Today has been nothing but a day of cooking. This is my sister and brother-in-law’s first year to host (such grownups!). My sister asked that I come before Thursday to help her out. My parents and grandparents will of course be bringing dishes, but I had no idea we’d be responsible for so much. There’s so much pressure!!
I’m responsible for appetizers. Every year I make little turkey-shaped crackers. I also made some brie and cranberry tartlets and will be chopping up a veggie platter in the morning. Today we got Tom the Turkey prepped, made the apple pie, prepped the pumpkin pie, made the stock and got everything ready for tomorrow. With all this cooking, the only logical knitwear for the day was to wear my Kitchen Couture Apron. If you click on the link above, you’ll get a pdf version of the pattern.
Two years ago I was a guest on Knitty Gritty. The episode aired a couple times on HGTV and now it’s going be on DIY Network.
If you don’t get HGTV, but do get DIY, then it’ll be new to you. It’s episode 703, Kitchen Couture. The website says January 7th on one page and January 8th on another.
I think January 8th is the correct date. It airs at 5am so set your DVR.
My Knitty Gritty episode is re-airing this Friday, January 25th at 7:00am on HGTV. So if you missed it last April, set your recorder. You can read about the filming of the show here. Here’s the link the apron pattern and a link to Starsky, the pattern we discuss at the end of the show. Also on the set was Spring Fling (the purple sweater on the left side of the demo table) and the orange asymetrical tank behind the Knitsters was published in Vogue Knitting, Spring/Summer 2004, pattern #4.
I love how one opportunity can turn into another. After my Knitty Gritty episode aired, Betsey of Basket’s of Yarn invited me to teach at her annual winter retreat. I’ve taught locally before, but never flown across the country to teach. I am super excited. So excited I just used super!
The retreat is March 6-10 in Boone, NC. It’s 4 days long, but you can choose if you’d like to stay 2, 3 or 4 nights. There will be several classes, but I’ll be teaching the following:
Strawberry Apron from Knitty Gritty: Knit the apron Jordana designed for DIY’s show Knitty Gritty. Learn cable cast on, daisy motif, duplicate stitching and double knitting.
Sweater Design from the Top Down: Design your own basic sweater with set in sleeves from the top down. Skills discussed include short rows, provisional cast on, working without seams, ease, necklines, and stitch pattern selection.
Getting Your Product to Market: A discussion on how Jordana built her business, the challenges she faced and inspiration for you to pursue your goals.
For more information and a complete class list visit Baskets of Yarn.
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I know everyone loves winning stuff…especially a JP knitting bag! KnittyBitty in Germany is holding a design contest. The grand prize is Bella. If like me you can’t understand a word that is on that page, scroll down for the English details. Good luck designers!
All winners have now responded, so I can announce who they are:
Donna Silverberg
Kate Lew
Bobie Mowery
Suzanne Nielsen
Nikki Arstark
For those of you searching, the pattern for the apron from Knitty Gritty is here. The white sweater that was shown at the end of the show is Starsky from Knitty.com. It’s also available in kid sizes. A couple of my other designs were on the set as well Spring Fling (the purple sweater on the left side of the demo table) and the orange asymetrical tank behind the Knitsters was published in Vogue Knitting, Spring/Summer 2004, pattern #4. And of course, all the bags on the set are available at JordanaPaige.com. The grape satchel is currently out of stock, but it can be pre-ordered.
Today’s the day! Welcome to all the Knitty Gritty watchers. Watching myself on TV this morning was very weird. But, I’m happy with how the show came out. I’m even more happy they didn’t use the fake laughing Vickie, the Knitsters and I had to do at the end.
The winners of the drawing have been contacted, so check your email to see if you’ve won. I’ll post names here once I’ve received replies from the winners.
Thank you to everyone who participated in my celebration!
A couple days ago I discovered the date my episode of Knitty Gritty will air, April 23rd, is exactly five years to the day that I received my business license. What a great way to celebrate five years.
I can remember the exact moment the idea for The Knitter’s Purse hit me; I was sitting on the couch in my mom’s office reading an article in Vogue Knitting about the rise in popularity of knitting. From there my ideas took off with possibilities of where the business could go. Five years later many of those original goals have been acheived while the rest of them have grown with the business.
It took me a little over one year to develop The Knitter’s Purse. It seemed like the longest, most frustrating year at the time. I wanted the product right then. I was so excited and knew with certainty that if I could just get the purse made knitters would love it. And you did, thank you.
Although, next year will be what I consider the true five year mark, since it was a year before I started selling, April 23rd will certainly be a day for celebrating.
And celebrate we will. From now until April 22nd, enter to win a Jordana Paige bag of your choice. Picking just one winner isn’t enough so I’ll be drawing FIVE winners. Winners will be announced April 23rd.
It’s so soon. I wasn’t expecting it to air until the end of summer.
I was secretive when I got back from taping, but now it’s time to reveal the project…Kitschy Kitchen Couture. How Vickie Howell was able to say that without getting tongue twisted, I don’t know.
From concept to TV, here it is:
The apron is knit with Gems Merino by Louet Sales. It is worked with a flower motif and seed stitch ruffle. Then the cute strawberry pockets are added.
I think I must do some sort of competition, drawing, give-away to celebrate. Any ideas?
Back from taping Knitty Gritty! This was an amazing experience. I don’t really believe it happened and probably won’t until I see the episode on TV. For me, the best part was walking into the studio and seeing my knitwear and bags on the Knitty Gritty set. I knew they would be there, but was still surprised to see it. Here is Starsky with an ocean blue Satchel.
My biggest worry was I would be so nervous my hands would shake while knitting on the KnittyCam. But, it was really relaxed on the set (not at all scary) and the rehearsel with the producer the day before calmed me down. The most difficult part was showing a p2togtbl while keeping my hands on the mark for the camera. That took me a few tries.
The Knitsters were fun and did a great job. They only had to do their part once for the last act. It looks like the Knitsters are sitting there for just 30 minutes in the show, but they’re actually there for the entire 3 hours of filming. The really wierd part…at the end we all had to fake laugh for 2 minutes.
Here’s me and Vickie. I’ve chopped off my project that we’re holding. I’m going to make you wait to see it. I will say, I am so happy with how the project turned out, and so were the producers. It came out even better than when I sketched it in my head.
The episode is number 703, so it is the third episode of the seventh season. I’ve been told it will air around mid to late 2007. Of course, I’ll let you know the date as soon as I know!
