Walnut Cowl -- Knitscene Fall 2017

Now up on Ravelry!

WALNUT COWL

KNITSCENE FALL 2017!

Yarn: The Fibre Co Arranmore

(80% merino wool, 10% cashmere, 10% silk ~ 100% lovely)

in Cronan

4 (100g/175yd) skeins 

Thanks knitscene / Harper Point Photography for all of the great photos,

And styling that had my 27 year old daughter say, "I would wear all that."

Thompson River Socks, IK Fall 2016

I am so pleased to have my Thompson River Socks included in the recently released INTERWEAVE KNITS, Fall 2016... the 20TH ANNIVERSARY issue!!!

A few of the 20 designs in the issue were created by past and present Interweave editors including Pam Allen, Lisa Shroyer, Hannah Baker, and Meghan Babin. Several others are by star designers: Michele Wang, Kate Gagnon Osborn, Kathy Zimmerman, Mary Jane Mucklestone and Susanna IC. I have to pinch myself to make sure that it's not just a dream to have had my own design selected to be a part of this amazing issue!

Thompson River Socks first began when I wanted to make (myself) a pair of socks using my favorite toe-up construction, but with a less boring stitch pattern than my (go-to) TATU Sock. I planned (and began a sock) with a cable panel at the center of the front and back, gansey stitch patterning on the sides, and a band of colowork at the top... all to make for a fun to knit pair of socks.

Knits editor, Meghan Babin, mentioned worsted weight socks in her IK Fall 2016 design call. In my submission, I offered my design in worsted weight sock yarn in three sizes.

When she replied to my submission, Meghan said she would love two pairs of "cozy, worsted weight" sample socks... "It would be adorable to photograph his and hers socks." How could I refuse? Here is a sneak-peek photo-collage Meghan posted on Instagram, a couple weeks ago.

 
I enjoyed all of the swatching and all of the knitting as I wrote the pattern last winter.

The yarn is Jarbo Garn Raggi Sock Yarn [70% wool, 30% nylon], distributed by Swedish Yarn. The socks, knit on US size 3 (3.25 mm) needles, are warm and cozy... close enough fitting to wear in a boot, but soft and slouchy enough to become your favorite slipper sock. At only 36-52 stitches around the cuff, and with cables and colorwork to keep you engaged, Thompson River Socks are a fun, fast knit! 

All of the patterns in INTERWEAVE KNITS, Fall 2016 are available for digital download, with links on Ravelry. The digital edition of the magazine can be found at IK Fall 2016.

Print editions are now available in bookshops and yarn stores everywhere!

Photo Credit, all but last photo:  © Harper Point Photography and Interweave Knits 2016.

The Spark & The Reinvention -- "Opulent Cowl"

Shortly after announcing the release of a new pattern, I enjoy putting a post together about its design origins (the "spark") and the design process leading up to its final finished form...

My latest design "Opulent Cowl" was first inspired by this designer inspiration Pinterest page put together by Knitscene editor, Amy Palmer, for Knitscene Accessories, 2015.  The board revolved around three themes to inspire designers: "LBD -- Little Black Dress", "Capitol Couture" and "Around the Home".

"Little Black Dress" caught me and took me to the internet...

Of course, I found Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn... too bad about the smoking... but keep that jewelry in mind...

Next, I did some searching for "little black dress accessories", and before very long I found something that I wanted to recreate...

Photo Credit: Net-A-Porter, +Eleven Everything

I do love this kind of high fashion spark... "Foil Print Merino Wool Snood" (then available at Net-A-Porter for $270)... it made me think of a cowl that was like a piece of jewelry...

It was obvious to me that the ribbing in that snood is fisherman's rib, and the gilded ribbing is two-color fisherman's rib.  I had just seen an article on this kind of ribbing in Interweave Knits, Fall 2014.  (BTW: There is a whole lot that I can write about fisherman's rib and its relationship to brioche, and how cool it is when worked with more than one color, but I will save that for another day.)

