Archive for March, 2007
Fitted Knits FO and…a few questions answered…
Thursday, March 15th, 2007
This is Heather’s “Alexandra Ballet Top.” It came out SO CUTE!
As you know, we’ve compiled a few errata for the second printing of the book (link at left). When I emailed today to submit them, I found out that the book is *already* out for the second printing! (That just blows my MIND.)
SO. Updates will be in the THIRD printing.
I’ve been getting a ton of email lately, and I’d like to answer some of the more common book-related questions here.
Several people have asked me why I’ve chosen to use that double border on a lot of the garments.
I did that because I really wanted the patterns to come across as a “line.” I was thinking about consistency and having some commonality that joins all of the pieces together. I also just really like it. It’s like a frame for a picture.
People have also written to say that they see elements of various other patterns I’ve published throughout the last two years in the book, and wonder how many patterns in the book are already published.
There are elements of “Angelica” in the keyhole blouse and the shrug is the big sister of the “One Skein Wonder.” The puff-sleeved cabled cardigan has the collar of “Forecast,” but is more based on the “Astrid” cardigan. The Spencer jacket shares the front shaping of the “Boobholder.” The V-neck is a more sophisticated version of the “easy v-neck.” You’ll also see allusions to “Bad Penny,”the “Cami Tube,” and possibly a few others…”Ubernatural” influenced one piece…
I was contacted by F&W for this gig because of the Glampyre Knits online and throughout the knitting scene. Although there are patterns in the book that have progress photos or prototype photos on my site, the only one that’s published elsewhere is the “Bulky Cropped Cardigan.”
I really did make sure that you’re getting new stuff, and that you haven’t already bought half the patterns in the book.
I’ve also received a few questions about the sizing.
Most of the patterns go up to at least 45 or 46″ bustline, and I give instructions in the front of the book for custom-sizing your garments. I realize that even a 46″ bust measurement doesn’t accommodate everyone. I do feel that there is a segment of the market that is being (almost totally, except for books like Big Girl Knits, etc.) neglected, and several of the garments are sized up into the high 40s and 50s.
Posted in Book Talk, Patterns | 11 Comments »
OSW class at TNNA
Thursday, March 15th, 2007
I’m teaching a class on the OSW at TNNA. My class is Thursday, May 31, 2007 ยท 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, and costs $25 (cheap!)
(Class description is here and my ‘teacher bio’ (hee hee) is here.)
I’m teaching the class to shop owners, to that they can teach the class to their customers. I think it’ll be fun. Everyone can either bring their OWN skein of yarn or purchase one from me. I’ll have some fun custom hand-dyed yarns from pureknits to choose from.
We’re going to go through the basics step-by-step, and I’ll share some of the most common questions that people have had about the pattern and construction.
We’ll talk about some tips and tricks to helping your students visualize what it is that they’re making while they’re making it, and you’ll get to see some examples of how this pattern has been customized in various ways.
You can sign up when you register for the show.
Posted in Patterns, events | 1 Comment »
Camellia Correction
Wednesday, March 14th, 2007
There was a typo on the Camellia gauge.
Each stitch pattern should measure 2.5″ across, not 2″ after blocking.
Thanks!
Posted in Patterns | No Comments »
Woo Woo
Tuesday, March 13th, 2007
*CUSTOMIZED* Simple Knitted Bodice sighting!
Lookie-Lookie!
I know, this pattern is SO ten minutes ago*, but LOOK who FINISHED hers!!
What I really like about Yahaira’s is that she used contrasting yarns for the trims. It looks great! And it only took about a year to complete. 
*Just kidding! It’s TIMELESS, everyone should MAKE one! (I’m feeling a little full of goofballs today.)
I had a really awful (yet completely typical) thing happen today. I got a bunch of checks in the mail last week, for various reimbursements and the advance for book(II). And I put them all in my wallet to deposit. I walked to school today, and on the way I stopped at the bagel place to pick up a treat for some dudes that have been helping me out at work a lot. then I mailed a package.
When I got here, I went to look for the checks, so I could go to the bank and do the deposit. GONE. This was a LOT of money.
SO. I searched my backpack, my pockets (jeans and jacket) and called the bagel place to see if anyone turned it in (no). So, I was half considering going back to the PO to see if I’d stuck it in the package by mistake when I talked to a friend here who let me borrow his car to go home to doublecheck.
I found those checks on the shelf in my bedroom closet. What the HECK!? I was going room to room…not here (panic,)…not here (panic,)…not here (panic,)…not here (panic.) Then a final AAAH.
So now I’m totally amped up and happy.
Posted in just chit chat | 6 Comments »
The Zoner
Friday, March 9th, 2007
I lost a post this morning!
I hate that, when I write it all out, get all the the links linked, and then…poof.
So, what I was saying was…
I’ve got my To Do list narrowed down pretty well now. Something about actually being In Town for a couple weeks has really helped.
