New Patterns

I have a pattern in the Winter 2011 issue of Knitcircus magazine which will be released  on November 16th.  Until the issue goes live, I can't show more than just a hint of the what the pattern is.  So here is about tiny snippet of my new pattern, entitled Rosebud, after the iconic sled in Citizen Kane.

I can however show full photos of another pattern that was recently released.  Earhart, is a twist on the typical aviator hat.  It features a textured herringbone flap which is secured to the body of the hat with oversized buttons and is knit out of Knit Picks City Tweed HW, which is an extremely soft yarn. The pattern is available from my Ravelry store or you can purchase it from Knit Picks where it is a part of their Independent Designer program.

Emmett Vest - Petite Purls Fall 2011

Just last week the Fall 2011 issue of Petite Purls went live.  Although I normally look forward to every new issue of this magazine since I have two kids to knit for I was anticipating this issue even more than usual.  The reason is that my pattern 'Emmett' appears in this issue.  This pattern marks two firsts for me in the realm of knitting design.  It is my first garment design and it is my first non self published pattern.  Seeing the issue go live was very exciting!

The design for this vest was inspired by my absolute love of putting cables on everything.  However, here in Northern California fall is still quite warm, especially September so instead of knitting cables in the traditional sense I choose to embellish the vest using intarisa colourwork.  This allowed me to add an interesting cable element without knitting an actual cable.  I quite like how this turned out in the vest and I can definitely see using this technique in future designs.  Many knitters tend to label intarsia as frustrating due to the amount of ends that need to be woven in during the finishing and the fact that the numerous colours of yarns can get tangled while knitting. Although this is true I personally love intarsia and think that it is well worth the effort given the results that can be achieved with this technique.

 In knitting Emmett, I decided to test out a new intarsia technique  that I had read about to see whether or not it was less labor intensive then what I had been doing before which was winding long lengths of yarns into yarn butterflies or on bobbins which hung on the wrong side of the knitting.  The new method involved using short lengths of yarn, around 60" at a time and instead of winding the yarn it hung completely free on the wrong side of my knitting as I worked.  I was a bit skeptical of this method at first since it would most certainly result in more ends to weave in.  However, this method resulted in zero tangles.  Since the yarn lengths were so short they just didn't get tangles and any time it looked like a tangle was developing all I had to do was run my fingers through the strands to separate them.  It was quite easy to do.  Anyone, who is considering knitting Emmett should try out this technique.  It makes intarsia much easier and although there were more ends to weave in I don't think that there were too many more.

Also, I would like to thank Emma Williams who photographed the Emmett vest for my Petite Purls submission. She did an excellent job capturing the piece and my son Xavier who is modelling the vest.  Please check out her website at www.emmawilliamsphoto.com if you are looking for a photographer.

Hello There!

I started this blog some time ago with the intent of writing about my adventures in the realm of knitting and knitwear design.  However, I was so busy knitting that I never got around to writing my first blog post.  For some reason, the first post seems to be a difficult one to write as it sets the tone for the blog.   So on this important matter I am going to pay hommage to the Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (the yarn harlot for those of you who don't know) and start off my blog the same way she did hers....with a top 10 list. 

Top 10 Reasons Why I Should Have a Knitting Blog

10.  I have a lot of yarn.  I am not exaggerating.  I really do have a lot.  Writing this blog will help me justify the high percentage of my small apartment that is devoted to yarn storage.
9.  I am Canadian and as a result have what appears to be an unavoidable attraction to all things warm and wooly.  Even though I currently live in California I can not resist buying warm sweaters and cashmere content yarn.  Happily I live in Northern California so all is not lost.
8. I have spent the past 6 years learning how to knit.  I have learned a lot.  It seems list a waste to keep all of this knitting knowledge to myself.
7. I could use some knitting friends who have an interest in the craft.  I am not sure that my husband wants to hear any more about knitting.
6. Writing about knitting might motivate me to actually finish projects and photograph them in a timely manner.
5. There can never be too many knitting blogs.
4. I can't resist taking on a new project even though I am already busy with my two kids and my job search.
3. I would like to share my process for creating new designs.  Everyone designs differently and I think this blog will help me to teach others how I do things as well as learn from the people who read this blog.
2. I just know that everyone wants to see pictures of my adorable kids, dogs, husband, and styrofoam head wearing knitted items.  Who wouldn't want to check that out?
1. ....because I want to!