2015 Archives - Tinking Turtle

Crochetscene 2015: Bow Wrap

August 19, 2015 by Jennifer Raymond

Bow Wrap from Interweave Crochetscene 2015 by Jennifer Raymond

Photo Credit: Interweave/Harper Point Photography

My original sketch for the design proposal.

They say that copying is the highest form of flattery. While I’m not quite sure that’s true, this piece is directly inspired by a cute little miniature wrap I saw on a small child last winter. While I wouldn’t be surprised if the little girl’s version was more complicated, I immediately thought that I’d wear her wrap, in an adult size. Bow Wrap was then put in my brain’s back pocket, until I submitted the idea to Crochetscene.

As I mentioned on Monday, when I was working on proposing these designs for Crochetscene, I was also coming off of working on a few projects in finer yarn, and I knew that I wanted something a little bit more sized up. Bow Wrap is made holding two yarns together, but you could easily substitute for a bulkier yarn with similar results. Holding the two yarns together creates a cushy, stretchy and warm ribbed fabric. The ribbed fabric is created by working crochet through the back loop.

The “gather” is made in a contrast color, with a single yarn held together. I toyed with the idea of creating another version of this, in a sparkly yarn or fastening some glittery pin over top of the gather, for some added class and interest. Well, I may yet make a second version!

I love the look of the textured stitches, and the way the wrap drapes over the shoulders!

There’s two things I think that make Bow Wrap stand out as a project. The first is simplicity: Bow Wrap is essentially made up of two squares – the magic happens in the seaming.

Wear over the neck and shoulders to keep out the chill!

The second thing I love about Bow Wrap is the styling options. It can be worn like it’s featured in the magazine, but it can also be worn a few other ways! I had fun taking pictures of a couple of different styling options.

Wear it like a traditional cowl, with the “gather” in the back

Bow Wrap can be found in the latest issue of Crochetscene 2015, or on Interweave’s website. For more information and notes about my sample, you can read about it in my Bow Wrap pattern page.

Crochetscene 2015: Crossed Arrow Vest

August 17, 2015 by Jennifer Raymond

Photo Credit: Interweave/Harper Point Photography

This week I’m focusing on my three patterns released in Crochetscene 2015! I had the honor of getting all three of my design submissions accepted – and it was so exciting to work on these three designs. Today I’m focusing on Crossed Arrow, a Hunger-Games inspired vest that’s accessible to beginning crocheters. With minimal seams and simple shaping, the most challenging part is the edging – and broomstick is an easy skill to learn!

My Sketch for Crossed Arrow

I had the concept of how the vest was put together from the start; although my drawn picture here only gives you a little bit of an idea. I had been immersed in the future/punk look of a few different shows, and I had just come off of a bunch of fine work in both knitting and crochet – I was ready for a bulky vest that worked up quickly and looked a lot more complicated than it was. Crossed Arrow was the result.

I’d also been wanting to create a couple of pieces featuring things like broomstick – things that would introduce crocheters to the skill without making the whole project about the skill.

I love that Crossed Arrow is simple – the vast majority of the project is single crochets through the back loop. Occasionally you crochet to create an armhole, and in the beginning and the end you work increases or decreases for the neckline. But mostly? It’s just using one of the foundation stitches of crochet to a really great effect.

Hairpin lace edging on Crossed Arrow

For me, it’s the details of the piece that make it – specifically, the broomstick lace edging. Look at the picots! Look how the rest over the edges!

Crossed Arrow is currently available in print or online in Crochetscene 2015. You can also read my more personal notes about the pattern on Ravelry.

Sockupied Fall 2015: Electrostatic Lines Knee Socks

August 13, 2015 by Jennifer Raymond

As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve got a bunch of patterns that have come out in the last four weeks. If you’ve been paying attention to my design page on Ravelry (you know you can follow the page on Ravelry, right?), my published patterns page jumped from 35 patterns to 45 – a full ten (TEN!) patterns released this last week. It’s also part of the reason I was sooo busy the beginning of this year. Today I want to take the time to highlight Electrostatic Lines, featured in Sockupied’s Fall 2015 issue. Electrostatic Lines is a pair of stranded knit knee socks with a fun twist to make the calf fit you perfectly!

I’ve loved designing for Sockupied. They’re one of the smaller magazines out of Interweave, but I love the focus on quality patterns, and the editor’s commitment to bringing really great sock articles forward.

Credit: Interweave/Harper Point Photography

In this issue, Electrostatic Lines are on the cover (my fourth pair on a Sockupied Cover!) – and I think these are one of my favorite pairs of socks I’ve ever designed.

