So...we're not professional photographers.

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!

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.

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...

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

 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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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...

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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...

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.

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!

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.