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Sea Cap a Beanie No More

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This evening Michael was throwing his clothes from SEA in the wash – as they stunk to high heaven.  One of the things was the SEA watchman’s cap that I knit for him after he went through the program the first time.  As he was getting ready to put stuff in the wash, we had a conversation that went like this:

Me: You know, I think that’s wool.
Him: No, I’m fairly sure it’s acrylic.  You wouldn’t make something for me that was wool after the socks I felted.
Me: *Dubious* Well, okay, if you’re sure.

You know what’s going to happen here, right?  Just in case it isn’t obvious, this was our conversation about an hour later.

Him: Sweetheart, guess what.
Me: *wary* What?
Him: The hat felted.

Turns out that when I said it was Wool, Michael thought I meant it was washable wool, like my socks (which go in the wash, but not the dryer.  We had to have a conversation between super-wash and normal wool.

I don’t think this hat really fits anymore…

KAL and Other Things

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The past week has been a rather rough one, hence my radio silence.  My grandmother, whom I’m very close to, has gone on hospice, and I am up in Massachusetts spending some time with her and supporting my mother.  If you email me, message me on Facebook or Ravelry, your response might be a while in coming, as I don’t have that much time to spend on my computer.

On a quick other note, Dragonfly and Tinking Turtle have an Octopodes KAL running from now to the end of April.  What is a KAL you ask?  A KAL is a group of people knitting the same project together.  We help each other out – in this case, I’ll be doing a series of blog posts on techniques having to do with Octopodes, and there will be contests and prizes for the winners.

Check it out!

Attack of the Yan Snatchers!

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Yesterday a Michael was getting ready for work he told me that he had a dream about the cats getting into the yarn.  After he was finished telling me about the dream, I commented how long it had been since the cats had gotten into the yarn – I’d gotten good about making sure to put things away at the end of the evening.  He laughed and headed out of the bedroom as I began dragging myself out of bed, when suddenly I heard, “Sweetheart…” and the note in his voice made me very nervous.

“The cats got into your yarn.”
Michael must have heard the cats running around in his sleep and realized what it meant.  The cats had really gotten into my yarn this time.  500 plus yards of yarn were spread throughout the main room of our apartment, threading themselves through chairs and tables, around the couch and the rest of the room.
The cats had a really good time.  Somehow Peake (and I know it was Peake, as he looked entirely too smug) managed to push open the zipper of my backpack and get into my knitting bag from there.
The last two nights have been spent untangling their mess, but I’m happy to report that no yarn was lost to their play.

It’s a good thing these guys are so cute.  I’m nearly over being mad at them.

Post Mortem Part 1: Octopodes Socks

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Back about a year and a half ago I had an idea for a pair of mittens – a cute little pair with an octopus on them.  So I printed out some knitting graph paper and sketched out a design.  I thought I wanted to either self-publish these or submit them to Knitty (because what other publication would want octopus mittens? – they seemed pretty niche), and then I wrote a proposal for yarn support and sent it to Dragonfly.  It went like this:

I could have fallen over when Kate, from Dragonfly, said yes.  Since Dragonfly is not even a 10 minute drive away, I went to them to pick the yarn up.  When talking to one of Kate’s employees (who were helping me with the color choices), she advised me toward the Silver Fox and Poseidon.  I’d been looking at Kelpie and an Orange that I liked – and she mentioned that it might not be such a good idea, as there was already a pair of blue and orange octopus mittens on Ravelry… which were also done in similar yarn.
I quickly settled on the Silver Fox and Poseidon after that.  And then I went home to Ravelry to look up the mittens – titled Octopus Mittens.  They were lovely.  Amazing.  And I couldn’t believe that Emily Peters had gotten to the idea first.
I was devastated.  I’d really loved my idea of Octopus Mittens, and I didn’t want to give it up… but I was so rattled by the similarities I didn’t know what to do.
That evening I told Michael (now Mr.Turtle) about my dilemma.  His response?  “Put them on a pair of socks.  Socks are the same as mittens, right?  I mean, one has thumbs, the other has heels.  Both only have one hole.”
That bit of common sense broke my panic.  Emily’s octopus was completely different from mine.  Mine was a little cutesy, and hers was definitely more tentacle-ly.  Hers had bubbles and the design moving onto the palm, mine did not.  And now we were even working in different colors.
And I had chosen sock yarn for the mitten pattern – so no problems there.  Socks they would be then!  So I began knitting on the socks – not realizing there’d be a lot more to this design.  Stay tuned tomorrow for Post Mortem – Part II!
Did you know that Dragonfly and I are running a KAL, starting on the 24th?  Pick out your yarn and get your needles ready (or even get a head start!) for an epic KAL.

