Dawn's Projects

Reflections

2011-11-24T10:59:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year to take a step back and ponder on what has taken place over the last year. I usually hold a Holiday sale this time of year, in part to try and gain more sales to finish up the year, but also in part to say "Thanks!" to all the customers who make my dream job possible. This year is no different (it goes through Dec. 9th). While getting ready to write the newsletter, though, I found I'd spent my time differently than originally planned.

I started this blog a few years back as a way to track my projects. Many of those projects turned into patterns for Fiber Rhythm-- and pattern design, test knitting and editing the patterns was where I would spend most of my time.

I'm finding that this year I spent a lot more time on learning new computer skills and improving older ones-- php coding, zen-cart, wordpress, adobe creative suite, quick books. I've loved it and learned a lot, however, that all means that I'm quite a bit behind on producing the patterns for sale. I even had a pattern done through test knitting last Thanksgiving that I haven't finished the grading and tech-editing for!

Also, as the business began to take over my "design side", I found that I was less likely to post project information here in my Projects blog, as I didn't want to influence where I might publish the patterns (many publications don't allow any notice of the pattern info online prior to their publication).

As a result, I think that the tone of this blog may be taking a turn... obviously, the rate of posts has slowed. Over the next few weeks I will work on understanding what I can post and what I can't and may be re-naming or starting a different blog that will be more meaningful and sustainable as I proceed with the knitting business.

Thanks to all who've been so supportive this year!

Crochet Art?

2011-04-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

So, here in Portland, I've seen lots of "guerilla art" tagging with crochet. This was at the end of the Brooklyn Bridge when we came back across. Crochet bike art!

More than a lifetime

2011-04-09T16:18:00.000-07:00

Ravelry is great. A community of people who love to knit and crochet. They have all kinds of ways to interact with others and one of them is your stash pages.

I've recently updated my stash pages with just about every little bit of yarn I've collected over the years. Some of it I've listed in the trade/sell section and some is just in my regular stash pages.

Well-- I've been collecting for over 30 years now, and as you might imagine, my stash was a bit out of control. The stash pages ask you information about your stash-- kind of yarn, yards per skein, numbers of skeins, colors, etc. They also have the ability to download in excel format.

So...

I finally faced the facts. I downloaded the spreadsheet. Calculated the total yardage of yarn I have by each yarn weight. I sampled how long it takes me to knit one yard with the project I'm currently working on. I figured that this was worst case-- as its a textured stitch with something different every few stitches. I adjusted to take longer for the lighter weight yarns and less time for the heavier. So now I have an estimate of how long it might take me to knit-- by hand-- the yarn I have in my stash right now.

Guess how much time I have? 225 years !

Thats knitting textured stitch patterns every day. 2 hours a day. For 225 years. WOW.

Of course, there are plenty of ways to improve this number and make it work within my expected life-span. More hours per day. Stockinette stitch. Combining yarns and using larger needles. Working them up in simpler projects with little shaping. Using crochet rather than knitting. Weaving with some. Working some of it up on the knitting machines.

I admit. Part of my reasoning when I bought some of this yarn is to have something to do when I retired. Thats why I still bought yarn even when I was not finding time in my busy life to knit any of it up. Another reason I bought the knitting machines.

So-- in addition to the thoughts above, I think I'm going to apply a wonderful technique from database performance (my other life) to this situation: parallelism! I love to come up with patterns. I love to do the math to figure out how to knit them in various sizes. I love to knit the samples up to make sure it works. Now, I'll just have to up how many test knitters I have working on those at any one time-- and use yarn from my stash. Lets see... if I can keep 10 projects going at any one time, then it should cut us down to 20-some years. That might make it even possible sometimes to get some new yarn!

Spreading the word... knitting stolen

2011-01-22T17:56:00.000-08:00

Heard this morning at Palios that a local knitter's sample sweaters were stolen from her car. Confirmed on ravelry. If you see anything like the sweaters in Mary Scott Huff's blog contact the Portland police.

So sad to hear this, I know how much work goes into it.

Hopefully, the more people who hear about it the better chance the items will be found.

Knitting with Retroglo reflective yarn

2011-01-21T18:03:00.000-08:00

If you want to add a bit more safety in with the love you knit into caps for your family-- use some reflective yarn! Retroglo is the yarn that I'm using here. Its actually made with tiny little glass beads on both sides and is a flat tape. I'm working it into the knit fabric by carrying it along with my other yarn. Since it is rather grey looking when not reflecting, I'm using it with grey yarn.

So this will be a cap pattern I'll be publishing and making available on my website.
In the photos, you can see one without flash-- it just looks grey-- and one with flash-- where you can see the reflection. This is the way it would look in headlights at night.

The photos show a worsted weight yarn, US size 8 needles (5 mm) and Caron's Simply Soft acrylic yarn. The Retroglo yarn is a little stiff, so I don't think I would go too much smaller in needle size, but you could.

I have plans to use the Retroglo by applying it more like embroidery afterwards. I'll take photos of that when I'm done and post them here as well.

Another one of those posts...Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T12:10:00.000-08:00

Another one of those "OMG how can it have been so many months since I last posted?" entries.

To finish off last year's news...
I have finished the jacket. Right now I have to finish grading it for other sizes, and I'll be able to post photos here along with putting the pattern up for sale. I do like how it finally turned out and I like the hat and mittens that go along with it. Looking back, I think I personally would like it in a navy wool tweed rather than the purple... but we'll see what kind of knitting I get around to in 2011! It shouldn't take nearly as long next time around, since I'd just have to follow the pattern!

Since the last post, I've designed a couple of items in the Double Bambu yarn and have them out for test knitting. I'm about to put together two more items for test knitting, and then will be back to finishing up a couple of my designs that are half-done (half-baked? hmmm).

In December, I designed and knit some "Texting Mitts" for my younger son, and should have those up to the web-site soon.

I also spent some of my IBM bonus $$ and purchased the Adobe Creative Suite 5 Design Premium. I am absolutely loving it!! They gave me a month of lynda.com free subscription and I really am finding this site absolutely critical to help me get up and running.

2011-- a whole new year of possibilities
For 2011, I'll be using: In Design, for my knitting pattern layouts; Illustrator, to create the schematics and possibly some of my color charting; PhotoShop, for the photos of the patterns; and I hope to start using some of the web-based design tools (Fireworks, Dreamweaver and Flash) when I re-vamp my online store.

All this goes along with a re-organization of my home office and studio to start the new year off right.

I enlisted my son's help and we moved the furniture around in the home office and now I have easy access to all of my file cabinets-- the idea being it will be easier to get everything filed right away, and not leave piles of papers everywhere. I also have setup here a good spot to video "How to" knitting techniques... so hope to produce some of those in 2011.

For the studio, the re-arranging should help keep the knitting machines and loom available for work (right now they look more like storage). I'll also have a nice, diffused light area for photographing the knitwear garments on the dress forms.

All in all, good progress, and more good progress to look forward to.

Happy New Year!

Still working !

2010-08-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

Still working on the Jacket. Decided to make a few changes... so a bit of frogging (done) and re-do (not done yet). Overall it will be much better and easier to write the instructions for. Hoping to perhaps submit for publication so no photos...

Also working on the example swatches for two new classes I'll be teaching at Twisted in the Fall. Double knitting and Slipped Stitches. September is just a few weeks away!

I've got a trip to Seattle for work coming up and someone else will be driving! What a luxury to have all that knitting time. Looking forward to it.

Am also adding back in the Level II of the CYCA Teaching program. So there will be swatches to do there as well as some smaller projects.

All in all still plenty of knitting projects.

Oh! And I'm starting to photograph my stash-- its up on Ravelry for sale... a bit at a time. Nice to see it going to good homes.

Wool Jacket on the needles

2010-07-05T17:39:00.001-07:00

Even though summer is finally starting, I'm still knitting a new design of mine--in wool. A slipped stitch jacket out of Cascade Yarns Soft Spun and Cascade Yarns Jewel Paints. I'm really loving it. But its taken a long time to get here.

The process of designing for me quite often starts with the yarn. Then a desire for a particular garment. Sometimes I see just a detail on ready-to-wear that I think is particularly clever.

