Little big update

It is not pattern news I bring today, but the happy (and overdue) update regarding my website. For a long (really, really long) list of reasons, I’m closing Rose City Knits down and moving everything over to my name. Aside from the need for name recognition in the design world, it’s also problematic from a contract perspective to host everything through a business without my name in it.

So, the transfer is still in progress; but, I feel confident enough in my new website http://www.sara-morris.com to share.

The new homepage.

It’s (obviously) not complete, but is up and working and getting the hits – which totally counts as a success for me :)

I’d love for you to take a look around and give me feedback. Suggestions are always welcome!

As for the sweaters, I really need to tie myself down to a chair and sew on some (10) darned buttons. And weave in ends. Finishing will be the end of me.

July 9, 2014 by fyberduck

Vero Verto – and a contest!

Vero Verto in “Daffodil”

It’s done, it’s done! Big ‘thank you’ to Katrina (model) and Portland Nursery (location) for being awesome.

Pattern details:

GAUGE: 16 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette
MATERIALS:

• Approximately 200 y / 183 m of worsted to Aran weight yarn. Samples shown were knit with 1 skein of Anzula For Better or Worsted (200 y/182 m per 3.5 oz/ 100 g skein), shown in “Clay” and “Daffodil”
• Set of five US 8/ 5 mm dpns
• One 16-inch/ 40.5 cm US 8/ 5 mm circular needle
• One 16-inch/ 40.5 cm US 6/ 4 mm circular needle
• Tapestry needle
• 8 stitch markers (optional)

SIZING: Adult M (22”/ 56 cm head circumference)
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate
$6.00 US PDF DOWNLOAD on ravelry

I saw felt the yarn, Anzula’s For Better or Worsted, at TNNA and immediately knew what it needed to be – I’d just been informed that I was getting several designs back and needed to re-knit them. Anzula gave me a bunch of skeins in different colors (so expect to see more patterns knit with this yarn in coming weeks!) and I cast on immediately.  Yum.  Not to mention fabulous stitch definition.

And now to the CONTEST portion of our post, specifically aimed at the nerds among us.  The first three people to email me with the correct answer to this question:

Where did the pattern name, Vero Verto, come from?*

…will win one free copy of Vero Verto and any one Rose City Knits pattern of their choice!  Send your answer to my email – fyberduck(at)gmail(dot)com.

The deadline to submit is end of day, Thursday, February 13th (PT).  I’ll announce the winners on Friday (well, hopefully, provided anyone enters) and send out those patterns :)

Cheers!

*Hint: book lovers, think of the big screen.

February 12, 2014 by fyberduck

Mini Update: Rocket Pop Socks

While a longer, more in-depth update is long overdue, I am a little overwhelmed right now with the sheer quantity of work that piled up as I was being treated for an ass-kicking* kidney infection. So, just so’s to prove that I ain’t dead yet, I present a new pattern:

• Rocket Pop Socks (by me)
• Source: Twisted Sock Club (available on ravelry!)
• Yarn: Knitted Wit Cashy Wool

And that’s about all I got for now. If I haven’t responded to your message(s), I swear by the stash it’s on the To-Do List of Doom. Really.

*Posterior: mine

October 5, 2013 by fyberduck

It’s summer somewhere

What with viruses (does anyone use the plural viri?) and near-constant migraines for the past week, I’ve been a little out of the loop. Maybe more than a little, if we’re being honest. Well, logged into ravelry and noticed another design had been added to my designer profile:

The Buttoned Up in Lace Shrug from Creative Knitting, Summer 2013.  This design was a source of pride at the time (not that I could talk about it), because it utilizes three traditional reversible lace patterns (two are Madeira and one is Shetland), worked on a garter ground with two sets of knitted-on button bands so the “shrug” can be worn in several ways as different garments.  Which is why I was a little disappointed to see it only modeled as a shrug (love the photos, though, they did a fantastic job styling!).

Good thing I snapped some pictures on Gertrude before sending it in, eh?

as a wrap, to the side

as a cowl

For other ideas, see my ravelry notebook listing.  The yarn was Imperial Yarn’s Tracie in 114 Dusty Rose.  Loved the color and the yarn – and currently have quite a bit stashed.  The buttons are antique shell lovelies from my grandmother’s stash.