I pulled out that magazine and I began swatching (using two colors of worsted weight wool yarn).  Then, I located some Berroco Captiva Metallic in bronze, and Schachenmayr Sun City in black and egg shell.  I made this swatch:

I drew this sketch with two length options (one like a long necklace, and one, a smaller cowl that would stand up like a turtleneck or snood):

I included the swatch and the sketch in my proposal.  About a month later, Amy Palmer sent an email that said that she "really liked" my cowl (Oh, happy day, I really love working with everyone Interweave!)  Amy said that she thought that it would be "great for the Capitol Couture story", and that she would "like to play with untraditional yarns".  Her first suggestion was a tape yarn that came in mostly soft colors and nothing near a metallic.  I told her that I had my doubts, but that I would do my best to find a yarn as close as I could get to that, and do some swatching, ASAP...

Later that day, I went to Gosh Yarn It!, my LYS, to see what they had -- and they did not.  However, the shop owner, Jill, had some very lovely ONline, Linie 346 Arona tape yarn in her personal stash and she kindly gave me a skein for my swatching.  I wound off a small ball of lighter tones in order to have two colors, and then later I tried some spool ribbon from my local Jo-Ann's.  Sad to say, but it just wasn't right.

I included this photo in my next email to Amy:

I wrote, "I am mostly back to where I was before the [latest] swatching. I would [still] like to use a metallic with a solid color."

There were a whole lot more back and forth emails with Amy. I am grateful for her relentless search to find just the right yarns.  We decided on Prism Elise in 'antique' with violet and orchid shades of Prism Petite Madison (for more information see my Ravelry project page).  Amy let me choose the length for the cowl.  I think that both the lovely yarn, and my decision to go with a l-o-n-g length, eventually lead to a very opulent cowl, indeed.
 
My last photos are my own from right before I sent the cowl to Knitscene.

I love the piece and am looking forward to getting it back one day!

Opulent Cowl is just one of 33 beautiful new designs in Knitscene Accessories, 2015 which is available online and on newsstands everywhere. 

First Look --> Knitscene Accessories 2015

Opulent Cowl

My newest published design is available right now!!!  The digital version of Knitscene Accessories 2015 just became available at the Interweave online store.  Physical editions will be on newsstands and in yarn stores in early June.

Knitscene Accessories 2015

As always is the case with Knitscene & Interweave, I am quite impressed with the styling and the photography throughout the entire issue.  But even more than that, I loved working with editor, Amy Palmer.  Her early enthusiasm for this design, and her relentless search for just the right yarn (I was pretty well set on using a metallic) were followed by a final decision of mine to go l-o-n-g and narrow.  The results are kind of breathtakingly beautiful... (don't you think?)

Opulent Cowl is only one of 33 amazing designs in this gloriously gorgeous 2015 edition of Knitscene Accessories!  

Photo credits:  Knitscene/Harper Point Photography

Round Two (& Three) FO's

FO photos...

Detail Petite Double Dutch

Petite Double Dutch

My Petite Double Dutch was knit with Isager Alpaca Merino 2 on US size 3 needles.  This yarn is finer than the yarn that I used for my pattern sample and I liked my swatch with the Isager knit on smaller needles.  The finished shawl is approximately 43" long and 9.5" wide.  This was my second Double Dutch.

Another Rosebud

My latest Rosebud was knit with baa ram ewe Titus , the same yarn that I used for the swatch that I sent to Interweave as a part of my design proposal.  This was my second Rosebud.

(Perhaps you will view this last photo with eyes that are kinder than my own.)  My sister shot this with her phone during our last meal (a very late lunch) in NYC.  I was wearing my third Paper Lanterns shawlette.

I did make all three from the same yarn and on the same needles.  Blue Moon Fiber Arts owns the original sample.  My sister was gifted with my second one for Christmas, and I finally finished one for me to wear in March.

In January, the rights to this design came back to me.  But as in most cases with third party publishers, I am not allowed to sell the Blue Moon Fiber Arts version of the pattern.  I am currently in the process of writing a version using my own template and with my own photography.  (Mr K took several dozen photos of me wearing the shawl last weekend.)  (I kept thinking that only a fool would use me as a model... but the good news is that I am getting better at photo editing.)

I will let you know when the pattern becomes available.  As always, thanks for reading and happy knitting! 

Introducing: ROSEBUD

"A deep, faced hem brings a polished finish and extra warmth to the Rosebud Hat."

It certainly is about time that I introduce my latest design... Rosebud... one of 34 designs in Interweave knits, Gifts 2014.

"The 2014 holiday issue offers the usual collection of delightful quick knits and artful accessories. His and hers hat variations, a children’s tea party, holiday decor, and loads of accessories—shawls, socks, hats, mitts, cowls, and more—fill out the patterns, while technique articles focus on unusual colorwork methods. Get in the giving mood with these 34 exciting projects."

