I moved to Vegas!

 Hello friends! I'm back!!! It actually took me a hot minute to even remember which email account I had been using to create this blog! I even considered deleting everything and starting over. But there's a lot of history here that I don't want to lose. So here we are! I'll be picking up, where I left off several years ago, and pushing forward! 

In other news, I have recently transplanted myself to the Las Vegas Valley! What a change moving from the west coast to the desert has been! But it's just what I needed! The call of the desert was strong... I'll share more on that in upcoming post. But until then you can see a bit of what I've been up to on my new YouTube channel! Incase you didn't know yet, I've started a new Podcast / Vlog which can be found here:

 https://www.youtube.com/@bayareaknitter

So my plans for this blog going forward are still a bit fuzzy, but I enjoy writing, and I figure this might be the perfect extension to my YouTube channel. A place I can come to and jot down my thoughts, feelings and ideas as they come to me throughout the day. A place to share more of my creative endeavors, including my new knitting pattern designs. 

If you're still here after all these years I thank you!!! And if you're new here or just happened to stumble onto this page, I hope you'll join me on this journey. You keep me motivated more than you'll ever know! 

That said, as I'm scrolling back through the earlier posts on this blog, I'm noticing many broken links and videos that are no longer available. So I'll be spending some time this week editing those posts and deleting or updating broken links, etc... This Blog is in for a total makeover! 

I hope you're all doing well out there! The last few years have been a wild and crazy ride for everyone. I'd love to hear how you've been and what you're working on these days! Until next time... 

Happy Knitting and See You Soon!!!

Much Love,

~ Christine ~

For the Love of Yarn

Hi guys! It's been awhile! Life has taken some unexpected turns, and I've stopped broadcasting my knitting podcast (at least for now). Sometimes I try to do ALL THE THINGS, but in the end, I just can't keep up. I do want to continue this blog though... so here I am... Back again...
I'm still designing knitting patterns, so I plan to start sharing them here as well as whatever else I'm working on.
Here's a little introduction, for new readers, to reintroduce myself. I hope to get back to posting more regularly again... so stay tuned and read on...

YARN... Yarn... and more yarn. Who doesn’t like the soft, squishy, coziness of a good yarn? For many, yarn may bring to mind images of grandma sitting in her rocking chair, needles clicking as she knits the day away. But knitting is not what it used to be, and it hasn’t been for a long time. There are so many different kinds of yarns today and so many different fibers. There are big box yarn companies and indie dyers. There’s wool, alpaca, silk, merino, bison, buffalo, bamboo, cotton, acrylic, mohair, cashmere, angora, hemp and the list goes on. I’d have to say that my all time favorite fiber is alpaca and I love the animal just as much, if not more, than I love their wool.

I myself took up knitting just after my son was born about 12 years ago. The local library back in Aurora, IL, where I lived at the time, was offering a free basic knitting class. They gave each student a pair of big fat plastic needles. They must have been size US 11 or 13. They also provided us with bulky yarn. Mine was a lemongrass green color. The vibrance of it still vivid in my mind. By the time I left the class, I had a garter stitch scarf in progress. I couldn’t wait to finish it and gift it to my daughter who was then only 2 or 3 years old. That scarf was the beginning of a passion I’ve never outgrown.

Since then my love of yarn and all things knitting has become more than just a hobby. For years I called it my knitting therapy. It provided comfort and an escape from the worries of the day. I didn’t leave home without a knitting bag filled with yarn and my current WIPs (works in progress). I knit in the car, whether it was a road trip or just a short drive to the grocery store. No, I didn’t knit and drive, I was the passenger. But I might have tried if it were safe and legal. I knit at restaurants while waiting for my food and I knit in parking lots while waiting to pick my kids up from school. You name it, and I've probably knit there.

After a few years, my knitting progressed into designing knitting patterns for several yarn companies and knitting magazines. But I’ll save that story for another post. Until then, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and let me know how long you’ve been knitting and what your favorite type of yarn is! And most of all... happy knitting!

Bayareaknitter Podcast Episode 14: An Interview with Kara Gott Warner

The New Year is upon us and I want to thank each and every one of you who have stood beside me through my humble podcast beginnings! I'm really looking forward to this new year with high hopes and expectations!

That said, I'm so happy to be opening the 1st chapter of my podcast this year with my friend Kara Gott Warner! I had the pleasure of meeting up with her and squeezing in this little interview while at TNNA earlier this month. 

Show Notes:

Kara Gott Warner, Creative Knitting Magazine Executive Editor, and host of Power Purls Podcast, began her career designing knitting patterns in 2002. Her designs have been published in several magazines, including: Creative Knitting, Vogue Knitting, Family Circle Easy Knitting and Interweave Knits. Kara has a background as a technical illustrator, working with craft book publishers such as Random House, Lark Books, Sterling Publishing and F+W. Kara first joined Annie’s Publishing in 2008 as a knitting book editor, and then in 2010 signed on as Executive Editor of Creative Knitting Magazine and Annie’s knitting publications. Through her Power Purls Podcast, Kara’s mission is to dig deep and ask those burning questions about what turned her guests on to “two sticks and fiber,” in the first place, and what keeps their needles moving!

Kara Gott Warner

You can follow Kara at these links:

Power Purls: www.powerpurlspodcast.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/powerpurlspodcast

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/karaknits
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaknits1

Creative Knitting: www.creativeknittingmagazine.com 

Creative Knitting editor's blog, Splendid Sticks: www.splendidsticks.com

TNNA Yarn Group Fashion Show

I've just attended another TNNA Tradeshow... this one in San Diego. I'll be flying home on Wednesday, but wanted to share this Periscope video that I broadcast during the Fashion Show that was held on Friday night. Take a look now to see some of the latest runway trends in knit and crochet wear for the spring and summer season, sponsored by the Yarn Group.