It’s Official: Octopodes, my pattern in Knitty, is out!

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I can finally share the exciting news!  Octopodes is my latest pattern, published in Knitty.  I am so excited to share the news – I’ve been holding onto it for what feels like forever!
As a thrilling addition, there will be an Octopodes KAL starting on March 24th, hosted in Dragonfly Fiber’s Ravelry Group (they’re the ones who provided the delicious yarn!).  There are going to be prizes!  I’ll be doing a series of blog posts and tutorials to go along with the KAL (and there may be some other exciting things in regards to the KAL coming up)!  Stay tuned for more information, or sign up for the newsletter and get the information delivered straight to your inbox.
If you love the design, please share it on Facebook, Ravelry or Twitter – spread the word!
The Details:
Octopodes
by Jennifer Raymond
Published in: Knitty, Spring + Summer 2014
Craft: Knitting
Category: Feet / Legs → Socks → Mid-calf
Published: March 2014
Yarns suggested: Dragonfly Fibers Djinni Sock
Yarn weight: Fingering / 4 ply (14 wpi) Information on yarn weights
Gauge: 36 stitches and 36.5 rows = 4 inches in In Stranded Colorwork
Needle size: US 1 – 2.25 mm
Yardage: 226 – 442 yards (207 – 404 m)
Sizes available: XS[S, M, L, XL]
 This pattern is available for free.

PPST…. it’s almost time!

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This weekend I was kept hopping with exciting stuff in the background, and a set of really

wonderful classes both Saturday and Sunday.  So much fun!

This week some exciting things are happening (I want to share more, I really do, but you’ll have to wait with me – so hard!), and I’m nearly beside myself with anticipation.

So, for those of you who are up late, you’ll get a special treat: a little sneak peek.

Because I can never resist giving hints!

Post Mortem: Larkin

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Larkin is the story of the design call that could.  Just like the iconic train saying “I think I can,” Larkin was a design I believed in from the beginning, but one that just had to keep plugging along until it got accepted. Larkin started out as “50’s Flame” – a vintage inspired top for a design call for Three Irish Girls nearly 4 years ago.  It looked like this:

It got rejected.  I also submitted it to Knitpicks, Interweave Knits, and a handful of other design calls.  Each time it would come back, a few months later, unchosen.  Which happens.  I knew the design was a good one, but it just never was quite what the editing team was looking for.
So I’d wait until another design call came along where this pattern would fit, repackage the pattern, and submit again.
Until last year, with Classic Elite.  Over time the design layout had been updated, I’d gotten a new logo and a new company name. The wording had changed (a little) and the name had changed.  It was now called Flaming Mamie, after a great swingy song I used to sing at camp.
Let’s be frank – not much changed.  But this time it was the right time, right place, right design, and CEY picked the design up.
So let’s compare the sketch to the finished product:
Puffed sleeves, flame motif, same neckline, scoop neck and false neckline.  The flames in this yarn are a little squatter and slimmer- I made them slightly smaller to accommodate sizing.  The ribbing along the neckline went away, because I thought the more rustic neck matched the yarn, and I wanted to keep that area a little less busy.  But otherwise?  Not much changed.  The things that made me believe this design was a keeper in the first place remained the things that I love in the finished product.
I love how the sleeves are slightly pleated.  I love how the ribbing runs seamlessly into the pattern.  I love how the design is slightly retro and oh-so feminine.  I love the figure-complimenting look.
I just kept pitching the design until someone saw it’s potential.  Thank-you CEY!
Love the design – like it on Ravelry or Facebook!  Want to know when others come out – sign up for our newsletter!

