In Which We Visit the Carolinas

The Dr. and I were in the Carolinas this weekend, for the first of at least four upcoming interviews for the doc. Can't believe he'll be getting his first "real" job next year! In an almost unbelievable twist of fate, it turns out that the CEO of the hospital the Dr. interviewed at was none other than the mother of one of my best knitting friends from when we lived in Kansas City! Truly, it's a small world after all.

We spent the weekend driving from place to place between North and South Carolina (the townspeople where we were interviewing insisted that they weren't in "the middle of nowhere", but "the middle of everywhere"), fishing on one of the nearby lakes, and meeting half the people in town. If you didn't already know it, there are still towns in America where everyone knows everyone else. I found this moderately interesting and more than a little terrifying; I was told by more than one person that if we took the job in question, I would find myself in possession of a high ranking in town due to my affiliation with one of the hopsital's doctors. Let's just say that my private personality isn't quite ready to be greeted by six people when I'm trying to grocery shop.

A tiny antique shop on the town's Main Street revealed these vintage beauties. I paid just $4.50 for all 4 patterns!

Of course I had to check out the shopping around the area. While there are absolutely NO yarn stores in town, there are at least a dozen within an hour and a half. We stopped at Purl's Yarn Emporium and Earth Guild in downtown Asheville, and I picked up a few things from Friends & Fiberworks, too:

Cute sheepy notecards and a copy of the latest Debbie Bliss Magazine.

With all that driving around, I had plenty of time to knit. I've got a new pattern in the works! It'll be out by the end of the month, but in the meantime, here's a sneak peek:

Oooh, ahhhh!

We're off to Florida for another interview in a mere 5 days. So much work to do before we leave! In the meantime, I didn't hear from Zabbers within 3 days of my last post, so it's time to draw another winner for Susan Crawford's giveaway! This time, Random.org has pronounced Knittingdancer to be the winner. Congrats Teresa, you've won a copy of Coronation Knits! You have until the end of Wednesday, August 22, to claim your prize or I'll draw another winner. You can email me at SarahATsexyknitterDOTcom or drop me a line on Ravelry. Everyone else, stay tuned! I have another amazing book giveaway coming up shortly!

_________________________________________________

Picks of the Day:

Want your Etsy Mini in this spot? Click here!

Deliciousness: Peach Cream Cheese Pie

When I was a kid in Texas, my family went to the State Fair every year. It was held in Dallas, so it wasn't that far away from where we lived in Colleyville; sometimes, we'd even go twice. My favorite stop, which will come as no surprise to any of you, was the creative arts building. Jam-packed with more than 100 categories of arts and crafts, this place was a mecca for a girl whose crafting experiences were mostly solitary. Each year, I would stare enviously at the blue, red and yellow ribbons gracing the entries, believing a blue ribbon to be the highest achievement possible in crafting. I fantasized about entering some of my projects into the fray, but somehow, never did.

Fast-forward 15 years, and I now find myself disqualified to enter most of these events, due to my status as a professional knitwear designer. (Although, oddly enough, I think the Texas State Fair may  have a category for professionals, and you do not have to be currently living in Texas to enter. Hmmm....) Anyway, this year I was asked to judge the Missouri State Fair, and I cannot even tell you how excited I was to accept! For me, this honor was something I would not have even been able to imagine as a child in that creative arts building. ME? Judging other folks' entries? Wow.

A pile of lovelies, waiting to be judged

I teamed up with one of my local yarn store owners and made the trip out to Sedalia yesterday to judge the entries. We had 11 categories of knitting to review, and I was surprised to see that more than a few of them had less than 4 entries. Get submitting to your state fairs, people! :)

Does anyone recognize this crescent shawl pattern? I would love to know what this is.
Edit: This is none other than my friend, Corrina Ferguson's, pattern, Daphne Ann!

Overall, I had an amazing time. Everything in the Home Economics Building was being judged on the same day, which meant we shared the space with the judges for quilting, baking, canning, sewing, weaving, and the like. Since we were there all day (it took us about 8 hours to judge all the entries), each judge was asked to bring a dish for a giant potluck lunch. My contribution? This peach & cream cheese pie:

I'm gonna go ahead and say it: this pie is ridiculous. No-bake cheesecake on the bottom, and sweet, juicy peaches on top. I made one of these using fresh peaches from my farmer's market for a small dinner party the Dr. and I hosted a couple of weeks ago, but yesterday's pie was made of store-bought peaches and was every bit as tasty. I like this recipe because it comes together quickly and doesn't require any fancy ingredients or, really, kitchen skills.

I may have eaten the last slice for breakfast...what? It's fruit, that makes it healthy, right?

