Blog - Page 22 of 73 - Miriam Felton

Pattern Release: The Chevron Collection

Hi everybody, just a heads up that my new collection is up.

The Chevron Collection is a grouping of 6 pieces, including a really lovely sweater, that explore different ways to make Chevron shapes through lace, cables and stacked increases and decreases.

I’m really really proud of this collection, and I hope that you’ll enjoy it as well.

It’s economically priced at $18 so that if you like at least 3 of the patterns it’s less expensive to buy the whole collection.

Please check out the whole collection here.

Vacation Over, back to the grindstone

We returned yesterday from a week’s vacation in Chicago. We went for my good friend Amanda’s wedding (which you will hear more about in the future), and she was kind enough to let us stay in her apartment while she’s on her honeymoon, so C and I got our first real vacation together (yes, after 8 years of marriage, this was the first).

It was awesome! We mostly hung out and relaxed, but we did manage to do a bit of Touristy Stuff. We ate some really great food though, including this amazing little chocolate raspberry tart from Oak Mill Bakery. Got to spend a bit of time with Ysolda too, while she was in town.

In Chicago Ysolda and I went to this great embellishments shop called Soutache. It was really easy to drop a lot of cash with all the glorious ribbons and buttons and feathers (oh my!). Soutache’s website is really bare bones, but Maili the owner told me she’d be happy to ship stuff and match to samples if I had something in mind.

Before I left, I got the patterns all cleaned up, laid out and sent out for tech editing, so the whole collection should be up for sale by the end of the month. I’ve started percolating the next collection in my brain, but it’s not solid enough to talk about quite yet. I’ve been looking over these pantone chips trying to decide on colors for the collection so I can start ordering yarn.

In the meantime I’ve been enjoying some non-publication knitting! I made a wedding present for Amanda and her new husband, but forgot to photograph it in it’s complete state before I left, but the photo is a little sneak peek. Color was key for anything involving Amanda 🙂

I’m also most of the way through the Pleat Neck Tunic from Debbie Bliss Magazine Spring/Summer 2010 issue. I’m knitting it for my niece in Eco Baby and it’s surprising me how much I’m enjoying it. Usually I hate knitting with cotton, but the cabled structure of the yarn gives it a bounce cotton doesn’t usually have. Front and back down, just knitting the sleeves now and they’re short.

Maybe one more “for myself” project and then I’ve got to get back to the work knitting. Hope you’re all having a glorious May!

Miriam

¶ Posted 14 May 2011 † Mim § Knitting § Misc. Crafting § Self-Publishing § Travel ‡ Comments (0) °

Pattern Release: Summer Cherries Shawl

It’s been longer than I planned, but now the Summer Cherries Shawl is up for public sale!

This shawl commemorates one of my favorite things about summer—cherries! From the blossom that appear in the spring to the succulent red and almost purple fruits. This shawl would also be great knitting during the summer months, when it is too hot for a lot of wool in your lap and a project that travels well is much appreciated.

This shawl is constructed from the long angled edge toward the nape of the neck in two wedge-shaped sections. The center back panel, flanked by decreases, creates a Faroese shape to the shawl. The decrease rate is doubled near the top to create the soft curve on the wingspan edge.

You can buy it through Ravelry here. And remember that the sale is still on!

Enjoy!
M

¶ Posted 17 April 2011 † Mim § Designing § Knitting § Self-Publishing ‡ Comments (0) °

Taxes Suck, But Sales Don’t!

If you live in the US today is Tax Day (although technically taxes don’t have to be turned in until Monday due to a federal holiday). I get that taxes are important and that they fund all the important social programs that I support, but as a married person, self-employed, with no children, taxes get to be a little frustrating, since I never get a refund and always have to pay out. I know it’s coming, but it still makes me resentful.

So instead of brooding on it, let’s celebrate! From now until the end of April, get 15% off anything in either my online shop or my Ravelry Shop including e-books and print copies of Twist & Knit. In either place, use the code TAXESSUCK to get the 15% discount.

Start planning your summer knitting, and get a discount in the mix 🙂

If you’ve got any questions, please feel free to ask. Or if anything isn’t working, let me know ASAP.

¶ Posted 15 April 2011 † Mim § Sale ‡ Comments (0) °

Another Peek at the Chevron Collection

10-April, a photo by mimsical on Flickr.

Here are another couple of pieces to whet your appetites 🙂

On the left is the cowl in the collection, knit in Bijou Basin Fingering in 2 colors. It’s just lovely to knit with and the bison down is really cozy to wear.

On the right is the socks from the collection, knit in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine, which is one of my favorite yarns. I’ve now knit 2 sweaters and 2 shawls with it, plus this pair of socks.

The strap across the two is a bag I made this weekend, and only realized afterward that I’ve got a color theme going on in my head. Everything is all matchy!

¶ Posted 12 April 2011 † Mim § Knitting ‡ Comments (0) °

Twist & Knit on Amazon & A Peek at the ruffley scarf

Ruffley Scarf, a photo by mimsical on Flickr.