I’ve got packages to go out to day to Knitpicks and Knitscene. And a letter to this chick, who’s been pressurizing me to see Laura’s new pattern layouts. Not just as pdfs, but in person, on the paper they’re printed on. Some people. I tell ya. (That’s a quote often heard from my friend Joy. “I tell ya.”) She’s the curator at the Museum of Art here in LC and is the one who left that funny review of my book on Amazon…“I’ll die!” Thanks, Joy! You are too cute for words.
This has been a CRAZY week. Yesterday in particular. It seems like most days I fly along happily under everyone’s radar, then suddenly, yesterday, I was on a conference call, then the other line started ringing, then my cell started going off…and Google Talk was boinging. Must be something in the stars. I’ll have to check my horoscope for yesterday.
I went to bed last night before 10, and got up today at like 6:30. So I’ve been at it for a few hours. I actually DID my HAIR this morning and put on MAKEUP. These are things I usually do every day, but this week I’ve been feeling really ponytail. All week.
I was also (in the lost post) saying as how I was sitting in my studio…looking at my wall of shelves. I did like Faye and hung up all my book (II) sketches so that I can see them. I was looking at them all and matching up my yarns and projects and feeling pretty satisfied with myself. Things are so organized it’s hard to believe it’s ME. Projects are going to just be popping off the needles…1, 2, 3.
I’m actually usually really organized, but things sort of fell out of organization for a while there.
My knitting room makes me feel so at peace. Even when CNN is blaring in the living room and one of the cats puked on my embroidered silk Mary Janes from England that I bought in Germany last summer…I can come in here and chill, look at yarn and just completely zone out.
<3 love.
I’m trying to think if there’s any more news.
I’ll be at the Book Expo in NYC May 31-June 3 and then in Lexington, KY for the Bluegrass book fair on April 20-something.
Tell me about good yarn shops in Lexington. (Comments work!)
Did you read what Shannon’s up to now? Now she has a call-in radio show! Look out, you guys…pretty soon Shannon will have taken over ALL forms of media. She knits, she spins, she felts, she writes (books AND for magazines), she photographs, she publishes, she goes on TV shows, she blogs, (Shan, did I forget anything?) and NOW…she has a RADIO show!!
I sense impending world domination here….
PS: I checked my horoscope for yesterday and it says NOTHING about the craziness.
Posted in just chit chat | 7 Comments »
Finishing Stuff UP!!
Tuesday, March 6th, 2007
I’m feeling pretty accomplished today. Over the weekend, I finished several things that had deadlines.
Here’s a little hint of one of them. This is for Knitscene:
I’m not showing whole pictures of this stuff, because I *know* you. When you finally see them in the wild, you say, “Tsk! That was on her BLOG!” (Don’t worry, I do the same thing.)
And then there was one other pattern that I know you’ll die when you see. You’ll say, “Is that by OUR Stefanie?” And that’s all I’m sayin’. It’s a departure from my norm. But it’s not out till like Winter 07-08, so you’ll forget by then.
Saturday we got our bikes out and rode around a while. We went to the University Art Museum. They’re showing the African Art collection of a former professor there. Then, Nate had to go ride his bike on over to the shop for a tuneup. Something about the tension on the rear derailer. He just got a really cute 10-speed on eBay. It’s perfect…’cept for that derailer.
It was a really nice day. Art show, bike riding, finishing up of the knits. I can’t really remember what we did on Sunday. Usually we just each hole up in our individual spaces and try to squeeze every drop of free time out of the remaining few seconds of the weekend.
I did no emailing this weekend, and have been signed out of Google Talk since Friday night. I’m just sorta in a mood. Not a *bad* mood, per se, just sorta (*Sigh*).
Is everyone already all excited for TNNA??? Just 3 months and a couple weeks away! I’m teaching a CLASS!!
Posted in just chit chat | 6 Comments »
WWOOOooo
Tuesday, March 6th, 2007
Posted in Book Talk | No Comments »
Sketchbooks
Thursday, March 1st, 2007
This weekend, I spent some time re-re-re-organizing my studio. I was looking for one of my sketchbooks, and couldn’t find it. (The tan one on the far left.) I’ve got a lot of different books, but the thick black one with stuff sticking out of it is the most free-flowing of all of them.
I took some photos of some of the pages, just to share how I keep track of my ideas. I need to get back in the habit of carrying one with me all the time. I miss it.
My hands are such a mess right now. It’s “windy season” and so dry and dusty. I’ve been walking to work the past two weeks. I love it, but still have to get used to wearing my sunscreen-enriched super duper lotion.
This has been a pretty good week so far, I guess. I went to acupuncture on Tuesday. I’m so loose now! I quit going pretty abruptly in August last year, and just started back up again. I missed it! I love my acupuncturist, too. She and her husband have a really interesting office. I’ll try to take some pics next time. It’s pretty good. It’s messy, but not dirty. I’m so so happy with everyone I see here in Las Cruces. The hair cutter, the dentist, the nurse practitioner, the gyno…who else…the yarn store, the organic market. Everyone is so good. They’re so NICE.
But yeah, getting back to the puncture has been great. I LOVE going. And I feel SO GOOD.
Oh! Just a note: if you’ve emailed me with a question or something and it’s taking me a long time, please remind me.