This magazine is available digitally at the link above.  The official release date is September 2, when it will be on newsstands everywhere.

I was delighted to receive my complimentary copy in the mail on Wednesday.

Though I have yet to make it onto the cover of anything... I am happy to have my project on one of the two contents pages.

 And then there is that spread on pages 65-66.

I was tickled pink that Interweave chose to photograph the inside of the hat.

This project is basically a "stranded colorwork" project.  The reverse side is partially cover by the hem facing, but you can see all the little "floats" where the yarn that is not being used is carried along behind the work.

For basic instructions on stranded colorwork, please check out my very popular post from last year, "Two-Handed Stranded Colorwork Tutorial".  One thing that I did not think to include at the time that I wrote the tutorial was a photo of the reverse side.  From time to time, I have thought, "that might have been helpful," and now you can see it in print!

I hope that if you purchase the magazine, you enjoy making many of the projects.  If you have a moment, please see Rosebud Hat on Ravelry and while there, favorite it just for me ♥♥♥♥♥♥  Thanks for reading!

Around and About

Sunday, September 8, 2013.

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft

Barnes & Noble

It's out there now.

Tartan Mitts

© Interweave Knits/Harper Point

"A bright pop of red brings Scottish chic to any wardrobe. The Tartan Mitts feature an off-center two-color plaid in identical right and left mates."

I love that "bright pop of red" thing.  I do not know who wrote that bit about my new design in a print magazine, but I do love it.

It certainly is about time that I announce my latest design... Tartan Mitts.

© Interweave Knits/Harper Point

The mitts are featured on page 113 of Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2013, and the pattern appears on pages 120 & 122.

© Interweave Knits/Harper Point

This magazine is available digitally at the link above.  It is currently showing up at select LYS's, and within a week should be on newsstands everywhere.

As this is only my third time to be published in print, I am very happy and very proud!

Juxtapose

jux-ta-pose verb to place close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

My vacation week was a juxtaposition-ing for me.

There I was during the first week of June with two magazines on a sales rack having my first two published patterns in them.  I purchased several copies of each.  I was working on a new design submission, and I was blogging about my knitting patterns.  My family, close friends and knitting acquaintances were all congratulating me.  I was really pleased with what I had accomplished.  It was all good.

Then, during the second week of June, there I was on a tropical island where nobody (I know of) knits.  We have been visiting St Thomas for many years now, and we even have friends who live there, but no one was interested in my knitting.  It was in the upper 80's each day and humid.  When we went boating, even I must admit, I could not bring knitting on board.  But I did knit in the morning and at bedtime.  I did a bit of knitting at beach and poolside.  (It was, after all, World Wide Knit In Public Day/Week.)  I found that the more that I knit, the more I felt like myself.  It really was necessary, if you know what I mean.

Also, I asked ahead about WiFi, and I brought my faithful laptop in order to keep up with my blogging, and to reply to comments here and at Ravelry.  The internet was spotty at times.  But I did manged to publish my previously written "Now, How did that happen?" post on that first weekend, as planned.  I actually wrote my "First Blogiversary!" post, and my "Midweek Meditation" post (with a photo at Lindquist Beach, which was where I KIP'ed, or Knitted-In-Public).  And, it was while I was on vacation, that I saw that link to "Now, How did that happen?" made by Amy Palmer on the Interweave blog, knitttingdaily.  Like, wow, that would not have happened if I did not bring my laptop!  I was then able to quickly post "Thanks, Amy!".  It was all good.

In conclusion, I am so grateful that I brought my laptop on vacation.  I am grateful that I had WiFi.  It felt strange that no one I was with knew, or cared to know, about my knit designs.  But, vacationing was, in itself, a blast... Did I spend long days boating and on beaches and visiting all of these tropical non-knitting friends?  Yes!  Did I meet some new island people and hear some new island stories?  Yes!  Was it all that a vacation should be?  Yes, yes! ... and I even came back with a suntan!

I am also glad to be back here blogging and knitting and designing in my own home.  It has been a juxtaposition-ing, I tell ya!

It is all good!

Thanks, Amy!

Thank you Amy Palmer!

