Dance as Ever's Annual Knitters Auction

Page last updated: 08/08/03

The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived. We have items to warm you from head to toe, as well as works of art to delight your senses. So glide through our gallery and place your bid!



Note: For a close-up view of any item, click on the thumbnail image to enlarge.
Use your browser's back button to return to the auction page.
Find items by category:


Bags | Hats | Scarves | Shawls | Socks | Sweaters | Special Interest

Find items by designer/knitter:


Yvette Adonai | Heather Broadhurst | Jane Elliott | Kurt Fowler
Mary Lee Herrick | Afton Koontz | Grace Judson| Melissa Leapman | Mary LoSardo
Eve Ng | Danny Ouellette | Stephanie Pearl-McPhee | Margaret Radcliffe | Gayle Roehm
Joan Schrouder | Judy Sumner | Arnold Van Fossen | Catherine Wingate | Leigh Witchel

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Bags:

	Be the first kid on your block -- or on any block -- to own Jane Elliott's latest design -- "La-Bag-ette". Jane's designs for Not Just Plain Jane Knits are noted for their creative use of color and texture along with fastidious attention to finishing details. "La-Bag-ette" is no exception.
	The bag uses a combination of cotton, rayon, silk, wool and specialty yarns in a crazy quilt of stitch patterns, textures and colors (beige, teal, taupe, fisherman and a variegated burgundy). Leaves accented with eyelash yarn march around the top opening (approximately 15 inches wide).
	A whimsical flower anchors the base of the bag, while a golden cord serves as both drawstring and a double strap for slinging the bag from your shoulder. The bag is fourteen inches long and is fully lined in a festive yet durable floral cloth to keep contents (such as knitting needles!) safe and secure. As an added bonus, there are three inner pockets.
This design is not yet available to the knitting public -- we are indeed honored that Jane has chosen our Dance as Ever auction for the premier of her latest creation. So for a chance to own a true designer original, join the bidding now -- opening bid is $75! By the way, Jane has sub-titled this design as "The Bag that Dreamed of Being a Tube Top," perhaps as a hint of future incarnations?

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Eve Ng has made something no knitter should be without -- a Felted Tote Bag. Eve used a pattern by Two Old Bags and Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride (85 per cent wool and 15 per cent mohair) to create this roomy bag (12 inches high, 16 inches wide and 4 inches deep). The double shoulder straps make it easy to carry and the buttoned closure will help to keep your yarn -- or whatever you choose to carry -- securely in the bag! Bidding opens at $50, so place your bid now.

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Hats:

When our webmistress Mary LoSardo isn't updating the Dance as Ever website, she can be found with knitting needles in hand. Her most recent time away from her PC resulted in the Nordresia Hat, an example of Scandinavian knitting tradition. The pattern is from a kit by Debbie Gremlitz of Nordic Fiber Arts, who adapted it from a traditional Norwegian Husfliden sweater design. Using red, black and white Norwegian Rauma Strikkegarn, this pure 3 ply wool does not pill, stretch or change shape -- making a warm and sturdy hat that will retain its "like new" appearance for years.

The unisex hat will fit the average adult (21 inch circumference). Bidding opens at $45, so place your bid now.

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From Canada, where folks know the importance of keeping one's head and ears toasty, comes this glorious Fair Isle Hat. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee raided her stash and fashioned this sport/dk weight hat in shades of copper, indigo and purple. Stephanie based the hat on a pattern for a "toque" in Anna Zilboorg's 45 Fine and Fanciful Hats to Knit.
Knit in a soft merino wool with a touch of acrylic, it can be machine washed (but NOT machine dried). It is sized for an adult medium (21 inch circumference). Bidding starts at $45, so send us your bid now.

