A FOYAL-ing We Go!

We're nearing the middle of December, fiber friends! We're close to running out of 2024! 

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty much living over at the Fasten Off Yarnalong Discord server right now. Now, is anyone surprised by that?

If you answered yes, welcome! I know you're new here. Returning fiber enthusiasts will recall that each November and December I become very animated about the Fasten Off Yarnalong. 

But what is the Fasten Off Yarnalong? I hear someone in the back asking. And I'm so glad you did!

The Fasten Off Yarnalong, aka FOYAL (rhymes with royal), is at its heart a multiplatform yarn along celebrating some of the talented independent knitting and crochet, including both Tunisian crochet and machine knitting, pattern designers! 

What do you mean by multiplatform yarn along? You can participate in the yarnalong on any or all of your social media platforms. This year we have volunteers staffing the @FastenOffYAL accounts on Bluesky, the Discord server, Facebook (page, not group), Instagram, Mastodon, Tumblr, and TikTok! There are games and giveaways happening on most of these, and lots of fun content featuring the work of the 93 participating designers, and highlights of what crafters are working on from those same designers.

FOYAL kicks off every year with a two week sale on a selection of patterns from the participating designers; some designers offer their entire catalog of off Ravelry accessible patterns!!

Why the stress on off Ravelry patterns? To be plain about it, since Ravelry launched NuRav in June of 2020, many crafters can't use or can only spend limited time there. I wrote extensively about the effects of NuRav over the course of the summer of 2020 through to the early taking away of "Classic Rav" in March of 2021 that was letting some of us be there for short amounts of time. 

I was onsite the morning NuRav was suddenly launched. I went down with a two day migraine after about 20 minutes. I was nauseous. I was miserable. And it wasn't until people started asking questions on other places like Twitter that I realized it wasn't something I did or ate. I don't suffer from migraines as a rule! This was completely out of left field. I wasn't the worst impacted by any means either. The WIPinsanity blog (the news and views of fellow FOYAL organizer, Kathleen Sperling) documented sooo many things that I wasn't keeping up with recording. I was at the same time launching and building this site, learning from very baby-basic coding to pull my newly minted Payhip shop into these pages. I wanted and needed my own space, where I would be less likely to be blindsided out of the work that was giving me creative freedom and a purpose after losing the ability to work a regular job after my injury.

FOYAL was launched in November of 2020 to be an event parallel to the Indy Giftalong, which is still going strong on Ravelry. It was meant to highlight some of the designers who couldn't participate in the GAL due to medical reasons, and give a bit of community to the now adrift crafters.

That's where it started, and happily it's caught on! There are several designers this year (and years past) that participate in both the GAL and FOYAL, which is pretty cool. Both events are about promoting indy designers and gathering crafters together to craft. 

So every November and December I take a step back from my designing and roll up my metaphorical sleeves to help make this year's FOYAL a great one. I'm one of the organizers, yes. But I just love our community. And not to knock any of the other platforms (the Prize Picker reels on Instagram are a personal highlight) but the FOYAL Discord server is seriously so fun! Because of the set up, we're able to host longer runs of the various games, which means more prizes to give out. I'll let you in on a very ill-kept secret of the FOYAL (especially on Discord; everyone there knows): I'm the Prize Pixie 🧚‍♀️ If you've ever gotten a pattern prize email from FastenOffYALGames and there's a yarn ball or pixie at the end of the signature line, that was me. Hi, great to see you outside of your inbox *waves*

Ok, in addition to our social media platforms and the games and giveaways, because that's just not enough, the Fasten Off YAL website has all kinds of information about the event and our participating designers but the crowning jewel is the database.

The FOYAL database contains as many off Ravelry designs as possible for each of our participating designers. But not only are these all collected in one place, there's a fully filterable search that will find just about any idea you might have to make. And not only is this year's search up for the event timeframe, it's there all year. You saw a shawl pattern in November but decided to get the glove pattern to make for Aunt Gloria right away instead. You can come back in May or July and find that shawl again!

