Poolside Pattern Release

I finally released a pattern I have had in testing since about August.  Not that the test took that long, rather that I just have so much on that I just let it lapse.

The pattern is called Poolside and it's a cute little top which is great for the hot hot hot days we've been having here in Brisbane lately (41 degrees yesterday eep).  In 8ply and 10ply, sizes 1-12.

I decided to finish it off and release it as there is a KAL on Ravelry in the Budding Designers Downunder group featuring my patterns this month.  I also put all my patterns on 30% off for January if you wanted to grab any cheap.  If you aren't on Ravelry, sorry for Rav Links, but seriously, if you knit, you should be on Rav anyway!

Happy Knitting!

Blogtober Day 29: Oh, and another Ivyanna

Oh yeah, I did finish off this summery yellow Ivyanna the other day, despite the funk.  Cute little bee buttons and all.

The pattern was pretty much done I thought - then last night I decided to grade it for baby sizes.  I had a look at it and couldn't remember why I couldn't be bothered adding in 3 extra sizes, especially now that there's an aline option and not as full across the bodice in the gathered option.

Blogtober Day 25: Yet Another

And yet another FO of my new IvyAnna pattern off the needles.  This one has an a-line shaping to the skirt, which replaces the side gathers of the blue one from the other day, I just wasn't happy with that at all.

Size 4 IvyAnna A-line in Dashing Dachs Sugar Treat

This is in Dashing Dachs Stallion in Sugar Treat colourway.  Really hard to get yarn this one.  And quite a delight to knit with.  I have some other colourways coming from a co-op soon.  That will be exciting.

I also did my favourite hem option again.  Loving this so much!  Looks like crochet without having to stoop to that.

The cute little buttons are Tessa Ann buttons which were gifted to me from another very special lady I know Fi (Pandamum on Rav and other places).  She's another very gorgeous, generous soul I am fortunate enough to know.  I am yet to meet her in real life, even though I was supposed to a few times, and cannot wait until the day we finally meet.

Blogtober Day 22: And Another

whoops, missed a day.

Here is another finished project from my pattern in development, IvyAnna.

The little heart is from an embellishment chart by my very good friend Tanja from Watermellish. Tanja is yet another of those very special people I am fortunate enough to have gotten to know. Such an amazing nature and beauty of spirit. I first 'met' her on Nappycino a few years ago, but only really got more friendly with her over the past 18 months or so. I was so terribly nervous on the one occasion I have met her IRL thus far that I didn't really make the most of it, but I plan on spending more time with her at some point in the future and can be done with that nervousness next time.

And she is so very talented too. I love her art. I would get her sketches up on my walls if I could. Head over to her website and have a look at her charts, they add that little 'zing' to any knitwear I think.

Blogtober Day 21: The other yoke

From the picture of my WIP for the new pattern I'm working on IvyAnna - this is what I finished off from the too small yoke in the background.

I'm not sure if this option will make it in to the final pattern however.

This is also my current favourite hem option. I will be putting the instructions into the pattern.

Blogtober Day 16: Yoking Around

I cracked the circular yoke. I really like the top which I ended up with. A few tweaks needed with bodice shaping and fullness, but I'm pretty certain this one will go ahead into a full pattern.

The grumpy child was not co-operating for photos this morning, hopefully a trip to the park and library with Daddy will fix that one and I can get a better shot.

Blogtober Day 13: Designing

I usually love designing. But of late I've had lots and lots of ideas which incorporate different or unusual techniques, either ones which I've never used much personally, or ones which are kinda new in general. As a result all my designs are in the naughty corner after many froggings.

So I've been in a bit of a funk.

Today I picked back up one of those naughty designs to have another go at it. The problem is that it's a circular yoke design which I am not fluent in - I've only knitted I think one or two patterns which featured a circular yoke, and I didn't actually pay attention to them, I was just knitting the pattern as written. Also, I left most of my knitting reference books back in Brisbane when we moved over so can't do much reading on the matter.

So this has been knitted and frogged so many times, even the cotton is getting frayed and yucky. Good thing it wasn't in organic merino or something lol.

But I think I've cracked it today. Not too sure if it's 'right' as far as knitting rules go, but it's working how I want it to, and rules don't generally bother me as long as the end result is right lol.

I have the shape correct, just gotta get my sizing right now. The one I did for Kassidy is too small (that's it in the background on waste yarn), so I had to rethink the sizing.