Lachesis and Co.

FAIL, a sale and Cordate is out!

2012-02-16T15:56:00.001-05:00

Oy...hey there, so I made no progress on my WIPs this week >_< At least I did finish up and release Cordate! Annnd....2/17 through 3/2 all patterns in my Rav shop will be 25% off...no code needed!

$4.50

Swatch It: Alluvion

2012-02-13T11:18:00.000-05:00

This poor sweater has nearly been swatched to death! It is still a WIP, actually it has been languishing a bit. I am almost done with the body, but I have just been soooo easily distracted lately...plus my niece is scheduled to enter the world at the beginning of March, so baby knitting has taken priority :)

Anyway here is a look at the ridiculous amount of swatches...

So...what's with all the swatches, right?!? Well, this is what happens when I really want to work with a yarn that I have never used before! I was trying different patterns to check out the stitch definition, making large swatches to check the drape and mostly trying to find out what the yarn wanted to be. By the way, the yarn is Blue Sky Alpacas Techno and it is unlike anything I have used before. It is extremely light and fluffy and just different. It does not have any twist, as it is a silk net tube with baby alpaca and merino "blown" into it.

The winner ended up being the swatch in the third picture, I like how the simpler antler cable and garter rib compliment the yarn better. Also I worried that the fuzziness of the yarn might end up obscuring the more detailed texture patterns over time. Don't worry, though...they will be making appearances in other designs at some point!

I am heading out of town again for a bit (more skiing!), but before I do, I hope to make some more progress both on Alluvion and some baby knits! So before the week is out I should hopefully have at least a WIP shot and a cute little FO or two :)

OPP's: Parisian Twist

2012-02-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

Oh, I love this...so quick, too! I kept seeing ads for this in my Rav notebook and I needed something to keep my ears warm while my hair was in a ponytail...serendipitous! I present to you, my Parisian Twist:

I really love working on other designers' patterns. It is a nice break from the work of designing, I mean I am able to just sit down and get knitting...no math, no pressure! I try to keep it to small accessories and the like, though, so I don't feel guilty that I am taking away too much time from my designing!

Swatch It: Gamine

2012-02-08T08:00:00.018-05:00

Here's a look back at the beginnings of Gamine...if you look close you can even see the origins of Cordate in this swatch! This was actually the fourth or fifth swatch for Gamine. As I said in a previous post, Gamine was the first garment design idea that I sketched out in my little design notebook. I wanted to take a lot of time with it to make sure that it was right!

This was the first swatch that was done in the final color. I know a lot of you anti-swatchers might think I am crazy...but my original swatches were in another color, that didn't end up being quite right. The different colors felt a bit different weight and drape-wise, so I went ahead and did another swatch in the final color. Obsessive, maybe...but it ensures that my pattern will come out the correct size and so will your FO!

How I Wore It: Coastal Hoodie

2012-02-06T15:26:00.000-05:00

Can I just say I love my Hoodie!?! It really is the perfect weight for our mild Southern winters. I wore this quite a bit apres ski with my awesome Teva snowboots, a couple days it was quite warm and I didn't need anything over it...though it is a nice weight for layering under jackets.

This is like my daily uniform, I just alternate between jeans and T's :) Also I am still crazy in love with RadLab, if you couldn't tell ;P

An Interview...

2012-02-03T09:07:00.000-05:00

Hey there, just a quick little post for you today! I was interviewed by Robin Hunter on her blog, check it out. It was really fun and the questions were quite interesting and thought provoking for me. Thanks, Robin!

Right now I am working on putting the finishing touches on Cordate, so hopefully it will be ready to go next week! I also have to edit all those photos I took so I can show you guys some more of my Swatch Its, How I Wore It and an O.P.P. (Other Person's Pattern) that kept me warm on the slopes.

And...I am back!

2012-02-01T12:42:00.001-05:00

Sorry for my absence, I was on vacation! I would have posted to let you guys know, but I had planned on scheduling posts while I was gone. Obviously that did not work out >_< I did get all of the photos taken at least! To be honest, I am not sure why I thought I would have time to edit photos, write and schedule posts all while preparing for a week-long, multi-stop road trip!

I did enjoy my vacation...I still bear the bruises! First we stopped up at my sister's so I could have a joint birthday party with my nephew...he turned three and I turned...a lot more than that (like +29)! I am happy to report that he loved his little monster and promptly named him "Shark."

After our stop there we headed about 2.5 hours SW (well it actually took a lot longer than that because there was fog thicker than pea soup on winding mountain roads!) to Wintergreen, VA. There, Ken and I skied for the first time...of course he took to it like a duck to water and I took to it like a duck about to be flambeed!
Why yes, I do have video evidence:

This brilliant bit of skiing was after 2.5 days on the slopes, one group lesson and about an hour into a 3 hour private lesson. Even better, we are going to Utah in a few weeks, maybe by then I will progress to actually using poles ;P

Here are some shots on the mountain, Eagles' Swoop:

And The Plunge tubing park (I was really good at this, heh):

OPP's...Other People's Patterns

2012-01-18T11:41:00.000-05:00

Occasionally, I make the time to knit other designer's patterns. It is very rare though, since I feel guilty that I am not working on my own designs. But, sometimes...I just need a break, or I want to try something new or I just want to knit without all the preamble that designing requires.

Yesterday I made a Monster Chunk, these guys are so cute and so quick! I do have Rebecca Danger's The Big Book of Knitted Monsters and I love the monsters in the book, but I wanted something super-fast...so the Chunks won out! This weekend I am heading up to VA to have a little joint birthday party with my adorable nephew and this a little present for him.

Isn't he cute?! I used Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Apple Green and Blue Surf, the safety eyes are from 6060 on Etsy and I grabbed the felt at A.C. Moore.

How I Wore It: Ovate

2012-01-13T15:56:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! Here's me, wearing my Ovate (large)...

Black jeans (which is totally branching out for me!) and a white turtleneck, nothing exciting, but I love wearing the large version of Ovate like this. I attach the toggles along one edge and the pull the end of the other side through the "loop" it makes. It is easy, looks great and won't slide off the shoulders!

Sneak Peek: Cordate

2012-01-10T21:12:00.005-05:00

Here is a better look at Cordate for you guys! I finished up the draft today, shot the pictures and got it out to my testers. I do need to re-shoot the photos, because I didn't get the detail that I wanted, but there was a storm rolling in. Plus, I realized that the wrong side of the scarf was showing in about half of the pictures and I was making ridiculous faces in some of the others >_< Anyway, enough talking, here are the pics:

See...wrong side, at least it doesn't look that bad! I did have a ton of fun editing these in photoshop (got it for Christmas, a nice upgrade from elements!) and RadLab, which really is quite rad! If you have photoshop and are looking for a way to make editing really simple and awesome you should check it out (no, they don't pay me, I just love it)!

Swatch It!

2012-01-09T10:25:00.001-05:00

I am sure everyone knows the importance of swatching...but I admit that I am still amazed when I hear people say that they don't swatch. It is such a small thing, that right off the bat, can determine the success or failure of a project. It is a lovely "first date" with your yarn (without all that awkwardness and sweaty palms!), where you get to know each other and can determine if you two will work well together in the long term. You get to learn what needles your yarn works well with and how well behaved it is after an introduction to water. Sometimes it just doesn't work out, or you may find that yarn is better suited to another project down the road.

Me, I love swatching, if you can't tell from that lead in! It wasn't always this way, but after many hours and a couple of ill-fitting sweaters in my early knitting career, lesson learned. Now, sometimes I am more excited about swatching than any other part of the project. I love trying new yarns and stitch patterns and also trying out different needles (bamboo, hardwood, stainless steel) to see which will be most comfortable and easiest to work with.

All of my designs are based off of the gauge on my swatch. Before I got into designing I didn't realize all the math involved and that the key numbers that rule everything are the stitches and rows per inch. All of the stitch counts, finished measurements and grading starts with those numbers, so it really is important! I can guarantee that in most instances, if you do not obtain pattern gauge, it will not come out the size stated in the pattern...size and gauge go hand in hand. By simply taking a little extra time before you start, you can ensure an awesome FO!

So after my little ode to swatching, I will try to offer a weekly piece wherein I feature a swatch that I am working on. Heck I could probably feature a swatch a day with the number I have hanging around here ;)

Gamine is DONE!

2012-01-06T17:17:00.000-05:00

Hello! Just a quick little post today to let you know that Gamine is now available for download! I finally got my act together and finished it up this week, along with the help of my editor and a lovely group of test knitters.

It has been a long process with this one...this was actually the first design I sketched out in my little notebook. Hoping at the time, that one day I would have the ability to turn it into a wearable garment. Here it is, at long last, and I am pretty pleased with the results ;)

$6.00

How I Wore It...

2012-01-05T19:54:00.000-05:00

Now, I am definitely not the most fashionable girl on the block...my self-consciousness and need for comfort tend to get in the way. Plus, I don't really do a lot of exciting stuff. I don't find myself out having cocktails multiple times a week at swanky venues, so my wardrobe doesn't extend far beyond casual. I base my designs around my lifestyle and what I like to wear...which is how I came up with this idea. I plan on showing how I wear my knits...there will be a lengthy hiatus once it heats up down here (in a couple of months), though! But I thought this might be a fun way to see the design beyond the "pattern page" photos.

Here I am in my large Belmondo, getting ready to go shopping:

I wear this shawl all the time, usually wrapped as a scarf or around my shoulders when it is a little chilly. Jeans and t-shirts are usually the order of the day for me, so hopefully this won't get too boring as the weeks go on ;)

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T11:53:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone is having a great 2012 so far! Right now I am bogged down in the editing of Gamine...or I could say avoiding editing Gamine >_< At this point, where I need to do the final revisions with my editor, I always seem to hit this wall and don't even want to look at the pattern anymore. Hopefully I will find more motivation after I take down the Christmas decorations...or that I will do some editing to avoid that! The house always looks so sad after the decorations come down...maybe that is a sign that I should work on redecorating my house ;)

I have been a bit scattered the past month. I haven't really been able to focus on anything, especially knitting. This year (here comes the resolutions!) I want to make an actual work schedule for myself. Since I design full time, I do it whenever I want...which usually alternates between days of nothing but knitting or writing and then a week of nothing. Plus, I feel guilty when I indulge in my other artistic endeavors, since I feel that it is taking away from my design time. As much as I have fought against it, I need to add a little structure to my designing so I don't burn myself out.