The database and the search are the result of three things: Kathleen's incredible mind for coding, and the data entry volunteers and/or designers who make sure everything looks right, and then the site testing volunteers who check out new search features and the links to the various patterns before the event opens! Cool right?

And that, my fiber friends, is all from me today! I'll pop some FOYAL links in before I hit post. 

Yours in yarn and a FOYALing good time ;)

Síle

The Fasten Off Yarnalong website: https://www.fastenoffyal.com/🔗

The Fasten Off Yarnalong Discord server: https://discord.gg/Vz6mpzQz🔗

My Ask-Me-Anything thread from earlier today (on the Discord server): https://discord.com/channels/769735278872100894/1311559461646766121🔗

The Fasten Off Yarnalong Bluesky account: https://bsky.app/profile/fastenoffyal.bsky.social🔗

The Fasten Off Yarnalong Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FastenOffYAL/🔗

The Fasten Off Yarnalong Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/FastenOffYAL🔗

The Fasten Off Yarnalong Mastodon account: https://mastodon.art/@fastenoffyal🔗

The Fasten Off Yarnalong Pinterest boards: https://www.pinterest.com/fastenoff🔗

The Fasten Off Yarnalong TikTok account: https://www.tiktok.com/@fastenoffyal🔗

The Fasten Off Yarnalong Tumblr account: https://www.tumblr.com/fastenoffyal🔗

The Fasten Off Yarnalong Youtube account: https://www.youtube.com/@fastenoffyal🔗

Falling into Fall, Anyone?

Where'd August get to? And most of September for that matter? Ok, who threw the clock to make time fly?? 

All joking aside, Autumn has returned to the Northern Hemisphere this weekend. And thankfully cooler nights and days are back too. I don't know about you but it's a step in my sleeping better. I'm still not sleeping great, mind you, but that's down to having nerves and a spine that are actively trying to cause me as much pain as they possibly can. I don't think they're onto my knowing what they're doing though so I'm just biding my time ;)

I still need to do the photos for my full double-knitting tutorial. I got sidetracked, which is unfortunately a byproduct of both interrupted sleep patterns, and chronic pain, by a few things. Like actually presenting my double-knitting workshop to a private group in August which was super fun and I've had some lovely feedback from some of the participants. So yay!

I told you last post that the sample for The Butterfly would be going on my needles soon, and it has! Here's a little progress photo to tease you:

I'm further along than this; ever so many more beads have been added lol. I'm so glad I chose the Windwept Fibres Best Kind sock as the yarn. It's an absolute dream to knit with, and the lace is coming out soooo pretty. 

I'm currently doing a workshop with designer Julie Robinson called the Sweater Design Challenge. It's been really interesting, and we're into the sizing/grading portion now, which is super excellent information. I've got two knit garments that I'm really excited to get through the whole process eventually. Admittedly, one I don't have the yarn for yet so my swatching and number play has been a wee bit theoretical so far. But that one's also the easier one in terms of shaping, so the numbers shouldn't be too bad once I have a real gauge and set of measurements to play with. To come in 2025? Maybe?? Most likely not considering my current timeline for things.

Oh! Speaking of timelines! Guess what's returning for its fifth year ;) It happens in the late fall and early winter, involves a lot of knitters and crocheters, and independent designers of patterns for those crafts. And I talk about it. A lot! Any guesses?

The Fasten Off Yarn Along for 2024 is being organized as I type, fiber friends! You can find the website, with our current calendar, links to previous years' designer and pattern databases, and links to sign up for our newsletters, right here: https://www.fastenoffyal.com 

Ok, my friends it's 4:22am here in Newfoundland on a Sunday morning, and while I won't be sleeping anytime soon, I need to step away from the screen and rest my eyes a bit. Don't worry, I have knitting in hand lol

What are your crafting plans for the next month or so? Canadians crafters, are you thinking of Thanksgiving/harvest? Or are you jumping right to knitting pumpkins and/or crocheting black cats for Halloween? I'd love to hear what you're working on and/or planning. I have a Treble Reel Toque🔗 (link stays within this site) for a friend's birthday on my personal needles, along with a Jeri cardigan🔗 (designed by Kat Riddell; link goes to her Payhip shop). There are more WIPs than those lol They're my active ones that aren't design samples.