My Free Christmas Cowl Knitting Pattern is Available Now!

Fall is in the air, and Christmas will be here before we know it. So, I'm happy to announce one of my newest knitting patterns... the "Christmas Cowl". Available now as a free download!

Christmas Cowl designed by Christine Marie Chen

Knit it to give away as a holiday gift or knit one up for yourself to wear all winter long! The easy lace panel is perfect for a beginning lace knitter yet special enough that everyone will appreciate it!

Click here to add the pattern to your Ravelry queue: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-cowl-9
and be sure to save it to your "favorites" while you're there!
You'll find the yarn and free pattern here: http://www.redheart.com/yarn/holiday 
Happy Knitting!!! Enjoy!!!

Bayareaknitter Podcast Episode 13: Faina Goberstein talks about "The Art of Slip-Stitch Knitting"

I'm Proud to Welcome Knitwear Designer Faina Goberstein to my Bayareaknitter Podcast!
This Interview is actually a part of her Blog Tour! 
You can find the rest of the Blog Tour Schedule Here:

Tanis Knits –9/28

Yarn Thing Podcast – author interview podcast 10 AM, 9/29

HZoppetti Designs –9/30

SweetGeorgia Yarns, Inc. –10/6

Never Not Knitting Podcast –10/7

Yarn Yenta - 10/8

Bay Area Knitter –10/15

Knit More Girls Podcast –10/15

Sheep to Shawl - 11/15

Ready, Set, Knit! (WEBS Podcast) - podcast airdate 11/21

The Art of Slip-Stitch Knitting: Techniques, Stitches, Projects

By Faina Goberstein and Simona Merchant-Dest

So without further ado, watch our interview now to find out how Faina got her start in knitwear design and to get a behind-the-scenes look into her new book, "The Art of Slip-Stitch Knitting". 

SHOW NOTES

Designs Shown During Podcast 

by Faina Goberstein:

Gobelen Bag from The Art of Slip-Stitch Knitting: Techniques, Stitches, Projects

Handles by JUL Designs 

photography by Joe Hancock

Volna Scarf from The Art of Slip-Stitch Knitting: Techniques, Stitches, Projects

Shades of Amber from FGDesigns

Santorini Cowl from Interweave DVD 

Spiral Hat from The Art of Slip-Stitch Knitting: Techniques, Stitches, Projects

Bordo Shawl from The Art of Slip-Stitch Knitting: Techniques, Stitches, Projects

Kromka Hoodie from The Art of Slip-Stitch Knitting: Techniques, Stitches, Projects
photography by Joe Hancock

Koketka Sweater from The Art of Slip-Stitch Knitting: Techniques, Stitches, Projects
photography by Joe Hancock

Nebo Pullover from The Art of Slip-Stitch Knitting: Techniques, Stitches, Projects




The Art of Seamless Knitting is Another Great Book by Faina and Simona

The Art of Seamless Knitting
By Faina Goberstein and Simona Merchant-Dest

Lace Stockings from The Art of Seamless Knitting

Cabled Top from The Art of Seamless Knitting

Reach out and connect with Faina at these links:

Website http://fainasknittingmode.com

Newsletter: http://fainasknittingmode.com/newsletter-signup/

Ravelry FGDesigns Group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/fgdesigns

Facebook: Faina Goberstein

Twitter: @inasilver

Ravelry: Faina Goberstein

Books:

The Art of Seamless Knitting

The Art of Slip Stitch Knitting

Craftsy classes: 

Sizing Knitwear Patterns 

Slip Stitch:Mosaic and Beyond 

Thanks for watching! Until next time... Happy Knitting!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow me!

Blog: http://bayareaknitter.blogspot.com

Instagram, Periscope and Twitter: Bayareaknitter

Ravelry: needle2needle

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KnittingwithChristine

Ravelry Group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/browse/show/bayareaknitter-aka-christine-marie-chen

Bayareaknitter Podcast Episode 12: Catching Up, my MKAL and some yummy Yarn!

Follow me!
Instagram, Periscope and Twitter: Bayareaknitter
Ravelry: needle2needle
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KnittingwithChristine
Ravelry Group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/bayareaknitter-aka-christine-marie-chen

SHOW NOTES

Links:

My Bayareaknitter Mystery KAL Pattern:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bayareaknitter-mystery-kal

Pictured below are Prizes that will be given away to 3 random MKAL participants that have completed their shawl and posted a photo of it in the group thread! Winners will be drawn on Sept. 16th!
A HUGE thank you goes out to Roundabout Yarn and Justk33pknittin9 for reaching out to sponsor my MKAL and for contributing their beautiful products!!! I've also added a skein of Anzula's Haiku yarn (This is the same yarn I used for my Bayareaknitter MKAL shawl)!

Roundabout Yarn White Pines Worsted Superwash Merino 220 yds/100grams

Knit 1 Purl 2 project bag by Justk33pknittin9

Anzula Haiku Fingering 425 yards 70% Merino, 20% Bamboo, 10% Nylon

Periscope Replays:
http://katch.me/bayareaknitter

Yarns mentioned:

Anzula Haiku
http://anzula.com/

TreLiz Your Owl Yarn
Luxurious Hand Dyed Yarns and Fibers
http://www.treliz.eu

Other Links:

Basilwood Farms
http://www.basilwoodfarm.com/

Listen to my Interview on the Power Purls Podcast with Kara Gott Warner coming in October
(Date to be announced)
http://www.powerpurlspodcast.com

My home-based businesses:
Jamberry Nails
https://christinechen.jamberry.com/
Life Matters
http://lifeshotz.com/christine

Thanks for watching! Until next time... Happy Knitting!!!