Another good thing about the schedule...I will be setting aside time each week to dedicate to blogging. Yeah, that means consistent posting! I hope I will have plenty to share, and if there are any questions or anything you want to know...definitely leave a note in the comments! Also, I just started a tumblog that I have been posting pictures of other stuff I make and do...from photography to nails and hairstyles...it is just a mishmash of stuff that doesn't fit here, if you ever want to stop by. So here's to sticking with resolutions in the wonderful year to come ♥

WIP: Cordate

2011-12-26T19:21:00.000-05:00

Exciting news...I got the final draft of Gamine off to my tech editor today! Wow the holidays sure threw a wrench in my timeline for that!

Also here is a quick peek at Cordate, which is a sister pattern for Ovate:

Shown in Malabrigo Rasta, Lettuce.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Holidays IV, The Tape

2011-12-22T19:10:00.000-05:00

Yeah, that's right the tape! Every year I buy more tape (usually in a 3-pack) for wrapping presents, even though I still have at least 5 unopened rolls at home. For the past two years I have not bought any tape...and I still have 6 rolls (possibly more) floating around. So, I found a couple awesome things that I could use this tape for.

First up: Cat Eyes! I am a licensed, though not "practicing" cosmetologist...people used to pay me good money to do their makeup. I am ashamed to admit that I was never able to do a good cat eye on myself...until this life changing tutorial!

Wooot! I am ready to vamp it up, rawr. Now I will keep a roll of tape with my makeup. (I used Stila Smudge Pot liner in gray)

Second: Nail art! Though, I will admit that gift wrap tape can be hard to see on freshly polished nails, so next time I might try masking tape...I buy a lot of that and neon duct tape, too. Apparently my hoarding tendencies extend beyond yarn and nail polish!

See...my trees are a little wonky, since the tape was a little hard to see in my poorly lit living room at night....but, ooooooooh shiny (and bokeh)! Time for a roll of tape to go in with the nail polish! (I used Milani 3D Holographic lacquer in Cyberspace for the base color and Orly in Lucky Duck for the tree)

I hope you have some fun with tape....even if you are only wrapping presents ;D

Holidays III, The Noms

2011-12-21T18:58:00.000-05:00

So here is what else I included in my all handmade Christmas...blood sugar spikes for all!

Magic Cookie Bars, recipe here, omitted the nuts and made a thicker graham cracker crust. We have been making these every Christmas for as long as I can remember...ridiculously sweet, delicious and addictive!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies, Nutella Cookies (from Cuisine at Home magazine), Oatiest Oatmeal Cookies (with cinnamon chips instead of raisins).

Caramel Popcorn...amazing, and not as intimidating as I thought it would be!

Fleur de Sel Caramels...used this recipe; but instead of vanilla extract, I infused the cream with two vanilla beans. These are sooo good, I am such a salty/sweet lover! Luckily I had one pan that got horribly mangled during my first try at chocolate coating...so they got to stay with me!

Whew, I managed to get everything out in the mail yesterday and now have my fingers crossed that they will arrive on time! There still isn't time for me to relax...I just finished the rest of my gift shopping today...and I am still not finished with the man-sized sock knitting >_< I think I need to go eat some more caramels ;D

Holidays II, The Knits

2011-12-20T16:54:00.001-05:00

Every year I say that I am not going to knit anything for the holidays, then without fail, two weeks before I must KNIT ALL THE THINGS! Of course this leads to about a week of me zoning out in front of the computer watching Netflix (Doctor Who this year, since I skipped straight to Matt Smith, I wanted to check out Drs. 9 and 10) with my tiny dpns knitting ornaments and such non-stop.

So here is what I made:

Little Death Star...so festive!

Rudolph!

...being chased by a zombie Santa (why yes, that is a dismembered antler...I watch too much Walking Dead)!

Group shot! Those balls were the beginning of a yarn ball wreath, but I lost steam on that project. I made the big snowball and tree for my nephew. Also, note the crocheted flower! Even with my horrible skills, like chaining is hard for me, I managed these flowers! I kind of want to make myself something absurd with them...but first I will probably make some for my future niece who is scheduled to arrive in March :)

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-19T22:05:00.000-05:00

As my [insert winter holiday of choice] gift to you...I am going to post consistently all week! What a novel concept, huh? It isn't going to all be about knitting or design, but it will all be crafty!

I am kicking the week off with my Christmas manicure:

Yay, mistletoe! I am still deeply in love with nail stamping...so much so that I keep ordering stamping plates >_< The images I used were from the Bundle Monster set, plates BM219 and BM225. My nail polish/accessories stash is starting to catch up to my yarn stash...I might need a bigger house, heh.

And see...there is actual knitting in this photo! I made a bunch of these trees this year, sans trunk. They seemed to stand better with the wide base and I might have gotten a bit lazy towards the end ;)

I'll be back again very soon with shots of my holiday knitting!

Gamine!

2011-12-01T15:40:00.000-05:00

So the holidays and houseguests...that is my excuse this time ;) Anyway, I am popping to give you guys a look at Gamine...the whole thing, not just a little bit of cabling!

The pattern went out to testers today, so just a couple more weeks and it will be ready to go. I also had a bit of fun in Photoshop today...I haven't played with my actions in awhile. These shots all use Nelly Nero's "Vespa" action and a couple use her "Pump Me Up" action, too.

Zephyr! and a little look at Gamine...

2011-11-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

Zephyr is now available from my Ravelry store! Use promo code flyaway and receive 20% off Zephyr through 11/13/2011.

Also, as promised earlier this week, here is a little peek at Gamine:

Cables and lace in a merino cashmere blend, mmm! Apparently I am going through a bit of a gray phase lately, at least it goes with almost everything ♥

...

2011-11-08T15:32:00.000-05:00

Sorry, for some reason I am too lazy to figure out a title! I am drawing an absolute blank and I do love a good ellipsis.

Anyway, I apologize for my absence, but I was busy. I got Zephyr off to my tech editor today, I knit and wrote/charted the 2-skein version of Ovate and...oh yeah...ran a marathon ;) I am not sure if Ovate or the marathon was tougher! It will probably be quite a long time before I do a non-repeating lace pattern again.

The 2-skein version did turn out really great and I am looking forward to snuggling up in it all winter long. Who knew two toggles on a crochet chain could create so many different options for wearing shawls?!

So by the end of the week, it is possible that both Zephyr and the 2-skein version of Ovate will be released! Now I am off to elevate my feet, but I may just get some WIP shots of Gamine first to share with you guys later this week. ♥

A few peeks...

2011-10-21T11:40:00.001-04:00

So I did promise a few peeks at what else has been going on in my knitting world. Super happy news...the rough draft of Zephyr is now with the tech editor! I thought I might go all Scanners there for awhile with all the convoluted math that I had going on. Let's hope it actually makes sense and that I won't have a ton of edits to do before it goes out for test knitting!

While working on it, I actually learned to do a lot more math with the help of Excel. I have been anti-Excel forever, just because I never had the patience to sit down and figure out formulas and whatnot. Since Zephyr was already taking forever...an extra day or two working in Excel was nothing. A big plus on that is I will have a nifty spreadsheet to include in the pattern with stitch counts by section and size to make it easier for those unfamiliar with the construction method to keep their place.

Yeah enough technical talk...here's the fun stuff!

This is Ellington. I looove the stitch pattern...I used it because it is great with variegated yarns such as this (madelinetosh 80/10/10 sport in Charred-grey). Also I am going to work up a stranded version in regular tosh sport (Coastal Hoodie leftovers). I had a modeled pic, but it looked kind of funky because I blocked the hat flat. So once I re-block it, I'll have more pics to show!

This is my awesome stockinette and Norwegian star manicure! This knitting image (plate M69) is the cause of my recent Konad obsession. Oh, that yarn...it is madelinetosh 80/10/10 worsted in Gossamer, such a hard color to capture accurately, but this comes pretty close. I am using it to make a cable and lace vest that I have been imagining for close to 2 years now. It is definitely time to get it out of the head, off the paper and into yarn!

Ovate

2011-10-17T13:58:00.002-04:00

ovateback, a photo by LachesisandCo. on Flickr.

Hello loves!

Ovate is now available! The one-skein version is ready now and the 2-skein version is in progress. Purchase now at $1.50 off the full price and get the one-skein version now and the 2-skein version when it is released. Price will then increase to $5.50. Also, my fall promotion expires tonight at midnight...enter the code fallstockpile2011 in the "promo code" box and receive an additional 20% off the already discounted price!

I will get some updates on my current designs up in the next few days...right now I am still wrestling with Zephyr. It seems to be a Herculean task. Making a sweater look simple and artless is no easy endeavor...especially when writing it up in 8 sizes! I know it will be worth it, because it is such a great and timeless cardi.

On a Roll...

2011-10-10T11:10:00.000-04:00

So I have another design that is almost done, Ovate. This was inspired by a skein of Rasta I won in Eat.Sleep.Knit's Yarn Lotto. I hadn't worked with Rasta before, because I really wasn't sure what to do with it. I decided to approach it like I did Twist with my Belmondo Shawl...really big needles and lace!

The one-skein version of Ovate is in the final stages of testing and should be ready to go this week or next. It will be available as an "early-release" version at a discount, while I finish up the larger two-skein version. All "early-release" buyers will receive the larger version at no additional charge! I would normally wait until the whole pattern is ready to go, but I was actually inspired by my testers to add an additional size and I want to get those Junkies working on their October Stockpile projects a shot at this pattern before my October promotion is over.

Just in case you hadn't heard, all patterns and eBooks in my Ravelry store are 20% off through October 17, 2011...just enter the code fallstockpile2011 in the coupon code box at checkout! Caliper should be ready to go this week, too, and will be eligible for the discount as well!

(I think) I have finished all of the math for Zephyr. It is being offered in 8 sizes, ranging from 31.25" to 55.25." It was definitely a lot of math for my poor brain, now I just need to take all of those numbers and get them into a coherent set of instructions! I am hoping I can get it done within the next week or two, and out to my testers so I can release it sometime in November.

Gettin' it Done!

2011-10-03T11:13:00.000-04:00

Zephyr is done, and I absolutely love it! I really enjoyed learning a new construction method (Contiguous) and can't wait to start (or more accurately, rip and restart) another contiguous sweater!

There is a definite learning curve that comes with doing anything new, of course raglans are easy for me now, but the first one certainly wasn't. And I hadn't a clue what adjustments to make to the fit on that first one. I already tried a few alterations on Zephyr, just based on recommendations from other contiguous knitters...back neck increases and I also tried a couple body and sleeve increases to curve the armscye a bit where it meets the body.