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You may remember the hat knit by Danny Ouelette for last year's auction. Well, in the midst of creating new ballet and planning the fall concert program, Dance as Ever's own Leigh Witchel was able to knit Danny's Head Hugger Hat. Leigh used Noro's Sarubia yarn, a silk and mohair blend to produce this warm and colorful topper.
The top view shown in the image to the right highlights the full range of colors in the lovely Noro yarn. The hat is sized for an adult medium and can be hand washed and dried flat. Opening bid is $45 -- email us your bid now.

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Scarves:

	Kurt Fowler has provided a tasty treat with the Tagliatelli Scarf. As the detailed photo at left shows, Colinette's Tagliatelli is a ribbon yarn and Kurt chose color way 75, a soft shade of chive green flecked with a hint of sun-dried tomatoes. (Now you know why we dub this a tasty treat!)
	The yarn itself is a blend of 90 per cent pure merino wool and 10 per cent nylon, which makes it unbelievably soft and springy to the touch and seed stitch ensures its edges won't roll. Since it's 48 inches long (excluding its fringe) and six inches wide, the lucky bidder will have a fashion accent that provides warmth without heaviness. Bidding starts at $45, so email us with your bid now.

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Members of the KnitList know Heather Broadhurst is the Queen of Short Rows, so it's no surprise that she's using this technique to produce two beautiful scarves for Dance as Ever.
	The Short Rowed Seaman's Scarf features a scallop/shell motif. Each end (9 inches wide and 12 inches long) of the scarf uses vintage Naturespun knit in short rows, producing an effect that mimic modular knitting. As the picture to the left illustrates, the rich bronze shells join a center section (4 inches wide and 18 inches long) in 2x2 ribbing. This part of the scarf combines Classic Elite's Waterspun (Merino) in Bisque and Inca Alpaca (color 1114). To make this ingenious scarf part of your wardrobe, place a bid now -- bidding opens at $45.
	Heather's second contribution is the Southwest Short Row Shell Scarf, so named because it was knit in San Diego and the mohair came from Weaving Southwest located in Taos, New Mexico. The stunning coppery yarn has yielded a more feminine variation of short rowed scarf. Shown "live" while it's being blocked, the scarf is about 11.75 inches wide and 48+ inches long. So be prepared when cold winds blow -- join the bidding, which starts at $45.
To see more photos of the scarves and to learn more about the technique used to create these gorgeous shawls, be sure to visit Heather's website.

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Shawls and Wraps:

This year we have an abundance of shawls and wraps to grace the shoulders of some lucky bidders!

	This sumptuously soft masterpiece is Grace Judson's Ocean Blue Shawl. Many of you already know that Grace Judson holds the speed record for U.S. knitters -- but as the photo at left shows, she's also an expert weaver. The shawl is a generous 64 inches long and 24 inches wide, with a five inch fringe at each end.
The yarn is a Donegal Tweed, a pure light weight wool which provides exceptional warmth. By clicking on the photo to the left, you'll get a hint of the delicate lace square details Grace has woven into this masterpiece
Opening bid is $100 -- join the bidding now!

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	The Lotus Blossom Shawl is the first of two wonderful creations from Canadian designer Danny Ouelette. The pattern was designed by Dorothy Siemens of Fiddlesticks Knitting and knit by Danny in a nubby hard-dyed yarn (52 per cent silk, 48 per cent wool) from Fleece Artist.
Danny selected the earth-tone color way. As the photo to the right indicates, this is a rich brown, shot with gold, red and purple, which showcases the delicate lace pattern.
Bidding opens at $100, so place your bid now. And see Danny's other wonderful contribution in the Socks section of our auction!

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	Drape yourself in luxury with Gayle Roehm's Lacy Cables Shawl. The original design appeared in Knitters Issue 64 (Fall 2001, on the very last page). For this version, Gayle used a fabulously luxurious yarn of 65 per cent cashmere and 35 per cent silk ("Bollicina") in a lustrous steel gray to produce a rectangular, stole-like garment (78 inches long and 14 inches wide). It's so soft and smooth that we wish you could reach through the computer and feel it!
As Gayle wrote: I still love this lace pattern of eyelet columns that converge to cable knots, and it's fun to knit. This time I tweaked my design by adding a lace edging at each end, as well as eyelets on the long edges, to make it a bit more dressy. This shawl should be just the thing for theater going - to performances of a special dance company, for instance!
Bidding starts at $100 -- make your bid now.

