Newest book due out next month

http://www.leisurearts.com/items/4517/Wardrobe-Favorites/c/Knitting/s/newest/default.aspx

Looks like this book is finally here - well, it will be in about 3 weeks anyway.

From what I remember, there are 5 women's sweaters in this book - 1 being a simple cabled cardigan, 1 being a cropped and cabled open cardigan, a sleeveless 2-toned shell, a short sleeved tie shrug and my favorite - the simple yet flattering pullover shown on the front cover. It's a nice variety of sweaters for all seasons.

This book uses some specialty yarns like Cascade "Pastaza" and "Cotton Rich" and Elsebeth Lavold "Silky Wool" as well as a few more commonly found yarns like Bernat and Patons.

I can't wait to get my samples back so I can wear this sweater! That's the only drawback to publishing....it takes a while before you can wear the sweaters you've knit.

Holiday Pattern Sneak Preview

Here's a sneak preview of my one and only holiday pattern.

The test knitter just finished both hat and scarf in hot pink and the tech editor just pulled my email request out of her spam file. So as soon as she gives me the okay, I'll get it published - just in time for that last minute holiday gift. Yarn used was Cascade "Baby Alpaca Chunky" in Ice blue. http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-BabyAlpacaChunky.asp

Featured Designer for November

Leisure Arts asked me to be their featured Designer for November for their E-news. My book "Fun Time Sweaters" was going to be the featured book so they thought it was only fitting to ask me to write an article. Well, here's my article.
http://www.leisurearts.com/enews/archive/11_2009/YarnLink/InTheKnow.html

What I wasn't expecting was the cover of my newest book due out in January. I almost didn't recognize the sweater! It actually was my favorite sweater in that grouping, knit out of Elsebeth Lavold "Silky Wool". It was definitely a nice surprise - now I can't wait to see what they did on the inside of the book!

Tui Vest unveiling

Despite my many other projects...I just couldn't put this one down. First and foremost, it was a no brainer stitch pattern - which is what I really need with my hectic schedule. Second of all and most importantly is that this Zealana yarn

http://www.theyarnsisters.com/yarns/tui-nz-merinopossum-cashmere/ feels like butter! Hmm.. the butter feel must come from the 15% cashmere....It reminds of Malabrigo - that same buttery feel when you knit with it. My intention was to create a stocky vest to go with the chunky weight of this yarn. I wanted a simple pattern that would add texture to this yarn and big proportions - big underarms, wide shoulders - substance all around. The vest will be written up for both men and women with the only difference being the neckline depth. The one pictured is the woman's size S - intended to be oversized. I'm working on the man's size M right now and I'm just about done with the back. I think this vest will make it's first debut at the TNNA Long Beach show so stay tuned. Pattern will be in my Winter 2010 collection.

Book signing in Port Orchard

Well - I'm doing my first book signing at

Debbie Macomber's A Good Yarn shop in Port Orchard, WA, this coming October 16th from 4 - 7 pm. The sweaters will also be on display as well as my trunk show - provided I get the 3 trunk shows back in time! It also happens to be their big Knit in Night which I've heard is a blast. It might be a good time to see what all the hoopla is about. They even serve dinner next door - and their prices are great and the food is delicious. So bring your appetite, a knitting project and stop on by.

Knowledge is liberating

I have been paying someone to create and maintain my website. Initially, it was worth the expense. I didn't have the time to figure it out on my own nor was I ready to invest in the costly software. Two years later, a couple thousand dollars poorer and a website nearly unchanged, I have decided it was time to take control of the situation. I have been co-dependent on my web designer and everytime that I wanted to make a change whether it be an update photo, a new design or add a new retailer...I would count the dollars it was going to cost me. It got to be where I was content with mediocre work. That is wrong! Once the summer was upon me, business slowed down to a near halt and my dollars became quarters, I decided that this was my chance to break the co-dependency and go back to school. I haven't been to college since 1986 (yikes - that sounds ancient) and I haven't worked at Microsoft since 1990 (yikes, do you realize how much computer technology has changed in the past 20 years!?) so the whole thought of going back to school and trying to keep up with the computer geeks of today almost was too much for my jittery heart. Well...I did it and might I add that I was so excited to walk into a classroom after all that time, I could hardly contain myself. I'm on my 2nd week of class and all I can say is Knowledge is Liberating! We can all look forward to a progressive website that I can be proud of.

The Stresses of Designing...

You might recognize this photo - I added it to my blog way back in Mar/Apr of this year. I am designing a spring cardigan for Simply Shetland and I love what I have designed. In fact, it might be my favorite to date. Unfortuneately, I was given no deadline and since acquiring this yarn, I have been lucky enough to have received several deadlined contracts. So...this poor cardigan which has not deadline, has been put on the back burner on and off for 6 months. Now that my last contract was complete, I've pulled this project out again and I'm committed to finishing it up. I am working from the bottom up and the sleeves from the shoulder down. I have completed both sleeves and tried it on. I don't like the sleeves. It's way too bulky under the arm and it looks terrible. After many sleepless nights of trying to figure out how to correct this issue, I think I've got it figured out. So now I need to take out both sleeves and re-do them (crossing my fingers that my new idea is a good one). Once the sleeves are done, the rest is a piece of cake. I'm really a traditional knitter working the individual pieces and then seaming them up. This is my first 1-piece cardigan and I now see the problem with a set in sleeve that is worked from the shoulder down. If the set in sleeve has too much initial armhole bind off - then there is too much bulk. What I should have done is gradually decreased the entire armhole without having any 1" bind off at the beginning as you would have in a normal set in sleeve. I'm hoping my theory works. I'm anxious to finish it - I bet Simply Shetland is too! The owner of Simply Shetland has been a dream to work with but I still feel quilty for taking so much time. I'm just hoping that she loves it enough to make it worth her wait.