A Life of Dedication We at VK lost one of our dearest friends when Pat Chew, owner of Classic Elite Yarns, lost her battle with leukemia last May. Pat, an avid sailor and fabulous host, was a close personal friend whom I loved spending time with. She was a strong voice within the industry, and knitting was at the heart of all she did. Pat’s legacy will live on at Classic Elite. She is sadly missed by all of us. Our condolences to her daughter Tamara and her two very special grandchildren. —Trisha

One never knows where life will take you, or, in my case, where it will take you back. I said farewell to VK readers a year ago to move on to other opportunities, but thanks to the economic downturn, changes in the knitting industry and a little corporate downsizing, I find myself back at the helm of my favorite magazine. So far, it’s been great—and I am now seeing knitting from a fresh, renewed perspective.

Some time ago I was made aware of the explosion on the Canadian knitting scene by Julia Grunau, one of Toronto knitting’s most ardent proponents (and my British-film soulmate). Armed with loads of curiosity, VK set out to see what exactly is going on north of the border. I headed to Toronto for a few delightful days, where I visited with old friends and met with plenty of interesting people who work in this industry. I learned a lot, particularly about knitting with fur yarn, from the very knowledgeable people at Paula Lishman’s country schoolhouse in rural Ontario, and I discovered some very cool yarns that are not available outside Canada (at least not yet!). Writer Cheryl Krementz did her own investigating, and you can read her findings on page 60. As well, we looked to a few of Canada’s best designers to create the beautiful knits you will find beginning on page 84. As a special treat, you can visit our website to see video closeups of each garment. Tell us what you think of this new feature; we’re considering introducing it permanently.

As always, fall heralds fabulous knits in gorgeous autumnal tones. Our cleverly crafted cardigans (page 102) bring the colors of fall to life. We were so taken with Deborah Newton’s jacket, shown on page 108 in a glorious mélange of color, that we tried it in a solid wool as well (pictured above left). Both versions are equally stunning and showcase Deb’s signature stitchwork combinations perfectly.

Our talented staff is sprinkled with budding young designers, and they were more than eager to suggest, and then pull together, our mitten cover story (page 78). Tanis Gray and Jenn Jarvis designed two great pairs, and it was a treat to see their work come to life each day around the lunch table (the true knitting hub here). Faith Hale took on stitching up the fabulous Twinkle dress (page 97), another staff favorite. I am sure you will enjoy watching their design careers unfold as much as I will, as each new issue comes into being.