Yours in yarn and a crisp night/morning,

Síle

 

Look! I'm in Two Videos & My Feet Aren't Moving!

We're in the final week of 2023's Fasten Off Yarn-A-Long!

Where has December, and really 2023, gone?!

Of course, this could be just me lol I swear clocks are flying passed like barometers in Muppet Family Christmas *insert cry-laughing emoji here*

Ok, enough bad similes, let's get to the purpose of my post. 

In my last post I gave you the information about the Fasten Off Yarn Along Designer Ask Me Anythings and Video Panels, as well as a Twitch stream I was going to be doing with fellow FOYAL designer Yvonne Becker of Red and the Wolf Designs. 

The Twitch stream with Yvonne, and the Zoom Panel with Lori of Aklori Designs, Natalia of Natalia Yarncraft, and Shana of Shanalines Designs are both up on Youtube! (Both of the other FOYAL Video Panels that have happened are also posted to Youtube; the fourth and final Video Panel is live on Friday via Zoom so scroll to my last post to get the particulars) Here's the link to the Video Panel: https://youtu.be/79OPqaYph64🔗

And here's the link to the Twitch video:

https://youtu.be/ZCXIgj4u3A8🔗

There you have them, fiber friends, both chats I participated in about designing this December.

I have to admit I may stick to text communications from now on though. There is something very disconcerting about hearing oneself, especially when you have the voice of a cartoon animal. I'm as surprised by that as everyone else most likely was. It does explain my affinity for Alvin and the Chipmunks recordings though.

That's all I have for you today! After the New Year has been rung in (PSST!! Join us in the Fasten Off YAL Discord server for our New Year's Eve Boonanza! There will be games, prizes, and a whole lot of Síle posting in an overtired and hilariously semi-coherent state from her living room couch!), I'll have a post featuring the patterns I've acquired (with photos & links!!) during this year's FOYAL, and a look at KDRD's 2023, and what I hope to bring to you in 2024.

Yours in yarn, and an almost completely checked off 2023 calendar,

Síle

The Countdown is ON!

🎉 We're roughly an hour from the start of this year's Fasten Off YAL! 

And as always we start things off with a sale!

96 designers, plus yours truly, have over 3000 patterns on for 25% off from 9pm Eastern tonight through December 8th! Visit the database at: https://www.fastenoffyal.com🔗 !

Be sure to share with any yarn crafters you know! The designers have patterns for: knitting, crocheting, and Tunisian crochet; everything from socks and mittens, to blankets and decorations, sweaters to toys. There are even items for pets!

Hope to see you on one of our many social media platforms during the Fasten Off Yarn-A-Long 🤗

Yours in yarn and fun yarnie games,

Síle

It's Almost Here!

Well, fiber friends, this year's Fasten Off Yarn-A-Long kicks off this coming Friday! 

November 24th, be there or... hmmm. It's not really square to miss FOYAL. One could say that the crafters and designers are the true squares. 

Anyway! You may notice the shiny new tab next to the Irish dance terminology one. Just in case you have your eye on a pattern or 2 from Knit Dance Repeat Designs ;)

The designers and data entry volunteers are making sure that the database is correct, and the links and photos are working correctly. Ah, there's nothing like a deadline looming to create all the little flutters of activity that are happening now.

