19 March 2010 · 7 Comments
So, about that news I mentioned the other day. Yeah. Um…There’s going to be a book.
I know, I’m rather surprised too. I’ve already gone through the transition from “really, me, are you sure?” to “hooray” to “what on earth am I getting myself into” to “I can so totally do this.” I’m now deep in list making mode. Research is being done, swatches are falling off my needles left and right, and graph paper is being used in a truly profligate manner.
I have to be circumspect in what I say, but I’ll tell you as much as I can as I go along. It’s sure to be an entertaining process.
18 March 2010 · 2 Comments
So this is still not it. There’s a good chance the ‘it’ will be discussed tomorrow or Monday.
Instead, I bring you some other news, this time accompanied by a photo. It’s been an unreasonably long time since there has been a photo of a new sock. So, with no further ado, a picture. This is a sock with a bit of back story. The story is rather rambly. The short version is ‘new pattern later this month.’ If you don’t want the long version, feel free to wander off now. I’ll never know.
Ok, now for the long version. Quite a while ago, I thought ‘I’ll write up a pattern and submit it to an online magazine, that will be fun!’ Turns out what it actually was was hard and frustrating. Headaches and heartaches ensued. Unladylike language was used. I set the pattern (and the partially knitted socks) aside. They slowly drifted ever farther down the mythical list of things to do.
A few weeks ago, I found myself thinking of them. I was thinking of them rather a lot. They’re actually kind of nifty. It was unfair to abandon them. They deserved better. The reason I started thinking of them was that fit of darning I endured earlier this year. That wouldn’t have been necessary with these socks. You see, these socks are made in such a way that, should the sole ever wear out, you can unceremoniously remove the feet and turn the lovely lacy cuff into fingerless mitts. It’s actually pretty clever (I’m biased, but it really does amuse me to no end). I’m starting to think more socks should be made this way.
And here was this pattern. Just sitting there. I took another look, and the things that had seemed impossibly difficult to describe a year ago were suddenly crystal clear. It turns out that a year of steady practice makes things easier (why did no one ever mention this before). I whipped the pattern into shape in no time.
Alas, I still had only 1.5 socks (which isn’t terribly photogenic) and no time to finish them. Also, in a fit of astonishingly poor stash management that still needs to be addressed, I seem to have misplaced the yarn needed to finish that second sock.
Enter the Knit Picks Independent Designer Program.
Now I know this program is a bit controversial. Some people say ‘oh it devalues designers’ work, you’re selling yourself short, you deserve to be beset by ravenous moths if you even consider it.’ Other say ‘it’s the keenest thing since cashmere, the exposure makes up for the low pattern price, it’s made of sunshine and butterflies.’ I think the truth is somewhere in between. It’s likely not the venue for your aran sweater masterpiece painstakingly graded for twelve sizes. But it’s also likely worth considering for some projects.
What sealed the deal for me, at least for this pattern, was the possibility of sample knitters. Knit Picks wanted a sample of the sock in their new tonal sock yarn. It’s lovely, and they provide the yarn. Some of my most trusted and gracious test knitters were willing to knit samples for me. Knit Picks would take the pictures (the picture up there is an old one of mine, the Knit Picks ones are much better). This seemed the perfect choice. I got to send my pattern (and my magical convertible sock notion) out into the world. I didn’t have to squeeze out time for one more knitting project. I got to send yarn to some of the people who’ve been such a help to me over the last months. It seemed too good to pass up.
So that was a (very) long way of saying that the pattern for these will be released around March 25th. Stay tuned for more details about that conversion bit and (hopefully) some more pictures.
17 March 2010 · 1 Comment
Yeah yeah. Accuse me of toying with you. This is not the big news. We’ll call it building suspense. It’s actually me needing a few more days to get all of my ducks in a row. Let’s pretend it’s an intentional and ingenious plan to string you along instead. It makes me sound much cooler and more diabolical.
There is, however, other nifty news to be announced. I bit the bullet and signed up for a design retreat in Chicago this Summer. It focuses on the “business and creativity of design,” and features instruction by Shannon Okey, Arabella Proffer, and Franklin Habit. It seems about time I learn how this stuff is supposed to be done, no? Perhaps it will be the next step on my path to world domination. At the very least it will give me a deadline for replacing my poor elderly car with a more reliable one in which to make the journey.
15 March 2010 · 2 Comments
It’s been an interesting few days at Chez Violence. Not the bad sort of interesting. Not even the ‘I’m saying interesting because I can’t think of a single other civil thing to say’ sort of interesting. Nope, this is actually the exciting and potential-filled sort of interesting.
The weekend was full of research and planning (and knitting). Much of the research and planning was actually focused on knitting and other fiber-y goodness. Alas, the details must all remain very hush hush for the time being. If all works out as hoped, I’ll come back in a little while with some good news. Consider this a place holder for the next few days.
11 March 2010 · No Comments
Caprice is up!
I know these have been a while in coming. I finished them way back in December (and have been happily wearing them in the months in between). I thought that, since there was snow in the pictures, I’d better hurry up and release them before all the snow in my yard finally melted.
These started as an experiment to see what would happen if I switched stitch motifs whenever I got the least bit tired of the last one. I think it worked quite well, and definitely kept the knitting from getting boring. You’d think I’d be able to pay attention all the way through a single sock leg, but sometimes that’s just asking too much.
If you want to do your own short attention span knitting, give them a try!
10 March 2010 · No Comments
Lest you be worried I’ve abandoned socks (perish the thought), allow me to set your mind at ease. I’ve got the newest sock, greenhorn, up for testing. Click the picture for a much bigger version. As usual, the place to volunteer is on Ravelry.
I need several testers for these, as they come in two sizes and the left and right socks are mirror images of each other. If you’ve got time to knit one sock over the next two(ish) weeks and want to get first crack at these (you know…while the pattern still has mistakes and lacks pretty pictures and isn’t yet quite perfect…gee don’t I know how to sell and idea), I’d love your help.
The pattern talks in some detail about how the sock is constructed. Once you’ve made these socks, you should be able to use this construction in other projects. It’s a handy thing to add to your sock toolkit. There is a tiny bit of math, but it really only involves basic addition and subtraction, so I’m sure you can do it.
10 March 2010 · No Comments
If you’re itching to make them, the pink frilly confections I posted about the other day are up for testing. The thread with instructions is on Ravelry. If you’d like to volunteer, head on over. I’m picking testers Thursday morning.
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