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Katrosie’s Franken-Hexapus

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Anna

It’s time for another cool mix-n-match ghoul from our Flickr group!

This is Franken-Hexapus, made by Katrosie71. Like many mixed up monsters, his name is weird and perfect!

While we’re on the subject of mixing, I thought I’d mix it up and send the Tiny Fall pattern collection to this mad knitter!

What combination of body parts will we see next? There’s still time to make your own mix-n-match monster from the menu in Super-Scary Mochimochi. Share a photo in our Flickr group by the end of the month, and you may win a free pattern!

Mochimochi Land is Moving to Chicago!

Posted on October 23, 2013October 23, 2013 by Anna

After eight years in NYC, John and I and the whole Mochimochi crew are moving to Chicago!

hellochicago

A few gnomes went out early and have already made themselves at home. (They’re excited for the cold Chicago winter they’ve been hearing about.)

Our move was prompted by a new position that John has at The A.V. Club as Senior Editor—I’m so excited for him! And I’m looking forward to more space and being closer to my family in Oklahoma.

I’m going to miss Brooklyn like crazy, but change is good, and I’m excited to get to know a new city and its people. We’re moving next week, just in time for Vogue Knitting LIVE! So if you’re going to be attending, please find me in the marketplace and say hi because I’m your new neighbor!

Everything around here should be pretty much the same. I think the only noticeable change will be a delay in shipping of physical goods from our shop during the last week of October/first week of November while our stuff is in transit.

And NYC hasn’t seen the last of me! I’ll be back for Vogue Knitting LIVE in Times Square in January, and I plan continue making occasional visits for work and play. As my last NYC event before the move, I’ll be at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio this Thursday evening for a talk and book signing. I’d love to see you there!

Spooky Pattern Round-up

Posted on October 21, 2013October 25, 2013 by Anna

Looking for something quick and spooky to knit this month? I’ve got some ideas for you! (See below for names and links.)

spookyroundup

Gobbledyghost, Woodins (free pattern)

Candy Corn (free pattern), Tiny Fall Collection, Tiny Ghost (from Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi)

Naughty and Nicey (from Knitting Mochimochi), Boo the Bat

Little Miss Widow, Hurly-Burly, and Bitty Witches (and more—from Super-Scary Mochimochi)

Hungry Ghost

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Anna

hungryghost614

Being a ghost can’t be all that bad: You’ll never run out of candy corn! Spoooky…

Errata for Huge & Huggable Mochimochi

Posted on October 16, 2013August 11, 2015 by Anna

Some nice knitters who got early copies have let me know (nicely) about a few problems.

Page 63, Baby Capybara, body and head

At the beginning of this section, you should cast 4 stitches onto 1 DPN, not 3 DPNs.

Page 70, Baby Cakes’ Frosting

After Row 122 in the frosting section, this sentence should be added:

Break the yarn and draw it tightly through the stitches with a tapestry needle.

Page 81, Big Mike’s Tomato

The finishing instructions were omitted.

After completing Rnd 65, lightly stuff the piece. After completing Rnd 67, break the yarn and draw it tightly through the stitches with a tapestry needle.

roland_errata Page 90, Roland’s Shell

This is how the section should read:

With A, cast on 37 stitches onto the circular needle to work flat.
Row 1: Sl1, p to last st, sl1.
Row 2: K4, [p1, k3] 8 times, k1.
Rows 3-7: Work in established rib for 5 rows, slipping the first and last stitches on the odd-numbered rows.
Row 8: K4, m1, [p1, k3, m1] 8 times, k1 (46 sts).
Rows 9-13: Work as established for 5 rows.
Row 14: K5, m1, [p1, k4, m1] 8 times, k1 (55 sts).
Rows 15-19: Work as established for 5 rows.
Row 20: K6, m1, [p1, k5, m1] 8 times, k1 (64 sts).
Rows 21-25: Work as established for 5 rows.
Row 26: K7, m1, [p1, k6, m1] 8 times, k1 (73 sts).
Rows 27-31: Work as established for 5 rows.
Row 32: K8, m1, [p1, k7, m1] 8 times, k1 (82 sts).
Rows 33-43: Work as established for 11 rows.
Row 44: K7, k2tog, [p1, k6, k2tog] 8 times, k1 (73 sts).
Rows 45-49: Work as established for 5 rows.
Row 50: K6, k2tog, [p1, k5, k2tog] 8 times, k1 (64 sts).
Rows 51-55: Work as established for 5 rows.
Row 56: K5, k2tog, [p1, k4, k2tog] 8 times, k1 (55 sts).
Rows 57-61: Work as established for 5 rows.
Row 62: K4, k2tog, [p1, k3, k2tog] 8 times, k1 (46 sts).
Rows 63-67: Work as established for 5 rows.
Row 68: K3, k2tog, [p1, k2, k2tog] 8 times, k1 (37 sts).
Rows 69-74: Work as established for 6 rows.
Row 75: Sl1, p to last st, sl1.
Bind off all stitches.