Hopefully I will have a bit of free time soon to really concentrate and get the pattern rolling on this. I had hoped to get going on it today, but I am not sure if I have the mental fortitude. Plus, Caliper is in the final stages of testing, so there are a lot of little edits that need to be done and hopefully I can get that off to my editor soon. I also have three other hat and winter accessory patterns and samples that I would like to get done so I can release them as an eBook in plenty of time for everyone's holiday knitting...but if the clamor for Zephyr continues, I may just have to put the eBook on the back burner for now.

Sneak Peek: Caliper

2011-09-26T19:31:00.001-04:00

I got the yarn for my Zephyr cardi and I really lucked out on that one! The skeins I bought from a friendly Raveler matched 3 of my 4. Unfortunately I still had to rip back an entire skeins worth, but it wasn't all bad since I had wanted to try altering the shaping slightly. It should be ready for a peek soon, just a sleeve and a half to go...and no finishing. After the Coastal Hoodie, I wanted something to be finished easily...no stitches to pick up, no pockets just sew on a few toggles and buttonloops then DONE!

Anyway, here is that look at my newest hat, Caliper. It comes in two versions: a worsted weight beanie and a DK weight scrunchy toque with a fun draw cord loop and toggle (the same toggles that will probably end up on Zephyr, heh). I am just finishing up the pattern now, hopefully it will be off to my testers in a few days :)

DK version.

Worsted version.

Currently I am trying to decide if I want to offer a hat eBook all at once, or release the patterns as they are ready and then create the eBook. Of course anyone that purchases one of the individual patterns before the eBook is released will get a discount off the whole kit n' kaboodle ;D

Oh, and I finally got a Lachesis and Co. facebook page (you can find the link in the upper right corner of this page)...it isn't really that exciting, I just post the blog updates there for now. Hopefully I will get something exciting going there soon!

Disaster Averted.

2011-09-12T12:58:00.000-04:00

After all of my rambling on last week about my wonderful rustic wool...I encountered an issue. My skeins looked pretty well matched so I didn't take the time to compare them in strong natural light. So as I was working in the second skein I noticed it was a bit lighter than the first...I am an old hat at alternating so I happily continued on.

Now the horrible part...I was adding the third skein when it finally hits me that the last 2 are quite a bit darker than the first 2. I was so mad at myself, because I could've probably blended them fine if I had taken the time before I started, but NOOOOOOO...not me! I like to make my life difficult.

Anyway, I was completely crushed...start over >_< ...start over in a different yarn :*( ....or search the stashes in rav :) Oh yeah, I was so lucky to find a wonderful person that had the same color in their stash and was willing to sell me a couple skeins! I ♥ Ravelry!

The yarn should arrive tomorrow and I am hoping that it will either be closer to my lighter skein or be in between the 2 shades so I won't have to rip a lot. Said sweater has both RS and WS 2 stitch twists...not the most fun to rip and redo! Fingers crossed!

This and That.

2011-09-05T12:31:00.001-04:00

Here I am, back again so soon! I just wanted to share a few things that are making me so incredibly happy lately!

1. All the Coastal Hoodie WIPs! I adore going through and looking at all of the wonderful color combinations. It is taking all of my self control not to go through and favorite and comment multiple times on everyone's project. I don't want to scare anyone, but I am stalking and admiring all of your lovely projects. This happened too:

It only stayed at #5 for a few hours, but out of all the patterns and amazingly talented designers on Ravelry, I was in awe. And...I squeed, loud enough that the dogs ran and hid in the other room.

2. Wooly wool. I have been working with a lot of superwash and silk blends lately, so I am psyched to have some really rustic, domestically sourced (and spun!) wool back on the needles. Here is the yarn (no WIP pics yet!):

This is Imperial Stock Ranch's Erin hand-dyed by Madelinetosh. Really lovely stuff with super subtle color variations and wait til you see the stitch definition! I have already separated the sleeves on my prototype sweater in this yarn so I will try to grab some shots soon.

3. Books. I am making myself read more, as knitting and spinning and dyeing and running have taken over every second of free time that I have! So now I am trying to read for at least 45 minutes to an hour everyday. I am starting with Harry Potter, because I started a few times, but then the movies were coming out and well...it was easier to watch than read >_< I also got the new MochiMochi book, abso-freaking-lutely ADORABLE!!! Maybe I should make time to make a teeny-tiny everyday, too!

Another New Pattern!

2011-09-02T20:30:00.000-04:00

Hey kiddos! I am so sorry that I continue to be horrible about keeping y'all updated. Notice how I try to butter you guys up with a little southern drawl ♥ of course it is finished with that lingering touch of Jersey accent I still have after all these years ;) But...I have been busy! I present Bubbles and Baubles:

This was an amazing experience for me. I came up with the idea of this shawl over a year ago and was just waiting for my brain to be able to execute it. Lots of math (or maths as the Brits say) and lots of charting, sketches and my extra large graph paper tablet helped bring it to life. Of course, not taking the easy way out, the entire shawl is beaded...and yes, that is a looped picot edging!

Enjoy my lovlies and I promise to try to provide more regular updates! I am currently working on a mess of magazine submissions, a contiguous cardi and another eBook (or two)! Oh yeah, I am still marathon training too, so I hope that will be enough to earn your forgiveness...xoxo.

Coastal Hoodie now Available!

2011-08-10T12:52:00.003-04:00

hoodie 3, a photo by LachesisandCo. on Flickr.

I am just popping in quickly to let you know that my Coastal Hoodie pattern is now available for pre-order! It is in the final editing stages and will be released at the full price of $6.50 August 16th. Until August 15th at 10pm edt it can be pre-ordered for just $4! You'll receive a preview pdf with the materials list, stripe pattern, notes and the schematic. Then one the 16th, you'll receive the full pattern :)

Coastal Hoodie...done!

2011-08-03T12:45:00.002-04:00

hoodie 5, a photo by LachesisandCo. on Flickr.

Hello my lovely readers! I hope I haven't lost you all with my extended absence! Things have been quite busy with coaching close to 100 marathon trainees, not to mention marathon training myself. Plus I was just a tiny bit burnt out after the last eBook, I wanted a little time to not worry about knitting deadlines. I learned how to spin with a drop spindle, too!

Anyway, after months of fits and starts and redesigns...my Coastal Hoodie is complete and I am in love! I wish it wasn't 100 degrees out so I could wear it all the time. This sweater is a top down, reverse stockinette raglan with a nice roomy hood, pockets (i ♥ pockets) and turned hems/bands with a contrasting facing.

I am trying out a new testing/editing model for this pattern. My editor and I are doing a really thorough editing first, then doing a quick "test" with some knitters to make sure the pattern is easy to follow and then if all goes well it will be ready to release. They'll be reading through and starting the pattern looking for the less tangible things that don't always get caught on the technical side. Like readability and clarity, is there a better way to word it for the average knitter.

Many self-published patterns by indie designers are briefly edited to make sure nothing is glaringly wrong, then test knit to completion to check the numbers (or just test knit without the initial edit for "simpler" patterns), etc and then edited again. This model works well for accessories, but adds at least a month to the editing time on a garment pattern. I have to admit that I am so excited about this pattern and the interest in it so far that I think I would burst if I had to wait a month before publishing!

Publications (books and magazines) often leave out the test knitting step and thoroughly tech edit to get their product out in a timely manner. So I figured it would be interesting to try especially due to the ease of editing and grading a top down raglan. Fingers crossed that all goes well...and if it does, the Coastal Hoodie pattern could be available for download quite soon!

Lollygagging.

2011-06-13T15:25:00.000-04:00

I am still taking my sweet time on those Coastal Hoodie sleeves! Luckily I did manage to get one done last night...including all of the ends woven in. It was definitely a pain, but I really love the stripes and the reverse stockinette and there were no easy shortcuts. As soon as I finish this post, it is back to the mines for me.

So I have been dyeing more yarn while avoiding the sleeves. This time I used the leftovers from "B♥MB." I had poured the leftover dye into a mason jar, since after sprinkling the dye powder over the yarn and then spraying it with water there was quite a bit leftover...about 700mL. I used 200gm of Soft Silk yarn, a single ply 50/50 silk/merino blend. For this dye job I used an immersion technique, also called kettle dyeing...my old 10qt turkey roaster came in handy for this.

I filled the roaster most of the way with water and added the leftover dye then turned on the heat. Once it was steaming, after about 20 min, I added the citric acid. It was already looking pretty neat, since the gray and black dyes took up much quicker that the fuchsia. After the dye bath was exhausted, the yarn was pink with some grayish areas.

I decided to darken it up a bit since I already had a commercial yarn that was pretty close in color and texture (Malabrigo Silky Merino in Madre Perla). I used a mixture of blue and purple to deepen the current color and since the water was already hot and acidic...it struck quickly and a little mottled. That was exactly what I was hoping for! Here are some shots of the yarn:

After the leftover dye was exhausted...before the blue/purple overdye.

Soaking in the sink with some Soak.

Dried skeins.

Everything but...

2011-06-06T15:20:00.000-04:00

My poor hoodie, the sleeves are still not complete! At least I have finally made it past the elbow on one...progress is progress. Of course I am not helping matters (nor is marathon coaching and training). The past week or so, I have been doing everything I could to avoid working on those sleeves, such as:

I tried out the (♥AMAZING♥) Contiguous sleeve method on a new sweater. Really, you should check this out! It is like top down set in sleeves with the ease of a raglan...here's the Ravelry group with tons of info from the originator of the method.

I made twelve pounds of soap, then went on an ordering binge to restock my soap supplies so I can make more soap. Then I trawled around the soap making forums I used to hang around for more soap making ideas and projects. Here's the soap:

Definitely not as pretty as I used to be able to make, but I haven't soaped in over a year...and I decided to try a new coloring method. Not my best idea.

Finally, I broke out the dyes again! I did end up getting the Kindle version of Hand Dying Yarn and Fleece by Gail Callahan and I also downloaded the "Gorgeous Hand Dyed Yarn at Home," pdf from Three Irish Girls (I did get the gradient one, too and I do not recommend it...the method is super complicated and time consuming). Both had good tips and featured slightly different methods, but also had a lot of information that I had already gathered online. It is nice though to have the information neat and in either a pdf or in my Kindle app...especially when my interwebs get funky (which is weekly, thanks Comcast).

I did some handpainting, which came out kind of awful, it was my fault for getting a bit overzealous with the acid. Then I tried to do a quick glaze; throwing it into hot, acidy water with a smidge of a darker color to tone it down...I think that just made matters worse. So today we won't be seeing any pictures of that poor skein ;) Hopefully an overdye in a completely different color will save it.

