From sketch to finished piece

It still mystifies me when I can actually sketch my thoughts onto paper and then actually have those thoughts perfectly translate into a finished piece ----as I envisioned it!  I can not sketch, I have no idea how to show texture on a sketch pad and I am horrible with proportions and I don't even know how to show "variegated" color.
I'm not even sure how I even find the right colors with my limited colored pens collection.

Swatches and sketches

 

A snippet of my submission letter

 

Might I also add that this Chullo hat was submitted in September 2011, accepted and knit by November 2011 and was just released November 2012.  My last worry is that it may no longer be in style!

Knit Fit! Treasures!

Let me start by saying that I had a blast this weekend at Knit Fit! in Ballard - http://knitfit.info/

I was there to teach on both days.  The classes were full, the students were great and I had a blast teaching.  What I didn't expect was to find the most scrumptious Angora yarn EVER!  After 15 years of knitting and going to LYS's, retreats and events, you would think that I have seen it all and bought it all.  Nope - I actually found 2 vendors with unique Angora blends.  Unfortunately, I didn't get the name of the other vendor I fell in love with - although she is from Lebanon, Oregon and has her own Angora rabbits, spins the fibers and dyes the fibers and personally, I think I want her life!  I should have bought from her - and if I do run into her again, I will buy from her.  She had these Angora fingerless mitts that you literally couldn't feel because they were so soft and light.  Unbelievable!

My other love is this Chubby Bunny yarn.  I first fell in love with the yarn then fell in love with the darling vendor from Pepperberry knits - Heidi.  She is from Idaho and sells 100% cashmere everything!  I should have bought some cashmere yarn too but I couldn't get past the Angora.  I know I will run into her again at another event.  Her neighbor has Angora rabbits so she sells her yarn.  It's 100% Angora - but they spin it with some sort of cotton band to hold it in place.  It is exquisite!  I am already dropping my other projects so I can start this one next.  I think I will design a cardigan with the rabbit fur around the collar.

http://pepperberryknits.com/

 

http://puffymondaes.enstore.com/browse/1?query=chubby+bunny

 
A The Tea Cozy booth, I found these buttons that I fell head over heels for.  They are sprinkles set in resin buttons and they are way to cute to pass up. 

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/69356693

Love when I find treasures!

Upcoming classes!

I have a few teach gigs coming up......

Jogless knitting

Colorwors in Norwegian Thimble style

 

 

http://www.knitfit.info/
Knit Fit!  Ballard, WA   11/03 - 11/04. 
2-handed Fair Isle (sold out with a waiting list)
Knit Different

http://www.ncwknittersguild.com/
North Central Washington Knitter's Guild
Wenatchee, WA
11/17
jogless knitting never looked so good
Norwegian thimble knitting


Be sure to introduce yourself!

Great classes, great time at TNNA

My trip began 3 days before the actual TNNA convention giving me plenty of time to adjust to East Coast time and to take a couple all day classes.The first class was Swing knitting which was a great class although a tad too long for my attention span.  Brigitte taught the class and Skacel supplied the 2 yarns and needles--I love goodie bags!

The pieces were gorgeous and the technique was simple yet fun.  Basically, it's a bunch of short rows created in a mathematical way.

The other fun thing about this class was that everything is done in the garter stitch.

Unfortuneately, I didn't get any pictures taken of my FAVORITE class - 2 color knitting Portuguese style!  Andrea Wong was the instructor and I loved loved loved this class!  It's just a shame that I never took any pictures.

One of my favorite booths at Market was Artyarns.  The entire booth was hanks of hand dyed Silks, Mohairs, Cashmeres and some Merino wool in both beaded, sequined or plain.  It was dazzling to the eyes and the pictures just don't do it justice.

I am not sure how the shop owners ever decide on which colors without going in debt~

Iris Schreier is the owner of Artyarns and author to several knitting books and her eye for color and style is impeccable.

I was fortuneate enough to have the opportunity to design with her Merino wool in one of her upcoming books - due out this October.  I am anxious to see the finished book and show off my design - which I love!

 

A TNNA preview

TNNA preview design

 Here's a preview of the designs that I will have at the TNNA show in Columbus.  The 2 hat in 2 techniques for Him and Her will be on display at the Frog Tree Yarns Booth.  The yarn is brand new and is called Ewetopia.  It's a equal blend of superwash merino wool and wool with a subtle spin of 2 colors.  It's light worsted and made in Peru.

The ladies hat is knit in a simple Fair Isle pattern with the same hemmed trim as the man's version. 

 The man's version is Double Knit - making it a perfect reversible hat and double thick as well.  The darker hat is the right side where as the lighter hat is the inside of the hat.

The 2 hats use 4 skeins of Ewetopia and this pattern should be available by July 1st.

 I used two different crown shapings.  Both hats were divided into 4 sections.  The Fair Isle hat - or "her" hat has 2 knit sts in the center of each section with the decreases on each side of the knit sts. 

Whereas the Double Knit beanie or "his" hat is sectioned off the same way - but with no knits in between the decreases.  When working with double knitting, this crown shaping is clean and simple but when used in a Fair Isle version - there will be large holes and openness that would look better on a lace hat than a Fair Isle hat.

Knit Fit is coming to town!

Us Seattlelites just got a new Knitting retreat!  So it's a ways off.....4 months away to be exact - but this gives you plenty of time to save the date!

November 3rd - 4th at the Ballard Community Center

I will be teaching at this event along with a boat load of other great instructors.

Here's a quick blurb on Moi.  If you go to Facebook, you can like them.  Knitfit will be slowly releasing tid bits of information on each teacher - so it will be fun to see the questionaire and any fun photos of them.

http://knitfitseattle.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/lisa-ellis/