In this case, I fell in love with a turtleneck I had-- more the color than anything else. A kind of lavender-blue. So when I received a couple of gift certificates to Happy Knits here in the neighborhood, I decided to see if they had some like it. I found what I wanted in the combination of colors in the Cascade yarns. I bought what I thought was plenty (and it has been-- at least so far so good).

That was just after Christmas. In February, I had "noodled" on the yarn long enough, and I started planning and swatching. Certain portions of the jacket have been knit two and three times as I worked out how I really wanted the shaping... sometimes I found a mistake and had to frog and re-do. Of course, I only have a limited time to knit, but I do try and work a couple of rows each day.

Its modelled as sort of a jeans-jacket look, but longer and with a peplum. There are cable insets that aid the shaping and pockets (one of the things I love about my jeans jacket).

I'm knitting the bottom hem now... still have a belt, front closures and collar to finish. After that, I think a matching hat would be great... we'll see how much yarn I have left. If there is enough, a matching skirt would be just the thing for fall.

Right now I'm hoping to have it complete before we leave on our vacation-- Alaska cruise in 2 weeks!

Zig Zag Afghan

2009-12-14T20:04:00.000-08:00

It's done! This is an afghan made from 50/50 Bamboo/Cotton yarn. Colors chosen by my eldest son, and finally his to take away to college. He was able to take it with him when he went home from Thanksgiving break.

I've just posted the pattern free on my website. Its a traditional pattern and not mine. My grandmother made on very similar to this for me when I was in high school/college.

It took a bit longer than I expected, but I probably averaged an hour a day for 2-1/2 months.

Nice and large. 48" x 54" without stretching.

A Quarter Century

2009-11-15T18:02:00.000-08:00

Today marks the day that I have worked at IBM for 25 years. So much has changed in that time. Rather amazing I'm still there.

In honor of that, my boss held a reception for me in Las Vegas during the Information on Demand conference. It was a way to be able to celebrate with mor of the people I have worked with over the years. My mom and dad and twin sister were also able to join me. I had a great time.

The week before, I designed a color sweater pattern to be worked on the knitting machine. I wanted it to be my QCC Sweater (quarter Century Club), so I chose a Laurel leaf as a motif. I took inspiration from the following image.

I have been thinking for a long time that I'd like to design with gradual color changes in the foreground and hardly any color changes in the background. This seemed the perfect opportunity. You can see these colors in the two following photos:

This final photo shows the bands of patterns that I plan on using. The sweater has a lower band with Navy background, persimmon, ginger and toffee in the foreground. (Shows 11001). Then the next band goes from golden greens to teal greens with a sapphire background. Thats the laurel motif. Then the final band moves from teals to lavenders with an allover patterning with a central celtic motif.

I'm looking forward to having the time to actually knit the sweater. I still have some calculations to finish up and some final decisions on the styling.

I worked rather hard today in the studio/sun room to get it cleaned back up and move all of the mailing stuff out of there. Now I'm back to being able to actually get something done there! Plus I uncovered the floor loom, so hopefully will also be able to start working on some denim rugs.

Sock Summit Booth

2009-08-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

Here are two photos of our booth at Sock Summit. In the first, my sister, Dianne, is working with a customer. On the left, you can see the Metlon reflective yarn. With the flash of the camera the reflection really shows up! Funny, because the scarf is woven with a Black tweedy chenille and you can hardly see the reflective yarn stripes in person. Pretty cool.

The second photo shows the cone yarn and some of the cloth bins with the Double Bambu. I didn't get a really good photo of the spool rack with all of the colors on it... it shows a bit in the first photo. Thinking that for next time, we might need more space, so that all of the bins can be on tables, and we can see more of the colors of the cone yarns-- we had cones 3 or 4 deep on the shelving.

Sock Summit - Day one

2009-08-06T23:20:00.000-07:00

Well- I say day one, and that really is because the marketplace opened to customers today. Some vendors set up their booths yesterday, and Lantern Moon sponsored a vendor party at The Kennedy School last night... so things are started.

First day. Moved our stuff into booth #307 between 11 and noon. Spent the afternoon setting up the booth. We are using basically the same layout as last time... with one less table, so more room for moving around. We are using the feet displays for my latest sock patterns, but not the other dress forms, etc. This way the focus is on the yarn and it shows. Nice colorful booth. I meant to take a photo. Will try and get one tomorrow.

Today Judy Sumner stopped by and signed her books that we have for sale. So they are autographed copies! Very cool.

While the marketplace was open, so many people stopped by its a bit of a blur. I hope we did well by everyone. For most of the time I was operating the booth solo. My sister had to go back into the office.

Tomorrow I hope to be there to help set the WORLD's RECORD in most people KNITTING at the SAME TIME. Should be very interesting!

I'm exhausted. But it was a wonderful day.

Sock Summit is HERE!

2009-08-05T16:58:00.000-07:00

Ack! Its really time. I am still finishing writing up my sock patterns, and making sure I have enough other patterns printed. Luckily, we didn't have as much winding to do this time... tomorrow we actually move into the booth.

Today I went on over and registered, when it could be at a more leisurely pace. I did this around 3 and the place was nicely busy but not too croweded. Perfect.

Got a note from STC craft (we are carrying two of their books at our booth #307, "Knitted Socks East and West" and "Knitalong" both great books). They have a list of where they will be during Sock Summit here.

This is going to be so much fun! I even snagged a couple of sock displays (feet) from Portland Store Fixtures to round out our garment displays.

Seattle trip and sock knitting

2009-07-12T22:42:00.001-07:00

We had a great, quick trip to Seattle this weekend. The whole family. Took the train up and back (very pleasant and where I got most of my knitting done). We walked from the train station to the hotel, stopping to see the Klondike Gold rush museum which is a National Park in downtown Seattle. The favorite activity were the embossing stations. Luckily I had a small notepad in my knitting bag. Then after a nap for rejuvination, we headed back down to Safeco field for the Mariners game.

Since we had plenty of time for the walk, I pulled out my knitting and actually got a few rounds done on my socks on the way down. I also pulled them out after we'd finished off some ballpark fare and got a couple more rounds done. It helps that I was at the straight knitting part of the socks (rather the circular knitting w/no increases or decreases).

Still-- I had hoped to get more done on them than I did. I did get the feet done and am now working the gussets before turning the heels. I'm working two socks on two circulars and am really happy with how that is turning out. I'm using US size 2 needles and am knitting with the "Double Bambu"... using one of the double strands for one sock, and the second for the other. Since they were wound together and I knit one round each before moving on, it works out perfectly.

Occasionally I have to hold the yarn closer to the ball and let them unwind. But not often. The main thing to keep track of is keeping the stitches nice and tight where the fabric goes between needles, and to keep using the correct needle when starting up another one. I have both 16" addi turbos and they are the same color, so can't keep them straight that way. I was using the Susan Bates Quicksilver, and although I really like them for a nice inexpensive all-around needle, for the smaller sock work, I was having to spend too much time pushing and pulling the stitches over the little bump where the cable is attached to the needle. So the Addi's are perfect for this knitting.

Can you Knit and Chew Gum???

2009-07-01T22:54:00.000-07:00

I have been struggling with finding ways to get the excercise in that I KNOW I should be doing. To that end, I've started taking Pilates on Mondays during my lunch hour (very good). I purchased a new pedometer which I LOVE. Its an Omron Walking Style which has a couple of features that are great: 1. it is more accurate than my previous peds... 2. it tracks regular steps and aerobic steps (10 minutes or more) and 3. it has a strap and clip that prevents it from getting lost when (and all of the pedometers I've clipped to my belt have done this) it decides to jump off the belt.

When I walk I often listen to books on my Zen Mp3 player (from audible).

All this is well and good, but walking takes time. Time away from getting the knitting done I can't do during the day because I'm working (and, believe it or not, work isn't always conference calls that I can knit through).

So. I've been thinking about trying to knit on my walks. Actually, I've been thinking about this for years. what kind of knitting apparatus would I really need. A large bag to hold things, a small bag? The point is I've been thinking and knitting and not walking.

