The Name Game

Remember this.

It became this.

And Disco is testing a larger version here.

It is my new design for Kollage Yarn's spring collection. The small version takes just one skein of Creamy yarn, the larger two skeins.

I'll admit, as much as I love knitting socks and designing socks, there is definitely an instant gratification to smaller projects like this. I can't wait to knit another one for me!

But, there is a problem. The pattern doesn't have a name yet. Usually one comes to me rather quickly or while I'm knitting the project, but this one. I'm stumped.

The colorway is Purple Poem. For some reason I immediately thought of springtime in Paris when I saw this color. Perhaps it was wishful thinking. The Creamy yarn is made from milk. Disco called it Creamy McDreamy and that name is definitely stuck in my head. And the scarf is so drapey, that that made Disco think of Drapery, as in Don Draper of Mad Men, which I'm watching right now. Love Mad Men.

But still no name.

That's where you all come in. I'm hoping you guys will have some fabulous suggestions for me! And to get those creative juices flowing, I'll be sure to send a lucky random winner some pretty yarn from my stash!

Thanks in advance!

Happy Naming!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

The Joy of Swatching

I think I can now say this. I have finally discovered the joy of swatching. Seriously.

It started back in April at Sock Camp. My class from Anne Hanson on sock designing was filled with fabulous information and inspiration, but what I appreciated most was this.



From the tiny cute project bag emerged some of her swatches.




And more of her swatches. I think it was at this point, when she had so many out, each filled with different information about gauge, pattern, texture, fabric, that I thought, "Shit. I have no idea what I'm doing with this designing thing. I might need to step it up a bit." I feared she would forever remember me as the person who never swatched (I've swatched, just you know, never like this). Hearing her discuss her design process and the role of swatching inspired me to start doing it A LOT more.

So when I received my two gorgeous skeins of Creamy last week from Kollage, well, I got to work.



Here's just 3 of my blocked swatches. There were 5 total! Of course, the fact that the Creamy yarn has a shine and drape that I just love, made it a bit easier to start each new swatch until I got it just about right. And not only did I figure out my design, but about three other design ideas worked themselves out in the process. The first three didn't work out, but the last two did.

Now I'm working on this.



Joy!!

After dinner tonight here, I'm hoping to knit a lot more on this!

Happy Friday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

P.S. Ravelry has a new promotions features and I'm trying it out with offering 20% off my Dotty, Courage, Sweet Home, and Uncle Frank patterns here! Sale will run through Sunday night!