test your color skills

Found a link to this color test in the ravelry forum for local yarn shop workers. Find out how well you see color! The lower the score, the better you did. I got a zero! Yay!

a sneak peek

I've been working on my first pattern booklet recently, to be released this Fall. We did a photoshoot last week, and I'm so excited that my pile of samples has turned into something I can share!
It's a collection of women's Fall/Winter accessories, for a range of knitting skill levels. These are just a few of the shots from last week, but I think they'll give you a good feel for the book.


Stay tuned for preorder information!

I'm staying at Knots!

Yes, after having the shop for sale a few months, I've decided to take down my "for sale" sign. This year so far has been a time of tough decision making, but now that I know I'm staying at Knots, I'm so excited for the shop again! We have a lot of restocking to do, classes to plan, and more! Please let me know if there are any special yarns, fibers, weights, or brands that you would like to see at the shop. I'm going to TNNA, the Fall knitting trade show, this week, and I'm putting together quite a shopping list to take along. I'm so happy to be continuing with Knots - come join me there soon - for a class, a knitting group, or just to shop!

Knots is for sale!

So, have you ever dreamed of owning a yarn shop? Here's your chance! After many months of decision making, and a few more months of preparations, I am ready to announce that Knots is for sale. The past five years in the shop have been wonderful, and I really enjoy my time there, but I have decided to make more time for my family, teaching, and designing again as well. There are no plans to close the shop, I'm just looking for the next person to continue the Knitting on the Square legacy. It started with Amy in 2005, I took over a couple of years later, and it seems that now is the time to pass the torch again. If you are interested, please contact me at the shop.

In other exciting news, Pete and I are happy to announce that we have a third little Jackson on the way! Audrey and Liv will be big sisters again in August!

littles on ravelry

Linear and Montoya are finally on ravelry, along with their kiddie counterparts, Little Linear and Little Montoya. If you don't have the patterns already, you can download them now from the comfort of your pajamas! If you've started making them, or finished already, please post your project!


I finished all of my Christmas knitting and will post some of it soon. And, as promised, I began knitting the Glows gloves just for myself. Happy New Year everyone!

to me from me

Sometimes, having a lot of projects that NEED to be knitted can be a drag. The lineup means you're not entitled to the thrill of a new project. Every year about this time, I set aside my current WIP's to charge into gift knitting, powering though to the Christmas deadline. I know exactly what awaits me in my knitting bag for the next 2 months. I'll be looking forward to my holiday of handknits, but it's nice to have a little incentive to make me finish those gifts on time - a light at the end of the tunnel.

So here it is - the project that I get to make for myself as soon as the list is complete!

Glows by Julia Mueller ,
knit with Dream in Color Everlasting Sock
(it's arriving at Knots sometime in the next week!)

To match my new coat, of course!

Yep, it's pink

Happy birthday to me, courtesy of Cleveland Craigslist. Salmon pink vinyl and formica are totally kid-friendly and play-doh ready. Just bring on the fingerpaints!

mookow restoration

Pete's associate Jake made this video tour of the shop. Take a sneak peek of the remanufacturing process. Jake, want to come do a video of Knots?

mother daughter knits

New patterns coming soon from Kate Jackson Knits. Remember, if you sign up for our new customer club at the store, Tied in Knots, you will get free copies of all my new patterns in your email as soon as they're done!


Special thanks to my lovely models, my little girls!

Zoe knitalong

We are starting our first knitalong at the shop this Friday, and I am so looking forward to knitting something from someone else's pattern! I have been working nonstop this season on new patterns for Kate Jackson Knits, as our Fall trade show is coming up in a just a few weeks, and I miss knitting without a calculator! I chose the Zoe tee or cardigan patterns from C2Knits, a local designer, for the knitalong. They are both well suited to our new Cascade Sierra yarn, a soft worsted weight blend of 80% cotton and 20% wool. Now which color should I choose?

fresh start?

