New Year and new things happening!!

Happy 2015, everyone :) Hope the new year is treating everyone well.

So today's my first day off of the new year and I figured it's high time I got my patterns more exposure. I've been thinking on this for quite a while to be honest. And in December I started having some major doubts, thanks in no small part to the VATMOSS deal happening in the EU. It's not a great time to be thinking about jumping into designing patterns for sale, especially since the... he individuals who put this mess in place didn't have the foggiest clue they were potentially harming microbusinesses around the globe. I digress. We'll leave it at: the whole confused and quite frankly scares me a bit.

But I have 3 lovely patterns available already. All of them free, so not in any danger from VATMOSS or Darth Vader or whatever other baddie might be lurking. And they're on the blog here, linked to pattern pages on Ravelry and that's all good. But, and isn't that a word of great meaning for only being 3 letters long?, what of the wonderful piece I came up with this past summer that has yet to see the light of day? And the other little nuggets in my head?

I put a simple query out to the twitterverse this morning: what app(s) do you recommend for turning patterns into PDFs? I was answered fairly quickly but the lovely @plutoniummuffin :) And after a bit of fiddling and tweaking, I had Anchors and Ropes into a PDF and into my "store" on Ravelry. Both MVP and Pyewacket followed suit. My whole collection is available to the Ravelry masses.

I admit, I used a copy, cut and paste method with these three. The text is a bit wonky from page to page, I admit. But everything is there that should be and I included pictures.

Today I launched Knit-Dance-Repeat designs :) And I hope once things have become clearer with regards to VATMESS, I'll be adding to the collection!

2015 is going to be a year of changes. They're already starting :)

TTFN
Síle

End of 2014 roundup

So, to start off, I wrote a post back in Oct, using the app, that apparently never published :( *sigh* Have I ever explained that technology doesn't like me very much?

Anywho, I was checking Ravelry this morning, trying to decide what WIP(s) to work on when I figured I should check this year's FO total. Can I have a drumroll, please? ;)

7!! Admittedly, they're all small things, but I completed 7 projects in 2014 :) Which means I passed my knitting goal :) Lovely feeling that.

My other goals didn't fair so well. I seemed to have been sick more often than not this year (just over a 4 day bout of flu) so my dance practice goal was never in the running. And my weight loss has been slim to none, although everyone says I look smaller. The common assumption is I've gained muscle. Whatever's going on, I'm still hovering around that last 20lbs I wanted to lose.

Now, as all good end of year posts do, I must look towards 2015 is the New Year and muse about what I can accomplish.

On the knitting side: I don't think 5 projects of a little more substance is out of line. Especially if I get some of these WIPs out of the way ;) Daydreams in Lace jacket, I'm looking at you. You too, Carson shawl.

Dance and weight loss: I'm lumping these two together because I firmly believe they are key to one another. Roomies and I have a budget and plan in place to be living in Town before September. And that will mean Síle back in a dance studio working her tootsies off :) And that combined with walking around the pretty city, I think, is going to help me get the weight under control :) Also, I'm much happier when I dance and that inspires me to be creative in my knitting and other things too. It's all good :)

So, that's my basic hopes for 2015 :) I want to wish everyone a great New Year and may all your projects turn out as planned ;)

TTFN

Here's What's Keepin' Me Outta Trouble

My latest project has been the "Carson" shawl by Rosemary (Romi) Hill :) What a gorgeous pattern! And it's not difficult, just very effective: two color(yarn), there's also a three color option, piece using a slip st pattern. I'm well into it (row 128, I think) and still enjoying it. For the main color I chose Online SuperSocke100 in multi-shades of purple (color 1464) and for the contrast KnitPicks Palette in black.
TTFN; pics to follow

My Precious

I did it! As of just before 10am (NDT), I completed my totally awesome new design :)

So now I need to knit one from my notes in a non-discontinued yarn to test the pattern.

This is one of those times I wish my laptop weren't on the fritz. I have no way to turn the pattern into a pdf to submit it to anyone. sigh

She's done but for a test knit and hopefully I can get this available to people soon as I think it'll catch some attention.

That's all from my little corner of the Rock on this sunny Wednesday morning :)

TTFN

How's about some books?

Oops. Got a little sidetracked what with the whole laryngitis/fever/dizzy thing I came down with a few weeks ago.
But happily in the midst of that, my order from the lovely folks at Knit Picks arrived :) And what came was books :) Knitting books :)
Sadly, the bulk of my knitting books are still in Saskatchewan so I'm trying to build a small library here without duplicating what's back West.
So I have two titles here to ramble about today: The Magic of Shetland Lace Knitting by Elizabeth Lovick and Folks Socks (updated) by Nancy Bush :)
I love lace knitting. I love the stitches and the histories of different areas where it has become an art. I was immediately drawn to The Magic of Shetland Lace Knitting. This book is excellent. The opening chapter gives a lovely overview of the history of knitting in the Shetland islands. There is an essential skills chapter that explains techniques step-by-step. There are even six projects with suggestions on substitute lace patterns to try. My favorite part is the stitch dictionary. Organized by stitch and row count, it's easy to find just the right stitch to set off your current WIP. I'm currently working "Queen's Lace" onto a project! I love how this book is laid out. It's clear and concise. Just what a novice knitter needs to jump into the world of yos and K2togs :) While I'm no novice, the stitch dictionary and the history were of great interest to me. An excellent addition to my library.
Onto Folk Socks by Nancy Bush :) I wanted this book the first time it was out. And before I had a chance to get my hands on it, it was out of print. But now it's back and better :) And I have my own copy! This is such a great book. The history chapters alone are worth the price of admission! Then there are the lovely patterns, updated with more current yarn choices. I have several of Ms. Bush's sock books and have knit several pairs of socks from them. I don't see this one being any different. I especially want a pair of the kilthose! Another fabulous addition to my little library :)
And at nearly 1am (NDT) I think that about wraps things up. Two new books full of possibilities :) I shall dream of FOs ;) And WIPs of course. lol A girl can't forget those.
TTFN

FO Report!!

I know this doesn't happen very often lol My Wingspan is done. Complete. Off the needles. That's all she wrote. :)
I knit 10 points using about 6yds shy of an entire skein of Elann Sock it to Me dankai. Lovely yarn to work with; luh-ve how the colors shade!
So that's my excitement of the day :)
TTFN

So Much for Spring

Big storm hit last night and still nasty winds today. Thank goodness it's my weekend; I've stayed inside with cups of tea and my knitting.

And my knitting has turned back to designing. I got inspired when I saw that someone knit my "Pyewacket" on Ravelry :) I've had this piece in progress since not long after I moved here. Time to breathe some life into it. And it's going well too. It's a bit quirky and I'm thinking of submitting it to Knitty. Actually it's going so well, I just composed the pattern blurb and designer profile a la Knitty lol Feeling optimistic in the face of not losing power last night I guess!

In kitty life, we're celebrating Charlie's 11month birthday today :) He's turned into such a distinguished looking cat! Maureen's doing well here in her new home, I'm happy to report. And Jake is a bundle of fluffy, energetic kitten cuteness. First pic is Maureen and Jake on my bed. Second is Charlie on yhe back of the couch :)

That sums up the day. I'm off to brew another cup of David's Tea 'Toasted Walnut' and get back to this piece of lace ;)

TTFN