This week Amy posted about Knitscene Accessories 2102 on the Interweave knittingdaily blog.  Her post included this photo and a link to my "Now, How did that happen?" post.  It is where she links "behind-the-scenes look at the publishing process from the designers point of view."

Can you imagine how happy it made me to see that my humble little blog has now been linked to the Interweave blog?  The icing on the cake, as it were, is that Amy released her post on my first blogiversary!

I would like to say that all of the Knitscene people that I worked with were exceptional and the whole experience has been beyond amazing!

Now, How did that happen?

How did it happen that my second pattern in a print magazine actually preceded my first pattern in a print magazine?

Good question!  They were both for sale at a Barnes & Noble near me last Sunday.  Maybe I will never really be able to say which was first!

The timeline goes like this...

August 2011  The first Equilibrium was created as a project to teach a stranded colorwork class.  (It did not yet have the name "Equilibrium".)

September 2011  I saw the "Call for Submissions" for Knitscene Accessories and I thought that my cowl might fit in there somewhere.

09-20-11  I sent my Eqilibrium Cowl Submission to Interweave Knits in Loveland, Colorado to be considered for publication in Knitscene Accessories 2012.

10-21-11  Lisa Shroyer, Knitscene editor, sent me an email which began, "I've been reviewing submissions for this issue and I'd love to take your two sided cowl. Would you be able to work this up for a Dec 16 due date?"  Sure thing!

11-13-11  After I saw the Quince & Co. blog post "Scarf Call", I quickly created two similar cowls, one in sport weight yarn, and one in fingering weight yarn.  I made two large swatches and a sketch.

11-23-11  I sent my cowl submissions to Quince & Co. in Portland, Maine.

Late November to Early December  I completed the Equilibrium Cowl from the Cascade Yarns Eco Alpaca and sent it in to Knitscene.  I edited the pattern to the Interweave Knits template, and emailed it to the tech editors.

12-15-11  Pam Allen, knitting legend, and an owner of Quince & CO., sent me an email which began, "Thanks so much for sending in your cowl ideas. And we'd like to have you do the one from the Jonna swatch--it's very lovely.
I'm sorry for the delay in getting back to you. But I'm hoping you could get it done by Jan 5. Is that possible?"  Of course it was possible!  I knit through the (very happy) holidays.

01-03-12  I sent my Jonna Cowl, made with the yarn Chickadee, to Quince & Co. and emailed the pattern.

02-10-12  Scarves, Etc. was released by Quince & Co.  (The Quince styling and photography are amazing!)  My Jonna Cowl pattern was included in the collection and has been for sale at the Quince & Co website ever since.

03-20-12  Pam Allen emailed, "Mind getting in touch with me by phone? ... Mollie Makes is a UK ... magazine that would love to use your cowl pattern."  It was a great offer, and the pattern would also continue to be sold as previously on the Quince & Co website.  Pam told me that she was not sure if my pattern would be in the May or June issue of Mollie Makes.  From my own investigation, I learned that Mollie Makes arrives on newsstands in the US 1-3 weeks after its release in the UK.

04-13-12  I was told after an email inquiry, following my review of the final Equilibrium pattern, that Knitscene Accessories 2012 would be released the first week of June.

05-10-12  The Quince & Co Blog (by Pam Allen) posted that my Jonna Cowl was in Mollie Makes, Issue 14.  Surprised, I found out that it had just been released, and I wrote my own blog post about it.

05-24-12  On Ravelry, I noticed that some designers had already created pattern pages for their designs that would be appearing in Knitscene Accesories 2012.  I had to email the assistant editor, Amy Palmer (who had told me of the release date), to ask about photos for creating a pattern page.  I learned that a preview was already up (Phenomenal styling and photos!) and that I could use photos from it as long as I credited them to Knitscene.  I created my Ravelry Equilibrium Cowl pattern page and wrote a blog post about it.

05-31-12  I had just received my "contributors copy" of Knitscene Accessories 2012 in the mail and I bought another copy at my LYS, Gosh Yarn It!  I still had not found Mollie Makes Issue 14 for sale anywhere, so I ordered a couple of copies online.  (I expect that they will take some time to get here.)

06-03-12  Finally, I found Mollie Makes Issue #14 at Barnes and Noble!!!  Knitscene Accessories 2012 was there as well!!!

I would love to hear if you have an idea of which I should say was my first pattern in a print magazine.  Perhaps it was a tie?