As expected work here at KDRD has slowed up quite a bit in anticipation of the fun and busy time that is FOYAL. I hadn't counted on a late request for a scarf of very specific requirements to crop up though. So that's been designed and the knitting has begun. I won't be sharing too many photos of it from now on since the recipient doesn't know *exactly* what it's going to look when it's done. Here's the bottom garter stitch border:

I hope I get to make something small during FOYAL this year but we'll see how operation red scarf goes.

That's it for today! We've got quite a wind and rain event going on, and it's probably best I save my phone battery in case of the power going out!

Yours in (red) yarn,

Síle

2023? Already?

Hello, my fiber friends!

I can hardly believe how quickly December flew by! Whoosh! Gone! Sort of like deadlines ;)

I can say that 2022's Fasten Off Yarn Along was once again a success. And fun was definitely had during the New Year's Eve Boonanza! I was literally crying with laughter a number of times! Fun with fiber folks; what more can you ask for?

Sadly, the weather here has been the pits. Newfoundland in December shouldn't be considered a rain delay. I think my toes are growing webs. It rained all but something like 6 days the entire month! Don't tell me climate change isn't happening, I'm seeing it real time.

Rain, especially heavy angry December rain, makes for rotten photo conditions. And that has pushed the release of my Hornpipe Bag back. I'm not even setting another tentative date at this point. When photos get done, I'll announce the pattern is releasing the next day. Done. I hope it'll be soon. I'm also listening to more rain falling as I type. I'd cry but I don't need finger webbing to go with my toes'.

I've put a few more yards into both the sample of Countess Cathleen, and my Twist Again (pattern by Robynn Weldon; link to her Payhip shop) during December. I also started but, unfortunately due to needle MIA, not finished a pair of Talamh (pattern by Liz Corke; link to her Payhip shop) for Sistwerp. The left fingerless mitt is done, the right isn't.

Have you ever attempted to work in the round with only 3 dpns? I don't mean 3 holding your sts and knitting with a 4th one. I'm talking 2 holding your sts and working with the 3rd. I don't recommend it, especially with 2.5mm dpns. Nope, not a good plan. I was forced by hand cramps to switch to Magic Loop. Some knitters like ML, others do not. I personally despise ML. The poor right mitt is suffering due to my loathing. I'm setting myself a deadline of Saturday, January 7th, to have mitt 2 done. Otherwise I fear the poor thing may never be off the needle!

I'm using Briggs & Little Sport in "mauve", which is a gorgeous gray-tinged lavender that I have to say is a really interesting color. Some light gives it decide blue hue, while other times it resembles dark/wet stone, like from an Irish or Scottish castle wall. It's a color you can definitely find a story in, which is very cool. If nothing else, I've discovered a new favorite color amongst Briggs & Little's fine color line up.

I hope you're enjoying new projects for the New Year. What have you cast-on recently? Finished anything fun? I have some double-knit swatching coming up soon for an idea I have. When don't I have new ideas?! I plan to spend the first bit of 2023 finishing up 3 specific projects: Twist Again, Countess Cathleen, and Four Hand Reel. The last just needs its lining sewn and attached. I really should have it done by now! One of these years, I might learn to sew properly. I say might! lol

What else can you expect from Knit Dance Repeat Designs in 2023? A few more of my existing patterns will be getting their updated looks and screen reader accessibility. I don't know how many I'll get through but I intend to keep at it. I'm fairly certain I'll be releasing at least one other pattern this year besides Hornpipe Bag. The front runners are Four Hand Reel and Hap-Hazard. We'll see what happens! I have a few tutorials I plan on sharing too.

For now, that's all I have to update you on. I intend to be a bit more regular about that this year. 

Happy 2023 to you and yours!

Yours in yarn and new year-ness,

Síle

Tis the Season

It's time once again for... 

The Fasten Off Yarn Along!!

Where has this year gone?? We're almost to the end of November! And that means the return of one of my favorite events: Fasten Off Yarn Along, the fun off-Rav sale and make along!

