Yarn Artist

Amazing!

2011-01-24T12:17:00.000-08:00

Harry Langdon is selling prints of the photos he took of my fashions from the 80's (Vintage Fashions)
This one was a pretty cool design and an amazing photo.

The model's name is Dagmar. She was married to a musician in the band, Cheap Trick. She was German and had a lovely, European chic and attitude. She gave me the wonderful pearl and shell necklace she is wearing in the photo, which I still have to this day.

Yarnartist, Where Ya Been?

2011-01-19T17:42:00.000-08:00

Q: We have been wondering what's up with you? You haven't written in your blog since last June.

A: I know. I feel terribly guilty about that.

Q: What have you been doing? Did you stop knitting?

A: Not hardly. I still knit and crochet constantly. But I've been working on a project I can't talk about and it sort of made it hard to write about knitting when most of my best stuff is a secret.

Q: Can you give us a hint?

A: Not yet. But I can show you one of the adjunct projects I've been working on:

A Tray of Sacred Mice

Q: Sacred Mice??????

A: Yes. They are filled with catnip and I have been selling them at my vet's to raise money for Cedarhill Animal Sanctuary

And BTW, if you have a cat and live on the westside of Los Angeles, I can't recommend Dr. Beth at The Cat Practice more highly! She is wonderful and has been dedicated to helping me heal Figgy of her IBS.

Q: So let me get this straight - you have been working on a secret project that involves making catnip mice?

A: That's right. They are now for sale in my etsy shop with Free Shipping. All the money goes to Cedarhill.

Q: Can you explain why you call them 'sacred'?

A: Now that is the real tie-in with my secret project. But as it pertains to the mice, they are sacred because of the conscious intention I put into them, entwined with the fiber as I crochet them. Thoughts of love, good will and the sanctity of cats (and mice) for example.

Q: Can you elaborate?

A: I will close with this quote from Hermes Trismegistus:

"In all things, great and small, I see the Beauty of Divine Expression."

Granny Cardigan

2010-06-06T18:04:00.000-07:00

This is basically EZ's Baby Surprise Sweater, worked as a Granny Hexagram. The instructions are not written as a pattern, more like a guide, and assume that you already know how to make a Granny Hexagram. If you don't there are thousands of resources on the net on how to do Granny Squares, including hexagrams, and even youtube videos.
I use ch3 between the 3dcs at each corner, not ch2 as she says in the video.

GRANNY CARDIGAN
©2010, Ellene Warren. All rights reserved.

Supplies
Yarn: 6 (8, 10) skeins Noro Kureyon (100% Wool, 50 gr, 100 meters each) or
comparable worsted weight
Hooks: US K 6.5mm
OR: use any weight yarn you wish with an appropriate sized hook. It might be
necessary to come down one size with the hook for the edging.
Pattern Notes: The sleeve length grows at the same rate the shoulder to
bottom grows, therefore, certain sizes are not possible to make using this formula. If
you desire a jacket whose length is greater than the sleeve length, you must add
more rows to the hem after sewing up the cardigan.
Likewise, a cropped jacket with long sleeves must be worked to the proper length
and then the sleeves are lengthened after sewing up the seams.
BODY – Make 2.
Begin with an invisible loop. Make a six-cornered Granny Hexagon. Continue until
one side is almost the length you want from shoulder to hem. There will be a
couple of additional rows of hdc plus some extra length from working additional
rows for circumference.
Mark the last side as the hem and begin working back and forth on just 5 sides until
the width of the hem equals your desired circumference (C) minus 6 – 8", divided
by 2, using this rule of thumb:
Small: C = 38 – 6 DIVIDED BY 2 equals 16"
Medium: C = 45 – 7 DIVIDED BY 2 equals 19"
Large: C = 52 – 8 DIVIDED BY 2 equals 22"
Now work back and forth on the last edge only of the 5 you have been working,
until you have an additional 3 (3½, 4)". End off.
FinishingSew center back seam, fold as illustrated and sew sleeves. Add additional Rnds for
sleeves or back and forth at hemline for length if desired.
With one size smaller hook than body, sc evenly around opening and sleeve
edges, then 2 rows/rnds hdc. End off, weaving in all ends.

I'm Leaning Towards Genius

2010-04-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

But very, very garishly so...

Hideous or Genius?

2010-04-20T18:17:00.000-07:00

I just can't decide.

Yo Mama is finally done! I was planning to make her into a king sized bedspread, but I ran out of juice for this project.

Mostly because of the yarn, I must confess. It is KnitPicks Palette, a basic Shetland-type fingering weight wool. When they originally came out with it, I bought a ball in every color - it only cost $1.99 per ball! I combined some sock yarn called On-Line that I bought from Stitches From the Heart - had to have 2 balls (100 grams each) of every color they had.

Now the KnitPicks yarn, I didn't really like the colors or the texture. I felt the exact same way about the On-Line yarn, although I made a few things with it.

So in the perverse way I have of wanting to save the yarn I really love and using the yarn I don't really love, I started this Yoyo blanket.

It was a perfect, mindless modular project I could carry around with me, and that's exactly what I did for months and months. Perfect for waiting in the morning for Eden to come down for breakfast.

I started getting into the way it reminded me of millefiori.

It just kept growing.

My plans for it grew much faster than the project until I decided it would be a king sized blanket.

See how cool it looks laid over some cayenne pepper red sheets we have.

I put a photo of it in progress into my Ravelry notebook and shared it with my Modular group. People reacted positively and that kept me going for a while, but finally I couldn't take it any more and started another modular blanket, which I actually finished, and just kept Yo Mama where I couldn't avoid seeing her every day.

And finally, yesterday, I felt some love for her again. I pulled her out of the pile, opened her up, and came to the conclusion that I would never be interested in working on her again for the time it would take to make her into a king sized bedspread. But what I had there, with only another couple of days' work, would be a generously sized throw.

So I gave myself permission to redefine the project and release myself from the oppression.

I have a lot of motifs that I no longer need. I am not interested in making them into ANYTHING. I will put them into a bag along with the remaining yarn and add it to the yarn for the next destash sale.

An Aside - the gigantic destash sale at the ESSS was great! I was happy that people felt my prices were irresistible. I reduced my stash. I reconnected with some old knitting buddies and had a lovely time with 11 other knitting goddesses at lunch.

So I am finishing up a border and tomorrow I will block it and try to take some decent photos. Then you be the judge.

Is she Yo Mama, a garish, hideous testimony to time misspent, not even suitable for the back of the Conner's sofa?

Or is she Yo Mama Millefiori, who must be preserved in mothballs and handed down through the generations of W's to come?

P.S. Eden just came into my studio and his vote is an emphatic HIDEOUS. In fact, his next words were "It looks like the 70's came back and threw up in your lap."
So much for being handed down through my dna carriers.

Big Gigantic Yarn Sale!!!

2010-04-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, the Yarnartist has been finally overtaken by her stash and must eliminate some of the evidence!

The sale will take place after the El Segundo Slipt Stitchers monthly meeting on April 17th 10:00 am-1:00 pm at the Josyln Center in Recreation Park (Eucalyptus Dr at Grand Ave), El Segundo, California. See Map to find us.

Tons of yarn, some full bags, very affordably priced! Lots of color collections for free-formers.

It has taken me days and days to sort through and price the yarn I am willing to release from my future. Let it become a part of yours!

More Vintage EW

2010-01-17T07:49:00.000-08:00

I get a little thrill when I find someone selling something of mine on ebay, and I am called a vintage designer.

I just found a beaded black lace bustier of mine for sale for $25. This is a great buy! I believe the original price was over $500! This one might have belonged to Sheila E, Vanity, Heather Locklear or Lisa Hartman.

There was even a shot of my label, establishing authenticity. It looks like there is a little stain on the lining.

Twin Baby Sweaters

2009-12-12T07:33:00.001-08:00

Some new members of my extended family have arrived!

My father's wife's older son and his wife just had twins! I loved making these tiny sweaters for them, and plan to write the pattern for Claudia for next season.

I would actually love one in my size!

Not Broken Anymore?

2009-11-14T12:00:00.001-08:00

The security issues with the website have been fixed. In the mean time, I am working on the new website. It is, of course, taking longer and costing more than I originally imagined. I'm also working on a set of new patterns for spring to be presented at TNNA in January. I am totally in love with Claudia's Linen Lace and all the new patterns are in that yarn, although they translate into other yarns as well. I have a few skeins of discontinued colors on sale here.

Here is a little sneak peek at one of the new patterns, which will also be put up as a kit, to spare people from having to buy full skeins of 6 different colors:
I've also been working on gifts. There is an amazing designer named Frankie Brown who has several free patterns on Ravelry. She has created some clever patterns with only 10 stitches going at a time. Here is one I completed in Noro Kureyon Sock.

Also in the works - more kitteh bwankies for the Cat Sanctuary and a pile of catnip filled toys for all the felines in my family.

Good Timing!

2009-10-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

My shopping cart is broken! (sad face)

It happened because my webhost was changed by Costco. I had, up until then, been extremely happy with the webhost provided by Costco, mainly because of the excellent customer service.

This new one has foreign customer service, what Leo Laport calls 'customer no service'. They couldn't help me, but took several hours on 3 separate occasions to tell me, and of course, blamed my shopping cart itself.

Excuse me - but you lost the file while transferring and now my shopping cart just loops around until it gives up.

I never liked my shopping cart, anyway. It was a program written by sadists who liked feeling superior to their users. Also had 'customer no service'.

So I'm having whole new website built by my favorite webmaster, Peter Eastwood, who will be putting in a new, user friendly shopping cart and will be hosting it himself. I took advantage of this opportunity to redesign the website and can hardly wait to be able to invite you (my 11 regular readers) to view it.

Stay tuned! And in the mean time, if you want to buy something from my site, contact me at info at ellenewarren dot com, please, and I will hand process your order.

Free Crochet Pattern

2009-08-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

Meet Yarnartist's Granny!
Inspired by the scarf nurse Jackie has been wearing over the last few weeks, I got out all my Claudia scraps, a skein of her Mohair, and created this very easy scarf.

I am offering her for Free from the e-boutique - use coupon code GRANNY!

Enjoy!

Another Knitting Disaster Story

2009-06-28T16:35:00.000-07:00

I just listened to Knitpicks Podcast #101, in which Kelley discusses knitting disasters with some other knitters. (BTW - it's the only knitting podcast I have stuck with - it's really very good!)

Anyway, it reminded me of one of my worst disasters, which occurred when I was 17 years old and working on my first fairisle project. Back then, I just called it a ski sweater. It was 3 colors - natural whitish-cream background with pink and black. It had overall patterning, but only used 2 colors at a time.

I quickly completed the front and back, not knowing that it was supposed to be hard and take forever. Then I had to go to the hospital for an extended stay. I brought the yarn and pattern with me, but left the completed pieces at home. I worked both sleeves at the same time - 6 balls of yarn all going at once!

By the time I went home, I had completed the sleeves to the armhole decreases. But to my horror, I had put the black where the pink had been on the front and back and the pink where the black had been. I decided it would be okay - a design element!!! I finished the sleeves and sewed the sweater together (with sewing thread! sigh!)

No matter how I tried, I could not live with the mistake. It bothered me so much that I knew I would never be able to wear it. So I took it all apart, frogged the sleeves, and remade them with the colors in the proper places.

It has taken me many, many more knitting disasters to learn that I am a person who can't live with a mistake in my knitting. no matter how determined I am to just keep going. I may as well start ripping the minute I discover a mistake because I will just be throwing good time after bad.

What amazes me now is that I still have this sweater - 42 years later! Agghhh!

Crazy Lace by Myra Wood

2009-06-15T08:55:00.001-07:00

Myra's new book is ready for pre-order on Amazon!!!

It is an amazing new concept, dreamed up by the genius mind of one of the most talented fiber artists in the world!

I have been so inspired by her Crazy Lace concept - it has changed the way I design Lace and will blast open new creative channels of any lace-knitter's mind!

I can't wait to hold the finished book in my hands!

Pre-order yours here.

Want to ChaCha?

2009-05-23T10:15:00.001-07:00

This baby was a difficult birth. Tech editing problems. Test knitting problems (due to errors left by tech editor and also operator error)

Sometimes it just be's that way. But I persevered and I am so happy with the results. Actually, it is an easy and fast knit.

This pattern is available as part of a kit only, with Claudia's gorgeous mohair and boucle. The nice thing about it from the retailer's standpoint is that it is interchangeable with the French Scarf Kit, so if a customer wants a certain color of yarn, the pattern can just be switched out.

The nice thing about it from the knitter's standpoint it that this lusciousness retails for under $40.

The nice thing about it from my standpoint is that IT IS DONE so I can move on to one of the 1,278,962 projects in my planner.

Want a ChaCha of your own? Order it here.

Hanne Falkenberg Blues 1 Kit For Sale

2009-04-28T14:15:00.000-07:00

I totally love this design. I love a lot of Hanne Falkenberg's designs.

But I will never make any of them. What was I thinking when I bought this kit?

Anyway, my folly could be your good luck. Here are the details:

Blues 1 by Hanne Falkenberg

The kit contains sufficient yarn (50% cotton/50% lambswool) to knit one of the following sizes - S, M/L, XL. The finished garment measures 35", 39" and 43" around the chest.

Please note the pin is not included in the kit, but you will get an actual Hanne Falkenberg label to sew in your finished garment.

You will also need 2 x 3mm circular needles (80cm length) and a set of 3mm double pointed needles.

Regular retail price is about $85. I will sell it for $70 including priority mail postage in the US.

Cedarhill Animal Sanctuary

2009-04-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

See this woman? Her name is Kay and I read about her amazing contribution to the world, rescuing wild cats, in More magazine. The way she described the tragic existence of these wonderful creatures and the transformation that came over them after they began to live with her moved me to tears. I checked out her website and immediately donated to her cause.

When I read that she also rescues senior domestic cats who have lost their owners or their homes, I began crocheting some blankies for the senior cats.

I need to always be making something - it keeps me from going out of my mind. Sometimes I need simple, mindless projects that do not contain any of my designer's ego. Kitty blankies fit the bill perfectly, with the added benefit of usefulness. Kitties really LOVE laying on little blankies.

I also have a ton of yarn!!! What better use is there for yarn I will never need? The kitties don't care about color, stitch pattern, or matching.

I finished 8 of them and will be sending them off to the senior kitties at Cedarhill.

Spring Lace

2009-03-10T10:26:00.001-07:00

I think we are all ready for spring! This project was made from some gorgeous silk/wool yarn from Fleece Artist. I bought it to make this exquisite sleeveless jacket by Ilga Leja.

The problem was, every time I put it down I left it too long and forgot where I was in the pattern. The back was finished for over a year, but I kept having to rip the front piece to get started again. Why didn't I just finish it? I still adore the design. But I was seriously concerned there wouldn't be enough yarn and it made me very uncomfortable every time I worked on it. Also, I think the color was a little too bright to suit the design.

Anyway, after the 3rd ripping, I decided to just frog the whole thing and make up my own design with the yarn.

This is what I came up with:

It is just a simple top down, garter stitch bodice with a made-up lace skirt. The top is shaped with darts at the bust and sides. The garter stitch hides the shaping pretty well, I think.

I was experimenting with widening a lace skirt - see how the pattern is established with the first repeat (at the waist) and then splits off into 2 reps where there had just been one?

The cut away styling of the skirt is very slenderizing to the hips.

I crocheted a simple shell around the armholes and the hemline. I had about 12" of yarn left over, but wasn't as tense about running out of yarn as I had been when working on Ilga's pattern.

Although I love the yarn, I still wish the colors were a bit more muted - especially the green. I will probably never wear it - if you want to buy it - let me know. (size 6-8)

A Little More Ms. Frizzle

2009-02-19T13:59:00.000-08:00

Ms. Frizzle

2009-02-18T17:20:00.000-08:00

For about 6 years I have had a spider plant in a pot that we call Ms. Frizzle. The plant finally succumbed to a mite problem and I decided to put it out of its misery, sterilize the pot, and buy a new spider plant.

This is Ms. Frizzle

This is what I pulled out of her head.

Cool, huh?

If I Were in High School

2009-02-12T17:46:00.000-08:00

I'd be a Goth.

Eden explained to me long ago about the different cliques at his school - the (Skate) Boarders, the Nerds, the Gangstas, the Emos and the Goths.

I like the costumes of the Goths. Course, I'd have to add a little pastel rainbow here and there and some glitter.

Monoyarnamous

2009-01-22T17:20:00.000-08:00

TNNA _ January 2009, San Diego, CA

Monoyarnamous is a word I just coined during a communication with a Ravelry friend. It is what I am trying to be, but man, it's hard.

Just as when looking for that one partner who could keep me monogamous for the rest of my life, I had to try a lot of yarn first before marrying just one.

And I chose .... Claudia!
And here are the reasons why.
1) Love love love her colors. Claudia is not afraid of color. She's playful, serious, or sophisticated. She has A LOT of colorways and I find that the more I become intimate with each one, the more I like it.
2) She also has a lot of textures.
3) Claudia herself is such a nice person and creative spirit. We are on the same page in our approach to our businesses.
4) Inside each of her yarn labels it says "Peace, love, comfort and Joy."

But it is so hard to stay monoyarnamous. Every day I see yarns that set off beautiful designs on the screen of my imagination and start my fingers twitching to touch and shape them into my dreams. I can't tell you how many loaded shopping carts I have closed my browser on.

The thing that keeps me on track is the inconvenient truth that I stare at every day - my stash above and beyond life expectancy. Every ball and skein purchased with best of intentions and a flash (or flood) of creative vision of its potential possibilities. Put aside, mostly where I can't even see them.

Like a sperm bank - just shelf after shelf of possibilities.

Last UFO of 2008

2008-12-31T16:51:00.001-08:00

This one is called the "Not Square" Jacket. It is made from an assortment of yarns I purchased from A Mano Yarn Center is a feast of creative inspiration, and was sitting, nearly finished, under my table for about a year. I needed the perfect button.

I finally found it online the other day and it just arrived in today's mail!

New Pattern Up - SweeTee

2008-12-31T16:21:00.000-08:00

This little SweeTee has been driving me nuts and I am so glad I finally achieved what I wanted with it.
It's not the yarn, which is delicious, Silk Lace by Claudia in the color Cherries, 2 strands held together throughout.

If you know me at all, you know I love the details.

I love the stitch pattern, too, which gives a nice, slimming vertical stripe.

It was...you guessed it...the math!!!!

I had the hardest time grading this - the 14 st pattern repeat offset with an extra 5 sts and wanting to keep the center intact. Grrrr.

I even tried to hire someone to grade it for me. She told me some things just can't be graded. No kidding!

Finally I conceived of an alternative - knit the same exact thing on different sized needles and you end up with a different sized garment. So I was finally able to finish it.

And just in time for TNNA!

Use coupon code HAPPY NEW YEAR and get the pattern for free from my website when purchasing 2 skeins of Claudia's Silk Lace yarn in your choice of 108 different colors! Plus, of course Free Shipping!

Happy New Year!

How I Spent Christmas

2008-12-29T13:03:00.000-08:00

I spent Christmas in bed all day, watching movies and knitting!

Scarf With Striped Border, page 80, Victorian Lace Today.
Yarn - Malabrigo Lace Weight from A Mano Yarn Center. Been in my stash for over a year! My favorite color and the yarn is sososososos soft!

My Name is Ellene and I am a Procrastinator

2008-12-27T11:55:00.001-08:00

I am a productive procrastinator, but still...
Unless you count all those hours playing Guitar Hero. Thank you, Mr. Bear, for finally hooking me into the madness.

At least my other procrastination activities yield a product at the end.

Hot Hands in Claudia Hand Painted Yarn, Short Sport, colorway Circus Dancer

Kitty Bwankie for Charlie with catnip Meeses to match

Granny Takes a Trip

2008-12-15T13:29:00.001-08:00

It always amazes me when I complete a pattern and publish it - all the details of math, format, layout, schematics, tech editing, more math, and still more math.

Designing is the easy part. Making the sample is the fun part. The rest is just work, work, work. Lots of stress.

But I am so happy when I am finished and have another pattern to add to my collection.

Many years ago, when I first moved to California, there were a few shops that blew my mind. One was the Pleasure Dome on Sunset Blvd. I had never seen such a collection of yummy colors and fabrics and hip styles.

There was also Holly Harp on Sunset - the rich and elegant hippy fashion paradise.

And then along came Granny Takes a Trip on Melrose. I heard it was owned by some wives of the group, Chicago. It was named after a hip boutique in London, at that time the epicenter of all that was hot in music and fashion. Pleasure Dome inspired me but Granny got me wanting a store someday - just like that one! Only with all my designs.

Flash forward about 8 years. My boutique on Santa Monica Blvd. had just been robbed - cleaned out, actually, and I had a big chunk of money from the insurance (those were the days when you could actually afford to insure your inventory) I was faced with the choice of starting an entirely new career or building a new boutique.

And guess what was available? Granny Takes a Trip had gone out of business and the store was for lease! Right across from the Bodhi Tree, LA's famous metaphysical bookstore, I had my name in shocking pink neon for the next 10 years! So many stories to tell, if I could only figure out how to write and knit at the same time.

Really, no knitting for me today. I am working on the final drafts of some other patterns. Stay tuned!

Kits will be coming soon in these colorways. Pattern is available here.

New Yarn Section in my e-boutique Now Open!

2008-12-11T08:48:00.000-08:00

For the past 2 months I have been working overtime adding a new Yarn Section to my e-boutique and it's finally ready for visitors!