Here's my recipe, modified from Cooks.com:

• 9" pie shell, baked
• 2 T cornstarch 
• 3/4 cup sugar 
• 1/2 cup water 
• 1/2 cup peach puree (I peeled and pitted one large peach and popped it in the Magic Bullet until smooth)
• 2 T fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 t vanilla extract
• 4 cups peaches, peeled and diced to bite-size pieces

Combine cornstarch, sugar, water, peach puree, and lemon juice in medium pan. Bring to boil, stirring; boil until thickened (3-4 minutes). Remove from heat; cool (I put mine in the refrigerator while I'm preparing the rest of the pie). Beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread evenly in pie shell. Combine peaches and cooled puree mixture; pour over cream cheese. Chill 2-3 hours or overnight before serving.

I think this method could be used for a wide variation of fruits; try it with raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, kiwis, or a mixture of your favorite fruits! As the fruit itself doesn't get cooked, I don't think this would be great for apples, but otherwise, the sky's the limit! If you decide to mix it up, do let me know how it goes, won't you?

Ooh, I almost forgot! I'm a bit late for announcing the winner of Susan Crawford's Coronation Knits giveaway, but it's Zabbers! Congrats, Zabbers! You have 3 days to claim your prize by emailing me at sarahATsexyknitter.com with your mailing address, or dropping me a line on Ravelry.

_________________________________________________

Picks of the Day:

Want your Etsy Mini in this spot? Click here!

Pont des Arts Skirt

Hoo boy. You know, I don't self-publish often, and when I do it's a fairly anxiety-producing, nailbiting experience. You never know if your pattern is going to be a big hit or a massive flop, and today's pattern is no exception. I give you: The Pont des Arts Skirt!

Pont des Arts Skirt|

I happen to really love this skirt; I love the versatility of high-waisted pencil skirts, and this one is knit in a particularly luxurious yarn from Artyarns. Ensemble Light is a 2-ply (I'm gonna call it fingering weight) yarn composed of 50% cashmere and 50% silk. And if that isn't enough to sell you on it, I can personally attest to the amazing yumminess of both the yarn and the resulting fabric.

Top-down construction with an elastic waistband

The construction here is top-down seamless, naturally. There's an elastic waistband and a neat folded hem at the bottom. The fabric contains tiny purl stripes to keep the look a little bit funky, but don't worry - the stripes are small enough not to be unflattering to your figure! This fabric is actually meant to be reminscent of the wildly popular bandage skirts. I gotta keep my girls sexy! ;)

 

Show off those curves!

 

I could see this skirt being worn a multitude of ways. Dress it up for a sexy night out on the town as pictured above, or dress it down with an untucked tshirt and some cute flats. You could even wear it to the office! I'm in the midst of designing a companion piece to wear with this too, in case you want to go all-knitwear. (It's going to be a lovely, floaty, high-low tank, in case you're dying to know.) In the meantime, here are a couple of inspirations for you:

 
Wear it casually!

Wear it to the office!

The Pont des Arts Skirt is now on sale for $6.00, and you can buy it here even if you don't have a Ravelry account!

_________________________________________________

Picks of the Day:

Get 10% off your order when you enter the code "SexySentMe"  during checkout!

Want your Etsy Mini in this spot? Click here!

Getting to Know You #10: Susan Crawford

Today we have an extra special feature on the blog as part of the Getting to Know You series of interviews, and it's a book review! Not just any book, either - an entire book devoted to knits styled after the royal family! Its Coronation Knits, from fashion historian Susan Crawford.

Coronation Knits, by Susan Crawford

Now, it should be pretty clear at this point that I am a ridiculous fan of the royal family. I've pretty much been obsessed with them since I was a small child. You'll read a bit more about that below, so for now I'll just say that when I first heard about this book I went completely bonkers. When I got my digital copy to look over, it didn't disappoint, either. The entire collection is themed around Elizabeth II's days as a style icon (think 1950's glam), and there's more than enough here to make any contemporary fashionista squee with delight. Drawing inspiration from women's magazines of the day, there are fresh new versions of 1950's lace patterns, colorwork motifs, even cardigans, all executed with impeccable flair. Each pattern includes a quick story about what inspired the piece and why it relates back to the royal family, which I found particularly wonderful. This book is chock full of royal tidbits, and if that and the incredible patterns and spot-on styling weren't enough, the styling of the format is to die for, too. I can't wait to add the print copy to my library, because this is one that I'll want to show off for the sheer beauty of it. Okay, enough raving! On to the interview....

Susan Crawford, author of Coronation Knits

TSK: As someone who's long been obsessed with the royal family, I love that you've written an entire book devoted to their style. But what on earth possessed you to do it?