In other news, several patterns are imminently forthcoming from Rose City Knits.   Keep an eye out!

May 4, 2013 by fyberduck

Delayed “Woot, woot!”

My original intention was to blog about this sooner, but life got in the way. Oh, well. Last week I received my designer’s copy of knit.wear Spring 2013:

Plus, funnily enough, four additional covers and extra copies of my pattern (the Die Cut Vest) and article (On Design: Handkerchief Hems). For those of you who haven’t seen the magazine yet, the article is on the construction of handkerchief hems – both traditional and modern adaptations – and how to insert them into knitwear.  I hope people find it useful!

Also, I’d like to give a big shout-out to Opus, who helped me complete the article by the deadline by knitting the swatches while I freaked out about sketches, schematics, and everything in between. Big thanks to her for helping me stay sane.

Next time will be easier, now that I’ve run the gauntlet.

Or so I tell myself.

In other {BIG} news, Bridgetown is now officially available.

It’s been killing me not to talk about it.  Working on it was an epic project, what with 27 patterns to photograph and format (94 pages, all told!).  But it all got done and I’m supremely pleased with myself and the Crawl.  I feel like we did a fantastic job and am not ashamed to say it :)

Lastly, I’m currently working on catching up on Rose City Knits designs, the website, and couple of other projects.  Expect to see some self-published pieces in the coming weeks.  Opus (among others, though she’s the most vocal) has been on my case, so I’m trying very, very hard to get caught up.  I have over a dozen designs that just need to be written up and sent to my tech editor.  Oy.  Wish me luck!

March 27, 2013 by fyberduck

Bring on the heat!

I’ve done my bit.  In an insane effort to bring about some warm weather (we’re have a low of 45F tonight, brrr), I’ve finished Caulking because Opus and I sincerely believe that publishing a Fall/ Winter pattern will make the weather change.  This theory only works if you subscribe to the “bring an umbrella to prevent rain” doctrine, but I’m willing to try anything at this point.

So, here it is!  Caulking.  So named (by Opus) for it’s primary function of protecting you against the elements – or, rather, your neck and upper torso.  Secondary function?  It just looks cool.

Worn under a coat, it’ll un-expose your neck and collar-bone area…

Knit from the bottom up, the piece is steadily increased in pattern and buttoned in the back.

I’ve posted it on ravelry, but haven’t had a chance to add it to the RCK website yet. Sorry. I’ll get to that this weekend, honest – around the same time I finish up Rhea Silvia for my tech editor.

Here are the specs, in case you, too, are freezing right now:

GAUGE:

• 24 sts & 28 rnds = 4”/ 10 cm in Stockinette st

MATERIALS:

• Approximately 175 y/ 160 m sport weight yarn. Sample shown: Tactile: Fiber Arts Studio (225 yd/ 206 m per 3.5 oz/ 100g skein), in “Beach”
• Two 1/2”/ 1.25mm buttons
• Tapestry needle

NEEDLES:

• One 24-inch/ 61 cm US 3 / 3.25mm circular needle

SIZING:

• 18”/ 45.75 cm circumference, buttoned up
• 18.5”/ 47 cm wide x 13.5”/ 34.25 cm from point to collar, laid flat

SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate
$6.00 US PDF DOWNLOAD

Now, let’s see some HEAT!*

*This is not to say that I don’t love this pattern and am not proud of it. I am. A lot. I’m also really, really cold and tired of wearing winter clothes in May.

May 3, 2012 by fyberduck

Arashi unveiled

I truly meant to get this posted on Monday, but life being life, it just couldn’t happen. That said, I hope you’ll agree that it was worth the wait :)

May I present my latest design, Arashi?

“Storm” in Japanese, (my use of) the name actually comes from the dyeing technique arashi shibori, in which cloth is wrapped on the diagonal around a pole (usually bamboo) and scrunched, then dyed.

Maybe it’s crazy, but the name fits to me. (My mother disagrees.*) Either way, I’m quite pleased with the result.

