Tag Archives: KAL

Ravelry Indie Designers Gift-Along 2015

Posted on November 17, 2015 by | Comments Off on Ravelry Indie Designers Gift-Along 2015
I can't believe it's November! And, this means it's time for Ravelry's most amazing time of the year for independently published knitting patterns.  This year is no different, and I'm participating as a designer with 14 patterns on sale for 25% off their usual price...



AND, I'm offering a physical prize, too!  I'm offering a giclee (fancy term for high-quality inkjet) print of my knitterly illustration "6 Fabulous English Sheep Breeds".  So, if you're interested in winning it and/or hundreds of other prizes, check out the Ravelry Indie Design Gift-Along page full of information on the super-fun events to come.

  • Prizes
  • Games
  • Contests
  • Knit-alongs
  • Crochet-alongs
  • Machine-Knitalongs

All the details are on the Ravelry Gift-Along page and the magical gift code in order to make your 25% off of my knitting pattern dreams come true is there too!  Have a great time, and I'll see you there!

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Fancy joining a KAL?

Posted on June 2, 2015 by | Comments Off on Fancy joining a KAL?

Hello my fellow knitters,

I’m running a KAL for my pattern Wind & Storm. The first 10 peeps who commit to the KAL will get a free copy of the pattern. All other participants will receive the pattern at a discounted rate. And for all participants that complete the pattern, I will do a raffle giveaway!

This KAL is to celebrate the re-release (this time self-published) of the Wind & Storm pattern which was originally published by Knit Now in Issue #30 in 2014.  I'm nearly done with the self-published version which will have its official release in the fall (mid-September) but I’ll have it up beforehand as a soft release and for the purposes of this KAL.

The KAL key dates are as follows: 
Start: June 15, 2015 
End: September 15, 2015
Yarn and knitting requirements can be found on the pattern page for Wind & Storm.
And, feel free to use the image above as your project image place-holder until we officially start the KAL! It's great to have people knitting the same thing as you and when you run into questions or issues, we all help each other!  It's a lovely experience if you've never done one before.




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WIP: Zig Zag Quilt & Mitered Cardi

Posted on March 26, 2014 by | Comments Off on WIP: Zig Zag Quilt & Mitered Cardi
This past weekend, I made so much progress, but alas, I did not finish the quilt.

I do have the quilt sandwich ready to go, and am strongly considering a straightforward quilt-job instead of FMQ'ing.  See, the sewing machine shop sold me a FMQ'ing foot for my new machine (more on that later), but I could not for the life of me figure out how to install it.  I don't think it actually fits my machine.  So, I'll go check on that sometime this week.  In the meantime, here's my progress!

I finished piecing the top...


Added a border and pin-basted it to the batting and back...


All I need to do now is quilt!

As for the second Mitered Detail Cardi, here's where I'm at...


I've got to sew the side seams, knit one more sleeve, and add the edging!  So close!

P.S. If you haven't already entered, there's a giveaway in the previous post!  Feel free to enter and win a quilted fabric pouch.

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WIP: Mitered Detail Cardigan 2

Posted on March 14, 2014 by | Comments Off on WIP: Mitered Detail Cardigan 2
At the moment, I am working on the second version of the Mitered Detail Cardigan.  This time, I'm knitting it in green!  I've also refined the instructions and I'm knitting it together with the folks over in the Ravelry Machine Knits group.  I had no idea we'd have so many folks sign up, so I had to cut it off after over 20 people showed interest!  Crazy!

Here's my progress so far...

1 skein, Wollmeise Lace Garn

add a knitting machine and some claw weights

measure twice, cut once (just kidding, there's no steeking in this one)

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FO: Mitered Detail Cardigan

Posted on February 26, 2014 by | Comments Off on FO: Mitered Detail Cardigan

Success!  At least one of last week's WIPs is complete!
Originally meant for the Ravellenics (Ravelry Olympics-watching related activities), the "Mitered Detail Cardigan" project really pushed me to learn how to better use my knitting machine.  Originally, this yarn was going to be Mary Anarella's lovely "Simplicity" cardigan, but as my belly kept growing, I thought, "that look's just not going to work on me." So, I set about designing this cardigan while keeping "Simplicity" as a visual inspiration, but sharpening it up a bit for pregnancy and after-pregnancy use.  Here's the result...


The front diagonal details were done using short rows.  So fast!


Back diagonal details done by transferring stitches.  Not so fast.


The folded over border was knit in two halves on the machine and then stitched together at the back of the neck.  

That turning purl row, which is so simple to do by hand, was kind of a nightmare to do by KM (knitting machine).  See, I didn't know that there was a difference between stitch transfer tools and garter bars.  There is a difference.  A big difference.  These large transfer tools are simply giant combs that hold stitches and help you move them over, and they have a tiny hole like a small transfer tool.  

