Monthly Archives: October 2008

Musings, The Designing Day

A modern day fairy tale? Toad turns into a princess …

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Wasn’t there a fairy tale about a toad and a prince? Do you believe in magic? Well, just compare the before and after of knitted lace!

I was reflecting on that today as I replied to a concern on one of the lace knitting e-lists by someone about “alpaca kind of bunches up when knit and doesn’t lie flat at all. Should I use larger needles … or use the alpaca for something other than lace?”

Alpaca is one of my favs for lace and I certainly hope she won’t give up on using her alpaca yarn. Just so happens I am in midst of working a model for the new HeartStrings pattern Elemental Changes Shetland Stole in an alpaca-blend yarn called “Sarah” from Kraemer.

comparing unblocked knitted lace to blocked lace You can see the unblocked work-in-progress (messy heap of knitting – you talk about bunching up!) vs. the blocked swatch that I did first so I can plan measurements, yardage amounts, etc. appropriately, as well as make sure early on that the end product will be as expected. Look at the comparison here … You talk about a toad turned into prince(ss) – right?

So I recommended that she wash and block a sample swatch in whatever way she was planning to do with the lace article that she was knitting (which happened to also be a stole) before you make a decision to scrap or change course. Knowing that she (and maybe you, too?) are one of the ‘I hate to swatch’ bunch, you could still consider doing a Blocking in Progress.

So don’t scrap a lace knitting project before blocking a sample. By blocking a smaller sample (or in-progress piece) as you will the finished article, you will have the confidence to move ahead (or take another course if not satisfied with the sample). And if moving ahead, you will have stress-free pleasure throughout the knitting of the project in anticipation of that final magical moment of the final blocking to turn the toad into a princess.

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Musings, The Designing Day

The ‘art gallery curator’ of knitting patterns

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I am impressed with Julia and her new PATTERNFISH service for downloadable patterns. She’s like the curator of a fine art gallery, giving thoughtful composure to reviews and providing value-add insights to knitters looking for just the right pattern. Not to mention that the PATTERNFISH service itself has a great search engine to its extensive catalog of pattern offerings.

Patternfish, the online pattern store Julia writes: “I’ve long thought that if patterns were described the way fine garments are in catalogues, people would respect them more. And since no one else was doing it– outside of magazines– I am.”
I am pleased to have PATTERNFISH now offering several designs in downloadable format from my HeartStrings patterns collections. As a special release, the new Lace Puffs Smoke Ring pattern will debut as a first-time published digital edition on Patternfish. Watch for it on PATTERNFISH soon https://www.automatenspielen.de/. Lace Puffs Smoke Ring

https://www.automatenspielen.de/

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The Designing Day

A confluence of design aesthetics and yarn choices

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A few weeks ago, I came across the notes of a design concept I had begun several years ago but had laid aside when the aesthetics weren’t really coming together to my liking.

Lace Puffs Smoke Ring While reviewing the notes anew, the creative spirits must have been working overtime because I immediately ‘saw’ what could be done. As the design presented itself in my mental vision, I excitedly looked through newly available yarns that were on my list to consider for sample models. Stitches jumped onto my needles and now the design process was in high gear.

Here is a sneak peek of the result: Lace Puffs Smoke Ring made in Kraemer’s Sterling Silk & Silver yarn in their new color Lavender Scent.

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Cooking, Musings

Halloween Count-Down

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Jackie-O-Lantern Open Wrap Pizza A while back, Tink B-D invited designers to submit a remembrance related to a recipe for this year’s Halloween count-down at TheArmChairChef.com. I finally got my act together to figure out what I wanted to do, and to do a write-up and some pics for count-down.

My family never really cooked or baked for Halloween, but who is to say one cannot create new remembrances! I am calling this food concoction the Jackie-O-Lantern Open Wrap Pizza.

I will let you know when the recipe is posted on TheArmChairChef site (or if Tink thinks it is too weird and rejects it, I will post it here later, lol).

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The Designing Day

Hint-of-fall weather to energize the creative spirit

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Maple Leaves from Playing in the Leaves, a HeartStrings design by Jackie E-S Happy Fall! I know it has been WAY too long since I posted to my blog. But then, I was never a great letter-writer nor did much in the way in keeping a daily journal. Days just slip by … believe me, the older you get, the faster they go.

I am not going to try to catch up in detail on all that has gone on since my last post. I did have a great beginning to the summer though — exhibited at TNNA Columbus trade show, vacationed in Maine, New Brunswick, PEI and Nova Scotia, and chalked up some more points toward my Life Master’s in bridge. Then the days of hurricane evacuations ensued, and believe me, that is NOT conducive to productive design work, lol.

Well, I am finally getting settled down again (I hope!). The Fall release, albeit delayed due to the hurricanes, is finally completed and shipped. It included Playing in the Leaves (there are instructions for the maple leaf as pictured above, along with an aspen leaf and oak leaf), Lace Doily Beret, and A Feat of Twist Socks. Do check them out if you have not already done so and let me know what you think.

Some gorgeous hint-of-fall weather has arrived here in south Louisiana — terrifically low humidity for us and low 70’s. Great for energizing the creative spirit! So, thought you might like to see what I have next up on the plate.


Prototype and yarn to make Elemental Changes Shetland Stole
 It is a new design I am working on to publish soon. The working title is “Elemental Changes Shetland Stole”. The backdrop for this picture is a portion of the sample prototype for the design concept of this to-be pattern.

The yarn I am planning to use for the sample model in the published pattern is Sarah, a Suri alpaca and domestic Merino yarn by Kraemer. Have you tried this new yarn yet?
Well, I am off to wind up some yarn and try it out!

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