Tag Archives: Knitting

I’m a big fan of Craftsy classes — I love that you can ‘take’ them at your own pace and rewatch as needed.

Did you know that Craftsy offers some really great free mini-classes?  There are several knitting classes available (though I’ll admit I’ve signed up for a bunch of the sewing and cooking classes too).

Short Rows with Carol Heller

Ins and Outs of Grafting with Anne Hanson

Know Your Wool with Deb Robson

Creative Cabled Necklines with Fiona Ellis

 As a Craftsy affiliate, I get a commission if you sign up using the above links; rest assured I would not be posting if I didn’t think them more than worthwhile!

It’s nearly here! I’m planning on releasing it this coming Monday August 25th.  It’s full of fun and fast accessories to knit — many are unisex, and all are perfect for gift giving.

These are patterns that really let the colors, fiber content and textures of the yarns shine.  They’ll work well with solid, semi solid, heather, and even hand painted yarns.  They should also work well with handspun yarn.

I’m going to just release this e-book rather than doing preorders.  However, I’d still like to offer blog readers a discount.

Use code TEXTUREDBL for $4 off the e-book between the release date and midnight PST September 1st 2014. (Hint: if you’re a newsletter subscriber, keep an eye out for a code to get a bonus pattern (a companion pattern to the Painted Desert Hat, requested by my awesome testers!) as well in an upcoming newsletter.)

For those of you asking about single patterns — they’re coming! I expect to release Lace 2 mid September then the single patterns after that.

I’m sure every indie knitting designer goes about designing their collections differently, but here’s what I do.

1. Decide upon a theme.  This is the driving force behind the collection.  It guides pattern choices, color palette, yarn choices, and more.
2. Decide on the palette.  I like to have a palette from which I work; to me it makes the collection feel more cohesive.
3. Have a broad idea of what types of patterns I want to do.
4. Start working on specific inspiration idea, colors, and yarns for each pattern. Often I will get yarn in an appropriate colorway, then decide on the pattern specifics later. This usually happens in person at TNNA or other yarn-related events.  Otherwise I’ll come up with a pattern idea and then find specific yarn for it.
5. Develop the patterns. Write rough drafts of the patterns, including charts, grading, schematics, etc.
6. Knit the object from the rough pattern, adjusting as needed.
7. Send the pattern to the tech editor.
8. Lay out the pattern in accordance with my style sheet.
9. Get the pattern test knit. (This in itself has a slew of steps!)
10. Photography.
11. Write any additional supporting material.
12. Locate any other supporting material such as supplemental photographs, etc.
13. Hyperlink to appropriate websites.
14. Double check all formatting.
15. Ensure patterns are consistent (same text for same type of actions, same formatting, etc).
16. Ensure all the charts and keys are consistent (font, layout, background color, index line width and color, etc).
17. Ensure the masthead information is correct and has hyperlinks as appropriate.
18. Ensure all the abbreviations are listed.
19. Update the table of contents.
20. Ensure I have all the info from the yarn companies re: contact info, blurb, etc.
21. Get blurbs/comments for the back cover.
22. Send to copy editor.  Possible second pass by tech editor.
23. Review.
24. Print working copy.
25. Review again.
26. At some point (usually any time after #7) upload draft patterns to Ravelry.
27. Send out review copies.
28. Final export to PDF.
29. Publish to Ravelry (and then other sites).
30. Post to blog, Rav group, other groups as appropriate.
31. Send to Knit Picks.
32. Get PDF to distributor (or break into individual patterns, which requires, of course, more formatting, checking, etc!).

I’m sure I’m leaving stuff off, and obviously, a lot of those steps have sub-steps.  Right now, with TEXTURED and LACE 2, I’m anywhere between #7 (my tech editor has the last 3 shawl patterns to edit) and #22 (TEXTURED is with the copy editor).

Another pattern release! This is the Bees and Honeybees Stole, from the Knit Picks Sock Yarn Scarves booklet (also available as an individual pattern or kit with pattern and yarn).

