Willamette Scarf Tease #2

January 1st is a time for a great many things! I am sure to ramble a bit here quite soon about the upcoming transition to 2012. Also, a new pattern will be released...

A cold day along the banks of the Willamette river in Portland

A detail of the herringbone and linen stitch (waves and pebbles)

Under the Burnside Bridge, with orange gloves

Stay tuned for more details. For now, I should tell you that the lovely yarn is Black Trillium Lilt in colorways "Star" and "Columbia"

Thanks to Vivian Aubrey for the lovely photos (We had way too much fun that afternoon)! See more pictures in the Stumptown Knits collection just hatched on Flickr, if you wanna.

Song I went to bed singing

As I am too busy to write blog posts, and you surely are too busy to read them I'll keep this brief:

Today only get $1 off Stumptown Knits pattern club here. Use coupon code LastMinute

It's not too late to treat yourself or another knitter...

Support indie designers!

Today ONLY!

!

Stumptown Knits

Okay party people! It's ON!!!

Willamette Scarf

Stumptown Knits: An accessories collection designed to honor the place you live and the place you love. For me, it’s inspired by Portland, OR. What will it be for you?

This pattern-only club will run for 6 months and will feature 6 patterns. The first pattern will be released on January 1st, 2012.

Anyone who was a Socks For All Seasons club member will get a $1 off discount code to join Stumptown Knits if they want to.

Anyone who buys/bought the Socks For All Seasons ebook (Before Dec 1st) will also get a $1 off coupon code.


I have emailed out the coupon codes already - if you didn't get yours and you are eligible, let me know!

Club costs $15.99 to join.

Patterns: 
Sock yarn scarf (shown)
DK-weight hat (shown, sort-of)
Sock yarn shawl 
Socks 
Armwarmers 
Cowl

Benefits for joining the club:

• When finished, the club will be compiled into an e-book. The e-book will be included in the cost of the club for those who join.
• Half the cost of buying the individual patterns.
• Individual patterns as well as finished e-book (at the end of the club) can be stored in your Ravelry library.
• Knit-a-longs! This time we will have official knit-a-longs each month with prizes!
• 20% off discount codes to use at Twisted. All of the yarns used in this club are available for purchase there and if you want to match the yarns I’m using, you can!

Mt. Hood Snow Cap

That’s it for now. Sign-ups start NOW! I hope you will join me in my exploration of this beautiful place in a non-sock way. Have questions? Just ask! On Ravelry? Join my group and join the discussions here.

Join now!
$15.99

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Stumptown Knits - coming soon

I am excited to announce the details of my new club now! I've got two pictures to share as a tease as well. 

Willamette Scarf

Stumptown Knits: An accessories collection designed to honor the place you live and the place you love. For me, it’s inspired by Portland, OR. What will it be for you?

This pattern-only club will run for 6 months and will feature 6 patterns. The first pattern will be released on January 1st, 2012.

Anyone who was a Socks For All Seasons club member will get a $1 off discount code to join Stumptown Knits if they want to.

Anyone who buys/bought the Socks For All Seasons ebook (Before Dec 1st) will also get a $1 off coupon code.

Club costs $15.99 to join.

Patterns: 
Sock yarn scarf (shown)
DK-weight hat (shown, sort-of)
Sock yarn shawl 
Socks 
Armwarmers 
Cowl

Benefits for joining the club:

• When finished, the club will be compiled into an e-book. The e-book will be included in the cost of the club for those who join.
• Half the cost of buying the individual patterns.
• Individual patterns as well as finished e-book (at the end of the club) can be stored in your Ravelry library.
• Knit-a-longs! This time we will have official knit-a-longs each month with prizes!
• 20% off discount codes to use at Twisted. All of the yarns used in this club are available for purchase there and if you want to match the yarns I’m using, you can!

