It has been way too long for a post from me.
What can I say? I am sorry, but I have been very very busy.
I just wanted to let you know that I am still here and still designing etc but will be launching a new business very very soon and am gearing up for that.
More of that to come with the launch.
-D
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Life Changes...
Well, as eluded to in the last blog entry I will be undergoing some life changes in the next little while and do have to say that they will be for the better.
The first is at work.
I know, again? No. The only thing changing at work is which department I will be in charge of which will be in the long run better for the store and for myself.
The second?
I am moving. Not out of town or anything just to another apartment in town here. The move will start in the next week or so and will be ongoing for the next few weeks after that. For a little more money I will be getting a secure entrance, more space, better views, and less annoying neighbours.
So in a few weeks I you do not see me online for a little while you will know that it is because I am getting settled into the new apartment and getting services hooked up.
-D
The first is at work.
I know, again? No. The only thing changing at work is which department I will be in charge of which will be in the long run better for the store and for myself.
The second?
I am moving. Not out of town or anything just to another apartment in town here. The move will start in the next week or so and will be ongoing for the next few weeks after that. For a little more money I will be getting a secure entrance, more space, better views, and less annoying neighbours.
So in a few weeks I you do not see me online for a little while you will know that it is because I am getting settled into the new apartment and getting services hooked up.
-D
Monday, May 31, 2010
A returned thought...
I would like to start off with a hello and sorry I haven't blogged in a while but I have been a bit busy focusing on a few life changes that are coming to fruition and will let you all know about that in a few weeks.
A few years ago I had a thought.
Gasp I know, but I do think on occasion.
This thought then, had to deal with yarn and dyeing. Yes I was wanting to dye yarn. Well, lately this thought has returned and a bit stronger.
The other week while touring one of the local city gardens and gazing at the multitude of tulips in full flower this thought returned. I was thinking about dyeing yarn again. The more I looked around the more I thought on it.
What would it be like to have a skein of yarn dyed based on the inspiration from these wonderful tulips. Well, after thinking about it some more I have come to a decision. I will be doing some test dyeing over the fall and winter to see what the results come to be for what I have planned and potentially creating a spot limited spring yarn club.
What do you all think?
-D
A few years ago I had a thought.
Gasp I know, but I do think on occasion.
This thought then, had to deal with yarn and dyeing. Yes I was wanting to dye yarn. Well, lately this thought has returned and a bit stronger.
The other week while touring one of the local city gardens and gazing at the multitude of tulips in full flower this thought returned. I was thinking about dyeing yarn again. The more I looked around the more I thought on it.
What would it be like to have a skein of yarn dyed based on the inspiration from these wonderful tulips. Well, after thinking about it some more I have come to a decision. I will be doing some test dyeing over the fall and winter to see what the results come to be for what I have planned and potentially creating a spot limited spring yarn club.
What do you all think?
-D
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
A secret revealed...
I have a secret. A secret addiction.
I (sniffle while holding back tears), am addicted [yet another sniffle] to constantly checking my friends updates on Ravelry.
I know what you are going to say but I am truly addicted to it. I find every time I am on the laptop checking email/plurk/facebook or whatever else I am doing I am opening up my Ravelry account and checking to see what all my friends on Ravelry have faved/queued/cast on/finished and stashed.
I especially, for some unknown reason (whether it is because the yarns are not available here just yet or some other reason), am drawn to checking out what my foreign friends are doing.
The yarns, patterns, ideas... oy.
So they say that the first step is admittance... I wonder what the next eleven steps are going to be.
-D
I (sniffle while holding back tears), am addicted [yet another sniffle] to constantly checking my friends updates on Ravelry.
I know what you are going to say but I am truly addicted to it. I find every time I am on the laptop checking email/plurk/facebook or whatever else I am doing I am opening up my Ravelry account and checking to see what all my friends on Ravelry have faved/queued/cast on/finished and stashed.
I especially, for some unknown reason (whether it is because the yarns are not available here just yet or some other reason), am drawn to checking out what my foreign friends are doing.
The yarns, patterns, ideas... oy.
So they say that the first step is admittance... I wonder what the next eleven steps are going to be.
-D
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Month in review...
First off being a short month, this is going to be a short entry in the blogosphere.
Our yarn shop has finally opened and is now the proud owner of much of my money, like we all didn't know that that would happen anyways right? I did manage to get some lovely skeins of Fleece Artist and a new ball winder so that works out perfectly for me.
I unofficially challenged myself to do start and complete this cowl during the olympics, and let's just say that it has just about kicked my butt and I will probably not have the thing finished for tonight's closing ceremonies. Sigh.
Now I do need to say that I am liking how the pattern works and looks and might make another later this year but do have a wardrobe of cowls/neck warmers picked out for the coming winter already.
Other than that have had some family stuff go on which is why I have a bit silent on the whole communication front in email, plurk, and everything else. Not to worry though as things are getting better now and should be more like my communicative self at some very near point in time.
I just want to close with a warm wish to you all who are competing in the knitting olympics that you are able to complete your projects.
Will chat to you very soon all.
Our yarn shop has finally opened and is now the proud owner of much of my money, like we all didn't know that that would happen anyways right? I did manage to get some lovely skeins of Fleece Artist and a new ball winder so that works out perfectly for me.
I unofficially challenged myself to do start and complete this cowl during the olympics, and let's just say that it has just about kicked my butt and I will probably not have the thing finished for tonight's closing ceremonies. Sigh.
Now I do need to say that I am liking how the pattern works and looks and might make another later this year but do have a wardrobe of cowls/neck warmers picked out for the coming winter already.
Other than that have had some family stuff go on which is why I have a bit silent on the whole communication front in email, plurk, and everything else. Not to worry though as things are getting better now and should be more like my communicative self at some very near point in time.
I just want to close with a warm wish to you all who are competing in the knitting olympics that you are able to complete your projects.
Will chat to you very soon all.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
A bit of news...
As time ticks slowly away there is some news in the yarny world, and right here in Stratford. This weekend there will be, finally, a yarn shop opening up.
In years past Stratford has had different craft stores open and close which offered those of us that are fiber fiends a little bit of an outlet for our financial savings. Well folks, after many a year in town with Zellers being the only real source of yarn, yes acrylic does count as yarn, in town this weekend will bring upon a new era of fiber crafts with the opening of Close Knit. I for one am both happy and sad. Happy for the fact that I do not have to cry over bad yarn and sad that my bank account might potentially be at a constant zero balance. Unfortunately it is my weekend to work and I will not be able to attend opening weekend but the following, Valentine's Day/Olympic opening weekend (payday as well), is my weekend off and am planning on spending some time at the shop getting to know what will hopefully become familiar ground.
The commute to it will be very quick for me as it is basically right below me.
The other bit of good fiber related news is that a wonderful online purveyor of great quality yarns, Reb Bird Knits, is moving to town from the big city. She has a wonderful variety of sock and lace weight yarns available on the online shop and has some great deals in preparation for the move. Hopefully her goal is attainable of having no books, yarn, etc to pack and move with her. P.S.: If you do have any leftovers, I will gladly compensate you ;)
And before you ask, yes I will be welcoming her to town with a warm cup of Balzacs coffee/chai and possibly even something delish right out of the oven.
As for other news... the experiment. Sigh.
Surprisingly it is going well. I enlarged my 1/4 scale basic bodice sloper a bit so that it is easier to use as my pattern peice. I have cast on using some worsted weight yarn and am following the dart lines for my increasesand periodically measuring against the sloper to see if it still fits and to this point in time it is working out. I will have to see if this will truly work with a more elaborate pattern but it more than likely will (knock on wood).
Speaking of which, I should get back to knitting.
Welcome to town Close Knit and Red Bird Knits!
Until further blogging notice...
