Design in Winter Vogue Knitting!

Taking a second out from frantically finishing another design and baking lots of cookies with the Hubbo and Kiddo to share my design in the upcoming Winter issue of Vogue Knitting (coming out January 5-- photo by Paul Amato). It's a top down cardi with a cabled yoke knit in Bergere de France Origin Mohair.

What else is coming up? Well, check the next issues of Knitscene, Creative Knitting, Knit n' Style, Love of Knitting...

The Theme is Frosting

I know, I know-- so neglected. I've been super busy on Spring designs (for Mission Falls, Nashua, Skacel, Aslan Trends, bunch of magazines and who knows what else!) and tech editing. Besides that, it's all about spinning, which has become my "fun" thing, since pretty much all my knitting is for someone else.

Over the weekend I got to attend a really cool art yarns workshop with Jacey Boggs at the Spinning Loft. I learned a ton, got to sleep over at the shop and generally had a really good time. Behold some of the yarn I made (warning- I used random fiber to practice with, so don't hold the color combos against me):



Design-wise, I've got stuff coming out soon in VK and Knitscene and then a bunch more in the Spring issues. I did a stocking design for the new (Winter) Love of Knitting (my friend Jae did one too); actually there's a bunch of stocking patterns in this issue -- check it out!

New design in Knit n' Style!

Here's my design from the December '09 issue of Knit n' Style. It was made in one of my favorite fancy yarns, Tilli Tomas Plie, and the lower portion is worked in Tilli Tomas Mariel's Crystals (the one with Swarovski crystals strung on it for ultra-bling). The lower portion is worked first from side to side with short rows to create the crystal-y wedges, then stitches are picked up to complete the front and back. The upper back is ribbed to improve the fit. Picture a fancy New Year's Eve party- that's the idea.

Nashua Handknits Fall pattern books!

Yesterday the UPS man was kind enough to bring me the new fall pattern books from Nashua Handknits. My contributions:

From the booklet "Paradise" (new yarn, also called Paradise):


And from Nashua Handknits Magazine, volume 2 (matching sweater and beret):


Right now I'm knitting spring designs for Nashua. I finished one last week in Daylily, and am doing another right now in a new yarn.

New Vogue Knitting!

The fall issue of Vogue Knitting was nestled in my mailbox today. I was so delighted to see my very first design for VK, a cabled pullover in Classic Elite Chesapeake! (Double bonus-- when the subscription card fell out, I picked it up and discovered my sweater was on it as well). I had already seen the photo from the mag at TNNA, but nothing beats having the actual magazine in your hands, you know?

I love how this one turned out! I ended up knitting two samples, the green one you see here and in the magazine, and a second in yellow for Classic Elite's booth at TNNA. The yarn is held double so it works up super fast!

New designs!

So yesterday the mailman was kind enough to bring me only good things, most notably the fall issues of Creative Knitting and Knit Simple, both with new designs of mine. Let's share, shall we?

First off, in the September Creative Knitting, this mitered square top. It was really fun to knit (just 2 pieces, a front and a back). I swatched the original in Noro Silk Garden, but the sample was knit in Wisdom Poems.

In the Fall Knit Simple, there's this little girl's jacket in Manos, part of a story they were doing on putting zippers in kid's knits. Love the model in the magazine-- she's too cute!



Also in the Fall Knit Simple, this one for the Plus Size story. It's in Zitron Ecco. I don't love yellow but I like how it turned out all the same.

Corespinning!

Inspired by yesterday's spin-in at The Spinning Loft, I'm giving it a try. I'm using crochet cotton as the core and Louet Northern Lights to wrap it on my mega jumbo Lendrum bobbin. So far, so good!

Back from TNNA

Unpacking, exhausted. Lots of nice goodies this time! Lined up some work, saw 4 books I tech edited and my new designs for Nashua, Mission Falls, Louet, Aslan Trends, Alpaca With a Twist, Knit Simple, and Vogue Knitting, plus plenty of older ones on display. Lots of chances to chat with great people I only see once a year plus met lots of people in person that I only knew through emails. Jae was a fabulous roomate and Beth o' The Spinning Loft was fun as ever. Giant and delicious cupcakes at the Interweave booth.

Next stop? Things to follow up on and getting ready for the big dance recital tomorrow.

Presenting... Spinnerino!

Emma was yearning for a wheel that suits her personality, so last night after ballet we went to Michael's and got some wheel jazzing-up supplies (and can I just say, that Krylon Fusion spray paint for plastic is really awesome?) And now, her ordinary wheel has been transformed into "Spinnerino."

Emma's New Wheel!

