I’m reaching the end of a family holiday in Florida – it’s been a really, really long time since I’ve spent this much time in the sun and while it was just wonderful I also remember why I don’t live here anymore! I’m trying to remember what ordinary life is like and I’m really going to miss swimming every day when I get back home.  I also seem to have mountain loads of work piling up for me so suffering from jet lag won’t be an option.

I just got an email yesterday to let me know that the tickets for Knit Nation in London will be on sale May 1st at 8pm. If there are any class you really, really want to take make sure you get booking early to make sure you get your first choices!

On other teaching news…I’m going to be doing a few more classes in Crafty Alley in Killarney.  One will be on Finishing Techniques on the 28th of May and the next one will be Top Down Knitting in September.  I’ll post more details on these classes when I get back home, as well as a little peek at my newest pattern in Kristi Porter’s More Knitting In The Sun.

My newest pattern is now available from the Twist Collective, Trousseau.  This shawl was a pleasure to knit, the lace pattern is quick to memorize and the gorgeous Sundara yarn just flows off the needles.

I love the concept of the ‘Pi’ shawl; working outwards from the central point with increase rows being spaced further and further apart. After the first few increases you have a wonderful large canvas to use for your lace stitches without needing to worry about fitting the increases in! This can make for very relaxing knitting as there is less counting as you work though it to ensure you have worked all of the increases every row correctly.
Now you may have noticed looking at the photos that this shawl isn’t actually a full circle ‘Pi’ shawl, well that’s because it’s a half-Pi shawl! This seems like a much more practical shawl to me. A full circle shawl can only be worn folded in two so half of your hard work never get to be seen. The same concept as a full Pi shawl applies but you just start with half the amount of stitches and work back and forth rather than in circles.
The lace pattern used in this shawl is not overly complex but it creates wonderful diagonals and visual interest across the knitting. You can see how with each increase the direction of the lace diagonal changes and the lace panels increase in size and length with each repeat. This lace is easy enough that it can quickly be memorized and the shawl quickly becomes a very relaxing knit. If fact I think it would make an excellent first shawl for a confident beginner.
We have done something a little unusual with the yarn in this project, usually the larger shawl is knit in the heavier yarn but we have actually shown the smaller sample with the heavier yarn – Sundara Yarns ‘DK Silky Cashmere’ in Raspberry. This nicely size shawlette only take 2 skeins (50g each) of this truly delicious yarn (or 320 yds). Almost all of both skeins were used, I think I just had a few feet of yarn left when I finished. This is one of the most beautiful yarns I’ve knit with in a long time; it is so soft and just glides off the needles effortlessly. The yarn holds the lace pattern while you are knitting also; it stayed open and did not need to be blocked aggressively to open it up.
The second shawl was knit from Sundara Yarns ‘Fingering Silky Merino’ in Caribbean. This shawl was a larger size (knit with lighter weight yarn and smaller needles) and used a little under 1 skein (150g). This yarn behaved very differently and more like a wool based yarn being worked in lace. As you are knitting it pulls in on itself with the lace pattern virtually invisible. However after a good soaking and some aggressive blocking and pinning it opened out beautifully to reveal the hidden pattern. I think that blocking lace often feels a little like a butterfly unfurling itself from its cocoon.
Two sizes and yarn weights are detailed (and knit) in the pattern but this is a very easy pattern to modify. A much smaller shawlette can be knit if you used the lighter yarn and smaller needles (from the larger size) and only worked the smaller size or alternatively a larger version could use the heavier yarn with bigger needles but work it until it is the size of the large shawl. The only thing to bear in mind with these modifications is yarn amounts; I’ve given an estimate in the pattern of how much more or less yarn would be needed for variations in the size but every knitter will vary with the yarn amount they use.

March Madness promotion

For March purchase my new pattern Akoya pattern with the coupon akoyalove and receive $3 off another pattern.
This code applies for anyone who has already purchased the Akoya pattern. (Let me know it you have a problem!).

I know I could have called this a Paddy’s day promotion but as it is for my new March pattern Akoya March madness seemed more appropriate!  There’s already several versions of Akoya speeding along on Ravelry, I just love to see everyone’s unique version and modifications.

Yahoo Test Knitter Group

I set up a Yahoo group yesterday for test knitters.  Up to this my search for test knitters has been fairly haphazard so having a group dedicated to this seemed like a good way to organize it.  Joining the group doesn’t oblige you to knit all (or any!) of the test knits, you see what I’m putting up for testing and then you decide if it’s a good fit for you and if you have the time to complete it.  Do be warned that some patterns are done 6-12 months before release so if you think you will burst waiting that long to show your finished piece then it’s probably not for you!

