March Madness

I don't know where I've been exactly but... hi, hello and how do you do? I'm busy on secret things but I'm pretty tired of keeping everything to myself.

I'm swimming in a mish-mosh of taxes, passport renewals, designing, and daydreaming.

Here is a wee update of the march madness of sorts happening in the free world:

1. Socks For All Seasons is going strong!

Thursday is the last day to buy the Ides of March pattern by itself. If you join the club you'll get the pattern anytime, though.



Buy this pattern now here: $3.99


OR

Read all about the club and maybe even sign up for the whole year of sock patterns for only $14.99 here.

April 1st is right around the corner which means a fresh new sock pattern will drop. Let me just say it's a doozy.

2. Did someone say passport renewals? Yep! I'm going to Scotland this August to teach at the UK Knit Camp! I've never been to Scotland and I'm pretty excited about the opportunity. I'm trying to sort out a side trip too, while I'm so far from home.

Might you join us in Scotland? Learn more here.

3. Something bright?



My pal Vivian is always patient with me when I ask her to pose in something I made. It's a bulky cowl you're looking at and the pattern will be available soon-ish.

4. Speaking of patterns, the Not-So-Socks Club from Yarn 4 Socks will feature something fun in April too! My pal Melanie at Black Trillium Yarns has dyed up something special inspired by the film Breakfast at Tiffany's and I got to make up a project with it! Not a sock pattern but made with sock yarn. Cool! It was really quite fun and I'll show pictures on the first of April, no joke.

Q. What does the Y4S Sock Club consist of exactly?
A. The Y4S Sock Club runs every other month. The 2010 installation will start in April of 20109 and will run until February of 2011. This year, the theme is Movie Classics.

Q. How do I sign up for the remaining months?
A. You can sign up for the entire year of Sock Club until February 15, 2010. Starting February 1st you will be able to purchase April's club by itself. The price for each individual month is $35.

Q. What do I get for $35?
A. For $35 you will get a sock pattern, a skein of sock yarn enough to knit the attached sock pattern, shipping to the US and sometimes a little surprise.
For US and Canadian participants, please select "Will Call" at check out to not be charged an extra shipping fee. For all other countries, please pay the shipping that comes up automatically when you select the country to ship to.

If you have any other questions you'd like to have answered, feel free to contact them at yarn4socks at yahoo dot com

Learn more or sign up here.

5. I'm late for work. I've got more to share and another update will happen here on Thursday.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Blue Moon

Feeling like somebody. But I don't know who.

Have you seen Tina's latest blog post?

I'm in it!

Ides of March

The first pattern for the Socks For All Seasons club has dropped! I'm excited to tell you about it right now.



The Ides of March was once a festive day dedicated to the Roman god Mars. In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C. This sock design was inspired by ancient Roman tile. Just go ahead and jump in - there is nothing to beware of here!

Sizes available: Women’s Small, Medium, 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: 32 sts/48 rows = 4" in st st

Needles: 1 set US #1/2.25mm 32” circular needles (magic loop) OR 2 sets of 24” circulars (two circulars) OR double pointed needles, or size to get gauge.



Yarn: Two contrasting colors of fingering-weight yarn that gives you proper gauge. You’ll need approx 50 (70, 90) grams of the Main Color and 30 (35, 40) grams of a Contrasting Color. Sample shown is knit with Shalimar Yarns Zoe Sock (100% SUPERWASH Merino wool; 450 yd per 4 oz skein), color: cayenne; 1 skein and Dream in Color Smooshy (100% SUPERWASH Merino wool; 450yd per 4oz skein), color: purple rain; 1 skein.

Notions: Cable needle, Tapestry needle, and (optional) a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round.



NOTES: This advanced sock pattern is worked from the cuff down with two colors. It includes a sideways cabled cuff, mosaic knitting, a heel flap, and a grafted toe. The slipped stitches create a fabric that is slightly less stretchy than standard stockinette stitch. Keep this in mind when choosing yarn and sock size.



Oh yeah, the pattern comes with a word seek puzzle at the end, just for fun!

Buy this pattern now here: $3.99 (Only available for individual purchase now through the end of March)


OR

Read all about the club and maybe even sign up for the whole year of sock patterns here.

The Ides of February

It's been quite a week here in the free world...

1. Today is my mom's birthday - happy birthday mama!

2. Working on top-secret projects for Interweave Knits and Vogue Knitting... So cool!

3. I'm pretty excited about the Socks For All Seasons club!

I just finished knitting up the first pattern for March, it's being checked out by the test knitter right now. All I can say is that it's um, you know what? I can't say anything about it yet. No spoilers here!