-D
In years past Stratford has had different craft stores open and close which offered those of us that are fiber fiends a little bit of an outlet for our financial savings. Well folks, after many a year in town with Zellers being the only real source of yarn, yes acrylic does count as yarn, in town this weekend will bring upon a new era of fiber crafts with the opening of Close Knit. I for one am both happy and sad. Happy for the fact that I do not have to cry over bad yarn and sad that my bank account might potentially be at a constant zero balance. Unfortunately it is my weekend to work and I will not be able to attend opening weekend but the following, Valentine's Day/Olympic opening weekend (payday as well), is my weekend off and am planning on spending some time at the shop getting to know what will hopefully become familiar ground.
The commute to it will be very quick for me as it is basically right below me.
The other bit of good fiber related news is that a wonderful online purveyor of great quality yarns, Reb Bird Knits, is moving to town from the big city. She has a wonderful variety of sock and lace weight yarns available on the online shop and has some great deals in preparation for the move. Hopefully her goal is attainable of having no books, yarn, etc to pack and move with her. P.S.: If you do have any leftovers, I will gladly compensate you ;)
And before you ask, yes I will be welcoming her to town with a warm cup of Balzacs coffee/chai and possibly even something delish right out of the oven.
As for other news... the experiment. Sigh.
Surprisingly it is going well. I enlarged my 1/4 scale basic bodice sloper a bit so that it is easier to use as my pattern peice. I have cast on using some worsted weight yarn and am following the dart lines for my increasesand periodically measuring against the sloper to see if it still fits and to this point in time it is working out. I will have to see if this will truly work with a more elaborate pattern but it more than likely will (knock on wood).
Speaking of which, I should get back to knitting.
Welcome to town Close Knit and Red Bird Knits!
Until further blogging notice...
-D
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Belated Happy New Year!
I know, I know. It has after all been a few weeks now since the beginning of a new year and this is the first blog entry from me for it but can you really blame me?
Okay maybe you can.
As you remember from last year, I had suffered a loss of mojo. Said mojo has come back, not in full force mind you but still has returned. What this means is that I have been slowly getting back into the process of being a poly-knitter despite my mind wanting me to be a monoga-knitter for this year. Isn't our culture fun?
During the festive holiday season I cast on two projects, Colonnade by Stephen West (in some cheap and cheerful bright royal blue acrylic), and Ruba'iyat Mittens by Heather Desserud (in the ever so dreamy colour ways of Samhain and Brewhouse Ale by KnittingDragon [I can not wait until he is at the point in his life where he is able to start dyeing again]). Where am I in these projects? About as far as where I left off, as in not even 50% on the Colonnade and not even 20% on the Ruba'iyat Mittens. I am enjoying them though and they will keep me busy, even though I have a multitude of sock UFO's on the needles. "Sigh".
For the last week I have been contemplating my design ability in knitwear. Those who know me well may come to the realization that my severe lack of ability in math might be the issue. This brings me to a point that might seem contrary to that statement. I can completely and totally flat draft a garment pattern in virtually no time at all, and trust me when it comes to garment pattern drafting there is much math involved and I can somehow manage to do it accurately. Yet, when it comes to knitwear drafting, not so much is accomplished.
Why am I bringing up my issues with math and knitting? Well I am still working on the Hodr/Skadi/Rynka designs.
Yep. Still working on them.
This brings me into my next thought.
Many years ago I purchased through a book club a reprint of a stitch dictionary from the 1970's, name of which escapes me and I am not at my studio space so please forgive me. Trust me when I say that there are not many stitch patterns in this dictionary, but are many vintage patterns for the absolute beginner. But there was some useful information on increases, decreases, shaping and many other things.
One of the other things was knitting from flat drafted patterns. In the "chapter" (at the top of my head only a few paragraphs long) the author describes how to take the measurement guide image [sketch of the finished pattern pieces/garment with the measurement usually with the knitting pattern for sweaters etc] and enlarging it and using that as your gauge guide. You simply cast on the number of stitches needed to fill the space between the edges of the pattern and knit accordingly, with increases and decreases until you finish knitting the pattern piece.
Where does this come into my realization about my lack of math ability?
I had a thought the other day that the same principal can be applied to flat drafted garment patterns for woven material. For those of you who know about the grading up/down process in fashion design and are used to using sewing patterns know that multiple sizes are included with a sewing pattern, and therefore a wide range of sizes could be knit from a flat pattern.
As a fashion designer I am used to the grading process and began to think that this might be rather interesting to test out. Yes there would be some potential difficulties like dart shaping but that is the joy of trying out a new process. The other issue that keeps popping up in my mind is yarn requirement/type to which I think that only the yardage would be the real issue as one would in essence be able to use any yarn he/she selects and can knit to their own natural gauge.
Most commercial patterns come with a list of suitable material that the garment could be made with, I say this only because I have had the misfortune to have had bought commercial patterns with no list of fabrics given, therefore could be potentially be knit with any size yarn/needle/etc.
I know I am crazy aren't I?
Now, excuse me while I begin the draft something out and cast it on.
-D
Okay maybe you can.
As you remember from last year, I had suffered a loss of mojo. Said mojo has come back, not in full force mind you but still has returned. What this means is that I have been slowly getting back into the process of being a poly-knitter despite my mind wanting me to be a monoga-knitter for this year. Isn't our culture fun?
During the festive holiday season I cast on two projects, Colonnade by Stephen West (in some cheap and cheerful bright royal blue acrylic), and Ruba'iyat Mittens by Heather Desserud (in the ever so dreamy colour ways of Samhain and Brewhouse Ale by KnittingDragon [I can not wait until he is at the point in his life where he is able to start dyeing again]). Where am I in these projects? About as far as where I left off, as in not even 50% on the Colonnade and not even 20% on the Ruba'iyat Mittens. I am enjoying them though and they will keep me busy, even though I have a multitude of sock UFO's on the needles. "Sigh".
For the last week I have been contemplating my design ability in knitwear. Those who know me well may come to the realization that my severe lack of ability in math might be the issue. This brings me to a point that might seem contrary to that statement. I can completely and totally flat draft a garment pattern in virtually no time at all, and trust me when it comes to garment pattern drafting there is much math involved and I can somehow manage to do it accurately. Yet, when it comes to knitwear drafting, not so much is accomplished.
Why am I bringing up my issues with math and knitting? Well I am still working on the Hodr/Skadi/Rynka designs.
Yep. Still working on them.
This brings me into my next thought.
Many years ago I purchased through a book club a reprint of a stitch dictionary from the 1970's, name of which escapes me and I am not at my studio space so please forgive me. Trust me when I say that there are not many stitch patterns in this dictionary, but are many vintage patterns for the absolute beginner. But there was some useful information on increases, decreases, shaping and many other things.
One of the other things was knitting from flat drafted patterns. In the "chapter" (at the top of my head only a few paragraphs long) the author describes how to take the measurement guide image [sketch of the finished pattern pieces/garment with the measurement usually with the knitting pattern for sweaters etc] and enlarging it and using that as your gauge guide. You simply cast on the number of stitches needed to fill the space between the edges of the pattern and knit accordingly, with increases and decreases until you finish knitting the pattern piece.
Where does this come into my realization about my lack of math ability?
I had a thought the other day that the same principal can be applied to flat drafted garment patterns for woven material. For those of you who know about the grading up/down process in fashion design and are used to using sewing patterns know that multiple sizes are included with a sewing pattern, and therefore a wide range of sizes could be knit from a flat pattern.
As a fashion designer I am used to the grading process and began to think that this might be rather interesting to test out. Yes there would be some potential difficulties like dart shaping but that is the joy of trying out a new process. The other issue that keeps popping up in my mind is yarn requirement/type to which I think that only the yardage would be the real issue as one would in essence be able to use any yarn he/she selects and can knit to their own natural gauge.
Most commercial patterns come with a list of suitable material that the garment could be made with, I say this only because I have had the misfortune to have had bought commercial patterns with no list of fabrics given, therefore could be potentially be knit with any size yarn/needle/etc.
I know I am crazy aren't I?
Now, excuse me while I begin the draft something out and cast it on.
-D
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