I love the Honeybee knit stitch; I’ve used it in the Zylphia sweater and the Zylphia cowl.  I paired it with the Bee stitch, also a vintage stitch I found in a Barbara Walker stitch dictionary.

I did a version in agate heather, the same color as my fingering weight Pinyon Jay cowl, but I do love the bright sunny yellow they chose!

Here are the details:

Finished Measurements
8.25″ wide
80″ long.

Yarn
Knit Picks Stroll Sock Yarn (75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon; 231 yds/50gm): Dandelion 25024, 3 balls.

Needles
US 3 (3mm) 24″ or longer circular needles, or size to obtain gauge

Notions
Yarn Needle
Scrap Yarn, Stitch Holders or spare needle

Gauge
Approx 33 sts and 32 rows = 4″ in Main Repeat pattern, blocked.

Just released: the Tiltawhirl Cowl, part of the Malabrigo Quickies program!

The Tiltawhirl Cowl is a great small project for someone who’s done one or two simple cabled projects and wants to try something with an extra twist (pun intended). The cable itself leans to the left.

It’s worked in the round with a shifting beginning of round marker. Top and bottom edges are ribbed.

Because of the small repeat, the size of this cowl is very customizable if you choose to work a different size than those offered; just increase or decrease your cast on stitch count in multiples of 7.

Sizes
S (M, L)

Finished Measurements
Circumference: 21¾ (28½, 36½)in / 55 (72.5, 93)cm
Height: 6½ (8½, 8½)in / 16.5 (21.5, 21.5)cm

Yarn
Malabrigo Rios, Merino Superwash (210 yds/192m per 3.53oz/100g): 1 (2, 2) skeins (174 (269, 374) yds / 159 (246, 342)m), shown size M in Sunset.

Needles
US8 / 5mm needles, or size required to obtain gauge
US7 / 4.5mm needles

Gauge
28 sts & 26 rounds = 4in / 10 cm in cabled pattern with larger needles
Note that the stitch gauge for the cables is smaller (more sts per inch) than the row gauge.

Notions
(1) stitch marker, yarn needle

Skills
knitting in the round, cabling

Pattern has both charts and line by line instructions.

And here it is — the last of the Wild West patterns! If you’d like to test, head over here.

I expect the e-book to be out by mid September.

Textured is coming up soon. I’m trying to reschedule the photoshoot for earlier (fingers crossed!).

After blocking the FW Cereus, I went ahead and cast on for the FW Buteo.  I don’t have any good WIP pics — I’m only on Row 12 — but here’s a pic of the oh-so-lovely yarn:

The colorway is, as you can read, Terracotta.  It’s a rich, warm brown with hints of orange. The silk content makes it just glow.

I’m hoping to get this one finished by the end of next week.  Like the FW Cereus, it’s not going to be a small shawl, but at least it’s not as many stitches as the laceweight version!  Instead of 11 reps of the feather I’ll be working 7 reps.  The repeat is also shorter.

The fingering weight Cereus (can’t really call it ‘small’, though it’s only 5 reps of the flower rather than 9) is now up for testing in the Rav Group here.

It’s in Anzula Dreamy in Gravity and takes a little more than 1.75 skeins.  Can I just say this yarn is truly dreamy to work with??? Loved it!

Well…Buteo is done, but based on feedback from testers I’m doing fingering weight versions of it and Cereus.  That means the photoshoot is pushed back to mid August as I furiously try to finish two new shawls.

I’m about 2/3 done with the small Cereus.  I had to re-do a few of the charts, and decided to do it with the main body as garter stitch, rather than stockinette.  I’ll be doing the same with the small Buteo — tweaking the charts, garter vs stockinette.

I’m doing the small Cereus in Anzula Dreamy, in the Gravity colorway, on US5 needles. Pics to follow when it’s blocking!

Here’s a pic of the large Buteo blocking:

It’s up for testing in the group here.