Been Busy, so here's some pics!

Sorry that this has been my first post in a while, but I've been busy working on Christmas gifts (which I can't mention since they read this). I just finished a pretty scarf based on the Kernel pattern on knitty (though I altered it considerably). And am also working on baby hats based on my Amphitryon and Braids and Chains (I really need a better name) patterns. Be sure to check out the Patterns tab for more information. Also, my mom and Jason took some very pretty pictures of my hats for me.

More designs!

First of all, as Stephani pointed out, there was a error in the Crooked Cable Pattern. Row 2 should have ended the repeat with k6. I fixed this in the pattern on Ravelry. Second, check out the Hats page (link on the sidebar) for hats that I have available for sale. Also, I have another pattern ready for testing- Amphitryon (pictured above). It's named after the play I'm reading in Latin right now. It just reminded me of it, though I don't know why.

Crooked Cable Cap now available

I have written up the directions for the Crooked Cable Cap, both sizes, and posted them as a free Ravelry download: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crooked-cable-cap The only slightly confusing thing, and one of the reasons that this is a free pattern, is that in order to offer two sizes, it made more sense to just write two different patterns. The S/M fits a small-average woman's head while the M/L fits average woman- average male. My head is 22", which is about average and both sizes fit me, but M/L is a little more loose. The cables and eyelets give it a lot of stretch.

First Pattern Up!

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is officially for sale! I don't have better pictures yet, but for now this one will do fine. I finished a first version of Crooked Cable Cap, but there is a quirk for sizing: the only way I can make it look good for both the S/M and the M/L is to adjust the numbers of stitches in each repeat. The decreases only work if the pattern is repeated an even number of times around, so it works better for sizing if there is 11 st in the S/M and 12 in the M/L. It looks very similar and the sizes are better spaced than they would be if I used the same number of stitches.

Lucy in the Sky test

Wow, I'm an idiot. I really need to triple check myself when writing patterns considering how easy it is to spot the error once I bother to compare it to the chart. I just can't seem to write row 7 correctly, though I think I fixed that now. Biggest lessons from this test: edit heavily before asking for testers (I literally just finished this one before I had all my testers because I was assuming that it would take longer to find volunteers) and when changing the chart, rewrite the line in the written pattern while comparing it to the chart instead of just editing it because it is easy to miss other parts that are affected by the change.

Crooked Cables

So, this pattern is giving me a lot of problems. I think I figured it out finally, but I'm having one of those moments where giving the pattern away for free is going to drive me nuts because of the number of times that I have frogged the hat and then tried again. I think the solution I was looking for was to use fingering weight yarn instead and use YO for my increases. I originally wanted to avoid eyelets, but I've tried about every type of increase I can think of and it always creates an awkward ridge. Crossing my fingers that it works out this time!

Testing and new patterns

I just sent out the pattern to the testers, so the pattern should be ready by the end of August! Also experimenting on a new hat, I'm calling it "Crooked Cables," but its just a theory that I have so I don't know if this technique will even work. If it works out, I'll post the pattern here as a freebee. If it works out as it should, then it will actually be a fairly easy pattern.

Time to start testing!

I just finished writing out the pattern for Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Now I am looking for testers so make sure that the pattern works as written. Keeping my fingers cross that this goes smoothly! I've never had other people test my patterns before.

First Post!!

 This has been the summer of knitting hats! I've knit about a dozen so far and have two more on the needles. The first pic was a hat based on the pattern Lace Ribbon Slouch (with some modifications). The second is my own design (the pic was taken during blocking). For now I am calling it "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" after the Beatles song. I'll publish the pattern soon (as well as a couple of others- at least one of which will be free!).  So now I just have to figure out what I am going to do with all of these hats. I originally thought about donating them, but most are wool so most cancer/illness charities won't accept them usually. I could sell them but how? I don't know yet. I will post details about the patterns when they are ready (I need to get them tested by someone other than me first). I will probably post them either here or on Ravelry.