NEW (and old): BAMBOO BAG PATTERN

I've designed this (beginner)pattern a while ago and it has seen a few transformations. My latest variation is knit in a hot pink La Droguerie Lin, has a long strap and is lined with amazing Liberty fabric. I got both fabric and yarn at Julija's Shop in Antwerp. My favorite shop in the world!

Originally it came as a Knit Kit, but it's a great summer project and I've decided to put it up on Ravelry so it's more widely available.

I named the pattern Bamboo, because the slip stitch ('lazy gal's stitch' in Dutch) reminds me of bamboo in more than one way. Bamboo grows like crazy, this bag does too. It's a super fast knit! The structure of the stitches looks a lot like the bamboo stems, longer parts divided by a horizontal knot. It's also very breezy, like swaying bamboo in the wind. Oh I know... I'm letting myself go. It's just a cool knit and so easy to make!

This bag can be knitted with any yarn. If you’d like to get rid of some yarn that isn’t suitable for clothing, this is your project. If the yarn isn’t very strong you can line the bag with a nice fabric. Or choose linen, cotton, hemp or even acrylic for a strong openwork bag. Knit it, use it, love it!

The pink lined version is knitted with a single strap. Just knit one of the two straps to desired length and re-attach it to the other side. (the instructions for lining are not included in the pattern)

This pattern will be translated in English asap. Please mail me at sasknitsitagain@hotmail.com if you are interested!

Knit On!

Hey Teach! Whattchadesigning?

It won't be long until I'll be officially teaching at the VAK (Free Academy of Arts) in Delft. Yep, the city where the famous Dutch blue white china is made. (but that's besides the point). I am very flattered and excited to be the knitting/crocheting teacher at the new Fashion/Styling school.

To promote the start of that specific course/school, a Day of Fashion was organized. During this well visited day those that were interested in starting lessons could sign up for short workshops while the teachers work was showed on the catwalk. It was first catwalk show. I have to be honest, I was slightly emotional seeing my work showed by the very cool and charming models (most of them students of the VAK). Loud music and black basic outfits framed my work and I realized in a split second; 'I'm a designer.' A very proud and weird moment at the same time.

As a teenager I dreamed about being a fashion designer. I enrolled Art School thinking and believing I was going to be one. But then I fell in love with the photography lessons and stepped on a different path. Photography was certainly great (and still is) but Art School and the teachers didn't quite match with ... eh... me. I didn't get expelled as such, but I was very critical of the organization and slowly but certainly was made clear that my place wasn't there.

After another try at another Art School I this time realized that I just wasn't a photographer at heart. At least not in the way that they build and delivered them. And so I started working in a jeans store, just to buy myself some time to figure out where I was going with myself.

After a year of getting annoyed by my co-workers, that seemed to find noting more important than dating and clubbing, I started an education that fitted me like a glove. Cultural Social Sciences I think is the translation; CMV. It's a school where you learn all about how to become a professional in the spare time consumption of your fellow human. I chose the path of culture and arts (go figure) and specialized in media and communication.

After an internship at a now famous festival (Motel Mozaique) I stuck to the music bizz and was a PR/marketing manager for almost all the music venues in Rotterdam. After I re-organized the communication department of one of the smaller venues I finished growing in that area and stepped up the ladder to become marketing manager of the organization that is responsible for promoting all Rotterdam festivals as a whole.

A year later I expected Wee One and they let me go when my pregnancy leave already started... (it's a little more complicated than that, but it still feels that way to me) And so I had no choice but to focus on the coming baby and made my job something to start thinking about later on.

A few years before I picked up knitting after years and years of not even thinking about it. And before I could say 'K2tog' I started a knitting group. I was planning to start the first Stitch 'n Bitch group in Rotterdam, but my fellow knitters were more comfortable knitting at home. A few 'Breieenkomsten' (knit-alongs) followed but it didn't stick with most of the gals. For me, it was too late. I was hooked (excusez le mot) and started picking projects that had at least 3 new techniques at a time. I learned from books and the Internet and by transforming into a knitting pit bull. I just wouldn't let go.

When my friends' aunt opened a sewing cafe I jumped to it and shoved myself and my knitting skills under her nose and claimed (I guess I did exactly that) to be the knitting teacher. Meanwhile my first real design was accepted by Knitty and turned out to be a very popular project amongst knitters all over the world. I was asked to design for online yarnstores and I designed for myself under the brand name I took from the blog I started to keep track of my knitting: SAS Knits It Again. Spelling out my first name Saskia and linking to 'I did it again', not knowing that that might not be a perfect brand name for the future. It just grew that way.

