Photo Shoot Day

This morning my friends Kendra, Natalie and Karen and I had a photoshoot in Boulder. The morning started out crazy but by the time we got going on the pictures we were cracking up and having fun. If you don't think knitters and crocheters are some hilarious people then you just haven't met the right ones!

This is my Goldenrod Cardigan, published last November in Inside Crochet, Issue 9. I LOVE this cardi, I'm going to make one for myself!

Goldenrod Cardigan modeled by the effervescent Natalie.
All photos on this post were taken by my awesome photographer friend Karen Juliano.




Okay you guys, look what I have: new pictures of the Huckleberry Hat!  And how gorgeous is Kendra?

Huckleberry Hat

Model: Kendra

DETAILS    

Size: XS (S, M, L) shown in beanie L

Finished Head Circumference: 18 (20, 22, 24)”

Gauge:  8 rows & 5 sts = 1” in St st

Needles: US 8/ 5mm, 16”, five US 8/5, DPN’s; or size to obtain correct gauge

Notions: stitch markers, tapestry needle

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn. 

Pattern includes instructions for beanie and slouchy versions


$3.99 

 


PDF Download Only
Fine Print: To use the PDF, you will need appropriate software such as Adobe Acrobat Reader. By purchasing this pattern, you are granted a limited license to download the pdf file to a single personal computer and to print out a hard copy of the pattern, solely for personal non-commercial use.

Last but not least, I want to assure you that we were not the only fashion minded people out this morning.  This is a statement, people!

Huckelberry Hat

When I became a designer little did I know that I would have almost no time to learn anything new unless I had proposed it in a design and needed to figure out how to do it.  After all, that is how I learned how to make a sweater, sleeves and lace :-) No joke.  More often than not, in the beginning I would sketch and propose an idea that I had no idea how to implement but figured I could learn if the publisher wanted the design.  So far, it has worked out...with help from some very helpful and patient tech editors.

Anyway, one of those techniques that I always wanted to learn how to do is entrelac.  The look of entrelac is so fascinating to me.  So, when I had a week "off" work (meaning I didn't have any deadlines that week) and I got Rosemary Drysdale's new book Entrelac: the essential guide to interlace knitting in the mail I thought to myself....PERFECT!

That night I sat down with the book, a pair of size 8 needles and a couple balls of yarn.  Three hours later I had read the entire book, cast on for a hat and began to do my first entrelac pattern...my own pattern, in the round.  Yep, go big or go home....no learning how to do it flat for me...jump in two feet first and go for it!


I had the hat down a few days later and was absolutely in LOVE with this technique.  Luckily, I had the opportunity to chat with Rosemary later the next week and I told her all about my hat.  She was impressed :-)

So, when I brought my new hat into the yarn shop I teach at the students there instantly asked me if they could have the pattern.  Well, no knitting is pleasure knitting anymore so why not write the pattern for the slouchy entrelac hat and make a little money on it?

After a couple classes to teach how to make it and 3 hats made by me later I now have the Huckelberry Hat pattern available for purchase on Ravelry!  Details are below:

Pattern:  Huckelberry Hat

Photos by: Sarah Serrato

Model: Christie Sterns

DETAILS    

Size: XS (S, M, L) shown in slouchy L

Finished Head Circumference: 18 (20, 22, 24)”

Gauge:  8 rows & 5 sts = 1” in St st

Needles: US 8/ 5mm, 16”, five US 8/5, DPN’s; or size to obtain correct gauge

Notions: stitch markers, tapestry needle

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn.  Shown in: Cascade 220 Wool (100% Peruvian highland wool; 220 yds 201 m/100 g)—1 hank ea color.

Pattern includes instructions for beanie and slouchy versions


$3.99 

 


PDF Download Only
Fine Print: To use the PDF, you will need appropriate software such as Adobe Acrobat Reader. By purchasing this pattern, you are granted a limited license to download the pdf file to a single personal computer and to print out a hard copy of the pattern, solely for personal non-commercial use.

Lacey Dream

Many of you asked me if I was going to write the pattern for the cardigan I wore while running the yarn tasting booth at Vogue Knitting Live in New York.  Well, the answer is YES and the time is NOW!

The Lacey Dream is made out of Lhasa Wilderness by Bijou Basin Ranch.  It is the perfect combination of Yak and Bamboo and feels like heaven to knit with and to wear.  It is also the PERFECT piece to make for yourself using this luxury fiber because it doesn't take very much!  Here are the details :-)

Pattern:  Lacey Dream

Model:  the gorgeous Natalie

Photos by:  Karen Juliano

For more photos click here!

