Interweave Knits Summer 2012

Greetings again, knitters.  Now for the happy news of the day.  I am proud to announce that I have two patterns in the new issue of Interweave Knits.  They are Endira Necklace and Sakura Tee.  You can see the preview for the entire issue of Interweave Knits Summer 2012 here.  So many lovely patterns in this issue, I can't wait to get my copy.

Photos are courtesy of Interweave, except for the close up photo of the necklace.  This is my own image, I added it to show the close up detail of the necklace.

Endira Necklace:  Designing a knitted necklace was a challenge.  With the exception of knitted wire and beads, I haven't found too many knitted necklaces that I thought were fashionable and wearable.  While pondering what I could design, I happened to see a collar style necklace on the pages of Lucky magazine.  I felt like it was sheer serendipity that I saw it and grabbed some graph paper and started designing the lace pattern.  Interweave sent me a lovely linen laceweight yarn in a sage green that completely complimented the silver beads.

Sakura Tee:  I love lace and I love designing with a counterpane construction.  Maybe you can say that counterpane is my 'thing'.  Sakura is an adventure in multi-directional knitting.  The front is begun in the center of the flower motif and worked outwards.  Increases are worked in four corners to make a square.  Each side of the square is separated and each side continued on in Stockinette stitch.  The yokes are worked in an eyelet mesh and the edges are worked in a simple k2, p2 rib.  I used Cascade Pima Silk and it knitted up like a dream.  I only had one previous experience with cotton, and it gave me tremendous amounts of wrist pain and numbness is my fingers.  This yarn was the complete opposite.  It glided around my needles (not too slippery, not too stiff) and had the most wonderful sheen and drape.  I would love to work with this yarn again.  Sakura Tee is meant to be worn with a couple inches of positive ease, to make a comfy but chic tee to wear in hot weather.

The evil "C" word: Copyright

"Copyright"- no other word, when mentioned on Ravelry, can bring such vitriol and heated arguments.  Usually I skip over those discussions that argue what copyright covers and what is actually means.  It can all be confusing, as some people think that copyright, licensing, and trademark are all the same thing and finding clear and decisive information is difficult.  Today on Twitter I stumbled across a tweet linking to this free e-book by Knitting Daily on copyright.  It provides clear information and explanations for knitters, designers and yarn store owners.  I think you have to be a member of Knitting Daily to see it, but it is worth signing up if you aren't already a member.  You can find out (in plain English) what exactly you are allowed to do with a pattern and it's accompanying photos.

More exciting news later on today.

Morrison Cardigan available for sale from Interweave

My Morrison Cardigan, originally published in Knitscene Fall 2011, is now available as an individual pattern pdf download from the Interweave Store.  It is a drape front cardigan worked in a textured stripe with a solid lace yoke.  This is one of my favorite designs, and I am dreaming of the day when I will have time to knit one for myself in a squooshy alpaca yarn.

Pattern available here for $5.50

Stitches South

I'm back from Stitches South and had a fabulous time.  I will start off by saying that I was bad and didn't take a single photo.  I was too busy having fun!  I started off by wandering around the marketplace for a couple hours and managed to spend all my yarn money on gorgeous yarns by independent yarn dyers.  Among them were Madelinetosh, Miss Babs, Neighborhood Fiber Company, and Dragonfly Fibers.  I try to buy indie dyed yarns in person because photos just don't do justice to the vibrant color variations.  While I can't show you my yarns in person, here is a photo of my colorful purchase.  I can't wait to finish my current freelance projects and start designing with these yarns.

 

My most favorite purchase was from the Fiesta Yarns booth, and it wasn't even yarn!  It was a lavender scented lotion bar made by Milk and Honey.  Here is their awesome website.  I think I see more lotion bars and handmade soap in my future.

I took two classes and both were awesome.  First was Designing a Triangle Shawl with Brooke Nico.  She presented us with a very clear presentation on how triangle shawls are shaped and how to work in additional lace repeats as the shawl gets bigger.  Then we were on our own and got to design our own triangle lace shawl.  On Sunday I took The Entrelac Shift with Gwen Bortner.  The focus of the class was how to incorporate other stitch patterns with entrelac and have a smooth transition.  Gwen provided excellent physical samples and lots of humorous stories while we were working.  Overall the classes were great and I would love to go back next year!

