Tag Archives: Knitting

I’m so excited!  I’m in Episode 1401 (airing, I believe, starting today, in some markets — visit this page to check when in your area), talking about provisional cast ons and picot hems; and Episode 1403, talking about Aran Lace knitting.

All the episodes are also available either individually or as a 4 DVD set if you want instant gratification.  I’ve not yet seen any of the episodes, but my DVR is set.

Recording was a blast. Vicki is a calm dervish if that makes sense — she’s wonderfully organized, keeps everything going, yet is still sweet and helpful.  They recorded all the episodes for the season in just a few days.

I got to hang out with Donna Druchunas and Patty Lyons at the studio, as well as the folks from Interweave.  Andi Smith was able to meet up with me for dinner my first night.

Here are some pics from the studio and set!

Although I doubt this year will be quite as prolific as last year (I’m reminding myself a lot of the patterns that were finally published had been finished before 2014!), I’ve some really neat things coming up this year!

Designing

I’ll be doing two sweater designs this year:  a version of the Sedona Waistcoat as a simple (hah!) pullover, and a lacy camisole sort of thing in Anzula Breeze and Vera.

Also in the works is a twisted stitch sock pattern in Elemental Affects Civility (sock).  That should be one of the first patterns of 2015 for me. I’m also working on a small set of spa cloths with Japanese stitch patterns, which should also be coming out relatively soon.

I’ve turned in a couple submissions to Knit Picks for their upcoming collections. Fingers crossed!  The folks at Knit Picks are always awesome to work with.

I have yarn from Sweet Georgia, Baah!, Elemental Affects, Anzula, Yarn on the House, Juniper Moon, Knitcircus and more that will all get used this year — accessories including shawls, shawlettes, cowls, hats, etc.  I have a couple ideas for (ahem) mini collections for some of those.

Shows

I’m heading to winter TNNA in less than a week and a half; I’ll have a half booth with Stitch Sprouts.  I’m also going to summer TNNA, but am unsure whether I’ll have my own booth or not there.

I’m planning on doing the Torrance show again next fall.

Another designing friend and I might share a booth at VKL in Pasadena (coming up soon!) but that’s still up in the air.

Video Podcast

And finally…the video podcast!  I’m still getting everything together for this, but plan on airing twice a month.  I expect to start in February, including a TNNA recap.

Designs

2014 saw the release of the Wild West collection!  Like all my other initially-small-but-then-big projects, it grew just a tiny bit more before getting published, especially Lace 2 (shawls) and Textured: 26 patterns total.

Yarn club patterns included the Dragonfly Cowl for Dragonfly Fibers (and the companion self-published Dragonfly Mitts), Nemophila Cowl for Club Awesome (which was a collaboration between Cephalopod, Neighborhood Fibers, and Dragonfly Fibers), and, most recently, the Nephelai Socks for Indigo Dragonfly.

Standalone patterns included Alongshore Shawl, Cherty Shawlette, Lobelia Stole, Anemone Hat, Foraminifera Hat, Tiltawhirl Cowl, and Artemisia Cowl.

I also had the cover pattern for the Knit Picks Sock Yarn Scarves collection, with my Bees and Honeybees Stole.  I love the bright yellow they chose.

As of today, I’ve had 108 designs published, with 38 of those just in the past year.

Aran Lace Knitting DVD and Knitting Daily TV

My DVD from Interweave Knits, Aran Lace Knitting, came out this summer.  I’m so pleased with it and the filming entire experience.  We filmed in in Loveland, Colorado, right after the Superbowl (and sadly for many people in Colorado, the Bronco’s loss).  I got to drive in snow again (last time before that was in 1999) (hey, I live in Southern California!).

This past fall I got invited to be part of an episode of Knitting Daily.  The new season should start airing in January or February – check your local PBS station for times!  This was also a blast.  Between Knitting Daily and the Aran Lace class, I’ve discovered that I’m very comfortable on camera and, um, actually enjoy it.

Update: I’m on episode 1401 and episode 1403!

Shows

Madrona had me teach a mini class. I always love going to Madrona!

My friend Susan and I had an epic road trip to Stitches West and the central coast of California. That’s a pic of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

I had booths at both winter (San Diego) TNNA and summer (Indianapolis) TNNA.

Dave got roped into helping me with a booth at the Ventura Guild’s show and then at the Torrance show.

Overall it was a very busy and productive year!

I released the Alongshore Shawl last week, my first collaboration with the fascinating and enchanting Mrs Crosby.

If you’re in the industry, you’ll be able to see this in person at the Mrs Crosby / Lorna’s Laces booth at TNNA in Phoenix.

The cables are worked with a simple combination of intarsia (yarn butterflies for each cable strand) and stranding (the grey is carried across the back of the cables).

The Details

Finished Measurements
Depth (edge): 8in / 20.5cm
Depth (center): 13.5in / 34.5cm
Outer edge: 66in / 167.5cm
Inner edge: 48in / 122cm

Yarn
Mrs Crosby Hat Box, 75% superwash merino / 15% silk / 10% cashmere (317 yds / 290m per 3.53oz / 100g), 2 skeins of Flame Colored Tanager (MC) and 1 skein of Smoky Granite (BC).

Needles
US4 / 3.5mm needles, or size to obtain gauge for lace

Gauge
approx 32 sts and 29 rows = 4in / 10 cm in lace and cabled edging (blocked)
approx 16 sts and 23.25 rows = 4in / 10cm in garter st (blocked)
Precise gauge is not necessary, but alterations in gauge will affect yarn requirements.