Mt. Hood Snow Cap

That’s it for now. Sign-ups will start on November 15th. I hope you will join me in my exploration of this beautiful place in a non-sock way. Have questions? Just ask! On Ravelry? Join my group and join the discussions here.

Día de los Muertos

Hi November! Are you seriously here already? As I sit in a puffy vest waiting for the kettle to boil I must admit the truth. There is no denying it. The fall has returned. I have to re-negotiate an arrangement with the thermostat. I have to do something about the damp windows. I also get to reflect on the things I've lost...

Plus, socks!



Can I tell you about a pair of socks that are associated with this season of change?

These socks here are in honor of the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). It's a holiday to be spent gathered with family and friends to remember loved ones who have died. The celebration occurs on November 2 in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2).

We can gather online if we can't gather in person. This year I am remembering. I am also letting go.




Traditions connected with the Day of the Dead include building altars honoring the deceased using decorated sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed. The Day of the Dead is not necessarily a time for mourning, so knit and decorate these socks using bright, festive colors and wear them to party!

This here pattern is written for multiple gauges and you can knit the sock as they are, or add embroidery when done! What a great use for bright scraps of sock yarn leftover from other projects.



At the end of the pattern you will find a sugar skull paper craft pattern. Decorate that too! These socks give the knitter options. A simple sock can be decorated by embroidering marigolds along the eyelets. A skeleton can be embroidered along the side if desired.

Sizes: This pattern is written for four sizes: (See foot circumference chart to determine appropriate size) 1. Women’s Small (2. Women’s Medium/Men’s Small, 3. Women’s Large/Men’s Medium, 4. Women’s X-L/Men’s Large)

Foot circumference: 7 (8, 9, 10) inches 17.5 (20, 23, 25.5 cm) unstretched. Will stretch to fit 8 (9, 10, 11) inches 20 (23, 25.5, 28 cm).

Yarn: This pattern is written for four gauges: (See yardage requirement chart to determine yarn selection) Sample shown: sport-weight: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Mediumweight [100% SUPERWASH Wool; 380yd per 155 gram skein]; color: Pallas Athena: 1 skein.



Needles: 1 set of 32” circular needles (magic loop), 2 sets of 24” circulars or double pointed needles in size to get gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers, scrap yarn or embroidery floss, tapestry needle.

Because of the large file size, this time the "extra" is in a separate pdf file. Both the pattern and paper craft are available to you through the link.



The pattern is $3.99
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The Socks For All Seasons e-book is $15.99 (limited time only) and provides you with a year's worth of sock patterns:
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Ramble with a bit of Dylan Thomas

Fall has fallen. I am finishing the last few rows on a sweater for a ghost. I am burying nuts. I am returning library books and looking for bigger dreams.


photo by Nicholas_T via Flickr

Later this month I will talk about knitting, specifically in regards to some Day of the Dead socks, but for now let's just look at these lovely pictures and ponder the October-ness of today.

 
photo by Fesoj via Flickr

Especially when the October wind

With frosty fingers punishes my hair,

Caught by the crabbing sun I walk on fire

And cast a shadow crab upon the land,

By the sea's side, hearing the noise of birds,

Hearing the raven cough in winter sticks,

My busy heart who shudders as she talks

Sheds the syllabic blood and drains her words.

- Dylan Thomas, Especially When the October Wind

Stripey Leg Warmers - Tutorial

Look at me, world!

photo by Vivian Aubrey

I wear skirts year-round. I also get cold easily. I needed something special to wear with or without boots... you know, like knee socks. Hard truth, I was a wee bit burned out on knitting knee socks, as I made about four pairs in the last year. (!)

I was actually craving some cozy, cheerful leg warmers. I wasn't really up to knitting them, so I got creative. One of the things I Know To Be True, is if you aren't afraid to put scissors to knitted fabric, the world is really yours for the taking. If you're curious, I'll tell you how I made these happy leg warmers. It's really too easy.