This year's FOYAL runs November 25th through December 31st, with the pattern sale running November 25th through December 8th. Yes, I said pattern sale! We have 109 indie designers of knitting, loom knitting, crochet, and Tunisian crochet patterns signed up with a selection of their patterns in the 25% off sale! 

I'm happy to say FOYAL has attracted more designers and crafters each year of its existence! 

Where can you find all the details? The official Fasten Off Yarn Along site 🔗, of course! We're running games (with the possibility of winning prizes!) on the official Discord server, Twitter, and Instagram accounts too.

And yes, I'm a participating designer once again :) You can see the Fasten Off Yarn Along tab at the top of this page, taking you directly to the patterns I'm offering in the sale. 

Please keep in mind that my patterns are priced in Canadian dollars, and the Fasten Off site lists everything in American dollars, so the difference in conversion can result in some discrepancies when applying  the 25% off code. The code this year is FO2022. 

I hope you'll join us for the fun of the Fasten Off Yarn Along to end 2022.

Due to some health issues (thankfully not Covid-19) in both me and my photographer, my pattern Hornpipe Bag hasn't been released yet. But it will be out some time during the Fasten Off YAL. I'm aiming for early in the sale period so you can take advantage of it. I keep you in the loop on this.

As for personal projects, I'm happily onto the first sleeve of my Twist Again sweater (pattern by Robynn Weldon). Here's the latest photo, right after I completed the front of the body:

Aren't the cables great? I'm using Bernat Satin in "Grape", which I just love working with. 

How are your projects shaping up? Are you making gifts for anyone? Perhaps something for that important person who looks back at you in the mirror? ;) 

Until next time, fiber friends!

Yours in yarn, and Fasten Off updates,

Síle

Hello, 2022

The New Year is rung in and I helped ring out Fasten Off Yarnalong 2021 in fine fashion. If you were on the Fasten Off Discord channel at all on December 31st we probably exchanged emojis. I was there as many hours as I could possibly manage, and the result was an absolutely wonderful time amongst fellow yarn crafters. And a serious(?) inside joke ;)

Back to the business of pattern design and (fingers crossed) sales! Knit Dance Repeat Designs has a birthday in a few days! 7 years already! (Thank you for that, by the way.) Later this month I'll be starting the re-release of my back catalogue with updated photos and format. No important information has been changed; all changes are cosmetic. I want my logo in place, for example. Stay tuned for the first re-release pattern!

One thing that has changed is I've retired a pattern as of January 1st: Drills is no longer available. Admittedly it wasn't my best effort, and while I still like the basic concept, it just isn't up to snuff with my revamp. I might revisit the idea behind it down the road ;)

What's on my personal needles? I'm working on Twist Again by Robynn Weldon🔗 (link goes to the pattern page in Robynn's Payhip store) which is a gorgeous cabled sweater. This was my cast-on/project during Fasten Off 2021. I knew I wouldn't finish it in December but I had to start it. And I'm also trying to finish up a large ball of cotton yarn by continuing to make sets of Seashell Scrubbies (pattern by Aoibhe Ní🔗 link goes to her website). I made quite a few sets of four and gave them as small gifts recently, so having more on hand makes sense. 

Personal finishes: A blanket for my furry niece Silver Belle, who celebrated her 5th birthday (as near as we can calculate by her approximate age when she was rescued) on December 23rd. It's very basic but pretty which is just perfect for a furry girl. The edge likes to curl up as you'll see but otherwise it's perfect. I used Red Heart Roll With It Sparkle in the colorway "Magic" (bought by Silver's mom) on a 4.5mm circular needle. And here's the finished photo:

I hope you were able to finish any gift projects you had deadlines for in December. It's nice to end the year on a high point, and start the new year with fresh projects. I never quite manage to have everything done for the new year. Maybe to start 2023? :D

That's all for today. Remember to stay tuned for news of patterns re-releasing in the upcoming days, weeks and months.

Yours in yarn, and new year vibes,

Síle

Fastening Off While Looking Ahead

Have you checked out the Fasten Off Yarn-a-Long database of designers and patterns yet? The sale portion ends tomorrow, December 6th! Already?! Time really does fly when you're having fun :) Here's the link to the official site where you can find all the details and the fabulous database: Fasten Off Yarn-a-Long🔗

Don't fret though; the a-Long portion goes to 11:59pm EST on New Year's Eve, and the chatter will continue for the first few days of 2022 if the first Fasten Off is anything to go by. C'mon and join us! 

Fasten Off going through to the New Year has been giving thoughts for KDRDesigns and 2022. I didn't release anything new in 2021. 2022 is going to be busy!

Here's a peek at my plans and some ideas I'm considering:

1. I'm in the midst of changing up the look of my patterns. Nothing important is changing about them, to be clear. A better layout, with my logo added on, plus new (and frankly way better) photos are on the way! I'm excited about this refresh. My hope is to have this done early in the new year. 

2. I'll be looking for test-knitters for the first pattern I'll be publishing in 2022. I'll have a post here and on Instagram when that's ready to go. I'm working on the sample currently,  and then it has to go to my brilliant techeditor before I can even think about giving it to test-knitters. And yes, that means a new dance pattern coming out! 

3. I'm toying with a mystery knit-a-long. I think I could run it via Instagram. It's a scarf so I'd be timing it for September/October, right in time for the cooler weather. We'll see if it comes together right! 

4. Depending on how quickly samples get knit, there could be at least 2 additional test-knit opportunities for 2022! And that would be 2 more pattern releases. You're all going to get sick of me in 2022! ;) 

That's how 2022 is summing up!

Don't forget to check out the Fasten Off sale before the end of tomorrow!! 25% off is a good deal and you'll support Independent designers, like me.

Yours in yarn & grandiose plans for the future,

Síle

Fastening Off with a Minor Surgery

Hello again :)

I'm pleased to say outside of some remaining tenderness I've come through my procedure last Wednesday just fine. I'd like to shoutout to the amazing and wonderful nurses, both in the day surgery area and the surgical nurses, who are just fantastic at their jobs and such kind and caring individuals. Thank you for everything you do! 💗

I was able to knit in the day surgery area until a surgical nurse came to take me to the OR, so I worked on Sil's blankie. Stockinette in the round with single increases at four points every round is excellent for tv watching, waiting rooms, and fairly much mindless knitting. Sistwerp chose a ball of Red Heart Roll With It Sparkle in a pastel rainbow colorway called "Magic". Of course, on the circular needle it doesn't look like a blankie (more like a little purse) but here's the latest photo of it:

 

The top of the orange marker is where I started knitting at the hospital, so roughly an inch to inch and a half done during my wait time :) 

Alright! Let's get down to talking about Fasten Off Yarn-a-Long! This is my favorite topic right now :)

What is Fasten Off Yarn-a-Long? It's a month long event to promote independent knitting, crochet, loom knitting, and Tunisian crochet pattern designers! It kicks off with a week long pattern sale (101 participating designers have put 2,362 patterns into this year's sale!) and then there's the a-Long portion which is all about crafting together from the patterns of participating designers. The a-Long takes place across several social platforms: the Fasten Off Discord channel🔗, Instagram🔗, Twitter🔗, and Facebook🔗, so you can join in wherever you normally hangout! There are also games on each platform and prizes are available to be won :)

Time for some specifics on Fasten Off Yarn-a-Long 2021!

The pattern sale will take place from 9pm EST on November 30th to 11:59pm EST on December 6th. All patterns in the Fasten Off database (2,362 of them!) will be 25% off with the coupon code FO2021. This is available on whichever sales platform(s) (designer's own site, Payhip, Etsy) the designer has specified. My patterns in the sale are available through the FOYAL tab here on this site as well as in my Payhip store (link in the sidebar).

The a-Long takes place from 9pm EST November 30th to December 31st (last year we were up past midnight EST lol) Start a new project from one of the participating designers (there are 101 to choose from!), and chat with others doing the same :)

Please note that only for sale patterns are eligible to win prizes; you may have gotten the pattern cheaper than the regular price, or even for free, through a coupon, giveaway, or test-knit, etc. What matters is normally the pattern is paid for. 

We're promoting and supporting independent designers :)

For games, the bingo card has returned. This was a favorite for many of last year's participants. New this year will be a Scavenger Chain, a Picture Party, and a Share Your Memories on Discord and each game will also be on at least one other social media platform. Random entries will win a free pattern of the winner's choice from one of the participating designers. 

All of the more in-depth information about the sale, a-long, and games can be found on the official website: www.wipsinsanity.com/fastenoffyal

I hope you'll join us in this fun inclusive event to promote independent pattern designers :) 

Start Spreading the News...

The Fasten Off Yarn Along is back!

And yes, I'll be participating as both a designer and a volunteer again this year :) Last year's event was a lot of fun so how could I not? 

What is the Fasten Off Yarn Along?

I'm so glad you asked! The Yarn Along is an Off-Ravelry, inclusive event in celebration of Independent Designers of Knitting and Crochet Patterns. This includes designers of Tunisian crochet and Loom knitting patterns as well. It starts with a pattern sale and follows with a month long craft along.

All of the specific details, including a timeline of events, can be found on the official website: Fasten Off Yarn-A-Long 2021🔗 I'll also be posting follow up posts here.

So that's it for today! Designer signups are taking place, and I need to get on that!

Yours in yarn and Fastening Off,

Síle

Fasten Off Yarn Along 2020

I mentioned this last post and now I have more details to share!

Fasten Off Yarn Along, the OffRav indy knit and crochet designer pattern sale and make along, starts on November 25th! Wednesday! Tomorrow!

So first off is the pattern sale. 93 designers, including me, will be offering a selection of their patterns at 25% off their usual price starting on November 25th and ending on December 5th. The sale code is the same across the board, on any platforms the designers choose to set it up on: FO2020. For example, the code will be good on all of my designs (except my ebook because it isn't fully complete yet) both here on KDR (see the sidebar labeled My Patterns --->) and in my Payhip shop (link also in the sidebar). All designers participating have at least one OffRav option for your safe pattern shopping, whether that be their own site, Payhip, or Etsy.

And I'm sure you're wondering what other designers are getting involved, and how to find them. Never fear! The crack team of Kathleen & Rachy have thought of that. There is website located here (also linked in the sidebar of this blog under Other Sites of Interest) which has searches of both designers and patterns, plus by craft, category, and who will wear it/use it.

What about the make along portion? I'm so glad you asked. This event is cross-platforms, and not just sales platforms!! There is a Twitter account, an Instagram account, a Facebook page, and a Discord server! Participate with whichever ones you're most comfortable with. If you're using Twitter and Instagram in particular, be sure you use the hashtags: #FastenOffYAL & #FastenOff2020 so your posts can be found and get the make along love they deserve. I have to say, I'm really liking Discord for chatting despite just learning how to use it. Old cats can learn new tricks! ;) 

The make along portion of events starts at 9pm EST (GMT -5) on November 25th (giving you time to buy a pattern or two first) and wraps up December 31st at 11:59pm EST (GMT -5)! Stay in and make along with old and new friends to Fasten Off 2020! There will be chatter and crafting and fun and community!!! Join in and help Fasten Off 2020 in crafterly style!

During the entire make along period, there will also be prizes! Each participating designer is donating free patterns of the winner's choice, plus there have been some generous donations of gadgets, and even yarnie goodness!! And there will be games! What's more fun than fibery games? Well, besides crafting that is! 