Here she is trying out her new Babe Pinkie.

Toe Up Wonderfulness

I've been helping Chrissy Gardiner with the tech editing on her upcoming all toe-up, circular-and-dpns-alike sock book over the past few months. Today I had the delight of taking a final peek at the laid out pages, and I have to say I was blown away. Even for a rabid sock-knitter like myself, Chrissy has tons of tidbits to share so there's something new for everyone to learn (and more than enough information and photos for the newbie to get started, including detailed descriptions of various toe-up heels, toes, etc). The patterns are gorgeous-- about half are sized for little wee people up to big strapping men, the rest are fancy socks for the ladies (several of which give Cookie a run for her money, seriously!) Best of all, there are cool little worksheets that you can copy and use to tweak your sock knitting to fit just right, using a variety of different toes and heels. Anyway, as a public service, I thought I should spread around that it's up for presale on Amazon, so have at! Toe Up!

So proud of my girl!!

Emma has become quite the spinner already! Here she is holding the yarn she spun over the weekend. She took it to school to show her class yesterday, and she said she explained to them about drafting and plying and the whole bit.

Since she's already threatening to hog my beloved Victoria (she tried the Lendrum but prefers double treadle- my Lendrum is an ST) I'm getting her a little double treadle Babe Pinkie of her own (hey the price is right and she doesn't need anything fancy yet. Plus we can paint it red, which she absolutely wants to do).

As for me, I'm back to a fairly heavy load. I'm reknitting a sweater I designed for the fall issue of Vogue Knitting (the yarn company wants a copy for their booth at TNNA), plus doing a sweater for another yarn company, one for Knit n' Style, and copious amounts of tech editing to do before TNNA in a few weeks.

Emma's First Yarn!!

Emma asked to learn to spin today... so I gave her a quick lesson on the wheel. This is the result-- better than my first try, that's for sure! She's totally into it now- I'm so excited!!

Knitting in the Sun

Kristi Porter's new book Knitting in the Sun just came out, and it features a project I designed. Behold!

Kristi wanted each pattern to be named for a favorite sunny place, and for me that has to be Ludington-- the perfect combination of beachy goodness, ice cream, and quaint atmosphere. The top is done in a smocking pattern at the top and stockinette below, with a hemmed bottom and a casing at the upper edge with elastic to avoid any unfortunate wardrobe accidents. The pattern is sized from 30-54" bust. I knit the sample in Nashua Handknits Cilantro, which I love for being a pretty stretchy cotton blend-- perfect for something like this where you want some stretch up top.

Big Relief

Been too busy to even breathe lately, but everything is finally settling down. Doing massive amounts of tech edits plus 1-2 sweaters per week was really a lot! I spent the weekend messing around with my spinning wheel though, and am looking forward to more reasonable days ahead!


So here's the spinny goodness (since the knitting can't be shown yet!)

Some 2 ply Masham I spun on my Lendrum. One of my first tries with a longwool and I liked it!



Some Merino/Seacell blend, plied with rayon sewing thread to make it wavy. Looks like mermaid hair to me.

Summer issue of Love of Knitting

Is out! I have 2 designs in this issue (my friend Jae has 2 as well), and I wrote a little article on Jae's best tips for knitting lace (she knows all). This issue has quite a few lace projects, so if that's your thing-- have at!

Happy Blogiversary to Me

4 years today! I'm surprised I've kept it up (though I admit I haven't been too good about that lately).

Finished the second Knit Simple sweater and cranking through several projects at once. It's a little (okay a lot) draining but the light at the end of the tunnel is starting to appear (I hope!) I'm really excited to be doing something for Vogue Knitting- it's my first time.

I've been working crazy hours lately (12+ per day, 7 days a week) so everything else is kind of falling by the wayside. Need to get caught up and work on my bellydance costume one of these days! (I'll admit it-- it's just a bunch of cut out pieces of fabric so far).

The past 5 weeks or so

Yes, I've been busy. You'll be seeing a lot of me this fall, it seems. :)

Brief Interlude

After knitting up four new designs for Mission Falls in the past 3 1/2 weeks (new world's record for me, especially because 2 of them were in DK weight, 2 had cables, 1 had colorwork....) I'm enjoying my new baby, a Louet Victoria (barter is not dead, baby!)



So here's what I found on my porch yesterday morning....

Opened up (so small! so compact!!)

And after a little spin.

I've been trying (somewhat lumpily) to learn to spin long draw-- so that's a bit of Polypay so spun. (I've also been trying to sample as many different fibers as possible--so far my absolute favorites are BFL, Merino, and Pygora--lots more in the stash still to try though!)

