Fair Isle back completed

The back of my Fair Isle pullover is finished!  Yay!  The allover nature of the pattern, with 5 different contrast colours makes it so interesting to look at.  I know I keep saying it, but I get a better idea of it looking at the photos than when I'm working on it.  I suppose it's that big picture that I'm getting - standing back to observe.

In between finishing the back and really getting into the front, I've been knitting a little project as part of a KAL (Knit a Long).  I explain that, because you might be like me, and take a couple of years to work out what KAL stands for.  There's a great monthly KAL happening in the Budding Designers Downunder group on Ravelry.  The KAL supports a different budding Australian or New Zealand designer each month.  This month it's Christine Jeffery.  I've chosen her Tell Me a Tail bookmark.  I'm not sure that the  Regia 4 colour sock yarn that I've chosen is exactly letting this pattern stitch shine at it's best, it's still a fun and pretty project.  It didn't take long to find a member of the family putting their hand up for this one!

Fingerless Mitts - Pattern Now Available

Testing is complete, and the pattern for my Leafy Squares Fingerless Mitts is now available.

These mitts are knitted in the round and have a thumb gussett for a comfortable fit.  There is a panel of the Leafy Squares pattern along the back of the arm and hand.  These are knit in a 10 ply yarn.  I've used Heirloom Shetland 10 ply, which has resulted in beautiful and toasty warm mitts.

Leafy Squares Fingerless Mitts
Knitting Pattern
Yarn Suggested: Heirloom Shetland 10 ply or any Aran/10 ply yarn
Gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches in Stocking/Stockinette Stitch
Needle Size: 5mm double pointed needles
Meterage: 160 mtrs / 175 yards

This pattern is available to buy from Ravelry for $US 3.00

Fair Isle continues

I think this is a pretty good effort for one week of non-concerted effort.  A tension square was absolutely necessary, especially in helping to select colours.  I'd initially chosen yarn colours from a webpage.  When I knitted up the tension square, I could see that a couple of them didn't have enough contrast with the main colour.  So I went for a deeper version of those colours, and they're working out really well.

All of the fair isle patterns I'm using have an odd number of rows, so the new colour starts at one end, and finishes at the other end.  Odd numbers of rows and stitches do seem to look better in a lot of designs.  Maybe that's a standard thing with fair isle; I don't know.  I suppose this means the ends will be woven in evenly along both sides, but I'm finding it a bit annoying.  I was thinking that having all the ends at one side would mean I could tie them off against each other.

The rib band wants to flip up, so I've had to weight it down with a couple of balls of yarn for the photo.

Both the Abundance Pullover and the Leafy Squares Fingerless Mitts are coming to the end of their test phase.  I'm hoping to have more news on them soon.

Exciting news:  I've had a design accepted with a magazine!  I'll have to contain my excitement until June, when it will be published.

Venture into Fair Isle

The Fair Isle Pullover I mentioned in my previous post is now underway, as pictured.

It's nice to see it at a distance like this.  When I'm knitting, I'm too close up to see how the pattern's really looking.  Hmm.  Looks a bit narrow, now that I see it like this.  I'll have to do another measure, to make sure its's big enough.

My two current test knits which are underway, the Abundance Pullover and the Leafy Squares Fingerless Mitts, are coming along nicely.  One of each is finished, and they look great.  I'm not sure what to do with the pullover, as my testers are finding that it blocks bigger than it should.  When all are done, I'll have to go over all the final measurements, and see if I can adjust the pattern to fix this.

Leafy Squares Fingerless Mitt - In test mode

My Leafy Squares Fingerless Mitts are up for test knitting at the moment.  They look very svelte.

I've had a couple of takers for test knitting already, and am hoping for just a couple more.  They don't take long to knit, so I'm hoping the pattern will be all ready for release in a couple of weeks time.

As you can see by the shorts, it's not really mitt wearing weather here at the moment.  But that doesn't stop the knitting here, until my hands get sweaty.  Thankfully, it takes quite a lot of heat for that to happen to me.

In other news, I've just finished the calculations and rough writing up of a Fair Isle Pullover I'm desigining.  My tension square was interesting in helping work out which colours to use.  A couple that I'd chosen based on their colour on the computer screen, turned out to be too similar to my background colour when seen in real life.

I was desperate to get this written up, ready to start knitting at least by the end of this month, as I'll be on camp for a little while and must have knitting.  It's the ideal opportunity to get a lot done.

Now, where was I?

The normal duties of everyday life have rudely taken me away from my knitting and design. Dreadful!

But a few things have progressed.

The Abundance Pullover is currently being test knitted by five lovely testers on Ravelry.

After having to re-knit a few mistakes, the cowl is finished and has been sent to a magazine publisher for consideration.

I’ve knit one of a pair of fingerless mitts that I’ve designed, and am half way through the second. I was reminded today why knitting a pattern which requires concentration, and doing increases on every third row, is not a good idea while enjoying excellent company and conversation. Dammit! Yet again, it’s the small items which thwart me.

First with the latest

Yet again, I’m the first use a new Heirloom brand yarn on Ravelry.  Dye lot 001 again!  This time it’s Heirloom Shetland 10ply, pictured. 

Previously it’s been Heirloom Celone, which is a gorgeous blend of wool, alpaca and silk. And I’m still the only one linking to Celone. My philosophy, if that’s what you want to call it, is to use yarns Aussies can easily find in their Local Yarn Store. Is that a good tack to take? The Celone is a lovely yarn, so I don’t know why others aren’t linking to it. Maybe if the Heirloom company put up some patterns using this yarn, it may get more of a go. Or maybe they don’t have pattern leaflets in the store. I haven’t looked for them.

The Heirloom Shetland is a harder feel than the yarns I’m used to, but I think it’s going to make some lovely warm mitts, which is my reason for buying it.

More irons in the fire.

I’ve put in a submission to a magazine. Yay me! And I’ve been contacted by them with suggestions. So I’m going to go ahead and knit the cowl I’m proposing. If they don’t end up going with it, I’ll publish it here and on Ravelry. But they sound interested at least. This is a whole new world for me. Another learning curve!

Also, I have my Abundance pullover in for testing with a few fantastic Ravelry members. So that’s another job, checking on their progress, being available to answer queries and to correct any errors this reveals.

I’m trying to maintain the rest of my life, while squeezing in this knitting fun. Or is it the other way around.