Sock Pattern Submission

Good Morning,

While catching up on a couple of blogs that I subscribe to, I came across yesterday's Knitting Daily Blog.  My mail is usually in such huge quantities, that I scan quickly through to see if it is content that I need to re - read later.  Well, this issue really caught my eye during the quick scan mode.  It seems that Interweave's eMag, Sockupied, is looking for submissions for issues in 2013.

Well, as you can imagine, I had to stop, back up, and read this more closely.  Once I had digested the information, my mind is just buzzing.  Can I make a submission?  Of course you can.  Oh, I don't know if I can do that.  Why not, you very nearly have your sport sock pattern complete.  Oh, I don't know.....

Back and forth, this conversation is going on, do I or don't I.  Reason and good sense has won.  I sent the email to receive the submission form.  What on earth do I have to lose anyway.  Here is an opportunity to have a pattern published! 

Just this morning early, I was reading about pattern submissions in my Knitting for Profit eBook by Liz Raad.  The eBook outlined the steps and some links to accomplish this very thing, and here it is again in my Google Reader.  Twice in one day this information has been presented, so I'd best not ignore it.  Experience has taught me that these prompts are limited and are only offered for a short time. 

So, the next step on my to do list today, pull the sock pattern out of my documents list, and edit it.  The photography work has been done already.  Then it's just a matter of sending the PDF pattern to my photographer/web designer, Matt for the final insertion of the photo. 

It is a cool, rainy day and we really  need it.  It has been raining like this all night and supposed to continue throughout the day.  I wish I could share this with other parts of the country that are so parched right now. 

Have a great weekend everyone and Happy Knitting!

The Knitting Madness Begins Soon

Good Morning,

How is it that I have so many projects going on at one time?  No matter how well I try to plan, there always seem to be more and more that get added to the list.  They are now in varying stages of completion.

It is near the end of July and and steam rolling into August, typically  when I remind myself that Christmas is only four months away!  Oh my, no wonder the knit list is so long, then there area classes to prepare for to teach at yarnandteashop.com, my pieces on Etsy, Craftsy, and Ravelry.  It's a good thing that knitting is good for arthritis in the hands.
While talking with my daughter yesterday, she is a knitter as well, I told her that she may get some simple things to knit for me that she can do while she is reading for school.  She is my Braniac Math Major, who, by the way, received an A in her accelerated Calc Course!
I would like to share with you a couple of pictures that were shared on FB and brings to my mind the frantic, crazy knitting moments that seize me every once in a while.

How cool it would be if we could navigate our many projects like this.....maybe not, for me it is about touching and feeling the yarn and it's about the process.

Superman the Super Knitter?  This again, make me think how can I knit faster?

But, then I would not be a part of my knitting.  It would fly so fast through my hands that I would barely bond with them.

The reason I felt compelled to share these with you, is that first, they are cute and funny.  But on a more serious note, why do we do this to ourselves.  I dare say, probably every year, there are projects rushed because we are frantically knitting away, I know I do. 

I was thinking this morning, that a FaceTime or Skype KAL, might be fun.  We as knitters always have so much to share with each other, and I always have a great time knitting with others.  It doesn't have to be in a LYS, but could be in a cafe, church group, library or some one's home.  If this is something that might be of interest, please email me: dee@youandmeknit.com, or drop a comment in the box below.   

This can be a really fun way to get to know others who share a passion, learn how others execute a particular knitting technique, because there are many ways to do things.

Have to mention that it is much cooler today since the storms went through.  It is so much more pleasant outside.

Have a great day and Happy Knitting!

Knitting Photos Extraordinaire!

Good Afternoon,

Ugh!  Hot! Hot! Hot!  But I'm still smiling because sitting right in front of me is the biggest vase of sunflowers.  My sweetheart brought them home from work yesterday.

This picture was edited in a new iPad App that my photographer suggested.  I have just started working with it this morning and absolutely love it.  The App is called Diptic, and this week it is the free App of the week.

The photo above is a class that I taught, Gauntlet Fingerless Gloves.  I had not used my student's photos before, guess I was waiting for this to come along. 

There are so many layouts, colors, etc, etc, etc, I just can't stop playing with it.  I am thinking this is a great way to create photo albums of all your great projects.  If you sell your things on your website or somewhere else, this could change for sure what your online shop would look like.

I put together photos of the boys this morning and emailed them off.  Without a doubt, they were well received. 

Here come the T-Storms, so want to get this out before I lose my Internet connection.

Have a great afternoon and Happy Knitting!

A Student's Thank You

Good Afternoon,

Another hot and humid day in the Hudson Valley, New York.  There is a possibility of T-Storms, if so, hopefully not too severe.

Busy day today, so this will be written in short segments throughout the day.  Breakfast with daughter, lunch with a good friend I haven't visited with in about six weeks, and also back to work tonight after a few nights off.

I'm back once again, and today I would like to share with you a conversation that I had a few days ago with someone on one of the knitting blogs that I read.  She stated that she had picked up a pattern and was totally confused by some terms and also that double point needles were to be used during the knitting, but the pattern didn't seem like it started out that way.

Her question had been sitting there for a day or so, and not wanting a knitter to be frustrated, I made the attempt to help her out.  I mentioned that the key words to beginning knitting after the cast on, was to look for terms such as "in the round" or "join without twisting".  I also de - mystified the knitting terms by explaining what they meant and how to execute them.

The return comment included the first few rows of the pattern, where I determined that she was to begin knitting flat on the double points and then pick up stitches at said areas then to join into a round. 

There are so many times that just some simple direction from a listener, and most of us are good at that aren't we, can get "that stuck in the pattern" person over the hump and on their way.  I think it is that way in life too.  I can remember being reminded to listen harder and louder than I spoke or sang.  It is so very true.  What I have found in the knitting community, most knitters are extremely compassionate and helpful of others with less experience and knowledge.