For the rest of the day, serious paperwork is in order (with perhaps a bit more spinning). Tomorrow is my birthday so I'm going to try to have a relaxing day, but that might not be possible-- lots more designs due in the next few weeks!

New design in Knit n' Style!

The preview for the June 2009 issue of Knit n' Style is up, with my wrap! This one was slated to appear in the TNNA fashion show back in January, though since I wasn't there I can't be sure that it actually was.

Issue comes out later this month.

Keeping On

Nothing for show and tell today-- busy on things that are Yet To Be Revealed. Mostly a big pile o' designs for Mission Falls, a late addition for Nashua, and some magazine stuff. I've also been working on editing some designs by a certain lovely designer that many know for her sock-related goodness (though she does a mean sweater too!) who is working on a book. In general, the usual around here.

The main thing I need to do once this latest pile is on its way is carve out some more time to work on my costumes for the impending bellydance performance! The pile of fabric, beads, and whatnot is mocking me. Practicing the dances a bit more wouldn't hurt either! Fortunately my tap costume is a readymade deal, so no sewing needed there.

Funny comment from Emma, whom I had to drag to bellydance this week (we meet at a high school). She went to the bathroom, and when she came back she complained that the restroom was "infested with teens."

The Intentional Spinner

I picked up the new book The Intentional Spinner on my way home from tap tonight. I've heard nothing but good things, and after a quick flip-through at Barnes and Noble I knew I had to have it. I managed a little spinning this week (finished a bobbin of BFL), but the main event has been finishing design samples and tech editing lately!

Speaking of which, in the past couple weeks I've knit a design for Yarn Forward (I really love this magazine-- so glad you can find it here now! I've always been as much about articles as designs in knitting magazines) and one for Louet. Right now I'm in the midst of a pile for Mission Falls (so glad I love to knit with 1824 wool!)

The edits for the next (summer) issue of Love of Knitting (comes out in April) are just wrapped up too. If you love lace, you will love this issue! There are other things, of course, and some kid and home items, but the major focus is lace. My friend Jae has 2 nice designs in it, plus 2 from me as well.

Spring issue of Love of Knitting is out!

The Spring issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Knitting is out, and I finally got to see the finished product today. Yes, I did do a design for this issue (see below), but more importantly...

Yes, I love this! Tedious though it sometimes is, I love technical editing. I feel fortunate to get so many opportunities to do so (hoping to work on another book sometime soon!)

Speaking of loving to do things, the designing is fun too, of course! Here's the sweater (in SWTC Therapi, with all the goodness of jade--still don't get how they do that!):

Super simple, knit in the round, soft, wonderful yarn.

Now back to work!

Loomy Goodness

Look what I got! It's used, but nice- it's a Beka 20" rigid heddle loom. I made an attempt at trying it out this morning before getting back to real work. I used a bit of SWTC Terra for the warp, and scraps of Noro Silk Garden for the weft. Looks weird, but good practice.

Nashua Handknits Spring pattern books!!

Today I received my copies of the new Spring/Summer pattern books from Nashua Handknits. This time around, I did two designs.

This is the first one, in Nashua Handknits Cilantro (the most springiest bounciest cotton yarn ever) from the North American Designer Collection No. 8 book. I'm especially excited about this one because it has my signature on the photo page (yes, I get excited easily- deal with it).

The is the other, from the Natural Style book. It's in Nashua Ecologie Wool, which I also love for the texture.

Not exactly knitting related...

Been REALLY busy lately (cranking out a sweater a week since Thanksgiving, I think, plus edits) so not much to share that's shareable... however, the Hubbo did make a nice cake for Emma's birthday party this past weekend.


(The theme was Littlest Pet Shop)

More stuff is coming down the line soon-- be on the lookout for the next (2nd) issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Knitting in the next few weeks. This is the first one I worked on as tech editor, plus I have a design in it as well.

New design in Knit n' Style

Rose Lace Jacket for little girls, in SWTC/Vickie Howell Collection Love, in the new April 2009 issue (preview up now, issue out later this month).

New design in Creative Knitting

My Vacation Skirt, in SWTC Pure, is in the March 2009 issue (comes out later this month, preview is up now).

Unexpected Side

People who know me know that I'm not the most, shall we say, demonstrative person. I don't cry at movies, I don't get choked up at weddings-- you get the idea. However, that's not to say that I don't have a secret sappy side. Check out the last page of the new (winter) Knit Simple to see what I mean.

New year, new yarn

Last night I finished plying my very first handspun sock yarn! It's 488 yards of superwash merino, from a Lorna's Laces top. I think it turned out pretty well!