Garter bars on the other hand, allow you to, not just move the stitches, but also flip them over and efficiently create a garter stitch.  I did the first side's turning row by hand-manipulating each stitch individually with a tappet tool.  It took me over an hour.  I did the other side by attempting to use the transfer tool as a garter bar, and failed.  I ended up holding the transfer comb horizontally directly under the hooks of the machine and individually lifting the back of each stitch onto its respective hook.  Faster than tappet tool, but not very much fun.  ((insert hysterical laughter here))


The back mitered square detail was not done with short rows which were fast and lovely by KM.  Each of those centered double decreases was done using the stitch transfer combs I mentioned previously.  All the stitches on each side were moved over by one toward the center where they met in the middle.  It took me 3 hours to do each side.  My friends at the local SnB laughed at me and said it would have been faster by hand.  True.  But, I learned how to use my machine with confidence!  That was worth it, right?  How else was I going to learn other than by challenging myself to do ridiculous things under an unrealistic artificial deadline?  What's that you say?  Was that reasonable advice you just gave me? Pshaw.  Reason-schmeason.



Project Title: Mitered Detail Cardigan
Designer: Me  (using Simplicity by Mary Anarella & 128-14 Jacket in ”Fabel” by DROPS design as inspiration)
Yarn: Wollmeise Lace in "Nobody's Perfect - Spice Market"
Amount Used: 281g of 300g skein
Machine Tension Settings: T6.75 for main knitting, T6 for edging
Main Gauge: 26 sts x 40 rows = 4"
Border Gauge: @T6, 24 sts x 50 rows = 4" (blocked to emphasize horizontal stretch)

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Charlie Knit Along and Free Pattern

Posted on September 19, 2013 by | Comments Off on Charlie Knit Along and Free Pattern

A customer in a yarn store was recently asking about our Yearling pattern, Charlie, which was designed by Pamela Wynne for the first season (Spring/Summer 2012). DSC_0435

The yarn store had run out of pattern booklets and was hoping we might release it digitally. Well, because of that one customer, not only are we releasing it digitally, but we’re releasing it for FREE and we’ll be doing a knit-along so that you can join us!

Charlie Now

Oona’s grown a lot since the last time that she wore this sweater, as you can see. Although it does come in a size range of 18 months through 6 years, so it would be possible to make one that fits her now. It’s designed with positive ease, which is great because I bet that it will fit a little one for awhile, instead of them growing out of it in 2.5 seconds.

It’s unisex, so you can make it to fit a little boy or a little girl, or a little duck. Okay, I’m kidding about the duck, but here’s a picture of a duck, who I’m pretty sure is NOT Bananafish, who modeled with Oona.

Duck

The original pattern calls for:
MC: 2 (3, 3, 3) hanks Yearling in color #09 Blue, Blue Sky
CC1: 1 hank Yearling in color #06 Jack Frost
CC2: 1 hank Yearling in color #04 Kiwi

I’ll be making mine in this season’s colors of Yearling which includes:
MC:  #19 Mermaid
CC1: #16 Hold Your Breath
CC2: #13 Misty Morning

Yearling Hold your Breath Mermaid Misty Morning

I’ve been swatching, and it looks like I’ve got gauge:

Gauge swatch

Had I NOT swatched this on the plane ride down to Virginia and had access to all my needles, I would have knit a sleeve as a gauge swatch! It’s a great way to check your gauge, AND not have your sweater stuck on sleeve island. Instead, I used this technique from Tech Knitter to knit my circular swatch flat. (It’s kind of like making i-cord without tightening the loop.)

I’ll be working ahead so I can lead the way. This is a fantastic sweater if you just want to dip your toes into sweater knitting or into colorwork. It’s a bulky child’s sweater, so it will go quickly. I hope that you’ll join me in knitting it! I am looking forward to getting a little Christmas knitting out of the way before it gets too late.

You can find the free pattern here. We’ve asked yarn stores to post on our facebook wall if they have Yearling so you know where to get it easily.

Post by Juniper Moon Farm.
If you don’t see a yarn store near you, then check out Knitting Fever’s store locator. Just input your zip code and select Juniper Moon Farm from the drop down menu.
Charlie on chair
And if you want to Queue, Favorite, or Cast On on Ravelry, you can find the pattern page for Charlie here. Here’s the pink version that Sarah from WildFibers in Washington made:
Charlie
Adorable, no?
I’ll meet you back here in a week with my progress and I hope you’ll join me. In the meantime, tell me which colors you’re planning on making Charlie in!

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Pendulum KAL

Posted on June 27, 2013 by | Comments Off on Pendulum KAL

Instead teaching a knitting class this summer, I opted for something a little more flexible, and a little more inclusive, and a lot more free!

I am hosting a Knit-A-Long with the PFA and I am really excited. It’s going to be pretty relaxed as far as knit-a-longs go. And I’ve already picked out my yarn.

icy sock yarn combo
Protoceratops in First Frost and undyed. The pattern reminds me of something icy and cold, and I think mine might look pretty chilly in these colors.

Please feel free to join us. I expect most of the action to take place in the Potwin Fiber Artisans Ravelry Group and on our facebook page.

Details:

This shawl is appropriate for any level of knitter. We’ll work together to get everyone through it.

You don’t have to be part of the PFA or even local to us to participate. This KAL is open to anyone and everyone.

Cast On date is July 15th and our goal is to have it finished by August 15th (but you don’t have to have it finished by then the participate)

The pattern: pendulum

The supplies:
2 skeins of sock yarn in different colors
Size US 6 circular needles
tapestry needle

It’s as simple as that. Are you in?

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WIP: Squishy Mittens!

Posted on August 29, 2012 by | Comments Off on WIP: Squishy Mittens!

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