I hope you'll be joining in with me at the Fasten Off Yarn Along. I'll be cheering participants on, answering any questions, and making sure this is a fun and safe event for everyone. Unless someone is rude or bullying or using harassing language. That has no place at an inclusive yarn community event, and I will delete any harmful posts if they pop up on my watch. The code of conduct is posted on the Fasten Off Yarn Along site. It really boils down to be respectful and have fun while allowing other participants to do the same.

Now, I need to find those pompoms so I can properly cheer everyone on...

I wasn't kidding, I totally have pompoms at the ready:

Yours in yarn and pompom glory,

Síle

All the News That's Fit to Print

 Well, maybe not quite, but there's a bit to talk about.

First let me draw your attention upwards, to the blog header. Notice anything different? (hint hint wink wink) I played around and tried a few different things and I really like this one. It's much simpler than some of the others I came up with, which I'll let you in on:

Oh the fun of picture editing apps! 

As you know if you've been reading along, (and if you haven't, you can catch up here, here, here, and here) R*velry hasn't been very responsive about their redesign fiasco. Unfortunately, that's causing a lot of issues for at least one designer I know. Tania has been suffering greatly during this mess and R*velry's response to her request for an alternative way to pay her bill is absolutely despicable! You can find it here on her Twitter and Instagram accounts. The vast majority of designers don't have staff they can give access to in the manner suggested. And giving access to a trusted friend or relative puts the designer at risk for going against GDPR regulations in EU countries, as well as the UK! At the very least the suggestion is unuseful to recommend something that could cost a designer that has already lost her a good portion of her earnings this year. Or was it more sinister and the suggestion was meant to make said designer disappear, along with her nagging requests for accommodation. And yes, I may be a bit over the top with that suggestion, but considering the gaslighting done by persons at R*velry is it really a stretch to consider that possibility? 

Here's some good news! A number of designers are banding together to put together an event similar to the Indie Gift-A-Long, but Off R*velry. Kathleen of WIP Insanity and Rachy of Rachy Newin Designs are our intrepid organizers for the Fasten Off Yarn Along! There will be a pattern sale period, followed by the Along part of the fun. There's a Discord forum set up for chatter, pre-event as well as during. You can find the official Twitter and Instagram accounts for the Fasten Off Yarn Along by following the links I've given. I'm excited to be participating in this new event! I'll post more as we get closer!

On the knitting front, I'm splitting time between the Hornpipe Bag and a blanket for my furry nephew. Here's the latest pic of the HB:

For Jakey's blanket, I've knit a dishcloth (Cat with paw print by Susan Mrenna. I had this in my R*velry library; I don't know if it's available elsewhere), and then picked up stitches around the edge, and I'll be working the rest according to Louise Tilbrook's Fuss Free Baby Blanket recipe; sadly, it's no longer available, a casualty of removing her patterns from R*velry this summer. (You can find her other designs either on her site or in her Payhip shop.) Fairly simple and makes excellent use of some odds and ends I have. Jakey always liked snuggling with Maureen's blankie, which I've put up since her passing in 2018, so I think he should have his own. Little cuddler that he is. How can I not when he gets under my fleece like this:

Isn't he precious? He'll be 7 in a week! Seems like yesterday he was 10 weeks old and uncertain about everything to do with his new home.

And that brings this post back around to me. You may remember I was in St. John's last month for a medical appointment. I had a phone appointment with my doctor last week to hear the results. There were abnormal cells. I'm being referred to a specialist; thankfully, there's a couple here and I won't need to travel. So that's where that is. Injury recovery has taken a bit of a backseat this last while. I manage my passive stretches a couple times a week. I just don't have much energy for more than that. I'd like to burrow under the covers and hibernate it that's not a feasible option with so much on the go. I digress.

What are your crafting plans looking like? Thinking of joining in on the fun of the Fasten Off Yarn Along? ;) Or maybe you're under a pile of mittens for the family before winter truly takes hold. I'd love to hear what's on your needles!

Yours in yarn and cat fur (Jakey is supervising his blankie construction),

Síle