Blue Canary Creations

Publication!

 

I'm pleased to announce that I have a pattern published in the latest Interweave Knits Weekend -- it's for the Paddington Duffle Coat (rav link).  Woo hoo!  This pattern was inspired by a mood board asking for large scale designs.  I took a simple colorwork motif -- the 1x1 checkerboard, and found it to be a charming and bold pattern when worked at 2.5 sts/inch.  It was a challenging knit, because the yarn I used was not as bulky as I had hoped -- I held it 4 strands together!  Anyway, I'm delighted to have a publication in Interweave, and hope it is a successful project for people.  Here's a picture from the table of contents.  They did a beautiful job with the photoshoot!

 

I've also been working diligently on my huge pile of started knits.  I'm still working on the Young Macdonald sweater, but it's on hold at the moment.  I did finish the quilt baby blanket.  I haven't done a proper photo shoot yet, but here's an in-progress pic:

 

I'm also super flattered that the crochet blanket I made out of Tosh Vintage was used for the newborn photo shoot.  How lovely!  Cute baby, and great stitch definition!

Welcome, Hank!  A good yarny name!

 

I continue the baby blanket odyssee -- another crocheted blanket, very well received.  This was in Dream In Color Bulky.  I had started in sock weight yarn, but with 40 squares to go, I switched to bulky.  4x4 is much better!

 

And, I'm working on finishing this one for a friend who unexpectedly had a baby!  Well, I'm sure THEY were expecting it, but I didn't know about it until the Facebook announcement! This uses the 10 stitch blanket pattern with a few mods, in a rainbow dyed yarn for the center.  Border is Tosh Vintage (of course) in Thunderstorm.

 

I also got pretty far on my Mitered Cross blanket, but it's on hold right now.

 

So, I'm also happy to announce that I'll have a pattern in the KnitPicks Independent Designers Program.  I'm working up the prototype right now.  Here's the sketch and swatch.  Let me know if you're interested in test knitting!

Next time I'll tell you about knitting camp -- I had an amazing time at the Squam Art Workshop!

An acute case of start-itis

Let me tell you something, I'm having a real problem with Madelinetosh yarn.  They way an addict has a problem with drugs.  It is so beautiful, and the Ravelry group turned me on to their new colorways and bases available on etsy.  This site is terrible in the very best way -- during the weekdays it updates about every 10 minute with more and more beautiful yarn.  Because of that, I've acquired two sweaters-worth of Tosh Sport, a beautiful, bouncy base similar to Vintage but in a sport weight.  Here they are.  Can you guess what my favorite part of the color wheel is?

On the left, Magnolia Leaf.  On the right, Golden Hickory. 

Picture is not great, these are warm, glowing gems in the reddish brown to olive green spectrum.  They're very related, with Magnolia Leaf being a little lighter.  I'm in a staring contest with these skeins right now... I really want to make a sport weight top with one of these, and then probably sell the other, if I can bear to let them go.  BUT I have decided I am not allowed to start one of these.  Why?  Because I have SEVEN, count 'em, SEVEN projects in progress on the needles right now.  That's just ridiculous.  After the stockings in the last post, and my rigorous fidelity to them for a month, I went a bit craaazy with the knits.  First, the projects I finished since then:

1. Another model garment for Garden Party (rav link).  I don't have a picture of the FO, but it came out very cute with the white flowers and yellow button centers.  This is to display at the store for a while, and then for me to own as a sample.  After making this one true to gauge, I think the pattern is running a bit big -- this is the 12 month size but it looks more like a 2T to me.  So I think I'm going to resize the pattern a bit.

2. I finally finished a sweater for me!  This is So Inclined (rav link), a fun boxy top with short row patterning.  So this was really an extravaganza of Berocco Touche, a fond farewell to a yarn now discontinued.

Classic mirror shot

3. A crocheted baby blanket (pattern link) in MadelineTosh Vintage.  Impossibly yummy.  The mom (a knitter) loved it, even though it's not in traditional baby or boy colors. It felt a bit "boardy" while knitting, with the very dye-saturated colors, but I washed and dried it in the machines, and it is amazingly soft now. 

So hooray for Finished Objects! 

And now, the pile of UFOs.  First up, I picked up the cable sweater I'm making for our daycare lady, for 3 years now.  After I committed to this sweater, I discovered I don't really like cabling.  Bummer for me.  Since this pic, I've done about 4 more inches on the back.

Next up, one of 3 more baby blankets due by the end of the summer.  This one is crocheted, the Sunny Spread that I saw on Grumperina's blog.  I'm doing mine in sock weight -- Dream In Color Smooshy in Butter Peeps.  Very cute.  The good news is that the squares go quickly.  The bad news is that there are 1 million trillion of em.  I work on em till I get tired of them and then give them a rest for a while.

