Archive for December, 2009
A GREAT online class review from Knitty!
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Posted in Uncategorized, press | 1 Comment »
New Knitty Pattern and a New online class to celebrate!
Monday, December 14th, 2009
Woo Hoo! It’s REALLY new Knitty day!!
AND… I have a pattern in this issue!
I’m so proud to be part of Knitty’s 30th issue!
Thank you to Lorna’s Laces for contributing the yarn that made this design possible (GreenLine Worsted in “Devon”) and to Knitpicks for supplying the needles (Options Interchangables.)
Knitty has planned LOTS of giveaways to celebrate this momentous occasion, check out the Knitty site and knittydotcom on twitter for details.
I decided to celebrate by offering a new online class! (And by giving away free tuition to any one of my classes to one lucky Knitty reader!)
Design Your Own Shawl Class
This class will teach YOU to be the designer!
First, you’ll choose your own shawl shape. Either a four-sectioned shawl like “frost diamonds” (in this issue of Knitty) and “Mirth” OR a simpler, two-sectioned (half-square) triangle like many others you’ve seen online.
Next, you choose one, two, three, or more stitch patterns that work and flow together to create the body of your shawl.
Then, you’ll see how to choose a border stitch pattern to tie the whole thing together.
Finally, you’ll write your own pattern! (You’ll need to find your own testers / tech editors after the pattern is written.)
By the end of the class, you’ll have a finished shawl pattern (even if you haven’t finished your knitting) that you can share with friends, publish yourself, or even submit to a magazine!
Interested?
Class will begin on January 18 and go through February 7, 2010.
The fee for this class is $65 and you can register now by clicking on the PayPal link below, or by visiting my Online Knitting Studio.
To read more about what you can expect from my online classes, click here.
Posted in Patterns, Online classes | No Comments »
Little Houses Ornaments and Kits on Etsy
Friday, December 11th, 2009
My sister is a very talented crafter, and has recently launched a line of Christmas ornaments and kits on Etsy.
Here’s what she says:
The kits are packaged in cute fabric bags with ribbon drawstrings. They are attractive enough to give as gifts as-is (or you can make them and give finished ornaments as gifts). Each kit includes an instruction booklet with progress photos and step-by-step instructions. I also include everything you need except for needles. You get pre-cut felt pieces, embroidery floss, a hanging loop, a handful of stuffing (and beads for the Christmas House kits).
It takes about 2 to 4 hours to make each ornament, depending on how quickly you sew, and how detailed your ornament is.
She also sells patterns for cute little animals like this owl:
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Mazie and I were in a car accident on Friday…
Monday, December 7th, 2009
On Friday, Mazie and I were out doing some errands and were rear-ended at a stoplight.
I started going into premature labor (at only 28 weeks of pregnancy) and was admitted to the hospital. Mazie was also admitted for observation. Mazie was released later Friday evening, and I was kept until very late Friday night.
I did go into labor, with contractions every 2 minutes. They were able to stop the contractions with a shot (I didn’t make note of WHAT) at about 9pm, and I stayed for a few more hours for observation / fetal monitoring.
I’m happy to report that we are all ok.
This accident really made me think about how all of our lives could be changed in a second.
We are VERY lucky.
Posted in Uncategorized, just chit chat | 24 Comments »
Glam Knit Reality: ZigZag Wraparound
Saturday, December 5th, 2009
Oh! Another thing about the book is that my “working titles” for the garments just became the names of the garments. They don’t even all make sense, like this one. It’s not really a wraparound, just crosses over in front.
Here’s the Ravelry link for yarn info.
It’s really not meant for a pregnant person, but is knit to fit a plus-sized model! I’m not kidding when I keep saying I was promised to have one…I knit half the garments in a 12 -14! (38 - 40 bust) It’s meant to be worn kinda slouchy in front and down over the bum. Like a long tunic-y thing over a dress or leggings with boots. Not prissily folded under (and under) like this:
It’s a little bit twisted around in this picture, but you can see the detail of how the lace matches up in the back (it’s knit in two directions and Kitchener’d up the back.)
And here’s one just for fun with my belly:
Posted in Book Talk | 5 Comments »
Glam Knit Reality: Trapeze Jacket
Friday, December 4th, 2009
This is a sweater that I initially designed for myself while I was in the last few months of my pregnancy with Mazie. I liked it so much that I decided to put it in the book. Glam Knits: 25 Designs For Luxe Yarns
Here it is on the model:
This is yet another one that was knit to fit my promised plus-sized model but ended up pinned on a size 8. For reference, I’m 6′0″ about a 12 - 14, with a bustline currently about 40 - 42 depending.
The yoke of this sweater is knit like a typical TDR (top down raglan) but the trims are knit separately and attached. I did that for two reasons. The first is that the wavy edge of lace is the cast-on edge, unless you want to block the heck out of it every time you wash it. So, I started the lace at the hems and knit upward toward the body until I used every scrap of that gorgeous yarn. I also added extra stitches to the body trim, to give it a trapeze effect and to make sure there were enough stitches for the lace repeats.
The second reason for knitting separately was that even though the yarn is from the same dye lot, it’s pretty different in color. I used the better-matched skeins to knit this coat, then used the leftovers for what I planned to be a personal project. (Note: I never posted the book photos of the coat because…why would you want a coat that left your boobs exposed? I mean, really? More on that later…)
So, I tried to distribute the skeins so that the color difference was less noticable. When I wear it, nobody comments on the differing dye lots, but you can see that the yoke and upper body of the sweater are distinctly tan, the sleeves are blue and the hemline trim is green.