You'll need some supplies. Here is what I used:

1. Striped GAP sweater from Goodwill ($5)
2. Scissors
3. Knitting needles appropriate for your gauge. I used US size 00 (1.75 mm) 32" circular needle (or double pointed needles or 2 circulars, whatever method you like for small circumference knitting in the round)
4. Yarn of similar thickness to sweater yarn, just under 100 yards. I used Brown Sheep Nature Spun Fingering in five colors (there were eight colors in the sweater but I compromised in the interest of sanity) bought here.
5. Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Step 1: Cut the sweater

Deep breath!

After I was really, really sure this was what I wanted to do, I put the sweater on the table and took the best scissors I had to it. Luckily, this was a striped sweater so I had a cutting guide. I started at the place where the sleeve connected to the body and cut along one stripe all the way around. I did this on both sides.

Nothing bad happened.

Step 2: Pick up those live stitches

A Fine Tangle

After congratulating myself a few times I started to get the sense that the real work was still ahead of me. I picked up the knitting needle and started finding all of those live stitches along the top of the sleeve. I counted what I had (97) and found the number was almost divisible by four, so I knit two stitches together at the end to get there. (96 stitches total)

I worked a 2x2 (knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches) rib all the way around in a comparable striping sequence to the rest of the sleeve for about 2.5 inches. I carried the different colors up the inside except when the distance was too great (red and pink) and in those cases I cut the yarn and re-attached later.

It was messy and somewhat unpleasant, if I am being honest. The balls of yarn tangled around constantly and I enjoyed cutting the yarn when it was time. Tangles be gone!

Step 3: Finishing

Are you kidding me?

I bound off using Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off which created a perfect edge that was both stretchy and elastic. Success!

Then it hit me that I had 14 ends to weave in, on each leg. That made 28 ends in total! I tried not to ponder the ridiculousness of that many dangling threads in such a small cuff and made it through while watching Murder She Wrote streaming on Netflix and eating Trader Joe's dark chocolate bar with caramel and black sea salt.

The result:

photo by Vivian Aubrey

I put them on immediately and haven't really taken them off yet. They are a nice break from my usual grey wardrobe. They are warm. They make me smile.


Step 4: Show them off

photo by Vivian Aubrey

I'm pleased with the result, and they were (amazingly) completed at the right time of year. Already the transition into the drizzly dark cloudiness has hit Portland. I'm prepared. I have sunshine on my legs.

The only question left is what to do with the sweater body? 

If you made it this far, thanks for reading! Special thanks to Vivian, who knows how to turn a sludge-infected alley into a cozy secret passageway through her magical photography. She literally knelt in garbage-water to take these pictures. Love her! (She took the first picture and the last two, in case it isn't obvious)

Socktoberfest

I don't recall having much of a summer but suddenly Socktober is here once again. It's the month that hits you, if you actually think you are going to knit any gifts for the holidays you better get cracking now.

Socks are an ambitious gift, but worsted-weight socks are a little more reasonable, and FAST. Which brings me to...



Long Night's Journey Into Day -- a cardigan-like buttoned sock.



Inspiration: It was a dark and stormy night. The teapot whistled and a fire was lit. She reached into the top drawer and slipped on the coziest pair among the bunch…

As the seasons change and the nights grow longer we need small comforts to protect us from the evening chill. This pair starts with the cuff, then stitches are picked up for the foot. You can even knit the foot in a contrasting yarn if you’d like, or perhaps make them taller socks. When completed, real buttons function like a cardigan sweater for added warmth. This pattern also includes some hot drink recipes for you to explore while knitting your own pair of extra thick socks.



Sizes: Women’s Small (Women’s Medium, Women’s Large)

Foot circumference: 7 (8, 9) inches 17.5 (20, 23 cm) unstretched. Will stretch to fit 8 (9, 10) inches 20 (23, 25.5 cm).

Gauge: 20 sts/34 rows = 4" in st st

Needles: 1 set US #3/3.25mm straight or circular needles (CUFF) AND 1 set US #4/3.5mm (SOCK) 32” circular needles (magic loop), 2 sets of 24” circulars or double pointed needles, or size to get gauge.

Yarn: Worsted-weight yarn that gives you proper gauge. Sample shown: Dream in Color Classy [100% Superwash Wool; 250 yd per 4 oz skein]; color: Crying Dove: 1 (2, 2) skeins. Sample is a medium which used 300 yards.

Notions: Tapestry needle, cable needle, 10 - 3/4” buttons.



Thank you for re-visiting an October-inspired pattern with me today. I really wanted to share more poetry and music but you know, I like knitting too.

The pattern is $3.99
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This pattern is also part of the Socks For All Seasons e-book -- 13 patterns for $15.99 (limited time only)
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Available on Kindle

'Neath the cover of October skies

On the second day of October I bring you another diversion. This gem was unearthed during my quest to find cool stuff that relates to this month. Why? Let's just say I am feeling particularly excited about the fresh air I am suddenly breathing. I welcome October. You couldn't have come at a better time.

I know this is a knitting blog but that "other things too" disclaimer up there makes it okay for all of these youtube videos and poems and other ramblings, yes? Good.

Moondance by Van Morrison - The Song, The Youtube Video


Yes, the font is silly.

Yes, "piano solo" in the middle is both distracting and not fair to the horns.

Yes, it's nice to see the lyrics anyway! I am feeling them. Are you?

Hi October

Bittersweet October.  The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause
between the opposing miseries of summer and winter. -   Carol Bishop Hipps


I imagine there are many things to look forward to this month. You know, as long as you have things to look forward to, you're going to be alright. 


I am looking forward to getting my next collection going, spending quality time with friends and family, and if I recall... this just might be the month pumpkin shakes return to Burgerville. What are you looking forward to?


I'm also looking forward to exploring new ways to connect with knitters... which reminds me:

My e-book Socks For All Seasons is now available on Amazon!

I sure like the way October is unfolding so far!

Knitting Machine Prints Photos!

via Craft

I have a new thing on my wishlist.

Contest Winners

It was a rainy Monday morning in September. A random number generator was consulted. The meaning of life was not revealed but three numbers emerged. These numbers were aligned with three names... we have some winners, people!

1. WordLily
2. Ridgely
3. Allison

You three have all won copies of Socks For All Seasons! Please let me know your Ravelry names (or if you prefer, your email) so I can deliver them to you.

Thank you for entering this contest! If you didn't win (I'm sorry) might you consider picking up the collection anyway? It's available at an introductory rate of $15.99 until December 19th. Then it will cost $24.99. Don't delay!


Socks For All Seasons - 13 patterns, only $15.99 (limited time)
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Book excerpt:


Life Cycle Socks - September

These socks pay tribute to the time of harvest, the culmination of a thousand tiny miracles that embody the growing season. Earthworms work the soil at your feet, restoring the biological dross of previous years to the promise of new life. A leafy stalk, heavy with fruit, bursts from the gusset on top of your foot; there to dry in the waning summer sun, in anticipation of the approaching harvest. Sow your stitches carefully and prepare to reap a beautiful pair of hand-knit socks…as the cycle of life continues.

Have a treat today, for it is Monday and you deserve it. For those with a real case of the Mondays, click here. This is for you.

New Club Tease #1

Hello there knitter friends and friends of knitters,

The new club is coming soon and I'd like to let you in on the early details now. Got a minute? Pull up a chair and pour yourself a nice something. While you're at it, I'll take one too. Ready? Okay.

Introducing... Stumptown Knits

Stumptown Knits is an accessories collection designed to honor the place you live and the place you love. For me, it’s inspired by Portland, OR. What will it be for you?


photo by StuSeeger via flickr

This club will run for 6 months and will feature 6 patterns.

When finished, the club's patterns will be compiled into an e-book. The e-book will be included in the cost of the club.