Happily I did have a success yesterday! I used this method of dying...so much fun! I went for a little more order when sprinkling my dye powders...I used a .5 gm scoop of Jacquard Hot Fuchsia for one end of the skeins, then 4 - .5 gm scoops of Jacquard Silver Gray for the middles and a .5 gm scoop of Greener Shades Midnight Black for the other ends. In hindsight I could've used about half of the gray, but I am still in love with this method and the results. Unfortunately, I was having to much fun during, so I forgot to take in progress pics, but here is the finished yarn:

I am calling it "B♥MB," since it is kind of like a crazy fluorescent explosion!

Evolution.

2011-05-25T13:56:00.000-04:00

I am currently bogged down in the sleeves of the striped-hoodie-in-progress (tentatively titled "coastal hoodie"). I wish I didn't have such a penchant for long sleeves, but everytime I have knit an elbow length or 3/4 length sleeve sweater I end up not wearing it and wishing for long sleeves. The kind of sleeves that will completely cover your hands and that you have to roll back multiple times when doing anything messy. So, it really figures that I hate knitting sleeves, but the extra frustration is worth it for a sweater I will LOVE! Yeah, I admit that I am posting right now just to get away from those sleeves ;)

I wanted give you guys a little peek at the humble beginnings of my eBook, Myths and Fairytales. These are the original sketches (and names) that I put together for the book "proposal." I loved looking back at them after the book was released to see how much some changed and how much others stayed the same. Some designs had to change to work with the pattern repeats, or I found a way that I liked better after swatching.

First up is Hesperides, originally titled "Sunset:"

Next up, Elisa, which underwent quite a major design change, from an extreme crescent to a shallow triangle:

Then, Daphnaie, which got a name change and I changed up the center panel, too:

Here is The Mermaid's Gift, I actually just ripped out the original sample the other day. The prototype was more than 75% complete when I decided to try the lattice/mesh patterns instead of the eyelets in the sketch...luckily I had an extra skein of the lace, so I didn't have to rip in case my second incarnation went wrong (which it totally didn't!):

Kisseis was a battle from the beginning! The transition from a triangle to a crescent helped immensely, but I swatched every possible diamond pattern I could think of and added, then subtracted stitches. Nothing was working and I was too stubborn for a long time to admit it! Once I figured out that I should take a break and think about what I was doing, instead of trying to fit that square peg in the round hole...it worked beautifully!

Finally, Amalthea, which actually is pretty much exactly as sketched, I just nixed the bead idea....though I am thinking of knitting one up with some beads.

I hope you enjoyed a look back to the infancy of the eBook! If you have a chance, pop over to PeacefullyKnitting's blog, where Daphnaie is the featured pattern and you can enter for a chance to win a copy of Myths and Fairytales!

The Charity Auction!!!

2011-05-21T17:45:00.002-04:00

***The auction is closed, thanks so much to the lovely bidders! Email me at lachesisandco@gmail.com with your mailing addresses and I will tell you how to donate and get your pretties on the way!! ***

Here's how it going to work - below I will be posting pictures along with the name and description of the item and the opening bid amount. All of the items have been hand-knit and designed by me :) The bidding will remain open until Tuesday evening at 8 pm EDT.

To place a bid, put the name of the item and the amount you are bidding in the comments (at the bottom of this post), bidding will be in increments of $5 (USD). You may bid as many times and on as many items as you want. The highest bid when the auction closes will be the winner and I will contact you with the information on where to send your donation.

You may donate by check, credit or debit card and all donations are tax deductible. Proceeds from this auction will be going to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on behalf of one of my current Team in Training participants. I will pay all the shipping to get your carefully hand knit items to you and I will also include care instructions.

Sweet Shoppe Shawlette - a small triangular shawlette/scarf made from 100% merino wool yarn in bright candy colors, it measures 50" across the top and is 23" deep, additional photos here. Bidding begins at $40.

Small Belmondo Shawlette - a small triangular shawlette/scarf made from 100% baby merino wool yarn, it measures 41" across the top and is 21" deep. Additional photos here. Bidding begins at $35.

Medium Belmondo Shawlette - a small triangular shawlette/scarf made from 100% baby merino wool yarn, it measures 45" across the top and is 24" deep. Additional photos here. Bidding begins at $35.

Spun Sugar Scarf - a lacy scarf made from super soft 100% merino wool yarn. Additional photos here. Bidding begins at $30.

Snowberry Brambles Capelet - A snuggly little capelet to keep the cold air off your shoulders knit in a 70% wool and 30% alpaca blend yarn. Additional photos here. Bidding begins at $50.

Fondant Wrap - a versatile wrap tied up with a bow that can be worn in a variety of ways, made from 100% wool yarn. Additional photos here. Bidding begins at $35.

Hesperides Shawl - a large triangular shawl/wrap with lacy stripes, measures 68" across the top and 34" deep, made from super soft 100% merino wool. Additional photos here. Bidding begins at $75.

Amalthea - a scarf/wrap with a fringed leaf design along the edge, measures 66" by 9.5" and is made from a 51% silk and 49% merino wool blend yarn. Additional photos here. Bidding begins at $50.

Elisa - a large shawl/wrap, measures 70" by 23" and is made from a 51% silk and 49% merino wool blend yarn. Additional photos here. Bidding begins at $75.

A huge thanks for stopping by and helping us raise money to fight blood cancers and continue to hopefully one day find a cure for all cancers! If you would just like to donate because you are awesome ♥ here is a link to donate online. ♥ ♥ ♥

Its been awhile...

2011-05-21T15:55:00.000-04:00

I admit, I have been a little lazy the past two weeks! After finishing up the eBook, I just needed a little break from everything! There were a few days where I had absolutely no idea what to do with myself...and I just couldn't decide what project I wanted to work on. At the time I had one design languishing on the needles and a few sketches that I was really excited to start swatching for.

Of course, after I got the swatches done, I decided just to swatch some different colors of tosh sport together. I have ridiculous amounts of this yarn, but all in two or three skein quantities that I had just been buying to try to find colors that would stripe well ala treeline. Before you know it, I had two large swatches in 4 colors of reverse stockinette stripes and a sweater sketch. Now I have almost a full sweater body. Here is a peek at the swatches:

I am aiming high and trying to finish it within the next week - week and a half. Currently, I am coaching two marathon teams and I am also marathon training myself, so I don't have quite as much knitting time as I usually do! In a few weeks, though, my one team will be done and on their way to run in the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon.

I love coaching for Team in Training and working with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and as one season come to a close, I am going to be helping out a bit with the fundraising. If you like original hand knit accessories in wonderful fibers, keep an eye on the blog this weekend! I'll be posting items to bid on...so you'll get to help fund blood cancer research through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and help support a member of my marathon team and you'll get something made by me in return for your help!

It's DONE!!!

2011-05-06T21:13:00.000-04:00

So...I was going to wait until Monday to release the eBook, but I was too excited to wait! All the editing and formatting was finalized this morning and I spent all afternoon in agony. Really, how on earth was I going to make it through the whole weekend?!? I gave into my inner child and published it this evening...may I present:

The eBook is available for $16.50 and the individual pdf patterns are available for $6.00 in my Ravelry store.

I am so proud of this collection and I hope you all enjoy it!

Sneak Peek: The Mermaid's Gift

2011-05-05T22:03:00.001-04:00

mermaid1, a photo by LachesisandCo. on Flickr.

Here is a quick look at the final design for the eBook! I am so happy with the results and can't wait to wrap everything up and release it into the world next week. Stay tuned, I'll be posting a preview of the cover image within the next day or two!

Back, but not really.

2011-05-03T08:02:00.001-04:00

Whew...I made it back from vacation just over a week ago with a ton of work to be finished on the pattern collection. I had a great time, but my nose has been down to the grindstone since I got back...hence the lack of posts on my part.

So, the Mermaid's gift has been driving me batty and in a fit, I decided to change the design and start over from scratch. This was after the original was already 85% done. Once the new idea came to me, though, I knew it would be so much better than the original and that I would be happier writing the pattern for version 2.0 than settling for the first one because I was on a time crunch.

I also just finished the sample for the two-color version of Elisa. This was another last minute change, and I just love the way the design looks in both the solid color and the smaller version with two colors. The contrast really shows off the curves the lace creates! Here is a quick shot with the help of one of my dogs, Roxy:

If all goes well, the collection will be ready for release next Monday and with all the loose ends that need to be tied you may not hear from me until then! I will try to get a sneak peek of the final photos up before Monday, though!

Sneak Peek: Elisa

2011-04-13T20:54:00.000-04:00

In Hans Christian Andersen’s The Wild Swans, Elisa is a beautiful princess with eleven brothers. When her brothers are cursed and turned into swans, she takes a vow of silence and must knit them shirts from stinging nettles to return them to human form...This was always one of my favorite fairytales, and I remember being so taken with it the first time I heard it. I had been on a great search recently to find it again after I had forgotten the name of the story. I love wikipedia…all I knew was that it involved knitting and nettles…and I was able to find the beloved story!

So here is the shawl that the story inspired:

The double sided lace comes from Babara Walker's Second Treasury and I was inspired to adapt it for this project since it was named "Porcupine Lace." A prickly name and an interesting pattern to resemble the nettles. I have a smaller, two-color version in the works, that will show off the wonderful curves in the lace even more.

This is shown in Malabrigo Silky Merino...obviously nothing at all like knitting with stinging nettles! I did find out today that Classic Elite makes a yarn with nettles: Woodland. Pretty amazing, right?! Even though my stash is spilling out of its closet, I may just have to grab some to knit yet another Elisa, I mean that would be totally fitting. Plus the fiber content, weight and sheen would work quite well for this pattern.

I will be away for a bit, so don't think I am abandoning you! Just going on a nice long vacation, in the Florida Keys ♥

Live like you were dyeing...

2011-04-08T11:34:00.001-04:00

I really need more hobbies like a hole in the head...but I have been wanting to learn how to dye my own yarn for ages. Most things I usually just jump in with both feet, but not this. I have spent the past few months reading every dyeing forum on Ravelry and going through the guide I got (World of Color) with my Greener Shades beginner kit obsessively. I couldn't decide which method I wanted to start out with, what equipment I wanted to use and how much dye stock I should mix up. This is funny since I used to whip up a batch of candles, soap or mineral make-up on a whim...but I was just so afraid of ruining my yarn!