BUT…I love this sweater. Dyelots Schmyelots … it’s a great fit, it goes with jeans and dresses, and is one that I never packed away in my “I’m mad at this book” phase. I get compliments on this one all the time!
Posted in Uncategorized, Book Talk | 10 Comments »
Glam Knit Reality: Kimono Wrap
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
Ok, here’s the Kimono Wrap (Rav Link) from my book Glam Knits as it looks on me:
The belt has gotten lost somewhere along the trunkshow highway, and it doesn’t QUITE wrap all the way around my 6-mo pregnant self, but I still love it.
I didn’t even post the pic from the book…because it’s photoed inside OUT! (That was probably another big reason that I didn’t really fall in love with this book when it was new.) I designed this one to be worn as a jacket, either belted or not. You can stand the collar up, or fold it over, or just leave it off altogether when you’re knitting it. There’s no shaping, just big lace rectangles bordered with seed stitch trim. Simple. Quick to knit. HIGH visual impact. This is another one that was designed to flatter any body shape…not just you skinnies, as much as I love you!
Here I am showing off the big-needle lace (of which I am a HUGE fan…LOVE big fat lace!)
And, here’s the back…I love how it falls, and how you can see the lace at the shoulder.
This is knit in a Malabrigo semisolid, which gives the lace a lot of depth.
Again, here’s the Amazon link, in case you’d like to give the book a try. At less than $13, even if you only like THREE of the garments, it’s worth considering.
I don’t mean to sound like I’m pimping this book. I feel like I’m rediscovering these garments after about 2 years of feeling kind of bitter about the whole thing…and I want to give them their day.
Posted in Uncategorized, Book Talk | 7 Comments »
Glam Knit Reality: Bell-Sleeved Scoopneck
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
Here’s the sweater on ME:
And here it is on the model:
This is actually one of my most favorite sweaters in the whole world. In the book, it looks like it’s kinda tight around the waist, but it’s not. It’s meant to be very floaty and airy. The Suri Alpaca (from Blue Sky) is just precious. I never was a pink girl, so I thought that if I was going to do pink, it should be this delicate, soft pink, which is perfect with the loft of the yarn. I love the depth of this neckline, it’s flattering on everyone. Also love the little eyelets all around it…and I love how lacy the front darts look.
A couple more gratuitous pics:
…one of the back…
I like the little decrease detail.
When I was working on this book, I was told by my editor (who no longer works there) that I’d get to use at least one plus-sized model. I really tried hard to make sweaters that would be flattering on a whole range of body types, and was so pleased that someone like ME would be showing the garments in the book. And then, when I got to finally see the book…no plus models! Everything was pinned and tight-looking. Sigh. The perils of publishing. I guess that’s one reason I didn’t really promote it when it came out. Now I’m working on my 3rrd book, it’s almost done, and I would really like to show the Glam Knits the way they were meant to be seen. I don’t have any skinny friends to model the smaller garments, but they do fit my mannequins. I’ll try to get some more realistic shots of those, too.
The book is being marked down and down on Amazon, and you can get it for only $13. Here’s the link:
Posted in Book Talk | 6 Comments »
Glam Knit Reality: Lacy Dolman
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
This is the third in my little series of book vs reality photos, the Lacy Dolman sweater (rav link) from Glam Knits:
It’s lost a couple of buttons along the way, but you get the idea! This is yet another of the patterns that is designed to fit anyone. No shaping, simple knit rectangles sewn together with ribbing at the hem. Four-button closure just at the ribbing, designed to hit just at the underbust. The yarn is a gorgeous angora from Lorna’s Laces (see Rav link above for info) and is just like wearing a cloud. You could sub a mohair or suri alpaca for the angora, or even just use a “normal” yarn…the stitch work gives it enough of a punch on its own.
Here’s the back.
And…here’s what it looked like on the model in the book:
It’s hard to tell from her posture what the sleeves are like, and it looks kind of uncomfortable, really. The model is pretty, but she’s not showing the sweater very well.
Again, here’s the link…I love this sweater.
Posted in Book Talk | 3 Comments »
Double-Breasted Cardigan from Glam Knits…on a 6mo preggo lady
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
So. As you may have ascertained from the lack of posts on the subject…I have not gotten very far on my new Interlacements preggo sweater.
Today is kind of a down-time day, setting into my new class, recouperating after the launch of the new site. I cleaned my studio, did the dishes, and decided to put the new preggo sweater on hold. I’d rather have a sweater that I can wear for a long time than one I’ll only use for the next 3 months. And I LOVE that yarn, so I want to make something that will be in use for a lifetime, rather than a “look back on it and smile” kinda thing.
SO…while I was cleaning out my studio I decided to dig out some sweaters that I thought might work on me for this winter as - is.
Here’s the first one. This is the Double-breasted cardigan (Rav link) from Glam Knits: 25 Designs For Luxe Yarns
As it looks on the teeny model in the book:
And here it is on me:
I took off one set of 3 buttons, and I’m planning to go to the hobby store and buy 6 or 8 dark wood buttons to stitch in one long row all down the front. It’s a whole different look, isn’t it?
While I love the look and feel of my book Glam Knits, I think that some of the photos make the sweaters look somewhat inaccessible to the average Jo. This one is actually a really great, utilitarian sweater.
Here’s the back:
And, look! It actually closes in the front!
I’ve got a few more to show you…so stay tuned!