Tag Archives: Knitting

2015 was an odd year for me knitting-design-wise.  I’d finished up the huge undertaking of the Wild West series — a collection I’m still very proud of — and for once didn’t have any major deadlines or projects.

I wanted to do two sweaters for 2015, and they are done but for the photography. As noted below, one is the Anzula cami, which I’ll be publishing as a spring/summer pattern.

I was super excited to have another pattern in Twist Collective (Fretwork).  I was also excited to have several patterns accepted by Knit Picks for collections coming out in 2016, as well as the Chalcedony Mitts, which came out this year.

As I hoped and planned, I used a lot of the yarn I’d been given by various companies for new designs. This was yarn that was given without strings or plans, but I’d had some of it, unused, way longer than I felt comfortable with.  I still have a small stockpile to use for designs in 2016.

I have ten (!) patterns for which photography needs to be done — after that all but one is ready to go (the Anzula Cami — it’s really a spring/summer pattern).  Those will bump up the 2016 numbers

Designs

Cowls: Bezant, Wave Break, and Coast Oak Cowl for the December Luxe Yarnbox

Shawls: Fretwork (in Twist Collective!), Sandbar, Scrub Jay, Breakwater, Euphilotes, and Revetment

Other Accessories: Coast Oak Hat for the December Luxe Yarnbox, Chalcedony Mitts, Josephine in Diamonds mitts, and Kitty Corner Socks

Home: Spa Cloths 1, 2, and 3 and Spa Cloths 4, 5, and 6

 

Shows

I attended both Winter and Summer TNNA last year.  I had a booth at the winter show, but not the summer show.  I also went up to Stitches West.

I skipped the Ventura and Torrance shows (both small local shows).  The Ventura show is on a Saturday, and frankly I make more from my Saturday vet clinic job than I did last year at the show, and it’s less time and work involved. No excuse on the Torrance show, except that I had a lot of vet work booked, and wanted that day off.

Podcast

It got started then fizzled over the summer…but I really enjoy doing it and want to make it a priority for 2016.  Look for episodes starting in January.

I’ve updated the blog pattern pages with images and links of recently published patterns, including Revetment, Breakwater, and others on the Shawl page; Coast Oak Cowl on the Cowl page; Coast Oak Hat on the (yes, you guessed it) Hat page, and Spa Cloths 4, 5, 6 on the For the Home page.

The Coast Oak Cowl and Hat, shown above, just came out yesterday, and are worked in the lovely Kismet Fiber Works Sleek DK.

I have a ton of patterns (9!) nearly ready for publication; all I need to do on most is photography.  You can get a sneak peek by browsing through the test threads in my Ravelry group here.  Most are hats (6), most are unisex, and all are great for gift giving!

On that note, the Indie GAL is still going strong — check out the group here.

Many of my designs are now available in the Knit Companion formatting in the Create2Thrive Shop.  Check out the my patterns here.

What’s in the works? I’m doing a gradient shawlette with Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock for TNNA in early January.  I’ve finished up a couple third-party designs.  I’ll be doing a design for the Indie Untangled  Where We Knit yarn club — you can sign up here.  I’m excited to be working with Christine from Skeinny Dipping for the club.

It’s nearly time for the 2015 Indie Design Gift-A-Long!

The gift-a-long, aka GAL2015, will run Thursday, November 19th at 8 pm (US-EST) through Thursday, December 31st at midnight (US-EST). Prizes galore (patterns, books, yarn, and more) will be available. 335 indie designers are participating this year. To join in the gift-a-long, simply knit or crochet any of their paid patterns and post all the required info in the appropriate thread in the group here.

From Thursday, November 19th at 8:00 pm US EST – Friday, November 27, 2015 at 11:59 pm US EST the participating indie designers will be discounting between 5 – 20 of their patterns 25% for this event. Use coupon code: giftalong2015.

I have 20 patterns chosen for the sale — you can get a peek at them in this pic:

I’ve tried to pick a variety of accessories, using a variety of techniques.  Many are unisex.  Stranded? Plenty of it, including my Ringtail Hat and the Quatrefoil fingerless mitts from California Revival Knits. Lace? The Undersea Garden cowl, also from CRK. Lace and stranded? Check out the Wave Break cowl. Cables?  My Slide Rock socks are full of squishy cable-y goodness. And there’s lots of texture, including the Gila Mitts, Mica Cowl, and Javelina Hat.  And that’s just what’s in the montage above!  I have 12 more patterns that you can see in the bundle here.