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

Best laid plans

I’ve been planning to update my blog with numerous posts for the past month, but things keep happening*.  I particularly wanted to share my latest pattern release, Vero Verto (plus a contest!), but that’s not going to happen tonight.

The latest and greatest distraction (or catastrophe, depending on your POV) is that http://www.rosecityknits.com is down.  As is my attached email address.  I can neither send nor receive email.  Goody.

I’ll try and post some good news tomorrow.  After my doctor’s appointment.  Which is a whole ‘nother story in itself.

Wish me luck!

*Not good things.  Good things would be nice.

February 5, 2014 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

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

Run Roughshod

This one has been overdue for several months now, since the photoshoot was in September. But, what with Mom’s hospitalization (etc), it kind of got pushed back several times. Finally, though, Roughshod is done, done, done!

Inspired by traditional square dishcloths/ washcloths that are knit with one or two stitch patterns, I wanted to create a pattern that would show off variegated and hand-painted yarns – particularly Maia’s lovely Tactile Fiber Arts Sierra Sport Sock, which I had been obsessing over in the color “Dogwood”. Pink and green, what’s not to love?

The mitts are knit flat squares in Linen and Seed St with afterthought thumbs and button holes/ bands to fasten them in the round. Super easy and very quick to knit, since they’re basically two washcloths with some holes and thumbs :) They’re worked sideways to show off the Linen St and give a more “woven” appearance – hence the name “Roughshod”, since they kind of look handwoven.

Anyway. That’s enough from me. I bet you want photos. Here are a few:

For more photos, you can see them on Flickr, or the pattern on ravelry. Big thanks to Lindsay and Eva for being my models!

And now, the stats:

GAUGE:

• 22 sts & 36 rows = 4”/ 10 cm in Seed St on smaller needles
• 22 sts & 36 rows = 4”/ 10 cm in Linen St on larger needles

MATERIALS:

• Approx. 180 (200, 220) y / 164.5 (183, 201) m of sport to light-DK weight yarn. Sample shown was knit with Tactile Sierra Sport (225 y / 206 m per 3.5oz/ 100g skein, shown in “Dogwood”.
• Tapestry needle
• 2 stitch markers
• Waste yarn
• 12 (14, 16) 1”/ 2.5 cm buttons
• Matching sewing thread

NEEDLES:

• 1 pair US 6/ 4 mm straight needles
• 1 pair US 7/ 4.5 mm straight needles
• 1 set of five US 7/ 4.5mm DPNS (6” long)

SIZING: Adult S (M, L): Approx. palm circumference: 7 (7.5, 8)” / 18 (19, 20) cm
SKILL LEVEL: Easy
$6.00 US PDF DOWNLOAD

I still have two patterns from the September batch left over, plus a slew of new ones, but one step at a time.  I’m just glad to have one crossed off the list!

Next time, I have some BIG news and another preview of a coming pattern.  ‘Til then, happy knitting!

February 14, 2012February 13, 2012 by fyberduck

Sew Excited!

I know, I know, it’s sew been done (sorry, couldn’t resist). But I have three very good reasons to be excited. Drumroll, please…

ONE:

Caput Helianthus is done, done, done! It’s up on ravelry and the Rose City Knits website (though the price is mysteriously wrong there… weird).

This design was actually inspired by a vintage doily (circa the 1940s) that I really liked the concept of but hated the execution. So I decided to take the concept and adapt it for a hat. Caput Helianthus (literally “sunflower crown”) is the result. To keep it interesting (okay, I got bored), I created two versions – an 8-petal and a 16-petal version, just because. It’s knit with just 150 – 175 yards of fingering weight yarn (I used one skein each of Staccato for both samples) and is a great stash-buster.

I feel I should warn you, however, because it IS addictive. Opus and I have each knit three of these hats and are both considering a fourth (I’m thinking cashmere for mine!). There’s something magical about how quick it knits up, I guess. Anyway, here are the details:

GAUGE: 28 sts & 32 rnds = 4”/ 10 cm in Stockinette st
MATERIALS:

• Approximately 150 yards/ 135 meters fingering weight yarn. Sample shown: Shibui Knits Staccato (191 y/ 175 m per 1.75 oz/ 50g skein), 1 skein each, shown in “Dijon” and “Redwood”.
• One 16-inch US 2.5/ 3.00mm circular needle
• 8 Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle

SIZING: Adult/ 20 – 22” head circumference & 10” diameter, laid flat after blocking
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate
$6.00 US PDF DOWNLOAD

The one thing about the pattern that made me sad was that I had so many amazing pictures to use and so little space :( One of my favorites that didn’t make the cut is still a winner to me:

It’s just so quaint.