Yes, I have poorly neglected the blog for awhile. I guess that is what two kids can do to you! I have been working on new designs lately, and I plan on sharing some recent projects soon. There are also some great new yarns in the shop, and exciting happenings there too! I'll try again to keep you posted about "my life in yarn"!

Baby Blanket Contest Winners!

Congratulations to the six winners of 

Knitting on the Square's Baby Blanket Contest!  

Top, left to right: Honorable Mention by Barbara 

and Best Blanket by Berni

Bottom, left to right:  Best Natural Fiber by Jean, Best Unfinished by Diane, Most Unique by Paula, and Best Crochet by Martha

Designing with Audrey

If you have to be on the floor with crayons and paper, 

why not try to get some work done?

I'm thinking of using GGH Cumba for this sweater.  (ravelry link)  

Any other suggestions?  

Happy Wednesday!

I had a very fussy baby today who needed to be held.  Thankfully I had a great book to keep me happy while I rocked her, so I spent my day reading most of Three Bags Full by Leonie Swan.  This is our shop's book club selection for the August meeting, so if you pick up a copy be sure to join our discussion!  Any wool lover will get a kick out of the sheep detectives.  

Big sister is modeling the Sweetheart Pullover from Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nicholas.  This book is a great resource for baby and toddler projects.  The patterns are very well written and a joy to follow.  I'll post a clearer picture someday, but she just happend to be wearing it when I posed them together!

spring cleaning

Yes, I know it's July.  I just updated my sidebar, so if you want to check out the blogs I really DO read, and the projects I really AM working on, now it's accurate!

The new addition!

Hi everyone!  I know it's belated, but here's Olivia the day she was born!

Olivia Katherine Jackson

5 pounds, 11 ounces, 18 inches

born about 10 am, Saturday, May 30

(yes, she's already a month old!)

Back at home with a very proud big sister.

Happy Days!

My little girl turned two this week!  Happy birthday Audrey!  We celebrated with the family, and she loved her horse cake.  (Yes, those are pretzel sticks)

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there!  I had a wonderful day with my family.  I bought veggie plants and a couple of flowers at Jo's Four Green Fields after church, and Pete worked on my garden all day!  No more mint, and the anticipation of the tomato harvest is already upon us!  

Audrey's Easter

Happy Easter!  I'm back to the blog!  

Here are a few pics of the outfit I made Audrey for Easter.  

The dress is a homemade pattern, with a stretch cotton I picked up at the Sewing and Quilt Expo, Vogue Fabrics booth.  Cute butterflies, princess seams, and a gored skirt for flare.

The sweater/shrug is knit with Plymouth Jeannee, a soft summery cotton/acrylic blend.  The pattern is the "orange bolero" from Rebecca Babies and Kids #8, the larger of the two sizes.

The sunglasses are from Grammy's Easter basket, and the attitude is all Audrey.  

I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday!

Pete's new website

I lost a few nights of knitting to my new passion: web design!  Check out the website I built for my husband Pete's restoration shop this week.  If you need a vintage or antique car restored, he's your guy!

Pete's Custom Coachbuilding

Thanks again to Kathy for the crash course in html!

Einstein Coat!

Don't worry, I have plenty of my own knitting projects to share, I just haven't photographed any lately!  Instead, I would love to show off the new Einstein Coat that Shelly knit for the shop.  Isn't it lovely?

We have an Einstein Coat class coming up in a couple of weeks if you are interested.  This garter stitch coat from Sally Melville's book, The Knit Stitch, is a wonderful beginner's first sweater project or a relaxing knit for more advanced knitter.  

The yarn she used is Arucania Nature Wool Chunky.  Check out all of the gorgeous colors in this chunky wool yarn!  Some are kettle-dyed, and the others are handpainted, so any you choose would have a great color variation in the coat.  This yarn is wonderful for any chunky sweater, as well as cozy winter accessories and home accents. 

Einstein Coat class:

Wednesday, January 28, 4:30 to 6:30

OR Thursday, January 29, 1 to 3

OR Saturday, January 24, 1 to 3

$15 plus supplies

Call or email Knitting on the Square to sign up!

440 285 5648 info@knittingonthesquare.com