Credit: Interweave/Harper Point Photography

I was working on these socks nearly a year ago today. I knew these were going to be a particularly difficult pair of socks – not only did I have to finish them and Karner Butterfly in about 4 weeks, but knee socks are a haul. When you get past the heel, you’re barely halfway done. But I loved sitting on the front porch of our house in the mornings and afternoons and just steadily churning through the rows. I love how there’s a bit of interest at the toe, the mini-gusset followed by the short row heel, and then the fun joy of working stranded knitting up the leg. Knee socks are a commitment – but they’re worth it.

Steadily working up the leg

This was one of my first projects using ChiaoGoo’s Red Lace Needles, and I was in the process of falling in love, leaving my Addi’s in the dust.

Trying socks on as you go – toe up all the way!

There are so many things I’m proud of in this pattern. I love that you can try these socks on as you go, to make sure that the calf fits just as it should. The stranded knitting for the leg is written in such a way that increases can be added or subtracted as needed, so the pattern will fit perfectly for your calf.

And quite simply, I fell in love with this color combination: nearly a perfect, yet counter-intuitive combo for fall. Hedgehog Fiber’s Rusty Nail and Graphite work lovely together. They just seam to glow, especially in the sunlight.

You can check out more details about my sample pair of Electrostatic Lines on Ravelry, which includes the time information for this particular pair of socks.

Rusty Nail seems to glow

Electrostatic Lines is available from Sockupied, along with a bunch of other quality patterns. Buy your copy here!

The Very Last First Time

January 12, 2015 by Jennifer Raymond

Somehow it’s become the middle of January, and I’m not quite sure how that happened! It’s cold and rainy out today (as it seems to the the majority of the winter in the South), and it’s got me thinking
about a winter-themed book I loved as a child.

The book is not my own; I perhaps only read it a handful of times, as my first grade teacher had the book in her library. But the concept and drawings stamped themselves on my memory. The book is called Very Last First Time and is the story about a young Inuit girl named Eva. Eva and her mother are going to the ocean. They live in an area where the top of the ocean freezes during the winter, and at low tide a person can go under the ice and collect muscles and other seafood for eating. This is her first time going under the ice alone.

Very Last First Time is a story full of wonder as Eva and the reader see wondrous and strange sights below the ice become something happens, and Eva must problem solve to get safely to her mother.

I love this story for so many reasons: it’s the story of an adult allowing a child independence so they can explore and problem solve themselves. It’s a story of a very different way of life, and of things many people might not get to experience. And it’s a story of first times and last times – and how things will never quite be like the very first time you do something, when it is all wondrous and new.

That tension between first and last times is why the story has stuck in my mind all these years (that, and the idea of being able to go beneath the surface of the ocean), and why I still think about it today.

So much of my work is helping people with their first times: their first time knitting, or crocheting, or learning a new skill. I get to watch people’s faces light up with wonder as they master their first time, and as their first time transforms into their seventh and twelfth and twentieth, and the things which once were new become familiar.

This year is looking to be the year of many firsts – some I’ll be able to talk about soon, and some which will have to stay in my back pocket for a few more months.

Do you have a favorite book from childhood?

Last Pattern of the New Year; Sneak Peek at 2015 Suprpries

December 30, 2014 by Jennifer Raymond

Lights Burn Blue

As the last days are rolling out of this year, I’ve got one last pattern to celebrate the New Year. Lights Burn Blue is a mitten pattern with a buttoned cuff. Wear the cuff up to keep out the cold, or wear it
down for a more fashionable statement.

Lights Burn Blue

Lights Burn Blue, and it’s sister pattern, Rosemary & Bay, are two patterns that are a collaboration between two of my favorite craft-related companies. (Also, both named after lines in Shakespeare, to keep with my naming scheme.) Both patterns are worked with Dragonfly Fibers’ Traveller yarn, and both feature ceramic buttons from My Garage Art. I’m a big believer in supporting other small businesses, and I believe very strongly in supporting businesses that have quality products. Dragonfly Fibers makes beautiful yarn in stunning combinations, and My Garage Art makes gorgeous buttons. Every time I go on their website, I find another set of buttons I just have to have.

Which brings me to an exciting thing I’ll be offering in the New Year: kits, featuring coordinating Dragonfly Fibers Yarns and My Garage Art buttons, to make Rosemary & Bay dresses or Lights Burn Blue patterns.

Now, the kits won’t be coming out on the very first day of New Year: I have a website that is also getting an overhaul. But I will be offering them in a few different venues, which will be announced!

Rosemary & Bay

Keep tuned, as I’ll be posting some pictures of the gorgeous buttons in the upcoming days.

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