Switchboard and Alter Ego

I have two new patterns to share with you! First up are these highly textured socks that are a perfect pair with that great skein of hand painted sport weight sock yarn. Knit from the toe-up or top-down this sock offers versatility for all knitters. Instructions are given for seven sizes so you can make a pair for everyone because everyone is going to want a pair. The Switchboard pattern is available for sale on Ravelry. You can also buy now.

The second pattern is a cute pair of fingerless gloves. These gloves can work for every personality and offer a lot of flexibility. They don’t use much yarn, are super fast to knit, and since they are worked in a fingering weight they are a great way to use up some of that sock yarn stash. The one color version can be simple and elegant and the two color version can be a great introduction into a simple color work pattern. Make a pair for every personality on your gift giving list and get a head start on your holiday knitting. The Alter Ego pattern is also available for sale on Ravelry. You can also buy now.

Sneakpeek

Rockin' Ribby

Hope everybody had a wonderful holiday season. We were very busy around here but I found time to finish a sweater! I love the way this Ribby Cardi (Rav link) turned out! The pattern is by Bonne Marie Burns of Chick Knits fame. I knit the 42" size and it's perfect for winter layering, which I don't get to do much down here in New Orleans but the temp is dropping this week so I'll be taking advantage. The sleeves are knit in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Twisted in the Rook-y color and the body of the cardigan is knit in Cascade 220 in Charcoal. I also installed the two way zipper like is pictured in the pattern. I did knit the body in one piece and the sleeves in the round even though the pattern is written for being knit flat. You may have noticed that I've also gotten a new cut and color. This isn't the way I plan to wear it daily but it's fun and funky for the weekends. The color was actually supposed to be a brighter red but didn't quite come out as bright as I hoped. Oh well, there's always next time.

Peppermint Patty

In my last post I mentioned all the designing I've been doing. Well, here is a little look at one project I had the amazing opportunity to work on. Jenn at the Woolgirl puts together the most incredible sock kits. This past year she put out a series of kits based on Peanuts, the cartoon with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the gang. One of the kits was Peppermint Patty and the yarn that Miss Babs dyed was this amazing red, brown and white handpainted mix. It was a wonderful experience working with Jenn in designing the pattern to go with the Peppermint Patty kit. The kit was available in both a fingering weight (Ravelry) and sport weight (Ravelry). Here is a picture of what the kit looked like, (minus a couple of the goodies I already ate). And here is a very good description of the kit from I Count Sheep. I've got a few more projects in the works that I hope to share with you soon. Oh can you believe it snowed in New Orleans yesterday!

Subliminal

I've been doing a lot of design work lately which is why the blog has been so slow. But I finally have something I can share! This scarf pattern, Subliminal, is now available as a free Ravelry download. This elegant scarf veils the simplicity of the pattern used to make it by showcasing the beautiful colors of the variegated yarn. It can be worked up very quickly and the results are stunning. Make it in a bamboo yarn, like the one shown here, or even silk for someone in a temperate climate. Or if you’re feeling the chill this winter, try a fingering weight merino or cashmere as a stylish alternative for your sock yarn. Give this scarf as a gift to someone extra special and they’ll get the subliminal message you’re sending.

Where to Start

So much has been going on since my last post I don't even know where to start. I guess with hurricane Gustav. We evacuated and everyone was fine but we did have some minor damage to the house. That's the main reason I haven't been posting. We've been very busy trying to get repairs made and the insurance adjuster still hasn't even been out to look at it. It's been incredibly stressful. On top of that work has been very hectic. Then family came to visit this week, which is wonderful and I've had a great time with them being here. But you know how family coming from out of town can be really crazy at times?

Well, I did at least get some knitting done while I was evacuated. I started and finished this Ice Queen all while evacuated for Gustav. It's knit with Colinette Parisienne in the Marble color. Here is my Ravelry project page for it. I loved making it and the beads are wonderful. I can't wait for it to get cold enough to wear it, which might be one day all winter here in New Orleans but I still love it.

Since coming back from the evacuation I've been working on Jeannie but haven't taken in more progress pics. It just seems to come along very slowly. I've also been working on some design projects that I can't talk about right now but they are coming along nicely. Hopefully it won't be quite so long between posts this time.

Amaterasu

I know a lot of you have been waiting to find out what the secret project was that I have been working on. Well, the wait is finally over. I was designing my very first knitting pattern! It's a sock pattern called Amaterasu after the Japanese Sun Goddess. I couldn't mention it before because I was hoping to get it published but that didn't happen. Thanks to wonderfulness that Ravelry though I'm able to offer it there as a free download to anyone who is interested in trying it out. Let me know what you think! Here is the link to the Ravelry Page or here is a link to the direct download of the pdf in case you're not on Ravelry yet. The yarn used is Crystal Palace Panda Silk Print and the coordinating Panda Silk Solid for the toes and heels. I loved working with the Panda silk, it's so soft and silky. It's a little on the thin side for sock yarn but not nearly as splitty as the Panda Cotton was. I think it would also make a beautiful silky lace scarf. Because of the thinness I worked these socks up on size 0 needles. Hope you enjoy the pattern as much as I did.

I haven't done as much knitting this summer as I would've liked. I think some of it has been the heat and some of it has been other parts of my life taking over my knitting time. Like getting a Wii has definately impacted my knitting time! But the time I have spent knitting has been good quality time and I've enjoyed it. I'm doing some more designing as well and I really like it so keep an eye out for more that coming in the future, maybe even something will eventually get published, we'll see.

For those tracking the progress on my sleeve tattoo I also got some of the background filled in on that yesterday. I think 1 more sitting and we should be done! It's been an adeventure and a journey and a transforming experience. What about you, how have tattoo's impacted your life? Have they always had the effect you anticipated?