Something New

I'll come right out and say it. I'm still not totally comfortable with calling myself a "designer." I'm not sure why. Perhaps it is because I am still relatively new to this. But, the past few months, my friends have been encouraging me to embrace the fact that I am a designer. I'm trying. And so many of your comments about what you'd like to see on the blog included more about my designing process. So here goes.

Something new.


The Plucky Knitter MCN fingering

First, meet the swatch. One thing I learned at sock camp, I must swatch more. And I must swatch more efficiently. Previously, I would swatch in the round, making a mini-sock...maybe 40 stitches or so. I'd try something, then knit it a bit more, work it out, and then..eeek! rip it all back. I mean, what am I going to do with an odd-size sock. Well, I'll elaborate more on this in future posts, but Anne Hanson is the queen of swatching and has inspired me to be more efficient. The swatch on the left was a bust. Well, the ribbing worked out, but the "dots" on the swatch didn't pop in this yarn. In the swatch on the right, I played with gradually adding an additional stockinette stitch row in between the purled eyelets.



That led to this. A new sock design, where the "dots" gradually spread apart down the leg.



This will be my new sock, Dotty. Named after my Grandma. Its time that in addition to Cotty, Winnie, and Uncle Frank, there should be a Grandma sock. Then the Woods Family Collection will be complete.

I started with this yarn, The Plucky Knitter MCN fingering, because the colorway name was Dotty. Perfect. I'm very curious to see how this knits up in a variegated yarn too.

Which leads me to test knitters. I think I'm at the point where I may need a few more test knitters. I've got quite a few more patterns (some socks, some accessories) in the works for the next few months and if you're interested, leave me a comment or send me an email (irishgirlieknits AT gmail DOT com). And if you're interested in test knitting Dotty (its a quick knit!), please let me know. I would need a quick turnaround on this one though, since I'm hoping for the pattern to be released soon.


Now for another something new.

Sock yarn.



Jill from Studio June Yarn wasn't able to make it to sock camp, but she sent this with Erica for me. Just gorgeous!!! I hadn't heard of her yarns before and just love love love the vibrant colors!



Now, when you ask what came first, the design, the colorway, etc., well, my answer is it varies. But in this case, this vibrant red combined with lots of Twilight and New Moon watching late at night at sock camp, how can these not become some type of Volturri-inspired pattern?! The name is "Here Comes Trouble" afterall. I can't wait to swatch this. Thank you so much Jill!

And for those of you who made it through this post, something new from Bailey. I think I have conditioned her to "sit" for the camera. Yesterday, all I did was pull the camera out and she ran right to me. She knew she'd get a treat!




This is especially for you Jen. Oh, and don't click that link unless you want to be tempted by Piddleloop's sale!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits