Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Test Knitting Update

Wow, I've had such a great response to my request for test knitters! I think I have enough people making samples of the Twisted Socks and Twisted Mitts, but could always use more people to test the pattern with their own yarn. I could use another one or two testers for the Mini-Sweater and Mini-Sock and the Todos Scarf. The scarf kit takes a bit more shipping than a single skein of yarn so I think I am going to have to restrict my sample knitting offer to the US for this one. I'm knitting away on the entrelac socks, trying to get that one ready to be tested. Sometimes I wish i had several sets of hands so I could knit multiple projects at once! (I think I need one of these Knitting Kali t-shirts by Panopticon!)

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Test Knitting

Thanks, Maxine, for reminding me that all of these designs I've been spouting off about need to be tested. I always get nervous about this step. But it must be done. If you are interested in testing one of my patterns just send me an email. If you want to use your own yarn, thats fine, just give me feedback about the pattern. If you want to use Painted Sheep yarn you have another option. Say you choose one of the sock patterns to test. I send you enough yarn for one sock. You knit this sock and send it back to me. Then, I send you, for FREE, a skein of your choice of yarn (that is, enough to make a pair of socks). Sound good? I don't have the money right now to pay people to make me samples, so the best I can do is pay people with yarn. But everyone wants more yarn, right?

So here are the patterns that are ready to be tested now:

Twisted Mitts








Twisted Socks












Mini Sweate
r








Mini Sock










Todos Scarf













And the ones that will be ready soon (hopefully):

Lace Sock













Entrelac Sock









And the ones that will be ready eventually:

Top-Down Raglan Sweater
Lace Trimmed Cardigan
Bell Sleeved Shrug
Felted Bag
Modular Bag
Chunky Luxury Socks (made out of House Blend or Wild Thing)
man's neckwarmer/cowl

p.s. I could also use help with names for the new designs..

Saturday, August 25, 2007

I'm SO bad!

I have become such a bad blogger! Life has just been busy. We are a bit understaffed at the shop right now, so I'm working longer hours, and Chris just started medschool in a city 1.5hrs away so I am spending a lot of time traveling back and forth, trying to spend some time with him and support him as much as I can. And things are starting to get busier with the Painted Sheep. I have more wholesale and website orders coming in, and am trying to get more samples made up/ designs written out. I'm doing a lot of knitting related stuff, just not posting any of it to my blog. I've got several new and exciting projects going that I will try to post about this weekend...

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Another Free Washcloth Pattern.

Heres another one. This one is done out of worsted weight Blue Sky Alpacas Cotton on size 9 needles. I designed it for our Beyond the Basics knitting class-- it teaches seed stitch, ribbing, eyelets, SSK, K2tog, cables-- what else do you need to know? It is available for free here.

Free Pattern for Lace Washcloth

We just got in some gorgeous new yarn at the shop from Louet, KidLin (lace), Euroflax (sport) and Gems (fingering and sport). Really nice stuff. And, as a shop employee, I am lucky enough to be charged with making samples. I just made swatches of the KidLin and Gems, but I thought the Euroflax would be perfect for a washcloth. Just scratchy enough to be exfoliating and natural and luxurious. I just bought a copy of the 365 Knitting Stitches calender and so I used it to come up with swatch patterns and make my washcloth. I was pretty happy with how the washcloth turned out, so I thought I would offer the pattern here for free. Enjoy.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

SPS11 Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like anything natural but prefer silk (of course!) and alpaca and am not a big fan of cotton.


2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I haven't come up with a good solution yet. I am thinking of buying a case from Ashland Sky.


3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned when I was a kid but have been "seriously" knitting for about 4 years now. I consider myself to be an advanced knitter-- I might not be the best knitter, but I am never afraid to try something new and enjoy a challenge!

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have a book wishlist here on my blog (scroll down, on the right)

5. What's your favorite scent?
Oooo, hard one. Hm, I like lavender but not most other floral scents. I tend to lean towards food scents like spices.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I do like sweets. I prefer dark chocolate to milk chocolate and like things like pralines and cinnamon (but not super strong) and spice cookies.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I know how to spin but don't do much of it, I sew, felt, make soap and lotion, and have dabbled in almost anything you can think of, but right now knitting is definitely my favorite.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I can handle MP3s. I don't really have a particular type of music I like. I like new and different things!

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Right now I am into autumn colors, rich earthy colors. I don't like really bright colors and right now am not into pastels.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my fiance and 2 dogs. I also spend part of my time living with my parents and their dog, cats, birds, etc.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I do. I live in NC where it doesn't usually get very cold, but I am cold natured so in the winter I always bundle up!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Anything new, unique. I like small projects that teach me new techniques but don't take months to finish.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Lets see...a couple pairs of socks, fishnet knee high stockings, a washcloth, 2 sweaters, a bra and panties, felted daffodils, a vest for my grandma, a sleeveless shell, a net bag and the great american aran afghan

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
yes, of course! thats the best kind

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
though I find myself using circulars a lot lately, I prefer straights and double pointed. for DPs I always prefer metal but for straights I use metal, bamboo or wood depending on the yarn and project

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
yes

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
2 years? 3?

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect?
other than yarn and knitting books? I have a small collection of elephants and cows and sheep. mainly sheep.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I have subscriptions to Interweave Knits and Vogue. There isn't any yarn I have my eye on right now-- I work at a yarn shop so I get to see and feel lots of yarn. I like things that I can't necessarily find at the shop-- things from indie artists or small mills. But really, I like just about anything. I'm not trying to be picky, just helpful!

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I always am wanting to learn new techniques!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I knit socks, but don't just love it. I really like wearing hand knit socks so thats why I do it, I guess. I wear a size 7.

23. When is your birthday?
November 19, 1984

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
Painty



If I think of anything to add I'll update it!

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Designs

This week I am going to spend some time working on designs. I still need to finish editing the Twisted Socks and Twisted Mitts patterns. The lace sock pattern also still needs more work. New patterns include a top-down, raglan sweater out of Sheep Fuzz, a sweater out of House Blend (can also be made of Sashimi or Wild Thing) -- maybe a hooded sweater? -- entrelac socks, a shrug with bell sleeves, a felted bag (cabled?) and a modular bag. Right now I am focusing on very basic stuff-- for example a plain, top down raglan. Later, I can take those base designs and fancy them up with stitch patterns, hem/neck details, etc. I cast on for the Sheep Fuzz raglan tonight and got an inch or two done. Hopefully I will at least get the raglan part done and the body started this week so I can see how its going to look.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

New Colors



I spent part of today working on new colors for fall. So exciting! I loooove fall colors. Here are sneak peaks at two of them. On the left is HearthFire and on the right is Spiced Apple (not sure about the names yet). They are both based on photos that were sent in as part of the competition. Shh, don't tell-- I haven't announced the winners yet!

The Hexagon Bag


The Hexagon Bag is in the wash felting. Here is a picture of it unfelted. I am really happy with how it looks- the yarn is gorgeous and the hexagon pattern is cool. But its HUGE. Its 20" across. Think about that...its really big. And floppy. So even though the instructions don't say to felt it I feel that felting is definitely needed. So hopefully it will felt okay...I put a lot of time and really pretty yarn into this, so I really hope I don't ruin it!





Update: Mille Colori doesn't felt. It just gets fuzzy.