OK, next is Baby Blanket #2.  This is intended to replicate a quilt that the mom had as a baby:

I've selected a lovely assortment of Tosh Vintage, and I'm working garter blocks in strips.  Really straightforward, but great for working on in meetings.  As of now I'm most of the way through strip 3 of 5.

Next, a prototype for a new colorwork pullover design called Young Macdonald.  It's got farm animals going round and round the body, E I E I O!  Working in Cascade Ultra Pima cotton, which is like a very light DK.  I'm working it at 6.5 stitches per inch.  Here's a sketch:

Right now I've just finished the piggies!

One project has been officially put in snooze time-out -- it's Ormolu, in MadelineTosh Pashmina (I told you I had a bit of a problem), in Port and Oxblood, with Glazed Pecan accent.  I wanted some very subtle low contrast for the body of it.  Swatch below.  It's lovely, it's just sort of a Fall garment, and I'm not allowed to work on it until some of these blankets get off the needles.

Next up, a Little Red Caboose (rav link) in size 3T for Aidan.  I'm teaching this as a class at Loopy right now, so I thought I'd do it as a knitalong.  No sweat.  In good old Cascade 220, cranked down to 5 sts/inch using size 5 needles.  I'm actually using my leftovers from the prototype sweater!  Aidan is quite the Thomas fan, so this version will feature two trains, one with Thomas pulling Annie and Clarabel, and one with James pulling his tender and some freight cars (If you don't know what I am talking about, then you are not the owner of a train-crazy toddler).  Here's a picture of the original one, with the original kid, just about 1 year ago.  On the new one, I'm finished with the yoke and ready to divide for the sleeves, just in time for class tomorrow.

OK finally, here's where I really need to admit that I've got a problem. Under the guise of doing a good deed and donating to Japan, I bought the Mitered Crosses pattern from the Mason Dixon ladies.  Those ladies are as bad as Madelinetosh yarn to inflame start-itis.  And I conveniently have a bunch of Mochi Plus leftover in two colorways.  So I bought a bunch of solid ecru to go with it.  My plan is to make this as a blanket to donate to a silent auction for Alec's school.  Maybe I'll finish it for the May 17 auction, and maybe it will be for next year.  It doesn't count as a new project if it's for charity, does it? These miters are SUPER FUN!!

Here's the beginning of a square, in the Tapestry Rainbow colorway.

Hi everyone, my name is Jen, and I'm a start-aholic.  The first step on the road to recovery is casting on.  Wait that's not right!  Admitting I have a problem.  Too late!

I am having so much fun!

Maybe love's an accident, or destiny is true
But you and I were born beneath a star of dazzling blue

Sprinting to the finish

I just finished my big project for the month of January.  I made period Elizabethan stockings (Ravelry link) for my friend Philip's big ceremony this past Saturday.  They are based on this pattern for 18th century stockings, although this lovely lady did wonderful documentation of how the stockings were done for 16th century as well.

I created a chart for the oak leaf clocks, done in purl/knit checkerboard pattern, and then I embroidered the outline in chain stitch after.  I really like how the white-on-white embroidery worked out!  I'm going to use that technique again in the future.

The stockings took about 1000 yards of sport weight yarn, worked at 7 stitches per inch.  Whew!  It took me a month and two days -- I wet blocked them and dried them on my radiator, and was able to hand them over to the recipient the day before they were due. Just in time delivery!  I was completely knit-faithful to this project -- I didn't knit anything else while I was working on them, and I did a lot of knitting each day (I was pushing it a bit).  The first stocking was very engaging, as I was adjusting my pattern, trying it on the recipient, and figuring out the next section as I went.  But the second one went SLOW as molasses! To take the edge off, I ordered a bunch of Madelinetosh Pashmina for a Fall sweater for me :)  Project fidelity is dangerous for the pocketbook!

For those interested, that Pashmina is to make Ormolu from Twist Collective, in Port, Oxblood, and Glazed Pecan... someday!

Here's a few pics of the finished stockings:

 

I'm very proud of 'em, and I'm interested in making some for me... some day!

 

Now that I'm done with that, I'm swatching for a new magazine submission to Cast On, that's due by the end of Feb.  The swatch is almost done -- if they don't take it, I'll probably make it up and self publish (or maybe make a Knitty deadline!).  And, I've decided that I need to have in my possession a sample of every one of my designs, so that I can do a trunk show at the drop of a hat. 

