I can’t believe it, but I did manage to finish and post two of many new patterns I have designed!  You can see the pattern details under the “Patterns for Sale” green tab at the top of the website.  More photos are shown below on the previous post and also within each pattern’s description.

I can not believe how long it has been since I’ve updated the blog.  I just either want to laugh or cry everytime I read a past posting that says “I promise I’ll blog again really soon” and “really soon” turns into a black hole in space.

What I can really promise and keep this time is that I do have a few designs that are done and the patterns are very close to being complete….hopefully within two weeks.  The majority of the patterns are typed out, so the hard part is done.  I just need to put the finishing touches on them and will notify everyone that has subscribed to the newsletter when they are on the site for sale.

The LaBoheme Jacket is not included in this bunch, but if you are one of the folks that email me every few weeks about this pattern, please do know I have a draft done and will be happy to send it to you if you would like to get started.

The new patterns coming out include the ones pictured here.  The “Freesia Freeform Jacket” is a knit pattern that used the great yarns Laura from Prism gave me over the holidays.  I wore this jacket to my LYS and a few people loved it enough to purchase the yarns for it even though I had not finished the written pattern.   The shawl is a crochet pattern, shown here in Prism Slique and the second version in Great Adironack’s Allure.  I have one more new design that I have not photographed yet as I am still jacking around with the trim, but I do hope to get that completed sooner than later.

Laura from Prism came into town a few weeks ago for her annual visit and class.  As always, I obtained a years worth of knowledge in 8 hours!  Her model garments are outstanding in person.  If you are a Prism fan, please keep your eyes open for the next Prism pattern book to be released in July.  Everyone in class had convusions over the sample garments that will be in this new pattern book. 

I am currently working on Prism’s graduated jacket pattern (model garment bottom right) along with a fantastic shawl from her new Gossmer yarn.  Photos of my versions coming soon…or eventually…. depending on what time planet you live on! 

I haven’t dropped off the face of the knitting earth!  So sorry for the delay, and once again I really appreciate everyone that has emailed to check in with me.

I have once again started more designs without finishing current ones.  Whenever I get stumped on something I’m working on, I find it a lot easier to start something else than to work out the current issue.  Most of the time the answer comes to me during the next project, but that also leads me to more UFOs.  It does appear I will have quite a few new patterns released all at the same time, but when that exact time is I’m not sure.  I hope within 4 to 6 weeks.  Yes, the LaBoheme jacket pattern is almost ready.  I do have a rough draft for anyone that is chomping at the bit and wants to start on it!  Just email me and I’ll be happy to send it to you.

Lots going on here as I’m sure there is in your world.  I had another missing animal issue that fortunately was solved.  The most tragic recent event happened to my best girlfriend with one of her dogs that was attacked by a bobcat and seriously injured.  She lives in the city but backs up to a creek.  A bobcat came out of nowhere.  Here is the video link to what happened:

http://www.wfaa.com/video/index.html?nvid=237955

In knitting news, the photos are just some of my recent projects in the works.  The light colored fabric is a jacket that I am extremely excited to finish…..once I figure out what I’m doing with the trim.  The silver photo is a shawl I am also really excited about.  It is turning into a large piece of jewelry!  The blue scarf is a fantastic pattern that I have had a lot of fun working on.  I mixed 4 different colors of KPPPM.  The pattern can be found here:

http://www.ellenewarren.com/eboutique/home.php?cat=1

Barry Klein from Trendsetter was in town last week and brought an incredible rack full of fantastic new model garments.  I can not express in words how outstanding these new designs are in person.  I ordered quite a few of them and am very anxious for them to arrive so I can get started on yet another batch of stuff. 

http://www.trendsetteryarns.com/patterns.htm

I have recently been accepted as a member of both The Knitting Guild Association and the Association of Knitwear Designers.   I’m really glad their criteria isn’t based on how often I update my blog or I would never be accepted anywhere!

I promise not to be out of touch for so long again….really, I promise!  Please stop by again soon.

Remember your New Years Resolutions?  Me neither.

I started another design without finishing any other garment, and this weekend I am ready to start yet another new jacket design.  I did however finally finish the Blanket/Shawl pattern  and you can find it here:

http://yarnoverlounge.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

The additional photos of the blanket may not be on the “Pattern for Sale” page yet, but I am working on getting the bugs out of the program so that the additional photos will load.  In the meantime you can find additional photos for it on the blog posts below this one. This blanket lived in the yarn store for about a month and the owner sold quite a few kits for it.  It is so amazing in person and drapes like you just wouldn’t believe.

I haven’t started the sleeves for either jacket but I am really excited about how the LaBoheme Jacket is coming along.  The peplum hits perfectly around the waste and so far it is really figure flattering. The green/pink jacket is one that I am designing inspired by the holiday gift of Prism Freesia yarn.

I’ve been messing around with freeform but haven’t put anything together yet.  I am really trying to get myself on some type of real schedule that keeps me working on the written part of the patterns as I go along so there will not be such a delay in pattern releases.  I truly appreciate all of you who have written me wanting the patterns of garments I have photographed for the blog.  They will be available one day soon!  Thanks so much for your patience.

This year I am going to try and not create such a large pile of UFOs.  Famous last words.  I’m also going to try and complete more written patterns this year. 

So, to start the new year I’m already working on two new projects instead of finishing what I have on the needles. One of which I am really excited about and will share with everyone as soon as it is close to completion.

Above is a gorgeous gift from a friend that includes a new Alchemy color called “Limeade”which I adore.  For those that are Alchemy color followers, Limeade (at least in the Bamboo yarn) is a great green color that is a little less intense than their “Sour Grass” colorway.  I love Sour Grass, but it is a bit of a neon eye-bleeding color.