SC: I have collected memorabilia from the early twentieth century onwards for many years which includes stories and photos of the royal family. However when I was a child I used to sit and look through a scrap book that my mum had put together when she was young which focussed entirely on the then princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret. Mum always said that the two princesses were considered the style icons of their day, just as Diana was in the 1980s and Kate is today. Mum styled her hair the same as the princesses and looking at old photos of her, I can also see a lot of similarity in the style of clothing that she wore. Mum’s scrap book continues through Elizabeth’s marriage to Philip and then on through the Coronation. Added to this the fabulous memorabilia I had, such as the magazine containing the illustrated Royal Route used as the backdrop throughout the book, and it was just too much to resist. Also my mum had a severe stroke nearly three years ago now but is still managing to knit and still remembers the scrap book, and it just seemed appropriate to put something together that she would also love.

Diamonds are Forever: The shape! The diamonds! The perfect red lipstick!

TSK: I love that backdrop! I could look at that for days. I'm glad you've included a photo of it in its entirety at the back of the book. Who is your favorite member of the royal family (current or long dead)? Why?

SC: Ooh now. I love kings and queens of the past. Elizabeth I is probably one of my favourites. To maintain control when all around her were looking for ways to get rid of her was an incredible achievement. And she was strong and cool and independent. She also created her own style and was copied by women everywhere. So I’m going for Elizabeth I.

The Crowning Glory beret features a lovely crown motif!

TSK:Oh, Elizabeth I! I love that you answered that. She was indeed an incredible monarch, and what an incredible era for fashion, too...  Last year, I got out of bed at 3 in the morning, put on my finest hand-knit dress and the tiara I wore to my own wedding, and drove across town to watch Prince William marry Katherine at an event attended by at least 1,000 other viewers. (Consequently, I got on the local news...)When Princess Diana died, I seriously considered hopping the pond to see her funeral procession in person. Did you watch either of the last two royal wedding processionals in person, or have you ever seen any of the royal family in person?
SC: I didn’t get to see any of the recent royal weddings in person as unfortunately I live towards the other end of the country and it was therefore much easier to watch on the TV. That way I could see all the detail and get a good look at what everyone was wearing. I also remember sitting motionless in front of the TV for hours after Diana’s death was announced. It really didn’t seem real. I have been at one or two events where royalty was present but I’m afraid I’ve yet to meet any of them in person! My friend’s auntie however received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) last year and my friend went to the palace with her and therefore ‘nearly’ met the Queen!

TSK: I remember hearing about Diana's accident as clear as day. It happened the day I got my ears pierced, I'll never forget that. I was glued to the television as soon as we heard about the crash, and the shock when the final announcement about her death was made was pretty unbelievable. As to staying home to watch the latest royal wedding, I can totally understand wanting to see everything up close. There was so much to see! I suppose standing out on the street would give you only a glimpse, although if I'd been in the country, I wouldn't have been able to help myself. Okay Susan, last question: What makes you feel sexy?

SC: Feeling positive about myself and being happy with who I am. Its taken a long time for me to get there, but now, for most of the time at least, I am happy in my own skin and that makes me feel good.

_________________________________________________
Big thanks to Susan for stopping by the blog; you can check out the other stops on the Coronation Knits blog tour here:

8th June	Susan Crawford	http://justcallmeruby.blogspot.co.uk/
12th June 2012	Jean Moss	http://jeanmosshandknits.blogspot.co.uk/
16th June 2012	Jen Arnall-Culliford	http://jenacknitwear.typepad.com/
18th June 2012	Helene Magnusson	http://helenemagnusson.blogspot.co.uk/
20th June 2012	Knitting magazine	http://www.knittinginstitute.co.uk/
24th June 2012	Ingrid Murnane	http://ingridmurnane.com/
28th June 2012	Felicity Ford	http://thedomesticsoundscape.com/wordpress/
29th June 2012	Donna Druchunas	http://sheeptoshawl.com/
7th July 2012	Karina Westermann	http://www.fourth-edition.co.uk/
2nd July 2012	Simply Knitting magazine	http://simplyknitting.themakingspot.com/blog
6th July 2012	Ruth Garcia-Alcantud	http://www.rockandpurl.com/blog/
10th July 2012	Tasha Moss	http://blog.bygumbygolly.com/
14th July 2012	Tom van Deijnen	http://tomofholland.com/
18th July 2012	Woolly	http://www.woollywormhead.com/blog/
22nd July 2012	Mim	http://www.crinolinerobot.blogspot.co.uk/

Susan has generously offered up a copy of Coronation Knits to one lucky commenter! All you need to do to enter is leave a comment stating who your favorite member of the royal family is. If, after you leave a comment, you're on Twitter and would like an extra entry, just tweet the following:

I've just entered to win a copy of Coronation Knits from @astitchintime and @thesexyknitter! Come join the fun: http://tinyurl.com/gtky10

I'll announce the winner on August 1st. The winner will have 3 days to contact me to claim their prize, and if I don't hear from them by August 3rd, I'll draw another winner. So make sure to come back and see if you've won!