Anyone who was a Socks For All Seasons club member will get a discount code to join Stumptown Knits if they want to.

Anyone who buys the Socks For All Seasons ebook (within a specified time range TBD) will also get a coupon code. More on this later.

Right now 3 of the 6 patterns are:

Socks with stripes and lace
Scarf with variegated sock yarn
Hat with cables


photo by rynosoft via flickr

Are you a Ravelry member? Vote here on what the last 3 patterns should be. Of course, I will have final say. We're not designing a camel here, people.

More details will follow as they unfold...

Hey! Before you go, be sure to enter the giveaway below if you haven't yet. The deadline is Sunday (tomorrow) night. I'm consulting the random number generator on Monday morning!

In closing, a word about the pictures here. The first one is a classic shot of the Willamette river dividing east and west Portland. The second is a classic scene of bikes parked (even though it is raining) and one of the bikes is a clown bike. This last gem is a unicycle rider in a kilt playing the Star Wars theme on bagpipes. I am not exaggerating when I say this is very very Portland.

Happy Hobbit Day!

In honor of Frodo's birthday and Bilbo's birthday, I've got a one-day only sale happening!





I've got two patterns that are nerdy enough to honor hobbit-y things so I think they should go on sale today. That's right, better hurry!

The Hobbit Cakes Sock pattern is usually $3.99 - Today only it's $2
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Mithril Cowl is usually $4.99 - Today only it's $2.50
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Socks For All Seasons e-book!

Hello lovely knitters. The day has come... I've got an 85-page, 13-pattern e-book to share with you! (and a giveaway!)







It all started long ago as a pattern club. Once a month for an entire year, members received a link to download the patterns that are now compiled into this collection. The patterns are now available for individual purchase or as one mega-collection - this here e-book.

Features:
-All of the patterns in the club plus one new one: Pinata Toddler Socks
-The cover is a collection of thumbnail images - click on any one to jump to the pattern
-All of the latest versions of each patterns
-Life Cycle Pattern had a complete overhaul and now has all new charts and instructions to be easier to follow
-Clickable Table of Contents allows you to jump to the Legend or any other place in the ebook easily.
-All of the patterns are represented here in the pictures in this blog post

The e-book is now available at an introductory rate of $15.99 for three months. On December 19th, 2011, the price will go up to $24.99.







Also, I will be announcing the details of a new club soon. I'm really excited about the designs for the new club - and it's not all socks! In preparation for the club I'd love to get some feedback about the last one. I set up a survey which is for you to anonymously give honest feedback about your experience. There are only 8 questions and I really hope you can spare a couple of minutes to fill it out:

take the survey







What's this about a giveaway? I will give away three free e-books to folks who leave a comment here on the blog. Just comment below and let the random number generator do the rest. Winners will be announced in one week - Monday, September 26th. Help me spread the word!







Thank you to the club members, testers, editors, collaborators, friends, and family from the bottom of my heart. This has been an amazing year full of challenge and wonder... I am so lucky to have shared it with you!

Love Always,
Star

13 patterns, only $15.99 (limited time)
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I chose this picture because she looks so darn happy

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

I believe. Do you?

This is your thought for the day. I am going to try to keep it in my heart while I wrap up a project that has been in my life for over a year. Tomorrow, the ebook goes live.

Gilda Radner

I seriously love this woman


photo by AbbeyRoad61 Via Flickr

"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity."
- Gilda Radner (1946 - 1989)

Song I woke up singing

Will you still love me tomorrow?

Such a beautiful song! Written in 1960 by Carole King and performed by the Shirelles, the original recording has the honor of being the first song by an all-girl group to reach #1 in the US. This video here is an interesting live recording with some crazy band trying to put themselves into it in a weird way. Maybe I'm just used to the strings in the original?

I imagine people at the time feeling like this was a wedding song, just like people thought Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA was patriotic or REM's The One I Love was a love song.