I'll be doing the March presentation for the Windy City Knitting Guild, and I'll be teaching my knitted applique technique, as well as sharing how I sketch designs using PowerPoint.  So, for that class, I'm working up a sample of my Garden Party dress (Rav link), which has applique flowers on it.  I've never actually knit this one myself -- it's fun and cute! Sadly, Berroco Touche is now discontinued, so this is the last one I'll be making in this yarn.  I have to find a replacement -- I miss worsted weight cotton blends!!

It's also very charming to be working on a Spring knitting project in February.  It cheers me up, as does the melting snow!

Thinking of Spring....

Darling, don't you ever sit and ponder
About the building of the hills a yonder
Where we're going in this verdant spiral
Who's pushing the pedals on the season cycle?

So it's been quite a while (nearly an eternity) since I posted here. It's time to revive this blog! Here's the knitting highlights:
- I've had my first magazine publication, in YarnForward magazine!
- My second magazine publication is submitted -- it's a piece for Interweave Knits Weekend 2011!
- I've signed up for Squam Art Workshop in June. I got all my first choice classes! I'll be spending my days with Gudrun Johnson, Stephanie Pearl McPhee (the Yarn Harlot), and Mary Jane Mucklestone. So excited!

Right now I'm working on some very long renaissance stockings for a friend of mine. Seriously, they measure 8 inches ABOVE the knee. But I will make them happen!

More later, when I figure out how Typepad works now, LOL.

Reboot

Well, I have let this blog go fallow since I really started using Ravelry, but it's time to get back in the swing of things!  There's a lot going on but here's the main thing -- I'm having my first knitwear fashion show in less than two weeks!  Loopy Yarns has generously supported me to do a runway fashion show of children's knitwear designs, to sell my patterns and their yarn.  If you're in Chicago, please come to the show!  It's on Friday, July 2, at 6:30 in the evening. Here's the rest of the details.

So I'm very busy getting ready for the show, finishing knitting and writing up the patterns.  I'll have a big pattern release after the show.  Then I'll take a breath and get this blog kicked back into gear.  Here's a little preview of some of the designs.

Domo Arigato pullover (ravelry link)

 

Little Red Caboose (ravelry link)

Woodland Fairy Jacket (ravelry link)

A lot has happened

O hai!

So, since I last posted, I had a baby!  Here's the latest addition to the clan, Aidan Joseph Small, born Nov 3, 2008. 

He's my cutie blue-eyed babe.  All are well and happy.  :)

And, I've done a TON of knitting!  Here's the things I've finished (for approximately 1 million babies and friends):

This is a Solar System hat to go with Alec's sweater -- he loved it and wore it all winter.  Hooray!

I had knit this BSJ a while ago, but never finished it.  FInally got buttons on it and got it mailed out in November.  Here it is on its cute recipient:

I also finally did the finishing on Aidan's BSJ.  Unfortunately, he was so large (9lb 11 oz) that he only got to wear it about 3 times before he outgrew it!  I've passed it on to 2 other new babies since then.  Here's the shot of him in it, for posterity.

I also knit a new batch of my veggies, using Opal brand yarns for Arcadia Knitting -- finished these a few weeks after Aidan was born.  Here's the artichoke:

And, I knit a whole sweater as a surprise gift for my friend's birthday!  Sadly, it turns out that not only is it too short (fixable), but it's not what she wants (not fixable).  Oh well.

  That's the stuff I finished in 2008 (!)

Here's 2009 FO's so far:

This is a grown-up version of my Spyhunter hat, commissioned by the girlfriend of one of the top Spyhunter players in the country.  Given as a Valentine's day present -- evidently he loved it!  Knit in a variety of worsted weight yarns.

THis is a super warm hat for my mom, knit in two layers of Misti Alpaca Chunky.  Came out great!  I knit a plain hat, then picked up stitches from the edge and knit the same shape as a lining.  I just attached the two layers at the top, and it was good to go. Modeled here by my friend Jenny.

 

Another BSJ, for my friend's baby Maggie -- knit with Panda Silk DK and some Opal fingering weight.

Here she is, lookin cute!

And yet ANOTHER BSJ -- this one for my friend in San Francisco, found again via Facebook after 14 years out of contact!  This is knit with Noro Cashmere Island, with handmade dichroic glass buttons. Sadly not machine washable, but beautiful!  I now will always remember this lesson: Noro feels MUCH SOFTER after washing!

And after all that, here's what I'm currently working on:

Rainbow Tomten for Aidan.  This is using Mini Mochi sock yarn.  Boy, is that a lot of garter stitch in sock yarn!  I'm actually farther along than this photo -- hood is done and 1 sleeve is done.  Getting there.