Speaking of winners, are you looking for the winner of the Olga's Vest giveaway, in conjunction with Gra2

Helezula Luxury Fibers? It's Susan Poulter, aka zuzu! Congrats Susan, you have until midnight central time on Saturday, July 28th, to claim your prize! Please write me at sarahATsexyknitter.com with your mailing address and (if applicable), Ravelry ID!

_________________________________________________

Picks of the Day:

Want your Etsy Mini in this spot? Click here!

Getting to Know You #9: Grace Akhrem

Today's guest is a designer whose work carries a fashion sensibility so close to my own wardrobe, I find myself drooling over practically everything she designs. It's none other than the fabulous Grace Akhrem, and if you're not familiar with her work you should go queue it all immediately, then come back here and read the rest of the interview.

I first met Grace last June at TNNA, and she immediately made me feel welcome hanging out with all the cool kids. Grace's fantastic, low-key personality punctuated by hilarious outbursts of sarcastic commentary meant we hit it off right away, and I'm honored to count her among my professional friends. Every time I walked by her booth last month at the show, she had out some new sample that I had to stop and pet and try on and attempt to stuff into my giant knitting bag. (No luck though, some people are just SO touchy about stealing!) ;)

Here's Grace, modeling her Grace Headband.

One of Grace's most ingenius designs is a tribute to another knitwear designer; it's called Olga's Vest and can be styled in over 12 ways! Grace is heading up a knitalong for this pattern beginning August 4th for anyone who's interested, and you can find more details about that here.

 Grace's Olga's Vest KAL begins on August 4th, hosted in her Ravelry group.

Let's move on to the questions, shall we?

TSK:  So, Olga's Vest can be styled at least 12 different ways, and probably many more. I love that the creativity you had in designing this piece inspires creativity in others to find new ways to wear it! How on earth did you come up with the idea to make this garment? Did you know going into it that it would be so versatile?

GA: I had no idea that this vest was going to be so versatile. I intended for it to be worn two ways - forwards and backwards. When I finally finished the vest and sewed on all the buttons I asked a friend to try it on. She kept trying it on all the different ways - we were both surprised how versatile the garment could be... and it's all because of the buttons and the stitch I created.

 One of my very favorite of Grace's designs, the Bougainvilla Lace Shrug.

TSK: This appears to be just your sixth adult garment since you started designing. Your accessory patterns have experienced huge success, one of which nabbed the cover of Interweave Gifts in 2011. Where does your heart for designing lie? Do you find that you enjoy designing accessories more, or can we look forward to seeing more garments from you in the near future?

GA: I guess it depends more on my mood. I have a very short attention span when it comes to yarn and colors and I might lose interest in something rather quickly, which is why I usually create more accessories. Lately I have found myself more disciplined and able to knit something in the same yarn that is longer than 300 yards. I do love designing garments - especially the ones that can be worn more than one way. I have a few more garments on the needles and a couple more in the queue that I hope to have finished before May. You will still see more accessories from me, but I guess it just depends on my attention span.

Grace's Robin Hood, Olana Shawl and Gregorio patterns

TSK: What's up next for you? Any big plans for designing in 2012?

GA: Yes! It seems like I am always getting ready for the next TNNA. This TNNA I only had three new patterns - my all time low. I hope that when I have that few that they are very strong patterns. I want to have about 5 pieces for this next TNNA and I have been thinking about putting together an e-book. My only problem is my full-time job and all the time constraints that come with it. But I am very optimistic and I think I can make it happen this year.

TSK: Sounds like you have a big year ahead! Okay, last question. What makes you feel "sexy"?

GA: I'm not really sure what makes me feel sexy.... heels maybe?.... especially stilettos.


Thanks so much for stopping by, Grace! Y'all be sure to look Grace up not only on Ravelry but also on her Facebook and Twitter pages. She'd love to see you all over there!


We have a fabulous giveaway to go along with today's post! (You knew that part was coming, right?) The amaaaaazing Anzula Luxury Fibers has offered up enough Squishy for one lucky winner to knit their very own Olga's Vest as part of Grace's KAL! Grace will also be providing the pattern to the winner, free of charge. All you need to do to enter is leave a comment stating which size you'd make, and whether you'd prefer Maple or Plum. And if you're on Twitter and want an extra entry, just tweet the following:

I've just entered to win an Olga's Vest kit from @Anzula, @GraceAkhrem & @TheSexyKnitter! Find out more here: http://tinyurl.com/gtkygrace.

Good luck all, and we'll announce the winner on July 25th! (You'll need to be "present" to win though, and the winner will have 3 days to claim their prize or we'll select someone else.)
_________________________________________________

Picks of the Day:

Sexy Knitter readers always receive free shipping with the coupon code "loyaltyship"!
Want your Etsy Mini in this spot? Click here!