Capricious Cardi and Holiday Tote

Well, it has been a while since I have written anything huh? Not because I haven't wanted to but because I have been so busy I have literally had no time to sit and tell all of you about what is going on right now.
Where to start? How about I tell you all about two new designs I did for Inside Crochet Magazine?

The first...is the Capricious Cardigan (Ravelry links): There is a long story about this cardigan but I am not sure you want to hear all about it. Oh, you do? Okay, how about I tell you a little bit...

This pattern is one of my favorites. It is my first pattern that I did sleeves for, it is my first pattern that I did intense waist shaping on in a pattern stitch, and it is my first pattern that I had made by somebody else (Jenni).

Funny story about the last thing there. See, Jenni is one of my best friends. It was about 5 years ago that I taught her how to crochet and she has been a CHAMPION since then. Nothing can stop her. The best part about having had taught her how to crochet is that now that she is a contract crocheter for me I can explain something I want to do and she totally get's it. It is like she and I are one. It really is a fantastic thing. As a matter of fact...the pattern for this sweater was written in a McDonald's Play Place over a lunch "meeting". From there Jenni took my notes and made what you see to the Left....well everything except the sleeves.

Do you think you could make an entire sweater based on that little drawing you see over there? Jenni did...THAT is all she had...those were my instructions to her! See what I mean about her just getting me? She is amazing!! Here is a link to the flickr set if you want to see more pictures...

Okay, sleeves...I knew they would be hard to do. Especially since I had not only NEVER made sleeves for anything let alone design them. Needless to say, I needed a little more time to write those than a lunch at McDonald's would provide. It took me four tries before I got the right look. Finally, I did.

Yep, you read that right, I submitted a design idea including something that I had absolutely no idea how to do. But, like everything these days, I figured that if Amy and Julie (editors of Inside Crochet) picked it up I would quickly figure out how to do it. And I did :-) Mind you, with a little help from my FANTASTIC tech editor who holds my hand and finds my...um...hick ups :-)

Anyway, that is the quick story about this sweater. Now, go and favorite it on Ravlery!

One thing that was also super cool and new for me in this particular issue (Inside Crochet, issue #5) is that I had TWO patterns in it! I had never had two patterns in one issue before...yowza!

The Holiday Tote is a HUGE felted bag that I needle felted snowflakes on to make it more festive.

The yarn is my new favorite yarn to felt with, Kraemer Yarns Mauch Chunky. Seriously...fantastic!! And it isn't that expensive! Kraemer was kind enough to offer me yarn support to make this bag since the yarn that I was supposed to get from the magazine never arrived. They are super awesome people over there.

I just LOVE this bag and I think the handles make it spectacular. I was told by Julie that the entire office at Inside Crochet in England LOVED this bag. What a huge compliment huh?

Another funny story about this bag. Last June when I was on my way to TNNA I was sitting at the airport and a woman started to talk to me about knitting (because of course I was knitting something). Her name was Kirsten Muench, owner of Muench Yarns who distributes Grayson E leather handles!!!

Well, of course I told her about this bag I was making and she offered to give me a set of her handles after the show so I could use them in the magazine! Cool huh? It was so kind of her!

Anyway, I hope you will make this bag as it is SOOOO easy. Now, go and favorite this one on Ravlery :-)

I have more patterns to share with you but only have time to write one blog a day...so stay tuned.

Peek-A-Boo Chevron Tunic

Yep, I am still here. I have been very busy finishing up a book I am writing with Jill Write for Leisure Arts and various other patterns for magazines.

Here is my newest published pattern. It is in the newest issue of Inside Crochet. You want the Ravelry links? The Peek-A-Boo Chevron Tunic is what I called it but in the magazine it is the Chevron Tunic I hear (I don't have the magazine yet) but you can find it in Inside Crochet, Issue #4 October/November

Here are some pictures on flickr I took of it before I sent it to the UK.

To tell the truth, I am not totally happy with the color choices that we used over the left boob. It would have been cuter with a blue instead of the green but the color cards we used to choose the colors made it look like the green would be perfect. The hard part is that the yarn is kettledyed and each skein is a little different from the next so even though one skein of the multy looked great with the green the others didn't. Does that make sense?
Here, I took pictures with a blue held up to it so you can see what it would look like in a different color.

So, I know some of you will be wondering, "why make one side different than the other?" Well, you don't have to do that at all but I thought it was a cool way to make an everyday chevron piece different. Actually, that is how I got the Peek-A-Boo idea. To me, the idea that only one boob has a striped chevron is like a game of peek a boo.

What do you think? You can be honest with me. I know that some of you will just LOVE it and some will HATE it. I am prepared for that as I too am in a love/hate relationship with it.

Here is a close up of the stitch pattern on the body. What took so long for me to make this was that the second row was pretty much worked into the holes of the first row so in essence, every two rows really counted as one for the body. Combine that with sock yarn and it.takes.a.long.time!

The only other thing that I might change when I publish this pattern myself is the way I did my decreases. I think they are a little too drastic and I think that I will do a little more math to make them a little more subtle in future patterns.

Other than that...I hope you will go to RAVELRY and favorite it right away :-)



I will try to update you all more soon with all the other things I have been up to lately!

xoxoxo

Cosmic Make Up Bag and Socks.

So much done and so much to do...

I thought I would jump on here and show you a few of the things that I can show you :-)


Here are some socks that I designed and had some wonderful knitters make for me...Theses patterns will be available soon. I promise. You can also see them on display at Sock Summit if you are lucky enough to be there! The white yarn is Bijou Basin Ranch Tibetan Dream Sock Yarn and the brown yarn is Yak-Bamboo.

Here is my first pattern in Inside Crochet Issue #3...

The cool part about this bag is that the inside is 'waterproof'. I lined it with a shower curtain liner! So, when your make up spills you can easily wipe it clean. How cool is that?
Like I said you can find it in issue #3 of Inside Crochet Magazine. Also, I think if you click the picture it will take you to the photoset in my flickr so you can see the inside.

OH, and of course you can favorite it on Ravelry by clicking here!!!

Other than all of that I am working hard on the book I am doing with Jill Wright and 3 other patterns for some magazines.

So, until later!

Fashion Show at TNNA

OMG...There it is! My first pattern entered in the TNNA Fashion Show and it looked Fantastic! Click on the link and my Cabled Cormo is about 4:30 minutes in the show ;-)



You can purchase this pattern here!

Mommy Messenger via Petite Purls

Did you happen to see the new online knitting magazine focused on baby, toddler and childrens items?

Go check it out http://www.petitepurls.com

OH...and while you are there take a look at the Mommy Messenger Bag I designed :-)
Then, go favorite it on Ravelry.



xoxox
Marly