Ideas Abound

With my new 'Retirement' status a bulk of available time appeared. For a knitter that means more time for KNITTING.
I had planned way ahead, a few yaers before I retired, to make sure I had enough money to support my knitting habit. At least, that was the plan when I started writing a few patterns from my knitting projects.

What I did not know was if my plan actually works. If I could succeed or not, I tried not to think about it or worry about it. All I tried was to create from ideas, I had.

My husband would say the plan is working, since he had to assemble and place in the house several cabinets already that now all contain yarn, and will hold more yarn in the future. I must agree, I don't think I had ever seen that much yarn in one place, other than a yarn store.

I am now making plans about future projects to knit from the yarn in the cabinets.
A yoke sweater,
at least 2 hats,
some child dress or poncho,
a brioche-fade-wrap project,
a long cardigan (duster) with pockets,
an alpaca shawl.                                   Those are just a few.

Alpaca shawl Idea

Yoke sweater - optional short or long sleeve

 My Ideas, just looking at the yarn are endless......

Until I have the ideas sold, the samples knitted, and the projects published so I can share the pattern with you, I will just sit and knit, anywhere.

Today, I am waiting for more yarn and Santa Claus, or Nikolaus, as we call him in Germany.

A year "CHOCK-FULL" of Pattern Releases

When I stepped into my first retirement year I had hopes and dreams. My ambition was to create knitwear that knitters will find interesting enough to make.
I have self published some patterns on ravelry.com for a while now, but to reach more knitters and draw attention to my designs I had to learn a lot more.

First step:  I had to get the attention of some of today's most popular knitting publications.
Second step: Learn how and where to present my ideas
Third step: Learn about yarn. Oh there are so many possibilities
Fourth step: Knit a good sample
Fifth step: write the pattern and adapt it to the particular magazine's style
Sixth step: Don't show picture, keep it secret, don't talk about it.
Seventh step: FINALLY, a pattern is ready to release.

Take a look at Apple Cider Scarf. just released in Creative Knitting Magazine
Pretty Presents

Now I can talk about the project, show my own pictures and feel proud of being a published knitwear designer.

Joycejubilair is finally released! Yahhhh

It was a long wait, but now it is real. Knit Picks has released a Book 'Everyday Wraps' made from fingering weight yarn. My pattern Joycejubilair is part of the collection. The book can also be purchased as instant download e-book, and all patterns are also available as singe pattern downloads.

Everyday Wraps 

Originally the shawl was designed for Joyce. I have never met Joyce but from my husbands description I was impressed by her resolve. She lives with illness that is ever present and un-diagnosed. The shawl has many strong columns and supporting arches that Joyce can wrap herself in.

The first edition of the shawl was made with Forbidden Woolery Superstition in Rosegarden and Knit Picks Stroll in Dogwood Heather.

Once Knit Picks decided to include the shawl in the collection I knitted Joycejubilair for a second time. I had chosen Stroll Hand Painted in Coffee Shop and Stroll Sock in Mint.

The version in the collection book is done with colors that are more blue. I can only say: "regardless of the colors you choose you will not be disappointed". The body of the shawl is knitted easily and quickly, and the lace section is rewarding. 

The body of the shawl is knitted easily and quickly, and the lace section is rewarding. 
It is not easy to accomplish but with just a little attention the repeats are not difficult and adding the beads make this a stunner.

Waiting for a pattern release

A few years back I found a sale of cotton yarn. It was a little 'minty' colored speckled yarn, just my color. I made a v-neck sweater for myself, named it Valace and produced a few photos. I like it and like to wear it.

 

In September last year Knitpicks introduced a new yarn named Color Mist. Its 75% cotton and 25% Acrylic, worsted weight, washable, and I could see it being ideal for Valace. Knitpicks agreed! Yaeh!

After knitting the sweater in Color Mist the photos looked amazing, don't you think?