Anyway I finally did it! First I got some natural color Red Heart: Heart and Sole yarn...so absolutely no guilt if it came out horrible! I decided to go with a kettle dyed/immersion for the first batch, using quart mason jars in a turkey roasting pan with a rack on the bottom so the jars weren't in contact with the bottom of the pan. I wound the yarn into 7 - ~7gm mini skeins and used 4 figure eight ties on each to prevent tangling. Next, the mini skeins soaked in warm tap water with a drop or two of Dawn dish soap for about 2 hours.

While the yarn was soaking, I mixed up some stock solutions. Since I had enough jars, I mixed every color all at 1% depth of shade (DOS) or 1 gm dye powder to 100 mL of water. I have a pretty good scale from my soap and candle making days, so that came in handy for weighing out the dye powder. After every color was mixed, I wrung out the soaked yarn and began to prepare my set up.

Once all of the jars were in place, and filled with about 3 cups warm tap water, I added the dye. I have a ton of 3 mL pipettes, which were extremely helpful for measuring the small amounts of dye stock needed for my mini skeins, as most were done at .2% DOS, requiring only a mL or 2 of each color. After the dye was added and stirred, the yarn went in.

I heated the jars of yarn and dye until they were approx. 175 degrees F and held at that temp for 10 min. Then I added approx. 1/4 tsp of citric acid crystals to each jar and stirred well. I upped the heat and waited 5 mins to see if the dyes exhausted. All of them, but the Hot Fuchsia and the blends with Coral Reef Aqua had exhausted. So I added more citric acid those colors, approx. 1/8 tsp every 5 min until the dye had exhausted.

Next I added an overydye, Midnight Black (at .05% DOS) or Silver Gray (at .5% DOS). I learned the hard way that you shouldn't add it undiluted directly on top of the yarn as it will strike extremely fast! So I moved the yarn to the side of the jar, and mixed the dye stock with a few TBSP of hot water from the dye bath before adding it. I was very pleased with the results, a lovely "shaded" look. I let the yarn cook for another 10 min at 180 degrees F, then took the jars out of the roasting pan to allow them to cool. The Hot Fuchsia and Coral Reef Aqua needed a bit more time and higher temps, so I let them hang out for 10 mins longer and heat to about 210 degrees F.

From top to bottom:

Jacquard Silver Gray @ 1% DOS
Greener Shades 55% Ruby Red, 20% Yellow, 25% River Blue @ .2% DOS overdyed with Silver Gray @ .5% DOS (this is the one I added the overdye directly on top of the yarn and it came out a bit splotchy)
Jacquard Hot Fuchsia @ .2% DOS overdyed with GS Midnight Black @ .05% DOS
GS 65% Coral Reef Aqua, 35% Ruby Red @ .5% DOS overdyed with Midnight Black @ .05% DOS
GS 55% River Blue, 45% Amethyst Purple @ .2% DOS overdyed with Silver Gray @ .5% DOS
GS 80% River Blue, 20% Amazon Green @ .2% DOS overdyed with Sliver Gray @ .5% DOS
GS Coral Reef Aqua @ .2% DOS overdyed with Midnight Black @ .05% DOS

So I am super psyched with how the yarn came out! As soon as the eBook is finished, I am going to go on a crazy week long yarn dying bender!

What I do on Tuesdays....

2011-04-05T11:08:00.000-04:00

So on Tuesdays I have a new obsession, check it out:

Kim Klassen is a texture and photoshop guru! I have taken a few of her eCourses and I am still amazed at the things I am able to do in photoshop. It is funny, because I just started out wanting to learn the program a bit so I could spiff up my photos for my patterns...but now I am completely consumed! If you have any interest at all in photography, I definitely recommend poking around her site.

Also...here is a peek at my design from the Fresh Designs Series, Sweaters:

My Raglan Hoodie is shown in fabulous Lindon Merino from Three Irish Girls.

Whatnots...

2011-04-03T09:46:00.000-04:00

I have been staying incredibly busy...right now I am just taking a little break from typing up the pattern for Daphnaie. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment:

To say I am pleased with how it turned out in the under statement of the century! Of course as you can see from my last post, a ton of work went into making it just right...and it was so worth it. I can't wait to get the pattern out to my test knitters next week so I can see their projects!

I want to say a big thank you to everyone that made a purchase in the past two weeks. Today I tallied up the sales and was able to donate $75 each to the Red Cross and Shelter Box. It seems so insignificant in the face of such tragedy, but every little bit counts!

Finally I will leave you with a peak at an upcoming project that I am involved in:

And...here are some preview photos of the Fresh Designs Series from Cooperative Press.

Work in Progress: Daphnaie

2011-03-25T09:50:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I am really lucky with my designs. I mean everything comes perfectly together and my very first prototype/sample goes off without a hitch. Other times it can be like trying to get a square peg in a round hole...and I am that kid that is too stubborn just to try the round peg and go with it. I feel like almost anything can work, but who really wants a pattern that is 27 pages long in a 7 point font with 13 different charts? I try to get my lace patterns down to a more concise form that doesn't send the average knitter running and screaming.

Daphnaie should have been easy enough, though while I was in the initial designing phase, I was blissfully ignorant of the nightmares that double sided lace repeats can cause. Then trying to fit the repeats of the center panel in with the awkward repeats of the lace pattern just added to my frustration. So I charted on paper and in Excel until I had filled pages of tiny grids with tiny little symbols that only knitters can understand and I added and multiplied and divided and subtracted. Next, I swatched and swatched and swatched. Then I ripped out some swatches and swatched some more.

Finally there was a pattern I liked and, with some tweaking to it and my center panel, it all worked together wonderfully. Like really wonderfully awesomely...so much so, I impressed myself. Not so much because it is some monumental piece of knitting, but because I didn't opt to take the round peg and give up on my idea, I took a chainsaw and made it work...and it is almost exactly as I envisioned. For a long time the vision was all I had too, it was just a sketch on a piece of paper for months and when I went back and looked at it with Daphnaie all charted out, it was so perfectly right.

I just wanted to share my excitement with you guys and give you a little peek at what I have been up to. Also, a big thanks to everyone that has purchased patterns so far. There is one week left, then I will be tallying up the sales and making the donations!

A little help for Japan.

2011-03-16T12:29:00.000-04:00

Now through the end of the month, I will be donating 50% of my pattern sales to the Red Cross and Shelter Box to help with relief efforts in Japan. Stop by my Ravelry Store or visit my patterns page and stock up or send one along to a knitter friend as a doubly good deed ♥

Work in Progress: The Mermaid's Gift

2011-03-15T10:31:00.001-04:00

Whew, I am in full panic mode, as I always seem to be when I am under a deadline. Things are coming along...I just need to learn how to relax, but also not procrastinate so much! Like last night, after I spent the day photographing, writing up and then sending off the test draft of Hesperides to my test knitters...I kept finding more things to do on the computer. What I really needed to be doing was working on The Mermaid's Gift...which I did, around 10 pm. This whole DST thing always does a number on me, especially when I am in this crazed state!

Anyway, that said I did finish almost an entire section on TMG, which I am really happy about. Even if that does mean I was up past 1 am and slept in this morning! I am super pleased with how it is coming along and I think my bead choice; while a bit, um, bright will work out well with the pale blue lace. Also, I am wondering why I didn't get on the half circular shawl thing a lot sooner! That is one of the things I love about working on this eBook, I wanted all 6 shawls to be constructed differently, so it is really making me step outside of that triangular shawl comfort zone!

The colors on this are rocking my world! I am a powder blue lover from way back and I think the beads will do a wonderful job to give it the feeling of spray on top of ocean waves. Plus the yarn color is Malabrigo's "Blue Surf" and the beads are called "Miami Surf!"

The Official Announcement!

2011-03-10T10:52:00.000-05:00

Well, after months of hinting...the official announcement has been made! That's right...I am Miss May for the Malabrigo Freelance Pattern Project! I am so excited to be a part of it and so glad that it isn't hush-hush any more. There are still a couple months of hard work ahead, but I can't wait for May ♥

Work in Progress: Hesperides

2011-03-07T22:02:00.001-05:00

It took me a little longer than I had hoped to get pictures of my latest WIP, Hesperides. These were taken with the new wireless remote I got for my camera, since I was the only one home today. It was actually quite interesting to see what I look like when I knit!

Every "action" shot I got was a bit blurry...I don't really knit that fast! I think I just had the bad luck of moving my hand every time the camera took a shot. I set it for a 2 second delay so I could get the remote out of the shot ;) Also, I've noticed I hold my right middle and ring fingers super awkward...funny.

Here is a little larger look at Hesperides. It is a triangular shawl with alternating bands of stockinette and a striped lacy section. The original striped lace I had swatched for this worked out horribly in action, but maybe someday it will live again as a scarf or stole. Luckily the change didn't set me back too far and I managed to recover the design gracefully and still keep the general look I was going for.

When I came up with this design, I had wanted something that would work well with a variegated yarn and a complementary solid color. Since I have an unhealthy obsession with variegated yarns, I am always trying to come up with good uses for them. This way I can justify those skeins that inevitably find their way into my stash and it offers up a fun challenge for me to tackle.

Happy Malabrigo March!

2011-03-03T12:29:00.000-05:00

This month is a frenzy of activity for us Malabrigo Junkies on Ravelry. Basically it is an excuse to cast on as many projects as we can in one of our favorite brands of yarn! I am working on Irving the Icebox Monster from Rebecca Danger's adorable book, The Big Book of Knitted Monsters. He is looking great in Apple Green and Purple Mystery (here's a shot of the lovely skein):

He is just a bunch of parts right now, I am waiting for his safety eyes to arrive. As soon as they do I can begin assembly!

I am also busily knitting away on two more samples for the secret project. Hopefully I'll be able to grab a picture or two for you guys in the next couple of days. They are looking lovely, though...one is in Violeta Africana and Archangel Malabrigo Sock, the other is in Blue Surf Malabrigo Lace. And, with that little teaser I bid you adieu!

Sneak Peek: Kisseis

2011-02-28T10:26:00.001-05:00

Here is another look at just what I've been up to!

Kisseis is a crescent shaped shawl worked in Malabrigo lace with a large ivy lace pattern and beads! It is named for Kisseis, the Lady of the Ivy. She is one of the Nysiades, nymphs of Mount Nysa, in Greek Mythology and caretaker of the young god Dionysus.

This pattern is currently being tested and edited. It will be available as part of an ebook and as an individual PDF download in May.