Notions
yarn needle, stitch markers as desired, (2) cable needles

Skills
lace knitting, cabling, intarsia, picking up stitches, short rows, reading charts

The Cherty Shawlette is a one-skein project in my good friend Jeane de Coster’s newest yarn, Civility.

It knits up quickly on US7 needles — so if you’re still looking for a gift to knit, here you go!

Little back story on the photoshoots:  We originally did a photoshoot in September, and got some gorgeous pics.  Unfortunately, though I thought I was being very very careful in draping it across my shoulders with the right side out…I obviously wasn’t careful enough. Sigh.  I couldn’t expect Dave to know the difference (though now at photoshoots, I’m careful to point out which is the right side so he does know).

The Details

This simple but elegant lace pattern blends the edging with the main lace repeat, which in turn is blended with the garter stitch short row section.

Lace repeat is both charted and written.

The pattern is designed to use one skein of sport weight yarn.

Finished Measurements
Depth (edge): 8¾in / 22cm
Depth (center): 12in / 30.5cm
Outer edge: 70in / 178cm
Inner edge: 45½in / 115.5cm

Yarn
Elemental Affects CIVILITY Sport, 70% US Merino / 30% mulberry silk (400 yds / 365m per 4oz / 113g), shown in Clove. As shown, shawl used 375 yds / 343m.

Needles
US7 / 4.5mm, or size to obtain gauge
Larger needle if required for loose cast on

Gauge
13.75 sts and 24 rows = 4in / 10 cm in lace pattern (blocked)
Precise gauge is not necessary, but alterations in gauge will affect yarn requirements.

Notions
yarn needle

Skills
simple lace, short rows

Thank you to my tech editor, KT Vaughan.

I’ve been thinking of doing a podcast (and now a video podcast) for quite some time. Years, actually.  I’ve found, too, through doing the Aran Lace class and the segments for the upcoming Knitting Daily episodes that I’m a total ham happy on camera.

Right now I’m in between big projects. Since I finished up Wild West, and though I have some ideas for small collections (yes, you probably know what happens when I start off thinking small — things grow into behemoths), right now I’m just doing a series of single patterns.

So it’s a good time.

But I’m a little stuck on a name.

The podcast will be primarily knitting-related, but it’ll have sections on other stuff slightly tangential to knitting (what to read while knitting, what to watch while knitting) (because I want an outlet to be geeky about these things, and what I think will be a unique addition: veterinary-related stuff. Some stuff pertaining to knitting or crafting (including the story of a cat and a sewing needle), and some general vet tips, with the thought of soliciting general questions from viewers.

So I’d like to tie in knitting, and veterinary medicine, and Sunset Cat…any thoughts re: a catchy name?  I mean, I can always just go with Sunset Cat Podcast, but that doesn’t really encompass the vet side of things.

Please comment if you have any ideas or, um, comments.

Hi all! As part of the Indie Designer GAL we get to interview other designers, often new to us. For this installment, I got to interview Susanne Visch, LaVisch on Ravelry.

Steph: Hi Susanne!  Thank you for being an interviewee. What are your favorite items to knit for gifts?

Susanne: I must admit I’m not much of a gift knitter… Certainly I have made knit and crochet gifts in the past, but while well received, haven’t seen much or any use as far as I can tell. My husband must be the worst offender: I made him a pair of slipper socks when he was complaining about not having warm slippers to wear. This must have been my second pair of socks ever. The only time he had them on was when I made him for my project page picture.

I guess I’m firmly in the selfish knitter camp. Two notable exceptions are my children: they are very knit worthy and are regularly recipients of hats, scarves and cardigans.

Which of your patterns are great for gifts?

That really depends… For newborn babies my favorite is the Sweet as Pi baby cardigan, which can be made less geeky by using the sheep or rabbit picture instead of the Pi symbol. Most of my friends really appreciate the Pi though.

I like the Pi symbol too! What other patterns do you recommend?

The IJskristal Slouchy Hat makes a lovely gift as well and is relatively fast to knit up.

My personal favorite, however,  is the Moerbei shawlette: it can be used for dressing up or down, can be worn as a scarf or more shawl-like. That color! That texture! A touch of lace too!  When I bought that yarn I had a vision of what it should become. I worked on the design and sample when on holiday in France and it came out exactly as I envisioned. I so love it when things work out like that.

Which are most popular?

My most popular pattern is without a doubt the Handspun Delight. The big blue green one in the pattern pictures is also, hands down, my favorite go-to shawl when I just want to get warm and cozy. It is extra special for me, because I made it with various different skeins of my own handspun yarn.

Which do you think are great but overlooked?

The Gladiool Hat & Cowl Set! Almost everybody has one or more skeins of multi-colored heavy weight yarn that are just hard to find the right pattern for. That is specifically the type of yarn for which these patterns were designed. These patterns are relatively new though, so it is very well possible that the folks having yarn like this stashed somewhere in the back of their closet haven’t found it yet.

Any new designs for the GAL?

Certainly! I have just released the Zoel Hat and the matching Zoel scarf is currently in testing. I also just opened up the test for the IJskristal Convertible Scarf/Cowl, that matches the IJskristal hat. Both will probably be released somewhere mid-December.

I would also like to add, that people are always welcome in my group (La Visch Designs) for questions and fun.

Thank  you Susanne!