The SECOND item on my “sew excited” list?  Well, I finally got a sewing machine of my own!

Oh, yes, it’s mine and mine alone.  I’m already plotting.  Look forward to many sewing related posts in the future :)  The first will probably be with a sneak peek at my new studio space (still in the, ah, development stages).  I’m hoping to get a sewing area set up this weekend and break my new toy in a bit.

Should be fun.

Aaand, THREE…

This is my 1,200th post!  Can you believe it?  I certainly didn’t.  When did we get past 1,000?  200 posts ago, I guess.  Of course, the blog will be 6 years old in October (that’s actually older than my niece, T), so I’m not exactly a chatterbox.  Okay, maybe a little, since that averages out to around 200 posts per year.

Who knew?

September 28, 2011 by fyberduck

Has it been that long?

Apparently my last post was on the 7th.  It doesn’t seem like it was so long ago… but I can’t really argue with the WordPress calendar, can I?

Well, much has been happening in that time.  I’m trying two new migraine medicines (re: Migrain Brain) with mixed results.  I know it takes time to determine medication efficacy, so I’ll restrain from judgement now.  Keep your fingers crossed.

But, and this is much more interesting, that’s not the only thing that’s happened in the past couple of weeks.  The biggie?  A photoshoot for the Fall RCK pattern collection (if we loosely define the word “collection”).  The first three patterns are in the final stages of technical editing and formatting, with the others following in various stages of development.  To give you a taste of what I’ve been working on, here’s a fun little preview:

I’d also like to give a big ‘THANK YOU!’ to Lindsay and Eva for being my willing and very patient victims models.  Yes, I did the photography myself.  My poor, long-suffering father acted as my assistant during the shoot (i.e. he held lenses and carried props around).  Another big ‘THANK YOU’ to a friend who lent us her farm for the day (the Undisclosed Location).

We had a hoot (which you can probably tell from the photos*) and I really think it turned out well, especially with none of us being what you might term ‘professionals’.  Still, the ladies were great and the light was fantastic, so it wasn’t hard.  All in all, I’m quite pleased :)  I’ve even updated the RCK website to include a couple of shots from the shoot, just as another little tidbit.

Other than that?  I’m working on winter patterns – in fact, I have so many ideas, I’m going to have to be rather selective :(  Sad.  Maybe next winter.  Swatches litter the house and my studio area, plus sketches and charts and notes.  It’s more than a little chaotic.  But that’s my default state.

That’s all the big stuff for now.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to announce the release of Caput Helianthus** this week (or soon, at any rate).  Until then, I had better get back to work.  And my tea :)

*I really should post some of the outtakes.

**Sunflower crown (or head, if we’re being extremely literal).

September 25, 2011 by fyberduck

Victory dance

As promised, a new pattern!

$6.00 (PDF download)

Designed as a special release for the Knit Purl Month of Lace, Barnes is inspired by a friend and former coworker – who is also the store manager of Knit Purl. The central design is a lace motif flanked by knit-and-purl teardrops, all surrounded by a neat garter stitch edge – for an elegant and modern lace design.

Sample shown was knit using two skeins of The Sanguine Gryphon Gaia in the color “Sea Glass” . Pattern includes both charts and written line-by-line instructions, as well as U.S. standard and metric measurements.

Specs:

• Yarn: The Sanguine Gryphon Gaia Lace, shown in the color “Gaia”
• Gauge: 28 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in Lace patt
• Needles: US 3/ 3.25 mm
• Yardage: 800 yards/ 732 m
• Sizing: Approx. 12”/ 30.5 cm wide x 48”/ 122 cm tall

Credits:

• Photographer: Sara Morris
• Graphic Design: Sonia Jones Design
• Tech Editor: Katherine Vaughan
• Location: Woodstock Neighborhood, Portland, Oregon

Portlanders (and, hey, non-Portlanders), you can also pick up a copy of the pattern in person – as well as the yarn used – at my old haunt, Knit Purl.  The best part is that the yarn is only sale through the end of July as part of their annual Month of Lace.

Lastly, since I know I keep promising to post things other than pattern updates (in fact, I have a list of topics I want to cover!), have you ever visited the blog Sri Threads?  If not, you really need to.  I’m mad obsessed with them and their beautiful photographs of vintage and antique Asian textiles (particularly Japanese pieces), such as this lovely Sakiori Sodenashi:

Well, lovely to me, anyway.  Especially since it was the Sodenashi silhouette that inspired my Alsea vest from Shibui Texture.  In fact, when I saw this on Google Reader, I totally squealed with excitement.  It’s a geeky obsession, to be sure, but I’m going to stick with it.

Next time, I’m going to show off some cool new tools I found that knitters everywhere should stock up on!

July 20, 2011 by fyberduck