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 ♥
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
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!
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!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Next up.
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!
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!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
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!
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!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
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:
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:
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
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!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
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."
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."
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