Story: Origins of Truth or Consequences Ruana

True Story:
Years ago, on a cold winter's night, I looked at a sale of 100% cashmere yarn. It was Mongolian cashmere offered at a unbelievable half off price. (BTW, many of my knitting stories start that way.)
The yarn came in many colors and the chore to narrow it done to just a few was really difficult.
After some time, I finally decided to just "Act like I was designing with a specific theme for a magazine" in mind, and Et Voila, the yarn color spoke "We belong together", loudly!

Once the yarn arrived I was was overjoyed. The colors were so true to their on-line images, which is not always the case.
Now the yarn needed to be wound and cashmere in hand is an amazing experience. If you have never felt it, go try it. After that the yarn just waited. It even disappeared back in the box with a rubber band around it for at least a year.
It is winter again. In San Diego this means sunshine until that first cold day, from then on it is cold. There is no Autumn Season. I had completed my Christmas projects of one knitted hat for each of my Nieces and Nephews. A period of me-time was ahead. I remembered the cashmere and pulled it out from the box. I first expanded on the mood board because I needed to define this project more. It needed shape and form.

OK, I thought: I can do this! It looked to me like there is going to be a sweater/coat made from this yarn, with a southwestern look. To stay authentic to that Theme I made sure the collar of this garment will have the shape as the coats that a saw researching the southwestern theme.

It was time to create this new coat closely adhering to the original Theme. Stripes, triangles, shawl collar, long, pockets, but basic. Because I had purchased the yarn years ago, I had one special constraint: the colors needed to be balanced such that I did not run out of yarn!!!

I was so proud of my accomplishment. This sweater gets used all winter long.

Don't go yet, the story has an even greater ending.

 To my surprise, there was an actual call for submissions to a publication called Nomadic Knits. It is a newer kind of knitting pattern print book and e-book publication. For the 3rd issue the theme was Arizona/New Mexico.
I had the idea to just take my design and make it into a ruana. The idea was accepted and now, this April 22, 2019 the book is released. You can make this ruana. The yarn for the pattern is from Arizona, just as colorful, and even contains some cashmere.
The book or e-book can be purchased here:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/nomadic-knits-issue-three-arizona-new-mexico

The yarn already prepared as a kit for 2 sizes can be purchased here:
https://gherkinsbucket.com/listing/685174356/hand-dyed-dk-yarn-kit-for-nomadic-knits

Socks are like 'Staples' everybody wears them

In between bigger knitting projects, such as sweaters, cardigans, and even ponchos lately, there is always time to sneak in making a pair of socks.
In the many ways socks can be constructed it is always an adventure to me. Well, I make it an adventure, anyway.
If you want to follow some of them, here are the last 2 sock designs.

Prickly Pear are top down with a basic heel flap socks. The yarn is the very warm Fibre Co. Cumbria fingering weight wool/mohair mix. Yes, you read it right, there is mohair in it to make your feet toasty warm. One of the features, the bottom half of the foot are purl stitches. That makes sure the smooth side is inside the socks, hugging your feet.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/prickly-pear-socks-2

These socks are published in the current issue of I like Knitting, available at News Stands everywhere, and Barnes and Noble stores.

In my own ravelry store you will also find a new slip stitch sock pattern. I named them Dotted Ladder Socks. These are top down socks with an integrated heel, so you can make both socks at the same time on a long circular needle.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dotted-ladder-socks

HAPPY KNITTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laine Issue 7, what's next

Now, 1 week after the Laine Issue 7 release, which features one of my designs at the same time and next to Stephen West and Nancy Marchant, some of the top designers today, everything is back to normal.

But, what is that NEW NORMAL?

Since all my retired life is not even 2 years old, there actually is no NORMAL yet.
It is however extremely funny, I think, that I live in a Neighborhood in San Diego that is called NORMAL HEIGHTS. That is right, it's no joke.

Normal Heights is such great neighborhood, with a little Bank, a Post Office, a Grocer, a Pharmacy, and many Bars, Restaurants, Hair Salons, and Specialty Shops. We have Art, and love Art.