And, because my husband requested it, I'm doing a Big Colorful Blanket in my spare cycles -- it will be 16 squares of log cabinny goodness, loosely based on the Mason Dixon Buncha Squares afghan.

And, I still haven't finished the Caterpillar Blankie or Auntie's cable sweater.  But I will!  I haven't had any ability to concentrate on anything except garter stitch, but I seem to be out of that now.  Looking forward to a full night's sleep some time soon, too!

OK I promise to blog more regularly now.  See you soon!

You need me
Like the wind needs the trees
To blow in, like the moon needs poetry

Halfway Home

So I finished the Solar System sweater:

All the smaller planets are chain stitched on.  Saturn and Jupiter knitted separately and then sewn on with yarn...  I'm going to fix Saturn's rings to be a bit bigger... 

 

Just in time for the 4th birthday party!  It was planet-riffic.  Here's the cake -- we made it and decorated together:

  Yes, I know there are 6 candles not 4.  But, he wanted ALL the candles.  Some battles really not worth fighting!!!

He LOVES the sweater.  Very good ego gratification for Mommy here, he's wearing it every day.  It is pilling up a bit on the arms, but I'll give it a good shaving.  Such is the price of the cashmerino softness.  Also please note -- it relaxed quite a bit in the blocking, so this is definitely oversized for him now.  It's OK, it can be a two-season sweater, but he's got a good extra 2 inches in the sleeves and body...  let me know if anyone wants a pattern, I'll write it up.

We had a lovely solar system birthday party, and in the meantime, I have continued to crank away on the Caterpillar blankie for the not-yet-born son:

 

I've adjusted the charts a bit for the second set of fruits.  I have to remember that when doing fair isle, you don't need a squashy grid, things come out pretty much square (same height to width ratio).  So I've taken a few rows out to make some of the fruits not so tall.  This thing is getting pretty big and heavy -- it's either a blanket or a very very very warm miniskirt.  I think finished dimensions will be about 36" by 40".  Still fun though, thank goodness for gigantic yarn!

Steek freek-out

I'm still a little nervous about cutting this thing made of superwash yarn and having it not unravel.  But if the Mason Dixon ladies say it can be done, it can!!  Here's a pic of the steek area:

 

I will breathe and trust.

Oh, also, I'm teaching a class on fair isle/intarsia combo at Arcadia Knitting this Saturday, for anyone who's in Chicago, come on over!  It's from 1 to 3 in the afternoon.

Other stuff, mostly politics

I rewatched The Contender recently, and really enjoyed it even more.  Worth watching again in this election season, and this attack ad festival.  Jeff Bridges is outstanding as the President.  And Joan Allen is awesome. 

Also, I just read a terrific interview with John Hodgman.  Funny, but also some insightful political analysis of the campaign.

There's always someone cooler than you

Geeking Out

So this weekend was a triple threat of geekery...

On Saturday I went to YarnCon, which was a lot of fun, and kind of like seeing a bunch of old friends too... everyone was super friendly and the Chicago knitters came out in force.  I got to see Franklin's new book (fantastic!) and previews of his Men and Knitting calendar (woo hoo!!!).  But the star moment, and the reason why I went, was to meet Ann from Mason Dixon Knitting and get her to sign my copy of the book!  Terrific!!  She was super nice and enthusiastic, and I got to show her the caterpillar blankie in progress:

 

I'm really pleased with this, it's coming out quite nicely and it's really, REALLY fun to do fair isle at a gigantic gauge like this!!

Also, I showed off progress on the Solar System sweater -- doesn't look like much, but it's chugging along:

   

For those of you playing along at home, I'm past Saturn's orbit and on to Jupiter (Pluto will be chainstitched in after the fact).

So then Sunday, we went to the Long Grove Apple Festival and sang in Renaissance costume.  Turned out to be a good time, and a good demo opportunity, although there were only 6 of us so we didn't sing all our strongest pieces.  Still we got good crowds of people listening, so that was nice!

And then raced back to the city to take part of the MP3 Experiment!  It was raining by that time so it was quite a wet and cold event, but I'm still so thrilled to have taken part in it.  Can't wait for pix to be posted, and video too!! If you haven't seen any of Improv Everywhere's stuff before, it's really fun and exciting.  I personally think that adding more weirdness into the world is a good thing... nothing should be too predictable.  My favorite:  the best little league game ever.

So that was quite a few geeky pursuits in one weekend!  Stay tuned for more, and I'll review The Contender, which I rewatched this last weekend.

