A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

In honor of Independence day I’m going to do something independent! I had mentioned here and around that I had a pattern that was to be published in a certain knitting magazine online this month. For what ever reason, the editor chose not to use my pattern and has decided not to reply to my requests for an explanation.

Since I’ve been telling the world about my design, though without much detail and since I had planned for this to be a summer project; I’m going to present it myself.

Introducing Midsummer – A light, lacy wrap for those magical Midsummer nights, this shawl was inspired by the Elfin lace stitch in Barbara Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns. The elegant drape and simple repeating lace pattern provide the perfect medium for showing off those skeins of handpainted lace yarn in your stash. The version above was knit by Sandy and she did an amazing job! Here is a closeup that Sandy took after blocking:

And here is a shot I took of it from the back:

Everyone who has seen the shawl in person seems to really love it and I feel its a great design for working with handpainted yarns; the simple stitch doesn’t get lost in the color changes. . .

Edited 7/5: Thank you everyone for your interest in the shawl and your kind comments about it and the whole situation. At this time we’ve (more than) reached the 100 requests for copies of the pattern. I’ll be sending those out shortly. For anyone that missed the give-away but would still like a copy the pattern is now availabe for sale on my site either as a PDF which will be emailed to you or as a print version sent by regular mail. Thank you everyone!

Just in case you haven’t already seen this one . . . .

Laura over at Sugar Bunny Boulevard is organizing a drive for Afghan squares for the folks in Greensburg KS. If you have a few minutes in your knitting schedule, how about making a square? Directions for the size they are looking for ar on the site . . . and its a great way to use up some extra stash or some scrap yarns you have just hanging around . . . I’ll be casting mine on this afternoon . . .

I’m nearing completion on a sweater I’ve been working on for a while now. I cant’ show it to you as its being submitted for publication . . . but I can tell you I really, really like the way its turning out! And if all goes well, you’ll see it this fall. Please keep your fingers crossed for me . . .

Okay, gotta run, dishes to do and then time to seam the sweater . . .

I’m starting to understand why there are so few sweaters out there for men. I had an idea for one and started recently working on swatches. I was going to use a stitch that I recently used for something else. So I got the yarn I want to use for the sweater and last nights project was to swatch the stitch/yarn combo.

Yeah, well, my “focus group” of one, my DH loved the stitch I picked when presented in small yarn, sock weight actually, but didn’t like it at all when shown in worsted weight. What did he like? The plain stockinette gauge swatch I had done!

And this is why designing for guys is difficult. If you want to do anything with a stitch and not just acres of stockinette stitch they want you to knit them a sweater out of sock yarn! Yeah, like that is going to happen anytime soon. Great, it would be “machine washable” but can you imagine knitting a full size sweater for a grown man in yarn that swatches at 8 st x 10 rows inch? It would take F-O-R-E-V-E-R

A quick check in Sweater wizzard gives an estimate of casting on 180 st/ increasing to 200 and then knitting 250 rows before you reach the shoulder shaping – and that is just for the back!!!!! That’s over 50,000 stitches just for the back of the sweater! I bet you I could knit a full size afghan for the couch, in worsted weight for less stitches than that sweater would use!!!! So not going to happen!

Book drawing

I’m a little behind schedule on posting the next book . . . and the next one in the pile is:

Its an interesting read and I did enjoy it. So if your interested send an email to martheme at yahoo dot com and I’ll do a drawing form emails received on Monday.

I had more to write, but the child is calling me so I’d better go . . .

Projects, projects everywhere and never enough time to knit!

I’m working on the toe decreases for the sock I showed you a few days ago. I reallly like how its turned out and I really like the rib stitch . . . so much so that I’m considering using it for another projects . . . however, that is one I can’t really tell you much about yet.

Over the past two days I revised the Basic sock pattern. It had been written for Java yarn which is now discontinued, and I needed it to be written for Classic sock yarn and now it is. The directions ended up on 3 pages since I changed the wording so it is now for 3 sizes and I made notes for doing it on DPN, 2 Circs or Magic Loop.

