, modeling his Owlet Sweater.  More about the pattern here.

The Kate Swimsuit!

I am thrilled to announce that I designed and knitted a swimsuit that is modeled by KATE UPTON in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT magazine! 

Kate Upton - Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2013 - Photo by Derek Kettela

ABOUT THE SHOOT
It is Swimsuit‘s charge to feature gorgeous models in the latest swimwear and accessories, in the most picturesque settings around the globe.  For this year’s 50^th anniversary issue, editor MJ Day lead supermodel Kate Upton, photographer Derek Kettela* and the crew on an expedition to Antarctica. Yes, ANTARCTICA – that massive, frozen land at the bottom of our planet.

The team made history – holding the first-ever fashion photo shoot on the continent, while completing the magazine’s mission of shooting on all seven continents in seven months.

It is really unbelievable when you think about it.  Right?

ABOUT THE SUIT
My design for the swimsuit was inspired by traditional Irish fishermen’s sweaters – those cream-colored, wool jumpers (as the Irish call them) with busy patterns you see Irish-Americans donning here in the U.S. on Saint Patrick’s Day.

Hand-knit swimsuit by Kate Preston for Kate Upton, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2013

Composed of cable motifs and various other stitches, the busy patterns have great significance, and traditionally, the sweaters were hand-knitted by women for the fishermen in their families.  The lofty cables add warmth, and each style signifies a different meaning, ranging from safety, good luck, and hard work to wealth and a successful catch.  The motifs and the placement of those motifs were distinct to each clan – each having its own individual design for its sweater.  And to be quite frank, the explicit design provided a way to identify the family of a man lost at sea!

For my swimsuit design, I chose the cable motifs for “fashion over function,” as we did not expect for supermodel Kate to go overboard.  I do hope that it kept her a tiny bit warmer while shooting in the sub-zero temps among penguins and Antarctic glaciers.

DETAILS
The Kate Swimsuit was designed and hand-knitted by Kate Preston in October-November 2012.  The garment took forty hours to complete.

Materials and supplies included:
Malabrigo Twist yarn composed of 100% baby merino wool in colorway #63-Natural
ChiaoGoo Red Lace circular knitting needles
Brittany double pointed knitting needles
Clover stitch markers

Many have asked, “How exactly do you knit a swimsuit?”
My reply, “From the crotch-up.  And that’s the truth!”

* See the beauty of Kettela’s photographs for yourself - in the magazine, available on newsstands and in the app store.

Kate Upton knit swimsuit by
Kate Preston

Featured here in Newsday  on Feb 18, 2013.

Featured here in Rockville Centre Herald on March 6, 2013.

Featured here in Rockville Centre Patch  on Feb 28, 2013. 

Featured here in Long Island Exchange on March 15, 2013.

For more about Kate Preston Handknits | Custom, luxury knits, visit my sister site here.

"I HEART U" Mini-sweaters

I Heart Valentine's Day.

It's a nice, warm spark mid-way through New York's cold, gray month of February.  

In celebration of the day, I knitted these mini-sweaters for my mom.  She decorates her and my dad's home for pretty much every holiday, so I knew she would love them.  And I will always remember just how excited I was to give her this gift!

I followed the Sweater and Stocking Minis pattern in Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.  (The sweaters are truly miniature; each fits in my palm.)   You can see them here on Ravelry.  If you can't get your hands on a copy of the book -  but I hope you can - have a look at this collection of *free* mini-sweater patterns by Berroco.  You will find them here on Berroco's website.

Enjoy, and Happy Valentine's Day!

xo - k.

Featured here on CRAFTgawker on January 29, 2013.

Introducing baby Charlie!

Introducing our new baby boy!

Charles William Preston
Born on Thanksgiving Day - November 22, 2012

We love him to pieces.  Expect to see more of him, because as you know, I love to work up baby knits.

Here he is at three weeks old, modeling his Puerperium Sweater which was knitted with love by his Gram.
Go here for the *free* pattern.

NameMaker.com

My new labels from NameMaker.com.  They have a huge selection.  These were woven (vs. printed) in France and delivered in about 4 weeks.

FO: The Owlet

The Owlet is finished, and I am completely in love with this sweet little sweater.  See my progress photos here.

Having fun with KNITCOL

On a recent trip out of town and a visit to the local yarn shop, my aunt discovered KNITCOL by Adriafil.  Yay!   She picked up a skein for my mom, who used it to work up this sweet little baby hat.  It's self-striping, almost giving the look of fair isle, and is 100% merino in DK weight.  It's available in about a dozen colorways.  See them here.

Care to Knit

Here's the latest donation our group made to Care to Knit.  A few scarves and dozens of hats for adults, children, and babies in need.  To learn more about Care to Knit or to donate hand-knit items, visit www.caretoknit.org.

Many thanks to Shelley, Judy, Lori, Mary, Joann, and Ginny for knitting these beautiful gifts!

On my needles: Owlet Baby Sweater

I'm thrilled to begin the Owlet Baby Sweater by Kate Davies.  As you can see from Kate's photo below, it's pretty sweet.  I put it on my Knit List for 2012, and here we are in August.  It will be perfect for a little one to wear this Fall. Can't imagine whooooo. ;-)

It's my first time knitting with Madeline Tosh. This superwash hand-dyed 100% merino wool is gorgeous. Worth every penny to make this handknit sweater extra special.