Tag Archives: design

Back in the Saddle

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I’m a lazy knitter. Not the kind of lazy knitter that makes mistakes and doesn’t bother to fix them— (I may be lazy, but I’m still a perfectionist). No, I mean the lazy kind of knitter that will set a project aside if there’s a section coming up that I need to devote my full attention to like calculating increases or looking up a particularly stretchy bind off. That is exactly what happened to me recently and it spiraled into an entire month of no knitting.

I’m slowly slogging away at a design idea (perfecting it, actually) and I was getting near the end of a ribbed edge where I wanted to try out a tubular bind off. I set the project aside, planning to research the best method of doing the tubular bind off, and then a crazy insane December happened and I kept thinking I didn’t have time to do it properly so it just sat there. For a whole month. Not a stitch knit.

Fortunately, my knitting mojo has returned post-holidays and I found some time to pick it back up over the weekend. The first thing I noticed was that all the ribbing I had knitted back in the insane days of December was worked in the wrong needle size. (What kind of burnout makes mistakes knitting their own pattern? Further proof that December was just a crazy month that I’m glad to see the end of). So instead of spending a nice hour or so knitting a beautiful tubular bind off and feeling the satisfaction of completing something that’s been on my mind for a month, I had to rip back quite a bit of ribbing and then start over with the correct needle size. All of that and I’m still not ready to tackle that dang tubular bind off.

The good news is that even though this design is taking me FOREVER (I’m not even going to talk about how I’ve got a whole second piece to REKNIT after this one….) it’s going to be a really killer design so it will be worth all the trouble. AND I’ve recently brushed off another design that has been waiting in the wings since summer time and all it needs is a quick tech edit and some photos, so I should have something to release fairly soon.

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New Pattern: Zip-n-Zag Bag

McClellan_Kimberly_2a

A perfect accessory for Spring, the Zip-N-Zag Bag is a zippery, zig-zaggy, tassely pouch perfect for stashing your makeup or a small knitting project on the go.

BUY IT NOW via instant Ravelry download or visit the RAVELRY PATTERN PAGE for additional details

MATERIALS

300 yards/275 meters of worsted weight yarn in two contrasting colors (150 yards/137 meters of each color)

• Sample shown in Berroco Vintage Worsted (50% acrylic, 40% wool, 10% Nylon, 217 yards/198 meters/100g) in #5145-Cast Iron (Color A) and #5102-Butter Cream (Color B)

Needle A: Size US 8/5.0 mm 16”/40 cm circular needle (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Needle B: Size US 5/3.75 mm 16”/40 cm circular needle (or 3 sizes smaller than above)

Tapestry needle for weaving ends

Stitch Marker

9”/23 cm plastic zipper

Fabric for lining, cut to 9.5”/24.5 cm wide x 12.5”/32 cm long

Sturdy thread for sewing zipper and lining

Sewing needle

Pins

GAUGE

22 stitches and 25 rounds = 4”/10 cm in stranded colorwork pattern, worked in the round on larger needles

FINISHED SIZE

Approximately 9.25”/23.5 cm wide and 6.25”/16 cm tall

TECHNIQUES USED

Provisional cast on, knitting stranded color work in the round, basic bind off, three needle bind off (instructions included), sewing in a zipper, sewing in a fabric lining, making a tassel

McClellan_Kimberly_2b

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A Walk in the Woods

Today Joey and I went for a walk at a nature preserve near our house.  It was so amazing walking down a winding trail covered in fallen leaves while looking up at massive trees arching over our heads.  It was just what I needed to make me feel centered again.

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We also took advantage of our beautiful surroundings to take photos for my newest design.  I’m working on the pattern now and having it test knitted.  I can’t wait to share it with you.  Here’s a sneak peek:

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