Long Break

Hi again!! I took a very long break and now it is time to write. I want to let you know what I have been doing on the knitting scene.

Today I sent off two new patterns for Crystal Palace Yarns, see the link on the right side of the blog. Both designs used the Bamboozle Yarn in the Painted Roses Color.

The first design is a capelet, the second a matching pair of wristlets. I will let you know when the pattern is up on the web site. The stitch patterns used in both designs are seed stitch, stockinette and a right twist cable and a left twist cable. The wristlets are easy and they only take 2 balls of Bamboozle. A great project to learn to work cables.

I have also been doing a little knitting for hire, I am making a simple vest for one of the customers at HeartStrings, I am glad to say I started it soon enough and will have it completed in plenty of time for Christmas. (Have you started your Christmas gifts yet)?

Well I gotta go-I promise to write more soon, as I have more to tell you about my knitting adventures.

Casual, Elegant Knits

Oct 3, 2008

Casual, Elegant Knits

As we were working on this book, we were carefully reviewing each pattern many times. We were hoping to make sure that all the information written in the pattern is correct and nothing is missing. However, in a real world of publishing, it is almost a rule that something will get into print that was not corrected. We apologize for any inconvenience these misprints may have caused you.

Dawn and Faina


Red Waves Beret

Corrections on p. 27

Little Waves
(Odd number of sts)

Rnd1: *YO, P2, pass YO over 2 purled sts; rep from * to last st, P1.
Rnds 2 and 4: Knit.
Rnd 3: P1, *YO, P2, pass YO over 2 purled sts; rep from * to end of rnd.

Rep rnds 1 - 4.


Clarification on p. 27

BAND

Using size 11 needle, CO 106 sts using decorative cast-on method on page 90. Slide (or transfer) all sts on size 4 circular needle, pm, join into rnd, taking care not to twist CO row. Marker indicates center back. Work in slip-st ribbing for a total of 14 rnds, ending with rnd 2.

Book Signing

Yesterday was very busy. Faina and I had a book signing at Barnes and Noble. We had a lot of fun.
The seats were filled! Faina had a nice Power Point presentation and we answered a lot of questions from the audience. All of our book projects were on display.
I will be posting photos soon.
The blog tour is still going on and today will be with Liz Moreno. Please be sure to check it out.

Triple Pocket Bag

I want to give you another peek at what is in our Book; Photo courtesy of Martingale and Company, photographed by Brent Kane.
Also I want to let you know about our upcoming blog tour that will begin on Sept. 4th. We have 15 days scheduled with some great blog hostesses.
Here is a copy of the schedule:

Sept 4^th: Lynn .Hershberger

Sept 5^th: Carol Sulcoski

Sept 6^th: Cindy Moor

Sept 7^th: Amy Polcyn

Sept 8^th: Connie Chang

Sept 9^th: Marie Grace Smith

Sept 10^th: Susan Lawrence

Sept 11^th: Marnie MacLean

Sept 12^th: Tikru

Sept 13^th: Terry Ross

Sept 14^th: Liz Moreno

Sept 15^th: Donna Druchunas

Sept 16^th: Jennifer Tallapaneni

Sept 17^th: Kristi Porter

Sept 18^th: Joanne Seiff

Sept 19^th: Simona Merchant-Dest

Until then, keep on knitting!

Blog Information

I have been wondering for quite a while about what knitting people want to see in a blog and what it is that keeps them coming back. So rather than wonder, I thought I would ask reader's for their input. I will suggest a couple of questions just to help you get started:

1: Do you like to know about new projects?
2: Day to day life, more on a personal level?
3. Do you want to know what new kniting books the blog hostess is reading?
4: Do you like to see photos of work in progess, or finished projects, or both?

Please add anything else that is of interest to you. I will be waiting to hear from you.

Knitting XXX and OOO

Summer Vacation is Over

Even though it is still hot outside, summer vacation is over. Children are back in school, teachers and instructors are back to work and life begins a different rhythm. It will be another week or so before we settle in to the routine.

During this transition time, I find it necessary to have some very easy knitting projects to pick up when there is a little break in the schedule, or to mindlessly work on during the evening to unwind.

So give yourself a little break, work with some terrific yarn using a simple pattern and enjoy as we change into the fall season.