It is strong and you are tough

Long Time No See

Well I fear that I have been remiss in my blogging.  A lot has happened since last time.  The most important one being that I am pregnant, and due to deliver in November!  Hooray!  Another boy on the way, so I'll get to see my handknits worn on another baby before they go in the heirloom chest - excellent!

After a long slump in knitting, characterized by endless slogging on a traditional offwhite aran sweater for Alec's daycare lady (Auntie Betty), I am finally inspired and energized -- mostly by Ann and Kay's new book, Mason Dixon: Knitting Outside The Lines.  After several failed attempts at a baby blanket for the new baby (mitered -- didn't like the way the colors were going... diagonal garter -- too boring and the yarn turned out to be handwash -- even though synthetic!!), I'm inspired by Baby Dotty (ravel it here), but since I'm doing an Eric Carle themed baby room, I'm doing some fruits instead:

   

I'll be using a combination of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Bulky and Dream In Color Fatty, for bulky varigated awesomeness!  I'm so excited to do fair isle on size 10.5 needles, I can't even believe it.

But the fun doesn't stop there -- I've gotten super juiced!  Alec is almost 4 and, shall we say, extremely focused (*ahem* obsessed) on the Solar System.  My friend challenged me to make him a Solar System sweater, while he's still willing to wear things with things on them, if you know what I mean.  I proposed this to him, and he was super excited.  Here's the picture I came up with, it's a circular yoke sweater based on EZ's percentage system:

 I'll do a contrasting garter ridge for each orbit, and embroider/applique the planets on.  When Alec saw this picture, he was so excited! "And my neck will be the sun?"  He took the picture to bed with him last night, he was so excited.  *Sigh* - it does a knitter's heart (ego) good to have the positive regard of a preschooler.  This sweater will be out of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran.  More updates soon.

 

My Debut

So, I had a booth at the DIY Trunk Show!  It was a lot of fun.  Here's some pix of my layout:

 

I sold some patterns, sold ALL the booties, sold a hat and some knitted veggies, but most importantly had wonderful conversations with knitters and fellow crafters.

Guess what vegetable is a good display stand for a baby hat?

Answer: Spaghetti squash.  Who knew?

So, the blog had been quiet for a while as I knitted like crazy to get ready for the show.  But here's what I made:

The Veggie Set (Carrot missing)

The Ducky Hat

The Pastel Ducky Hat

Ribbit Hat

The BlueBeary Hat

The Pretty Please Hat -- with Ruffle!

And 4 pairs of ducky booties, 1 pair of froggy booties, and a partridge in a pear tree...

Whew!

After the show, all my knitting mojo that had been pent up in little baby hats was RELEASED!  I immediately made a dragon hat for Alec, which he rejected (no picture!) in favor of the hat I made him last year, out of Misti Alpaca Chunky double knit.  My feelings weren't hurt too much, since he is still wearing a hat I made, and he LOVES it, wants to wear it all the time.  I made him a scarf to go with:

which he currently will not wear, but I am sure he will when it gets cold enough!

I also made him some Lovikka mittens out of Cascade 220 wool, they felted up really nicely:

And now I need something for MY head.  I was so jealous of that Misti Alpaca that I got some for myself, and am making a Coronet hat.  Here's how far one skein got me:

Of course, that brim is folded over, so there's actually more hat than just that little bit.  I'm liking this pattern so far -- it's flexible, the cable was fun and not too onerous (no cable needle, of course!), and I think it will be warm and delicious.  Actual color is dark chocolatey brown.  Now I just need to get another skein!!

I've also got some present knitting underway.  The Hanami Stole for my mom is SLOW going, so I think this is a birthday present (March) not a holiday present.  But it is beautiful.  My first real lace project!

By the way, this is Malabrigo Laceweight if I didn't say so before.  And those are 4 mm swarovski crystals (clear AB) on the bottom edge.

And, I'm halfway through slipper sox for Ken, in Mountain Colors Twizzle.  He loves the first one a lot, so I am girding my loins to get through the rest of that damnable 2x2 ribbing.  Ugh!

OK that's it for now.  Next time I will give you much movie and TV reviews, coz guess how I've been getting all this knitting done??  So, I've seen:

• No Country For Old Men (Outstanding.  Devastating)
• The Devil Wears Prada (Charming, fluff.)
• Underworld (Terrible, 2nd rate Matrix)
• Ocean's 13 (Predictable and nonexciting, but a great payoff/ending)
• Pushing Daisies (I LOVE this series, it is my New Thing)
• Bandits (It was OK, needed about 20 minutes edited out of it to get it moving, but good ending!!)
• I also tried to watch Cradle Will Rock, but gave up after an hour.  Where's the plot, already???

Sargon, Hammurabi, Ashurbanipal, and Gilgamesh