Sneak Peek: Amalthea

2011-02-27T10:00:00.001-05:00

Malabrigo Silky Merino, fringe and leaves...on my!

This shawlette was inspired by one of my favorite childhood characters; Lady Amalthea from The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle. Soft leaves and delicious pastel yarn make this shawlette perfect for keeping a unicorn turned lady warm in King Haggard's drafty castle by the sea.

Amalthea is currently being test knit and edited, the pattern will be released in May. It will be available as part of an ebook and as an individual download.

So, um...yeah.

2011-02-25T09:50:00.002-05:00

Hellooo there little blog and lovely readers. I am very sorry for taking an "extended leave of absence." But, I have some good excuses, really.

So here's what happened:
November -

I was rushing to get Snowberry Brambles released both as a Ravelry download and as part of KP IDP. Man, translating the charts on that pattern to include written instructions was a bear, but I got it done!
The yarn support came for my big, secret project and I began to work furiously on charts, drafts and the first sample.
Went to Chicago and enjoyed wonderfully cold weather to rock my hand-knits in and great company.
Then my dad suffered a major injury to his knee at work the day before Thanksgiving. Broken patella, torn muscles and ligaments...it was horrible and he had emergency surgery right away. So by the end of the month I was in NJ to help him out with just about everything, since it is impossible to drive with a cast that goes from ankle to hip!

December -

Hung out in NJ was bored to death, worked on a ton of Christmas knitting and ate a lot of good food.
Brought my dad down here with me for a few weeks, celebrated Christmas, panicked at my slow progress on secret project.
My dog, Rocket, got a huge gash in his side and had to have stitches and then proceeded to rip the stitches out...ugh. (He's ok now and none the worse for wear.)
Went to NC to visit my sister and nephew and to "hand-off" my dad so she could bring him back to NJ for his doctor's appointment.

January

Decided to do a Project 365 (really like I need more hobbies)!
Spent a lot of time charting lace, unsuccessfully trying to get the massive repeats to bend to my will. In the end I bent to the will of the lace and it worked out quite well.
Marathon season preparation, lots of meetings and public speaking...eeek!
Turned 31...another eeek!
My other dog, Roxy, got a hematoma in her ear and had to have surgery (actually on the day I was supposed to leave for NJ...see next bullet point).
Found out my dad's knee needed to be operated on again and by the end of the month I was back in NJ. And there was snow, a whole lot of snow. I brought Rocket along for company and so Roxy could heal in peace.
I did manage to get one sample done for my project >_<

February

By mid-month I was back in Savannah and my dad is doing much better.
Roxy finally got the silly bandage off her head and a week and a half later got all of her stitches out.
Coaching started, I actually missed the first 2 weeks.
Woke up the other day in a cold sweat realizing that I need to start busting my butt to get my designs done for the big project.
Became obsessed with Photoshop and textures thanks to Kim Klassen's wonderful blog and e-course.

See, I told you I have good excuses! Don't worry, I will do my best not to let it happen again. I am going to try to post at least once a week, hopefully more ♥ Stay tuned, in the next few days, I'll bombard you with pictures from my big project and give you the full scoop!

So...we're not professional photographers.

2010-11-02T10:53:00.001-04:00

One of the hardest parts of designing for me is getting great, artistic photos of the finished objects. Most of the shots are taken by me or my boyfriend and we're not professionals by a long shot! Surprisingly I get many compliments on my photographs, which always makes me feel a bit better about our interesting methods.

We did a quick and dirty shoot for most of the Something Sweet eBook in between Ken's work schedule and my jury duty. I wanted to re-shoot, or at least add some prettier photos to supplement what we already had. First it was such a bad day for me; record high temperatures, running late and not being able to find anything to wear. We made it downtown and had a very delicious and very late breakfast (pumpkin crunchcakes, yum!) then began our trek to Ellis Square with stops at a few shops along the way.

Here are the outtakes from the lovely photo session, I couldn't even model any of the items because it was 90 degrees and I was sweating like crazy. Adding a layer of wool was not going to happen!

Yay...the scarves will look so pretty floating gracefully in the air...hehe no.

Floating on the breeze...not really.

Kinda floating...

The throwing thing is still not working.

Where are the scarves?

There's one...and sadly this was the best shot of that series. Luckily there is a large art school downtown, so most people are used to seeing people doing strange things :) There are some more outtakes in my flickr photostream, like shots with my feet, shopping bags and weird tourists in them.

Sooo Done!

2010-10-24T19:11:00.002-04:00

I have been waiting months for this day, the pattern collection is finally complete and up for sale! After a hellish week of jury duty (and more to come next week), I didn't think it was going to happen on time, but I pulled it all together today as best I could. The big rush, other than already being close to a month behind my own schedule, is that I have advertising spots reserved and they need an url to point to. Not too much sense in advertising something you can't sell, is there?

So am I going to Disney Land? Nope, like I said jury duty bright and early, well for someone like me that works from home, it is early. Hopefully we'll be done with this case soon so I can get back to my normal life. It is so difficult to work on my knitting in the courthouse, because I have to keep putting it down and people seem to automatically think you aren't paying attention to them if you are knitting.

I plan on making myself an FO from the "pattern that is going to be in a book" since the sample is off being photographed and is then going on tour. I do have a sweater design on the needles now, but it is in fingering weight so that will be awhile! Since I have my yarn support in hand for the next pattern collection I am going to get started on that, just so I can be done well ahead of schedule! Also, I managed to get my capelet pattern out to test knitters today, which I am pretty psyched about.

And now I have a little something for you, my lovely readers, follow this link or enter promo code "sosweet" at Ravelry checkout to receive 20% off a copy of my Something Sweet eBook now through 11/6/2010.

Someting Sweet eBook

Almost.

2010-10-15T10:44:00.000-04:00

I am so close to finishing my Something Sweet pattern collection! I feel like I have been working on it forever. The nice part is, that after finishing my pattern for the book, I came back to the collection and everything was almost done...awesome. So I just had to finish up a few samples and edit the patterns. And now...only two patterns remain! The testing is almost finished and they should be on their way to my lovely tech editor by Monday.

The funny thing is, after all of the craziness the past few months, I was ready for a break. Not that I don't love designing, but I just wanted a break from expectations and deadlines...self-imposed or otherwise. Of course that day when I was telling my friends I was going to let up on my crazy schedule, I find a message in my inbox. I have to keep the wherefores and whatsoevers secret for now, but I in a nutshell it involves me doing a small (6) pattern collection/e-book.

I can't wait until I can say more, but it will be a few months yet. Luckily I will be able to give little hints here and there, so be on the lookout for that once I start the collection! The yarn support is already here, so it won't be too long. It was incredibly exciting for me to have been sought out, instead of submitting the ideas myself. My confidence has been boosted immensely and I am so flattered!

I have two other designs kicking around right now, one is a drapey vest in Malabrigo Rios and the other is a capelet in Malabrigo Chunky. The capelet has been on and off for months, I was going to submit it somewhere so I kept it a secret, but I am finding I rather enjoy the freedom of self-publishing sometimes. Especially with the upcoming pattern collection on my plate, I am happy to just do these on my own.

I will say it was fabulous to come back to the capelet just because it was already written and charted! I hate charting, and this baby is all charts! I finished up the prototype the other night, but I decided I wanted to change a few things, so I ripped and restarted yesterday. I love chunky yarns, because I am already more than 75% done with the new prototype! Hopefully I'll be able to get it finished and get some shots of it up next week.

The vest is actually a copy of one I saw at Target. Of course, I ended up embellishing it a lot. The Target vest is basically a large rectangle with armholes. So is mine, but I decided to use a lace pattern for the fronts of my vest with a plain Stockinette back. The Rios has a lovely drape and I love the color (Aguas). Right now I am crossing my fingers that I will not run out of yarn...it is going to be close, which is why I am working both fronts at the same time, so I can still have some yarn left for the collar. I am probably going to stop by my LYS tomorrow, though, and hopefully they will have some left from the same dyelot (one can dream right?!!?).

What I've been doing...

2010-09-29T19:41:00.002-04:00

Sprinkles1
Originally uploaded by Lachesis77

I am sorry that I have abandoned you blog! Things have been absolutely insane, I am finally done with my super secret project. Just in time too, the deadline is tomorrow! Let's just say many forces beyond and also a few within my control all seemed to be working against me. But, done, yay! And I am pleased with the results and I will let you all know as soon as the book is available.

Here is my Candy Hat :Sprinkles version (there is also a Stripes version). This pattern will be included in my ebook, which thankfully is starting to come together after being put on the back burner. I knit it up in the new superwash yarn from Malabrigo, Rios. I am very happy with the yarn and the colors are so saturated on this base! The three colorways I used are: Arco Iris, Aguas and Purpuras ♥

Dammit Jim, I'm a Knitter not a Mathemetician!

2010-07-21T09:49:00.001-04:00

I have always hated math, especially once it goes beyond 2+2 or 3*3. When letters get mixed in with the numbers it means an instant headache for me. I wasn't completely horrible at math in school, but it was my absolute worst subject. I was that kid complaining that I would never need to use this stuff in real life.

Imagine my dismay earlier this week when I found myself learning to use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the height of a sleeve cap. The surprising part is - it wasn't that bad. If the scary math of my youth is applied to a part of a sweater and yarny goodness, suddenly it doesn't have the same headache inducing abilities.

That is not to say that all sweater math instantly makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Yesterday I spent hours trying to figure out charting curves. I was staring at a chart in The Knitter's Guide to Sweater Design and it was just making my head hurt. Since the curve is for my recently accepted design, it is probably something super simple, that for anything else would make perfect sense. But because I am so anxious/excited/nervous to get my prototype done and the first draft of the pattern written...I can't see the forest for the trees, so to speak.

In the end I decided to make my curves another way using a combination of a percentage of bound off stitches followed by decreases. It was much better for my fragile state of mind and the curves, while not made with a complicated formula, look great. It still used math, just a simpler formula that made more sense to me. I am sure, in time, I'll be able to look at the curve chart and laugh that it was once so mysterious and scary.

I remember when calculating finished sizes from gauge swatches used to be intimidating. Now it is some of the simplest math I encounter in the designing/pattern writing process. There is hope for me yet!

Next up.

2010-07-16T19:50:00.004-04:00

Meringue1
Originally uploaded by Lachesis77

This is Meringue the next design in my sweet themed design collection. A lovely hat like a fluffy swirl of meringue, with an eyelet band that can be laced through with ribbon. I found this lovely chocolate colored ribbon with tiny gold flecks months ago and knew I had to come up with a use for it...voila!