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	This year, Judy Sumner -- our own Queen of Socks -- shows us knitters do not live by socks alone, but by shawl knitting as well! Judy used Fiber Trends' Field of Flowers shawl pattern with a silk and wool blend yarn from Lorna's Laces to create this wonderful wrap.
	The light blue background in this illustration provides a better view of the exquisite lace pattern -- click on the image to for a closer look! Opening bid is $100 -- join the bidding now!
Sock fanatics, rejoice -- Judy has also contributed some of the best examples of her sock designs for our auction!

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Socks:

We've socks to please all members of the family!

	You've seen the magic Canadian designer Danny Ouelette worked with the Lotus Blossom Shawl designed by Dorothy Siemens. Here's a chance to own one of Danny's own designs from Danny Ouellette Knitting -- the fabulous Crossing Cables Socks. Knit in a wonderful red wool by Aarlan and sized for an adult (man's medium or woman's large), the socks are sure to provide a warm and comfy fit.
	At the same time, the rich burgundy color of the yarn showcases the texture of the stitches. This detail is highlighted in the section shown in the image to the left. Bidding starts at $50, so email us your bid now.

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This year, Judy Sumner shows once more why she's our own Queen of Socks. She's provided us with a veritable harvest: one pair for the younger members of the family and two pairs for their older (or larger-footed) kin.
	These Watermelon Socks are made of Fixation, a cotton yarn with a touch of elastic. First appearing in the Summer 2002 issue of Cast On magazine, we know they're a real kid pleaser through personal experience, since our webmistress knit them for her favorite goddaughter last year. Now you can own a pair knit by the designer herself. The bidding opens at $25, so bid now.

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The Vintage Lace Socks, made of Plymouth Sockotta, first appeared in the Spring 2003 issue of Cast On magazine. The variegated yarn is a cheerful mix of golden yellows, warm greens and coppery orange. The forest green background we used in this illustration emphasizes the exquisite lace pattern -- click on the image to for a closer look! They will make a lovely addition to any woman's sock wardrobe, so bid now -- bidding opens at $50.

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The Petticoat Lace Socks represent yet another design from the sock designer extraordinaire, Judy Sumner. Using a sport weight yarn from Lorna's Laces, the hot pink socks will provide a welcome jolt of color on even the dreariest day. The pattern for these socks first appeared in the Winter 2002 issue of INKnitters magazine. At the detailed photo on the upper right indicates, the stitch used for these socks is another exquisite lace pattern -- click on the image for a closer look! Bidding opens at $50, so place your bid now.

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	Catherine Wingate's whimsical Dancing Feet Socks were the first contribution to arrive and we never grow tired of looking at them! These sophisticated "November" socks are one of twelve imaginative designs by Catherine that can be found in The Sock Calendar: Socks for all Seasons, published by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer of Heartstrings Fiber Arts.
	As the detail photo on the left indicates, these lush black DK weight socks will bring out the Ginger Rogers in you! They're embellished with chevrons of golden beads and a whimsical eyelash trim, and will be a welcome addition to any sock wardrobe. So make sure your feet have suitable attire for a glamorous night on the town. Bidding opens at $50, so bid now.

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Sweaters:

Big or small, we have sweaters to warm you!

Inspired by Kaffe Fassett's use of color to create illusions, Mary Lee Herrick has created the Woven Ribbon Cardigan. Using a mix of primarily wool yarns in various shades of teal and salmon, the intarsia blocks form ribbons of color which weave in and out. I-cord not only serves as edging but also accents shoulder seams and armholes. The short sleeves are worked in an airy knotted lace pattern and wooden buttons adorn the front. This generously sized (52 inch bust, 25 inch length) cardigan will make a unique addition to any woman's wardrobe, so bid now -- bidding starts at $85.