Interweave Knits

I came in to work yesterday and Joanne-owner of Heart Strings Yarn Studio, said she received her new issue of Interweave Knits and saw my latest contribution. It is the Zig Zag beanie. I was very pleased with the photography and the romance (that is what the industry calls the written description of the project). This is what helps to entice the read to want to make the item. It is a very easy and not too expensive. It is great for Christmas gift giving

A quick report - our book seems to be selling well and we are getting positive feedback . This continues to feed the excitement. There are several of Faina's patterns that I would like to make.

I would love to hear from you that bought the book, tell me what you are making/ or what you would like to make. It will be fun to know.

Book Signing Photos

I promised you photos, however the ones that I took did not turn out, so I am sending you over to Faina's blog for viewing, please click on the link to the right. You will be able to see that we had quite a celebration! We were so delighted with that night, it was magical.

Book Signing

Well Wednesday was a big and exciting day for Faina and I. We had our first book signing, it was held at Heart Strings Yarn Studio here in Chico.
We had a wonderful turnout, I felt so honored to see our knitting friend share the joy with us, many stayed for the Knitting Circle that evening.
I will post pictures later this weekend.
Our next signing will be in September and we will be sure to post the date and time.

Exclusive Photos from Casual Elegant Knits

Here are some exclusive photos of items from our new book. I hope they tempt you!

Casual Elegant Knits Blog Interview

This morning I opened a nice surprise in my e-mail that I would like to share with you. If you click on the above blog title it will take you to Andrea's wonderful site.
It gives you a behind the scene look at our new book. We would like to thank Andrea for hosting this interview.

Book Release Party

Faina and I celebrated our book release last night by having a relaxing dinner at a very nice restaurant. We will be busy as we prepare for our very first book signing event at HeartStrings Yarn Studio Wednesday July 30 from 4-7. Please join us as we celebrate, we will have champagne, appetizers, and raffles.

Also, last posting I said I would be adding a photo of the vest I did up for my sister. It is very simple, neck down, short sleeve open vest. I used Fiesta "Meteor"yarn in White Zinfandel. The yarn was very nice to work with and the vest was very quick. It arrived in Texas on Friday.

Long Break

Well----- I have been so busy that I have neglected to write something new. Summertime gives me the false impression that I will have a lot of time to get caught up with all kinds of projects like-cleaning out the garage, closets and paper work. In reality I find it works out just the opposite. Many fun things come up and I choose to do the fun stuff rather than what I had planned. In the midst of this reality I still find time to knit, I have even been using up yarn that I have purchased quite some time ago- doesn't that count as getting caught up?
I just finished a very simple top down , short sleeve, raglan vest in a nice hand-dyed ribbon/tape type yarn from Fiesta called Meteor. I will be sending it off to my sister in Texas as a little cheer her up surprise. It was so nice to use up something from the stash for a change. Most of the time once it hits the stash it is archived forever.
I will post this now and try to photo the vest it later this week for all to see.
XOCOBOXO

More Photos

We have more photos for you to look at. They give you a taste of what is coming up with our "SOON" to be released book. Click on the golden tank top photo to the right of this post. These photos were taken by Faina before we sent the finished projects off to the publisher for the real photo session.
We have a date scheduled in July for a book signing at Heart Strings Yarn Studio. I will post the date and time when all details are worked out. You will want to mark your calendar. It will be a fun event.
Faina and I spent a little time this week promoting locally. Later this summer, she will be on a trip to visit family where she will also do more promoting and put on a workshop of two for LYS in the area.
These are very exciting times!!!!!

I'm Home!

YOSEMITE CALIFORNIA

I just returned from a wonderful trip with extended family to Yosemite. It is simply gorgeous there!! The drive up there on the windy roads nearly had me reaching for some Ativan, I thought I would die of fright! Needless to say I was needle-less for quite some time. However, I would have loved to have had a nice chair and the time to do some creek-side knitting here, this was so peaceful and calming after the long drive and a good night's rest.



El Capitan how MAGNIFICENT! I am such an indoors person that a view like this tells me that my world is way too small. If you are like me in that respect, I want to encourage you to take a break and experience some of the wonders of nature. It brings a whole new perspective to your soul.



Bridal Veil Falls-we took the 1/2 mile hike and had the wonderful pleasure of the fine mist spritzing across our faces as we joined the crowd of people seeking the same.

I am just learning to use a digital camera, and how to put them on this blog. I am soooo not technical, but even if all this is not perfect I am learning as I go and wanted to share this with you.

I did manage to get a little knitting done on the trip, but it didn't seem to be a huge priority while being surrounded by close family and beautiful scenes from nature. I hope to do this a little more often.

New Project

Just because I design doesn't mean I design everything I knit. When I have been working on a lot of my own designs, I like to relax by knitting up a pattern that someone else has written. I just want to knit without too much thinking. It is my way of appreciating other designers and their work.
Right now I have started up a summer top using Berroco Bonsai (bamboo, my new favorite fiber). I am using an old pattern from my vintage stash; which includes patterns from the 20's-90's. This pattern is from the 80's but looks very current in style. The only thing I am changing on this is to do a little shaping in the body so that it goes in at the waist a bit.
I just love finding a new and current yarn when the yarn called for is no longer made-it is like a treasure hunt.
Well I am off to knit and I will post a photo when it is finished.

Late Night Finishing

YES, I do love to do the finish work on a project, but I have learned the hard way that late at night is not the best time to try to finish up OR do the actual finish work on any thing. Many a time I have not taken my own advice and have paid the price. Now some of you may not have had the same experiences that I have had but I certainly have had more of my share.
Let me tell you about the night I stayed up til 2 am to finish a poncho during the poncho craze.
Beautiful, slippery Fiesta Rayon Boucle worked in the round, on large needles. I was just finishing up the neckline - so anxious to wear this beauty. The last bind off stitch was off the needle when I noticed an unwanted loop a few stitches back, so carefully (I thought) I undid a few stitches, then I do not know how this happened but a stitch just dropped off the needle, then a neighboring stitch decided to follow. The more I tried to catch up with these guys the more things started going crazy, before you knew it this slinky poncho that took hours to knit became a ball of yarn of yarn in minutes maybe even seconds.
That lesson stayed with me for a long time-years even, however last night I guess I forgot, because a similar thing started to happen. It was late at night, the yarn wasn't as slippery but there were a lot of stitches on the needle of this openwork shawl and Voila!! a stitch jumped off the needle and it's friend started to follow suit, to make matters worse there was a lot of yarn over patterning going on here. The more I tried the worse it got. But you know what I remembered my previous disaster and set it down in the middle of the row and told myself I could get to it in the morning.
I had a fresh start in the morning, a lot of patience and in a little bit of time I was able to correct the errors and now I can resume working on the piece.
I should have put it down right away, before helping it to become worse than it already was, but at least I did put it down. So I am off to work some more and hope that my addiction to knitting will allow me to think straight if things start going awry tonight.
Knitting Dreams and Occasional Knitmares.

SPECIAL DAY!

Yesterday was really a day of good surprises. I woke up to a knock at my door and there was a delivery person with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. My day ended with the arrival of an advanced copy of our book. These are very exciting times for Faina and I as reality sets in that we are published authors. Now we wait for the release date, some book signings and blog tour.

We will keep everyone posted on this

Knit So Fine Blog Tour

Isn't the internet amazing? I just love that you may spread the good news about people, publications and information at a stroke of the keyboard. One good example of this is the blog tour being hosted today by Faina Goberstein for a new book "Knit So Fine". If you have not been to Faina's blog today, please do so. (Her link is to the right side of the page). You will be inpsired to add another book to your knitting library, not to mention putting one (?) more project on your needles.

Designs, Plans and More....

So much is happening in the design work for me. I have a new design accepted for a book that Kriti Porter is writing "Knitting in the Sun", and another accepted for the Fall /Winter issue of Interweave Knits.
I am working on new submissions with hopes of these getting accepted also. Always busy!! Always knitting!! Or should I say, "Always busy knitting."

Faina and I are busy making our plans for local book signing events. We met last week with the event planner at Barnes and Noble (Chico), we are very excited about this book signing event.
We will keep everyone posted and will supply you with the date and time of all of our events as soon as we can.

Please check out Faina's site, the link is on the right of my blog page. She is part of an upcoming blog tour for a new book the date is set for June 4th.