I am happy to announce that I am the only resource in the world with the entire line of Claudia Hand Painted Yarn! That means 15 different types (14 really, but Sport Merino comes in 50 or 100 gram skeins) in 108 different color ways!

Claudia's yarns are exquisite! Her colorways are fresh and beautiful and as I was working with the photos, color correcting them to the best of my ability while holding each skein up to my monitor, I fell in love with nearly every single colorway!

Another thing I love about Claudia's yarn is the wonderful scent that wafts up to your nose as you wind the skeins and as you work. She has some secret ingredients she adds to the last rinse. I have been encouraging her to package and market her wool wash because it is so nice!

I think the best part about designing in and selling Claudia's yarn (besides having an enourmous stash of her yarn around me at all times) has been getting to know Claudia, herself. The inside of her ball bands carries a hidden message: Peace, Love, Comfort and Joy! And Claudia is every bit of the Rainbow Goddess I expected would go to the trouble of sharing a blessing in every skein.

In January, Claudia will be at TNNA in San Diego and will be featuring several of my new patterns, which I will preview for you here on my blog in the weeks to come. She has promised to sit down with me for an extended time and fill me in on all the details of how she came to own one of the most exciting hand-dyed yarn companies in the world, and I will share what I learn about her with all of you (with her permission).

I am so curious about how she got started, what she did before, what she dreams of for her future. Enquiring minds want to know!!!

Visit my website and let me know what you think of the new Yarn Section!

Melody's Solution

2008-11-24T08:02:00.000-08:00

Melody, a fablous fiber and yarn artist, sent me this photo of her solution to the ugly seam in the Rib Warmer. She did a 3 needle bind off. I like the look of this much better than the seam.

Check out Melody's amazing work here and here.

New Modular Project

2008-11-23T13:41:00.000-08:00

This time I'm knitting a blanket made of one square from each of Claudia Hand Paints fingering weight - she has 108 colorways! I will have to add a few to make the blanket come out right.

I'm actually using the knitting machine to make the squares which are going to be about 5" square. After blocking them, I will crochet around each one with the same color - not sure what that color will be. The thing I am really looking forward to is have all the squares blocked and playing them out. Then I will know what color the borders should be and what else I need to make it as stunning as possible. Then sew or latch it together and put on a border.

I would have really liked to hand knit or crochet each piece because I just love the way Claudia does her colors and I have so much pleasure just watching them change. But my goal is to have it done by Christmas, which I don't think is realistic, considering all the other deadlines I have. But I am an optimist and also perform best with the pressure of deadlines.

What I really want is to have it done by TNNA so Claudia can display it in her booth. My other deadlines are the new patterns I need to have finished by then, too.

My fingers just can't keep up with my brain!

The best thing is all my holiday knitting is done, so I can devote myself totally to this and also, to getting the new addition to my e-boutique, to be announced at a later date.

EZ Rib Warmer

2008-11-23T13:25:00.001-08:00

I really like the way this came out. I used some Plymouth Fantasy Naturale I had in my stash and it was the perfect weight and drape for the garter stitch pattern. I just love the way it fits - sure wish I had a resident photographer so I could show you on a real person.

It kind of stays contoured to the body, not falling open even though nothing holds it together. I think this is because of the combination of short rows (making a bias where a dart would be) plus the weight and texture of the yarn plus the garter stitch.

The only thing I don't like about it is the back seam. I'm thinking hard about how this could be done without sacrificing the bias short rows exactly where they are. I'm thinking it might be possible if you finish the back as one piece and then pick up stitches on each side and work around the front to the collar (the opposite direction that EZ's is worked)

The thing I do like about the back is that sexy little curved split in the center of the lower back, and I think I could still get that without the seam.

Just add it to the overflowing pile of ideas in my bushel basket.

Creativity...

2008-10-31T11:38:00.000-07:00

compassion, patience, flexibility...

These are the qualities I believe we need to survive the future. These are the qualities I have been developing, some more successfully than others, all my life.

Through the web of blogs that connect us, I have come to know that there are lots of us doing the same thing!

If you are reading these words and you know what I'm saying, please join me in becoming the peace, being the calm . The world depends on our light. We make it stronger by weaving/knitting/sewing/crocheting/spinning/embroidering/beading - insert your form of expression here - our own little, individual parts of the web.

If we can all hold this web in our conscious minds at least part of the time as we work, we can shine brighter together.

Join me, please. You know who you are.

Doris Chan, I Love Your Patterns!

2008-10-21T13:07:00.001-07:00

Doris Chan's All Shawl with Strawberry Lace edging. Free Ravelry download.
Yarn: an unlikely combination of Fiesta La Boheme and Colinette Enigma. (edging)
Hook: L
2 days to complete

My thoughts on shawls:
When you are young and cute, a shawl looks quirky and cute on you.
When you are ... ahem ... mature, you are fighting that granny look.

Who cares when the shawl is this gorgeous?

Procrastination is a Serious Affliction

2008-09-24T17:55:00.000-07:00

I've got a serious case of "Mathitis" The symptoms are:
• Clenched stomach when contemplating my notes.
• Accumulation of many quick finished projects from patterns written by other designers.
• Occasional inability to even enter my workroom.
• Guilt.
• Despair.

I'm supposed to be writing the pattern for this:

Lace Tee from Claudia's Silk Lace.

Instead, I made this:

Juliet from Zephyr Style ... way too big for me : >( ***

And this:

adaptation of Doris Chan's Cinnabar from Everyday Crochet, also too big for me***

And THIS!!!!!

Babette Blanket from Interweave Crochet

There are too many problems with the Lace Tee. My mind is boggling from the math. The pattern repeat is making it really hard to grade into sizes. The sleeves need to be reworked as set-in or else the larger sizes will have sleeves that begin at the elbow (not attractive)

I decided as long as I am reworking the shoulders, I will knit it circularly instead of flat. That's a good idea, but the calculations are making me nuts. I thought I found someone who would do the math for me, but she is too busy. Aargh!!!

And I'm not even going to show you the number of new designs of my own I have started (some are even completed) while procrastinating on this one....of course, I still need to write the patterns for them.

This one may end up in the file marked "Forget it".

*** I think I may be imagining I am bigger than I actually am, since everything I've made myself lately is too big. Blankets, however, always fit.

Lifetime Project Completed!!!!!

2008-09-03T16:16:00.000-07:00

The Koigu Kimono Jacket is finished! I had challenged myself to complete it this summer and I am only 2 days past my deadline.
I am not counting myself out over 2 days, since I have been working on the blessed thing for about 3 1/2 years!!!

There are more than 20 different yarns. All the large (4"x4") squares and about 90% of the 2"x2" squares are made from alternating ridges of 2 different colors. Sometimes I used contrasting colors and other times, variations of the same shades.

The basic color theme was pink and turquoise, with white, purple. a bit of yellow and a bit of green. I just went through all my sock yarns and pulled out everything that was pink or turquoise, then improvised off the other colors that were included in the variegates. Most of the yarns are Koigu, but others joined in when the colors worked.

These are my most favorite colors, although I often say I never met a color I didn't like for something. The very first time I was allowed to pick my own colors for my bedroom, I was in the 6th grade. I chose a rich, warm, pinkish coral for the walls and a deep rich turquoise shag rug. My mother took some old, carved furniture she was replacing and painted it white, then antiqued it with gold, but it was funky, not French looking. She kind of Jackson Pollocked the gold paint onto the white by flicking the paint brush, then wiped it with a rag. Maybe she did it by accident - but it looked all streaky and fabulous. Then she put the gold paint over the carved flowers and wiped it off so all that stayed gold were the deepest crevasses.

If it really looked the way I remember it, I'd probably still like that furniture today.

And my kimono would fit right in!

I am having a little let down after finally being able to try it on.

It's too big..

Not a lot too big, just enough too big that I feel 'wrong' in it, if you know what I mean. I made the smaller size and the measurements sounded good on paper, but my critical eye tells me if it were a couple inches narrower and the sleeves were 2" shorter, and the sleeves weren't quite so wide, I would love the way it looked on me, instead of just loving the way it looks.

Also, it is very heavy! I never thought sock yarn could end up so weighty. I am storing it folded but am pretty sure that after wearing it for a few hours, it will grow. It is warmer than I thought, so I probably won't get to wear it that often.

Now I understand why people make fabulous modular blankets instead of clothes. Blankets are never just a little too big.

Fingering 55

2008-09-03T16:09:00.001-07:00

Yes, there is another one. If I could figure out a way to photograph both my hands at once, I would have loved to show you the pair!

This is a Flower Gauntlet made from Claudia Hand Painted Yarn Fingering 55. It is 55% silk, 45% merino. It is wound tightly, and is much springier than other silk/merino blends I have used. A real pleasure for the hands, both while knitting and while wearing. The color is called Marooned.

It actually comes in every one of her 108 color ways. Need some? Contact me for details.

Still Knitting

2008-08-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

I finally finished Razzamatazz and got the pattern put into my e-boutique!!!

Click here to order this pattern as a download.

In Claudia Hand Painted fingering weight.

In Koigu KPM.

In Noro Kureyon Sock.

I am so jazzed with the way the Noro gloves look on Annette. It seems like they were just made to go with her tats!

When I named this pattern, I was really thinking about the Quincy Jones/Patti Austen song. I googled the word 'Razzamatazz' and came up with the Urban Dictionary's definition which is much kooler and more in keeping with the 21st century!

I wish it was cold enough in LA to wear gloves! I would so wear these!

ElleMyra is Born!

2008-07-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

For a long time, I have been an admirer of the work of Myra Wood. Our paths have crossed over the last few years at different fiber events and finally, just a few short months ago, we got a chance to sit down and have lunch together.

Since that day, it has been like discovering a long lost friend - more like a long lost sister. Inevitably, we started consulting on each others' designs in progress.

And that led to collaboration.

We discovered that we work very well together! We have equal and complimentary skills and aesthetics! We both love feminine and sexy! We both love drapy and flattering. We both thrill to texture and color. We both insist on impeccable and classy. We both feel that you can't embellish too much!

We decided to design and write patterns together. We are thrilled to present our first collaboration, the ElleMyra Shrug!

Please let me know what you think!

LaToya Must Be Hard Up

2008-06-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

She seems to have been auctioning off her old wardrobe from the 80's. Or else she's gotten too fat to ever hope to fit in them again.

I was procrastinating this morning and found this:

It's a weird photo, with the pants legs all squished at the bottom, but she got something like $250 for it! Not as much as she paid, but a lot more than I would have thought someone would pay for something this dated. It was called the Double Padded Shoulder Sequined Jumpsuit and was a very popular look with my stagey clients back in the early 80's.

Mermaid's Net

2008-06-22T13:27:00.001-07:00

All the fish were knitted first, with a modular sweater in mind. After sewing some together, I decided I wasn’t happy with the lack of drape in the resulting fabric. Put them away for about a year. When I revisited them, I had a new vision. I took them apart and started crocheting them together with a selection of different textured yarns. Then I added the beads and pearls. This shawl actually used every single fish I had knitted and over all took about 2 1/2 years to finish!