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	We've dubbed this zip-front sweater by Afton Koontz the Rainbow Cardigan because of the bright colors shimmering throughout it. Made of recycled sari silk (from Mango Madness) with deep teal accents at the cuffs and square neckline, the sweater has an overall textured rib pattern.
	Sized for a woman's medium/large (40 inch chest, 22 inches in length), it is classic enough to wear to the office and casual enough to top off a pair of jeans. Bidding opens at $85 -- make your bid by clicking here.

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Joan Schrouder provides us with a classic design in the softest wool. She first described the Fairgyle Pullover in the February/March 1991 issue of Knitting World and it looks as fresh today as it did then. Traditional argyle knitting uses bobbins of different colors to produce its distinctive diamonds and requires knitting and purling back and forth. Joan instead applied the principles of Fair Isle knitting to knit this pullover in the round -- hence the name "Fairgyle".

Since Fair Isle knitting limits colors to two per round, the Fairgyle creates the illusion of a third color by blending the light and dark colors in a "salt and pepper" diamond. And with a fastidious planning and attention to detail, Joan has matched the patterns at armhole and shoulder so the seams are nearly invisible -- as you can see in the photo to the left. This unisex sweater has a 38 inch chest and is 23 inches in length). Opening bid is $85 -- join the bidding now!

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Of Special Interest:

	Margaret Radcliffe of Maggie's Rags has designed and knit these comfy unisex thongs for yourself or the dancer in your life. Dubbed "Forsyth's Folk Thong" in honor of the dancer who inspired it, the original was designed on the fly and knit in sock yarn on two pencils in the heat of inspiration. When the recipient commented humorously that there wasn't a pattern for it on the Maggie's Rags website (http://www.maggiesrags.com), Margaret decided to call his bluff and create the pattern. Who better to benefit from this piece of sartorial splendor than Dance as Ever?
Thanks to Margaret's generosity, you can own one of the first three Forsyth's Folk Thongs ever created. Both are adjustable to fit a range of sizes. The black thong (and the second one created) is made of rayon chenille with metallic silver and purple thread (22 inch rise, fits hips 34 to 42 inches). Discreet eyelets ornament both edges of the front. Adjustable cord tie at both corners of the front for a custom fit. Bidding starts at $30, so send us your bid now. The third thong knit by Margaret is a sporty black on white cotton/nylon/spandex yarn, with flat garter stitch bands instead of round cords (18 inch rise, fits hips 30 to 38 inches). It sports adjustable ties, like the black thong, but without the eyelet embellishments. Bidding for this thong also starts at $30, so send us your bid now.
Like the thong but need a different size or want a different color or yarn? Margaret has graciously agreed to offer for auction ONE custom knit thong. The lucky winner will choose a yarn/fiber and color and provide hip and rise measurement and Margaret will knit it to spec. So here's a chance to own a custom-made designer original. Bidding will open at $50, so place your bid now.

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	Hawaii-based artist Arnold Van Fossen is a special friend of Dance as Ever. Over the past few years, he's provided us with unique auction items and a vast number of beautiful and whimsical articles for our bazaar. This year is no exception, as Arnold has provided us with a Holiday Tree and Wreath that is sure to delight both knitters and ballet fans alike.
	These delightful pieces are Arnold's tribute to the two passions that bring many Dance as Ever fans together: the love of ballet and the love of knitting. The miniature tree is adorned with tiny ballerinas. More ballerinas dance on the wreath, surrounded by the tools of the knitters trade, not to forget a swan or two!
So make your holidays even brighter this year -- bid on the tree -- bidding opens at $30, bid on the wreath -- bidding opens at $35, or bid on both!

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As we receive more donations, we'll be adding their photos, so we encourage you to bookmark this page and check back often to see we what have. Already, Yvette Adonai and Melissa Leapman have promised some some items that are sure to delight!

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