Two more designs are up!

I managed to get another vest pattern out of my head before shawls took over again. This is Ardys and I am really happy with how it came out!

A few weeks ago, I sat down to work on a shawl idea I've had for awhile. It was such an odd experience. A totally different shawl was the result. The one I planned to work on is geometric, graphic, the one I designed is romantic and girly. The original idea is still on the to-do list, but this upstart was released last night. Obviously the name is Fabergé.

Something really cool happened when I started posting pictures of the prototypes on my Ravelry hang outs - people asked me to design more vests! The two I did over the winter were well-received and well-liked by those who knit them, but I really didn't sell that many so it surprised me. I was so nervous about breaking into garments, but so far, so good!

I have another shawl design on the needles and then I promised to work on a warm-weather vest in Pashmina. I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do, we'll see what comes of it!

Best Laid Plans

When I started this blog several years ago, the main idea was to motivate myself to knit up my stash by going public with my plans and feeling accountable. Excuse me a minute while I get a tissue - I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. Ok, I'm back.

Since then, I estimate that my stash has roughly quadrupled. My old top 10 yarn list?
Cascade 220 - any of the heathers or tweeds specifically - Still like
Cascade 128 - Still like
Araucania Nature Wool (Worsted or Chunky) - Still like
Artful Yarns Jazz (discontinued) - Destashed - too heavy for this climate
Jo Sharp Silkroad (tweed or not, any weight) - Do Not Like
Rowan Tweed (any) - meh
Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool and Silky Tweed - meh
Malabrigo - luscious but omg the pilling
Noro Kureyon - still love the colors and get sucked in by them occasionally but rarely knit with
New Tweed - meh

New top 10 list:
tosh merino light
tosh chunky
tosh sport
tosh Vintage
Pasmina
Yarn Chef Mulligatawny
Yarn Chef Creme Brulee
Yarn Chef Cider
Cascade 220 (still liking the heathers)
Knit Picks City Tweed

I've gravitated towards lighter weight yarns. I love the drape and they make more wearable garments for this climate. I also (obviously) LOVE the semi-solid hand-dyed yarns. Solid color commercially made yarns have to have some heathering or tweed in them.

But you know what? Now that I'm doing more designing, I've found out that I need a good-sized stash. For inspiration. For samples. Sometimes you don't have time to wait for an order to come in, and most of what I like to knit with can't be picked up locally. I try to be mindful when I buy, and lately I've been using money made from pattern sales, so at least I'm supporting my habit :)

And how gorgeous is this?

I think I have another part-time job...

I have so many design ideas that I've started scheduling time to work on them! That makes it like a job, right?

Right now this is being tested:

and I just released this cowl as a free pattern on Ravelry.

I cast on for the prototype of another design yesterday.

This is so much fun! I get to use my love of knitting, my math background, my commercial art class (for layouts and Ravelry pattern pages) and my editing skills. It's my dream job, even if I'll never make a lot of money doing it. It's a nice change from book keeping, housework, and laundry!

I lied...

... about being done with shawls. In the spirit of finishing things up before the end of the year, I picked up a couple of hibernating projects and decided to publish the pattern as I have had several requests for it.

I knit the original in 2010 and got some positive feedback on Ravelry. A couple of months later, after finding some errors in the GARTER STITCH section (!!!) and a pulling accident involving our kitten, I decided to rip back and reknit since I also wanted to start the ruffle sooner. As I was working on it in the fuzzy alpaca yarn, I decided I should knit it first in a yarn more forgiving of being ripped back and cast on in the Rowan Feleted Tweed you see above. As I worked on it I decided to curve the ends a bit. I can't quite remember why (hot weather maybe?) but I put it aside with only about half of the ruffle left to knit. It took about 2 days to finish when I picked it up again the other day. I have a request out on Ravelry for some testers and hope to have the pattern available by the first of the year.

I haven't abandoned my Yarn of the Month scheme, but I am WAY behind! Last month's yarn was duly drawn and is in my queue. It may take me all of 2012 to get this year's drawings knit up! I have finished 7 of the projects and have the other 5 planned out for the most part. I don't think I will do this next year simply because I am so behind. Maybe in 2013! It's fun and I like starting with the yarn and finding the perfect project, but getting bitten by the designing bug has caused some severe setbacks for the plan!

One More Pattern Up...

... and I think I'm done for awhile. This is my City Block Shawl.

October's yarn was drawn. November's will be drawn in a day or two. I do plan to keep working on my YOTM projects, but I am obviously a bit behind at this point! I have sweaters languishing on the needles too. Oh, and I cast on today for a bit of mindless knitting/instant(ish) gratification.

Westport Wrap is Up!

and it's been cool enough here lately to wear it! Yay Fall!!!

Derailed Again

Another pattern idea has messed with my schedule :) This was born of a desire to knit garter stitch stripes in a shawl that I would actually wear. The shape is an asymmetrical triangle and the stripes are random. I used leftovers from my other shawls I've knit this summer for both of these. The pattern is going out to testers today!

In YOTM news - my May yarn project is finally done!

My August yarn project has been cast on:

July's yarn is still untouched. It will be a cooler weather sweater anyway, so I doubt I'll get to it before the end of the month.

This is my September yarn - Yarn Chef Creme Brulee laceweight. Silk and merino. Yum. I may not cast on for this until early in 2012 because I am so far behind on other things I want to get done sooner. I have another idea for a pattern that I want to use this for too.