Woobie Butterfly

Let me introduce you to the Woobie Butterfly!

She is taking flight and is the first of 8 patterns that will be a part of the next Woobie Collection Series 3.  This new style of Woobie is a different take in the design and allows for new creative ideas to take hold.

If your interested in test knitting this pattern, I've started a thread in the Knifty Red Designs group. PM me your email address on Ravelry and I'll put you on the call list.

Intro: Cosan

I would like to give you a sneak into my design process. Since for as long as I can remember, drawing has always been a part of my life. With the Enchanted Garden, I wanted to showcase my sketching and illustration skills a little bit by drawing the knits on models.

With that I give you an inner look at the first 2 designs of the Enchanted Garden ebook:

Cosan (Gaelic meaning: Path)

The diamond clover stranded colorwork pattern emulates a walking path through a garden surrounded by wild flowers. The Tam starts with an icord edge, then transition into the colorwork hem which then widens for a traditional slouch effect. The matching convertible mittens would also start off the same way allowing for a cohesive look. Worked from the wrist to fingers and constructed with a flip-top, the button down style allows for easy access to fingers.

Arlen

Super excited to announce a new design just released in Knitty's First Fall 2014 issue. There are two version available in this pattern: Cowl or Snood.

The inspiration for this design came from a gorgeous Fiber Optic gradient in the Copper-Verdigris colorway. I knew I wanted to retain the colors, so I plyed my singles using a Navajo technique. The act of Navajo playing (or chain plying) has you creating loops, which in turn generates a 3ply. These loops can be large or small and depending on the color breaks; this can also help create a smooth color change.

There is a second option to work the pattern as a Snood.

After I had designed the cowl version, I had this overwhelming feeling to lift it over my head. It then seemed second nature to have an alternate that would allow you to gently cover your head and neck in luxurious warmth. The snood version is worked up in Fyberspates Scrumptious 4ply, which is super wonderful to knit with and makes a very light weight, but warm piece.

Cosan Swatch

Here is a little peak into the color palette for 2 of the designs for the Enchanted Garden ebook.




The yarn is Knit Picks Palette and comes in a Huge selection of colors, which I thought was fantastic for this project since it involves at least 4 colors. At first I was going to have two grey colors, but opted on blue since it was so bright and just made me smile.

The yarn is 100% Peruvian Highland Wool and I was a little concerned with the scratchy factor, but was pleasantly surprised to find it softened up tremendously once washed.

Here you can see just a slice of the swatch:



Stay tuned to see more...

The Enchanted Garden

Blurring the lines between secrete designs and blogging...if even just for a little bit. I'm taking a serious look at exposing some lovely stuff on the blog. Hopefully at least in stages to showcase some of my designs because I honestly do love to show off my stuff...

With that being said I'd like to introduce you to my current inspiration, The Enchanted Garden. Here is a little blurb about the project...

"The Enchanted Garden entices you to enter where soft clovers dapple the diamond-shaped walking path. An elaborately curled wrought iron gate is left exposed by the climbing ivy which ascends the ancient stone wall. Time-honored memories seem to resonate here among the flowers."

This description is the base of my theme. It all started with a innocent evening spent on Pinterest. I was putting together some ideas for my ebook. I had a vague idea of what I was looking for but then I found it: My Inspiration. (Pinterest link). Or you can click here to go to the original website. If you scroll down, you'll find the perfect garden entrance. This has so many points of interest that encapsulated my ebook; the wrought iron gate, ivy covered stone and a walking path among the flowers.

Did you catch that? YES! It's an ebook. The ebook will contain 6 stranded color work accessory patterns. Since I like to put matching pieces together for my accessories there will be 3 matching sets. I'm hoping that I'll be able to walk you through each one from baseline sketch, photo shoot and final launch until all are complete and ready.

When Life Takes Over...

Seriously.

Crickets.

It's that bad. BUT I will not apologize for being absent.

What I will do is tell you that I've been busy with 6 color work patterns that are all a part of an ebook. I'm looking forward to launching that series. I need to secure a photo shoot location and some models. Doing my own modeling is okay in a pinch, but it would be nice to see new faces.

And in other big news, I've also lined up 8 more Woobie Designs that I'll be releasing as I finish them. The first has been knit, but I'm going to record some tutorials along with this Collection number 3 that I think will be valuable to those of you struggling with some techniques.

Here, let me sooth you over with a picture of the finished yarn when last we met...930 yds of a 3ply heavy fingering.

The other random bits that I've been knitting is the Sockhead Hat by Kelly McClure on as a pick-up-and-go-kind-of-knit:

I'm on my third hat...it's potato chip knitting for me. It's also great for stash busting sock yarn.

Tons to talk about...now that I can talk about it, I'm looking forward to sharing all the things with you. Thanks for hanging in there while I was MIA.