Testing...testing...

No, really. I have a pattern in testing right now. I had my DNA scarf test-crocheted by three very talented crocheters, who provided some very useful feedback in exchange for a free copy of the pattern. I've acted as a test crocheter and test knitter myself, but this time I was on the other side as a designer. Pretty neat, actually. (The free patterns I have posted here, my Fall Cables Lapghan and Oenfpp, were not tested prior to sharing. Also, my patterns published in I Like Crochet Magazine were not tested - the magazine has its own technical editors, but magazines have neither time nor resources to have patterns individually test-crocheted prior to publication.)

Now, I have another, somewhat smaller, pattern getting ready for self-publication:

Tea Wallets!

I've made quite a few samples, and most of them will be Easter gifts (and, really, with these pastels, they'll fit right in to the holiday.)

There are a few things I didn't anticipate when I decided to try self-publishing. I'm working through them, and every day I'm improving on my last efforts. 

My biggest challenge, I am learning, is photography. I don't have a super-fancy DSLR camera (which is probably for the best, considering I have a toddler in the house), I don't have extensive training, all I have is a willingness to take 100 pictures to (hopefully) get two or three workable ones.
Thankfully, the digital age has made this much more affordable than it was 20 years ago.

I'm also learning to create charts. This is an added challenge, since it involved learning how to use new software - I'm using Inkscape, which is open-source software similar to Adobe Illustrator. (I use open-source software whenever possible. I really don't have the budget for Adobe and Microsoft packages, even just the home versions.) But, it's pretty fun when I get that "ah-ha" moment, and the charts just magically fit together on the screen.

Anyway, the pattern for these tea wallets is on track to be released in March, just in time for some last-minute crochet Easter gifts. I'll post here when it's released, of course, but you can also stalk my Ravelry store here.

New Pattern!!

I've been gone for a while.

Well, that happens...we moved to Las Vegas, which means I've been learning my way around a new city. I've also been adjusting to life back in America - culture shock works both ways, which was not something I anticipated when we initially moved to Japan. Strangely, the national chains of stores and fast food restaurants have been quite comforting to me. A spicy chicken sandwich from Wendy's is the same in every state, after all. And I can find the same things I need in any Target store. (And being able to read every label at the grocery store, without having to play guess-that-protein? Awesome.)

Other things I've been doing: Adapting to being a stay-at-home mom. Chasing my two-year-old around. Growing another tiny human - that's right, Clinton's baby brother is due to arrive sometime around the end of April!

And, of course, I've been crocheting. And designing. And even getting some of these designs published!

Which leads me to my big announcement:

DNA is now live!

This is my first self-published, paid pattern. It is written out line-by-line, and also includes a chart, if that is your preference for crochet patterns. The cables are created via post-stitches. The lovely sample seen above uses two skeins of Dream in Color Classy in Callous Pink.
I hope you like it!

Stress Relief Knitting

We all know it (or at least understand the idea.) Guess what I've been doing a lot of?
I have this awesome hexipuff kit that I received in a Ravelry swap, and it fits perfectly in my cargo pocket. So of course, the thing goes everywhere with me. And waiting doesn't seem so long, either.
My only problem right now is, I'd much rather be working on a big project, like a sweater or lace shawl...but they almost require too much attention, and I might find myself more stressed by having to rip out & re-knit any mistakes. At least with a hexipuff, it's only about 15 yards of yarn.
Anyway, here is my awesome traveling hexipuff kit!

posted from Bloggeroid

The Final Countdown

I'm still getting used to typing on the screen; I learned to type so long ago that it feels weird to do something different.
Anyway, that isn't what this post is about.
It's about moving, and the insane amount of stress it brings.
Have you ever moved internationally? There are a lot of details that become critical if you don't address them quickly. Some are obvious, like passports and plane tickets. Others are important but get overlooked if you're not careful, like veterinary health certificates and properly sized kennels for your pets. And then, the detais when you land - vehicles and housing, and phones and banking.
I went to the clinic yesterday, and was quite surprised that my blood pressure wasn't higher.

posted from Bloggeroid

Testing the new tablet...

Tim gave me an awesome gift today - a tablet! This isn't something I would buy myself, but so far I love it.
And, I'd like to get back to blogging again - I've been slacking on New posts for a very long time.
So here I am, testing out the bloggeroid app (since the regular blogger app isn't particularly fun to work with.) So far, I like it; I've accidentally hit the home button twice while typing, and both times I only lost the last two words typed. That's pretty good, to me.
I haven't yet tried bold or italics or strikethrough so we'll see if those managed to come through.

posted from Bloggeroid

Two weeks in!

We are now two weeks into 2014!
Which means that my leave is up, and I went back to work this morning. Which involved a heartbreaking moment, in which I had to put my son back in his crib before heading upstairs to get ready. That wasn't the heartbreaking part, though.
When his arms turned into little vise grips, and he clutched at my neck with all his strength, and started sobbing in protest as if to say "No Mommy don't go!!" ...yeah, that part made me start to cry a little. And then I started to count how many days I have left before my obligation to Uncle Sam is up...(326, in case you were curious.)

But anyways.
I did manage to knit & crochet up a storm during my time at home (nap times are awesome for crafting!), and I can officially mark the book Pacific Knits as done, as I've now completed three patterns from it (which is actually one more than I require to consider it "done.")(Except I'm not actually "done," since I have a cousin who is expecting and I am totally knitting another sweater from this book as a shower gift.)(Plus I kind of really want to knit myself an Antler cardigan.)
Anyway, what exactly did I knit?
Well, I made the Campfire pullover for Clinton:

Not the greatest photo, I know. It's horribly over-exposed. But it's also the only photo he's let me get! This boy runs circles around me (and Tim. And the cats.)
But you can still see the lovely Fair Isle pattern (my first experience doing stranded colorwork! Woo-hoo!) and the awesome shawl collar that Tim dislikes so much. (I agree that this isn't a style I would buy in a store...but really, it looks so cute on him!)

Anyways, I know it's just morning in North America, but here in Japan it is getting very close to my bedtime, so I wish you all good-night!

Oenfpp

Meet Oenfpp, the One-Eyed, Non-horned, Flightless Purple People-eater.

My husband hates him. My son likes him. I think he's rather cute.
I might be a little attached to him, since he's the first amigurumi pattern I've improvised. I took Stacey Trock's Craftsy class on designing amigurumi monsters, and this was my first attempt.

And, because it's the new year and I like to share things, I've written out the pattern! So without further ado, here it is!

You will need:

Yarn – worsted weight, MC: approx. 100g/220yards/200m (I used Stitch Nation Washable Ewe in Currant. This yarn has been discontinued, but any worsted weight will do.)

small amount of white yarn for eye, small amount of black yarn for pupils and mouth

Hook – size G/4mm

Polyfil

Notions – stitch marker, scrap yarn for eyes and mouth

Skills needed: Magic circle, single crochet, single crochet 2 together

Abbreviations: sc : single crochet

sc2tog: single crochet 2 together (decrease)

This pattern is worked continuously in-the-round, without joining.

Body:

Round 1: Using MC and magic circle, 6sc and join to work in round. (6)

Round 2: 2sc in each stitch (12)

Round 3: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next stitch] around (18)

Round 4: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 2 stitches] around (24)

Round 5: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 3 stitches] around (30)

Round 6: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 4 stitches] around (36)

Round 7: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 5 stitches] around (42)

Round 8: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 6 stitches] around (48)

Round 9: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 7 stitches] around (54)

Round 10-18: Sc in each stitch (54)

Round 19: [sc2tog, sc in next 7 stitches] around (48)

Round 20: [sc2tog, sc in next 6 stitches] around (42)

Round 21: [sc2tog, sc in next 5 stitches] around (36)

Round 22: [sc2tog, sc in next 4 stitches] around (30)

Round 23: sc in each stitch (30)

Round 24: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 4 stitches] around (36)

Round 25: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 5 stitches] around (42)

Round 26: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 6 stitches] around (48)

Round 27: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 7 stitches] around (54)

Round 28-36: sc in each stitch (54)

Round 37: [sc2tog, sc in next 7 stitches] around (48)

Round 38: [sc2tog, sc in next 6 stitches] around (42)

Round 39: [sc2tog, sc in next 5 stitches] around (36)

Round 40: [sc2tog, sc in next 4 stitches] around (30)

Round 41: sc in each stitch (30)

Round 42: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 4 stitches] around (36)

Round 43: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 5 stitches] around (42)

Round 44: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 6 stitches] around (48)

Round 45: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 7 stitches] around (54)

Round 46-55: sc in each stitch (54)

Round 56: [sc2tog, sc in next 7 stitches] around (48)

Round 57: [sc2tog, sc in next 6 stitches] around (42)

Round 58: [sc2tog, sc in next 5 stitches] around (36)

Round 59: [sc2tog, sc in next 4 stitches] around (30)

Round 60: [sc2tog, sc in next 3 stitches] around (24)

Stuff with polyfil.

Round 61: [sc2tog, sc in next 2 stitches] around (18)

Round 62: [sc2tog, sc in next stitch] around (12)

Round 63: sc2tog around (6)

Break yarn and thread through all 6 stitches, pull tight and fasten off.

Arms:

Round 1: Using MC and magic circle, 6sc and join to work in the round. (6)

Round 2: 2sc in each stitch (12)

Round 3: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next stitch] around (18)

Round 4: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 2 stitches] around (24)

Round 5-22: sc in each stitch (24)

Break yarn, leaving a long tail. Stuff arms with small amount of polyfil and sew to body.

Eye:

Round 1: Using white yarn and magic circle, 6sc and join to work in the round. (6)

Round 2: 2sc in each stitch (12)

Round 3: [2sc in first stitch, sc in next stitch] around (18)

Break yarn, leaving a long tail. Using black yarn, embroider pupil (or use a safety eye if you prefer)

Sew eye to body.

Mouth: Using scrap yarn, embroider mouth as desired.

And enjoy! Oenfpp makes an awesome bookshelf guardian, couch buddy, or just add to your monster menagerie!

This pattern is also available as a Ravelry download.