It's not too late to sign up. Details here.

In fact, I finally started a Ravelry group! It's called Keep on Knitting in the Free World and it will be a pace to post pictures of your club projects, chat, get help, whatever! The Ravelry group is here. I hope you'll join me!



4. Hey! Interweave is selling the Freshman Cable Sock Pattern I designed for Knitscene Fall 2009! It's available here, exclusively.

5. Tomorrow is my pal Lee's birthday. Go on and wish her a happy one, and while you're there, check out her connect the dots stitching kits!

Dorothy's Basket, now available

This pattern was on lock-out for about 8 months - I'm happy to say it is now available to the public!



While daydreaming of a world over the rainbow, a farming girl from Kansas would have to also be practical. She would need a light shawl to wear while walking her dog to the mercantile. This project was inspired by something a young Dorothy Gale might sport to coordinate with her gingham dress and hand basket.



Because this project is worked side to side, it is a great way to jump into lace knitting without the casting on or binding off of hundreds of stitches.

How about a pic of the shawl in action? Thanks to my work buddy, all around foxy moxington and hairspirational BFF Vivian for always having a good attitude about posing with my hand knits!



Size: One size

Measurements:
Elongated triangle. 70” long, 24” deep at center, blocked.

Gauge: 24 sts/32 rows = 4" [10cm] in Stockinette stitch

Yarn: About 525 yards of any lace-weight (or fingering, really) yarn of your choice. I used Fresh From the Cauldron MCN Lace (80% Merino, 10% Cashmere 10% Nylon; 565 yards [517 m] / 4.06oz [115 g]), 1 skein.

Needles: 1 set US #4/3.5mm circular needles or straight needles, or size to get proper gauge.

Skill level: Intermediate. You will need to know how to cast on, increase, decrease, work simple lace, and follow written or charted instructions.

Pattern PDF = $4.99

Juliet

Another finished sweater?







Yarn: De-Vine by Blue Moon Fiber Arts in color Jasper

Pattern: Juliet by Sarah Johnson (Zephyr Style)

Buttons: Spalted oak hand-made by etsy seller wooden treasures.

I love it!

Opal Creek Cowl and Mitts

Living in Portland, Oregon, I am surrounded by countless expanses and pockets of overwhelming beauty. Opal Creek is a wilderness area located in the Willamette National Forest on the border of the Mount Hood National Forest. It has the largest uncut watershed in Oregon. Early prospectors waded in Opal Pool and remarked on the natural glory of the crystal water. The stitch pattern in this cowl suggests gentle currents and leaves, inspired by Opal Creek.




It's the February Installment of Twisted’s Single Skein Club 2010!
(Available to the public May 1st, 2010.)

This new pattern set also includes a crossword puzzle. Check out Twisted here.

Thanks to Vivian for the lovely photos!

Arctic Blast Mitts

It's been a long wait, but this pattern is finally available!

Despite illusions of spring arriving, we are very much in the heart of winter. It was this time last year I put together a pair of armwarmers for Twisted's Single Skein Club.

Backstory: December 2008, Portland. A snow storm hit our town hard. Some called it Snowpocalypse. It was offically named Arctic Blast. So too are these fingerless gloves I was knitting at the time.



(Thanks to Vivian for being such a fun hand model!)

Yarn: Malabrigo Silky Merino (50% Silk, 50% Merino; 50 grams,150 yards/137 m) 1 skein



Some people live in towns that expect two feet of snow. These towns have snow plows and salt and intrepid spirits that function despite the challenges.

I live in a town that panicked. We had some plowing of the major streets, with sand instead of salt. But if you didn't have chains, you weren't driving anywhere.

I did what I had to do... I stayed at home with some hot tea, bad movies, and knit some armwarmers. And now I get to brag that I officially survived the Arctic Blast of Ought Eight.



This intermediate level pattern includes instructions to make a pair of lacy wrist warmers. You’ll need to know how to read a pattern, cast on, work simple lace, and work in the round. The lace pattern is charted as well as written; take your pick.

$4.99

Socks For All Seasons 2010 Pattern Club!

I'm really excited to share with you (finally!) a pattern club I've been working on for a while: Socks For All Seasons!



What is Socks For All Seasons?

Socks for All Seasons is a modern almanac of sock knitting!

This club will take a knitter through an entire year with different techniques, skills and patterns to learn along the way. Each month will feature one original sock pattern that will celebrate the season or highlight a special holiday. (or maybe one you didn't know existed?)

The club starts March 1st, 2010. It runs for 12 months, and has 12 patterns. Each pattern will also contain one extra, like a recipe, word game or crossword puzzle, just for fun! The PDF file will be sent to your email address on the first of the month. I have no spoilers for you, the patterns will be a surprise for now.

Patterns are exclusive to the club for the duration of the year. When the club is over, the patterns will all be available to purchase individually, or together as an e-book (downloadable PDF collection).

Club Details:

You can join the club with different options, your choice:

1. Just sign on for one month, any month. You choose. $3.99

2. Sign on for three months. Any three months, you choose. $9.99

3. Sign on for six months. Any six months, you choose. $12.99

4. Sign on for the whole year! Yay! $14.99

The E-Book (available March 2011) will cost $15.99. It will be a complete collection of all 12 patterns plus a bonus secret pattern!

The good news: If you join a club, the price you pay will be deducted from the e-book if you wish to purchase it. Meaning, if you sign on for three months, for example, the e-book will only cost you $5.00 ($15.99 minus $9.99). Get it?

Questions? Leave a comment here. What are you waiting for? Go for it! Make your selection from the drop-down menu and I'll handle the rest.

Options

One Month $3.99 Three Months $9.99 Six Months $12.99 One Year $14.99

List month(s)

Daybreak

No Place Like Home

Hi again! I hope everyone enjoyed their little time away from this blog as much as I did. I am ready to come back and share some recent adventures and hope you're still along for the ride!

2010: A year for action. And doing what makes you happy.

Speaking of happy, I've got new patterns to release on February 1st. Until then, I'll tease the last of the Wizard of OZ patterns I designed for the Fresh From the Cauldron Wizard of OZ Club: No Place Like Home.












Once upon a time a farming girl from Kansas named Dorothy found herself wearing a magical pair of shoes. Their secret remained hidden for quite some time while Dorothy skipped along the yellow brick road having adventures with her ragtag friends. Please don’t stay home wearing these lacy, beaded socks. Have a night out in the Emerald City and paint the town red with your pals. Click your heels together and get to where you want to go!










It's not like me to make lacy socks with silver sparkle and beads. I am stretching my wings, for sure. In fact, I'm going to design some sweaters this year in addition to the usual accessories I can't stop knitting.

2010: A year for challenging yourself.

I have big plans for this year. I'm also excited about the stuff I don't even know about yet. I know that makes sense, really.

I hope you're excited too; let's jump in together!

Miss Marple Sock Pattern

You've been so patient with me, many thanks for that! I am finally ready to unleash this exciting new pattern on you (with pictures!): Miss Marple!

NOTE: This pattern includes a BONUS Mystery/knitting themed crossword puzzle at the end! Seriously, people. You read that right.



This sock was originally designed as a mystery, with the pattern divided into clues. The mystery design was inspired by Miss Jane Marple, the fictional crime-solver created by Agatha Christie. She’s sharp, clever, and a knitter, of course. Now the pattern is complete and ready to knit as a whole… the only mystery left is to unlock the crossword puzzle at the end!



What is mosaic knitting? Describing mosaic knitting is harder than actually doing it. Barbara Walker named the process of slipping stitches while alternating rows of color “mosaic knitting” because it naturally lends itself to geometric design.

Unlike stranded knitting, you only work with one color at a time. You will slip stitches to give the illusion of colorwork. In this pattern, you will work 2 rows of one color across the round, slipping the stitches that are indicated as the second color, then work 2 rows of the other color, slipping the other stitches.



Pattern Details:

Sizes: Women’s Medium, Large

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

Gauge: 32 sts/48 rows = 4" in st st

Needles: 1 set US #1/2.25mm 32” circular needles or double pointed needles, or size to get gauge.

Yarn: Knit Picks Risata Sock Yarn [42% Cotton, 39% SUPERWASH merino wool, 13% Polyamide, 6% Elite Elastic; 196yd per 50g ball]; colors: Seedling: 2 balls, Cocoa: 1 ball. (Or any fingering weight yarn that gives you proper gauge) You will need two contrasting colors. You will need more yarn in the MC than the CC. You’ll need at least MC: 75-100g (300-400 yd) CC: 25-40g (120-175 yd). The lower numbers are for a medium foot and the larger numbers are for a large foot. The length of your foot will impact the amount of yarn you need.

The best part: The pattern is only $1.99!