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.