The pattern is currently with test knitters and I am not sure if I want to gradually release the patterns in the collection as they are finished or do them all at the same time. I think I should just get a Magic 8 ball to help me with all of my decisions because I am so indecisive >_<

I have begun the sample for the next pattern from the series...no ribbon, but it does have a ruffle! Currently there are seven designs slated for my little collection, but a really great wrench has been thrown into the works...one of my design proposals has been accepted for publication! So, since that is on someone else's dime it takes precedence over my ebook : )

There is not too much I can say about it, what a tease right?! But, I can tell you that up until a few days ago that idea was nothing but a page with a sketch and a few scribbled notes in my design binder. The past couple of days have been a frenzy of excitement, anxiety, swatching and charting! To tell you the truth I am still in shock and can hardly believe it. Of course we got our first assignment for the tech editing class yesterday...I can hardly concentrate on that! I guess it is pretty good timing, though, as I'll feel much more confident in my pattern writing skills once the class gets rolling.

So if I am not posting that often, it is because I am busy working on super-awesome extra-secret knitterly things!

Brilliant ideas.

2010-07-07T19:50:00.001-04:00

Is it just me, that almost all of my bright ideas tend to come to me when I am either in the shower or out running...both times that I don't happen to have a pencil and paper with me! While it certainly is not a groundbreaking idea, I decided to start working on an ebook, basically to compliment and include my Dulcet pattern. See I have a bit of an obsession with ribbon lately, as in I want everything to be tied up in pretty bows.

I was washing what little hair I have the other day when I got an idea for a cape/cowl type thing and then thought of a hat that would be cool and a lace scarf that would compliment them too. And they all have to have names that go along with the Dulcet "sweet" theme, like Fondant, Spun Sugar and Meringue. It was pretty crazy and I am sure my boyfriend thought I was crazy as I went running out of the shower still dripping trying to get to my design notebook and scribble it all down, just in case my brain decided to lose it! So here is one of my prototypes:

Fondant is knit in a super bulky yarn, Malabrigo Aquarella, and laced up with 1.5 inch satin ribbon. I wanted to design a piece that was really versatile and a bit funky...I am pretty pleased with how it turned out! The pattern is mostly done for this, I just need to get the photo tutorial shot of the different ways to lace and wear it and get a test knitter or two to give it a go and it will be ready for release into the wild!

Dulcet is done, man!

2010-06-30T18:56:00.001-04:00

After editing for the rest of yesterday and most of today, I was able to get the PDF finished for Dulcet. I am so excited! Here is the full description for you:

An airy shrug knit in lightweight yarn great for adding a little modesty to a slinky dress or giving some style to a T-shirt and jeans. Sweet details include eyelets threaded with ribbon and turned picot hems on the cuffs and neckband.

This shrug is worked from cuff to cuff, starting in the round, switching to knitting flat and then back to in the round. Once the sleeves and body are complete, the neckband is picked up from the body and knit in the round. A provisional CO for the left sleeve hem helps eliminate a bulky seam when sewing down the cuff. On both cuffs the live stitches are sewn down instead of bound off. A knitted bind off is used to attach the neckband to the body.

The sizing on this shrug is easy to suit to your own shape. By knowing your upper arm and shoulder to shoulder measurements, you’ll be able to get a great custom fit! Size chart and instructions on how to customize your fit are included.

To purchase the pattern PDF for $5.00, click here:

Getting there.

2010-06-29T18:23:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I got the revisions that need to be made to Dulcet from my tech editor. Can I just say, tech editors are awesome!?! I had messed up the sizing in my effort to keep the pattern simple...so that means I have been doing a lot of editing since last night.

For any designer that isn't sure if a tech editor is worth it...they so are. Not only are they great for catching the little typos or symbol discrepancies in charts, but they check your math. Sometimes, as in my case, one little error can throw the whole thing off the rails!

Luckily everything is back on track and I should be finishing up my first round of editing tonight. I also took some new pictures, since you could see through my shirt on the last set...heheh. It was absolutely bugging the crap out of me, so I got dolled up and braved 93 degree temperatures in my wool shrug!

Hopefully, everything will keep moving along and this pattern will be done by the end of the week. I would really love to have it released by Friday...or even earlier if I can buckle down and get to work! Obviously I could probably be working on it right now, but I had to give a little update!

So fingers crossed that I will be posting about the release in a few days! Also poor Winsome is still coming along. I had planned to work on it all day yesterday, but my AC broke and by the time that was under control, I had to get to work on Dulcet. Man, if only I were a speed knitter!

Decisions, decisions.

2010-06-23T14:33:00.000-04:00

The second great swatch-a-palooza has been completed. It actually took me a few days to decide which I liked best...definitely the hardest part! I had to keep telling myself, that just because I didn't use a design element I loved on this sweater doesn't mean I can't use it on another project. So after all the debate, I made a decision and ripped my Winsome back to the waist ribbing and started in the new stitch pattern. Hopefully the millionth time is the charm ; )

Testing on the Dulcet shrug is coming along, almost all of my test knitters are done or almost done! That means it is time for me to get editing...my least favorite part of pattern writing. It is not hard and doesn't take a lot of time (compared to the first draft), I think the problem is going back to something that hasn't been worked on in weeks or months. It is difficult for me to get back into the mindset of older projects when I have been working on new designs in the interim. I'll probably have to resort to setting a timer and forcing myself to work on it! Dulcet should be ready to go sometime around July 4th, and luckily still in "season."

Let's Swatch

2010-06-18T12:03:00.001-04:00

Let's Swatch
Originally uploaded by Lachesis77

I have gone swatching mad lately! My original swatch (in the burgundy yarn) looked great, except I paid no mind to what the actual stitch count would be in the knitted garment so it wouldn't work...ugh. The very large swatch, that could almost be a scarf, in the aquamarine yarn is what I have been adding to every time I ran into a problem on the sweater or changed my mind on the stitch pattern. Finally the periwinkle swatch is my last resort swatch. This is the lace hem I'll use on a plain stockinette version if I can't get the eyelets to play nicely.

The biggest lesson I have learned from all this swatch ridiculousness is...always swatch in the design yarn! Though the gauge and stitch count were correct in my other two peri and aqua swatches, the fiber content of the yarn is different so the stitch definition and drape varies greatly. The color variation in the project yarn (madelinetosh pashmina) also has an effect on how the stitch patterns look

So what I am I going to be doing today? You've got it...more swatching! I'll take the lace hem and my favorite eyelet pattern from the swatches and knit them up and block in the pashmina. Hopefully it will clear everything up and I can finish this prototype!

I think that is the most important info I can pass on to other budding designers and knitters in general...swatch everything in the project yarn. Let this experience of mine be the lesson of what happens when you just want to grab a lonesome skein of cheap yarn from your stash to test a stitch pattern! I like to think I am usually a pretty smart knitter too, but I guess this is proof that no matter how much you think you know, there is always something more to learn :)

Riiiip, sigh.

2010-06-17T13:02:00.000-04:00

My poor, poor Winsome Proto...it is all my fault really....I messed up the stitch count. What does that mean? Yes, a lot of ripping. I am giving the stitch pattern one last try, if it doesn't work out this time I am calling it quits and just doing plain old Stockinette. At least I love the shape and structure, so it won't be too horrible if it comes to that...but I don't want to give up yet on my idea of progressively more eyelets that merge into a lattice or mesh pattern at the hem.

Really, I shouldn't be too upset, this is only the first major design set back (hopefully not of many) that I have encountered. I know that all the headaches are part of the learning process and I am trying not to be impatient...because that only leads to more mistakes. Plus I have a small problem with perfectionism and that isn't doing me any favors.

In other non-whiny news, I have signed up for knitgrrl's tech editing class! I am very excited about this opportunity to learn about knitwear design from such talented people in the industry and to be able to chat with other designers like myself. The great thing about this class is learning, hopefully, a better way to size knitted garments, which is one of the main topics of the class. That means no more hunting down 50 different sources with 50 different ideas on sizing and grading, at the end of which I end up in frustrated tears and just go knit a scarf! Hopefully it will also mean more concise and well written patterns from me with better schematics :)

I Love Darts!

2010-06-14T15:46:00.001-04:00

I am amazed and in love with using darts in knitting! Actually, I haven't had much experience until recently, and I wonder why you don't see it more often in patterns. They look great and I feel the increases and decreases follow the shape of the body better than the traditional increase/decrease along the side seam. It definitely suits certain styles and stitch patterns better, though. I find they give the knitted garment a wonderfully polished and tailored look.

Why this sudden need to proclaim my love? Well I was taking some shots of my progress on the Winsome proto and I am just so pleased with how it is coming along...including the darts. I am sure you know that feeling (or want to!), when the design idea in your head and the actual knitted piece are the same...no this could be different here or I should change that neckline, etc. It is exactly how I pictured it in my head and I couldn't be happier!

I hope to finish up this week, though my carpal tunnel is acting up a bit...I just have to be patient and not push it. While I am so excited about the prospect of this sweater, it is hotter than Hades out! It 100 degrees F here today with a heat index of 112, so I won't be wearing this anytime soon!

San Diego and whatnots.

2010-06-10T18:48:00.004-04:00

I just got back from coaching my team for the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon. I was sad that I didn't get as much knitting done on the flight as I had hoped, but I do hate knitting socks...if only my boyfriend didn't like them. The weather was fabulous, even if I did get some serious sunburn/chafing on race day...that comes with the territory, though when you're on a race course for close to 10 hours and run close to 30 miles!

In other news, things went a little wonky with a submission, so I am now planning on self publishing that prototype I was talking about. It is a lace weight shrug, featuring eyelets laced with ribbon and turned picot hems and collar. I currently have one tester done and a few in progress. Hopefully it will be all prettied up and ready for release by the end of the month! Here's a shot of the finished prototype:

It is knit in Willow Creek from Pagewood Farm, a nice heavy lace weight that seems almost a light fingering weight to me. That works well for a completely impatient knitter like myself! The weather was quite chilly in San Diego for a Georgia peach, so I got to wear this a lot while I was there and happily garnered a few compliments along the way!

Now that Olive is done, though it is big and may require some altering, I am back to work on my Winsome Proto:

I have made some more progress since this photo, the waist decreases are done and I am almost finished the increases. Today I did some more swatching of the lace pattern I'll be using and I think my math is sound and I am ready to continue. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll have more pictures to post for you!

Another one down...

