View the Issue #02: Winter 2008 Preview

Submissions for Spring 2009

Submissions are now open for Issue #03: Spring 2009! If you have a pattern you think would be great for Popknits, please send it on. As warmer weather sets in on the Northern Hemisphere, don’t forget that fall is approaching to those in the Southern Hemisphere. Popknits is season-agnostic! Feel free to submit patterns regardless of their seasonality. To find out more, check our submissions guidelines and download our submissions pack before getting your files together.

Submissions for Spring 2009 close on January 1, 2009.

Popknits Submissions Guidelines

Advertising Slots Are Now 20% Off!

We have a few more slots left open for the Winter Issue especially on the patterns pages. This is a great slot for getting views on your advertisement. Our most popular patterns get thousands of page views. Just imagine your ad on those pages! Traffic to Popknits has been extremely promising over the past three months. The site has been host to more than 45,000 unique visitors with more than 150,000 page views!

If you’re an LYS owner or etsy seller, now is the perfect time to advertise with us. Many of our patterns use yarns that you carry! To be sure, I have posted a list of yarns that are featured in the Winter issue. If you sell these yarns or similar ones that can be substituted, consider placing an ad with us.

If you contact us between today, Thursday, November 20 and Wednesday, November 26, you’ll get your ad at 20% off! Ad submissions close on November 26.

Advertise on Popknits

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A top-down cropped lace cardigan equally suited for a trip to the theatre over a dress or to the park with a camisole and jeans.

Sizes and Measurements:

• XS (S, M, L, XL), shown in size M

• Fits (bust size)
  28-30” (32-34”, 36-38”, 40-42”, 44-46”)
  Actual Measurements (bust size)
  35” (36”, 40”, 45”, 48”)

This cardigan is designed to fit loosely across the bust and then nip in at the waist (optional). Modeled with about 4” of ease.

Yarn Requirements:

• Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino (merino wool, 470 yards per 50g skein); Sunset (yellow) or Verde Adriana (green); 2 (2, 2, 3, 4) skeins; or other wool laceweight in a solid or semi-solid colorway. Purchase an extra skein if you intend to knit longer sleeves, as in the green example.

Gauge:

• 28sts/38rows at 4” (10 cm) in Footlights Lace stitch on US #3 needles after washing and blocking. Measure across Rows 1 or 2 as stitch count varies over lace stitch.

View this pattern on Popknits

See all Patterns in Issue #01: Fall 2008

An extremely practical and wearable hat that is nevertheless romantic and feminine.

Sizes and Measurements:

• To fit average adult head size: 20-22” (Actual size at brim: 20”)

• This size should fit most adult heads. If you need a larger or smaller size, try going up or down a needle size.

Yarn Requirements:

• Rowan 4-ply Soft [100% merino wool; 190 yds/175 m per 50g skein]. 50g each of the following colors:
  • A: Sooty
  • B: Dove
  • C: Honk
  • D: Folly
  • E: Linseed
• Note on yarn substitution: any fingering-weight yarn can be substituted for this yarn.

Gauge:

• 28sts/36rows at 4” in stockinette stitch using US 3 needles, or needle size necessary to achieve correct gauge

View this pattern on Popknits

See all Patterns in Issue #01: Fall 2008

A soft, plush cowl knit up in Malabrigo that features a cute, feminine lace heart motif.

Sizes and Measurements:

• One size

• Actual Measurements 10.5 × 8” (26.7 × 20.3cm)

Yarn Requirements:

• Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted [100% merino wool; 216 yd/198 m per 100g skein]; color: Jade Sapphire; 1 skein

Gauge:

• 26sts/20rows at 4” in the heart lace panel (slightly blocked) on US 8/5mm needles

View this pattern on Popknits

See all Patterns in Issue #01: Fall 2008

A beautiful stole with a spider web and diamond centre between paired Victorian bramble leaf patterns. The design is finished with a unique scallop edge.

Sizes and Measurements:

• One size

• For reference: Stole pictured is 24” x 88” after blocking

Yarn Requirements:

• Rowan Scottish Tweed 4 ply (100% wool, 120 yards /110 meters per 25g ball), shade 005 (lavender), 9 balls
• Recommended substitutions: JaggerSpun Zephyr wool-silk 2/18, Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift, Jamieson and Smith 2 ply lace weight or 1 ply cobweb, and Rowan’s Kidsilk Haze/Night.

