The Hard Part...

This past weekend was really great...learned a lot and now... it's time to apply what I learned to real life...that's the hard part!!!  The projects that are underway in the pattern-writing stage are "Risotto - Made to Order", "Swinglet Cabled Cardi" and "Bella Color-Yoke Tee".  These all need to be drafted, charted, have a schematic created and graded (technical term for sized)...the schematics are what's making me nervous right now.  I have gotten a technical drawing package off the web but don't know how to use it yet - not being one of those twenty-somethings that can just play with new software and figure it out - yikes!  I still need a test knitter for "Bella Color-Yoke Tee" if anyone wants to volunteer - bottom-up, in the round, simple shaping and colorwork...

Two projects are in the design / swatch stage:  "Dragonfly Wisp Cardigan" and "Elemental Jacket" ...pictures coming soon:)  These will be the first of designs completed in actually the "right" and most efficient way - NOT on the needles...this is really tough to not just take a few measurements, make a few calculations and cast on ... much self-discipline required!!! :)

Have a great day - wish me luck!

A Glimpse at the Goodies :)

Here are some pictures from the Goodies I picked up at SS but first from our garden (these are self-sustaining luckily for them and a little past their prime but still beautiful!

This is DK weight from the Knit Witch for a Cardi with colorwork (haven't worked out the details yet)














Kate from Dragonfly Fibers is also supporting my obsession with 2 great big skeins of laceweight which will be combined for a wispy cardi (also to be determined)

I picked up some MadeleineTosh for a sweater and a shawl (cause it's the IT fiber right now)

Here's enough Kauni for (you guessed it) a sweater!  












And finally,  superwash DK from Valley Yarns (Webs)

As usual, I wish you were here because my phone (even though magical) does not do any of these colors justice!

What an Amazing Weekend!!!

I could hardly speak last night there was so much information floating around in my brain...I learned so much and saw so much and met so many great people that my mind was a blur! Yesterday's class with Barry Klein (owns Trendsetter Yarns) on Fit and Style was eye-opening...consider this...patterns are mostly written with the same measurements for the back and front...well...are your back and front the same?  Probably not :)  Anyway, I had an absolutely marvelous time the entire weekend and highly recommend to everyone that they take classes the next time Stitches comes around!

Here are some pictures as promised!  This is the Market before anyone got there! :)

 These garments are from the Kauni booth (sorry they are blurry ... I must have been shaking with excitement :))
















Yep... I got to meet Lily Chin!  She wore a Knitted Harry (Lily) Potter costume at the Student Banquet on Saturday!!!  This picture is from the opening day luncheon.









Next pictures from the XRX Fashion show Saturday night -  These knitted garments sure look great on runway models!

And finally... the Knit Witch in Booth 437 - Only Ewe and Cotton Too - wearing the completed Bella Color-Yoke Tee!!!  Sorry Bill and Elyse - I took a full on shot of your beautiful booth but something happened to it!  The Spellbound kits almost sold out :)  Thanks Bill and Elyse and Brittany!  The pattern is now up on Ravelry for those who were looking for it!

 

Day 3 - Continuing to be Over the Top!!!

Terrific class with Edie Eckman - Pattern Writing 101 - picked up some great tips on wording, format, marketing etc and then... fashion  show / dinner last night ... I need to get my game on, we'll just leave it at that :)  This morning I have "where do they get those numbers?" with Edie again and more fun!  Hope to see you there!  Pictures will be after this is over :(

Day 2 - Tee Hee Tee Hee :)

Wow!!!!   Stitches South has been A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!  (and only 1 day down :))  I attended a marvelous class with Judy Pascale on armhole success yesterday....all I can say is everyone needs to check in the mirror to see if their shoulders go straight across or if they slope downward because if they are straight, you don't need to do the shoulder decreases that are typically provided in patterns and... you will get a better fit - that alone was worth the class for me!

Well, almost time for Pattern Writing 101 with Edie Eckman..see ya'!  p.s. Everyone go to the Only Ewe and Cotton Too booth (# 437)!!!

It's Here, It's Here, It's Here!!!!

Stitches South 2010 has finally arrived in Atlanta!!!  I am writing to you from a comfy seat in the Waverly Hotel just outside the room for the opening day celebration!!!  A few other early birds are here - the reason I am soooo early (Opening Day is not until 10 am) is that I was anxious to avoid Perimeter traffic...those of you who hail from Atlanta know what I mean...

Here's a picture of the Cobb Galleria...Hmmm... experiencing technical difficulties getting pictures off my magical phone may need to get them to you later...

Anyway, I need to go cause I might not get much knitting time later :) and I need to finish off Summer Mesh to wear later in the weekend (the More Than Knotz garment du jour for today is Swinglet Cable Cardi) Bye!

Knitting under Duress...

DHJ says it's self-imposed duress :)  Just the deadlines of Stitches South (1,1,1 more day!!! :))  Put together a couple of items of clarification (much more pleasant word than errata!) for Spellbound which Elyse is kindly inserting into the kits (there was an extra yo in Section 4 and the border instructions needed to be simplified because what was clear to me was clearly not clear to others :)

Just a few more stitches to bind off on Bella and then speed finishing and power blocking so that she will be ready for display...here's a few final pics...

And then, of course, finishing homework for my classes!  (Not to mention a long coffee stint later:()