Contemporary Crafts Market is Over

2008-06-11T17:12:00.000-07:00

...and I think I have survived.

I have a lot of photos to post of projects I held back until after the show, but I don't have the time today.

I just opened an etsy shop and will be selling yarn from my stash. I need to reclaim my hallway. There are 9 huge tubs of yarn out there that won't fit into my studio. I think my yarn has somehow been multiplying while I sleep.

It would be nice to have a manageable stash once again.

Today I put up some Ozark Handspun. Love the yarn so much but I will never use the huge amount I managed to accumulate. I decided to sell it at a deeply discounted price so if you want it - here it is - come and get it!

Free Style Lace Shruggity Shrug

2008-05-26T16:27:00.001-07:00

Myra is working on the sequel to her book, Creative Crochet Lace. The new one is about Creative Knitted Lace or Creative Lace Knitting. She explained the difference to me - one is when there are yo's only on the right side, the other has yo's on both sides, but I can't remember which is which.

Anyway, she inspired me to work up a new Shruggity Shrug, using a diagonal free style lace pattern for the body and a reversible eyelet rib I 'invented' for the sleeves and collar. There are about 20 different yarns in this one.

It is very frothy and feminine and cheerful! I loved making it and zipped it out in 2 days! Click on a photo to see the yarns more clearly.

Flower and Leaf Cropped Sweater

2008-05-26T15:59:00.001-07:00

I started this one last summer while sitting by the 3-toed sloths at the La Brea Tar Pits waiting for Eden, who was taking an art class. I almost finished it and in my own typical way, put it aside, already knowing what it would be like, not sure if I liked it, and worried that I didn't have enough yarn to finish it.

But since I am trying to finish things up for the show and this is a very summery top, I decided to turn it into an FO. The yarn is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silkie Socks that Rock colorway Sherbet
and Lightweight Lemongrass

All the flowers have lime green fire polished crystals in their centers. I just love my linking flower technique.

The leaf border didn't work as dangling fringes, which was why I put it away for nearly a year, but I got the idea to crochet aroung each leaf and link them together and now I am pleased.

Flower Shoulder Sweater

2008-05-26T15:27:00.000-07:00

This one was actually finished a long time ago but I never got around to photographing it. Since I am including it at CCM and hoping it will sell, I decided I better get some shots of it before it's too late.

I bought the yarn from Loopy Ewe and made the sweater immediately! The colors just knocked me out. It is from Scarlet Fleece, fingering weight, and the three colors are named Hibiscus, Sunflower and Bird of Paradise. Initially, there was a bird of paradise flower in the center panel, but it didn't look right, so of course, I sewed a lot of crystal and beads on, too. But it still didn't please me so I took it off and decided to leave the center panel plain.

I am happy with the hibiscus on the right shoulder

And the sunflower on the left shoulder.

Weaving in the Ends

2008-05-21T16:53:00.000-07:00

I finally finished the display dolls for Claudia and got them shipped off to her. If you are planning on attending TNNA in Columbus, stop by her booth, (I believe it's 115) and give her a hug from me!

In honor of my completion of the daunting task, I decided to indulge in some mindless fun and chose this adorable little gauntlet by Dora Ohrenstein. The pattern is free on Crochet Insider

And while you're there, don't miss this great interview with my long lost separated before birth sister, Myra Wood.

The blue ones are from Claudia Hand Painted Fingering Weight in Blue Jeans colorway on a Size B hook, as called for in the pattern.
They came out too tight for my small hands, so I just considered them a swatch and made the brownish pair on a C hook. I believe that color is called Desert Dusk. They fit perfectly except for the top edge, which gaps on the palm side.

The next pair will be Just Right! cuz now I know how to tweak it. But I have lost the mood for making them since it was freakishly hot here. I actually stopped knitting last night! Me, the one who never just sits...actually watched a movie with nothing at all in her hands. Well, a cat noticed so there technically was a cat under my hands.

June Contemporary Crafts Market

2008-04-23T13:39:00.000-07:00

First off, I want to thank the readers who left me supportive comments regarding my stepping away from the wig-gig. I just can't tell you how free and strong I have felt since making the decision. And how much I have accomplished! I've actually checked off 5 things from my to do list since Monday morning! 5 things that wouldn't have gotten started, let alone completed, if I were working on the big wig!

And one of those things was putting together my postcard for the CCM at the Santa Monica Civic on June 6-8. Here it is:

This time, in addition to my one of a kind wearable art pieces, I will be offering my patterns and kits. If you would like to come as my guest, please go here to print a free pass for 2!

Staying on Target

2008-04-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend I had a big revelation and made a decision! I guess I have been leading up to this for a while, but something happened this weekend that put it all into perspective.

The revelation - that I am preventing myself from reaching my goals by scattering my assets (meaning my time, talent and creativity) Like many creative people, there are so many things that interest me and so many skills I have developed over the years. But there is only so much time in the day and all of the things I love take lots of time.

I wish I could mention the names involved, but that would be indiscreet. But what happened is I went to listen in on a consultation with a Big Star for a wig project. This Big Star is a gorgeous woman for whom I used to make clothes back in my past life. She is still gorgeous, even more of an icon, and getting ready to do another fabulous 'thing' (could I be any more vague?) So here I am, reconnecting with her about 20 years later, and this time, not as a costume designer, but as a sub-contractor wig ventilator.

Meanwhile, I was intending to put aside work in both pattern writing and getting ready for a wearable art show at the beginning of June so I can meet the excruciatingly close deadline for this wig. The prospect of 10 days of intense, extreme boredom lies ahead. About 100 hours of tying double knots in individual hairs lies ahead. Meanwhile, my show will be getting closer and closer. Meanwhile, my stress level will be rising higher and higher.

For what? The $, while impressive, is only $. The 10 days will be gone and I'll never get them back.

So I walked away - not just from this particular job, but from wig-making all together. And I felt that instant sense of relief that comes from being put back into my proper place in life and is a validation of a correct decision.

I made an agreement with myself that I will stay on track from now on. After my first priority (family) I am committed to devoting myself to the 2 businesses that really interest me - wearable art being #1 and pattern publishing as #2.

This is Foot Fetish. It is the 2nd sock design for DRG Publishing Tops and Toes, which will be out next February. The sample and pattern should be finished this afternoon. I am feeling so liberated, so relieved, and looking forward to the future once again!

And very grateful that my reconnecting with Big Star illuminated to me that I want to go forward, not backward!

Giant Doilies

2008-04-14T11:46:00.001-07:00

This one is the cover design from Doris Chan's Amazing Crochet Lace. I used 16 balls of ggh Aspen and a size J hook. It took one day to complete.

I enjoyed the fast results from the large hook so much that I decided to make something else along the same lines. Since I only had 10 balls of this Berroco X-Press, I decided to make a Doily Vest of my own design, and needed to upsize to a Size L hook to get a fabric that had a little drape to it.

Man, this one went so fast I could hardly believe it - about 6 hours! I would be making a lot more of these if it wasn't so hard on my hands.

Shruggity Shrug Pattern is Ready!

2008-03-29T16:14:00.000-07:00

I forced myself to finish this pattern today! Now I am so happy to say:
Shruggity Shrug Pattern Now Available Here!

Now I am going to tackle Flower Box.

Flower Box Sweater

2008-03-20T11:42:00.001-07:00

I absolutely love this sweater! It fits so beautifully and was so fun and easy to make. I just love when everything comes out exactly the way I envisioned it in my mind before I started.

The knitted squares have crocheted borders and then are sewn together.

The lace edging is crocheted.

Random crocheted and embroidered flowers with crystal centers inspired the name. The hand made porcelain buttons couldn't have been more perfect if I had made them myself!

The sweater is for sale on my Yarnartist's site and I am considering writing the pattern, too.

Mo' Flower Power

2008-03-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

Mo as in mohair!

A little story: When my son was in elementary school, I started an art and needlework program at his school. One year I taught everyone in grades 2-5 how to knit. The unit began with me bringing in samples of many different types of fiber and explaining how yarns were made. We talked about where the fiber came from - plants, animals, chemicals, etc. In summary, I asked "Where does wool come from?" "Sheep!!!" the children yelled. "Where does cotton come from?" "Plants!" the children responded. And where does mohair come from?" One little voice replied uncertainly "Moles?"

Anyway, the above scarf is Flower Power made up in Claudia Handpaints Mole hair, I mean Mohair! See the crystals on the fringes? One skein made this entire very long scarf! I will be putting up the pattern, yarn and beads as a kit on my site later today or tomorrow.

I Guess You Could Say...

2008-03-20T10:55:00.000-07:00

... that Berroco makes some of my favorite commercially produced yarns. When I saw this yarn I just had to have some.

Yarn: Berroco Sox
Colorway: 1425 John Moores
Pattern: My own basic toe-up with short row heel and stretchy bind-off on 58 sts, Size 1 needles.

Secret for getting the stripes to match: Before beginning, pull out yarn and start at a place where the color/pattern is clearly beginning to change. Measure long tail if using long tail cast-on. This is much easier to find than a random beginning point when you are ready to start the second sock.

Love the way these socks look - really enjoyed knitting with the yarn as the color and pattern changes were so pleasing to my aesthetic sense. However...they itch. So into the gift bag they go, waiting for the perfect owner to be revealed.

More on socks: I finished writing up the pattern for the Electric Flower Socks for Tops and Toes, due out next February.

I am proud to say that for once I didn't procrastinate and actually sent the pattern and sample off more than a week ahead of the due date!!!

Could this be a new trend? I sure hope so. I love the sense of freedom I feel now, except there are a few more deadlines and promises I must keep before I am really free of pressure.

Flower Power

2008-03-01T15:07:00.000-08:00

Finally, I completed the pattern for this scarf.

I can't believe that this goes back to last August!!!

I guess that I don't need to mention that I like making things better than I like pattern writing.

The name has changed from Lucky Scarf to Flower Power. The pattern is available via download here. Enjoy!

Okay, I'll Show You...

2008-02-15T10:50:00.000-08:00

...what I've been working on.

Yes, it is Shruggity Shrug Revisited in Claudia Handpaints Mohair. The lightest most lovely soft mohair, a little heavier than Kidsilk Haze but sooo much softer. My plan is to kit this pattern but it takes 3 skeins, so I am stalled, wondering if it would be too pricey.

This one will not be kitted, just the pattern will be available. You might recognize my snowflakes, crocheted from my sick bed. This was what I had planned and I am so happy with both the sweater and the snowflakes. It is called "Snowflakes in Summer" and Eden says it looks Japanese. I am so flattered! I adore the Japanese pattern books and have no doubt been influenced by them, but where did he see Japanese knitting? He definitely doesn't look at my books.