Available as the May kit in the 2012 Abstract Fiber One Skein/Two Skein Club, it can be knit with one or two skeins of Abstract Fiber Lima (shown in “Hibiscus”).

The concept and design was inspired by traditional Faroese shawls (which I am absolutely obsessed with!), but the stitch patterns came from Estonia, the Shetland Isles, and my own head. I had fun creating my own stitch patterns (the two edge designs) and making everything work together.

For more details about the design, see the Arashi on ravelry and the 2012 Abstract Fiber One Skein/Two Skein Club.**

*She thinks it looks Anglo-Saxon and should have been named something entirely unpronouncable, like Aelfgifu or Aethelfrith.

**The pattern is exclusive to Abstract Fiber for one year, please don’t ask me for a copy!

April 25, 2012 by fyberduck

Booyah

There has been a shameful lapse in blogging here at Fyberduck HQ/ Rose City Knits, something I plan to remedy right now :)

For starters, remember the super-secret project I’ve mentioned a few times? Well, it is finished and the patterns are hot off the press and ready to be shipped out. If you’d like to get a sneak peek of the super-secret project (and you’re in the area), drop by Abstract Fiber’s booth at the Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival. It’ll be there, though I will not :$

I would say “alas”, but it is hard to be mournful when I think about how I’ll be seeing my niece and nephew again for my nephew’s BAR MITZVAH. Can you believe it? D turned 13 in March and will be reading the Torah on Saturday. I’m not sure how or when he got so big, but it seems very sudden (he’s almost my height now!).

So, we fly down to the Bay Area tomorrow and will spend the weekend with family. Not exactly something I’d complain about! Though I will miss the Festival, which is a bummer…

Especially since I now have a loft for the stash! Yes, a loft! In my new studio! (Yep, studio.)

While it’s not finished (see below), it was built/ installed on Tuesday and has already been used for a mini photoshoot for the super-secret pattern:

The studio is 14′ x 14′, which should make it quite large enough for my many tools, gizmos, and anything else design/ work related:

Particularly because of the loft (which measures 6′ x 14′) that is speficically intended for the stash…

Which even I can’t fill up that fast.

Or so goes the theory.

Anyway. We have big plans which involve cool flooring (I’m thinking Pergo) and of course insulation, plus Dad suggested a rolling ladder for the loft, which would just be AWEsome. I covet. My books and bookcases (plus comfy reading chairs) will go under the loft, while the sunlight main area will have all my design and creative tools and supplies.  I may even have room for a loom again.  That would be amazing, since I really miss weaving.

So, much has been happening here, obviously.  I’d love to type more, but I really need to go pack, since we’re leaving at 7 am.  Ugh.  I’m dreading facing the TSA so early in the morning.  That should be just super-duper fun.  Maybe I can sleepwalk through it…

I’ll try and post some more updates this weekend – including some other very exciting news – but make no promises.  Photos of the super secret project will definitely be going up on Monday, though, so keep an eye for that!  Until then, wish me luck, I’m gonna need it :)

April 19, 2012 by fyberduck

Wotcher

This one is short and sweet, but important.  I updated the Rose City Knits website, to include new information on classes and consulting.  What do you think?  Are there any classes you think I should add?

Also, how about the new blog template?  Yay or nay?

Oh, and this pattern is in progress (plus a super-secret special pattern that I can’t discuss – but looks A-MAZING!):

And Caulking is nearing the finish line, too. Slow and steady is better than not at all, amirite?

March 27, 2012March 25, 2012 by fyberduck

Random Monday

1. I updated my LinkedIn profile –  finally.  
2. The Rose City Knits website needs to be updated to include “Instruction” and “Design” pages with listings.
3. I may also need to update the website’s format (alas) and streamline it a bit… which makes me a bit sad.
4. A super-secret design is in progress using a super-secret yarn and colorway for an unnamed indie dyer’s club.  I am super-secretly excited by it.
5. This pattern is so very, very close to completion:
   
   I can taste it.
   
6. I have a meeting with a potential new client today.
7. Please don’t ask about Rhea Silvia… it’s in process :)

March 19, 2012March 25, 2012 by fyberduck