12.30.2006 - FYI- New Knitting Blog

Posted in Knitting

12.5.2006 - Knit-along #1- Garter Ridge Scarf- part 1

Posted in Knitting

I know there are quite a few avid knitters among us.  But I am also aware that there are a number of you who just haven’t found the time to learn to knit.  In an effort to get knitters- new and old- doing what knitters should be doing, knitting, I was thinking that an easy knit-along would be fun.

            December is upon us, and this would be a great time for the perfect beginner project- a garter ridge scarf.  Many of us reside in the arctic north and will be needing at least one scarf (per family member) any day now- like yesterday.  For those of you living in warmer climates, well you probably have someone up north on your gift list, or you can go the “scarf-for-fashion” rather than “for survival” route.  Either way you slice it, the garter ridge scarf is just the ideal beginner project.  (And something to do with your hands during “It’s a Wonderful Life” even if you’re not a beginner.)

            First things first- you’ll need a set of needles and a skein/hank/ball of yarn.  I’ll be working mine on a lovely new set of Lantern Moon needles, size 13 (thanks Linda N! One of my favorite baby gifts! he, he, he...); and with a lovely skein of Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes in Green.

            Second things second- casting on.  Newbies can watch helpful videos free on-line at knittinghelp.com.  The videos on this sight are great (especially the fact that they’re free!) and are almost as good as having a teacher sitting right next to you.  Well, they’re definitely a step above the line drawing diagrams found in most books.

    Here are my cast on sts, ready and waiting for me to start knitting.

            Depending on the yarn and needle size you choose- the thicker the yarn, the larger the needle size, and the faster the knitting- you’ll want to cast on about 12-20 sts (that’s knitting for stitches.)  I’ll be casting on 14 sts for my scarf. (I'm shooting for somewhere in between "for fashion" and "for survival"- nothing big and bulky, but a warm, substantial yarn.)

            Third things third- start knitting!  Again, newbies can get a free lesson (any time, at your leisure…) at knittinghelp.com, really, ever since I found that sight I send all aspiring knitters there.  Don’t worry about purling.  If you’re too new to know what purling is (sounds like that crazy winter sport with the big weight-thingy and the broom-thingies, but it’s not related- at all…) don’t worry about it.  All you need to know for this project is the basic knit stitch- just knit every row.

            If you divide what’s left of December into about 4 weeks, think about how long you’d like your finished scarf to be, divide by 4, and figure out an approximate length you’ll need to knit each week to finish this by the end of the month.  Divide by 3 weeks if you want it done in time for gift-giving.

            Check in periodically to watch my scarf grow- I have so many projects on the needles that I promise not to finish in a week leaving you newbies in the dust and feeling discouraged (in fact, many of you will probably finish before me!)

            Have fun with this- knitting is supposed to be relaxing!

            ali

11.28.2006 - Another Star is Born (Another Model in the Family!)

Posted in Knitting

The hoodie Bobbi designed.

Another hoodie pic, black & white for an add.

    Hope was an absolute natural in front of the camera!  She wasn't nervous or shy at all and she just loved wearing the new clothes and playing with the flowers.  Oh, and the star streatment in hair and makeup!  Too cute!  I had to get pictures of that part!

    Twas quite a fun Friday despite being overtired from the seriously late night of last minute knitting and the last minute change of plans leaving a sick child behind... ugh, it's all coming back to me... it was quite a memorable day...
    One funny thing- it might have been more memorable had I had the gumption to step across the hall and have Hope audition for the Target commercial they were casting for.  Actually, when I first arrived, the helpful office personnel tried to shoo me over to that studio (as I was wondering what all of those kids were doing there...) and I assured them I was expected in the other studio.  Then as Hope's shoot was going so well I was ever so tempted to step out and get her signed up for that audition!  How fun would that've been?!  But I was actually a little nervous, because, well, what would I have done if she got it?!  Call my husband and say something like "Um, hi, Honey... um, yeah, the photo shoot went well... oh, and by the way, now she's gonna be on TV!  Is that okay?"  It was all so unplanned... I'm not so good impromptu... I think if Sylvia had mentioned, oh and they're casting for a Target commercial across the hall, maybe you could squeeze that in as well... I might have went for it as I could have planned on it, even if only for a few moments... I just get so caught off guard when things happen on-the-fly... oh well, maybe next time!  (I do have a close friend and a family member who work for Target- one as an Advertising Executive of some type... maybe we could get some strings pulled... maybe not...)
    Well, it was fun, she was cute, we'll see what happens with the next season's line.

    Enjoying them,
    because of Him,
    ali

11.2.2006 - All Wound Up

Posted in Knitting

(bad picture, the flash really washes out the white... oh well...)