But he studies Japanese in school and collects anime films and Japanese graphic novels, so I suppose there is some crossover in design sensibilities.

And those of you who know me know that cannot be all. There are several other things that haven't been photographed yet..

16 Years Ago

2008-02-14T14:02:00.000-08:00

16 years ago this day, I was sent home from the hospital with a tiny, helpless 6 pound boy who now tops 6 feet and weighs in at over 270 pounds! He is no longer helpless, but still rather clueless.

No one warned me that the sweet little bundle of joy was going to turn into a hairy refrigerator emptying machine.

As I was patiently enjoying him saying his first little words, no one warned me about the words that would someday be coming out of his mouth.

Or that those sweet little feet would become huge, size 16 things that would be itching to walk out the door.

I should have known. After all, I was once a teenager myself.

I admit it, I never thought beyond carrying him around in a little basket, reading him stories and singing lullabies, and then playing childhood games with a sweet little boy who I would help mold into the kind of man who would have all the strength of character and gentleness of spirit I saw in my dreams.

Ha, ha!

But still, I am glad I have him and I believe, in my deepest heart, that he will grow up into that man I described above, and even more than that.

In the mean time, I have my knitting...

Alfie's Blankie Update

2008-01-31T07:42:00.000-08:00

A good fit and a good color match. And isn't he the most bee-yoo-ti-ful kitty?

Other Projects From the Sickbed and a Contest!

2008-01-29T12:45:00.000-08:00

I have been working through Sasha Kagan's Crochet Inspirations. I just love this book!

Playing around with little motifs made from some tapestry wool from my stash. I have big plans for these, once I am able to count past 10 again.

One of these is from my own mind, not the book. Let's make a contest. The first person who can tell me which one I made up will receive a nice selection of my tapestry yarn stash to make their own motif samples.

Here is the prize!

14 little skeins of wool tapestry yarn! No germs included!

Still Sick

2008-01-29T12:26:00.000-08:00

But does that stop me from needing to create?

Nooooo!!! But what I'm creating is not too great! Well, maybe it will be considered great by one (now fully grown) rag doll kitty named Alfie, my catphew.

How could anyone not fall in love with this little face?

Or the little toe tufts?

I made him this blanket to set off his beautiful blue eyes. It is a section of the Lion Brand free pattern called Circles to Squares
from Vanna's Choice yarn. I admit to being a yarn snob and never work with acrylic yarn, but a kitty blanket needs to be washable and basically indestructible. I have been listening to Lion Brands' podcast and they interviewed Vanna White recently, and were so complimentary about her yarn that I slunk out of my flu-bed and took advantage of Michaels $2 a ball yarn sale.

I also really appreciate that she is donating a part of her share to a children's charity, although I am still foggy and can't remember which one.

The yarn was fine for the purpose, but if I were ever to make an afghan for myself (don't hold your breath on that one) I would want it to be made from something real, even if it had to go to the dry cleaner's. But that's just me.

Kitty Blanket

2008-01-25T13:18:00.001-08:00

I have the fu and can't do math so all my new designs are on hold. I did manage to make this Kitty Blanket for my friend's cat, Dink, and it was like making a giant swatch. A new idea for a design is in my mind, but I need to wait till my brain isn't all stuffed up.

Figaro is testing the blankie for catibility. She a-purr-ooves.

TNNA Report

2008-01-14T10:43:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderful time at TNNA this year!

The first thing that was great was meeting my friend, Mary Moran, in person! Mary is the brilliant developer of Sole Solution NeedleTrax, and Knitter's Desktop Companion. She also owns The Knitting Zone and most recently, she has added North American Distributer of Hiyahiya Needles to her empire.

Like a true idiot, I forgot to have someone take a picture of us to prove we have been on the planet in the same space and time, so you'll have to take my word for it.

But our story is that we 'met' at least 5 years ago on the internet and after discovering that we share a birthday (except she's much younger than I) we began a friendship that has developed over the years. She lives on a farm in Alabama and when she's not being a knitting mogel, milks cows, gathers eggs, nurses goats (and worse) and has a pet pig named Wilbur.

I so much enjoyed sharing a couple of dinners with her and her sidekick, Sue, who flew with her from Alabama to help with the show.

Their runaway best seller is the 9" circular sock needle. It seems everyone loves making socks and would prefer bypassing the dpn's!

What a thrill I received to answer the phone on Saturday morning and hear Margaret Hubert's voice! Years ago, I took a class with Margaret, just to get an opportunity to meet her and tell her how much I admire and appreciate her work. Margaret is very generous and gracious to provide aspiring knitter-designers with advice culled from her successful life-long knitting career. We developed a little e-mail friendship and although she was already booked for all meals, we were able to have a little sit down on Saturday while she got me caught up on her 18 (yes 18!) books!

And we were joined by the beautiful and multi-talented Myra Wood, who showed me a copy of her new book, Creative Crochet Lace. I have already pre-ordered a copy from Amazon, and if you love freeform or lace or both, you should, too! The sweater Magaret is wearing is actually featured in Myra's book!
And then I got to spend time with my newest knitting pal, Janice Rosema, who unveiled her newest creations for Ozark Handspun. I got to see Dave and Terri for the first time since becoming a customer of Ozark myself! Janice's work is just exquisite and Ozark supplies patterns FREE here.

This is my favorite Janice design.
If you haven't seen her creations, you must check them out, although her newest ones aren't up yet. But you can see them on ravelry here, and I know the patterns will eventually be on the Ozark site.

And then there was Claudia! Once again I am an idiot and didn't use the camera! I instantly felt a connection to this lovely woman whose hand dyed yarns have taken over my life and my upstairs hallway! How could I not love someone whose logo is a heart and who prints the words "Peace, Love, Comfort and Joy" on each label of her gorgeous yarn?

Claudia had a modular coat that she made and designed herself that showed how talented and patient she is, not just with the dye pots! I ordered more of her gorgeous yarn, this time in sport weight and her new linen, and plan on some new designs for Summer TNNA! Stay tuned!

The only thing that would have made my day better was getting to meet the woman who first inspired my imagination with her freeform book, Prudence Mapstone! And guess what?
I was so inspired I came home and worked all night. I knit so much that I got a boo boo on my finger. See the groove that runs around my finger? That is a permanent groove worn in from years of holding the yarn wrapped around right there. When I work with Noro, especially, over days, I sometimes start to bleed from that groove. Knitter's stigmata.

Embellished Clam Shell Bag

2008-01-07T15:47:00.001-08:00

Remember that tease from a few entries ago? Well, I have decided not to write the pattern, so here is the entire bag.

It is made from Noro Kureyon and Claudia's Hand Paint Boucle', then felted and embellished by needle felting with Ozark Handspun, then beaded. It has beautiful handles from Labeana.

I just don't like it enough to write the pattern. Sometimes designs don't live up to my expectations. The bag itself is nice enough, but it doesn't knock me out to the degree that I want to keep working on it. Not with so many other ideas screaming to be released from my imagination into the world.

I Would Trade Half My Stash to Go to Morocco!

2008-01-07T15:09:00.000-08:00

Well, maybe a quarter of my stash. Half if I can replace it while I'm there...

Jane Thornley is organizing a dream trip to Morocco, specifically for knitters, fiber artists, beaders, photographers, and artists of all types.

There will be sightseeing and fine dining and touring and knitting and shopping and knitting and shopping.

Here s a picture of a store that sells nothing but tassels!!!

I just LOVE tassels! This makes the tassel department at Michael Levine's look like chopped liver!

Here is the hotel.
I can't go but maybe YOU can! Read her delightful prose describing the trip here.

If you go, please bring me some tassels.

Shetland Lace Shell Scarf

2008-01-05T10:18:00.000-08:00

Pattern is by Frances Goodman, who I 'met' on Ravelry and is free here.
The yarn is from Knit Picks, called Shimmer, and it was wonderful to work with, plus stood up to many froggings, as before Frances was good enough to post her pattern, I had been playing around with it, trying to figure it out myself.

Oh dear, I just went to Knit Picks to get the address to link for you and I see that there are a few color ways of Shimmer on sale for $4.99! I only used 1 skein for a nice length, once it was blocked.

My New Year's resolution is to not buy yarn in 2008! That's right - no yarn! Trades don't count - as in trading graphic services or patterns or .... a teenager? I am also considering making an exception for yarn I need to purchase wholesale to make up kits. That is a slippery slope, though, as I tend to make up more kits than I sell, and then the unsold yarn becomes more ... stash!

My strategy for handling the 'M U S T B U Y Y A R N' urges is to go through my stash when they get real strong. Before I click on the PayPal button, I will be calling my 'sponsor' or shopping in my own closet. (closets, hallway, under the bed, storage room)

Think I can do it? Even I don't think I can be that strong, but I will take it one day at a time.

Say It Loud! I Knit and I'm Proud!

2008-01-02T15:13:00.001-08:00

Yes, I am so proud of myself today!

I actually accomplished the task I set for myself - to format the pattern for 'Hot Hands' for both hard copy and download, get them onto my website, including the kit, and format the ad for Ravelry!

I am hoping people will like the pattern and the price for the kit!

Although I have decided not to go to Stitches West after all, I am still hoping to sell kits for some of my patterns on my site.

I have so much yarn purchased for kits that I have spilled out of my workroom and am taking over the hallway.

If you want to see, go here.

I Answered Kyle's Mememe

2007-12-26T19:34:00.000-08:00

From Kyle Knits.
01. Can you cook? Yes, and I love to do it. My 265 pound son is a living testimonial to the quality of my creativity in the kitchen!
02. What was your dream growing up? I am living it.
03. What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could sing R & B like Chaka Kahn.
04. If I bought you a drink what would it be? Iced tea (plain, no sugar, lemon or fancy flavorings)
05. Favorite vegetable? Romaine lettuce.
06. What was the last book you read? Confessions of a Concubine
07. What zodiac sign are you ? Cancer
08. Any tattoos and/or piercings? Just ears.
09. Worst habit? Too embarrassing to admit.
10. If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride? If I knew it was you.
11. What is your favorite sport? Tennis.
12. Negative or optimistic attitude? Optimist.
13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me? Talk about knitting and laugh.
14. Worst thing to ever happen to you? Smashed a kitten in a door by accident.
15. Tell me one weird fact about you. I count bicycle riders while I am driving.
16. Do you have any pets? A black bulimic cat named Figaro.
17. What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly? I probably wouldn't answer the door.
18. What was your first impression of me? Impressed with your knitting.
19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary? Neither.
20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? Make my hair longer.
21. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience? conscience.
22. What color eyes do you have? Brown
23. Ever been arrested? Once.
24. Bottle or draft? Tea Java and water are the only things I drink that come in bottles.
25. If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it? Save it.
26. Would you date me? My husband wouldn't let me.
27. Where's your favorite place to hang out? My den or my bed.
28. Do you believe in ghosts? Absolutely.
29. Favorite thing to do in your spare time? Knit.
30. Do you swear a lot? Hell yeah!
31. Biggest pet peeve? People who don't say please and thank you. Especially kids.
32. In one word, how would you describe yourself? Creative.
33. Do you believe in/appreciate romance? Absolutely. Especially romantic ghosts.
34. If you could spend 12 hours with me and ask/do anything you like, what would it be? Go to a knitting event like Stitches.
35. Do you believe in God? Absolutely.
36. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same? sure.

