An Introduction and an invitation!

Hi! I'm so happy to join this KAL, since I tend to only work on original designs and haven't seen another KAL that tempted me!

I've just started to publish my own patterns for sale at my local yarn shops and online, along with creating my podcast, Christa Knits, which is all about emerging designers! Learn more at http://podcast.christagiles.com and let me know if you'd be interested in recording yourself talking about your design process for the podcast :)

The piece I'll be working on as part of this KAL is a sweater (or cardigan) for myself, out of a wonderful yarn, English Tweed by Gedifra, in a deep yummy forest green. I'm hoping to make it a fairly fast knit (once I put down the rest of my design-for-work projects) so I'm thinking about trying steeking, just so I can work in the round to have the right side facing and do mostly knits (I knit continental, and purling is a bit slower), and then potentially graft on the front band, as I've already knit two looong cabled bands (one started out as a swatch, but then I decided that I liked the randomness of the cables, so I copied it for the other side). I'll do the sleeves in the round, too, up to the armpits, then join and do raglan shaping for the sleeves.

Oh, a bit more personal stuff about me: I'm 34, I live in Vancouver, BC, Canada, I work as a knitting instructor, designer, and p/t in a yarn shop located 15 minutes (walking) away from my house. I also teach hoop dance with giant, adult-sized hula hoops, coach waterpolo, and teach lifeguarding and first aid courses. My favourite things to knit are hats or bags for instant gratification and a small-scale canvas for cables and other texture patterns, or stranded colourwork.

Nice to meet all of you!

It is FINISHED!

Oh my! My big secret project is DONE! I cannot tell you (which if you've done any designing you already know) how good this feels!!! It is blocking on the bed right now! I'm excited...however, I'm not fully sure if I like it... :( :( I may re-write it differently. I've got it completly written up right now as it, but I may change it...It took forever to block out just right. I had it pinned and then needed to move the blasted thing. Hopefully it'll be dry soon. I want to look at it in it's glory! And I want to try it on! It's not for me though, this version is a gift. :D Now I think I need a nap.

Hugs,
tammy

Body of Sweater

Well, I tried and tried to take a decent close-up of the ribbing.. This is the best I got *lol* I swear me and cameras have a love hate relationship.

Anyhow this is the ribbing for the body of my sweater a moss stitch ribbing
*K2, P2*
K1 *P2, K2*
I just love this ribbing, its a 2x2 ribbing but with just a bit of a OMPH!.. I was asked if I had drawings of the sweater. I actually don't sometimes I can just see what I want and as long as I have my gauge and measurements I pretty much go for it. I do end up drawing alot and grafting certain stitch patterns just to make sure everything lines up ok. Already I have something in mind for a long cardigan/jacket out of bulky yarn. I am just having a problem finding the ribbing I want for it. Got any ideas?

So excited!!

I'm so excited to be a part of this group. I am constantly adapting my own patterns.
So I can't wait to see what everyone is working on.
I am currently designing a sweater. I actually have the sleeves done first because I think those take the longest *lol* So now I am getting ready to start the body of the sweater it's a basic drop shoulder with some moss stitch ribbing.
I also have a bag that is almost finished except for the flap and the handles which I will show pictures of the minute I finish felting it.
So just saying a quick HI!! Glad to be in on this group.

Hi...

..I'm really excited about being part of this blog, my name is Angie (Riggwelter) I am currently a SAHM of 4, and live in Pembrokeshire, Wales UK
I often design my own patterns, or change patterns I have already.
My latest was one I finished a couple of days ago, a tank top for my eldest daughter Jasmine.

I'm now working on a sock competition where I have to design a pair of socks for a celebrity, I'll let you know how it goes!

Look forward to getting to know you all.

3 Steps forward, 5 steps back

Ugh! I just wanted to post here as you all will understand! I got a little knitting time at nap today (I'm a mom of 3) and was so excited! I did 3 rows of my design (the one I'm hoping to submit to a magazine) several hundred stitches. Well, I pick it up again tonight only to discover that I messed up, where? Oh, 3 rows back. ARGH! So, I spent my time tinking BACK to the row I started on this afternoon!!! ARGH!!! However, I am writing the pattern as I go, so I wrote down the correction. Hopefully, after this is done I'm DONE! I'll proof this part with the first version (I'm doing 2, this one I'm working on NOW was proofing the first part of the design, the other one will proof the ending). :D Hopefully that all made sense. :D

Thanks for letting me vent. :D

Hugs,
tammy

Getting Inspired

Hi. I'm Jenn. I've been knitting for over 10 years, and am so excited about participating in this blog! I've been trying to get inspired for the last few days. (nothing more embarrassing than joining a design-along then not being able to come up with anything...) A night out with my knitting group did the trick! I'll tell ya all about it, after I narrow the ideas down to a handful. Check out my blog for more details.