Previous projects were really too large to do this comfortably. But, since I'm readying for the Sock Summit, I have a lot of smaller knitting to do-- namely I'm working on two at once socks with our "Double Bambu"

So. Now I've challenged my coordination by knitting AND walking AND listening to books all at the same time!

I feel like this is a major breakthrough. I can hear you now... women have been walking and knitting at the same time for ages. Still... that hasn't been me (at least not in recent memory... there was the time I worked on a pair of very small baby mittens with pencils and left over yarn for a friend who didn't have any for her youngun and the snow was at the campground that year...)

At any rate. Yet another reason to like socks. It really does feel like socks are the perfect project to help me get my walking time in!

We'll be at the Sock Summit!

2009-04-25T15:24:00.001-07:00

I am SO excited! We just found out we get to have a booth at the Sock Summit August 6-9, 2009 at the Convention center in Portland. It really feels like being a part of history... you gotta admit, who ever heard of a Sock Summit before? Now I need to get going on some sock patterns to be working on. I think the Double Bambu with a bit of elastic will be great... so I'll be experimenting with what works and feels best between now and then.

We already had signed up for a booth at the Knit & Crochet Show in Portland May 14-17. Plus we had a booth last year there (in September). That was a lot of fun. I'll have two outfits in the fashion show and so I'm looking forward to that. Gotta come see!

Bamboo Cabled Gloves

2009-03-01T08:15:00.000-08:00

Here are my Bamboo gloves. They have a trio of cables that move up into decorative stitching (looks like beads). Soft. You knit the fingers in little i-cord tubes and then knit the body/hand of the glove.

I don't have these any more since I donated them to the TKGA Auction last fall.

If I ever have a lull in projects, I'll make myself another pair.

Snowflakes and Stars

2009-03-01T08:06:00.000-08:00

This is a sweater that I wanted to show at the Kntting Guild conference last Fall. However, I really didn't have enough time to finish it myself. I ended up sending the pattern and yarn off to Ghost Knitters, and they did a wonderful job of knitting the pieces. I then did the steeking and finishing myself.

Made out of "Double Bambu" which used two strands of Silk City Fiber's Bambu 7, the sweater has wonderful drape and is cool feeling as well as warm.

I do offer this pattern for sale on our website.

Stormy Sky Hat

2009-02-25T23:40:00.000-08:00

Here's another hat! After finishing the Red and Black hat for my younger son, I told my older one I'd knit him one also. When we were picking out colors from all my stash of Bamboo, he pointed to my Stormy Sky bag and asked "Can you make one like that?" So the challenge was on.

This is my first attempt. I am going to make a few changes and knit him another one. I think it needs to be a bit longer. So consider this a sneek preview!

Entrelac Jacket

2009-02-25T23:33:00.000-08:00

I finished this one last fall. In time for the Knit and Crochet Conference in Portland. So I entered it into the Fashion show. Lots of fun. I've since worn it to my neice's bat mitvah and it was great!

Besides giving yourself the permission to lose control of the color (Noro is in charge of that here), I challenged myself to do this garment without any edge triangles! those of you who have done entrelac know what I'm talking about!

Hats!

2008-12-06T00:39:00.000-08:00

OK. I have to admit it. I have always thought that the real purpose for knitting was to make SWEATERS. Especially for color work. Don't get me wrong, I've knit plenty of hats. But its just recently that I've discovered the JOY of knitting hats. What a great forum for working out design ideas! But the real joy is in seeing them worn/enjoyed by the recipients....

I'm calling this the Red and Black hat, but of course someone could knit it in whatever colors they choose.

My son has barely taken it off since it was finished. The tassel didn't last though. The hat is knit from bamboo and its a bit slippery.

Now I'm almost done with another hat for my older son. Based on my Stormy Sky patterns. Just a bit o weaving in. Hope he likes it as much....

Fall Knit and Crochet Show

2008-09-19T17:08:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of photos of our booth./ During the Fall Knit and Crochet show, our business, Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design offered patterns, notions and "Double Bambu" yarn.

We had sample garments on display so people could get an idea of what the patterns produce.

With the conference/market being held in Portland, we were fortunate in being able to bring some of our own furniture to help showcase the items.

My sister, Dianne, brought her new small loom and had it warped and was weaving by the end of the show.

We ended up making a few minor changes in where everything was located. But mainly it was putting out the yarn where it could be more easily viewed. It was a lot of fun and I want to thank everyone that stopped by!

Fall Knit and Crochet Show

2008-08-23T22:52:00.000-07:00

Well, my sister and I are going to have a booth at the Fall Knit and Crochet show in Portland September 11-14. We are in the throes of preparations for our first ever show. We are really fortunate that our first show is also a local show-- so hopefully we can run out and grab things if we run out or forget it to begin with. Definitely a learning process!

Its kind of a guessing game how much product to bring, but we are planning on having a variety of goods there: knitting supplies, Double Bambu yarn, patterns, kits as well as some woven textiles, depending on how much we can really get done over the next couple of weeks.

I found some really cute containers for our Double Bambu sampler kits-- and they are pretty inexpensive and small enough for those out of towners to take on the airplane home.

On the down side, not enough people were signed up for the Designing class, so it has been cancelled. I'm still teaching the "Stranded Knitting Techniques" class on Sunday, September 14th, so thats good and will offset some of the expenses of having a booth.

So looking forward to seeing people there!

YARN!!!

2008-08-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

Well, we are entering a new era. Now I get to buy yarn to sell to other people! I didn't even think about how "enabling" that is. I do only have a limited amount of space to put it all.

Here is the yarn (Silk City Fiber's Bambu 7) all unpacked and laid out on the dining room table. All of the colors (except 2 that were missed in the original order) and the 6 that are part of the Stormy Sky patterns.

I'm taking the yarn and doubling it for hand knitters. The result is "Double Bambu" which knits up to a nice weight for sweaters and hats and the like. Not too fine, not too bulky.

The bamboo feels so nice, and the fabric is not too heavy for those of us that live in warmer climates.

I'll be making up "Sampler kits" for sale online and at the Fall Knit and Crochet Show that will be happening here in Portland, OR in September.

Pretty exciting!

Jeans Bags!

2008-05-26T00:45:00.000-07:00

I have two boys. 17 and 13 years old. I also have worn jeans since they changed the rules and allowed girls to wear pants to school. OK. None of the bags are from pants THAT old!

I started saving the old jeans. "I'll use them for something.... someday" I said to myself. The pile started getting larger. My husband started to ask about it. When we got a new couch for the family room and moved the old ones to the basement for a rec room, I thought "Maybe I'll sew them together and recover the couches"...

Needless to say, that never happened. Then last year my sister and I started a business. Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design. Since its our business, we get to decide what our product lines will be.

I started out with knitting patterns-- so many ideas, so little time to knit them all!

Then, I found myself needing more project bags. My totes were already overflowing with yarn and more yarn... Then I started thinking about those piles of jeans... and how the denim was the perfect weight for a nice sturdy project bag... and the rest, as they say... is history.

At any rate, I'm combining the old worn-out-in-the-knees jeans with other fabrics and creating these great project bags. Of course they all have pockets and all are sturdy and ready for work.

Right now I just have the three bags for sale. A smallish shoulder bag, a project clutch and an extra large project bag. As I continue to make more, I'll add more to the web site. Each will be unique, although some will follow the same general design (I really love the extra large project bag, for example)... but because they all use remnants-- we won't have lots of bags using the same fabrics.

More fun for everyone. No two alike. Enjoy!

Announcing a Golf Cap knit-a-long

2008-05-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for something special for Father's Day?

We are starting a knit-a-long for any of the golf caps from Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design. We have enough time between now and Father's day to finish one (or two).

The knit along will officially start on May 15th, 2008.

We have a Yahoo group (Fiber_Rhythm_KAL) as well as a Ravelry group (Fiber Rhythm KAL) for you to follow along with.

Sign up on one of the two and we'll get started!

I'll be knitting a pair of the Aran Golf Cap s one for my mother-in-law (her birthday is the end of May) and one for my father-in-law. For those who aren't ready to do all the cables (or the intended wearer wants something less fancy), the Fabric Stitch Cap can be used instead.