Hot Hands!

2007-12-18T21:02:00.000-08:00

I have been making "Hot Hands". A new pattern for my collection, and intended to be kitted with Hacho by Mirasol and to retail for about $12 for the kit, I decided to make up each size to make sure you could still get an entire pair of Size Large from one skein. You can, but there's only a tiny bit to spare. Like a few yards. This means that if you buy this kit and are making size Large
a) You might run out of yarn if the skein is a little short or you knit at a slightly different gauge than I do.
b) You will feel very tense towards the end of the project, worrying about whether there will be enough yarn.

It's a yarn dilemma! I don't want to add another skein because
a) I like the reasonable price
b) Small and Medium are okay with one skein
c) Large might be okay, too.
d) Why charge for an unused almost entire skein?

On the Designbiz list, I received a suggestion that I wind off a little extra from another skein and just add a little extra to the price.

I don't like the labor involved in winding off yarn. Especially since most people won't even need it. So the price goes up unnecessarily.

I saw this in Knitty for the pattern 'Fetching':
"Yarn note (from knitty.com): Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran is beautiful and soft and comes in gorgeous colors. The cool thing about these gloves is that you only need one skein to make a pair. However, you have to be willing to unravel your gauge swatch to do this, because one pair takes an entire skein with less than a yard of yarn left over. If you feel the need to keep your gauge swatches, you will need to buy two skeins"

That's fine if you are just buying the pattern. But it doesn't solve the kit dilemma.

So far I have made a couple pairs in every size. There is a discrepancy in how much yarn is left over. So far, there has been enough to finish every pair I've made, but maybe that's just me.

What to do, what to do?

I tried making up a pair in this gorgeous handpainted yarn from Urban Gypz that I bought from the Loopy Ewe. The colorway is called Rainy Day Blues and it is scrumptious. Gauge slightly different than Hacho, but lots left over!!! As well there should be. This gorgeous yarn costs $25, I think. I bought it with a special friend in mind and she will be getting these for Christmas.

Funky Pink Wrap

2007-12-13T16:15:00.000-08:00

I am finally beginning to put pieces into the eboutique at yarnartists.com. I would much rather make them then photograph them and my least favorite is working on the computer, but it must be done, and I am the woman for the job.

It's a good thing that the deadline for Stitches West is approaching. Because of that deadline, I am forced to work on the yarnartists website in my system of productive procrastination. There's a twisted logic to it. Always have a second business so you can be productive while procrastinating over deadlines.

If you want to peek at yarnartists.com, I would welcome feedback.

This wrap combines about 25 different yarns, mostly PINK. It has pieces of pink pearlized shell and carved shell flower embellishments. Very snuggly.

A Few Flowers

2007-12-12T20:08:00.001-08:00

Here are a pair of Flower Socks I made for my sister for Hanukkah. The yarn is Claudia Hand Paints Plumicious and is available from me as a kit with the pattern and the beads right here! The sock blockers are from Loopy Ewe.

And while we're talking about Loopy Ewe, what's up with that site anyway? Why do I feel COMPELLED to order yarn from them? It's not like I NEED more yarn. It's not like I USE the yarn I buy from them. I just find I MUST VISIT the site and order yarn on a regular basis! They just have the absolute best collection of hand dyed sock yarn under one roof, so to speak!

Here's another pair of Flower Socks I made from some Knitpicks sock yarn. This color is no longer being sold. Maybe these are for me, since they contain my favorite color combination - pink and turquoise. (in this case, coral and turquoise)

I wish I could show you my new handbag pattern. How about a tease?

That's all I'm sayin' for now...

Some Holiday Projects

2007-12-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

Finally I am ready to share a couple of things I have been working on.

Gefelted Fish - a sample for a class I will be teaching for the Pomegranate Guild in February. They caught me at a weak moment and I so loved the title they had already picked that before I knew what hit me, I said yes.

A knitted and crocheted skirt for my niece, Aimee, in her favorite colors.

And finally, a vest for my very special someone for his birthday. Inspired by the cover of Sally Melville's Color book, but beyond that, there is nothing at all similar in the construction or the purpose.

I hope he likes it. I'll report back on his response.

What I Got Today

2007-11-27T16:31:00.000-08:00

I know this is backwards but I am saving time and using Photo Booth instead of my camera and apparently, it sees me like a mirror instead of like a camera.

This is the newest version of Creative Suite. I use Photoshop and InDesign for all my patterns and of course, Acrobat for my pdf files. I recently purchased a really cool interactive pattern from that genius, Carol Wulster.

To my chagrin, it wasn't fully functional in the version of Acrobat that has served me just fine for several years!

Time to upgrade. I was 'talked into' getting the upgrades for Dreamweaver and Flash, while I was at it. Now if only I could actually figure out how to use Dreamweaver!

The other (backwards ) picture is my dear copy of Pineapple Lace.

What a fabulous book! I love all the old doily crochet books, but some of them do not have charts and I can't abide the line by line directions written out. They make my eyes cross and I start feeling dyslexic.

Charts, on the other hand, make crocheting such a pleasure. And this book is pure pleasure (although if you are a written out kinda crocheter, it's in there, too)

Whenever I find a paperback book I know I am going to use to death, I chop off the covers, laminate them with my lamination machine (left over from when I was an art teacher) and have Kinko's spiral bind it. A $5 upgrade that makes sure it will last forever. Plus it opens flat, so it's much easier to work with.

Yes, but what am I knitting, you may ask! I can't show you yet. I've been working on NEW PATTERNS. Yeah! 4 or 5 new patterns. I will be debuting them here when they are done. My objective is to have them printed and ready to go to Stitches West in February.

I know that gives me lots of time, which in my case is dangerous as I am "La Procrastinator Extraordinaire" and will start 3,000 new projects if the deadline is not breathing down my neck. Now you know one of the secrets of my prolific-ness - procrastination on meeting deadlines.

Another Week, 3 More FO's

2007-11-18T14:28:00.000-08:00

It has always bothered me that the neighbors could see silhouettes through our bedroom window at night. I saw this screen at Aaron Brothers and thought it would be perfect for my booth at Stitches West in February. My plan was to print out 8x10 photos of some of my patterns and put them into the frames. When I saw that the one I wanted (black) was on sale for 50% off, I whipped out the Mastercard.

Back home, set up in the bedroom, I realized that it would solve my window problem and fit in to my decorating scheme perfectly.

Using my Joann's coupon, I purchased some scrapbook paper in colors that worked with the colors of the room, came home, cut them to size and voila! The solution to the window problem, and I can still use it for Stitches West!

See, watching HGTV endlessly will eventually rub off!

But home decor is not all I've been up to. My friend, Angela Best, who I 'met' on Ravelry, has this terrific design in Stitch and Bitch Crochet, called Short 'n Sweet. I used Shine Sport from Knitpicks, which is a really nice, drapey yarn that I am currently quite fond of. And at $2.49 a ball, you can't beat it with a stick!

I made this little shrug in a day and a half. It will be a Hanukkah present for one of my nieces.

And no, I am not tired of making the Heartbeat sweater yet! This one is called Summer Melons because the yarn is so melony and delicious and cool. I had an uncontrollable craving for rainbow sherbet while working on this one.

And yes, I do sleep, in case you are wondering. But not very much.

Oscar, I Wanna B U

2007-11-14T10:16:00.001-08:00

Probably I don't really want to be Oscar de la Renta. I just want to get $2,450 for one of my crocheted freeform pieces!

Ravelry Ads

2007-11-13T09:26:00.000-08:00

Ravelry has opened to beta testing advertisers. I created a few.
Click on the ad to go to the page on my site.
Here they are:

It's a great opportunity to be able to advertise on Ravelry. I am so impressed with the way the site is developing. It''s creators deserve every success!

Shruggity Shrug

2007-11-12T08:07:00.001-08:00

A trio of shrugs completed for the Crafts Show.
This first one is called Blue Lagoon and is a combination of knit and crochet. I love this style and am working on writing the pattern for my pattern line. You all know how much I love writing patterns and how easy it is for me!!!

Much as I don't like writing patterns, I DO LOVE to make things. So I made another, this one in a size small, and it is called Fire.

And this last one is by the brilliant Annie Modesitt and was in Interweave Crochet last spring. It is called Lacy Leaf Cacoon. I used Knitpicks Shine Sport. If I were to ever make this one again, I would change the armholes and widen the sleeves a bit. Great pattern but lots of errors which won't bother you if you know what you are doing but would probably be quite confusing to someone new to crochet.

I couldn't find a button in my collection that was just right for this pattern (didn't like the crochet button included in the pattern) so I started going through my jewelry and found a red rhinestone ring Eden gave me for Valentine's Day when he was about 6.
I just spread apart the sides of the ring and voila! You do have to put the shrug on over your head, but a small price to pay for the perfect closure!

Sunrise Handbag

2007-11-05T19:48:00.001-08:00

Some Handbags and a Sweater

2007-11-05T12:33:00.000-08:00

Just a few of the 27 handbags I completed for the show.

This one came out majorly too big. I am calling it a Mini Cooper Cozy. The pattern was one I found on Ravelry, called Inga's Haekelbeutel and the pattern is free here. I recommend not making your squares any larger than 4". A very clever pattern!

This one is felted and features buckles and an embellishment from my buddy, Lauren, at labeana. I am keeping this one, in fact I already transferred my stuff into it. I made up the pattern as I knit and have absolutely no idea what I did.

This last one was named Cinnamon and Spice and was my absolute favorite of the show. Of course it sold.
Interestingly enough, the first thing I sold was this:
Heartbeat Sweater, which has been, without a doubt, the #1 favorite of all on my Ravelry project page. Jill, your check is in the mail!

Contemporary Crafts Market is Over

2007-11-05T12:23:00.000-08:00

And wow! it was intense. On Thursday Sharon and I set up our booth. It took practically the entire day and then when we thought we were finished, a friendly neighbor with a lot of experience came over and critiqued our set up, which caused us to rethink the whole thing so we started all over again and came up with something so much better. You can't really see my entire display from the angle of the first photo - wish I had noticed that before today when I could have had another photo taken!

I had entirely too much stuff. I had actually never seen everything I had collected all in one room before and I was rather amazed to see what I had accumulated. On Sunday, I removed about 1/3 of my inventory and it was much better - people could actually focus on individual pieces.

I think the show was a successful first attempt for both of us, and if I do the June show, I have a lot of ideas on how to make it even more successful.

But right now, I need to attend to all the things I put off over the last 2 weeks and then I need to sit down for a minute or a week and just .... knit!