I’m sitting at home this morning with a sick little one.  Nothing too bad, just a temperature right now and I’m waiting to see if it gets any worse from here.  I do however feel somewhat guilty as when he’s home sick I usually get tons of work done…no early school collection and he usually takes a huge sleep mid-morning.  Bad mommy me.

In between my never ending edits I have released my newest pattern Akoya.  If you click through on the name you’ll get full details of the pattern and lots more photos.  I’ll post my favorite below again though!

The version shown above is actually the second version of the cardigan.  It was knit by the talented Dixie using Fyberspates Scrumptious 4ply/sportsweight.  This yarn makes a really floaty lightweight cardigan.  The lovely sheen and stitch definition really help the details to pop out as well.

The first version I knit was from Rowan Felted Tweed DK.  It doesn’t quite have all of the fine details worked out yet but the basic shape and idea is the same.  For me it is very wearable due to the dark color but it doesn’t really help for photography!

I started knitting this version for myself at Christmas.  Usually when I start knitting I have a fairly firm idea in my head of where a design is going but this was definitely more of a free form process with the details emerging as it was knit.  This meant that when it was finished there were several tweaks that needed to be made (mainly with cable and lace panels) to make it just perfect….hence the second Fyberspates version that is just right (I’m feeling like Goldilocks!).

Please forgive me if my post is a little rambling today.  My youngest son has been sick for a couple of days, nothing very severe but enough that he’s been running a temperature since Saturday.  Anyone with a small (or smallish!) child will know that this involves broken sleep and a babbling child.  As he is usually a talker a fever added to mix means that by 9.30 in the morning you head is ready to explode already from being talked at.  I’m now just waiting for him to talk himself out and crash in an hour or so!

In the meantime while I listen to his continuous talk I’ll tell you a little about my Draped Vest from Interweave Spring 2011.

This vest was an interesting design to put together.  I wanted to shape a vest using so that it could all be worked in one continuous piece.  It started at the back of the neck with a tube, works down each side (one side at a time) and then you have a short row ‘wedge’ that turns the corner to the back. Finally you knit across the back to the center where it is grafted together.  The yarn the sample is knit in is a heavy recycled silk. It would also work well in another heavy drapey yarn, perhaps a linen or linen blend worked at a loose gauge?
The sample is designed to be work with the fronts just touching and with a gather at the top of the back where it is attached to the neckband (that is why it shows several inches of ease).

This vest was really an further extension of my love of short rows. Being able to shape and even change direction in your knitting while still working it all in one piece is just pure magic.  I’ve got a cardigan idea that I can’t wait to get working on that uses the same general idea for turning the front corner.  I’m dying to get started on it but I’m going to resist – I’m in wait for some secret project yarn to come so I’m being very good and not starting on another larger project right now that will compete with it!

(c) Interweave Press

Spring must really be in the air, I’m bursting with ideas and my office desk is completely cluttered with swatches.  There are two designs working through the final stages that I’m dying to share, they’re a little lighter weight so perfect for the coming milder weather.

I’ve just added Spud Murphy to my pattern shop and realized that I now have 3 patterns from this month -

Spud Murphy

Nepal Wrap

and Carrageen.

Well to make it easier for anyone who loves all 3 I’ve put a 20% discount on all of them until the end of January.  So for the next week instead of costing $5.95 they are only $4.76.

I’m also eventually getting around to making a comprehensive pattern shop.  I’ve at last managed to get all of the patterns individually listed and I’m now in the process of making front pages for each category.  There wasn’t enough patterns before to merit this much sub-division but it has reached a point now where the list is getting very unwieldy!  Hopefully by the end of the week I’ll have this job finished….unfortunately it doesn’t really help me that my HTML abilities are almost nonexistent and poor DH is regularly called in to clean up the total mess I’ve made.  Fingers crossed, that between the two of us we can actually manage to get these pages up and running!

When you are creating a pattern there is always a long string of decisions you have to make.  It starts with the direction you want to knit in.  For Carrageen, I wanted some fitted set-in sleeves so working it from the bottom up seemed like a good option.  Then came the decision to steek; I wanted a fast knit and knitting in the round is always faster for me.   Because I decided to steek I created slip st folds that would create neat folds that could be hemmed down.

The decision that gave me the most trouble with the cardigan was the fastening.  I had it sitting on the dress form for weeks just staring at it and trying to decide.  I finally came to the decision to keep it clean with snaps just at the top half.  But, there were so many other options I would have loved to see.

The first option would have been to put fastenings down the full opening.

