New design tuesday - stripey!

There isn't much to show this new design tuesday, it's not exactly a secret, but the the design hasn't quite worked itself out yet, so I'll just show you the stripey bits!

it also has plain bits and textured bits, and interesting construction bits. I'm certain to have more to show you next week.


Speaking of stripes, as you can see in the last post Aria has finally been released, I do love this tunic/jumper/dress, here are some more details:

Please use the “child chest” measurement to decide which size to knit, you can adjust the length from ribbing to underarm to suit your child.

Sizes 2 (3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10) years

Actual chest (child) 
50.5 (55, 57.5, 60, 62.5, 66.5, 70) cm 
20 (21.5, 22.5, 23.5, 24.5, 26, 27.5) in

Yarn: Skeinz “Prism” organic DK 104 metres (114 yards) per 50g 
(1.76 ounce) ball (www.skeinz.com) 
2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4) balls each in main colour (MC) and contrast colour (CC)

Needles: 3.25mm/US3 circular needles, 50 (50, 60, 60, 60, 72, 72)cm/20 (20, 24, 24, 24, 29, 29) in 
4mm/US6 circular needles in same length. 
3.25mm DPNS 
(Or size required to achieve gauge)

Accessories: darning needle, 3 st markers, 3 st holders or scrap yarn. Spare circular needle for pocket sts. 
Crochet hook for cast on - similar size to smaller needle.

Gauge: 22 sts x 30 rows = 10 cm over stocking st using larger needles.

The designing has definitely slowed down as I attempt to consolidate my current designs and update the patterns from Publisher to Pages (not easy). I have re-written a number of patterns to get them up to speed with my newer patterns, and that takes time., but it has to be done!

New design tuesday - Cosset

So, there are 3 patterns nearing the end of the process towards publishing right now...Aria, Evie and Cosset, however Cosset has dome a u-turn on me!

When I first asked for testers a few people asked about a "boy" version, and I agreed that this was an idea worth pursuing, then a very nice test knitter (who has a boy) gave me some great tips on how to make it more acceptable.

I have done away with the yarn overs, replacing them with a kfb, which means a little less give at the neck, resulting in the requirement to cast on provisionally, but thats not a biggie, we then scoot through the yoke, turning the work inside out after casting off the armholes, thus the yoke is worked in reverse stst without having to purl once - magic!

After working for a while in stst the garment is finished with a wide band of reverse stst and a sewn cast off to reduce the tendency to curl.

I've almost finished my version, which I'll try out on Cody, then its onto the ladies' version...this may take some thinking, I'm not keen on short row shaping using such heavy yarn...ah I know it will work itself out!

I'll leave you with a pic of the moldboard I used when I created the Plum blossom cardi, with the cardi photo added later, its a fun way to play around with ideas and colourways.

New design tuesday - tangents.

As is so often the case, I was happily knitting away at some samples for a trunk show which should be up and running this autumn, and my mind wandered, I wasn't trying to think of a new design, but one came to me, and then when I sketched a rough draft of it the ideas started flowing so thick and fast that I barely recall the original thought...

Here are the components of one of these tangents...a chunky weight body, with dk sleeves , I'm still experimenting with the section where the sleeves meet, I have a couple of options and I like both of them, hence another tangent, another twig growing off the branch of the original thought.

The 3 days on, 4 days off thing at work is working well, except for the fact that I cannot seem to get ANYTHING done when I get home from work, except for the usual cook dinner and sort out the housework, I have started freezing small meals so that I can manage to get some knitting done on my work evenings, as I am finding it exceptionally frustrating. I don't feel complete unless I have done a bit of knitting every day, so I am going to have to work on my schedule to make sure I can fit it in to my day.

Flash and I have both started out on new learning adventures...his is much larger than mine, he is backing up his wealth of experience as a GM, by studying for his PG Dip bus...the "bit of paper" he needs to prove that he can do his job, so he is very busy studying and working full-time, and I am starting "camera and composition" classes so that I can finally use my camera in manual mode most of the time and give you all much better photos!

You know, despite the rocky start, I feel this is going to be a very good year!

New design tuesday - doing ALL the things!

I'm loving my new hours (don't remind of this tomorrow when I start at 8 and finish close to 5...) I'm feeling so efficient as I managed to get my "to do now" list done, as well as my "to do soon" and I'm working on 3 other lists which each refer to a separate project and which I know will take some time to accomplish.

I've got 2 test knits on the go: Aria and Evie, and another in the pipeline (though this one may go straight to tech editing due to Christmas rushing up so fast!) and ideas filling pages of my notebooks, a new style sheet completed and I've already re-written 6 older patterns, which were designed in Publisher and are so time consuming to update to my new layout as they can't be cut and pasted.

I have even managed to make a start on my Christmas knitting, I've decided to restrict myself to baubles this year, they take less than an hour to make, so I can make one every evening until the big day. I think that is the secret of success, achieving small goals often!

New design tuesday - organic lemon

One of my favorite yarns o f. a l l. t i m e. is The Forever Green ElanOrganic merino from Skeinz. This yarn is soft and so, so cushy. It blooms like nothing you have ever seen before and although it is technically a sport weight, it behaves and gets the gauge of a DK when knitted with 4mm needles.  The colour I have used here is the Asana yellow, and although it looks a bit crunchy granola in these photos, I assure you that it isn't.

I have just finished knitting my "Evie" and am so happy with it I just had to show you (even though I haven't quite finished..I'm trying to decide wether I want buttons or big silk ribbon bows to close the sleeves a bit.

this one is for girls size 4 to 16 years, it will be fitted at just below the waist and the poncho style sleeves grow out of the waist, these can be left open or closed with buttons or bows either way they drape beautifully and finish just below the elbow, giving your girl plenty of room to move without her sleeves getting in the way. The lace insert and picot edging give a feminine touch without too much fanfare.

Testing for Evie will get underway soon.

Speaking of which...if you want to test Aria, I'm still signing knitters up over on the Just Jussi forum on Ravelry.

The other pattern in the works is that Missoni inspired top I mentioned a while back, now that everything else is out of the way I can get started!  Although I do have some Danger crafts monsters, and some Christmas baubles to finish too!