Revised Pattern

2007-10-30T19:51:00.001-07:00

This is the new Crocheted Beaded Belt pattern. I revised it to include a detachable i-pod or i-glass cozy. This makes the belt more useful and uses exactly one skein of fingering weight yarn.

I was inspired to make this revision by Ellen who will be kitting the pattern with her beads and Apple Laine yarn for sale on her site, Earthfaire

She is a great descriptive writer. I find myself drooling over my own patterns, the way she describes them! I also love her bead choices.

My intention is to sell kits on my site, too, but the first thing I am going to do when this show is over is get the downloadable versions of my patterns onto my site.

Yes, it is only one more day to prepare, then we set up for the show on Thursday, which starts Friday and will be over Sunday night at 6 PM. I honestly have no idea what to expect (other than that my feet will be hurting and I will be very tired after 3 days of working the show) I am hoping for the best, but prepared to be happy with whatever happens.

One thing I am very grateful about it that the show is local so if I have forgotten anything, I can just run home to get it. And I get to sleep in my own bed at night!

The 7 Deadly Spins

2007-10-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

As a result of some of my patterns being sold by Ellen on EarthFaire.com, some lovely people and opportunities have been coming my way.

Here is one some of you may want to check out - The 7 Deadly Spins! Kelly Eells of Liisu Yarn came up with a brilliant idea! A bimonthy yarn club based on the Seven Deadly Sins. You can read more about it on her blog (linked above) I won't tell you which S(p)in I have been asked to represent, but let me tell you that it suits me perfectly! I haven't had the pleasure of working with Kelly's yarn yet, but have heard people praise it and can't wait to get my hands on some. I will report back to you as soon as I get some.

I want to thank everyone who left positive and encouraging comments after my last post. Knitting at home all alone makes one feel so isolated sometimes and it is much appreciated when someone takes the time to pass along some good energy. Thank you so much!

Why I Haven't Been Blogging

2007-10-19T17:05:00.000-07:00

1. Life has been getting in the way. Too many little (and big) distractions - all personal and I'm not going to write much of anything personal any more (see #2)
2. The main reason I haven't been blogging is because I received via a third party, a very negative comment about my blog and quite frankly, I just don't have my heart in it any more. I've always thought of myself as somewhat a rebel, but I just don't feel like putting my neck on the chopping block any more. Maybe it will come back someday, but for the time being, I am very happy just sharing my work in ravelry where narrative is relegated to descriptions of projects and can easily be kept on the subject of knitting, crochet, and yarn.
3. Getting ready for the CCM show in a couple of weeks. Gulp. Very nervous.
4. Preparing a new website to sell my finished, one of a kind pieces.

That being said, I am still as prolific as ever, just don't have photos to post. But here is one project I will show you:

Fat Bottom Bag from Stitch and Bitch Happy Hooker.
Yarn is Noro Kureyon. Lined with silk Chinese brocade.
Handles from labeana (love her work so much)

I think what pissed my off about this 'person's' comments the most was that she had read my blog throughly and did not make ONE COMMENT about my work!!! Her criticism was entirely personal.

Okay, blessings to her and all that. And if she's reading this "I hope you're happy now!"

What the Heck?

2007-10-06T16:56:00.001-07:00

My usual leftover sock yarn baby sock pattern. But What happened? They are noticably, distinctively 2 different sizes.

See? 2 Different Sizes!

I finally figured it out. First sock was knit on my (formerly favorite) needles Lantern Moon Sox Stix, size 1.
Then I got my (new favorite) Harmony Sock Needles. Pulled out the size 1's for the second sock.

But see...there are 2 Size 1's!!!
Darn it. One should be called size 0.5. Now what do I do?

Anyone know of a baby girl with 2 different sized feet?

Contemporary Crafts Market

2007-10-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

My friend Sharon Cohen and I are sharing a booth at the Contemporary Crafts Market at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, November 2 - 4. I am completely submerged in finished and need-to-be-finished projects to sell at the show - far more than I will have room to display. I really didn't know how much I had accumulated since they have been stashed in 4 different locations throughout the house.

Click here to get more info and to print out the page for free admission for 2.

A Couple of Originals

2007-09-18T10:03:00.001-07:00

This is a kimono style sweater I created 'by ear'. I started with 3 stitches and built the lower back in one piece, then knit the top from cuff to cuff in one piece. As soon as I could, I clipped it together and began trying it on to get the proportions right. It really looks a lot better on me than on my paper doll, but there is no one here to take my picture. Why can't my cat be more useful?

This one has 3/4 sleeves with slits - very nice if you always like your sleeves pushed up anyway.

For the front band, I used the crochet stitch that Ana taught me. Now she has me as crazy about that stitch as she is.

The yarn is Berroco Love It Colors, and I do (love it). I finished this entire sweater in about 4 days. Working on Size 8 needles seems like a walk in the park after spending so much time designing in sock yarn on nothing bigger than a 3.

I don't intend to publish this pattern but I do plan on developing the idea with different yarns and combinations of yarn. I really like the body shape. I'm not big on cardigans but love jackets.

I am calling this one Wild Fiber Scarf. It is made from some of the yarn I brought home with me after taking that Japanese pattern class at Wildfiber in Santa Monica. The scarf looks better than it feels but I love the pattern and will work with some alternative fibers before publishing the pattern.

Speaking of alternate fibers - my wholesale order from Claudia came last week and I am undertaking putting some of my patterns originally written for Koigu into kit form. I intend to attend Stitches West in February, offering my patterns (and kits) for the first time to the public. I hope I can get in.

Speaking of shows, the Contemporary Crafts Market looms close. I wake up in the middle of the night, worrying about display fixtures, lighting, credit cards, etc. At this very moment I am procrastinating from doing the postcard layout by writing in my blog. If it weren't for procrastination, I'd probably never get anything done!

Today is Eden's first football game. He had me cut off his year's growth of Afro (photos later) and he looks FORMIDABLE! His shoulders look 10" wider (he wears a size 56 men's jacket - the 54 was too tight in the shoulders!) You saw his shoes. His hair filled up an entire wastebasket. This morning when he came down for school, I had forgotten about the haircut and was startled for a minute. With the Afro, he looked like a goofy (big) hippie (not counting the sagged jeans and black t-shirt that hangs to his knees) With the short hair he looks like..."Please don't hurt me, Mr. Blackman"

Look out, Millkin (the opposing team)

Pacific Grove Pullover

2007-09-18T09:03:00.001-07:00

Once again, I am in love with Jill Vosburg's pattern! After doing her Heartbeat Sweater and now this one, I have to say that I thinks she's one of the top designers in today's market.

I used Noro Silver Thaw that I bought from Astrid, and yes, I am obsessed.
This yarn was perfect for a winter version of this sweater - there is a little angora and a little nylon in the yarn, making it less scratchy than Kureyon, and I never tire of watching the colors change.

In July I made my first version of this pattern in Borroco Nostalgia I bought in closeout from Webs. I really love it and receive lots of compliments when I wear it, especially from knitters.

If you haven't tried one of Jill's patterns and enjoy modular knitting, I recommend you get on it!

Either a Pair of Socks or...All These

2007-09-11T13:48:00.001-07:00

My Beaded Garden Party Scarf. The yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Black Pearl colorway. Not quite up to the Koigu, but the good thing is it is only $9.75 a skein and the skeins are larger. Instead of using 1.5, I made this scarf with just one skein. Saving nearly $20 on yarn now that Koigu is running $14 a skein!

These are the cutest booties - called Saartje's Bootie, they take about an hour to make. Even better, the pattern is free here.

And to go with it, one EZ Baby Surprise Jacket. I used a little bit of black fingering weight wool in the booties and sweater to make it more interesting, and I crocheted a beaded border on the sweater. Instead of closing with buttons (I only had 2 more like the ones I used on the booties) I crocheted ties that end in beaded flowers.

Friday Report

2007-09-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

Today I took a little workshop at Wildfiber from the Habu Textile Lady on how to read Japanese knitting patterns. Francesca has a great report about the Habu Trunk Show on her blog.

Japanese knitting patterns are so intelligently written - just a schematic with measurements and little shorthand info in boxes that tell you where and when to increase and decrease. These patterns assume that you already know how to knit and that you will determine yourself what kind of increases and decreases you want to use. There are practically no written words at all, making the patterns universal, once you understand how they are written. Very cool. Too bad we can't write more patterns that way - I tell you, I'd write a heck of a lot more patterns if that was all that was required.

There are some amazing Japanese pattern books available. They are probably the most inventive and creative country of knitters in the world. I own a lot of Japanese stitch dictionaries and they are quite inspirational.

Since I showed you photos of the crack I mean stash I bought last week, I am not going to photograph what I bought today. Let's just say they had a 50% off room filled with things that kept jumping into my basket.

Next week my order from Claudia comes. I have been wanting to kit up some of my patterns with yarn. Since it is impossible for me to consider selling Koigu (how would I be able to part with any of it?) I have chosen Claudia Handpaints as my kitting yarn. They called me at 5:55 this morning to say it would go out today. I have no idea where I will put my HUGE order. Since I must take over the living room to begin inventorying my wearable art for the November show, I guess putting a "small" amount of yarn there, too, will hardly matter.

Maurice mentioned today that maybe I need a real studio. Like in a separate building. My business seems to be outgrowing our home. We'll see...

Other Breaking News!!! Knitpicks has new needles. They are totally gorgeous! Of course I will let you know how I like them as soon as they arrive.

Cotton Candy Sweater

2007-09-06T14:20:00.001-07:00

Inspired by Ana!

The center panel of this was knit on the Brother 260, T5. It was a snap, just working 10 rows of color A, alternating 2 rows of B with 2 rows of A, then 10 rows of B, 2 rows C, 2 rows B...etc. For the neckline I bound off then cast on so there are no shoulder seams.

After blocking, I used alternating colors to crochet around the entire rectangle, linking the last round together to make side seams. Altogether, I think it took about 6 hours to make this entire sweater and I love wearing it.

BTW, I washed it in the machine on the delicate cycle and machine dried it, too, and there was no shrinkage!

Yarn Acquisition

2007-09-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

Ever since Brandi called me from Stitches From the Heart to say they had some new yarn in she thought I would like, I have been resisting the urge to go over and take a look. The other day, I lost my will and was sucked into the vortex of yarn-a-liscious yarn acquisition.

This is the yarn she was talking about - Hacho by Mirasol. Spun and hand dyed in Peru. I can't wait to make something from it!
All of these skeins jumped into my bag!

Of course, I had to get a few other things, too. Like this grey and rainbow pastel collection.

And then I was waiting on a customer who wanted to make a scarf like my new Chevron Scarf (will post photo soon) And I discovered this sock yarn and couldn't make up my mind about the color so I took them all!

It is called Online Supersocke 100 and was only $10.75 for 100 grams - 75% wool, 25% polyamid. How could I resist?

