WIP Cleanout - Day 1

I chose the Tranquility Home Spa Collection Bolster Pillow as the Day 1 project - It will be a lovely addition to my office, and may make me want to spend more time in there (to complete the other items.)

Here is the photo as of this morning. I pulled out all the pieces, have the 2 I-cords completed, 1 end and approximately 22 inches of the 25 inch body.  Below is a photo of what it will look like once complete - perhaps even by this evening!

The Tranquility Home Spa Pillow Collection and co-ordinating afghan pattern can be purchased at http://www.knitpicks.com/

Calm Before the "hoped for" Storm

Breath out slowly, book has been released, breath in slowly, new proposals sent out, breath out. . .

So what to do when you are in that in between stage, can't start anything new as you are waiting to hear back on a few proposals and need to keep your desk clean, but really want to keep knitting.  Well, pull out all unfinished projects and get going.  And that is just what I am doing.

So on needles I have:
Cotton/Linen Butterfly Shawl in a lovely pink - 75% complete
Merino/Silk Butterfly Shawl in navy blue - 75% complete
last 2 inches of a sock from Iron Knitter Round 4 - I believe 2010 is when I lost that round - 85% complete
Mosiac socks (working on the design, 3/4 of sock one done) - 40% complete
Colourwork sock - 25% complete
Purple striped socks - 40% complete
1st Sign of Spring Sweater (Peartree Supersoft Yarn - this one is all for me, absolutely yummy, Latvian briad and pansy colourwork) 30% complete
Apple of My Eyelet Socks - 50% complete
Tranquility Bolster Pillow - 75% complete

9 Items on the go. Minimum 2 weeks before I hear back on any proposals.

So here goes - we are going to see how many things I can complete in this 2 week period.  I am going to pick one each day and just work on that one item.  I will post photo's of the WIP the morning and then again the evening when I retire it.  Each day totally dedicated to only one item.

Lets just see what a little determination can do for WIP cleaning.  See you tomorrow morning for my first photo's - I wonder which one it will be????

Summer Blues eBook Preview

The Summer Blues eBook will be out shortly, featuring some amazing pieces for your summer wardrobe. Each piece was created using Knitpicks Shine Worsted (http://www.knitpicks.com/).  Shine is a Cotton/Beechwood blend with a lovely sheen, and it knits up like a dream.

The collection features 5 designs, Bustier, Skirt, Jacket, V-Neck Sweater and Lacy Cropped Cardigan.

Easy, wearable knits with a twist of Sexy.

Where in the World are My Knits

So just for the fun of it, I have gone in a tracked where people are knitting my patterns, I have done up two maps, one of the world and one for the USYou may be wondering what brought this on; other than my quest for World Dominatin One Stitch at a Time; but really it was the knitter on Ravelry who posted the photo's of her completed Naida Beret. Which she knit for her Grandmother, both of whom live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

How amazing to know that something that started here in my studio is now being seen on the street of Kuala Lumpur. It is such an exciting and humbling experience.

Now someone has already pointed out the lack of southern knitters, but hopefully that will change with the release of the Summer Blues eBook which will be out early June. Featuring 5 great projects to keep you feeling cool in the summer, but still looking hot!

Check back for updates on that project and many more!

Spectra Scarf and other projects. . .

Stopped by in Niagara-on-the-Lake yesterday and visited my favourite little store, (okay, my second favourite, the fudge shop is #1)

Bee - Modern Fabrics & Yarns

188 Victoria Street

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0

(905) 468 8190

info@beefabrics.ca

http://www.beefabrics.ca/

Amazing quilting and yarn store, featuring many of Kaffe Fassett's outstanding fabrics. If you are in the area, I would strongly suggest you stop by or even make it your destination, you won't be disappointed. The colours in the fabric section will take your breath away. And there is an equisite selection of yarns to please every knitter. The Rozetti Yarn line is there in strength, including Polaris, which is an acrylic/wool blend with sequins threaded throughout, adding extra sparkle to everything you create.

Finally decided on a skein of Spectra by Rozetti Yarns, and wore my new scarf today!! (photo is from http://www.universalyarn.com/ but mine is in the same colourway). Was a little difficult to get the hand of working with, but after the first few rows went along just fine. What an amazing way to quickly spruce up your wardrobe for spring. Pattern was emailed to me while I was checking out so I could cast on as soon as I walked through the door. That is what good customer service is all about!

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IN OTHER NEWS. . . And at the many requests of my students, I have started launching my video's on YouTube as a refresher of what is learned in class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trWgPaa9si0

Hope you will stop by and take a look.

Available for download is the new Naida Beret and Fingerless Glove set - FREE DOWNLOAD on Ravelry.

Also, won't have many new releases over the next few months - working on a big project for summer which I can hardly wait to complete (I will send out teaser photo's closer to the date) current designs are located at http://www.knitpicks.com/ or Ravelry: kdmcreative .

Diamonds Are Faux-Ever . . . and other stuff

Well, the dreaded holiday season is over, we are all running back to the gym and living on lettuce. What a perfect time of the year to start a new adventure - say perhaps knitting.

That said, I did slow down over the break, but am back at full speed.

The Sock Monkey's were a great hit

My Mom LOVED her Valour vest, and my Mother-In-Law loved her Saturday Morning Hoodie, and I finally wore my Birthday Sweater.

And now I have two new designs (one already live with KnitPicks), the Brava Colourwork Pillow and Diamonds Are Faux-Ever (which is the Pattern of the Month at Spun Fibre Arts.

I have a few other items coming up, but I will save them for another post.

Shhhh. . . . It's a Surprise

Getting ready for Christmas is always so much fun. And this year I am having huge amounts of fun.


I have finally moved into the realm of toy maker, and my two little, adorable nephews are my test market for the 2011 season.


I have decided to begin my journey with the tried and true sock monkey pattern from Paton's Classic yarn. I have make some adjustments to their pattern as follows:


Casting on both feet using the Magic Loop Figure 8 cast on, so both legs can be worked at once (will also use this technique to knit the 2 arms and 1 tail simultaneously).


Also, I have substituted Cascade 220 Superwash for the yarn (as I want to make sure these little friends can enjoy bathtime as needed).


I have both legs completed and about 1 inch up the body. So far everything is coming along very smoothly, and I can hardly wait to start stuffing them.


I will continue to post photo's of my progress and here is to making my deadline!