On that note, let me share some of our ending conversation with my new knitting friend:

Thank you so very much Diana, no as yet I haven't started my slippers I am just about finished a shawl I took the Sweetheart Shawl (Jasmine Shawl) internet class with Kristin Omdahi, its been an easy shawl to knit but seeing I haven't knitted for such a long time I have had some problems but there all sorted now.

I saw the Pemberley Slippers (Jane Austen) it was apart of the 2011 Jane Austen knitting book but you could purchase the pattern on its own so I did so will start my knitting of them when I finish the shawl.

I really appreciate your explanation on the pattern so I will keep it safe for when I start my slippers....... 

Thank you again

Andrea

I am so happy to be able to mentor and coach students, helping them along their knitting way.

Have a great rest of your day and Happy Knitting!

Layering Shrug

Good Morning,

We had a little rain last night, but not enough to give good relief to the ground.  Gratefully, there are no draught conditions like other parts of the country. 

I have started a new project yesterday, and knitting it is simple, clear and so far, error free.  It is a free down loadable pattern called Layering Shrug by Juju Vail for Loopknitting.com.  I am knitting it in Malabrigo lace weight yarn color 148, Holly Hock.  The yarn is a tone on tone 100% Baby Merino spun single.  I wish that you could feel this it against your skin....yummy! 

Here is the link for the Layering Shrug:  http://www.loopknitlounge.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Layering-Shrug-1.2.pdf

Here is the link for Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino:  http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/


Back to the Shrug.  The pattern begins some rows up the sleeve with a provisional cast on.  Then you knit down to the "cuff" area and bind off.  Those first 12 rows, I did change the pattern just a smidge, just because I do stuff like that.  I did not knit the purl rows, instead continually worked the yarn over rows for the 12 rows. 

The very bottom of the picture is the bind of and just above that is the 12 rows I altered.  Then you move on up the sleeve.   I also realize that the pattern is not written for lace weight yarn, but the person who will receive this is a small size, so with the gauge that I am getting, 7.5 stitches to the inch on a size US 4 circular needle, this should be OK.

I am so anxious to see how this design comes together.  I friend of mine had knit it awhile ago, and I loved it...so now can't wait to experience the complete project for myself.

Have a great afternoon everyone, Happy Knitting!

Road Trip

Good Afternoon,

Hot once again, but as I write this, I am traveling to Massachusetts with my Mom and my Sister.  We are going to my Brother’s for a hair day.   He has a salon in his house, Salon DKS, and I don’t mind the travel when the result is a visit and a hair day.  I am not driving, so it is a productive day for me. 

I finished a washcloth minutes ago, that I hope that he will want to carry a line of in his shop.  Fingers are crossed.  I also ordered a two pound cone of unbleached and undyed Hemp yarn to use as well.  Hemp is a perfect fiber as it is organic, antimicrobial, biodegradable, and exfoliates your skin.  The more it is washed the softer it gets. 

I can think of dozens of ways to use this fiber besides a washcloth due to it’s wonderful properties. Having a dish cloth or pair of socks would be a good start.  I will have to make a pair of socks to see how they feel on my sensitive tootsies.

We are no on the last leg of the trip, getting closer to our exit and then I have to stop writing.  Time to pick up my other project, a sweater that I am knitting from left over yarn from a baby blanket I finished in June.

                                            

I am now in my brothers shop waiting my turn.  My sister is in the chair first. 

My turn next...that's cause Mom is relaxing in the pool.  Time to pull the sweater out of it's bag and get a move on.  Projects are lined up and have to get moving.

Have a great weekend everyone and Happy Knitting!

Elizabeth Zimmermann's A-B-C-SJ Completed

Good Afternoon,

Sooo hot and humid here in the Hudson Valley aaggaaiinn.  We are having the "Dog Days" now.  What in the world will be in store for August?  OK, enough whining.  On to better topics.  

We are going to revisit EZ's Surprise Jacket.  It has been washed and blocked and I took it to The Perfect Blend this morning, it was still a little damp.  Anyway, it came out so beautiful, I hope that it gets some attention and that there are a few knitters that will want to sign up for the class. 

When I put it on the table it looked like this:

 Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Zimmermann's A-B-C-SJ Pattern by Schoolhouse Press
                                                                                                   

If you notice, both the sweater and the diagram are placed on the table in a similar fashion.  If you look at the diagram you can pick out where "A" and "B" are.  By rotating the lower "B", which is the front neckline, up to the Back or Neck "B", the piece looks more sweater - like.  Now there are just the sleeves to match.  Those are the "A's"  By putting them together, you now have:



Another interesting point, is that when the sweater was designed, there are button holes in both of the front bands.  It works out well for two obvious reasons:

1.  When this sweater was designed, there were no sonograms to know the newborn gender.  So,

     there was a double set of button holes to place buttons on the correct side on a neutral color  

     sweater. 

2.  Today, and this is my favorite part, with holes on both sides, you simply sew the buttons over the 

     holes you don't need.  You now have perfectly lined up buttons to button holes.

I'm sorry I don't have the Mattress Stitch ready for you.  I wanted to keep the shoulders open so everyone would be able to see what a genius EZ was.  I can't imagine how her brain worked so that she was able to design, what looks like above, as an unidentifiable piece of knitting.  There are probably as many guesses as to what it is as there are knitters who have never seen this before.

I will keep you updated on how the class goes and also will post the Mattress Stitch Video. 

Happy Knitting!  And, stay cool. 

P.S.  I took a set of hand knit washclothes to a local gift shop this morning.  The Manager seemed quite pleased with them.  They may be added as part of a new spa collection.  Keeping my fingers crossed.