10.28.2006 - Picot in Pink- Baby Hat

Posted in Knitting

    You can't really see the picot edge detail in this picture, but it's there, and it's a sweet little embellishment.  You could definitely knit this little hat in a day if you had a few straight hours to dedicate to the task, that is, if you knit... and for those of you that don't, there's no time like the present to pick up some needles and learn!

9.9.2006 - Warmers Aren't Just for Legs Anymore

Posted in Knitting

(used with permission)

    One fun, though a bit time consuming, part of tech editing for me, is getting to knit up the project.  Not all tech editors knit every pattern they tech edit, but for me, I really want to so I can wrap my brain around all the parts of the pattern and get a real feel for how it all works in the hands and on the needles.
    Here is my test pair... looking a little odd all stretched out, blocking on my ironing board...

    And here they are, warming my arms... isn't that what Arm Warmers are supposed to do?

    What fun, yet another thing I should really knit for myself.  Oh, and Liberty has requested a pair for her.  The to-do list grows...

9.9.2006 - Second Dolly Sweater

Posted in Knitting

  

7.27.2006 - A Sweater For 'Baby'

Posted in Knitting

Nothing too snazzy, a simple raglan cardigan knit in one piece (so there are no seams and very few ends to weave in, a big plus on such a tiny project)

And while I'm mentioning my knitting antics, I realized I never followed through on my promise to post the pic of my Libby and her modeling debut- my second published pattern- yay!  Here she is...

(pic used with permission)

And for those that missed it- here's the pic from my 1st published pattern- yay! (no, that's not me modeling...)

(pic used with permission)

  So much more knitting going on... never enough time to waste, er, um, spend blogging about it all...

6.12.2006 - As Promised, the Wedding Shrug

Posted in Knitting

My baby sis, with our other sis, the last minute bridesmaid...
aren't they beautiful?!? they got the looks, I'm claiming the brains...

With the silly groomsmen...


With her new husband...

  Fun times... I hope she gets a chance to wear it again, perhaps to some fine dining experience... good jobs, no kids yet- they can still do that...

  In true ali fashion, I am once again working on several projects, with several more design ideas swimming in my head- though none of them will need to be worked up in a feverish flurry of ten days.  I'll definitely take pics of everything and eventually post about most of them... in the meantime I've got meals to cook, clothes to wash, a garden to weed, and kids to train up... spare time is rare time... but you knew that, didn't you?

5.9.2006 - Now I Can Say We've Done That...

Posted in Knitting

4.1.2006 - Second Market Vest Done! (Finally...)

Posted in Knitting

  It seems every project I take on always takes longer than I thought it would.  I don't know if it's a matter of me underestimating the amount of work involved or if it's a matter of me overestimating my own abilities (delusions of grandeur- psychology was one of the courses I aced, or is that simpply another delusion?)  Truthfully, I'm sure it's both.  But that's neither here nor there, the point is- I'm done with another project!  And I managed to remember to take a few good pictures of it before handing it over.

  I will really miss this one, I love the colors.  I shall have to remember not to pick colors that I would want to keep for myself when knitting samples.  But that may be hard in and of itself, as Blue Sky Alpacas has such a great color line, there are very few of their yarn colors that I would not want to wear! (Okay, anything yellow would make me look seriously ill, I should make more yellow samples!)

  Here's a close up detail of the stripe and texture pattern.  It looks more intimidating than it is.  Really, this vest knits up pretty fast (okay, it took me a month of "spare" time- but I'm a homeschooling mom of 5, how much "spare" time could I possibly have a month?)  And with their sport weight doubled, it has a wonderful weight to it- it drapes well and is just so soft and rich feeling.  Mmmmm....

  Another detail shot, a simple 3 x 3 rib, used for the lower front as well as the entire back and armhole/neckhole trim.

  Anyway, Yay! It's done and I'm knitting several other things now... fun, fun, fun... I have another sample for Blue Sky Alpacas of another new pattern and then I also have a few designs of my own that are coming along... slowly... but surely...

  Oh, and the cabled baby sweater I knit for my first niece is almost ready to be published as the first pattern on my own label!  We got the cutest picture of her in it, I can't wait to show you, but I will... I don't want to release it until I'm really ready to release it! yay!

  Well, off to get something else accomplished...

3.11.2006 - My Pattern is Selling Up a Storm!

Posted in Knitting

  I've been made aware that the Easy Fitted Tank I designed for Blue Sky Alpacas is currently their number 3 selling pattern- I'm so excited!

  I'm slowly ebbing away at several other projects, some for Blue Sky Alpacas some for my own label... more on that later!

  I'll have to get several more pics up soon... of the samples I'm knitting in their new patterns (can't show you the ones being worked on for future releases!)