For those who don't already have one of the patterns, they are available through the following sites:

http://www.woolworks.com/Shop/Knitting/Patterns/Fiber-Rhythm
http://www.blackwaterabbeyyarns.com/
http://shop.FiberRhythm.com/FRCDshop/

The caps take 2 skeins of Galway Worsted weight (100 gm each) or similar weight yarn.

Hope to see you knitting along!

The Yarn Harlot

2008-04-22T22:55:00.000-07:00

Oh what FUN! Over 400 people packed into the Forestry Center tonight to hear Stephanie Pearl-McPhee aka The Yarn Harlot. Almost everyone knitting. Wish I'd brought my camera!

The PDX Knit bloggers were there in full force. My sister also came-- and got me a seat -- so I ended up on the other side of the room. But I saw several familiar faces-- including MonicaPDX! I'll have to go blog hopping tomorrow just to see who all made it there and maybe see some photos from those who were more on the ball than I was.

I saw Peggy McMullen and Mims (K2tog bloggers for the Oregonian). What great energy was in the room. Blue Moon Fiber Arts really put on a great event. Their yarn was lovely, although I resisted since I'm not doing sock-weight anything right now. I did buy the new book (proceeds to go to Drs w/out Borders).

Stephanie was extremely entertaining (as expected) and so a lot of laughter as well as a lot of knitting was accomplished.

At the end of the Q&A session, Duffy got up and sang her song-- 'My travelling Socks' to the tune of "My little Deuce Coupe" it was a Hoot! and received a standing ovation. You could tell that Stephanie really enjoyed it too!

Afterwards while Stephanie was signing books I got an extra treat. One of the students from my Fair Isle/Scandinavian Knitting class at Twisted showed up with an absolutely gorgeous fair isle project she was working in Jamieson's spindrift. She'd even steeked some already! Very nice and so good to see people persisting! (Proud teacher, I am, and REALLY sad I didn't have my camera for that beauty!)

All in all a good time and I'll definitely go the next time she's in town.

Viking Weave Jewelry

2008-03-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

I recently took a class at Norse Hall in Viking Weave Jewelry. This necklace is the result. It was a lot of fun and not that hard to do. A very forgiving process. Hard to see in this photo, because its on the black turtleneck, but it is made of silver that has been blackened after the necklace was finished. Awesome. Thanks to teacher Shawna Job ! Great job and thanks for sharing this technique.

I did the double stitch (looping in the one above) which makes the object denser. Most everyone else did the single stitch which creates a more open weave.

It's done!

2008-03-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

Stormy Sky II is done!

This is the wool cardigan version of the original Bamboo. It is more close-fit and cropped rather than over-sized as the original was. Its a good style for those younger gals who are fueling the new knitting boom. I'm very happy with the way it turned out and will use it as a teaching aide and sample (I'm very happy wearing my oversized Bamboo version).

Good news is this doesn't take nearly the yarn by weight as the original so it will be much cheaper for everyone to make themselves.

I'm also very happy with the buttons I found at Mill End Store here in Portland. The clasp I was able to find at Josephine's dry goods downtown. Yarn Garden had them before, but they were out.

All my patterns are available at my website, Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design!

Well, Blue is my favorite color

2008-03-03T04:15:00.000-08:00

It is true. Blue is my favorite color. And this is my new car. I traded in my beloved Saturn which was starting to feel its age (and getting lower on the gas mileage in the low 30s from the low 40s I used to get). They don't make 'em like they used to at Saturn--none of their current cars get the mileage I got on mine--so the next logical step was to follow in my sister and my mom's footsteps and get a Toyota Prius. Ain't she lovely? I only waited a few days to get the color I wanted. Thanks Mo!

Stormy Sky II update

2008-02-18T07:33:00.000-08:00

Well, things are moving along! I was able to get quite a bit of the sleeves done during a class I took the first week in February.

The first photo shows the more fitted version in wool (soon to be a cropped cardi) on top of the original Bamboo version. The Bamboo was oversized XL, the wool is a bit more fitted L. Also the Bamboo tends to stretch some with wear (and goes back to size when washed).

The second photo shows the sleeves in progress. I knit the cuffs separately and then joined and am working in the round-- two sleeves at once, one set of yarn. At the end, I will cut the steeks and sew an underarm seam. This is pretty sticky wool, so I'm not sure how much sewing I really "have" to do.

So the end is really in sight!

Valentines Roses

2008-02-16T20:39:00.000-08:00

Aren't they gorgeous? Valentine's flowers are a tradition. From my hubby. In the background some of my knitting book collection.

Home office standing workstation

2008-01-10T12:33:00.000-08:00

I really wish I had photographed the "before". But let me describe it. The tables/desks were arranged in a "U" shape from left wall, around past the window and down the right wall. The two computer workstations were next to each other facing the window. All desktop heights were approximately the same. This first photo shows my home office in my new arrangement. (I've since rearranged the wall hangings). After having read about the walkstation (where a treadmill is incorporated with an adjustable standing computer desk, and all the health benefits that that is supposed to derive, based on studies by Dr James Levine of the Mayo Clinic), I did a bit of measuring and figured out that I really didn't have the room.
However, I had made my tables using adjustable legs and decided that maybe I could just modify my layout to include one standing workstation (used for my day-job) and one sitting workstation (shared with the rest of the family).

So I set about re-arranging and here is what I came up with. On the right is the standing workstation. I made it a height which would put my keyboad and monitor the same in relation to my elbows and eyes as they were when it was a regular sitting workstation. (I had spent time previously making sure these were relatively ergonomic.) And to accomplish it, I shortened both adjustable tables so that that table on top is about 42" off the ground.

Then to make a bit more room for standing, I moved another adjustable table on top on the other side of the room, leaving the underneath at the normal height. This gives me a bit more writing/desk space, for when I need that. There is an under-counter type light there as well (not turned on in the photo).

I just moved the desk with the home computer in it since we share this with the kids and my adjustable legs are not dynamically adjustable, I decided it was best to keep this a sitting workstation.

So all part of the New Year's resolution to keep moving! Hope it works. So far, I really like it. Still have filing and recycling to do (you can't see that half of the room, by design ).

Stormy Sky II

2008-01-09T10:31:00.000-08:00

Well-- thought I'd try to motivate myself by posting my WIP. This is Stormy Sky II, the wool version of "Stormy Sky" which was done in 100% Bamboo. This one is done in Jamieson's Spindrift. The color work in the X O section is slightly altered due to the heathered colors I chose. The combination of dark grey and light blue didn't have enough contrast for my taste, so I switched them around somewhat.

Will be writing up the pattern and it will be available on the website as soon as I'm done knitting this up. Not too much farther on the body, then the sleeves, then steeking for the cardigan and knitting the front bands. Not sure how long that will take me.

Any wagers ?

(You can just see a corner of my Stormy Sky bag on the left. I'm using it as my project bag)

2008

2008-01-06T23:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!

It's been a pretty good year so far. We started out with the entire family making it to midnight on New Year's Eve. A first for many years, and nice. I've been working on the CYCA Teachers Certification program, and got the package for Phase I sent off on New Year's Eve too. So my interview is soon. Then onto the 2nd portion. That is one of the things I have planned to finish up in 2008.

I also want to make progress on the knitting machine front. I was gently prodded from a Ravelry user (thankyou!) and have finished writing up the Bouclé Swing Cape pattern. I designed it and knit it in 2006. Good thing I took great notes (and could find them again). So that pattern is also now available on our Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design shopping cart site. It was designed for a Shetland Wool Bouclé yarn and is knit on the Vario Big Knitting machine.

On the hand knitting from, I'm still working on Stormy Sky II -- a Jamieson Spindrift wool version of the Norwegian Style Bamboo Sweater that I made for TKGA's Master Knitter program. Its coming along nicely. I'm up to the yoke, so the knitting takes more concentration right now.

Also on the teaching front, I'll be teaching an Entrelac class at Twisted again this month, and the Stranded knitting there next month. I've submitted ideas for the TKGA program, but haven't heard anything back from them.

On the design front, I'm hoping to send some off to other people's publications this year. Much of that depends on how much time I have left over after the day job. I'm hoping it starts off slow this year, but its not looking that way yet. Lots of projects were pushed into 2008... But its all good.

