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!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
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!
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!
Friday, April 16, 2010
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!
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!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
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!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
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!
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!
Friday, March 26, 2010
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!
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!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)