2010-05-12T16:43:00.000-04:00

I am pretty excited, I finally finished a prototype that I have been working on for weeks. Unfortunately that is all I can say. Sorry, I am submitting this baby as part of a design proposal, so mum's the word. The bright side is, for now, I am done working on proposals for publication. That means I will actually be able to talk about what I am knitting!

Before I finished my prototype, I started swatching different colors for Olive. I have been in love with this design since I first laid eyes on it! Luckily, the designer/yarn company recently made the pattern available for download, so I was able to get a hold of it. Of course knitting a sweater out of sock yarn is a bit masochistic...especially considering I have two other sweaters on the needles, one in lace and one in sport weight yarn.

Once I finish (or frog) everything I have hanging around, I am going to knit or design something in a nice bulky yarn! Knitwear in fine yarn is lovely, but such slow going! Sometimes I wish I lived in a much cooler part of the country so I would have a use for bulky knits. I'll probably knit up a sweater for my nephew...nothing like a toddler sweater in bulky yarn to make one feel like they are getting some knitting done!

This and That.

2010-05-07T13:47:00.000-04:00

I feel bad that I haven't been able to update as much as I would like lately. Many of the projects I have been working on are top secret! Well, reavealing them wouldn't get me thrown in jail or anything, but they are all pending submissions. That means, unfortunately, no blogging about them.

I do have still have a cardigan in the works, but there are so many things with looming deadlines, it has taken the backseat for now. At this point, it has two possible futures, depending on what happens with the other designs...hang out on the backseat even longer if my proposal(s) are accepted or it gets first priority as soon as the rejection notices come in. Of course I am hoping for the former, but I would like to see my little sweater finished sometime in the near future.

Right now, I am easily distracted by so many different options for my designs. There are so many choices, it is amazing. Self-publishing is the easiest option to me which can include e-books and even small print runs, then submissions to companies like Knit Picks, then books and magazines. Plus there are probably a million different variants on those possibilities as well.

My current issue, shall we say, is trying to figure out exactly which I want to focus on. So I am currently experimenting with a majority of them. The pros of self publishing, are no deadlines, other than the ones I set for myself. All other forms need at least a rough deadline, in which you are accountable to someone else. Of course going through a yarn company, book or magazine can mean a lot more exposure than I could get on my own as a brand new designer.

So that is where things stand. Some other exciting news, I got my first pair of Signature circular needles. These things are awesome, pricey, but so worth it! I figure with the amount of money I spend on yarn, I should have nice needles to knit it on! Hopefully they will offer more sizes soon, or my ultimate dream...a set if interchangeable needles. Right now I am working with my pair of 32" size 6 circulars with stiletto points, and I think it is time I got back to my knitting!

Vixen, Finally!

2010-05-07T13:14:00.002-04:00

I am so excited, my Vixen shawl was released yesterday! It is part of Knit Picks Independent Design Program, which is such a wonderful idea. You can find the pattern at Knit Picks or on Ravelry. It has been such a wonderful journey creating the pattern and learning evermore about knitwear design! I would like to say a big thanks to Knit Picks, all my wonderful test knitters and my awesome tech editor!

Going with the Flow.

2010-04-16T08:49:00.000-04:00

I am so excited, most of my fabulous test knitters are done and I am doing the final edits on my current pattern. After that, I am going to send it off to be tech edited. This is the first pattern that I am using a tech editor for and I can't wait to learn more about the process! My goal is to have Vixen ready before the end of the month.

In between all the editing, I have been slowly making progress on my first sweater design. So far, so good! Plus I am knitting it up in madelinetosh pashmina, a decadent merino, silk and cashmere blend. I am anxious about the size grading, but there are some wonderful knitters that have offered to give me advice when I am ready to tackle that aspect of pattern writing. Just another reason I love Ravelry!

The other day I told my father about my few design accomplishments and many aspirations. He said it was about time! Funny, he said that it is about time I am doing something I love. Obviously, my dad is awesome and is super proud of me for taking a chance and following my heart. It is always wonderful, even when you aren't a child anymore, that a parent can be so encouraging and supportive. You would have thought I had found the key to world peace instead of designing a few patterns!

I am just going to keep riding the wave of inspiration I have been on lately. There are so many great people that have helped me start on this journey and continue to cheer me on along the way. I am so thankful for them and that I have this opportunity to create!

Another Prototype Done!

2010-04-06T17:47:00.000-04:00

I just finished taking pictures of my newest prototype, Vixen. The pattern is in rough draft stage right now, and hopefully I'll be able to get it test knit soon. I am not sure yet if I am going to self publish this pattern or submit it to some knitting publication...obviously it would have to be one that doesn't care if you've shown pictures of it before publishing! I guess I'll decide once I hear what the testers think!

FAIL.

2010-04-01T13:51:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately I did not meet my goal to only work on that one project until the end of last month. Actually, I didn't touch it. I swear I have the attention span of a flea!

The design bug has bitten again and I decided not to resist. I get these ideas and am not scared to knit them up, like I used to be! I am just over halfway through the prototype for another shawl. The yarn is just gorgeous, Becoming Art's Cielo Fingering. I got it from the fiber fix in the colorway, "Rich." It is so fun to watch the design develop and the colors change!

Hopefully I will get the shawl finished up soon and get the pattern written. Then (maybe) I can finish up all the WIPs that are hanging around. That will end the vicious cycle of feeling guilty about neglecting them while I work on a design and resenting working on them when I could be designing. It is amazing how an enjoyable, relaxing craft can make me so neurotic!

WIPs Galore

2010-03-26T13:22:00.001-04:00

Currently I am at critical mass of WIPs (works in progress). My usual goal is to have no more than three projects on the needles, and prefer only two. Right now I have six, seven if you count the project that I should cast on this month, since I signed up for the knit-along (KAL) as part of Malabrigo March.

The problem with all of these WIPs is that I cannot focus on one thing and progress is hard to measure. Luckily some of these projects haven't been touched in months and are hidden away in my closet so they don't stress me out quite as much. The only problem with the remaining WIPs is that they are all in sock or lace weight yarn. Projects where every centimeter is progress, and they are not small projects.

I like to keep knitting fun, but I am very much a product knitter. Sure I like the process, too, but it is the finished object that I am after! All the UFOs (unfinished objects) scattered around the house are starting to make me anxious. My goal for the remainder of March is to focus solely on one project and not touch anything else until April. It is less than a week, surely I can do it! Hopefully the yarn I ordered to swatch for some new designs does not come until the first of April!

Presenting...Belmondo.

2010-03-24T17:41:00.001-04:00

I got done editing quicker than I thought! Currently I am waiting for my designer hook up at Ravelry, but I figured I would get the pdf up over here while I wait!

A brief description:

A triangular shawl worked in a lattice pattern from tip to shoulders, with optional fringe. An open and lacy stitch knit with a heavy worsted weight yarn on large needles creates a wonderful contrast. This deceptively simple stitch pattern is great for beginner to advanced knitters.

Perfect for those cooler spring days and to chase the chill off your shoulders when the air conditioner is turned all the way down. Transitions to winter wonderfully, when it can be wrapped around your neck to keep the cold wind at bay.

Available in three sizes: Small, Medium and Large. Or as I like to refer to them: Kerchief, Shawlette and Shawl.

Here is the pdf link: Belmondo

As Promised...

2010-03-24T16:14:00.000-04:00

Here are some of the shots from my "photo shoot" today. Luckily the weather is so nice here right now. The bugs weren't too bad either.

I hope you like the pictures! There is a chance I may get the pattern up today, but tomorrow is more likely.

So Close.

2010-03-23T23:04:00.000-04:00

I think I am just about finished with the editing on my pattern, woot! My test knitters have provided me with great feedback and more people than I would have thought are interested in the pattern. The final step is getting some killer photos and then it will be ready to leave the nest!

Today while out for a run, I found the perfect spot to grab some pretty photos of my shawls. Hopefully the weather will cooperate with me and it will be just as gorgeous as it was today, tomorrow. It is full fledged spring here in the South and the bugs are already out!

Stay tuned and I'll try to get the pictures up tomorrow and hopefully the pattern will follow shortly thereafter.

New blog, yay!

2010-03-22T16:57:00.001-04:00

I have decided to take all of the crafty talk out of my running blog. Recently, I fell in love with knitwear design and I figured it would be nice to have a place solely devoted to that and a little soap and candle making occasionally.

Within the next week or so I will be releasing my first pattern, Belmondo. It is a simple knitted shawl done in delicious Malabrigo Twist on large needles. This pattern will be available free of charge here and also on Ravelry.

Here is an excerpt from my other blog, it gives a little back story about why I decided to start designing:

...(Ravelry) has also renewed and expanded my love for knitting. Not to mention all the wonderful folks that have encouraged me and pushed me to try things that I never would have. I think without Ravelry, I'd still be knitting simple scarves and very large, plain afghans.

Growing up I was always doing something creative, but my ultimate goal was to be a fashion designer. Once the time came to actually make a real decision about my future, I chose the safe route and went to college for a "real" profession. Not like that lasted, as I had always felt too constrained while at school. The next best thing for me being a makeup artist and colorist, it was a more stable job, but still had that creative flair.

For the past three years I have been completely immersed in the running world, from coaching marathoners to working as a buyer for a running store. That is where the excitement and the possibility was sparked for me again. Looking at the futures lines, apparel that I had to decide on now, but wouldn't actually be in store for 6 - 8 months, I wanted to try designing again.

During my first design efforts, I always had to depend on someone else to bring my ideas to life for me. Mostly it was my mother that ended up at the sewing machine, while I told her that it wasn't quite right and she explained to me that it couldn't work the way I wanted to do it. Ah, but now I have the ability to create my own garments and even if they don't work out, I'll be the one that makes that call after much trying.

For the past 6 months I have been sketching up all the little ideas that pop into my head, waiting for the time when I would be a confident enough knitter to start knitting them. Last week, I was lying in bed and could not sleep. I had an idea that would not go away, so I got out of bed and jotted it down. Upon waking in the morning, I got to work while I waited for the kettle to boil for my coffee. After two days of frenzied knitting, there it was, finally my little idea came to fruition in a finished object.

It is not a magnificent jacket or intricate sweater, just a bulky shawl with fringe, but it is mine! Something that I created from an idea in my head. Of course, that is not to say that it is wholly original or not inspired by other designs, just that for me this shawl means everything. It is the culmination of more than a decade of secret dreams and with one little spark that wouldn't fade, I realized that I could do it and that I didn't have to worry if I couldn't do it until I tried.

My tune may change once I try to tackle that notebook full of scribbles, but I do feel like I could conquer the world right now.