I did finish the second version of the Fern blanket in Periwinkle for a holiday gift that was well received.  I really will get this pattern written very soon.  The white version of this blanket was on display at my local LYS and received many compliments and quite a few orders from customers wanting to make it.  I can’t describe in words how soft and elegant this throw is.

I also made a dog scarf for my friend’s dog.  It turned out okay, but did not end up being what I initially envisioned.  I wanted to do a freeform type dog scarf but just couldn’t get it to look the way that I wanted it to.

After a request from my cousins for a scarf for next Christmas, I started on one that I am making out of Fiesta’s “Swoon” in Surf which is just an outstanding yarn.  If you haven’t worked with it I highly suggest it.  It just melts in your hands. I’m using the infamous “So Called Scarf” pattern from the “Sheep in the City” blog.

This holiday season has started off with a real bang with people going above and beyond with the gift giving.

Prism and the owner of my LYS dropped this present bomb on me Saturday.  I almost fainted when I opened the box full of Prism’s new yarn color “Freesia”. It is sitting on my dining room table where it will live indefinately so I can drool and paw over it every time I walk by.

 I haven’t been able to buy yarns this year in any quantity that is any where close to what I have in the past, so this was an extra large suprise.  Freesia is beautiful….full of greens, pinks and purples.  I can’t wait to get my needles into them.  I am still way too far behind with what is on my needles for the holidays, but the second those are cleared off I’m tearing into these.  Lotus is one of my favorite Prism yarns, and it is dying out especially well in Freesia.  I think Lotus  would be a perfect sock yarn although I haven’t made a pair out of it yet.  Lotus is the middle yarn in the photo below.

On of my best customers made this gorgeous bracelet for me!  I was so incredibly touched when I opened it.

The cup was actually a present to myself when I purchased a few of them for my knitting friends.  My girlfriend Courtney sent me the link originally, and you can find yours at:

http://www.cafepress.com/cp/browse/store/madknitter.22691165

Barry from Trendsetter was in this week for a class and he stayed in town for a few days.  I was called out of class for what turned out to not be a household emergency, but I had to leave suddenly and didn’t get any photos.  I did purchase one of his new yarns that I love called “Love”.    He also brought some incredible samples of his new patterns that are well worth you checking out:

http://www.trendsetteryarns.com/patterns.htm

I finally finished writing and posting the pattern that Sharon Spence designed.  The second version shown here is in Fiesta Starburst LaBoheme….see the full photo of the red in Tilli Tomas Rock Star below on the previous post.  This is a fantastic pattern that doesn’t take a lot of yarn, done on large needles and can be completed in just a few evenings. It would certainly make a great last minute gift!  You can find it under the “Patterns for Sale” tab on this website.

I am still feverishly knitting holiday gifts.  I finished the set of headband gifts (below), and now I am working on a freeform type gift and a larger knitted gift that I hope will be ready by the holidays.  I might have to pull a few all nighters to finish the large gift.  I will post photos of the finished projects after I give them to the receipients.

The headbands below:  The “ring” headband is my own design knitted out of three colors of Alchemy Synchronicity.  The burgandy headband is also my own design….just a simple crochet headband also out of Alchemy Synchronicity with Muench “Touch Me” crocheted on as trim.  The light blue headband is Stitch Diva’s pattern made out of Alchemy Bamboo in one of my favorite colors “Soft Turquoise”.

This week Barry from Trendsetter will be in town to give a class.  I’ll post class photos next week.

This gorgeous shawl is not my creation….Sharon Spence designed it and I am working on the second version of it.  I found Sharon on Ravelry and I will release the pattern on this site under her name as soon as I can finish the second version.  Please sign up for the newsletter to be notified when it is released.  It is an easy lace pattern that yields gorgeous results!

I have been feverishly working on holiday gifts for friends.  I had what I thought was a great plan for creating gifts that were not yarn related for over 6 weeks,  and the project went to hell in a handbasket every step of the way.  I had to abandon the idea and pick up the needles ASAP.  I’ll post pictures of the finished projects after the holidays, but for now I can only show you the headbands I’m making for a friend who doesn’t play on the computer. I’m using the Stitch Diva Wavy Headband pattern in Alchemy Bamboo, and I’m also going to crochet her a few more out of Alchemy.

I’m de-stashing a little to get some holiday change, so check out my EBay listings here:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZeelrenrut

I am trying to get my feet wet with being creative again.  After some supportive words from friends, I decided to just do a small project to attempt to get back into it.  Something I could start and finish quickly, and something I really loved to work on.  I decided on another Tess Dawson Lacy Crochet Scarf using some inexpensive Feza Mohair.  At first the Feza was a bit stiff, but I got over it.  I love the shadowing.  It isn’t 100% complete, but it is completed to the point I want it to be for now.  The unfinished portion I plan to work on while waiting at an appointment this week.  It really felt good to start something and almost finish it again. 

I also pulled out a UFO sweater in Blue Heron Rayon Chenille.  This is one of the few chenille yarns I love.  The sweater is now to the point I need to really think about how the neckline will be designed, but hopefully I will get to it sooner than later.

I’ve worked some on a LaBoheme Jacket I started designing months ago.  It is a side-to-side knitted jacket, and most jackets knit like this do not have a lot of waist shaping.  As luck would have it, the place I started the short rows happens to give the jacket more waist shaping than I thought it would.

Hope to be back posting some interesting new project soon!

Since I have temporarily lost my creative mojo, I’m sharing photos of the best party I have been to in ages.

My girlfriend hosted a “White Trash Party” last weekend and did an amazing job.  She and her husband completely decked out every inch of their house “White Trash Style” and all of the guests came in character.

Check out all of the party pics here:

http://yarnoverlounge.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1307

I do hope I have something creatively fabulous to share with you on the next post!