Here's hoping everyone has a peaceful 2008

2008 FALL TKGA Conference in PORTLAND

2007-12-12T07:35:00.000-08:00

Hey, just got my email advising to set aside the dates, and LOOK! Its in Portland this year! Way Cool. This conference has not been as populated (I hear) as the Stitches conferences, but the teachers are the same ones and the class sizes are great. I've learned a lot in these classes and its been wonderful to spend a whole weekend (or longer) concentrating on knitting.

2008 FALL KNIT & CROCHET SHOW
TKGA National / CGOA Regional Conferences
September 12-14, 2008 (Fri., Sat., Sun.)
Education - September 11-14
Shopping Days - September 12-14 (Preview Shopping Thursday evening for pre-registrants)
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, OR
www.KnitandCrochetShow.com

Debbie Stoller

2007-12-07T11:17:00.000-08:00

My older son (17 yrs old) and I went to see Debbie Stoller at Powells' Books on Wednesday. It was really fun. There weren't as many people as I thought there would be (from comments about other recent visiting knitting authors) but there were around 40 people in attendance.

The designs in the book, Son of Stitch 'n Bitch, are diverse as was the audience on Wednesday. From grey haired ladies to aging hippies, to young, trendy, and punk, everyone was represented. My son was most impressed by the tall man who came in his suit, sat down in the next row and promptly started knitting.

Debbie has a great sense of humor and is to be commended for making it down to Portland from Seattle in time, depsite a closed I-5 and no trains due to the recent flooding. My son was constantly amused and entertained, and actually came away wanting me to knit him the Cetic double-knit hat (although when we got the book signed, he told Debbie he woould want the "Deady Bear". He liked a lot of the projects better when he got to see them passed around the room.

Overall I think his reaction is a good sign for the book's success, and I'm glad he needed to attend a book reading/lecture for extra credit in English. I think I just may take a break from designing to do a bit of holiday knitting, there are several quick projects that are doable.

Smalll group of PDX Knit Bloggers meetup

2007-11-25T17:30:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally finshed knitting up the "Just Bamboo" Collared Blouse again (veryifying the instructions) so I finally had time to make it to another meetup.

It was a very nice couple of hours. Relaxed, good company and wonderful yarns to admire.

Kate brought her mother-in-law Donna, both shown in the first photo. Then they took a photo of Kathy and myself.

Then Donna took a photo of the three bloggers!

Someone else was having a birthday party there, so there were a lot of people hanging out and enjoying themselves on this long holiday weekend.

Donna is working on a black neck ring--very soft and I think she is almost done. Kate is working on a cap with a nice heathered alpaca and Kathy is working on a ribbed sweater (thats a sleeve she is holding up) which is also nice and soft, I am working on swatches for the CYCA Teaching program-- yes, I know, a glutton for swatching.

More Ravelry and Holiday Bazaars

2007-11-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

I've met a few friends now, went looking for people in the Portland area, and found some that I have met at conferences. So the list is growing. But I am spending more time on posting my patterns (finished except for the "Just Bamboo" blouse, which I am re-knitting first), and creating my list of books and projects.

It turns out Ravelry is a much better place to do what I said I would do in my blog heading-- document the knitting projects I've done over the years. So I am rather excited about that. I've put up my current WIP and posted one entry for an entrelac sweater I finished a couple of years ago. Now I want to photograph the old FOs and get as many as I can up there. I really do like the idea of looking back at old accomplishments every now and then.

Then I am really going to move into the stash. I have one of those true mountainous stashes, some in the studio, some in the home office, some in the bedroom closets, most in the attic over the garage... I really, really like the idea of having that documented so I don't forget what I have and so that I can have a true idea of what I can make out of each grouping.

There are so many great stash-buster projects, but that would be a waste (maybe/debatable) if I really have enough of one yarn to finish an entire garment.

Yesterday my sister and I went out (with my great-nephew) to a couple of Holiday Bazaars. It was great fun and I bought a lovely, truly lovely, batik large enough for a bedspread at one and at the other found Peggy McMullen of K2tog, the Oregon Live blog. She had some great stash for sale there nice wool that I was very tempted by, but having already just mentioned my stash here (and when I get it posted at Ravelry some of you will be able to see) that I just couldn't add to it right now... at any rate they also had some nice earrings (bought 2 pair) and I bought a cute organic cotton soap bag-- for all those little left-overs. A great idea.

We are planning on heading out Hillsboro way next weekend for more of the same!

Ravelry ruminations

2007-11-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

OK. I'm officially in. I've been in since Monday and work has been way too busy to allow me to fully explore Ravelry. I haven't even posted to the PDX knit bloggers that I made it in!

I did add to the patterns. Two of my designs. I will add more as I get the chance. And I may start chipping away at my stash... it could be interesting to see the list, but it may just take too much time.

I'm thinking first my patterns posted, then my projects.

The only thing I'm not liking so far is that the photos need to be square. So many of my photos are cropped and landscape. (wider than they are tall). Which basically means editing all the photos to be square before they can be posted.

For an example, take a look at the Aran Golf Cap on Ravelry (if you are a member) and you will see what I'm dealing with.

It is fun to take a look at what people are doing/talking about. And I know I will find more people out there to add to the friends list, and more blogs to read, etc.

Pretty amazing really.

Nordic Knitting conference

2007-10-17T04:47:00.000-07:00

Well-- its beyond a week since I went to the Nordic Knitting conference in Seattle and I don't have photos. So apologies up front for that. I had a wonderful time. The teachers were excellent and the people were very nice and the sweaters everyone was wearing were gorgeous.

The first day, I took a class from Carol Rhoades that covered the knitting of Marta Stina, who lived in Sweden over a hundred years ago. She worked large pieces (coverlets) in two-color work as well as sweaters. The technique she used is what we worked on in class, and involves twisting the yarn every stitch to create a really tight fabric. The good news is there are no floats. The bad news is that trying to keep the tension that is required going is harder on my hands. Beautiful pieces though.

I also took a class in color from Vivian Hoxbro which was a very different approach than the one I took at TKGA with Laura Bryant. Both were good exercises in thinking about color. In Vivian's class we also worked in stripes for our swatches, but the effect was not to blend so much. More graphic, less painterly. The last swatch of the day was done for whomever was sitting next to us. You were supposed to make a swatch that you thought that person would like. Then we exchanged them and that was really fun.

The final class I took was also Vivian's, this time in white. The topic was the Night Shirt from Falster. They knit the knit shirts in white and then dyed them. The patterning here reminded me of some of the ganseys. Mostly knit/purl patterning. Lots of stars (keeps away the evil-doers). Some twisted stitches (a la Bavarian Twisted stitch).

All in all a great time. The food was good, the coffee was plentiful (THANKS to the Nordic Heritage Museum Volunteers!!!!) I'm looking forward to the next conference, which I hope takes place in 2009.

TKGA/CGOA Knit and Crochet Conference - part 2

2007-10-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

Saturday I took the Stash workshop with Laura Bryant (of Prism Yarn).
Its always fun to take classes from Laura (especially for me as an old art major) because she has such a great eye for color and has a wealth of experience both teaching and creating her own art work. Took me back to my college days with references to Joseph Albers "Interaction of Color"...

After organizing the stash yarn that people brought and what Laura provided, we worked several swatches using different techniques of combining colors. The first photo shows using a finer yarn as a base and knitting it with varying other yarns.

The second swatch used striping and half-linen stitch to create different effects. Everything was an experiment! Now, I mjust need to take my stash out and re-align by color weight. Who knows what I can come up with then? Very inspiring.

Not only does she hand dye yarns, but she weaves and produces other art works (a show coming in May!). I have several books of hers that she co-wrote with Barry Klein ( of Trendsetter yarns) and they are always a pleasure to read.

Saturday night was the Chic St Fashion show and banquet along with the pinning of the master knitters-- more on that in another post (with photos).

Sunday I took an Introduction to Tunisian crochet with Jennifer Hansen of Stitch Diva Studios. Going to be another fun way to eat up stash, and the color theory from Laura's class combines well with the 3-color Tunisian crochet that Jennifer got us to by the end of class.

I decided on Sunday morning to go ahead and take a final class in the afternoon-- I had enough energy and the plane wasn't leaving until 8:30ish... So I signed up for a class with JCBriar. It was a "disaster recovery" class, which are always useful. JC describes herself as a technique junky (or something similar) and I know I'd heard good things... I enjoyed the class, learned a few things and got good re-inforcement on some of the things I've already been doing. It did help that I was in the middle of tinking on the Mystery Stole. I've successfully tinked and am back to knitting on that!

TKGA Fashion Show and Master Knitters

2007-10-01T17:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Judith for taking the photos for me! I really appreciate it. One of the things I like about going to these type of conferences is that the people you meet are always friendly and willing to help out.

I was working backstage during the fashion show, so did not make it out on stage when the rest of the group got "pinned", but did receive the pin at the end of the evening.

I think that this photo is with the Master Knitters getting pinned. (I was backstage). So sorry, I don't know the names of the other new master knitters. More people are making it through the program, which is a good thing!

And here I am modelling the Stormy Sky sweater (pattern available at the Fiber Rhythm web site: http://shop.fiberrhythm.com/zencart)

Here I am with Margaret Fisher, who was doing the honors. Handshake and pin hand-off for the cameras. (People told me I should model the bag with the sweater, so I did, even though I didn't officially enter the bag into the fashion show, I figure if Laura Bryant said it was ok, it was ok, since she and Nancy were emcee-ing).

TKGA/CGOA Knit and Crochet Conference

2007-09-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm here at the Knit and Crochet Conference in Oakland. Having fun so far.

I took a Design workshop from Nancy Nehring on Thursday afternoon and that was chock full of good information about publishing craft books and articles and how-to stuff. Well worth attending and very encouraging for people who might want to get into the business.

Today I slept in! (Thats the vacation part of this trip). Last year I had my schedule chock full of classes-- every availble time slot was filled. This year, I decided I needed to build in some buffer time. So that was good. I just finished taking the Slip-stitch knitting class with Joyce Renee Wyatt. Also full of good information and you can tell that Joyce has been teaching for awhile. Good progression of simpler to harder swatches to do and encouraging comments along the way. I have done some slip-stitches before, but there is always something new to learn.

Tonight is the TKGA meeting and then dinner with new friends. Tomorrow I will be taking the Stash class with Laura Bryant and I'm really looking forward to that. I've had quite a few bits of Prism yarn in my stash over the years... beautiful stuff.

Also tomorrow is the Chic Street fashion show (my Stormy Sky sweater will be in it) and I am really looking forward to that as well. I get pinned as a Master knitter and it may seem a bit corny, but I am proud to have finished the program.

I did finally get the Mystery Stole back on the needles. I had to buy a crochet hook for the beading though, as I couldn't find the right one when I was packing earlier. The one I got is really nice and works great.

I also am very interested in a project that I hadn't heard of before. Its the International Fiber Collaborative (http://www.internationalfibercollaborative.com/) and they are putting together an installation of fiber-crafted 3' x 3' squares that will cover an abandoned gas station. Thought provoking. I emailed my sister Dianne and it looks like Fiber Rhythm will produce at least one square for them. We'll discuss more when I get back home.

More later!

Entrelac Bag

2007-09-27T01:27:00.000-07:00

Here is the photo of the Entrelac Bag. I used 2 skeins of the Noro Silk Garden Lite. This works up pretty quick, and you really just have to trust the color changes to the yarn. I did end up with the brightest colors at the end-- so they worked out to be on the bottom of the bag. Not sure how I might avoid that in future, since its hard to know what colors are really in the skein. But a fun and quick project.

I did this as a sample for a class I'll be teaching, but think I would line the bag with another fabric.

What to do? back to the Mystery Stole?

2007-09-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

I just finished a small Entrelac bag to be used as a sample for the class I'll be teaching in October. (photos to be posted later). So now I'm trying to decide what to knit next. Lately all the knitting has been for patterns I'm designing. I think I may take a break and get back to the Mystery Stole. After all, Melanie has already sent the link to users of the group for their special deal (and yes, I did buy the official copy, I think its gorgeous). If you may remember, I left the Mystery Stole while other members were on Clue 4 or there abouts, and I had finished knitting half of Clue 1. I had also really acquainted myself with life lines and the absolute need I have for them. I did get a lot of picking up stitches without a lifeline and practice is good, right?
Anyway... Mystery Stole might be a good airplane project for me and nice and small to carry around with me during the up-coming conference.

Wednesday night Musings

2007-09-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

I'm working with wool again (and for the next couple of projects according to plans that are not written down anywhere, so can easily be changed). I'm finding my eyes start feeling itchy after I've worked with it for awhile. I really hope this isn't actually related. Maybe its something else in the air.

I have a ton of wool in my stash (well, maybe not literally). It would be such a shame to have accumulated those lovelies over the years and then have to say good bye without seeing what they can become. My hands are fine after working with it--so no rashes or anything like that.

Ah well-- this should be a relatively quick project. And then I'm off to TKGA conference in Oakland. I am really looking forward to that. I'm taking mostly classes that don't require homework (and no, that was not my requirement). And this time I'm leaving a couple of class time slots open. I did get a little classed-out last time.

I'm taking (in sequence) the Designer Workshop with Nancy Nehring on Thursday, the Slip Stitch Knitting with Joyce Renee Wyatt on Friday afternoon, the Yarn Stash Workshop with Laura Bryant on Saturday (I still have quite a bite of Prism stash around), and a Big Hook Introduction to Tunisian crochet on Sunday (another stash-buster technique).

Maybe after I get back, I'll get the bug to actually catalog my "inventory" of yarn. Could be sobering. Definitely have to wait until after the conferences are done, else I might not be able to enjoy the "marketplace"! Last year I got a great lace stole among other things.

Working with Bamboo and washing!

2007-09-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would post a couple of comments about working with bamboo. I have worked with two versions so far. The Silk City Fiber's "Bambu 7" (on cones) and "Just Bamboo" a ribbon yarn from Sirdar.

Both produce a really nice drapey fabric and ever so soft. The Silk City version is a bit softer because it has not been "ribboned" (if thats a word). The Sirdar one doesn't tangle as much.

Washing them is very interesting, because the bamboo really, really, really soaks up the moisture. I have washed both sweaters in the washing machine and dried them in the dryer.

I don't know about you, but if you don't dry them in the dryer (and this includes cotton sweaters I have), you end up with a really stiff sweater. Plus I like to know my sweaters are wash-n-dry.

At any rate, washing the bamboo is rather scary. It is because it soaks up the water so well, it looks like you have totally ruined your knitting!!! The wet piece is MUCH smaller and denser than that lovely drapey fabric you just had.

Drying is key. Once the piece is thoroughly dry, it will be fine. "Trust me". Mine turned out the same size after all was said and done. So no shrinkage.

I had to send my "Just Bamboo" knitted blouse through our dryer 4 times before it became thoroughly dry. (And the towels dried on the first go, so its not just my dryer).

I suppose you could get the same effect by laying it out flat to dry and leaving it for some really really long time, and then running for a partial run in the dryer to soften it up.

Just thought this might help someone else who wants to be able to wash/dry their bamboo knits.

Bamboo and Alpaca Chemo Cap

2007-09-02T21:37:00.000-07:00

I took the same patterns from the "Just Bamboo" blouse, and added lace weight Alpaca to it and created this chemo cap. It's stretched a bit when I'm wearing it, because I've stuck my hair up inside. Its really, really soft.

Too bad, the photo doesn't really show off the Alpaca. But it adds some depth to the color of the Bamboo. It takes just over one skein of the Bamboo-- so I think I'll add a quick to knit scarf to the pattern. Might as well use up that yarn!

This pattern has been posted for FREE download at the Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design shopping site. You can get immediate download if its the only thing in the cart!

"Just Bamboo" Collared Blouse

2007-08-31T22:27:00.000-07:00

The blouse is done! I've worn it a couple of times already and gotten nice compliments on it. Its very comfortable and I like the adjustable waistline tie. I did have to add in a single crochet around the neckline to keep it from stretching out too much.

This pattern is knit using Sirdar's "Just Bamboo". (I got the yarn at Twisted, and they are having a sale on this yarn over the weekend!) I love working with the bamboo. This is made into a ribbon and so it doesn't tangle like the bamboo on the cone does (Silk City Fiber) that I used for "Stormy Sky" sweater and bag.

You can make one yourself, the pattern is now available at Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design.

Sneak Preview

2007-08-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

So here's the sneak preview of what I've been doing with the "Just Bamboo" I picked up at Twisted. The original plan was for a sleeveless top, a little blousy and with a collar. Thats now morphing into short sleeves and I'm still considering what I want to do for the collar/neck edge. I had at one time threaded a contrasting color yarn through the little eyelets you see here, but decided that was too busy. I'm planning on wearing this one at work (and even though we are done with the old dress-suit dress code days, its still helps to have something a bit dressier).

I'm wearing the tank-top version of this now, and I must say that the fabric is light-weight and very comfortable!

I'm guessing I'll be done in within the week and then we'll post the real photos (and the pattern will be available at the Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design website!!

Just Bamboo project

2007-07-19T23:56:00.000-07:00

I've decided (about as well as I can so far) to knit either a tank top or 3/4 sleeve top out of the Just Bamboo. I went back to Twisted (for a MS3 meet-up and that was fun) and while there I purchased enough of the Just Bamboo to do the little top.

So. I've cast on and am knitting away. So far I have about 2" done on what will be the back. I want to get pretty far on it before I go back to the MS3 project, since I'm behind there anyway. Also the Just Bamboo is on size 9s so quite different from the lace knitting! I tried yos in a swatch and they were HUGE .

Mystery Stole 3 progress

2007-07-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I've finally finished a chart! Chart A of clue 1 is now complete. The lifeline is ravel cord and I keep it together with the bobbin you see in the photo. I put a quarter in so people could see relative size. I think it will be just fine.

I'm using Fino Alpaca with a twist (Alpaca/Silk) and US size 4 needles. The beads don't show up much in this photo. Will have to take a close-up again a bit later.

Lots learned while doing just this little bit. But have to head into the office and so won't be back to posting about it until later.

My son gets back from Germnay tonight, so I may not get back to this for a few days. We will see!

C'est fini! Stormy Sky bag is done.

2007-07-10T09:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it is done. I am really looking forward to using it. I have it loaded up now for the MS3 project and am waiting for lunch time to actually start.

I really like that I used a frame for the interior.... it means you get a really clear view of the pattern from both front and back.

The strap is also continuous, so you can adjust it to be just over one shoulder, or if you want, you can adjust it to fit diagonally across the body. I really like that flexibility.

I also put in what I'm calling a "Pattern holder". See the interior view (with the Aran Golf cap pattern in there). I have had a problem in the past with patterns falling all over inside the knitting tote and then you have to pull it out of the way to get to what you need.

Another side-effect of using the plastic canvas for the interior/frame, is that you can attach D-rings around the sides and then attach things to the D-rings. The detachable bag in the last photo is attached to a D-ring with a crab hook. The scissors are on one of those retractable holders for ID tags (found at Office Depot).

So much fun! but glad its done... itching to get to the Mystery Stole and a new way of attaching beads (for me).

(P.S. The knitting pattern for the bag is for sale now at my website Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design's shopping cart. Which btw has been very easy to add to and maintain so far, thanks Zen Cart!!)

Lollipop, Lollipop

2007-07-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

Working with Bamboo at 22 wpi with two strands can be a challenge. To put it bluntly, it tangles. It jumps out of the ball and tries to attach itself to anything in your knitting bag.

I actually spent pretty much the whole flight to Spain working on untangling my yarn (This was before I read "No Sheep for Ewe" so I was foolishly trying to pull from the center of the ball... which, trickily enough, works great for awhile)

See the photo for my latest solution: Lollipop bags. I got them at Michaels. They are a pretty good size for small balls of yarn. They leave enough room for the ball to unwind (from the outside). And they are inexpensive.

For my next project with this yarn, I think I would try to put the two lollipop bags with the same color together in a larger drawstring bag. Just to make finding your two color ends a bit quicker....

What fun!

2007-07-08T18:26:00.000-07:00

The meetup of the PDX-Knit-Bloggers was a lot of fun. My only regret is that I still have no camera! So I'm depending on others to post their photos. It was great to meet so many like-minded individuals and such an inspiration to see the projects.

I was happy to see that there were several projects in Bamboo! Even a very nice top in the same Bambu 7 I've used for the Stormy Sky sweater and bag (different color). Gotta love it. And also inspired by the several MS3 projects underway.

Good to see Peggy McMullen again, (from the Oregonian knitting blog k2tog) and to meet Mims as well.

We pretty well had the room at capacity and snacks were provided ! My thanks to Knit Purl and the PDX-Knit-blogger (yahoo group) organizers (Bobbie, et al) and hope there are many more meetups in our future-- it will take me awhile to get everyone's names and their associated blogs down.

Well-- back to the "Stormy Sky bag"... just need to finish the strap and the pockets!!

MS3 and Stormy sky bag update

2007-07-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

I realized that the Bambu 7 is about 22 wpi and that I really wanted a lacier look. Checked my stash and I have either some really old acrylic or a couple of half-white/half-brown or half-white/half-blue cotton. Both of which are closer to 30 wpi. I just didn't relish the idea of using either for what I had envisioned was a nice soft dark stole.

So that meant trips to the LYSs. My sis and I went out just before 7pm on Thursday. We went to Yarn Garden first, which is the closest, and they were out of the dark colors in the right weight... too many MS3ers in the area? Then we went on to Twisted (which fortuneatley is open until 8 pm) and found a very nice, very black Alpaca/Silk mix. Fino. Looks like 1 skein will work.

The beads I already have will work with that as well. Then I checked into the crochet hook stash, and the smallest I had was a 10, which is too big for these. I really like the idea of the crochet hook technique (and not stringing them all). So off again Friday night this time to Michaels. They had a single size 12. Looks like that will work for these beads.

So Happy again.. finished up a bit more on the "Stormy Sky" bag (another day? looking good), then up this morning (Saturday) to tackle some more knitting and got COMPLETELY side-tracked with a broken water hose (hot) on the washer (which was running)... so now its a day for cleaning up the basement.

What is that they say about best laid plans???

Mystery Stole #3

2007-07-03T19:20:00.001-07:00

So, not that I don't already have enough to do... but I just heard about the Mystery Stole KAL, this year its #3 and Where have I been??? It sounds like great fun and will be a good project to do when I am tired/frustrated with pulling together my own designs. Not mindless work, but it will just use a different part of the brain.

I've knitted the swatch and am going to block it overnight before I decide if I will use this yarn or not. I can already see that I can go up a needle size as the stockinette portion is a bit too solid looking, I think.

No camera with me today, but I'll post photos later...

New Bamboo purchase

2007-07-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

Ahhh... my latest purchase. Since I enjoyed working with the Bambu 7 (Silk City Fiber http://www.silkcityfibers.com/, available at Woodland Woolworks http://www.woodlandwoolworks.com/) so much, I thought I'd see what some of the other Bamboo yarns are really like.

Of course, I combined this with a visit to our newest LYS, Twisted (http://www.twistedpdx.com/). They just opened Friday! I meant to go opening day (I had heard about it on the SNB-Portland yahoo group) but missed out. So Saturday I drove by later in the day. Seems like a very nice place and lots of yummy yarns. Everyone was very welcoming and it was a fun visit.

This is "Just Bamboo" from Sirdar. Its ribbony and I understand that the swatches will tend to shrink up when wet. So should be interesting. I picked one of the Manilla and one Nutmeg (although it could have been Vanilla and Nutmeg really!) they have a few other colors in pinks, light blues and neutrals. (Not nearly the variety of colors of the Bambu 7).

But I am going to swatch and see what it wants to be!

Still have to finish the "Stormy Sky" bag though... its getting closer!

Stormy Sky Bag update

2007-06-29T22:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I have about 25 rows left in the main part of the bag. I don't have my camera, otherwise I'd post the WIP... I let my son take the camera to Germany with him. Hope he's making use of it!

Now I'm trying to decide if I really need a knitted liner. A liner is definitely in order to cover the steek, but maybe I just use a nice either knit or nylon lining fabric. So the pattern would be combination of knitting and sewing. Steeking requires a sewing machine anyway. Especially with the slippery bamboo.

