Today I am the next stop on the Folly Cove Blog Tour - a new knitting Pattern book designed by Julia Farwell-Clay. The pattern I am featuring is Julia's Annisquam Beret which uses my Color By Kristin Yarn from my friends at Classic Elite Yarns. It is featured on the cover of this book of lovely knitting designs.
A little back story because you know I love back story! Folly Cove is the name for a group of designers (mostly women) that worked in Cape Ann, Massachusetts - on the north shore of our state. The Folly Cove designers worked under the leadership of Virginia Lee Burton, a prolific and successful children's book illustrator who lived there too. You probably know some of Virginia's books - Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and The Little House are two of my favorite kids books. You can read more about the Folly Cove Designers in this article (and where I found the photograph below).
The Folly Cove Designers worked in linoleum block prints and were primarily self-taught and guided by Virginia Lee Burton. The business ran from 1939 until 1969. Their work was mostly printed on fabrics and wallpaper. I learned about Virginia Lee Burton a few years ago when I visited an exhibit of her work at The Eric Carle Museum. There is also a fantastic movie about her life.
When Julia Farwell-Clay asked me to be part of her blog tour, I thought it would be a great opportunity to introduce you all to the Folly Cove artists, Virginia Lee Burton, and Julia Farwell-Clay. The Folly Cove Collection includes 10 different projects and you can purchase books at your LYS, online as single PDF's or as an e-book. More info here. Here is the Annisquam Beret. Isn't it beautiful?
It is a simple to knit beret featuring a little bit of color work in a flower motif, some lovely scrunchy welting produced by reverse stockinette stitch ridges, and a pretty shaped top.
Here is the shaping on the top - really nice.
The colors Julia used are 3218 Sage, 3212 Deep Forest, 3289 Julia’s Pink, and 3250 Sunflower. Of course, you can choose your own.
You can purchase this pattern via Ravelry and receive 10% off when you use the Coupon Code FFC10.
The blog tour continues tomorrow at Stephanie Roy's Blog And She Knits Too.
I also have a free Annisquam Beret Pattern for one of you. To enter - just leave a note in the comments about whatever you like - what you are knitting - how much snow you got or didn't - what you are making for dinner! Also leave an easy way to get a hold of you - email, Ravelry id, or blogger id.
At the end of the week, Classic Elite is giving away yarn for a project from Folly Cove. To enter, go here - http://blog.
classiceliteyarns.com/