Moving Day

I moved blog hosting today, you can now find me at Wordpress. Come and check me out and let me know what you think of the new site.

Solidarity

I just read this post by Annie Modesitt and then went and read this by Ysolda, they are calling on people like you and me to make the stand with them.

So, come on knitsibs (as Brenda Dayne likes to call us) take the stand with them. This is one situation where solidarity will be the catalyst of getting the changes made. These wonderful designers are providing us with beautiful items to knit/crochet and getting a pittance how can that be right or just? We can help them so, so easily we don't even have to get off our butts to do it.

If you've a subscription to a magazine that treats these people so poorly, then cancel it and let the magazine know why. If you buy one of these magazines from the news stand, stop and choose another like Interweave knits or Yarn Forward. lets put our money into the designers hand or into the coffers of magazines that give our designers a fair and decent price for all the hard work they put into a design.

We as knitters of the net have the power to make that change, we litrally have the power at our fingertips. Go to your favourite designers website and buy direct, check out Ravelry to find out other ways of buying that pattern you've been lusting after or online magazines like Twist Collective . Blog about it, tweet it, have it in your Facebook profile tell everyone and anyone you can.

Let your fingers do the talking and put your money where it most deserves to be, with the people who design the things you want to knit. The only way that this will work is if we all do our bit, designers and knitters alike.

I've only ever designed four things, I'm working my way to be a 'proper' designer and hopefully one day I will be. I would be so thrilled if a magazine like Vogue Knitting asked me to submit a design, I mean I'd be bouncing off the walls with excitement but with their current policy I'd have to turn them down. Not only would I be selling myself short, I'd also be a part of the problem that current designers are experiancing. I'm not sure I could live with that. Could you?

Simple Fitted V-neck Tee

I finished a tee (or short sleeved jumper) for myself last night, quite pleased with how it turned out. it's not see through that was the flash (grrr, crappy British weather!).

I used Forsell Touch of Silk DK and size 4.5mm circulars (no seems, yay), think I'll wear it for work today with a shirt underneath. I've made a pattern (in the side bar), so far it's only the one size but I'll be changing that ASAP (today). Have now added more sizes to the pattern it's now 30-52inch if you have any problems with the pattern please let me know.

It's Been A While...

Since I last made a post ( or at least it feels that way).Yesterday I finished another hat, Star Crossed Slouchy Beret by Natalie Larson. Really quick and satisfying knit, although I did decide to use smaller needles as I didn't want it to be too big on my head.I used King Cole Fashion Aran in colour 162 Heather and 4.5mm & 5.5mm circular needles.

I've also been working on the Renee Leverington Winter Mystery Shawl 2008, I'm now on clue two. It's a bit slow going due to the beads (my first beaded project) but I'm enjoying the process and don't feel the need to rush it.
I also started another jumper (this one for me) using Ann Budd's book, I'm using the same mohair yarn I used for the Kiri shawl as I've shed loads of it :-) I've finished the body and have started on the first sleeve, it's not going to be overly fitted but will hopefully be flattering. I may even try to work in some interest around the yoke, but that will depend on if I can find anything that captures my interest.I've also been working on a pattern for a matching hat for the Twisted Seedling: Fingerless Mitts, hope to have the pattern ready by next week.

WOW!

What can I say? I finished one of the shawls I've on the go last night. Renee Leverington's Persephone (also known as MS10), wow! This shawl is beautiful but like all lace didn't reveal just how beautiful until it was blocked and WOW! I love it. Yes, yes I mucked up the blocking as I really didn't give myself enough time for it to dry before I needed to actually go to bed (the only place big enough to block it) but I can re-do it another time now I know it's true beauty.

Renee is a master of the lace shawl and I bow to her excellence, I've 2 more of her shawls OTN and another 2 in the queue, I can't wait to discover how beautiful they are.

I used 4mm needles and a silvery blue 4ply yarn called Soft Seasons, Soft Mix (wool/acrylic blend) that I'd bought from Ebay and stashed quite a while ago. The pattern isn't available on Renee's website just yet but will be soon, so be sure to bookmark her.