I'm finally finished with tech editing the two sock books. The second book was by a well known sock designer who has an absolutely fabulous way of writing her sock patterns to use charts.

I love tech editing. With most patterns, I need to visualize the stiches as if they are being knit, so it feels as if I actually went through the process of knitting the piece. It's a fabulous learning technique for me because all I need to do is read through (and visualize, of course) the pattern. The knitting part is totally skipped, and that 's the part that takes so long.

So, I absolutely LOVE when I come across a designer who has ingenius techniques and methods in their designs. I learn so much.

Of course, being so inspired another design has appeared. I'll post a better photo once it's aired (yes, I said aired). I don' want to ruin the surprise.

But take a look at that yarn! Isn't it beautiful? I think so. It's CEY's Alpaca Sox Kettle Dyes—I LOVE IT! It's still not available, but it should be in the next month or so

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One down, three to go!

August 27th, 2008

Yay! (doin' the happy dance!)

The first of 4 hush hush sweaters is sewn together, which for me, means the hard part is over. I still need to put a little trim on the back neck, but that will take me a whole fifteen minutes. So, as far as I'm concerned, this sweater is DONE man!

I had to make this one as an extra large, so I wasn't able to try it on myself... well, I did anyway, but it certainly didn't give me a good idea of what it might look like in the photographs. My sister is going to be the model, and I'm bringing it to her tonight to try on... but being super eager to see how it would fit, I asked one of my co workers to put it on. It fit her BEAUTIFULLY—I'm SO in love with this design... now if only it didn't need to be knit in pieces and sewn together I may have the urge to knit one for myself...

leftover yarn

Scarf for sale.

August 21st, 2008

A co-worker of mine just informed me that Vogue Knitting has the pattern for my Woven Scarf (from the cover of the 2006 Holiday issue) for sale on their website.

Linky.

Sweater pieces!

August 21st, 2008

One of the hush-hush sweaters I'm working on right now was designed (and written) in the standard back, front and two sleeves way. Which not only means that I have to cast on, knit, bind off four times but that I'll also need to sew them together afterwards. I have issues with this method of doing things... It's more mental than anything else. I find that I tend to want to cast on once, knit and when I bind off, Vóila a sweater! I know that it can't always be done this way, and this design certainly would not have worked out well that way. So, it HAD to be done in pieces... but I guess I really just don't enjoy knitting this way.

I've realized (again) that casting on to knit the back, then finishing the back is a wonderful feeling. But then I feel the slight dread of having to cast on to knit another piece. So I procrastinate... then cast on for the front, then finish the front. Phew, almost there... AHH 2 more pieces—sleeves! This time I've cast on both sleeves at the same time. I just knew I wouldn't be able to handle casting on for a fourth piece. While finishing each piece is rather enjoyable, I always tend to hesitate or get pulled in other directions between binding off and casting on. It's hard for me to keep my mind concentrated on something unfinished if part of me thinks it's "finished"—even if it's only part of it...

Well, at least I'm on the sleeves now, once these are done there is no more casting on for this sweater!

Note to self: If you're going to design something this way, hire a test knitter, don't knit it yourself. Or, even better: get more creative with the sweater construction to avoid such issues.

Knit Pickings

August 16th, 2008

I don't get into yarn stores often, but when I do I take the time to enjoy the store as much as possible. Unfortunately this morning I had to attend a memorial service for a death in the family. To lighten my mood afterwards I went into a yarn store I happened to see on the drive there—Knit Pickings in Plaistow, NH.

I enjoyed looking through the yarns, seeing yarns that are similar to Classic Elite's yarns and setting them aside, thinking "Oh, I could use Montera, or Inca Alpaca, they're similar enough." I did however, love to see the yarns that didn't make me have thoughs like that. Berroco's Seduce (center photo) really drew me in. Such a beautiful combination of rayon, silk, linen and nylon. I sat with it on my lap during the remainder of my drive home, occasionally lifting it to smell it and touch it against my cheek, thinking of what it wants to become. When I do go into yarn stores I try to limit myself to purchasing 1 ball of each yarn I fall in love with. But with Seduce, I just HAD to buy 3; one of one color, and two of another.

I talked with the girl there, Kelly I believe her name was, about organic and eco friendly yarns. While they didn't have any on hand, she did say that there are lots of people who ask about them, and the store owner is planning on carrying more yarns like that soon. I was happy to hear that.

As I turned around a corner I was stunned to find a knitted Summer Breeze Headband adorning a manequine, with a little tag referencing the CEY Web-Letter. There were a few other samples knit up from the Web-Letter. The new Fall booklets were displayed beautifully around the top of a spinning display rack, and there were so many other customers in the store, poor Kelly could have used some help in there, but she did her best, and with a smile. I loved seeing how much yarn was being purchased. What recession?

I must say it was one of my best yarn store experiences... I guess that's why I'm writing about it.

Feels like Fall

August 8th, 2008

I'm totally engrossed in designing for fall right now. The weather around here has been pretty cool and rainy the past few weeks, so it's been changing my knitting mentality away from summer knits and into what's coming next—Fall. I really didn't get very into spring/summer knits that much this year. I've noticed that I sort of skip a season every once in a while… it's hard to explain. Here's an example: I'll design full force for Fall, then design some for the following Spring... then totally skip the next Fall season... but when the following Spring comes around, I'm back at full force, then that following Fall I only design some... skip the next Spring... etc. It seems to work for me. It's interesting to notice these kinds of things.

The end of August/beginning of September there are SO many publications requesting designs, both for cool and warm weather. Since I've been pretty inspired lately, I'm going to see what I can do to submit something to all of them. That's the goal anyway. I really enjoy the anticipation that comes with waiting for a magazine design to debut. At the moment, I have nothing out there to anticipate. The Fall 08 CEY line really took up ALL my creative juices, but that was certainly only temporary. They're flowing now, that's for sure!

My Raw journey

Patterns for Sale

Tweed Beret

Violet, the Slouchy Head Friend

Lush Woven Scarf

Petal Socks

River of Life Socks

Crochet Motif Cardigan

Beatrice Ribbed Tie Coat