OK. Now I'm having a vision of an internal pocket/divider that is really a ribbed cylinder that then gets sewn in place.... hmmm. Liking that idea. And ribbing can go pretty fast. And it could be done on larger needles too.

So... finish the main piece, steek and sew liner to match. Knit ribbed cylinder, sew in place.
Yeah...

Whew! Not knitting but its all related

2007-06-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend working on the Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design website. (http://www.FiberRhythm.com) This is my first foray into the world of online websites (other than using them!). So far so good. It really is quite interesting how much you can do with free software. Its really a good way to get started, at least for a small business.

I have finished setting up Zen Cart (other than putting a few more products in). I spent a good day just working on getting the look close to what I already had set up using WebSite tonight from GoDaddy.com. I did go ahead and purchase the "e-Start Your Web Store with Zen Cart" It was very much worthwhile. A big THANKYOU to Goh Koon Hoek for writing the book, it really saved me time. (You can find the book at: http://www.lulu.com/content/466605)

Well, at least I'm done with what I was planning on doing with it for now. I have the two patterns I have for sale (third to follow soon) for hand knitting up as well as my rag rugs.

I've added the ability to set up wholesale accounts and I've added a page for comments on the website itself.

So now I can get back to knitting! I lent my son my camera while he's in Germany, so likely not too many photos from me in the next few weeks. I'm about 1/3 of the way done with the front/back piece of the Stormy Sky bag I'm making. I was thinking of knitting the lining, but now am leaning toward using fabric. Hmmm....

Oh well, back to work tomorrow...

We're in the News!

2007-06-19T15:28:00.000-07:00

How exciting! Chance encounter at the local coffee shop and we made it into the blog at The Oregonian (see side link). Peggy McMullen and Mims Copeland have recently started a blog about knitting on the OregonLive website. Very cool. Amazing how much is going on out there!

So I'm taking a day off of the real job to both be with the family that is in from out of town, and am taking a few minutes to work on the shopping cart for the Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design website. It may take awhile, but eventually everything will be up for sale there.

I have recently added PayPal buttons-- so the two patterns can be purchased online, without the email back and forth. I'm thinking though that I need to get the cart set up so people can download the pdf version and not wait for USPS.

For those of you that are buying patterns online, do you prefer the PDF? or the hard copy? or do you like to have the choice?

- Dawn

A Stormy Sky Bag

2007-06-18T22:14:00.000-07:00

One of the main reasons is I have had to send the sweater off to TKGA and don't expect to get it back for several months. I miss it!

So stranded knitting for the outside of the bag, and plain for the inside. I'm designing it so that you knit in the round, and then "steek" for the openings for the bag. This should be a nice way to both practice steeking and to perhaps use up some of the left-over yarn.

The bamboo yarn I used for the Stormy Sky sweater comes on cones and the sweater doesn't use the same amount from each cone. So I had quite a bit of denim color used, but not much of some of the other colors. So I figure I can knit the outside to match, and then the inside can use some of the colors I have more of. So that should be good.

I was thinking of writing the pattern up to have two versions: 1 with a flap that would fold over to close the bag, and one without the flap. So I'm curious whether people would be interested in having a bag without flap v. one with.

I'm expecting this to be a project bag-- so a strap long enough to go over the shoulder, if not cross over... and the bag part large enough to hold 8-1/2" x 11" instructions as well as yarn and project...

Comments?

What to work on next?

2007-06-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

Now that I've sent the Master Level III package off, I'm trying to decide what project to work on next. This has taken so much of my thought process for the last year, I hadn't thought too much beyond it.

I have miles of stash yarn.... I have some UFOs as well.

I'm thinking maybe I work on something I might be able to finish quickly... like a summer top or a bag of some sort.... Hmmm... maybe a bag to use for summer knitting projects! (Not that I don' t have lots of bags already).

Big enough to hold an 8-1/2 x 11" instruction set without folding it... room for supplies... compartments for project and yarns... maybe a way to keep the yarns separate so they don't tangle... I like that!

What else would it need?

2007-06-09T19:37:00.000-07:00

As part of the master knitter program, you also get to design a hat. Here is the one I finished, after many trials and errors.

A triplet of cables goes up each side

The top has a diamond pattern surrounded by waves and bobbles.

The back has a classic celtic braid.

Let me know what you think!

My how time flies!

2007-06-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe that it has been 6 months since I posted last!

So much has happened in the meanwhile. I completed the Norwegian sweater out of the Bambu 7 yarn and absolutely LOVE IT! The trouble is, I've had to send it off for review. So last Monday I mailed it off along with all of the swatches, questions and answers and reports to The Knitting Guild of America.

So here it is in all its glory. I call it "Stormy Sky". On the back the Celtic cable goes all the way across, and it repeats on the arms un-interrupted, so is a continuous knot (no ending) pretty cool.

My twin sister and I started our own business in April/May called Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design. I'll be selling knitting patterns there and we both will be selling hand-woven items. (www.FiberRhythm.com)

More posts on that to come. Also, after I let my son get a chance to get on the computer, I'll post here again with info about how the steeking went for this sweater.

Glad to be back!

Norwegian Style sweater update

2007-01-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

I have finished the sweater design and begun knitting the sweater bottom ribbing. For this project, I wanted to get all of the instructions written out first, so that I can proof the instructions as I knit the garment. So earlier this week I finished typing up and printing the directions out.

I did finally decide to double the yarn and knit on US size 4 needles (still need to take a picture of the swatch). This should be much easier on the TKGA reviewers. Still, the sweater is over 300 st around the body. Knitting time is limited, since I do work. I'm excited about finally starting and hoping to be done by early February. I may have to travel for work for a couple of weeks towards the end of January. Although that usually means airline knitting time, it really ends up being less knitting time overall since work gets pretty all-encompassing while travelling.

Design-a-Knit border pattern for Norwegian Style Sweater design

2006-12-30T21:39:00.000-08:00

I used Design-a-knit to create a border pattern:

The original version had the blue within the grey on rows 9 and 10. Because they are so close in value, I decided to use the navy instead. I also changed the background colors on rows 14 through 17 which should be more interesting.

I knit a swatch up through row 13 of the original version. I was very happy with rows 1 thorugh 8. When I finish the sample of the revised border, I will post another photo.

The plan is to use this at the bottom of body and sleeves just above the ribbing and in reverse at the top of the sleeve and the bottom of the upper-body pattern. (Lice stitch in between).

Norwegian-style design

2006-12-28T08:24:00.000-08:00

I'm off to start designing my own Norwegian-style sweater (part of the TKGA level III requirements).

I am going to make it with Bambu yarn though so that I can wear it whenever I want. I rarely get cold enough to need wool here (Portland, OR).

Here is my collection of Bambu (blues and greys).

The Bambu that I have makes a really nice, soft drapey swatch. Trouble is, the swatch is using size 1 needles (US)! So tiny stitches.

Interesting that with the flash the blue on grey in the bottom shows up. Just looking at the swatch with out the camera lens, you can hardly see the pattern there. I also did some playing with which yarn to hold in which hand for more "pop". I'm going to use accent color in my left hand and background in my right, as I normally do.

I did try an unpatterned swatch with doubled yarn and size 4 and 5 US needles. The 5 is drapey-er, but a bit holey and the 4 just seems too tense. An informal survey (of my family) results in the size 1 needle version.

I was thinking cardigan earlier, but now I'm thinking pull-over because the less steeking the better with this slippery yarn!

Finished a modified Dale Sweater - Sierra Nevada

2006-12-27T18:34:00.002-08:00

This year I finally finished a sweater made for my mother. She picked the Dale Sierra Nevada pattern a few years ago. She wanted a different color-way and a cardigan instead of the pull-over style.

So I used Design-a-Knit and created a zig-zag pattern to move up the front of the cardigan, and used greens and yellows instead of the reds and blues.

In between deciding on the sweater and actually finishing it, she developed a more intense problem with wearing wool. So I completely lined the sweater. (I like having interior pockets on my jackets, so I added some for her also).

So, now its more like a jacket. After I took these pictures, I knit some ribbing for the collar and cuffs out of a matching ivory cotton.