Actually, its kinda funny. I read a discussion on KR recently by someone who had thoughts about a sock club they had signed up for . . . and apparently so did a few other people. And I came away from that discussion with the sense that most sock knitters must want to see patterns specifically written for their technique (or all 3 so they have a choice) but when I posted about finding a ML pattern with clear instructions so I’d have an example of a good one to go by . . . the response was that people would rather see the pattern just spell out which stitches are the instep and which are the heel/sole and let them figure it out from there . . .

So which would you rather? Very specific instructions in all three techiniques in the same pattern? or a shorter pattern that tells you simply which 1/2 of the stitches are which and lets you settle the technique issues on your own? Help me out here, cause I’m confused!!!!!

I’ve written the basic pattern to be very specific at this point; I’m kinda assuming that someone ordering a basic pattern is more likely to be new to sock knitting . . . and I’m thinking of writing the other patterns the other way, with simple notes as to which stitches are which and perhaps a note like “For ML reposition here” where you would need to reset yourself . . . does that make sense to you?

I’m hoping to get a bunch of knitting and pattern writing done over the next couple of days. Nonna is away for another week so I don’t plan to do any dyeing anytime soon . . . though I should start winding more yarn so I’ll be ready . . .

Ah, well back to it . . .

Is Temporary Insanity still used as a legal defense?

’cause if it is, that is what I plead, really.

I’m really not certain just what came over me. I don’t even like knitting with cotton or acryllic. I certainly don’t need more yarn. And I definately don’t need to start another project right now. I’ve got too many going as is!

Yet somehow, when I went to Michaels yesterday for a few more bead for some stitch markers I was making . . . . these 8 skeins of cotton ease followed me home.

In my defense, I spent a good part of yesterday doing the semi-annual closet clean out/flip over, pulling out all the winter stuff and trying to stock in all the summer stuff. Turns out I don’t have much for summer stuff these days. A few pairs of shorts a couple of tops but only 2 summer sweaters, both store bought.

So somehow, when I saw that the cotton ease was on sale I started getting visions of knitting up a quick summer cardigan. Something light and lacey with a few small buttons and perhaps a 3/4 sleeve . . . or perhaps I’ll even turn it into a twin set? Hmm, that would require more yarn I think. I guess we’re going back to Michaels for a few more skeins later today.

I very briefly entertained the idea of just knitting up something someone else had already designed. Afterall, I could probably knit a single sweater fairly quickly these days, even between the other projects, if I don’t have to do the math and all the design . . . right? So I considered doing a Sitcom Chic. Yeah, I know I’m a few years behind the trend on that one . . . but hey, better late than never right? But after reading through the pattern and studying the photo I decided it isn’t quite what I’m looking for. I’d like something lacier, a bit lighter so that the sweater isn’t too heavy.

And since I’m going to do the design myself I figure might as well make it something that I can use for Inspirations, right? And that is how I wind up with yet another pattern idea running loose in my head, just knocking around trying to find a way out into the yarn. Some days that is what it feels like . . . all these ideas trapped in there just waiting for me to let them out onto the paper and into the yarn . . . perhaps that is part of why I have a migraine today?

Un-named sock progress . . .

The as-yet-to-be-named sock is moving along nicely. I’ve turned the heel on the first one. I’m doing the first in Magic Loop so that I can work out that set of instructions and I’ll be doing the second one on DPN so that I can work out the “other” set of instructions. I really like the texture of the stitch I’m using on this pattern. Nice and springy feeling. I really believe texture is important, especially in sock knitting. And the stitch is relatively simple, making it easier to memorize and the knitting is going fairly quickly. Not only that, but I like the way the stitch and the color changes in the yarn are coming together. Overall, I’m pretty happy with this one.

Sweater design project

I haven’t knit on the current sweater design for a few days now. I’m hoping to pick it up again later today. I’m about 1/2 through the back of it and think if I can keep myself from starting anything new for just a few more days I can finish this and get it sewn together. That will leave me a few days to get a good day for photos and a little time to actually write up the pattern. Gosh I hope this submission sticks, I really like this design a lot and I think others will too if I can just get it out there!

And once I clear this sweater from my head I can let the next one that I need to get written up come to the surface. I’ve got a great idea for . . . sorry, can’t tell ya . . . and I’ve got a test knitter all lined up to work on it . . . I just have to get the pattern written so we can get moving on it!

Okay, time for more headache meds . . . wish me luck getting rid of this thing so I can get some knitting done today!

And Happy Mother’s Day!