MEASUREMENTS

Finished bust: 35½, 38, 40½, 43 (46, 48½, 51, 53½ / 56, 58½, 61, 63½)" [90, 96.5, 103, 109 (117, 123, 129.5, 136 / 142, 148.5, 155, 161.5) cm] sample in 46" (117 cm) bust. To fit with 4+ inches of positive ease.

MATERIALS:

Yarn: Bijou Basin Ranch "Lhasa Wilderness", 75% yak / 25%  bamboo; 180 yards; 2 oz (56 grams); natural brown 4, 4, 4, 5 (5, 5, 6, 6 / 6, 7, 7, 7) hanks

Needles: Size US 5 (3.75 mm) or size to obtain correct gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers; stitch holders or waste yarn; a third needle size US 5 (3.75 mm) for Three Needle BO; tapestry needle.

GAUGE:

25 sts and 34 rows = 4" in Lace Pattern.

TAKE THE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE!

Pattern includes stitch pattern chart and schematics

$4.99 
 



PDF Download Only
Fine Print: To use the PDF, you will need appropriate software such as Adobe Acrobat Reader. By purchasing this pattern, you are granted a limited license to download the pdf file to a single personal computer and to print out a hard copy of the pattern, solely for personal non-commercial use.
 

Tradeshows Rock!

(Carl and Eileen of Bijou Basin Yarns at TNNA.)

I'm on my way to CHA today!  Keep your eye out for me! 

From Coast to Coast

I can't believe so much has happened since I last posted. Of course, there were the holidays with my family, which was awesome but we didn't have any snow in Denver. What's up with that?

Once the New Year started, things got crazy. In mid January, I joined many of you at TNNA in Long Beach.  Did you see my piece in the fashion show?  It's the gorgeous red shell on the runway!  I was home for a week and then off to New York for Vogue Knitting Live with Carl and Eileen from Bijou Basin Ranch. (Hey, did I ever tell you that I'm the Creative Director over there? No? Well just wait until I tell you about our latest photo shoot!) So Vogue Knitting was a BLAST. Did you stop in and join me at BBR's Yarn Tasting? I met so many people, I couldn't believe. I met people in the industry that I've looked up to for years, and just as much fun, fans of my own! One person in particular came up and told me about an email of hers that I'd responded to, that totally made my day. And I saw one of my patterns "in the wild"! There it was, my Hydroponic Tunic walking by, I had to get a picture.  Next, I'm off to CHA in LA. I've never spent so much time in the air in my life!

I'm about to dash off to lunch but I can't wait to sit down again and tell you about all the patterns I've got coming out!  They're in books, online, all over the place.  Let me just give you a little taste, and then you can come back for more updates soon.  I had so much fun embellishing this one from the Spring 2011 Collection for Bijou Basin Ranch.  (Their yarn comes in colors now!)

Pattern:  Yulian

Model:  the gorgeous Natalie

Photos by:  Karen Juliano

Sometimes a simple design just needs a little touch of something extra to make it special. The trailing cherry blossom branches use chain stitch and french knots to adorned the collar and down the front of the shoulders. These finishes create an understated elegance that needs no other embellishment.


MEASUREMENTS
Finished Bust Sizes: 31¼ (33½, 35¾, 38, 39½, 42, 44¼, 46½, 48, 50¼, 52½, 54¾, 56¼, 58¾, 61, 63¼, 64¾, 67)” 79.5 (85, 91, 96.5, 100.5, 106.5, 112.5, 118, 122, 127.5, 133.5, 139, 143, 149, 155, 160.5, 164.5, 170) cm

Finished Length: 20¼ (20½, 21¾, 22, 22¼, 22½, 22¾, 23, 23¼, 24½, 24¾, 35, 35¼, 25½, 26¾, 27, 27¼, 27½)” 51.5, 52, 55, 56, 56.5, 57, 57.5, 58.5, 59, 62, 62.5, 63.5, 64, 64.5, 68, 68.5, 69, 69.5) cm

Shown in size 38 96.5 cm
For more photos and to purchase the pattern go here.


One more thing, it's time to submit your nominations for the Crochet Liberation Front's Flamies!  Don't forget to nominate your friendly neighborhood podcaster!  (that's me :))

More later, come back with a big cup of coffee!