Warm Weather Knitting

Hello everyone!
It looks like the warm (soon to be hot) weather is upon us. I know some people are seasonal knitter's, they knit only during the cool weather. I do not let the weather stop my fun. Now is the perfect time to work with cool fibers; cotton, bamboo, silk, linen, etc. Maybe make a tank top, purse, or market bag. Small projects like cotton dishcolths are a good way to build your knitting skills, by trying new techniques and stitch patterns.
I know it is hard to think of Christmas gift giving, but small projects are great take alongs when, travelling, attending baseball games or any outdoor events. I have a basket designated for finished projects. I put the finished project in a Ziploc bag and write the intendeds name on the bag. It is amazing how many projects will be in the basket when the gift giving (and making) season has arrived. When the holidays are close I can shop at home.
Keep a project bag with pattern, yarn and notions by the front door and/or keep a project in the car, you will be ready to knit at any time.
More ideas later.

Check this Out

Wow!!! We finally have our book cover, this is very exciting. Faina and I are very pleased with the new cover, many of you know that Martingale did a new photo shoot of the entire book.
I have also included the photo from the current Vogue, my pattern is #30.
This is a very exciting year with a lot happening.
When you have time, click on the link at the right Faina's Knitting Mode and see what she has to say.
I can't believe that I have written 2 posts in one day, this may not ever happen again, (I wanted to see if I could get these photos on the blog and believe it or not it has taken me over an hour. Not bad for a computer phobic person).
Well that's it for tonight.

GOOD MORNING!

Well it looks like I took a bit of a break from writing. Must be the breather needed after completing the book.

I have been working up some new designs as well as sending out submissions to magazines, etc.
It is much like fishing- a lot of work preparing, making plans, getting supplies and hoping that you catch something. I will definitely let you know if I have any acceptances.

I would love to hear from any readers what they would like to see on my blog, something that makes it interesting to you. Thanks in advance for ideas.

The day is already getting away from me so that is all for now.

Have a Knitty Day;
Dawn

Manuscript

Hello; this morning brought exciting mail to my doorstep. The long awaited proof of Casual Elegant Knits arrived. I e-mailed Faina and she rushed home during a break at work to pick up her copy. Faina and I will be going through all of this material and then off to the printer on the 17th. I guess we will be busy once again and will keep you posted.
~Dawn~

Busy Day!!

I just finished knitting and writing the pattern for my latest creation, it is called the "Open Air Market Bag". I stayed up way too late knitting last night and finished it today. The yarn I used for this bag was a new arrival called Sandra, by Schaefer Yarns, a beautiful hand- dyed yarn with plenty of texture. Very nice to work with!!! And it only took 1 skein.
It will be on display at Heart Strings Yarn Studio next week . I will be teaching this as a project in one of my upcoming classes this spring as well as having the pattern available for purchase. It will be perfect for Farmer's Market or great for gift giving.

I will post the photo later in the week.My next project and pattern will be a new felted purse, more about that later.

Well there is a little more time left tonight, so it is off to the knitting chair.

Today

This is my very first blog ever, and I am very thankful to my friend Faina for her help to get this set up. For those who know me I just try to peacefully co-exist with technology; I am always very grateful for those who can help me navigate through the cyber-world.

I have a new design that is in the current Vogue Knitting Magazine, pattern #30. I have had many of my designs published, however this is my first major magazine publication. Yeah!!!! When I first learned to knit my hope and inspiration was to be able to know how to knit well enough to knit a Vogue Knitting Pattern and now I have one of my own designs in a Vogue Knitting Magazine. What a dream come true. Please check it out. It is using a luxurious hand-dyed Bamboo tape yarn "Banyan" from Colinette. I made a 2nd tank using the Bamboo tape yarn "Splash" from Universal Yarns it works nicely as a substitute for the original yarn.

Today I was able to finish another project for Crystal Palace Yarns. It is a big girl version of the Bunny Hop Baby Ruffled Pullover. This has been a very popular baby sweater and there have been many requests for larger sizes. So Susan at CPY has responded to those requests and will soon have the new version on her website at www.straw.com. A big thanks to Susan.

I will post a photo and link when all is done in the technical arena. All the patterns at CPY are free, and look the best when made using CPY yarn.

Faina and I are awaiting the preview copy of our new book. It is off to the printer's by the 17th of this month, so we should see it soon.
Knitting Pleasures and Dreams (I am off to knit).