17 November 2011 · No Comments
It’s going to be a busy couple of weeks around here. The gray socks are coming out very shortly (next week if I have my way about it). Even more exciting, the website for Book the Second should be up the week after that. Somewhere along the way there may be a little post-Thanksgiving sale too.
Every now and then, someone asks me how best to keep up with what’s going on around here. My suggestion is to sign up for the mailing list. There’s a sign up box over there on the right (just below the pictures of the newest releases). Or, if you’re viewing this in some sort of format that doesn’t show it, you can click here to get there directly.
The only time I will email you is if I’ve put out a new pattern or if I’m having a sale. It would be very odd for me to send more than one or two messages a month. I won’t share your email address with anyone else, and every email will include instructions on how to stop the messages if you decide you don’t like them (I’ll never know, so don’t worry about hurting my feelings).
3 November 2011 · No Comments
Some time this weekend (when depends entirely on when I wake up), I’m going to go through and change the prices on some of my patterns. The goal here is to make the prices consistent across types of patterns. When I’m done, all sock patterns will be the same price, and all the other sorts of patterns and pattern sets will be more consistently priced. It means the prices of some patterns will be going up (not a lot…most of the changes will be less than a dollar). But I wanted to give everyone a heads up so no one is surprised.
And in case you’re worried the price will go up on something you’ve been considering, I’m putting all the individual patterns on sale for 15% off from now till the end of the day (eastern time) on November 5. Just go to the store, put everything you want in your cart, hit the ‘use a coupon code’ button in the cart, type in ‘Violently Domestic’ and hit the ‘apply’ button. You’ll see the discount right away.
27 October 2011 · 4 Comments
There is absolutely no knitting to be seen. None at all. There will be some day, but not today. Instead, I come to you with two shamelessly commercial administrative announcements (which always make me feel ever so slightly sullied, so please do pardon the business side of things).
First, folks have been asking for me to make the patterns from Silk Road Socks available as individual downloads. I’ve gotten the necessary files from the publisher to do so, and you should be able to get any of them as single patterns now.
Second, we’re just about out of print copies of the book (a good problem to have, right?). There’s a good chance we’ll be transitioning this to an electronic-only collection once the print ones are gone. It’s not a sure thing, but it seems very likely. So, if you’ll be distraught if you don’t get your hands on a physical copy, you may want to act quickly. Your best bet for getting the print version is likely amazon. And don’t worry, the electronic version isn’t going anywhere. I just mention this in case you’re a paper field like me!
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.
4 February 2010 · No Comments
You want Graupel, Graupel you shall have. I will release it later this month and then release Caprice in March. A few people have mentioned that they’d like to have the pattern for some of the various Olympic themed knitting events they’re participating in. The pattern is done, so I can totally do that. I’ll plan to put it up Thursday the eleventh. Of course this does mean I absolutely positively must get pictures taken this weekend. If you see the sun, send it this way.
For any of you dedicated athletes out there who want to start training (ie swatching) now, I should offer a note about size and gauge. This sock is stretchy – astonishingly stretchy. It’s also written in 2 sizes. There are also a whole lot of sock yarn thicknesses floating around out there. Stretchy design + 2 sizes + variety of sock yarns means you can likely get these to fit just about anyone. In general, I suggest that you aim for a gauge of about 8.5 stitches per inch in thin sock yarn and about 7.5 stitches per inch in thick sock yarn. At those gauges, the small size in a thin sock yarn will fit a small woman’s foot, the small size in a thick sock yarn will fit a medium/large woman’s foot, the large size in a thin sock yarn will fit a large/extra large woman’s or medium man’s foot, and the large size in a thick sock yarn will fit a large/extra large man’s foot. I’m pretty darn confident you can make this fit.
Now go find a fetching track suit and don’t forget to stretch.
Older Entries