New Pattern: Larkin

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Larkin

by Jennifer Raymond

Published in:  Homestead by Classic Elite Yarns
Craft: Knitting
Category: Sweater → Pullover
Published: March 2014
Yarns suggested: Classic Elite Yarns Meadowlark
Yarn weight: Worsted / 10 ply (9 wpi) Information on yarn weights
Gauge: 17 stitches and 25 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette stitch
Needle size: US 8 – 5.0 mm
Yardage: 550 – 990 yards (503 – 905 m)
Sizes available: XS (S, M, L, XL)

This pattern is available for $6.00 USD
 buy it now or   visit pattern website
A pullover with lace patterning on the front, pleated sleeve caps, and a no-finish round neckline.

Skill Level: Experienced

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL). Shown in size XS.

Finished Measurements: Bust: 32 (36, 42½, 45, 48)”
Length: 23 (24, 25, 25¾, 26¾)”

Yarn: Meadowlark by Classic Elite Yarns (50% silk, 30% linen, 20% viscose; 50 g = 110 yards) 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) hanks 1554 Aquamarine

Other Materials 
Stitch markers
Removable markers or safety pins
Sewing pins

Gauge
17 sts and 25 rows = 4” in St st and Flame patt from
charts. Take time to save time, check your gauge.

For more information, see: http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/pattern_detail.php?patternID=283

Snowday, again.

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We got about 5 or 6 inches of snow today.  Needless to say, everything was pretty much shut down.  Mr. Turtle and I stayed holed up in our apartment.  Mr. Turtle was recovering from a cold, and every time he coughed the cats got startled.  For once in my life (shockingly!) I was the preferred human to cuddle, which was a little awkward as I was working on an upcoming pattern.

At one point both cats were poured into my lap, a rather startling feat.

Michael snapped a picture.

Me, lovely in my “Knitter” Sweatpants and Penguin Sweatshirt;
the cats, keeping my lap warm.

The pattern was giving me fits today.  It’s a new sock pattern, and the heel took three tries to get right.  It’s a perfect fit now, but I had to try out everything that didn’t work before I settled on a shape that worked.

Stay tuned – next week I’ll be announcing some exciting news!

Breaking Down Blocking Knit and Crochet Items

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The other day I got a question in my inbox, and I got permission to post it in its entirety, because I thought it was such a good question!

I got some blocking mats, pins, and wires and have been
experimenting with blocking some smaller things that I made, like
scarves.  I recently finished a crochet project that I’ve been working on
for a while (Daisy Wrap) and I don’t know where to start with blocking
it….well, after I soak it in water for a while anyway.  The blocking
instructions say to pin each picot and there are a lot of them.  What would
you recommend for blocking?  Fold it in half?  I have enough blocking
mats to block it full length.  I don’t know where to start with this! Thanks,An Overwhelmed Student

Blocking shawls with lots of points can be a particularly daunting task – and I’ve been known to futz around with a project to get them all exactly right for the better part of an hour.  This is what I wrote back to Sue:

I’d would fold
it in half, just because it’d reduce the amount of pinning I’d have to do by
half.  There’s no two ways around it… if you want to have all those picots
standing out the way they look in the pattern, you need to pin them out. I’d probably
take a blocking wire and run it through the two or three picots that are at the
point of each of the arches, and pull those out on each side, just so I didn’t have to pin all of the picots.  I’d pull those out, and then just pin out
the picots that didn’t get picked up by the wire.

My own Freshly Blocked Firefly Shawl
That was my answer to Student, but I wanted to expand upon it here.  Blocking lace (especially shawls) can be one of the most important steps of finishing a project!  It can truly transform the results.  The Designer, Kristen TenDyke, was blocking Daisy Wrap had a particularly striking picture of the shawl half-blocked, and I love how you can see the difference between the two sides.  Another Ravelry user has a great picture of the effect blocking out each of the picots has on the final product.
Since blocking is so important in this case, it’s a question of how to block the shawl, not if.
If you have the space and the blocking matts, blocking it out as the designer did is not a bad idea.  I love the blocking mats that have a grid on them – they make it much easier to evenly space pins.  If you are squeezed for space, you could fold the shawl in half and block the same way – with just two layers of fabric instead of one.  My caution would be to make sure you are always pinning out both layers of fabric – so all the picots stand out evenly!
One of the things I love most about blocking is how reversible it is – if you block the piece out and you don’t like how it turned out; wet it and try again!  It’s a lot easier than picking back stitches.

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