Well Spud & Chloë Pals, it has been a few weeks since we released our Spring 2012 Collection. Have you had the opportunity to peruse the catalog? I love the moment when the precise page is turned that elicits coos of delight.

We adore how this leaf envelops a wee little person.

The Leaf Blanket, designed by Susie Anderson has put the cuteness quotient through the roof! Knit in Spud & Chloë Outer on size 15 needles with just four hanks, this project is sure to be a quick-knit. Quick and adorable; pleasing to new Moms and Dads while enchanting Grandmas and Grandpas.

This is certainly a playful twist, not just another baby blanket. A homemade gift that will be treasured.

The perfect baby shower gift, I would bring a Hedge (7210) Leaf Blanket for spring time, Cedar (7209) for autumn and Snow Day (7216) for winter babies.

Time to start one today! It would be so great to be all ready the next time a friend or family member is expecting. Now, which color to choose…

Welcome to the new Spud & Chloë Blog.

My name is Cousin Katie.

I’m here to keep you up-to-date on my wee cousin Chloë and her pal Spud. As a bit of a social butterfly I’ll have lots of interesting guest bloggers, free patterns and just plain fun from our whole gang!

I also like to hang out here, here, and here too!

I’ll be sure to share all the things the gang is cookin’ up, it’s what I do! Just wait until you see…

How cute are these?

What are they? How did they come to be?

AUNTIE SARAH: Look Chloë, I designed knit baby pants!

CHLOE: Check these out Spud!

SPUD: Hmm?

SPUD:  Baa Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!

SPUD: Wait a minute, quality wool on a baby’s butt?!!

AUNTIE SARAH: Well, the baby will have a diaper on, of course.

CHLOE: Of course

SPUD: Still

Super Soakers for Super Chubby Legs! Pattern coming soon…

That’s right Spud & Chloë pals. There is a Color of the Year 2012: Tangerine Tango. I think that just sounds like fun!

The Color of the Year (and this Tangerine Tango image) are brought to you by Pantone. Pantone is an amazing color company, so to speak. Sort of in a nutshell, Pantone has created the Pantone Matching System. This phenomenal tool allows precision color matching of a specific color no matter the equipment used, the country of origin and production, or language spoken.

Did you know that Spud already has some pretty rockin’ oranges? In Sweater there is Firecracker 7509. This orange is the color of my dear cousin Chloë’s hair. Very saturated and rusty. Cider 7515 is an extremely wearable orange. It looks great with both Firecracker and Pollen 7508. When you are looking for a playful and zingy orange Pollen is the one for you. Be sure to peek at Lovey Dovey. I love little girls in nontraditional, sweet, bright colors.

Then there is the autumnal Cedar 7209 in Outer. This color is very rich, and not such an overwhelming orange; lots of our pals like this color. Now, I am going to include another color from the Outer collection that some of you may want to debate me on…Sunkissed 7206. I am including this shade of pink because it looks lovely when placed with oranges, like it has a coral influence. The next time you see Sunkissed in person be sure to compare it with oranges, I bet this color will surprise you. I wonder if people will make the Double Garter Cowl in 2012′s Color of the Year?

Last, but not least is our outrageous oranges in Fine. Fine is my favorite and these oranges are the best. Clementine 7802 is a solid medium orange; wearable and fun. For an orange with punch Goldfish 7817 cannot be beat. It is a light, bright color! The last color I would like to talk about is Orangutan 7819; if you are hesitant to wear orange you could start here and not feel overwhelmed by such a powerful color. I’m actually quite fond of Goldfish and Orangutan together. Wouldn’t that be a buoyant striping combo? Don’t forget our brand new Easy Tee from the Spring 2012 Collection in Fine.

So, back to the geniuses at Pantone. They also promote a color the year. The idea is that this color will fit the spirit of the year. I love what Pantone’s website tells us about Tangerine Tango “…a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.” So, what do you think of Tangerine Tango? Would you like or wear a Tangerine Tango? What color would you have picked for 2012?

CHLOE:  Hey Spud, check out our new Spring Collection! Our stuff starts on page 15.

SPUD:  What are we, second best?

CHLOE:  Second to none!!

Hi Spud & Chloë Friends,

I want to take this opportunity to tell you all that I am moving on from being the curator on the Spud & Chloë blog. I want to send my greatest appreciation to everyone who has jumped in wholeheartedly on this adventure. To be involved in the start of something new and fresh has been exciting, fun, and a lot of good old-fashioned hard work, to say the least.

Again, thank you for the support. I will always look back on these last few years with fond memories and I hope that you will, too.

xoxo,  Susan

Happy Holidays! from the gang at Spud & Chloë.

A free downloadable holiday gift tag for your personal use!

Download this Spud gift tag PDF, print the page on card stock and cut them out. Then punch a hole and attach with your favorite yarn. We used Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky in the photo below.

See you next year!

Hi Spud & Chloë  Friends,

Laura Nelkin has a new design featuring Spud & Chloë Fine in the new winter issue of Knitty. It is a pattern for a pair of gorgeous gloves, called Teknika, knit in Spud & Chloë Fine in the Hippo colorway. Laura paired up the Fine with a striping sock yarn but you could also use different colors of Fine combined with the Hippo which is what I plan on doing.

The reason the gloves are called Teknika is because Laura knitted in conductive thread so you can use your phone without having to peel your gloves off. I know I could use this in the dead of winter!

Check out Laura’s blog post about the Teknika gloves (and her love of Spud & Chloë)!

Check out the pattern on Knitty!

Laura also knit up that adorable baby set I shared here on Spud says! awhile back. It is called Lolly Pod and it is knit in Spud & Chloë Sweater and Fine. Click here to see that one!

Happy Wednesday.