Design it yourself

Accidents Happen

2007-10-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

I made a start on a project recently. It is going to be a Christmas gift for a "very special person" (sorry, can't be sure how much time he spends spying on me online, so cannot be specific). I made a gauge test, calculated all measurements and proportions and, after a couple of days of prepping, I finally cast on. I worked the rib for a little while and than I realized that it will not fit him - instead it will fit me! So, I have gracefully accepted the sudden change of plans. He is still getting a sweater. I am not giving up so easily. (A good excuse to buy another lot of gorgeous Blue Sky Baby Alpaca :) Will be back with the pics. Meanwhile, be warned: GAUGE TESTS CAN BE FICKLE. It's hard to be reminded when one considers oneself to be a savvy knitter and well above these kinds of mishaps. Side effects are not too unpleasant in this particular case though.

Vest on the Way

2007-03-09T18:36:00.000-08:00

Ok i have started my Vest. It's made from 8 ply pure wool. I am worried about it, it doesn't feel soft. So i measured myself and had a omg moment. Nothing like a tape measure to boost your confidence. Cast on my stitches and knitted about a inch and "SNAP". Yep broke a needle (Grumble Grumble)and had to start again. So I ran out and brought circular needles. Which i am finding that they take the weight better and are easy to use when you don't have a lot of arm room. I cast on using size four mm needles ( just to give it a bit of give around my girlish curves and not make it feel like i am wearing a rubber band) and did size rows of rib, Changed to 3.75 mm and continued in stocking stitch. Doing ten rows of green , two rows of purple, Two rows of green, two rows of purple, repeat. Any way there is pictures on my blog.

new project

2007-03-07T02:32:00.000-08:00

I'm planning a jumper for my 2yr old son, I'm just doing a little experimentation at the moment as I would like it to be really textural...

I've got an idea for the style of sweater, just messing about with stitches at the moment.

Pleased to be here

2007-03-04T22:45:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone :)
I was quite excited to find this group on the KAL list. I am facinated by design and although I haven't been knitting for very long, I decided to undertake the challenge of design to stretch my understanding of construction and increase my comprehension of what a workable design really entails. At this point, I am not concerned about the selling or market for a design, just the experience of going through the process.

I am in my late 30's and have been knitting for a little over 2 years. I found Alice Starmore and stranded colorwork very early in my knitting explorations and have been drawn to colorwork ever since. A definite "I want to do THIS" type of reaction.

My first design initiative is for a stranded colorwork sweater. My first focus for this inspiration was to come up with a pattern repeat that met my personal criteria for enjoyable stranding; floats no longer than 6-7 stitches and a stitch pattern with a distinctive rhythm but not overwhelming monotony. I went for an allover type stitch pattern with multiple symetry. I chose a lattice format and instead of a single repeat within the lattice structure, I tweaked it to provide two distinct but very similar stitch patterns that come together at the lattice crosses and provide a third visual pattern to provide more interest. As I was playing with this, I was inspired again by the vision of the Ambassador bridge, a lighted suspension bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan to Windsor, Canada, that I pass by every day on my ride to work. This vision really cemented the stitch pattern design and I chose to do the pattern in only two colors - the midnight sky and the pearl of the lights on the bridge and the cars traversing it. I will get some photos of my sketches (drawing is so not one of my talents) and better samples of what I have done so far for my next post. Right now, I'm just happy to be here :)

Intro Quickie

2007-03-03T20:10:00.000-08:00

Heya all just wanted to introduce my self i am Racheal aka Impulsiveknittingmama, live in SA Australia raising my two children by myself. Love to knit and design. I have started workiing on a Ballet style wrap for my cousin. Post photos soon
Love all

Do you? Feel like I do?

2007-03-01T18:09:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about why designers might not want to divulge their designs here. Is the risk of a design being "stolen" holding us all back from sharing? Why don't we share more about how our creativity works, and share what you're creating if you feel comfortable with that? What gets you inspired? How do you go about creating a project? Do you decide to knit something (like a cardigan) and then go about getting inspired to design one? Or do you get inspired by design and then fit it to a project? Do you plan it out, or just start knitting? Does your project take over and move in a direction you didn't expect? What do you do when the well runs dry?

An Introduction and an invitation!

2007-02-20T11:39:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-02-18T15:27:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-15T18:45:00.000-08:00

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!!

2007-02-10T19:50:00.000-08:00

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...

2007-02-09T03:22:00.000-08:00

..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

2007-02-06T21:06:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

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.

Hi

2007-01-31T16:47:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. Since were starting I guess I'll introduce myself as well. My name is Andrea, and I've been knitting for about 7 years. Right now I'm in the process of writing down a pattern for socks which I'll post on my Blog when I'm done. Other than that I'm still sketching out the pattern for another pair of socks which so I don't have any pictures for that either. But I also have an idea for gloves to fit anyone, with as little math as possible (for them) but I still need to find the yarn for that.

I made it!

2007-01-31T15:11:00.000-08:00

Whew! New Blogger & Old Blogger were giving me a hard time. Looks like I'm here now! :) :) A little about me:

My name is Tammy. I'm a SAHM of 3. I love to knit. I've been doing so almost constantly for 3 years although I taught myself 8 years ago. :D I love yarn. I like to design my own patterns, as I don't usually find patterns that I like.

Currently I'm designing a project and am debating on submitting it to an online magazine or maybe for sale. I'm still debating. :D

What's everyone else working on?

Hugs,
tammy

Starting in on it all

2007-01-31T15:04:00.000-08:00

So, I figure it is time to make with the projects on here. Let's all post what we plan to design/knit/are already in the proccess of design/knitting.
I have been working on a biasknit sweater. It is knit with Valley Yarns "Deerfield" (80/20 Alpaca/Silk). I got most of the way through it and now the designing is getting a pretty difficult so I'm losing steam. I'm hoping seeing all of your guys' work will get me fired up again.
I can't wait to see what everyone else is working on!

WELCOME!

2007-01-22T17:16:00.000-08:00

This is my very first Knit A Long ever, so please bear with me. I want to host a KAL for knitters who design. I usually get left out of KALs because I make up my own designs a lot of the time. So, if you like to knit from your own head/heart but would like the community and support that comes with a KAL, well than you will find it here.
To join please leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address and blog address and I will add you as a contributor as soon as I can!