Approaching the GOAL!

Caron International (maker of Simply Soft, Bliss, SPA, and Country yarns) has commissioned me to design for TWO Leisure Arts books which will likely hit the shelves in 2010. Buy their yarn - they are the BEST to work for. They always give me name credit, plenty of time and yarn to work with...and in this economic downturn - Caron yarn is AFFORDABLE!

No pictures for this post...

I will also have a picture of a hat design in Annie Modesitt's compilation book "1000 Fabulous Knit Hats" which will be released in 2010.

These publications work to give me the credibility I need as a designer to pursue authoring my own book, a lifetime goal.

In the meantime, my Etsy/Ravelry pattern sales (self published) are doing well - I'm a happy girl.

Go Check on Granny

Granny's just as SQUARE as ever, she isn't as HOLEY as she used to be ...... but she isn't KNOTTY either!
Variation on the "Granny Square" by Kelly Klem.

My sweet Katie is four years old now!

Little Katie is the one who made me "quit my day job" four years ago.

As a newborn she absolutely would not sleep unless I held her. While it is completely delightful to hold a baby I needed to feel more productive for the sake of my family.

I soon discovered that I could knit to my heart's content while snuggling my darling late comer. (I was 44 years old and already had 13 and 10 year old daughters when she came into our lives)

My sweetie pie never fails to inspire my design muse.

This Reversible Wrap Dress makes Katie feel like the princess she is. (Yes, she is also my biggest fan.) You cannot put this dress on inside out. On the flip side of the cotton floral is a dressier chiffon whose skirt is gathered in three full widths of fabric. This pattern will become available at my Etsy shop: www.KlymyshynDesign.Etsy.com in little girl sizes 18 months, 2 and 4 years old soon. PDF.

Something Old

Grandma still had wooden spools of "boilfast" cotton sewing thread in her stash when she left us. All of them had a sale price of under a quarter.

My mother saved them but never found the ideal use. Maybe she just saved them for me, being a fiber lover.

This sewing thread is superb. It's slightly heavier than the thread made today, is still very strong, and has a wonderful twist, sheen, and color depth (unlike today's threads).

Last year I sold my first pair of thread crocheted earrings to a very enthusiastic woman who shared with me that they would not only be worn on her wedding day but, also, be passed down through the new family line she would begin with her new husband. (She returned to buy more.)

How wonderful is it that a 19 cent item would become so cherished and important?

ECO Sock Rows 34-41 extension help!

I understand that the ECO Sock pattern becomes TRICKY in Rows 34 through 41 as the top of the sock is gradually increased. The increases work in the tubular double knit technique but the sock is NOT YET tubular! (a brain bending feat is at hand) -- so, let's more appropriately call this a "Flatfold" technique.

During the heel rows the bottom of the sock is established. In Rows 34 through 41 a FLATFOLD is created at each end of the needle and seems to get REALLY COMPLICATED.

The fold at each end distinguishes the bottom sock stitches from the top sock stitches. Right side knit stitches begin to be called "back stitches" and wrong side purl stitches are suddenly named "front stitches" as the piece is worked back and forth knitting odd rows and purling even rows.

After Row (RND) 41 the foot rows will be worked in tubular double knit.

Stranded Roving

I'm working on developing a technique called "stranded roving" - inspired by the thrum technique. The stranded roving adds a wool lining which will be perfect for this cotton and pencil roving wool lined hotpad!

I gotta thank my GREAT FRIEND, Theresa M., who sent me the most gorgeous roving in 3 sizes!!!!

How I LOVE to explore the possibilities that knitting opens up to me.

It's A WINNER!

I'm so pleased to announce that the previous post is a WINNER in TKGA 2009 design competition! 

I've gotta give credit to my adorable model, Katie (who really wants her dress back!) She's my biggest fan and she's only 3 years old. My heart is always warm and fuzzy because she, firstly, inspires a great many designs and, secondly, she prefers wearing what I've made to all the store bought clothing she has!

My husband was out of town on a fishing trip when I got the GOOD NEWS and I was busy being a mom (carting children to their events) - so I gotta also thank my dear friends on ETSY.com and the wonderful gals on RAVELRY.com for sharing in my joy!

...am I famous yet?...