I was also swaying towards using a frog type closure (either knitted or metal) that I think would have looked really great.  I just couldn’t quite decide if a decorative closure would have added or detracted from the cardigan.

The final option was looped buttonholes along the edge….but then what buttons!

Can someone please put me out of my misery by knitting Carrageen and trying out a different closure option??

I talked a little bit about this pattern before Christmas but now all the tech editing and layout has been finished and it’s ready for release.

This cardigan was knit just for me, I really needed a cosy winter cardigan and I got the try out steeking for the first time. I find knitting in the round much faster than working flat (but cardigans are more versatile) so steeking seemed like the perfect solution. I used a crochet steek and it was so much easier than I would ever have imagined.
This cardigan is worked in the round from the bottom up. The set-in sleeves are worked from the top using short rows to form the sleeve cap. The asymmetrical fastening is closed using snaps.
The name ‘Carrageen’ comes from the seaweed ribbing used as this is a type of seaweed.
I used Donegal yarn for this project which is a lovely 100% yarn with wool tweed flecks running through it. This yarn is also marketed as Kilcarra aran tweed and  Studio Dongeal. Debbie Bliss Donegal tweed and Luxury tweed also work well as substitutions.

Carrageen $5.95


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FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust Circumference: 30.5 (33.25, 36, 38.75, 41.25, 45.25,
48, 50.75, 54.75)”/ 77.5 (84.5, 91.5, 98.5, 105, 115, 122,
129, 139)cm.

Shown in size 36”/91.5cm with 1”/2.5cm positive ease.

MATERIALS
Donegal Aran Tweed (100% Wool; 88yds/80m per 50g

skein); Color: Deep Red (4754); 11 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20) skeins

(This yarn is also know and Kilcarra and Studio Donegal Aran Tweed)
Size 7 US /4.5 mm circular needle, 24” / 60 cm long, or
length needed for size.
Size 7 US / 4.5 mm circular needle, 32” / 80 cm long, or
longer for magic loop (or Size 7 US / 8 mm dpns if not using
magic loop).
Stitch markers; stitch holders; tapestry needle; crochet hook
US G-6 /4mm, crochet steek yarn, 4 snaps.

It’s hard to believe that another year has already past.  2010 felt quite different to me as my youngest went to school and after 12 years of having small children at home I had a portion of  each day to myself again.  I’m not sure that I always made the best use of every day though, hopefully next year I’ll spend a little less of each morning website hopping and a little more of it actually designing/writing or perhaps even exercising!

2011 looks like is is going to be an exciting year, fingers crossed this Autumn/Fall my book will be coming out.  All the patterns are done, now comes the hard work of editing, hopefully it’ll go nice and smoothly.  I’m really excited to be able to release the patterns into the wild, it seems like a really long time between knitting and release which is very hard.

One of my new patterns that I can tell you about right now is my Nepal wrap (ravelry link).  A few months ago Rosemary from the Constant Knitter asked if I would design a piece from her yarn. I had bought a sample of Drops Nepal at the Knitting and Stitching show in Dublin and I really liked the feel of it so we went with that yarn. This shawl was a dream to knit, a little bit of interest but very smooth peaceful knitting that you just wanted to pull out and work on!  Once you have mastered the edge stitch this shawl just flows along smoothly and the beauty of working with an aran weight yarn is that it works up very quickly (as well as being really, really cosy when you’re finished).
It is a standard rectangular shawl construction, starting at the back of the neck and working down. To continue the pattern across the top without interruption the top section of the pattern is worked as a ‘tab’ so it looks completely seamless.

My sister Eleanor very kindly modeled the shawl for me on Christmas eve, so we were able to take full advantage of the great light and the remaining snow.

Nepal Wrap $5.95

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I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.  We had or first Christmas at home in several years and it was really lovely.  I’m feeling in need of some brisk walks and detox by now though!  Our cold spell continued until the day after Christmas, complete with frozen pipes and afterwards cracked pump.  Hopefully we’ll have our pump repaired in time for the next cold snap next week.  Everything closes down for Christmas here in Ireland, so we will be lucky to get it welded by the end of the week.

We did take advantage of the Christmas snow to take some very pretty photos of my niece in her Iceling Cardigan.  This version was knit using Babylonglegs Radiance Aran.  She loved it so much that it was barely taken off while she was here!  I’m putting a version of  the pattern together for BabyLongLegs and she will be starting a KAL in January for anyone interested.  As you can see from this version this cardigan style is short, however if you want to make it longer just make sure you have more yarn and knit to the length you need (you have to add a few more stitches to pick up along the front as well for the extra length).  She is a good size 3 1/2 year old and I knit her the 25″ (4 year old) size.