Out in the Garden & Stitches South

Lots of super secret knitting going on around here, which unfortunately I can't share for awhile.  But what I can share is a few pictures from my garden.  It was my New Year's resolution this year to rid myself of my very black thumb and learn how to grow my own vegetables.  The first round failed miserably, but the second round is still going strong.  So far I have been enjoying homegrown lettuce, radishes, beets, chives and parsley.  In February I was grumbling about how slow my plants were growing, so my husband humored me and bought me some lettuce seedlings.  We have eaten most of that lettuce, and much to my surprise after picking off all the  leaves more lettuce is growing back!  I was happily shocked when I saw the new leaves sprout.  Well, I guess it is the plant that keeps on giving.  I went out this morning after the rain stopped to give my plants their daily inspection.  I had a furry little helper too, who was keeping an eye on the mail man.

I will be moving in a few months, and hopefully my new home will have a patio or some sort of space for my container garden.  I'm hoping to even have enough room for some vines- maybe cucumber, zucchini or pumpkin.  Or maybe all three?  Whenever my husband wants to go to Home Depot or Lowe's I always wander into the nursery and daydream in front of all the seed packets.  Speaking or seeds, (or I guess writing of seeds) I have a special picture of my favorite plant.  This is a cherry tomato plant that I grew from seeds and it has sprouted its first batch of tomatoes.  It might sound funny to anyone who grew up in the country, but being a city girl I have a certain pride when I put the bowl of salad on the dinner table and say "Hey, I GREW all the stuff in this bowl!"

On another note, Stitches South is this weekend in Atlanta and I get to go!  So happy!  This will be my first year going to any sort of knitting convention.  I'm going alone, so I am a little nervous.  I don't get to interact with other crafters here in Georgia, so it will be a welcome relief to see some handknits and knitting needles. I'm taking two classes, Design Your Own Triangle Shawl and The Entrelac Shift: Combining Fabrics for Maximum Effect.  I've spent a lot of time trying to learn both of those subjects on my own and didn't get too far, so I can't wait to take these classes.  Of course I am also excited about buying more yarn.  I'm hoping to find some Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light.  I have a few designs in mind that I think would pair perfectly with the sheen and drape of that singles yarn.

Well, hopefully my next post will be a summary of the goings on at Stitches.  See you then!

New Pattern: Olexa Vest

Happy Spring!  I am proud to announce that I am releasing a new pattern, Olexa Vest.  The Olexa Vest is a fitted striped vest with bias striped pockets and broken rib trim. The body is worked flat in one piece from the bottom up. The pockets are knit on the bias and sewn on. The flattering deep v neckline is accented with a shaped rib trim. This vest is meant to be worn with little or no positive ease in the bustline.

For more information, see the Ravelry pattern page.
$6  


FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 31.25 (34.5, 38, 41.5)[44.75, 48, 51.55]”
Length: 20.75 (21, 22, 22.75)[23.25, 24, 24.75]”

MATERIALS NEEDED
Worsted weight wool yarn.
Color A: 200 (220, 250, 280)[300, 340, 380] yards
Color B: 250 (280, 320, 360)[400, 440, 490] yards

NEEDLES
US #6/4 mm 16” and 32” circular needles
Adjust needle size to get correct gauge.

GAUGE
19 sts and 27 rows = 4” in Stockinette Stripe

SKILLS NEEDED
working in the round
long tail CO
cable CO

three needle BO
mattress stitch
k2tog
ssk
p2tog
ssp
RLI (right lifted increase)
LLI (left lifted increase)
kfb

FO: Mariposa Turquesa

I have finished knitting my Mariposa Shawl, this time using Knit Picks Aloft in a gorgeous shade of turquoise named Kenai.  This luscious mohair/silk blend is incredibly soft, lightweight and warm.  The beads are a mix called 'Blue Iris' and are shades of blue, purple, turquoise, green and bronze.  Worked in three sections of feather and fan stitch, this shawl has a nice shape that drapes easily over the shoulders and stays put.  No having to fuss with a shawl pin.  The beaded picot bind off takes awhile, but totally worth the effort.

I Am Not Superwoman

This is my little doggie in the photo, but might as well have been me all weekend.  Didn't want to get out of bed, being rolled up in the sheets all day seemed like the nicest place to be.  We all make big plans for ourselves that, inevitably, never work out.  There are only so many hours in the day, and a person only has so much energy.  This weekend that was me, burned out.  I did practically nothing crafty all weekend,  not even cooking.  I spent most of Saturday asleep due to a headache and most of Sunday watching movies.  I saw The Hunger Games in the theater then In Time as a Netflix rental.  And you know what?  It felt ok to not really *do* anything.  Sometimes we just need a break to recharge.  By Sunday night a new design had popped into my head and I attempted to chart it out.  It has a few glitches to be worked out, but I was happy to have the wheels turning in my head again.  Now I'm ready to hit the road running again, starting with a very-tedious-but-worth-the-effort beaded picot bind off for a shawl.  Happy Crafting this week!