And the book is missing the explanation for m1.

Page 104, Buddy Boy’s Headlights

The color work noted for Row 13 is incorrect. It should read:

Row 13: P1C [p1E, p1C] to end.

Page 103 & 105, Buddy Boy’s Flames

The chart on page 105 is noted to have 9 rounds, but it’s only 7. Aside from the round count, the chart is correct.

If you spot any other problems with the patterns in this book or in any of my patterns, please get in touch! Sometimes mistakes that seem obvious get missed by lots of people, and you may be the first to tell me about it.

Huge & Huggable Mochimochi is Here!

Posted on October 15, 2013October 15, 2013 by Anna

I’m thrilled to say that my fourth book of knitting patterns, Huge & Huggable Mochimochi, is now in stores everywhere!

Now you too can knit up a gigantic roly-poly, a family of capybaras, a hungry monster bag, and many more supersized mochis.

Not only are they big, but these toys include a wide variety of fun knitting techniques, like bobbles, cables, colorwork, and unusual shaping. Don’t let the size fool you—these guys knit up quicker than you’d think with thick yarn and big needles! And several projects come with smaller versions, so you can make a little guy before tackling the main squeeze.

Buy a signed copy in the Mochimochi shop, get it from your local yarn store, or come to one of my upcoming book signings!

October 24th: Lion Brand Yarn Studio, NYC
November 1st-3rd: Vogue Knitting Live Chicago
December 7th: Looped Yarn Works, Washington D.C.
December 8th: Loop, Philadelphia

And look who’s growing up fast!

hhavail3

That’s my niece Nora. Big thanks to my sister and her husband Nat for letting me borrow her cute face for the cover!

While I’m at it, huge thank-yous to my photographer Brandi Simons, to Sonnie and Sarah and the rest of our wonderful models; to the yarn companies who contributed their lovely products (Cascade, Lion Brand, Knit Picks, and Spud & Chloë); to all the test knitters who were involved in making the patterns user-friendly; to Marilyn, my excellent tech editor; to my editor Betty Wong and her assistant Caitlin Harpin for their great work and guidance; and to everyone else who was involved in making this book happen.

Now, let’s take over the world with MEGA MOCHIS!!

Ilana’s Cubed Rubik

Posted on October 14, 2013October 14, 2013 by Anna

Rubik the colorful cube monster made by Ilana might have the best monster name yet!

He’s clearly a puzzle master who would dominate any game night. But losers couldn’t resent that cute face!

Another free Gobbledyghost pattern goes to Ilana because I featured her monster. Don’t forget to share your own Mix n Match concoctions in our Flickr group this month—I hope to feature lots more!

Joan’s Mix n Match Marx

Posted on October 11, 2013October 11, 2013 by Anna

Today’s featured Mix n Match monster is a mysterious weirdo.

But according to his maker, Joan, this mustachioed monster isn’t trying to look like Groucho Marx.—He thinks he’s being Karl Marx!

I’m giving away the Gobbledyghost pattern to everyone whose Mix n Match monster I feature this month, so Joan’s Marxist monster can make a fellow dress-up friend.

Have you made a Mix n Match monster from Super-Scary Mochimochi? Share your photo in our Flickr group, and you too could get a Gobbledyghost pattern if I feature it here!