Meanwhile I started giving workshops at babyshowers, bachelorette parties and other fun get together like festivals. An Etsy shop followed, some fairs where I sold knitwear and knit kits and then a period of reflection where I decided on a path to choose. I couldn't do it all, build a strong brand and be a mother at home at the same time. It took me a while... But I've become what I wanted to be at 16; a fashion designer and (as a bonus) a teacher! My career plans for the future? Teach and design! Passing the craft on to others and staying true to myself (and my family) while designing.

I'm not a fashionista, I design what I like, what I need or what I think knitters like and/or need. I don't confirm to the fashion business and I hope I can keep it that way. I'm building my brand (with the not-so-good-name) and... I'm loving it!!


You can enroll the 'knitting for beginners' 6 lessons course now. Go here!

What to be and where to go; designing decisions

I recently designed for a well known store that sells clothing and home products at extremely low prices. It's called Zeeman. They started a campaign to promote their yarns. They mostly sell cheap acrylic, but sometimes you get good deals on mixed wool yarns. It's a place where loads of beginning knitters go to buy there starter kits.

I was very flattered to be asked to design some patterns for their online campaign keeping their target group in mind. It's a pretty clever setup. You get to choose from around 20 free patterns and either download the pattern and shoplist and get to work using the Tutorial (written by yours truly) and/or watching Youtube films OR forwarding your choice trough Twitter, Hyves (dutch Facebook) or mail and ask a befriended knitter (or family member) to do it for you.
Big Boom Bow, Orly, Pom Pom Vintage and Lima are my designs (the choise of names isn't).
It's in Dutch so you'll have to find a free language course online to get the full benefits of the campaign if you're not fluent in Dutch...

Zeeman is also organising a big knitting event where they want to break the world record of 'knitters in one place knitting'. It's all a big publicity stunt of course, with Dutch soap actrice/presenter Nikkie Plessen hosting it and the national press covering it, but it's still a good idea to promote knitting in general as well.

I was asked to teach the workshop during the event. My eyes got big and I replied with a greedy YES and then it slowly dawned on my what they were actually asking of me and I decided it wasn't what I wanted to do/be or what I wanted to connect my 'brand-in-building' to. Not because I look down on their brand or the type of press coverage, but because it just doesn't fit with what I want to be and become.
It's like a car designer is asked to drive in a formula one race. All very exhilarating but just not his thing...

If you still have non-believers around you, this campaign might just work! Just slip them the link during a chat session.

Hot Hot Heat

Yesterday we (SAS & Dianne B) spent our day in Amersfoort at Kraftic. At a fantastic location on the waterside in the middle of the city. While we sold knitwear, yarn, lessons and a lot of smiles our feet burned in the sun (the rest of us was covered by the sign hanging from the booth.

Last winter we spent a day at a market at -10 degrees Celsius and yesterday it was about 30 degrees. Thats a difference of 40!! But I'm not complaining!
It was a great day and we've met a lot of nice and cool designers, got 100% positive feedback (except from the old lady that complained about politics, but I'm guessing she was suffering from a heatstroke)

Thank you visitors for your positive reactions and purchases!

For your information:
- here's the Joan of Arc pattern for downloading;
- this is my mail if you want to get the Joan Knit Kit or for other questions;
- this is my web shop, but please mail me if you've seen an item that's not in the webshop;
- and here's were you find more information about Workshops.

After a full sun packed day my BF had a show with his band. It's been proven again: he rocks!

another band I like, in theme with the heat:

Hittin' the Streets

All this...



Led to this:

Bazar Bizar in Rotterdam, Charlois. It was a successful and fun day. With the help of Dianne B. we sold a couple of thousand stitches made into various items, at least a few kilometers of yarn and a lot of smiles and enthusiastic (but true) stories.

All is packed up now and ready to unpack tomorrow at Kraftic in Amersfoort. Come check us out!

And to all of you who visited the stand, bought a SAS Knits It Again original and took a card or flyer: it was lovely to meet you, hope you'll enjoy your purchase and we'd love to see you again in class, online or at another fair!

Yoga-lalala

Perfecting a design for yoga/meditation cushions. They will be 100% wool, filled with buckwheat hulls in a 100% cotton liner bag. I'm working on adult and children's sizes. Hopefully I'll have some for sale at Bazar Bizar the 26th of June.