By then, I was getting a little mind altered, so when Brandi insisted I needed these 2 magazines, once again...how could I resist?

And then my fifth order from the Loopy Ewe came. So I am now officially a Loopy Groupie! Honestly, I could place an order with the Loopy Ewe every other day. Those 2 beauties in the middle are hand painted cashmere, silk and merino. The Lorna's Laces on the right have already been transformed. I will post photos later.

Right now I NEED TO KNIT. See ya!

Another EW Vintage Dress on ebay!

2007-09-01T06:42:00.001-07:00

It amazes me to see my old dresses listed on ebay! It doesn't happen often but when it does, it's like running into an old friend you completely forgot you knew. Listed as "from the 70's disco era" it was actually from the mid 80's. Probably written by someone who was so young in the 80's they have no idea how sizzling hot the fashions were back then.

This one was from the commercial line I designed from 1986-7 called "Climax".

Only the most outrageous, degenerates or outlaws had tattoos back in the 80's. But what a perfect dress to show one off!

If you want to place a bid, you can find it here.

Beaded Garden Party Slide Show

2007-08-31T07:52:00.001-07:00

Thanks, Ellen, for sharing this terrific resource!

Another Garden Party Scarf

2007-08-27T08:33:00.001-07:00

First, something for your breakfast! Actually, I made it a week ago and it disappeared a day later. Being too careful of my calories, I only ate a half a piece. I gave a hunk to the neighbors. The rest was consumed with gusto by my two sweet-toothed men.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Melt 1 stick butter and add 1/2 C brown sugar, heat until caramelized. Pour into buttered 9x12 glass baking pan.
Add rings from 1 can pineapple rings in heavy syrup, breaking rings in half when necessary to fit pan.
Place a maraschino cherry in center of each ring.
Prepare 1 box yellow cake mix as directed on box, substituting the juice from the can of pineapple for the water (add water if necessary to achieve proper amount of liquid.
Bake according to directions.
When cake is done, allow to cool about 5 minutes, then invert on plate or, as I do, on a foil lined cookie sheet.

Dangerous!

*****

This is the scarf I just can't seem to keep people from stealing. I am hoping that it will appeal equally to someone who wants to buy it!

As I work frantically on inventory for the Contemporary Crafts Market, I am planning on offering items from my pattern line as completed creations. This one is made from Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock, colorway Fire on the Mountain.

Before blocking:

After blocking:

And a pair of baby socks from the leftover yarn:

Oh, Lucky Scarf

2007-08-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

So far, I have made 3 of these. I have offered the pattern to a brilliant yarn dyeing artist, but the e-mails seem to be lost. Is this a sign that I should just self publish? I am working on one now in Koigu. If I don't hear back from her by the time the Koigu is finished, will that be a sign that I should self-publish this pattern? Or offer to a magazine?

I am quite fond of Interweave Crochet. Maybe...

This one is the first and is made from some KnitPicks sock yarn.Size D hook. Takes a couple of days solid work.

My Workroom Has Exploded

2007-08-12T09:22:00.001-07:00

I had a lot of energy last night and just HAD to try out a new crochet stitch pattern inspired by this book.

I just had to use this yarn.

Unfortunately, the box containing the yarn I needed was at the bottom of the overloaded closet. I was too obsessed with wanting to see the stitch pattern worked up to put everything back after the yarn exploded.

So I guess my work is cut out for me this morning.

I guess that explains why I am posting to the blog again, after adding the new FO's to Ravelry. Procrastination, thy name is Yarnartist!

A Couple More FO's

2007-08-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket for Luka. I finally made one and it was fast, fun and everything everyone says EXCEPT I don't think this one is the right proportions! The neck opening is too small and the length/width ratio seems incorrect. I am sure this is the fault of my yarn choice (Elann's Filati Sailor) and the needles (US4). I did like the 100% cotton yarn (very much - I bought 2 balls of nearly every color Elann offered) but maybe not for this design. I don't make them, but it seems like it would be good at a very tight gauge for dishcloths.

Here are some more socks for Afghans for Afghans. The yarn is ancient, from my stash, Regia Mini Ringel Color, and the patterns are from my twisted little mind. I can make socks in my sleep. The patterning (like the one in the larger pair) just comes out my fingers and is usually derived from whatever else I have been working on. This one was derived from the Chevron Scarf, only instead of k1,m1's, I did k1, yo's, resulting in lacy chevrons. The short row heels are so much easier and I think more attractive than the flap heels.

I especially like that the stripes match. With yarn this defined, I know I would hate if they didn't.

Stephanie and Luka and Some FO's

2007-08-10T14:42:00.001-07:00

Meet my god-daughter's newest creation - Luka Alexandra. Born on Saturday morning with a minimum amount of discomfort, she is precious and tiny. I went to see them on Sunday and brought them some new socks!

The Monkeys and baby socks are made from Rio de la Plata sock yarn. Baby sock pattern was out of my frenzied mind.

Me and Luka! It's so amazing to remember how small they are when they first pop out.

I had enough yarn left over from the Kaffe Fassett yarn to make a little baby pair. I am collecting some socks to send to Afghans for Afghans.

This is the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I saw it on Ravelry and HAD to make one. I used 2 different colorways of Claudia's Handpainted Sock Yarn and was totally delighted with the way they blended. It's a mindless knit - very good for social knitting and hey Ellen! A wonderful procrastination project!

And speaking of Ravelry! What fun! What a party! I wish everyone could get on it. Because of Ravelry, I have discovered Flickr and Picnik and now my life is (nearly) complete!

If only my own website were as easy to use. I would have uploaded all those PDF versions of my patterns that my sister formatted for me! I would have my new yarnartists.com website up and running! Instead I futz around with blogger and ravelry because it is easy and fun.

And speaking of futzing - I am wondering why I spend so much time knitting other people's patterns while visions of delight run through my mind. I know the answer - it is because knitting other people's designs (even with my own variations) is relaxing and fun. Working on my own is stressful and not fun.

When I designed in fabric, there was no equivalent. I was never tempted to buy ready made patterns because they were not fun. It was stressful and not fun to make my own patterns, but so much faster to see the end result - I think that had something to do with it.

So I continue to buy yarn and dream of the possibilities. I will never show anyone the sum total of my stash. It is too terrifying to even look at all at once myself. I keep finding new pockets of storage so I can still manage to fit into my workroom.

The Chevron Vest

2007-08-10T14:38:00.001-07:00

Striped Vest, front
Originally uploaded by mrsw9

From Knitters, Summer, 2007. I changed nearly everything about this pattern - made the neckline deeper, used 2 differnt weight yarns and adjusted the sides, which I knit in garter stitch rather that stockinette. I do like the way it came out and will probably continue to develop the pattern.

4th Wig

2007-08-10T14:35:00.001-07:00

4th Wig
Originally uploaded by mrsw9

This is why I haven't had time to write in my blog. although I have been sworn to secrecy regarding my wig making activities, I think I can show you the photo without revealing any secrets.

This is the 4th wig I've made and I must say - it is THE MOST TEDIOUS, INTENSE WORK I HAVE EVER UNDERTAKEN!

I think my wig-making career might die on the vine!

Okay Then

2007-07-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, I see that no one has anything to say about my thoughts on the meaning of life. So back to knitting content.

But first, a photo of birthday flowers:

This next one is a new sock design I am calling Foot Fetish. Since there are so many excellent sock patterns out there for free, I am probably not going to publish this one for my pattern line, but will maybe just write it up and give it away for free like everyone else.

And this one is made from Regia's new Designer Line by Kaffe Fassett. I bought the entire collection here.
I love Kaffe Fassett's colors and was so excited to see his sock yarn collection and such a great price, too. So of course I ordered the entire collection. No, I won't be publishing photos of all the new yarns I've acquired during my so-called 3 month yarn fast. I have lost 14 pounds, so that proves I am able to show restraint in some areas of my life.

I have been wasting far too much time on Ravelry. It is really fun and very easy to use. If you are already in there, my name is Yarnartist. Give me a holler!

Knitting and the Meaning of Life

2007-07-15T15:59:00.001-07:00

Zen Koan: Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.
Knitting Koan: Before enlightenment; knit, rip, knit, rip. After enlightenment; knit, rip, knit, rip.

In life, as in knitting, enthusiasm, patience and persistence lead to mastery.

Although the subtitle of my blog is "musings on fiber, knitting and the meaning of life", I haven't included much about the last.
This got me thinking, on the way to LACMA the other day, "What is the meaning of life?"

Like "Beauty", the "Meaning of Life" is completely subjective. Personal values and beliefs come into play and although religions try to tell us the meaning of life, NO ONE really knows for sure. Minds much greater than my own have spent lifetimes contemplating the answer to The Question, and countless volumes have been written trying to persuade others to what is still a personal choice.

My own answer goes something like this:

The meaning of life is to create beauty.

I believe that each individual chooses his/her own meaning and that is mine.

Beyond that, I believe there is also a purpose for "Life". Not individual life, but Life itself, from the tiniest elemental energy to the universe and beyond, I believe that all of creation is expanding, becoming aware of itself, and creating.

And so each individual adds to the expansion. We, as creatures with free will, choose to create beauty or darkness, order or chaos, love or evil. No matter what we choose, we add indelibly to all that is.

What do you think?

One of my 3rd grade Sunday School students once said that when she wondered whether God exists, she wondered who else could have come up with kitty faces.

Another Heartbeat Sweater

2007-07-11T19:27:00.001-07:00

It took a bit longer than a heartbeat to knit. I started it on Saturday and finished last night (Tuesday) I just love this sweater! Here you can see how I put a strap across the back to keep it from falling off the shoulders.

I realize that it would be easy to make the neckline higher in the back but I just love how it looks with the strap.

Pattern: Heartbeat Sweater, Jill Vosburg, Just One More Row
Yarn: Berroco Love It Colors 12 balls color 3293, 58% cotton, 38% acrylic, 4% polyester
Needles: US8
Size: XL

Not for me. I wonder who will end up wearing this beauty and if they will love it as much as I do?

Blood of Flowers

2007-07-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

For those of you who enjoy listening to audio books while knitting, I would like to share a wonderful one I just finished - Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani
It is a story of a woman who designs and makes rugs in 17th century Iran. Aside from the thrilling descriptions of the rug making craft - knot tying, wool dying, color selection, design theory (non of it dry and frankly, I would have liked a lot more information) it is a fascinating glimpse into the life of women at that time and place in history, plus romantic parables and some good sex scenes! And it is narrated by a woman with a most charming Iranian accent. I also enjoyed the interview with the author at the end of the book. If you haven't already, give it a listen!

I wish I had a lot more blog readers so I could turn a lot more people on to this book!

Eden is at the Anime Expo in Long Beach today so I am not at the museum. Which is just as well since I am working on a wig assignment and I don't think wig-making is portable. The hair would probably blow away in the breeze. Knitting in public - cool. Ventilating in public - not so much.