PDF Patterns: New Release from Physicsknits

Designing web-friend Connie Chang Chinchino, who has had designs in Interweave Knits, has self published a pattern available on her site, Versailles Shell. I admire her talent and told her to let me know when her first self-published pattern was available and I would write about it on my blog.

Too bad I didn’t write about it yesterday, as there was definitely something up in the blogosphere yesterday (where did you all come from yesterday?). At any rate, this is a really smashing job. I wish my first self-published pattern was done at this level.

It was laid out by a graphic designer and is tech edited as well. Plus, it has a click-able index at the beginning. This is a really handy feature to have.

As usual Connie’s style is understated elegance and clean. Good job, Connie!

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

Knitting in the Blogosphere

It is fun to visit blogs that have linked to mine, and see projects knitters are doing and what changes they have made to make the project their own. Yarns used or changes made in edgings, shaping, or other details. Sometimes, I will google a design to see what people are doing. I have come across some very interesting blogs that way.

I found Weedwacker Knits on just such a foray into the blogoshpere. It is an entertaining blog. She is a knitter, spinner, and gardener (grows her own dyestuffs and collects organic materials such as lichen on trees and walnuts on the ground that the squirrels have not yet gotten to). Scroll down to October 14, 2007 and read about the spin-in. She mentions Brambleberry, knit by Barb in her group. A prolific knitter and spinner who had a number of projects for the show and tell which were beautifully knit. Here is the url: http://weedwackerknits.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html . She is an avid sock knitter, by the way. I had to laugh when I read a recent post talking about her stash.

In Jennifer’s Journal, she linked to my blog and I read about the LaMancha Watchcap that she knit. It was published in the Knitting Pattern a Day Calendar 2007. I didn’t put anything in the calender this year, as I just did not have time, but it is nice to know it is still being used. She is starting her first sweater…from the top down. She has a number of nice looking socks on her blog also, and I imagine her sweater will turn out just as nicely as the socks did. Since I cannot get the hyperlink button to work at the moment, here is the url: http://initsox2.blogspot.com/2008/05/and-knit-goes-on.html

From the Wool Room is an interesting blog from handknitter and spinner Loribird, who also has an etsy shop. She knit Wine and Roses, the lace fingerless mitts that were in the Winter issue of Interweave Knits a year ago this past winter. Winter 2006, I believe. She spun the yarn her mitts were made in. Here is the url: http://www.fromthewoolroom.com/2008/01/wine-and-silk-roses.html

To all of you out there, I hope you have a splendid weekend.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

Knitting Kudos: Stitches and Scones, & Sheepy Yarn Shoppe

I am not afraid to tell you my favorite yarn store is Stitches and Scones, in Westfield Indiana. They are number 1 on the A list in their area (an honor recently received). Oh, there are others that are a very close second. Shuttle Shop in Warsaw Indiana, Knitting Today in Wolcottville, Threadbear in Michigan, and others that I like for various reasons.

Stitches and Scones is about a 2 hour drive from my house, so I don’t get there as often as I would like, but if you are in the area they are well worth a visit. They have a fantastic range of yarns that are luscious and a broad range to appeal to probably every knitter. They are friendly, helpful, and inviting.
I was in Indianapolis this weekend, and in my next post I will tell you about the yarns that I bought and why. I also went to the Knit Stop, another great yarn store. The atmosphere in the two shops is completely different, and you would really have to experience both to determine which is your favorite.

I love visiting yarn stores when I am out of town.

If I ever get to White Bear Lake, in Minnesota, I am going to look up Sheepy Yarn Shoppe. They recently contacted me as they are having a class using my Elizabeth I scarf pattern and wanted to order the pattern.

I am always tickled to hear a shop is having a class using the design, as when I worked it up I pictured those new to lace knitting as having a project they could learn the basics on.

Also, I want to applaud them very openly for doing the right thing. While I certainly would not have known about their class if they had ordered the pattern from my distributor, I am thankful that they are not among those who think nothing of making a photocopy for class purposes (which as many of you know is a copyright violation). Sadly in this day and age, there are many shops that will make photocopies for their customers as their customers expect it, since they just spent all “this money” on yarn. I think this is probably the exception, rather than the rule, but I can tell you I would be a loyal customer because of this if they were close enough for me to visit.

Sometimes designers hear about copyright infringement from loyal knitters, and sometimes they do not. Stories circulate among lists for designers about bad experiences related to copyright infringement.

So Kudos to Stitches and Scones, my favorite shop, and Kudos to Sheepy Yarn Shoppe for supporting designers by honoring their hard work.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene

Wow! What Color! Knitting On Impulse

Knitting On Impulse has a post on September 13 called Patterns in Nature. This is a subject near and dear to my heart, as I am often inspired by nature.

In this post she has a photograph which is then converted to a graph, and some other little patterns to go with it. What a great sense of color. I can see it knit with silk and beads. Or just maybe silk. Not a lot of beads, just a few.

