Category Archives: Knitting Sites

atimetoknit.com

01 Wednesday Feb 2017

Posted by in Knitting, Knitting Sites

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Knit on with confidence and hope
through all crises.
[Elizabeth Zimmermann]

kmm_shetland

I’ve activated my new website: atimetoknit.com. One of the many good things about publishing online is that a Website is endlessly expandable. Currently, the site only offers free patterns, premium patterns and my two books, but I have plans.

More Premium Patterns

I have a list of seventy three designs that are in varying stages of development. My main challenge in getting these ready to sell is doing the math. In order to offer sweater patterns in at least three sizes, I need to calculate.

The patterns that excite me the most are my Great Lakes Chill Chaser Collection. These patterns will be my focus for the rest of the year. The premium patterns are currently sold through Ravelry.com. Although it is a membership site, non-members can access the pattern store. These are also sold through participating yarn shops.

Classes, Workshops and Seminars

I’ve taught a number of classes and workshops over the years. This is an activity that brings me as much joy as knitting. A number of the seventy three patterns I mentioned were developed to enable knitters to hone skills. I plan to add a section to the Website that will describe each class I offer with photos of the class projects.

Technique Videos

It has long been a dream of mine to offer simple videos that show how to execute various knitting techniques. I want the videos to be clear, concise and easy to replay.

Links

Starting this month, I’ll compile a list of my favorite knitting links.

Those plans should keep me out of trouble for awhile. Of course, I’ll have to take knitting breaks. For some folks, comfort congers up a vision of favorite food or an easy chair. For me, I maintain my mental health with a set of knitting needles and a lovely ball of fiber. It also helps that I have no TV or cell phone.

Book Tour: One Skein Wonders for Babies

25 Sunday Oct 2015

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Children reinvent your world for you.
[Susan Sarandon]

One-Skein Wonders for Babies

I’m delighted that my blog is a whistle stop on an extensive blog tour for this new knitting-pattern book. Story Publishing sent me a copy of the book and I could easily see why the One-Skein Wonders series is so popular. Who doesn’t have a skein left of one thing or another? This book is an answer to the question, what can I do with this yarn?

I also saw the book for sale at Atkinson Farm Yarns in Vincennes, IN. Fifteen knitters passed it from person to person, each making positive comments about the designs and clever use of yarn. My personal favorite thing about the book is that it contains three patterns by my friend, Andrea Wong.

Meaghan Weeden, Publicity and Marketing Assistant at Storey Publishing sent the following information about this book:

Adorable Designs Knit with Just One Skein

There is nothing more adorable than children’s clothes. Those soft, cozy hats, tiny jackets, and “blankies” kids can’t live without are treasures when knitted by someone who loves them. With One-Skein Wonders for Babies, an irresistibly cute collection of 101 knitting projects for outfitting infants and toddlers using one skein of yarn, knitters can make those precious items easily, sometimes even in one day!

In this welcome addition to the six-volume best-selling One-Skein Wonders series, editor Judith Durant, has gathered 101 of the sweetest designs from top knitwear designers to offer every level of knitter an inviting variety of styles, including practical leg warmers, huggable stuffed animals, baby bootees, and more.

Filled with colorful photos and helpful charts, the one-skein approach offers projects for all skill levels and yarn types. Perfect designs for gifts!

One-Skein Wonders for Babies is the seventh book in the One-Skein Wonders series. One-Skein Wonders, 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders, Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders, Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders, Crochet One-Skein Wonders, and Lace One-Skein Wonders together have over 500,000 copies in print.

About the Editor

Judith Durant is editor of the best-selling One-Skein Wonders series, which currently includes six volumes; author of Increase, Decrease and Knit One, Bead Too; and co-author of Knitting Know-How. Durant has been knitting for more than 50 years and writing and editing for more than 30 years. She lives in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Summer Knitting

16 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by in Favorite Things, Knitting, Knitting Sites, Ravelry, Thoughts

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A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining,
the breeze is blowing,
the birds are singing,
and the lawn mower is broken.
[James Dent]

Summer Knitting

I spent the summer knitting other people’s designs (something I rarely do) and I enjoyed every minute of it. This was restful, relaxing and healing. Here are snap shots of the projects I’ve completed since June.

The Decapo jacket [top left], pattern by Danish designer a Hanne Falkenberg, was knit using yarn that was a “Get Well” gift from a friend of mine. (Madelinetosh sock yarn from Simply Socks Yarn Company). What a perfectly delightful way to recover. Here is a link to the first Decapo I knit with Shetland yarn from a Falkenberg kit.

The Ballerina jacket [top right] was knit from a Hanne Falkenberg kit using Shetland yarn. This was one of the most interesting patterns I’ve ever knit. I have one more of her kits to knit—Profil. This designer is amazing.

The Monkey socks were knit from a 2006 Knitty pattern by Cookie A. I used a silk blend from Simply Socks and these feel better than any socks I’ve worn.

The shawl was designed by Rosemary (Romi) Hill, and I bought her pattern on Ravelry. The shawl is named, Artesian (like the water that bubbles up in a natural well). I used Copper Corgi marino in Stormy Marsh color. I bought the yarn at a shop in downtown Savanna, Georgia, but the link here goes to The Copper Corgi Etsy shop. The shawl turned out very “Savannah” so it is a fond memory of my trip.

I consider myself recovered so now I will embark upon publishing more of my own designs on Revelry. I’m working on a collection of texture knits—mostly sweaters.

Dreambird Completed

29 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by in Knitting, Knitting Sites, Ravelry

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Boredom is the dream bird that hatches the egg of experience.
A rustling in the leaves drives him away.
[Walter Benjamin]

DREAMBIRD-2-sm

This is Dreambird, designed by Nadita and sold as a downloadable PDF on Revelry.com at this LINK. I used sock weight yarn—marino for the black and silk for the variegated. I used only one page of the 22-page pattern—the chart for the short row turns. If you knit this, place markers where they make sense to you to keep track of your place in the pattern. Also, use the wrap-and-turn that you like best for short rows. Now, I’m trying one using shetland jumper weight yarn.

DREAMBIRD-1-sm

Dacapo Jacket Complete

06 Thursday Feb 2014

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The whole difference between construction and
creation is exactly this:
that a thing constructed can only be loved
after it is constructed;
but a thing created is loved before it exists.
[Charles Dickens]

Dacapo_JacketHanne Falkenberg’s Dacapo jacket

Hanne Falkenberg’s designs are sold as kits (yarn and pattern). A friend gave me this kit last spring and I finished it this week. What a delightful project. I rarely knit other people’s patterns but I’m glad I had a chance to knit this one. The construction of the jacket was finely engineered and fascinating.

Winter Class: Argyle Vest

02 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by in Free Pattern, Knitting, Knitting Sites, Pattern, teaching classes, Thoughts

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Design is not just
what it looks like
and feels like.
Design is how it works.
[Steve Jobs]

autumn argyle supplies

Teaching classes is an asset for a knitting-pattern designer. At least it is for me. Not only do my students inspire me by their requests and enthusiasm, but they help me clarify the pattern details and how to word the instructions. I have been composing a basic vest pattern in multiple sizes and gauges for an argyle technique class. Here are details of the fun parts of the pattern and how the design works:

  • Each of the eight students selected yarn colors in DK or light worsted weight from their favorite brands (Cascade 220, Berroco Ultra Alpaca, Brown Sheep Nature Spun, Rowan Creative Focus). I customized color charts (shown above) for each student to use with her written pattern.
  • The lower edge is ribbing that is knit in the round so it lays nicely on the hips.
  • The body is knit in two parts (back which is plain and front which is argyle) but the seam starts above the ribbing. Two stitches are added at the beginning and end of each piece as a seam allowance to produce an easy to sew, tidy seam.
  • The armholes are finished with applied iCord and the V-neck is finished with ribbing and an invisible bind off.
  • Attention is paid to smoothness of the fabric. Yarn joins and wraps follow the suggestions in the book shown below.
  • The accent lines are worked in duplicate stitch.

argyle-workshop-swatchAn excellent source for refining intarsia technique is Intarsia—A Workshop for Hand & Machine Knitting from the studio of Sealed with a Kiss (Sherry and Keely Stuever). Select this LINK to download a sample swatch pattern for argyle intarsia.

Crafty Living Show

01 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by in Knitting, Knitting Sites, Review, Writing

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As I get older, I just prefer to knit.
[Tracey Ullman]

Lara Neel, writer and photographer for the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, interviewed me several weeks ago for a podcast. Last Sunday she published the podcast and blog post with images at this LINK. I was delighted with the interview and with her book review of my CD of knitted socks, …and a time to knit stockings.

The first several minutes of the podcast is about sock heels then the interview follows. Lara includes links to most of the people and places that I mention in my interview which consists of a discussion of publications, design and a number of creative folks I admire. This was a first experience for me, and Ms Neel made it painless.

Colorful Counterpane Pattern

19 Tuesday Jul 2011

Posted by in Knitting, Knitting Sites, Pattern, Ravelry

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I was the giant great and still    
That sits upon the pillow-hill,    
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane.
[Robert Louis Stevenson]

I’ve shown this counterpane on my blog before. Today, I uploaded the pattern to sell for $6.50 on Ravelry.

Counterpanes are decorative bed covers. In her book, Knitting Counterpanes, Traditional Coverlet Patterns for Contemporary Knitters, Mary Walker Phillips gives a thorough history of counterpanes. She then shares a number of knitting patterns for blocks and borders.

These were often knit using white or ecru cotton or linen thread. Heirloom samples are breathtaking in their beauty. They are also very heavy and fragile.

Although this pattern was inspired by the antique counterpanes, its fiber content and techniques are different. It is knit in the round in blocks that have a selvage that makes seaming easy. It is in color. When used in class, each block is designed to allow knitters to practice basic techniques beyond simply knitting and purling.

The pattern can be ordered at this LINK

Star-Spangled Banner Socks

01 Friday Jul 2011

Posted by in Knitting, Knitting Sites, Ravelry, Writing

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Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men
and so it must be daily earned and refreshed
else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots,
it will wither and die.
[Dwight D. Eisenhower]

I just added another sock pattern to my online store from …and a time to knit stockings. This is the July Sock. For the Ravelry PDF patterns, I’m laying them out in a different style than they were in the book or on the CD. I have revised the charts with color, corrected some problems people had in understanding the directions, and added a personal touch or two.

I belong to a women’s writing group that focuses on memoir writing (Story Circle Network). I love being a part of the group but never intended to write a traditional memoir until I realized that my patterns are a memoir of sorts. They were each inspired by something in my life so I’m adding the inspirations to the patterns. It might be a bit unorthodox for a knitting pattern, but my knitting buddies at the local yarn shop loved the idea so I did it.

Here is the text from the cover page shown above:

Celebrate the Fourth of July in a pair of star-spangled banner socks. My childhood started during World War II so I came to associate Independence Day with service as well as picnics and fireworks. This experience inspired the sock design.

Photographs:
Civil War—Samual C. Marvel served in the 13th Iowa Infantry, G.A.R., and was lost on his twenty-second birthday in a battle at Atlanta in July, 1864.

World War Two—Esther Black served in the U.S. Navy as a link trainer and cartographer. Roy Misegades served in the U.S. Army as a cook in Europe.

1965-1969—Katherine Misegades served as a U.S. Navy Nurse Corps Officer.

The PDF pattern sells for $5.00 at this link on Ravelry

June Stocking Pattern

23 Thursday Jun 2011

Posted by in Knitting, Knitting Sites, Ravelry

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It is difficult to see why lace should be so expensive;
it is mostly holes.
[Mary Wilson]

I’ve just added this pattern to the electronic download store on Ravelry. It is the first pattern I’ve published separately from the …and a time to knit stockings collection that were originally offered in a printed book (1996) then on CD (2006). Here is more information:

The inspiration for the June Stocking was a pair of thigh-high, hand knit, cotton stockings worn by my grandmother, Gertrude Chamberlain (1877–1962). Although her father, James (1836–1919), knit his own stockings all of his life and taught his offspring to knit, it is not known who knit the original stockings. Gertrude’s daughter (my mother), Rachel (1906–2001), also wore the lace stockings. She said they were pinned to her underwear in order to hold them up, and they were quite uncomfortable. The original stockings were knit flat then shaped into a tube with a hand sewn seam. The heels are garter stitch and not shaped with a heel turn. I revised the original pattern in several ways. I used a sock-weight yarn instead of cotton, knit them in the round, and shaped them by making subtile changes in the lace pattern. Although this version uses a peasant or replaceable heel, another style heel would work as well. The directions are given for adult-size knee high stockings, but a shorter version can be knit with slight alterations to the pattern.

Select this link to purchase on Ravelry