Thursday, December 31, 2015

Goodbye 2015

Here we are, at the end of another year. I feel good about 2015:

  • after being solely self-employed for a year and a half, I got a job that I really like at LSU;
  • I generally have the house in the state I want it in, meaning we've got appropriate furniture, I've painted everything except the insides of our closets (dread), there are me-made curtains on all the windows, and I feel like everything is stylish and well-put together (mostly this all means that I'm no longer embarrassed to invite people over to our house. Geez Louise it's tough to make a new house how you want it.);
  • I made real strides in the knitting world this year, and I feel like a real, legitimate designer with at least a bit of name recognition, and;
  • I turned 30. Not sure if this is something to really feel good about, but it's a thing that happened. 
My 2015 knitting goals were: to have 5 third-party publication acceptances, including one out of Interweave Knits, Pompom Quarterly, and/or Twist Collective; to self-publish 20 patterns; and to have 5 patterns as part of the Knit Picks Independent Designers' Program. 

I made some goals, missed others. I'm really proud to say that I had 12 third-party acceptances in 2015, including one out of my specific three publishers. 

I made my self-publishing goal when I was still completely self-employed, so I'm giving myself a pass on not making that one, because it's a lot harder to knit all the time when you have to go to work. I self-published 12 patterns. That's not bad at all. 

I have three patterns in the Knit Picks program, with a fourth one just about done. That's close enough to five, right?

Overall: great success, and 22 patterns total. 

Here's a recap of everything I published this year. The third-party pubs are in roughly chronological order. The self-pubs are in whatever order the photos fit together. 


Third-Party Pubs April to August: 
Ouverte Tee (Knitscene Summer 2015), Bakdash Jumper (Knit Now Issue 52), Blowing Snow Cardigan (Midwestern Knits Book)


Third-Party Pubs October to November: 
Gnome and Toadstool Scarf (Charmed Collection from Knit Picks), Fair Isle PANTS (Holla Knits Winter 2015), Polka Dot Hat (Knit Now Issue 54)
More November to December: 
Chevron Gift Card Holder and Cabled Gift Card Holder, Celtic Knot Pillow (all three from the Knit Picks website), Locksley (Knittin' Little Winter 2015 Collection) 



Self publications. 
Row 1: Quarter Mile Shorts, Olmsted, Kenner Street Pullover, Water Skaters Cowl
Row 2: Bienville Slipper Socks, Diamond Lattice Mittens, Treillage Mitts, Oilean Hat
Row 3: Tullamore, Lisburn Cowl, LIGHTSABER, Lagniappe Gloves


Here's hoping for an even more successful, productive 2016, filled with lots of knitting! Happy New Year everyone!

(Also, as a thank-you for making this a great year, all patterns in my Ravelry shop are 30% off with coupon code "Hello2016" from now until midnight on January 1.)

Monday, December 28, 2015

New Pattern: Locksley

At the beginning of this month (oopsie, where has the time gone?), the Winter 2015 collection from Knittin' Little debuted. If you're unfamiliar, Knittin' Little is a gorgeous newish website devoted to children's patterns, curated by my invisible internet friend Andrea Sanchez. I was lucky enough to have a pattern accepted for this collection, and I LOVE the way it turned out!

This is Locksley, a stranded pullover with vintage-ski-sweater elements.


How cute is this little kid in this sweater? I just want to snuggle him and then make him some cocoa.

Locksley is knitted from the bottom up in the round with classic drop shoulders. It's got a great big shawl collar for style and warmth. The yarn I used in the sample is Knit Picks Swish Worsted- I sort of feel like I've been knitting my life out of this yarn lately, but that's ok, because it really is great. It's super soft, knits up well, and comes in lots of great colors. 


My idea for this pattern started with the arrows. I knew for certain that I wanted to knit a stranded colorwork pattern, and that it simply must have arrows. Mission accomplished. I love these arrows, and it would be awesome to design some other pieces with them, but time blah blah blah. Add it to the never-ending list. 


This sweater is sized from 6 months up to 12 years. I intended it for little boys, but who am I to force your kids into gender roles? 

Sizing: 
6 mo. (12 mo., 18 mo., 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12)
Finished Chest Measurement: 17.5 (19, 20.25, 21.75, 23.25, 24.75, 26.25, 27.75, 30.5)”

Yarn: 
Knit Picks Swish Worsted, 100% Superwash Merino Wool; 110yds/50g: 
MC: Dove Heather, 2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7) skeins 
CC1: Delft Heather 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins 
CC2: Copper Heather 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2) skeins

Skills needed: 
Stranded colorwork in the round, reading charts, decreasing within charts, three-needle bind-off, picking up stitches.

Get the pattern for $6 here or here!