Back to topic, the NEW NORMAL. 
Normally - I think of patterns to knit most everyday.
Normally - I put together knitting ideas and submit them to websites, yarn companies, and publications every week. Some are accepted, YAHHHHH.
So here is the after Laine Issue 7 Release schedule. Since most of the releases are based on 'secret or previously unreleased' designs, I can't show them yet, but the release dates can be shared with some details about the projects.
Nomadic Knits Issue 3, American South West will include my Ranchita Ruana, a stockinette stitch ruana, with a 5 color intarsia design on the back and both fronts. The entire ruana is framed by a sections of all colors - knitted sideways. From that, beginning and ending yarn strands are used for fringe. A most efficient way to do intarsia, where there are many ends to sew in, all of the ends from the sideways stripes are used for the fringe and are part of the final design. Release date is not published yet, but I am guessing April 2019

Knotions.com Special Shawl Issue, will include my Impressionist Fields Shawl. This narrow triangle shaped shawl is special to me. It is made of basic garter stitch, timed increases on both edges, but with additional short rows on just one edge. The amazing-nes of this shawl is that another color is used to knit rectangles vertically into the horizontal fabric. Everything is basic garter stitch, but the resulting fabric will turn heads.  Release date is not published yet, again I am guessing April 2019

KnitCrate Sock Membership program, I have received a skein of color last week that matches the circus theme. That is all I can share at this time. I have already swatched and shown the design to the KnitCrate folks and they loved it. Once the Crate is revealed I will blog about it. Expected release July 2019

Knitpicks Socks Special Collection, Basic socks was the call and my Rosemarie's Socks were the perfect fit. Made up of a 2 color 1-row slip stitch pattern, the socks look marled and complicated, but they are as easy as any basic sock. Release date is July 24, 2019.
I am just now finishing up my pair.

Fiber Seed Yarn Co, Swifties program, Later this year the Fiber Seed Yarn Co is going to send me a skein of yarn, and I have agreed to provide a scarf design tailored for this specific colorway. I am to receive the yarn in April, so expected release might by sometime July/Aug.

Knitpicks Gansey Special Collection, my Gansey knitting tradition researched landed me this acceptance. The Jetty Pullover is packed with tradition all wrapped into one fully reversible, even inside-out reversible, pullover. I am finishing up the pattern this weekend and can't wait to see this pattern modeled and in print. the sample looks extraordinary. Release date is September 4, 2019

KnitCrate Membership program, Later this year knitcrate also contracted with me to design a shawl made form 2 skeins of their yarn. The theme is Peru, that's all I know so far. scheduled release date October 2019

Making Stories, Issue 2, a design that has the pattern already written, but I am still waiting for the actual yarn. Coming from the UK, it has me waiting, and waiting. I am sure it will be worth it. Stay positive Renate.....the seelenwarmer jacket will be mostly stockinette stitch, but with a wide 2-color brioche shawl collar. Stunningly simple and cozy, perfectly timed for an October release.

What could possibly be next?

Texture Knitting

Last Year, one day in January ( I don't remember exactly which day it was ) I had decided to make a new vest for my husband Ruben. I searched for some good warm wool and knitted along, just nicely. It did not take long at all. The vest had some knit/purl patterns in it, not much to post about.

I have to say 'had' because after the first wash ( now here you need to know that Ruben washes all clothes ) the vest has shrunk so much that even I could not wear it anymore.

Time to make another one, a promise is a PROMISE.

For the next version I had a different idea. My ideas just come out of nowhere and, lucky for me, I have the time and yarn to translate the idea into something wearable.



The next vest was smarter, had a texture to it and some cables.

He calls it 'Elvis' because of the collar.

This little vest has become a basis for a few of my recent published patterns.

The cables and collar design is mirrored in the sweater named Turfside.






It is published by knitpicks as part of the Crossings collection.





Single pattern link: Turfside



Crossing link: Crossings Collection










BUT WAIT, there is more!!!!!

I liked the way this simple textured panel knitted up. I mean, I liked the rhythmic K2 - P2 on one side, work the stitches as you see them on the other, and then switch to P2 - K2 on one side, and again work the stitches as you see them on the other. All I had to do was hang a marker on the right side of the fabric to remember if it was time to switch.
I was not the only one that liked the looks of this texture. The women that put together Laine Magazine liked it as well. In their Issue #7, released February 15, 2019 my Laemmin Vest was included.

 The entire fabric is made of these texture stitches. Knitted in one piece, from the bottom up, the vest is truly amazing, I think.

I might be biased, a little. The knitting experience is what is drawing me to make this vest over, and perhaps over.

Featuring I-cord edging on the front and the sleeve openings, and a slip stitch hem and collar, the Leammin vest is still easy to make.

I will help anyone that asks.