Meanwhile I'm doing everything at once, it makes me feel like an octopus with multiple personality syndrome! I'm totally chaotic all the time which results in weird clothing choices, cleaning up and leaving things where they are randomly.Too much bread and no toppings or too much toppings and no bread.
Weirdly I'm at my most productive like this. Imagine what my house will look like the day I'll do this full-time...

I missed my yoga class yesterday, and it was much needed. Should squeeze in a quick greeting-to-the-sun? Or is that a contradictio in terminis?

An Apple a Day...

Frantically working on designs for Bazar Bizar. This is one of the luxury products: A 100% silk iphone cover in gold! Badabling! I have to get a friend's iphone to model though, I still live in the dark ages with my 5 yr old mobile. So for now just the cover without a model. For sale at Bazar Bizar the 26th of june or by mailing me.


ps Please note that the color is a bright orangy gold, much brighter than these pictures show.

A Morning at the Zoo

This morning, the kids and I had an important mission. It was al very multi-task-ual. While I lured the wee ones into my conspiracy with animals and a big sandbox, I shot a couple of pictures for my updated Bamboo Knit Kit. I even got in some cappuccino and two rows of knitting. (that's a luxury!).

'dude, I'm telling ya, there's a tropical surprise up there
and I don't want it, help yourself!'

'Hey, this kid wasn't kidding, yum!'

I've designed the Bamboo Knit Kit (consisting all materials you need for making a mash market bag) a while ago and sold it with cheap but funky yarn. Times change and I like my yarns to be a little more sophisticated now and so, with the help of this knitting friend, I found a yarn made of 60% hemp and 45% organic cotton. It's an amazing yarn that I carry in two colors; off white and a grey mix. It's very strong and can be washed at 60%, perfect for a bag.

The new and improved kit will be for sale as soon as I update the packaging and pattern. If you're interested, just mail me.

Nothingness & Big Bold Coton

This might be the worst title so far...

Anyhoo...

This sunday I spent with Dianne B. and some of my S 'n B friends at a wool & more market (Markt van Wol Enzo). We drove from the center of the city to the middle of nowhere, got our knitting out, had our coffees, spent some money on one or more drugs of choise (yarn/ strawberries/ organic food), bathe in the sunlight and hopped on back to the city. It was a very friendly gathering and a perfect day in the sun.


Today I finished a 'Joan of Arc' in bulky coton. The client is allergic to wool and so I altered the pattern and knit it with a double strand of Phildar Coton 7 in color 'denim'. It looks fab and I'm very pleased.
Please note that I do not only sell the pattern for this big and bulky cowl, but also Ready-to-Wear in black, sand, hot pink, grey, off-white, reddish brown and bright red. I've also got enough material for two more coton/denim ones. I'll be selling them in my Etsy store next season (starting september 2010). Please mail me if you're interested.

The Shop Is Open!

I finally opened up my Etsy store and I'm thrilled. There's a lot more to upload, but it's a start. From now on you can buy original patterns, knit kits, ready to wear and embroidery kits from SAS Knits It Again with just a few mouse clicks. (start by clicking the side bar that says 'Etsy'!)

Untill the shop is fully loaded (so to speak) I also sell by e-mail. That means, just mail me what you'd like and I'll give you the specifics.

Now in the Etsy Store:
- Knit Kit 'Octopussss' (original design merino neckwarmer and wristwarmer with one of a kind glass beads)

- JOAN OF ARC Knitting Pattern, very bulky cowl for wo(men)
- Embroider-your-own-glow-in-the-dark-neon-Space-Invader-button

SAS Knits It Again on the radio

Today, totally unexpected, SAS Knits It Again starred on 3FM (National radio) at the Stenders Eetvermaak Show. There's an item where you send in your job titel and Dutch Artists from the collective Op Sterk Water! freestyle a song about it and serenade (is that a word?) it to you live on air.

I text 'brei juf' ('knitting teacher') and got a call back!! From 25 other jobs, mine was picked. I was on my way to teach and had to park the car in order to get sung to. A weird way of spending minutes I tell ya...

Here's the piece. Start listening @ 36 mins.

I act really giggly because I'm nervous, also because it's just really clever and funny. Was amazed by the fact that this dude knew how to knit stockinette stitch....
If you don't understand Dutch...
you won't be able to understand.

Going with the Flow

Flow Magazine and website featured SAS Knits It Again Knit and Embroidery Kits. I love Flow, it's a very well designed and well made magazine full of 'me-time' stuff. Gotta love it.

If you're here because you've seen SAS Knits It Again in Flow and you want to order please mail me or call +31(0)6-41759707. Or go here and here for more info about the Embroidery or Knit Kits.