Gauge:

• Not Applicable

View this pattern on Popknits

See all Patterns in Issue #01: Fall 2008

A stylish cloche hat available in a wide-range of sizes from babies to adults.

Sizes and Measurements:

• Infant (Toddler, Child, Adult) shown in size Infant (pink) and Adult (blue)

• Fits (head circumference)
  17” (19”, 20”, 22”)

Yarn Requirements:

• Lang Yarns Silk Dream [50% silk / 50% Merino; 100 yards (91 meters) per 50g skein]; colors: pale pink #09/ light blue #20 (MC), white #01/ dark blue #35 (CC); 1 (2, 2, 2) skeins (MC), 1 (1,1,1) skeins (CC). Note: just a small partial of the CC skein is used.

Gauge:

• 26sts/33rows at 4” in stockinette stitch on US 2.5/3.0mm needles

View this pattern on Popknits

See all Patterns in Issue #01: Fall 2008

This sweater is for the daring girl who wants to stand out from the crowd, make her own rules, and will not take conformity as an answer.

Sizes and Measurements:

• XS (S, M, L, XL) shown in size S

• Fits (bust size)
  32” (34”, 38”, 42”, 46”)/81 (86, 96.5, 106.5, 117)cm
  Actual Measurements (bust size)
  31” (33”, 37”, 41”, 45”)/79 (84, 94, 104, 114)cm

Yarn Requirements:

• MC: Rowan Glace [100% Cotton; 125 yd/115 m per 50g skein]; color: 823; 7 (7, 8, 9, 10) balls
• CC: Rowan Glace [100% Cotton; 125 yd/115 m per 50g skein]; color: 730; 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) ball
• Small amount of 3 coordinating colors for crochet flowers. Sweater shown uses Rowan Glace in colors 825, 445, and 739.

Gauge:

• 23sts/30rows at 4”, St st on US 4/3.5mm needles

View this pattern on Popknits

See all Patterns in Issue #01: Fall 2008

Traffic to Popknits has been extremely promising over the past three months. The site has been host to more than 45,000 unique visitors with more than 150,000 page views! If you’re an LYS owner or etsy seller, now is the perfect time to advertise with us. Many of our patterns use yarns that you carry! To be sure, here is a list of yarns that are featured in the Winter issue. If you sell these yarns or similar ones that can be substituted, consider placing an ad with us.

List of Yarns Featured in the Winter 2008 Issue:

• Valley Yarns “Northampton”
• Lion Brand Yarn Fisherman’s Wool
• Brooklyn Handspun Soft Spun Plus
• Patons Classic Wool Merino
• Rowan Kidsilk Haze
• Posh Yarn Cecilia

Find out more on the Advertising information page.

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Thanks for continuing to visit Popknits as we wind down our Fall Issue and go straight into production on the Winter Issue. This is a quick note to let you know that the Winter Issue will be published on December 1st! I also expect to have up a preview about 1 to 2 weeks prior to the launch of the issue. If you want to get first glance at the patterns, you should either subscribe to the News Blog or to our Mailinglist (the sign-up field is in the light blue footer on the bottom of every page.)

This is also a good time to mention that we’ve had a very steady stream of traffic here at Popknits since the official launch. Nearly 100,000 page views in September alone! If you’re advertiser, that’s a lot of people looking at your ads! If you’re interested in advertising with us, please check out the Advertising Rates page and contact us.

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Please see the Gossamer Garden Stole pattern to download it.

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There have been a few great submissions already. Hopefully I’ll see more next week! Please see the Submissions Guidelines page for more information on how to submit your pattern to us.

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The first Popknits issue is live! Click through to the homepage to view. I hope you enjoy it! More to come later about advertising and the new sections on the site.

Popknits Home, Issue #01: Fall 2008

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Cindy Moore explains her process of updating a vintage lace pattern from The Art of Knitting 1897.

View this article on Popknits

See all Articles in Issue #01: Fall 2008

It’s not too late to advertise for the premiere issue! Popknits has had over 14,000 page views and 5,000 unique visitors in August so far. That’s a lot of people that could be seeing and clicking on your ads! I definitely expect the number to climb in September when the issue goes live so get in on the action now. Prices go up with each issue! In fact, I’m making it an even sweeter deal to advertise for the first issue. Submit your ad now and save 15%!

