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

A Knitting Pattern Story

With my mother's passing, just a month ago, the circumstances of the last year of her life brought me and my Sister-in-Law Christiane closer together. I live far away from the sleepy little German town of Sulzbach-Rosenberg, where my mother spent most of her life and where the rest of our large Family can be found close by. The distance from Bavaria to California had to be bridged somehow, there was no doubt about that. With all the hospital visits my mother had to endure and numerous dramatic events happening without forewarning, it was hard being so far away.
My mother and I used to talk every week on Sunday. But that was no longer possible. She could no longer reach the phone or speak clearly, recognize the person on the other end or make cohesive sentences. It was time to find another way to stay connected. I was able to visit in September and see her. 

Christine stepped right up. She became the bridge and closed the gap of thousands of miles. She used a phone App to connect with me every time she visited my mother, no matter where and when that might be. I just had to get up early and receive the most amazing video calls.

Mensch aeregere Dich nicht ( Aggravation in English) was her favorite board game when she could not play card games any longer.

The knitting pattern that is forever linked with this life story is named HABILIMENTS.

It's a sock pattern that was created for Christiane. What was happening in her life was the focus of this pattern. She was important to me! She was the bridge I needed! She had monumental changes in her life that needed her full attention. Despite that, she came through for me. 

I have designed this pair of socks for her.

Chriatiane is a woman who has made it up the ladder in the men’s world. She even went as far as always keeping a very short hairstyle and wearing exclusively pant suits to work to achieve success. A few days before Christmas, she started her early retirement. In conversations leading up to the day I could sense her fear of the unknown. I could hear her usual assuredness fade. It was time to make her realize that this was the perfect opportunity, the right time, to re-make herself. It was not the end, but the beginning. To live without the corporate constraints, to break free and fully embrace the woman in her.
The word Habiliments when used in a sentence: “The women’s rich habiliments made one think she was someone important”, that’s the flair I wanted for her when wearing these socks. The rich red color, the bead work highlights, and the hint of cashmere luxury in the yarn does just that.
These socks include several knitting features that contribute to the impression of 19th century womanly richness. The toe-up pattern begins with a Turkish cast on, includes a reverse Dutch heel, and carries a small elegant mock-cable to separate the varying front and back designs. Highlighting a beaded star pattern on the front leg and topping off the design with Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind off.

You can download the pattern as it was released today for free on knitty.com

newly found energy

You know sometimes the right emotion is missing and progress in one area is not achieved. This was happening with my brioche project, the See Me Shawl
Even though the shawl was finished back in July, there was never a right time to photograph it. This year San Diego decided to delay the end of the summer into the winter. Only last week it was finally cold.
The scramble began:
1. get the camera man on notice for Sunday
2. keep checking the weather map to make sure it will be cold, but not raining.
3. try different outfits and decide "WHAT TO WEAR" this is so hard!
4. get up early.
5. pick up the camera man (we are trying a new guy).
6. drive to the park where I was hoping for just the right background.
7. practice posing
8. OK, this is it...............

What do think?
The story is not over yet, though. With having pictures, finally, comes another whole set of activities:
1. finish the pattern words, abbreviations, and tech details.
2. select and size the pictures.
3. decide how much to charge for the pattern and the finished shawl ( i am not keeping it, you know San Diego is not cold enough for cashmere).
4. set-up the ravelry site for the new pattern.
5. publish it on ravelry and loveknitting.
6. set-up an add for the shawl on etsy.com.  the shawl for sale on etsy
7. set-up a few adds on ravelry forums for the pattern.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM

The result is my enjoyment with the actual knitting activity, the process of creating, and now the process of sharing.
Some might think: She is just doing in it for the money.
I would counter: If I can sell enough patterns to by more yarn, to design more knitwear, than I am truly happy.
So, I have only a few more sales to go on this one. An hour after the pattern went live I sold one already. $3.99 chaching....

My First Brioche Project

Trying to be a knitter that creates current styles with a vintage feel is my goal. To achieve that goal is a constant journey. My never-ending story!
This year I had a definite plan... (wait a minute, my dog Maxy wants a treat, ok, done)

As a knitwear designer Vogue Knitting is a must read. 

Usually the Vogue Knitting Live events are in cold weather states, but this year Vogue Knitting decided to come to Pasadena, CA. Close enough for me to travel there. I did more than that though. I signed-up for some knitting classes. The event was well organized, and not too busy to be lost in the crowd.
 I could see that my designs can stand up to the professionals. I am wearing my newest design "Valace" and it is just as current and relevant.




My main learning objective for that convention was to master the Brioche stitch. I was so excited to have the opportunity to attend a class from THE master brioche knitter, Nancy Marchant. I was prepared and spent a few weeks before the event testing out some one color brioche knitting. Then graduated to some 2-color brioche knitting. Tried some color reversals and also read as many articles as I could find about the brioche stitch in other knitting magazines. Some articles presented comparisons to the Fisherman's stitch. They referred to 1-row, 2-row or even 3-row increases and decreases. 
By the time the convention began I was pretty much confused and sort of disillusioned. 
HOW COULD I HAVE ASSUMED TO LEARN THIS STITCH IN JUST ONE CLASS?

Nancy Marchant, you are my brioche idol. Not only did your one class "Fresh Brioche" teach me enough basics to venture out and design my first shawl. You also made the entire experience fun.

I have searched for a while now and finally found the yarn for my first Brioche design. When all else fails, Rowan usually has what I need. Rowan finest is a mix of extra fine merino, cashmere, and royal alpaca. It is so unbelievably soft, truly a luxurious experience. It also knits well.

Today my shawl knitting project reached the 1/2 way point and I was shooting the first pictures.

Blocking this shawl will hopefully bring out the depth of the geometric pattern on both sides. Since it is fully reversible, the shawl can be worn as light colored or dark colored accessory. The yarns fiber combination will make it a warm choice for cool outdoors, or a dress-up accessory for evening attire. It could even be used wrapping your head in to provide the warm final touch for keeping the ice cold winter wind away.  Now I can't wait to finish it. I will have to find a perfect shawl pin for it. This design deserves a statement-making piece of jewelry, Right?
The name for this pattern is also decided:

See Me