This is the first sample I did of their new Market Vest pattern.  I forgot to take a final picture... so you're seeing many loose ends, that are tedious to weave in- that comes with the territory when working with so many colored stripes.  It looks worse than it is though, as the pattern is worked with the yarn doubled (their sport weight is pretty light and knits up faster at a larger gauge on larger needles when doubled).  I'm almost done with my next one- the colors are fabulous, I'll need to show off a little when that's all done

  Maybe I can finish it tomorrow during our long drive down to church and back... maybe...

2.24.2006 - the model...

Posted in Knitting

I've received a comment wondering if I'm the model in the picture, and I have to admit, nope, it's not me modeling... I do love the model they chose though.  The whole photo shoot was in the hands of Blue Sky Alpacas and the studio they work with- I would have chosen a longer skirt... but I do think they did a lovely job, quite cute and tasteful.

I can't wait to see what they come up with for the next one- I'd love it if they could use my daughter for the model! It's a wrap cardigan I designed for her and it would be so neat if she could model it.  I'm not sure yet if it will work out, but you can bet I will beg... a lot...

Thanks to everyone for all the encouragement- this has been such a fun process for me!

2.24.2006 - I'm published!

Posted in Knitting

Yay!  The first pattern I designed for Blue Sky Alpacas has been printed and is on its way to yarn stores across the country!  It is a simple and modest tank pattern (as modest as a tank can be- wide shoulders and a high neckline...) that is very quick to knit up and is absolutely lovely knit up in their wonderful cotton.  you can see it here, I simply love working with that yarn! 

I am finishing up my second pattern for them which will be part of the fall line and am already working on one for next spring as well.... I am sooo very excited about this.

The first pattern on my own label (launching soon!) is mostly done and several others are in the works- I hope to have several ready to go by late summer to launch and introduce my company with a great fall line.   In the meantime, in between time, ain't we got fun?  I've loved knitting since I first got the itch to try a few years back, and now I love designing!  Funny, when I was a young girl, even through my teens, I always had a little ambition to be a clothes designer... I sewed a lot, even worked in a fabric store, I sketched outfits all the time... but the crazy, revealing, snottiness about the whole industry was always intimidating.  It's a dog-eat-dog world as I wouldn't have lasted very long...  But now, here I am, designing- and in a niche market where I can design things that are fashionable without being ultra trendy or way too immodest.

I certainly don't want to be haughty, but I admit I am so very excited about this endeavor!  I feel like the Lord has really given me some liberty to persue this right now.  The series of events that led up to this is quite interesting and, though I don't want to overspiritualize things, it really seems like the Lord has had a hand in the whole process... I just pray that I can keep my priorities in right order and use this venture somehow for the glory of God.  Paying off some bills would be one thing that would bring Him glory- I will weep tears of joy, and thank Him more than I can even express the day we pay off some big bills!

2.17.2006 - Finished the Mittens!

Posted in Knitting

Yay! Even weaved in all the loose ends (there aren't that many on this great pattern!) They're big and fluffy and warm and quite purple- I'm not a huge purple fan, but a little here and there can be quite pleasant!

Despite the cold, my long time friend Traci came over for her first knitting lesson yesterday.  I taught her to cast on and do the basic knit stitch, then gave her the never-fail basic garter ridge scarf assignment.  A nice and thick chenille should knit up pretty quickly, then we'll move on to purling...

While here I confessed to her my horribly bad habit of not finishing projects.  Now I know every knitter has some unfinished projects, but I really think I could be in the running for the worst non-finisher ever.  I pulled out a sweater that was the first one I actually made all the pieces for and managed to pick up stitches for ribbed neck and button bands... this was a almost 5 years ago... it's a baby sweater I started for Liberty (she'll be 5 ono the 23rd...) all that was left to do was weave in the loose ends and sew on some buttons... and it sat in my basket for over 4 years like that!  I had intended to take it out and finish it up when I had Grace (she turned 3 in November) but that didn't happen.  So last night I bit the bullet, and I weaved in those last ends... but I don't have buttons for it... I may dig some more later...  Well, now that Hope is 12 months, it'll just fit her for a few more weeks it looks like...

The purple one I started in the same pattern (yes, I started another one without ever finishing the green one) knit up to a smaller gauge and even if I were to finish it tonight I'm afraid it's too late, it won't fit... I did still sew the sleeve seams last night- I was really on a roll!

I finished up the light blue Easy Fitted Tank (sample for Blue Sky Alpacas) and worked some more in the ribbing for the Market Vest sample as well.  I started the striping today and it's looking pretty good, if I may say so myself. 

Well, even though we could really use a grocery run, and my husband did mention something about a date night... I really don't think I'll be heading out much this weekend and should be able to put a few hours into finishing up some more projects.  Yippee!