My current swatch/design that I’ve planned on submitting is…well. Okay, I have a swatch done. I kept it on the smaller side (8″ wide by about 7-8″ long) so that I would have time to make a full piece, photograph it on a body, and forward it with the swatch. I may either send the swatch alone, or not submit it for the Spring issue.

I’m so in love with the yarn, but I almost feel like, even at Sport weight, it may still be too heavy for this garment. Perhaps it’s because Spring, to a Florida girl’s mind, equals Summer, and both equal hot.

Also, I wanted to use a lovely cotton blend so that it would breathe, but the cotton is already growing in the crochet-ribbed section. I’m thinking that maybe I should knit the ribbing instead, but would that turn some crocheters off? Which group would be the majority? The group of crocheters that don’t mind a couple of inches worth of knitting, or the group of crocheters who are either anti-knitting or don’t know how to knit? And do I take that risk, as a designer, to incorporate it?

I already am using a size E (3.5mm) Boye hook for the Sport weight, but maybe I should reduce it to an even smaller hook? C (2.75mm, I think) or D (3.25mm)? The body of the top is in an H (5mm) Boye hook so the stitch pattern can move around and be lovely with the drape.

I need to think about this more, but I also need to ship the swatch soon if I’m going to do that. The only problem–if I decide to go with a smaller gauge, then I’ve already submitted it with the wrong gauge yarn. How unprepared does that make me look? Eek!

Perhaps I’ll just keep this one and put it out myself?

Currently, the bag is out with testers, and will be then followed up by the hat.

Some quick facts:

• Tunisian Knit
• Tunisian Purl
• Reverse Single Crochet
• Shaping
• Intermediate level, or for very adventurous beginners

As these two patterns are more for Fall/Winter, my ultimate deadline is to have them tested and available just before the rush. If I’m feeling too antsy, I’ll release them a bit early. (more…)

Updates on WIP’s:
I’ve finished the prototype for the Fanning Flower bag (though the gf has said the fanned sections look like tulips, so perhaps I’ll change the name?) and all ends are woven in. All that’s left to do is line it, but I soon realized that the fabric I had previously picked out does not actually go with the finished bag. I was horrified as I am super in love with the fabric.

Friday night I began the matching hat for the bag. As it’s in tunisian, I’ll have to work it in one wide piece and then seam it up. This also means I need to work bottom-up instead of top-down. This is the first time I’ve done such a process, so I’ve had to work a lot with row and stitch gauge, and it will all be in the final pattern. My testers will help with this, though, so any issue I have initially with writing it out, they should swoop in behind me and save my ass like a giant crocheting superhero!

Kathryn has given me permission to post her end-result photographs of her Pinwheel Beanie pattern test. I’ll set this, and the second one she sent me, up on the pattern page I’ll create as a mini gallery for viewers, and potential customers, to look through.

Miki, my second tester, is still working on hers. I have all of her comments regarding the pattern itself, so I’m going to pool everything together and fix anything that needs to be fixed. Then it’s up for sale, folks!

Let me just say that I am thoroughly pleased with how much I’ve enjoyed working with my two pattern testers. They’ve been great help and I really appreciate all the work they’ve done.

I’ve had one of my testers complete the pattern, send me her notes, and some preliminary photos. She’ll be sending other photos for me to post on the pattern page where I’ll offer the pattern for sale.

This is very exciting! I know my 2nd tester said she should be done this weekend and will also have photos and notes for me.

Let me just take a moment to admit how relieved I am that my first officially tested pattern, that has some degree of difficulty (if only for the stitch work that makes up the top of the hat and brim), is going well. I was worried that it wouldn’t work up right for someone, or that my pattern writing would be subpar. If everything checks out, with only minimal things to correct, this entire process will have been such a huge success for me.

For anyone interested in buying this pattern when it’s officially set to release… (more…)

I wanted to post a detail shot of this hat so you could see the stitches and, specifically, the buckle embellishment. I’m working on writing up the pattern for this hat so that I can start selling it. There are a few people, however, who wanted just the hat, so I’ll be making two to sell, and offering custom orders on Etsy.

In a few moments I’ll be leaving to hunt down some belts that I can recycle buckles from. I like the weathered look of the vintage or thrifted belts, so that’s where I’m headed.

Enjoy the photo. The pattern should be posted for sale within the week(ish).