For all of the designers out there that are looking to submit for the Winter Issue, please note that the Submissions Pack has been updated. I am now asking for your Ravelry username (which will make it easier for me to input your pattern into the Ravelry database) and have changed the order of the pattern elements. Download the newest Submissions Pack in the Downloads area.

Hope you all enjoyed the preview! See you all back here on September 1.

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View the Preview Now!

P.S. Sorry to mailinglist subscribers! The email accidentally went out twice but I’ve fixed the bug and it should be ok from here on out.

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Also, my family is taking a quick week-long vacation out-of-state next week. All of this is timed to give me (us, really) the well-deserved break we need to head into a busy summer. If I don’t respond to your submissions right away, know that I will as soon as I return home.

Eleven days left!

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This also serves as a reminder to those who wish to advertise on Popknits prior to the launch of the Fall issue. I do plan on previewing some of the knits right here on the News blog so I expect some traffic to come this way. The News blog is the most affordable spot on the site to advertise so get in quick and get your slot! See the Advertising Rates section for more details.

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I look forward to seeing what you all submit! Only a little over a month left before the June 15th submission deadline. If you haven’t contacted me yet about a submission proposal, feel free to use the contact form to get in touch. Otherwise, submit when you have something ready to go. Thanks!

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1. the Popknits website.
2. the pattern author’s website.
3. or Ravelry which will have links to either..

when searching for new patterns. Three months is long enough for the pattern to gain some momentum, be distributed from (or be linked back to) Popknits, and for us to get the traffic we need to survive. Then a new issue is launched and those authors can feel free to distribute the pattern under the same CC license on their website. I hope this clears up any confusion. I think that this arrangement will work best for us all.

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I’ve also had some interest in publishing off-season garments in Popknits and I find the idea very appealing. I think that folks in the southern hemisphere get the wrong end of the stick when North American blogs and magazines only cater to northern hemisphere seasons. I’ve set up a poll to see what you think as well. Head over to Mister Poll to give me your opinion. Polls close on Wednesday, April 30.

P.S. If haven’t joined the Popknits Ravelry group, please do!

P.P.S. I’ve also initiated the Popknits Mailinglist sign-up. You can get in on the action below. The sign-up form is at the bottom of every page.

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It’s also important to note that copyright exists on items newer than 1923 (see this copyright information page for more information.) If you see a very old pattern from before this time and want to use it as inspiration for a modern take on the garment, then I’m more apt to consider it for publication if you can provide the original pattern (so that we can see what the copyright implications would be) and it’s different enough from the original. I’ll speak to designers individually about this upon pattern submission. Thanks!

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• By “vintage” I mean from the 1800s to the 1970s. I’m not a huge fan of the 80s or its fashion statements (sorry if this offends some! But I doubt not many..) so I think that we’ll forget the 80s ever happened on this site. There are many fabulous design inspirations to look to otherwise so I’m sure we’ll get some great vintage submissions!
• You can feel free to either submit a proposal or go straight to the finish line and submit a finished piece. Either is fine with me.
• I hope to eventually have some yarn support for designers but I’m fairly certain we won’t have any for the Fall issue. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to take yarn or fiber as payment for ad space. Though I LOVE yarn, my apartment simply cannot hold it all. I hope to have ad rates up by the end of the week. Stay tuned!
• A Ravelry forum member mentioned that it would be great to get someone to write up how to best interpret vintage knitting patterns (i.e. difference in needle size, yarn weight and brands, and antiquated knitting terms) and i think this is a FABULOUS idea! In fact, anyone who wants to submit such a piece would have a place of honor in the FAQ and on the Articles landing page and therefore would receive a lot of traffic to their article submission and their website. If I had the time to write up a glossary, I would and make it a permanent part of the site but I’ll have to leave that to my readers. Please contact me if you’re interested in such an endeavor!

I’ve already received a few inquiries/proposals so it’s good to know that Popknits can fill this niche for knitters. Hope to hear from you all soon.

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Welcome to Popknits! I’m very excited to show off Popknits to the world today. It’s been a long time and coming (about two years!) and I couldn’t be happier about the final timing. Just so you know, I’ll post more about the submissions, advertising opportunities, and launch details in the coming weeks. So just hang in there with me and we’ll get this show up and running in time for cooler knitting weather in the fall.

P.S. If you subscribe to this news feed with your RSS reader, you’ll get the fastest Popknits information available. Thanks for stopping by!

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