Heya,

So I’ve finally got Twist & Knit up on Amazon. I’m selling to them using the Amazon Advantage program, where they basically sell them on consignment, but it’s a little less like consignment since they don’t order them from me in very large quantities, so it’s not like I have cases of inventory tied up in their system that I’m not getting paid for. Usually they order from me when they’re out of stock. Anyhow…. an Amazon listing will give you a really easy way to refer the book to your friends, since they can search for it there (and get free shipping with an order of $25 or more).

Also, if you feel the spirit move you, I’d love to see some customer reviews up on the amazon page. I know I always read reviews before I buy a book I haven’t seen before, and I bet a lot of people do. I’d really appreciate it if you have the time or inclination.

Still working on the sweater from the collection (I’ve redone the math like 4 times as I make little changes to it) but the numbers are good now, the fronts and back are done and I’m starting the sleeves today. I got the finished pieces blocked and they’re just lovely! I took a quick cell phone shot of the short row ruffle scarf (still working on names for the pieces and the collection), which is what you see up top. I want to wear it all the time, but I’m holding back until after the photoshoot just in case something happens to it. 🙂

Via Flickr:
Blocked the shortrow laceweight scarf from my forthcoming collection this morning. It’s AWESOME! My head is swimming with styling ideas.

¶ Posted 07 April 2011 † Mim § Knitting ‡ Comments (0) °

Hard at work

I had to take a break from the collection to work on a different project with a looming deadline that you’ll hear about a little later, but I should finish that up today or tomorrow and I’m eager to tell you about how the collection is coming along! Both pieces in Part 1 and in Part 2 are done, but not blocked, and I’m antsy to get started on Part 3, especially the sweater. When I’ve blocked everything I will get you some sneak peek photos.

Meanwhile it’s turned to spring here (thank God)! It’s been raining and the garlic in my garden has popped up. I’ve started some seeds in my living room window, but only the marigolds have sprouted. Truth be told, I kind of hate marigolds, but then again, so do a lot of bugs, so they’ll get planted into my garden despite that. I also planted some red currant tomatoes. They’re tiny baby toms that grow clustered on a stem like red currants!

Hope Spring has sprung for you as well! I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m glad to be seeing the back end of this winter.

¶ Posted 25 March 2011 † Mim § Designing § Gardening ‡ Comments (0) °

KDTV Contest!

I’ve teamed up with Webs (who sponsored the segment on KDTV where I talk about fixing lace), and we’re offering a gift basket of sorts through the KDTV blog. Leave a comment on KDTV’s blog post about episode 604 with your traditional or innovative lace experiences and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Twist & Knit, plus yarn and needles to complete your next lace project. You have to enter by 3 March, 9 am Mountain Time.

¶ Posted 24 February 2011 † Mim § Contest ‡ Comments (0) °

The First Collection: Part 3

Click here to read Part 1
Click here to read Part 2

The next two designs have chevrons executed using tightly stacked diverging cables. Click any of the photos to see them bigger.

The sweater of the collection is such an easy piece to wear! With the chevron cable flowing up the fronts, wrapping over the shoulders to have a shoulder seam on the back of the shoulder rather than the top, and flowing down the center back of the sweater. I think the sleeves will end up being 3/4 or bracelet length, but I’ll play it by ear. With deep ribbing on the bands, it will be adorable worn open or pinned.

The yarn is The Fiber Company Savannah, a tweedy Wool/Cotton/Linen/Soya blend that really makes beautiful cables! It’s crisp and soft and I love the slightly nubbly texture.

The opera length gloves will have the same cable from the sweater, but with it widening as the cuff grows upward from the wrist. Plenty of cuff will help to keep arms warm under a coat.

The yarn is MadelineTosh Tosh DK, which is lofty and bouncy and so lovely! And of course, the color is awesome.

¶ Posted 16 February 2011 † Mim § Knitting ‡ Comments (0) °

The First Collection: Part 2

Click here to read Part 1

The next two designs have chevrons executed using increases and decreases to make chevrons of the fabric itself. Click any of the photos to see them bigger.

The emphasize the picoted edge that the shifting fabric makes, this cowl will have an accenting color on the cast on and bind off edges. Each chevron will decrease down making the whole cowl taper to fit nicely around the shoulders.

The yarn is Bijou Basin’s Yak Down Fingering Weight, which is dyed in beautiful colors by the lovely ladies of Lorna’s Laces.

The scarf/wrap uses the same decreasing chevron motif to create a curved shape that will be similar to the lacey chevron scarf spotlighted in Part 1.

The yarn I’m using is Manos Serena, which is a really amazing blend! I’ve never seen anything like it before. It’s 60% baby alpaca and 40% pima cotton. It makes such a lovely fabric! It’s soft, touchable and drapey from the alpaca but still with a really crisp hand from the cotton. It’s so different, and yet such a pleasant knitting experience!

¶ Posted 15 February 2011 † Mim § Knitting ‡ Comments (0) °

Miriam Felton