Year Totals

I'm not sure if the Knit Meter will change on 1st Jan, so in case it does, I'd just like to record that I've knitted/crocheted 14,277 metres during 2010.

It's more than that, as with the commissions, I don't count them until they're published, but I'm still quite happy with that as a total.

However - I suspect that there has still been a net gain for the year, which is not so good. Must try harder. But it's hard to burn the stash when I'm making things for the magazines, as the yarn gets sent to me.

Hopefully, with willpower, time and organisation, I'll get quite a bit used up. Hope springs eternal, eh?


And here's the list of completed projects:

2010 09 Cardigan in Wendy Fusion
2010 09 Chunky Black Jacket
2010 07 Baby things
2010 06 Handwarmers
2010 06 Cakes
2010 06 Gift Bags
2010 04 Crochet Bag
2010 03 Opera Gloves
2010 03 Tiara
2010 02 Forever Scarf
2010 02 Tunisian Crochet Gift Bag
2010 02 Andrea's Hat
2010 02 Crochet Handwarmers
2010 01 Crochet Wave Hat
2010 01 Black Flapper Hat


Is that it?

A Christmas Greeting

A happy Christmas to all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q

Have fun, stay dry warm and upright.

Sirdar must wonder what the hell's going on....

Being November, in magazine world, next summer's patterns are being knitted and submitted.

I have two commissions at the moment, completely different designs, but both suitable for a cotton mix yarn.

When putting the pattern ideas to editors, most designers gives suggestions for yarns but the ultimate choice is theirs.

So, last week, I had some Sirdar Calico yarn through, for one of the commissions. This is a two colour design, but the contrast is really just for highlights.

This morning, I had some more Sirdar Calico through, for the other commision, in the same colour!

The compliment slip was signed by the same person, so I do wonder if she noticed my name crop up again.

To make matters worse, there's another commission on the way (completely different item and yarn), which is also from Sirdar.

I have no connections with this company, whatsoever, but I'm wondering if I should get in contact, to become one of their designers.......


Although I am going to be heartily sick of that colour by the time I've finished!

Crochet Slippers

Here is the latest pattern - crochet slippers for Inside Crochet.

The yarn (Louisa Harding, Kashmir Baby) is gorgeous. I think I have something similar/diff name in the stash from my last trip to the USA - I really should use it!

Serious thanks go to Zoe, the technical editor for getting this pattern into publishable shape. I was obviously having a very dizzy moment when I typed it up. And when I sent her my spreadsheet (showing how the increases worked), to show where I'd got my numbers from, I swear she must have thought that I was mad as well as daft. I had the pleasure of meeting Zoe at Ally Pally and so I was able to give my thanks and apologies in person. She's much kinder than I deserve!

Anyway, enough self-flagellation - here's the pattern.

Trend Spotting at Ally Pally October 2010

(The Rowan Stand)

I wasn't going to go, but in the end, I couldn't resist Ally Pally.

This year, there seemed to be a lot more companies selling undyed yarns (although not many companies selling dyes). And the Rowan Stand was full of their "purelife" etc yarns.

Still plenty of colour, though, which is always good to see.

(Habu)

The place seemed to be more about "stitch" than "knit" this year - if I see another patchwork quilt, I may weep.

The best/prettiest yarns were from The Knitting Academy. Their stuff is on the pricey side but looks and feels absolutely fab.

The black sheep jumble sale was there (but I resisted) as well as all of the usual spinners (large Colinette stall, Rowan, Sirdar etc).

Some obvious folks were missing (Get Knitted for example), and there weren't as many book sellers as previous years, but generally, it was a good show.

And it was absolutely packed with people - I think it was the busiest I've seen it. Which, of course, means that it was incredibly hot, as many were there in their best knitted items!

The student shows were inspiring, as ever - here are a couple of my faves.

Time for a lie down in a darkened room, now.

Stuff for chaps

The lastest Patterns in Let's Knit

Bias knit for a bit of interest and to show the fab (if muted in this case) colours of the Zauberball.

Editorial control

This is what the item looked like when it left me:

And this is what it looked like in the magazine.