Knitpicks wanted the chance to produce professional photos with their in-house photographer and I agreed to wait with the pattern release until then. WAITING IS HARD!!!!!!!
If you like this sweater and would like to look at the yarn and pick your favorite shade, here is a link to Color Mist

Some Details to help you decide:

Knitted Sweater Measurements: Bust 36 (39, 43, 46, 50)” with 2 (3, 4, 4, 5)” positive ease. Length 23½ (23½, 24½, 25, 25½). Upper arm 12 (12, 14, 15, 16)

Material: 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) skeins (each 219 yards/100grams) of Knit Picks Color Mist, 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic, worsted weight, in Lilac Breeze color #27460

Needles: US #7 / 4.5mm circular 32 inches long, or a set of straight needles, or size to obtain Gauge. One additional needle to hold work temporarily, same size or smaller. 

Gauge: 19 sts and 25 rows = 4” / 10 cm over stockinette stitch. 

Prize or Price

English is a hard language to learn, I know from experience. But then life (or is it live?) is not easy either.
I have learned that the price paid up front usually results in a prize. Not always right away and sometime not even recognized.
I am retired now, no longer working from 8 to 5. My prize for the price of working for 50 years. That was a big investment, something long-term. Now I can fill my day-time hours with all the things I like to do. Like knitting!
Let's face it, knitting is what I like to do.

My latest challenge: calls for submissions 

I want to find out if I can share more of the knitting I design. Besides self-publishing there are still the traditional 'knitting magazines' out there and I have found ways to submit some of my ideas.

This activity, while a challenge and a goal, must not retract from what I want to do though. While at first enthusiastic, I have to stay true to what it is that I like so much about knitting.
First must always be THE REASON for knitting a certain piece.
My passion comes from designing for someone, or using the new learned stitch, or discovering the properties of a new yarn color or fiber blend.
Check out that pose from Allison with her new AMALGAMATION ballerina leg warmers.

 The design is called Amalgamation and combines some of the softest independent dyer yarns to create this magic. The 2 strands of Candy Skein Delicious Series, one in colorway Foil Wrapper and one in colorway Watermelon create not only a stunning color combination, but the 70% alpaca/20% silk/10% cashmere feels extraordinarily soft and comfortable. Any little hopeful ballerina will appreciate the feel of these leg warmers. Her eyes will sparkle when she discovers her favorite little creature beaded into the leg body. The pattern includes dragonfly, butterfly, bird, and frog templates.
Just look at the detail that is hidden within:

The prize can't be purchased, is not for sale, can't be staged, is undeniable worth every moment spent knitting. Not only does Allison wear her leggings, she wears them ALL THE TIME!

The pattern can be purchased on ravelry.com   ravelry link to AMALGAMATION
or loveknitting.com  Loveknitting link to AMALGAMATION

The instructions are for knitting in the round or knitting flat and seaming. So easy that an experienced beginner can succeed! It is not hard at all the mount a bead, believe me. Just place a bead on a small (#14) crochet hook, insert the hook in the stitch, pull the bead over the stitch and place the stitch back onto the knitting needle. For the amalgamation pattern, since the yarn is always 2 strands, mount the bead only on the one, lighter colored strand.

Summer heat

Yes, there always is a fabulous summer in California. That is nothing unusual.
What is going on in my knitting world is just as hot as the weather though, and pretty unusual. The ever growing engagement with Knit Picks is remarkable. The new 100 % silk yarn line Luminance was introduced end of June and a call for new designs was issued.
I submitted a pattern for a vintage-looking shawl I had made for myself years ago and the pattern was accepted. So guess what:  I have the great pleasure to knit with 100 % silk in Meditation. The yarn feels super soft and the color is strikingly light blue, with hint of mint. I can't wait until it is completed and blocked. As you can see, I am knitting both halves at the same time. The marker is needed when knitting 2 pieces at once. It marks the beginning edge of the first piece right side. It helps you see very easily if you knitted across both pieces before turning and knitting on the wrong side.

I do have another design finished that was made from Knit Picks yarn Palette. It's a striped men's vest. Last Sunday morning we took a trip to the cactus park and took these pictures.

Meet Swellegance and it's features.

 

young hip styling......

sh, don't tell anyone the vest was made for Ruben (on the left)

 

 

Appealing to today's professional, or more to the women who want to make a vests for them.

 

The stripes are patterned as well and make this simple piece, stunning.

 

Can you believe, Ruben is planning on wearing this in the Garage to work on motor cycles?

 

The Pocket was a special trick. All patterns call for a Gauge Swatch. With this pattern the gauge swatch is being turned into a pocket. So you don't have knit that piece twice. The other trick and great feature of this pocket is that it has the stripes going the opposite direction than the vest which allows the pocket to be much larger. The size now can accommodate a larger phone. There also is a button to close the pocket, so the phone does not slip out, when working in the Garage, ha ha

Now I have to finish the pattern. Writing takes a little longer than knitting the sample. Writing this pattern is especially difficult because I want to make sure it can be knitted in all sizes, from small to XXL. It will also need graphics with the garment measurements for each size. All I can say is: I am working on it!

On my last blog I showed the yarn I purchased to make some shirts that can be washed and are also dryer safe. Look, the red shirt is done. It is on its way to Adelle as a present for her second birthday.
I have tried out the claim that this yarn, even though it contains wool, is washable and dryer safe. It is true! The sample I did, looked and measured the same before and after it was washed and dried.

Seriously, knitting is my passion and it is taking over my life. The retiring slowly idea has taken hold. The extra days off, are filled with my passion. I feel happy, over all healthy, relaxed and grateful to be able to experience all of it.

So the story continues...

Spring is in the air again....I am lucky to have the chance to experience Spring Air for the 63rd time. It is a grand event, not too cold not too warm, and exciting enough to start something.
I have to start something. So I am.
- Final training push for a 1/2 Marathon in June.....I can't help it. Running makes me feel accomplished.

- Final submission to KnitPicks for my Shawl/Stole Design. See Me went live this week. Publishing a knitting design makes me feel accomplished.

- Final decision on the next children's project is made. This project is still only in my head, but the yarn has been decided. Washable, dryable, that was the main requirement this time. Bergere de France, Ideal delivers. I can see it now, the A-team with lace tops, playing in Seattle.

Inspiration:

- Final touches are worked on my latest sleeveless vest for Ruben. The V-neck stitches were completed last night. Now it just takes time to knit the second front panel and sew it all together. It never is as easy as it sounds, though. For this vest I want to incorporate a pocket that will hold a 'smartphone'. We all know that the size keeps growing and with size comes weight, and with weight comes the challenge to keep the pocket from stretching when the phone is inside it. Should I perhaps try the sideways stripes instead of horizontal stripes, or what if I make a pocket out of ribbing used when you want a nice snug fit, same as the border. I am most assured by my brain cell's that this problem will be solved TODAY!
So stay tuned, the results will be shared with you.

Knitpicks and I, a new relationship

On December 18th the Wirtsweiher Loop pattern went live on knitpicks.com
I am past ecstatic, thrilled, overjoyed!
I remember well the day back in 2012, when I've decided to 'share' my knitting enthusiasm, and started this blog. When I began to write down my ideas and published my first pattern. Back then, I was hoping just a little that my designs would be good enough to get the attention of other knitters and the design community.
That my wish has come true is beyond AMAZING.

My life is an adventure, it really is.
The things I am able to be involved in during the day at work at General Atomics and the yarn related things I am able to be involved in when I am not at work both make me feel proud, fulfilled, and happy.
Contributing factors, such as the Ravelry community where crafty people can share projects and publish patterns, and my home knitting group "Knitting in the Heights" deserve some credit. I could not have done it without them.

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....