Alas, this is not a love song. This really isn't a wedding song. This is about trying to avoid a one night stand. AND it's a perfect pop song too.

Every time I hear this song I think about the millions of women who have their hearts broken. Those who wanted love and chose poorly. Those who gave up that thing in the hopes of something more. Only to find themselves sitting by the phone that never rang (In the old days phones were in your house, plugged into the wall. I know, crazy). There are so many ways for people to not get in touch with you now.

The phone thing has changed but the message is timeless.

More Trendy Knitting

For some reason a blog post I wrote in 2008 pops up when you google "Trendy Knitting Patterns." At the time, I was exploring the most popular patterns according to Ravelry. Here we are, three years later... I guess this means it's time to make an update!

Ravelry has over 1.5 million members now! The information you read here is based on the statistics of their members. Obviously there are more knitters in the world than those who have joined Ravelry and uploaded projects but I find this to be interesting anyway. See what you think.

First we will examine what is called "popular." Ravelry uses some kind of magic to determine popularity. I think it's a blend of number of projects, number of hearts (when another user "favorites" a project), and number of queues (others who want to knit it). If anyone knows the formula, please let me know!

Here is where I would put all of the questions about the magic formulas that determine popularity of people, places and things of the world throughout time and space. Just push that schoolyard junk out of your mind for now if you can. This is about knitting, people. Knitting is safe and we are all included in it. It's ours!


My Monkey Socks

On to the trendspotting!

Back then, the most popular knitting patterns (in order) were:
1. Monkey by Cookie A
2. Fetching by Cheryl Niamath
3. My So Called Scarf by Allison Isaacs
4. Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
5. Jaywalker by Grumperina

According to Ravelry the top five most popular patterns now (in order) are:
1. Ishbel by Ysolda Teague
2. Citron by Hilary Smith Callis
3. Traveling Woman by Liz Abinante
4. Turn a Square by Jared Flood
5. Star Crossed Slouchy Beret by Natalie Larson

Observations: three years ago it was socks, fingerless gloves, scarf, scarf/shawl, socks. Now it's shawl, shawl, shawl, hat, hat. Back then socks were more popular. Now, there isn't one sock pattern in the top 40 most popular patterns. Fascinating!

It's safe to say shawls are the thing now. Looking at the top 10 most popular patterns, 7 of them are shawls.

Also, let's look at price. Back then, all of the top five patterns were free. Now, three of them are. This is too small a sample to make a conclusion but it's interesting to me anyway.

Okay, let's now look at the patterns with the most projects. There is some overlap, but not as much as you'd think.


My Clapotis

The top five with the most projects right now are:
1. Clapotis by Kate Gilbert (18244 projects)
2. Fetching by Cheryl Niamath (17891 projects)
3. Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann (15353 projects)
4. Monkey by Cookie A (14730 projects)
5. Calorimetry by Kathryn Schoendorf (13325 projects)

Observations: Even though patterns like Clapotis, Fetching, and Monkey aren't considered to be as popular as they once were, they have stood the test of time. They have been knit by many and will endure, I'm sure. Monkey is 53rd on the most popular list and Fetching is 145th! What was the formula for popular again?

Compare these numbers to the top five most popular projects right now:

Ishbel 10157 projects
Citron 7752 projects
Traveling Woman 6492 projects
Turn a Square 8791 projects
Star Crossed 7919 projects

The numbers are way lower. What does it all mean? Dunno. But it's neat to see.

Finally, the Baby Surprise Jacket needs a special mention. It was first published in 1968, making it the oldest pattern on the list by a good many years. It's 10th most popular and has the 3rd most projects. Everyone has an opinion on it and making one is a rite of passage. One could write a great deal about this pattern but I'll leave it for now. I just wanted to shine a tiny light in it's direction.

All of the patterns and designers mentioned here are awesome. It's likely you've knit or thought about knitting something on here. I've made the Fetching, Monkey and Clapotis. How about you?