I am going to pop back later to this site myself, as there is a lot to look at. The photography alone is quite inspiring. She has a web store also with Artisan Jewelry. Can you hear me groaning? Groaning because it really is too lovely and I know I am going to have to get some.

At any rate, an enjoyable read and thanks for the link on your blog roll.

Wine and Roses Mitts at Blue Frog Studio

Pennsylvania knitter Lillian learned how to knit in  2006, and already has her own blog. Plus, she knitted my Wine and Roses mitts that were in Interweave.

Kudos to you, Lillian, you will have a lot of fun over the years with your knitting.

Lillian’s blog is called Blue Frog Studio.

Talking Sticks: Knitting Blog in Denmark

Here is an interesting blog that I ran across when checking my blog stats. There is a bit about the Wine and Roses Mitts that were in Interweave this past Winter, right underneath a pair of really smashing socks.

The blog is in two languages. Have fun looking and thanks to Talking Sticks for the link.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

Independent Knitwear Desginers Web Ring Update

As many of you know, I started a web ring for Indy designers. My goal is to make it easier for knitters to find us. VBG.

The ring is up to 37 sites now. There are some really great sites, so if you are in the mood to shop around please take a look at them. I don’t get anything out of it other than the pleasure of sharing them with you. I will go through the list, about a half dozen at a time, till we run through the whole list. I was going to do the whole thing in one shot, but I am getting tired and I need my beauty sleep.

1. JoLene Treace Unraveled (obviously, since I started it)
2. Amanda Knits Her last name is not on the page, but she is off to an interesting start.
3. Dawn Brocco Knitwear Designs: Dawn is a wonderful and prolific designer. There is a lot to see on this site.
4. Independent Knitwear Designers: Home page for webring. If you are an Indy Designer with either a line of pattern leaflets that you publish yourself, or you have information on your site regarding your designs and what books and magazines they are in, this is the page to go to read about the ring and to sign up.
5. Big Sky Knitting Designs: Blog of teacher and designer Janet Szabo, this site has her books and her newsletter Twists and Turns. Those who are into Aran knitting would be familiar with Janet as she is the cable queen. She is a member of the Association of Knitwear Designers.
6. Figknits: Blog for designer Jennifer Haggen. She also has a link to her business website, Figheadh Yarnworks. Like my blog, hers talks about her day to day life as a designer. I have not read enough to say whether she is better at posting than I am, but she does share pictures in her blog of things published in magazines, so you can get an idea of other sources for her designs. Her knitting design website has the pattern leaflets that she sells.

Tomorrow, I will be finishing up Blossom, a scarf with a traditional edging going into Fiber Gatherings by fellow Association of Knitwear Designers member Joanne Seif. Joanne is a genuinely nice person and I am thrilled to be a part of her book. When I have more details to share on that, you can be sure I will. I have started and restarted that edging I don’t know how many times. 3 or 4 at least. The yarn is a heavy fingering weight (almost more of a sport than fingering). It is Acero from Brooks Farm, and they have custom dyed a colorway with the same name as the design (Blossom) which they will be carrying. They not only go to the major sheep and wool festivals, but they also go to Stitches events. They have been at Stitches Midwest for a number of years, and each year I love to go to their booth and drool over the wonderful yarns.

Anyway, when you are knitting lace with heavier yarns you cannot always do things the way you are accustomed to doing them, as effects are more magnified due to the thickness of the yarn. Persnickety me, I kept playing with different things until I was happy with the effect of the way the join looked between the edging and the scarf. Each design has a way of telling me when it is done and when it is not. When it is done, I quit tweaking.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

Knitting Community: Thanks for the Link

Here are a few of the blogs I have visited off my my blog stats page (always interesting seeing where folks are coming from):

Fiberly One, a blogger who has pictures of Calliope (yep, still have that rework in the works. That will come out next spring).  Scorpion Goddess Knits, a blogger who has a link in her blog roll, and Blue Frog Knits, where a blogger has a post and pictures of her Wine and Roses Mitts. Thanks for the link, to you all.Now, I really am off to bed!

It’s a Kni-tea Idea! Stitch & Tea at Culinary Teas

I have mentioned Culinary Teas before, the tea store in Syracuse Indiana where I buy my teas (mind you I was a tepid tea drinker at best before trying theirs, and now I drive two hours round trip to buy the stuff). I won’t purchase tea anywhere else. Yes, it is that good. You can order online, but if you get the chance it really is fun to go and smell the different teas and sample what they have brewing that day. But I digress.

The first Wenesday evening of the month, from 5 to 8 pm, they have been holding a “Stitch -n- Tea”. Denise is the contact person at Culinary Teas, 574-528-6354. If I did not have plans for this evening already, I would have gone in a heartbeat. I think it is a great idea. It isn’t restricted to knitting, other types of needlework are welcome, so if crochet or embroidery is your thing, you can do that too. Tea and Chai Lattes (YUM!!!) will be provided by Denise Yoder.

 They do have a group at Yahoo, if you want to check them out online.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace