New Patterns and New Happenings!

The first time I saw Yarn Forward Magazine I was at my local mega Barnes and Noble hanging out with my kids. One feature that really stuck out (beside the beautiful patterns) was the options they offer as to what yarns you can use for a project. They give you ideas of what you can use if your a bit tight on the budget or are wanting to splurge.
Since I became part of Ravelry a whole new world of knitting has opened up for me! Ravelry has many groups one of them being a designer's group where some magazines, yarn companies, or other publications send out a call for designs. When I saw that Yarn Forward was looking for some things I jumped at the chance!
In an issue coming soon look for a men's sweater made of Rowan Denim....that would probably be (guess who?) ...ME! It's really exciting and I am almost done with knitting it. When the issue publishes I am going to give a nice little photo graphic bio of the sweater. It's fun, simple and quite nice. You might just want to knit one for yourself!
In other news I have a new pattern for sale. It's called the Little Wolf Baby Sweater. I named it because my friend (whose last name happens to be Wolfe) just had her first son. Apparently the first boy in a long time in the whole family. She's such a fan of my knitting that I just had to make her something special.

So I came up with this pattern.
It's really simple to knit. Right now it's available in size 3months but I'll be adding more sizes really soon. By April I'll have them ready to go. Any one who purchases the pattern now will get the other sizes for free as soon as they are available.

It's available for purchase for $5.00.

I'll be posting more as time permits. I have so much on my mind that I've been wanting to share!
Happy knitting to all and to all a good night.

My Pattern in Knitscene Has Come Out!!!!

Yay! The pattern I sold to Knitscene was published for the Winter/Spring 2009 issue!!!! I am so excited. I can't believe that it's working out the way it is!
There are some things that I would do differently next time I knit this, though.
I had a serious gauge crisis when I knit up the sample. Once I blocked the finished garment the look changed alot.
That just goes to show you that blocking a small swatch is quite different than blocking a full garment.
Anywho, Here are some pics.....what do you think?
This is pattern number 2 that I have been able to sell. This is exciting.

I also just finished working on another pattern but it will be sold individually.

It's called Spiral Mitts.

Here's a pic of the mittens fingerless and otherwise.

Long Time Between Posts

Well, well, well. Its been a long time between posts. Things have been very busy and much has changed!
I'll start with the work situation.
I am now a full time homemaker. I am very happy about this. It's where I feel I am most needed and most useful. Of course this means lots of cutbacks but it's been worth it.
Cut backs have included going from 2 cars to 1. (1/2 the insurance, gas and maintenance)
Making more things from scratch.
Eating more veggies and grains and less proteins and prepackaged foods.
(this last one hasn't made much of a difference because the cost of food has really gone up the last couple of months)

Next is the knitting.
Knitscene purchased another pattern for the Winter/Spring issue. I don't know yet if they will publish it until the issue comes out. It's not my best work there were alot of factors that contributed to that. Mostly time. I've definately learned much that will help me out for the next time. Such as writing the pattern before I get the yarn. In the past I would wait for the yarn and design from there since I wanted to get the feel of the yarn first.
I do hope this design makes it into the magazine. I'm on pins and needles until I find out.

Next is the kids.
I am homeschooling full time..YAY!!!!!! It has been an uphill treck but a wonderful one. I think I am learning more than the kids.

Pictures of projects to follow soon.

Making Myself Crazy....Take One

Why am I making myself crayz you ask? I mean crazy. Actually I think that typo looks kind of neat.
Anyway back to the crazy.
I love to knit. I love designing knitwear. I love to teach my kids. I love to reorganize rooms. I love to have a clean house. I love deadlines. But when you stir them all in the same pot at the same time you don't get love, you get....you guessed it......crayz.
I think that for the next few months I will be doing strictly Christmas knitting.
Finish organizing my classroom area. (must be done by 7/31/08)
Finish my general lesson plans for the first 3 months of school by 8/15.

Since I can't stop cleaning my house all together I'm going to start a chart system again that lets the kids know what needs to be done and when so that mom can have some help.

There is so much that I want to do just right and I get all afraid that I am going to mess it all up but then I have to remember that God says to be anxious for nothing, but come to him with prayer and suplication and know that He is in control and He will make things work out one way or another.

What was that quote?.....
Pray as if it all depends on God and work as if it all depends on you.

I also like....
Courage is not the absence of fear but feeling the fear and doing it anyway.

God Is Good.

Dear Diary,

Dear Diary,
Tomorrow I turn 32 years old. Where did all the time go? In just 4 more years my darling daughters will be 18 years old. It seems like just yesterday that I was pregnant with my Kayla. I was so young and scared and although I now know I could have done better I also know that I didn't do too badly either. I can look back at all the things wrong I have done up until now...(like complaining about the past.....wait a minute....d'oh![smacks head] ) But I've made sacrifices and I am starting to see the fruit of those sacrifices.
Thank You, God, for blessing me when I had no reason to be blessed, and for being merciful to me when I had no right to receive your mercy and for Your grace in those times I had no right to that either....which is like all the time, let's face it. We both know how imperfect I am and how I am sure I don't know how You don't loose your patience with me.
Thirty two years of blessing and trials, and blessings through trials. I know You are not done with me yet (thanks for that because there is still so much I want to do) so although I may complain and pout (sometimes) keep using me for Your Glory!

Sincerely You Servant,
Luanda

(for those that don't know, God is my diary. I just thought you like to see a little slice of that)
Keep Knittin!

Patterns in The Works

Well, on Thursday I overnighted my submissions to Knitscene and today I got the comformation that they received it. I had everything ready a week in advance of the deadline but at the last minute I decided to hold on to some of them and I replaced them with new. It's only three submissions but I felt very strongly about them so I sent those in. Hopefully one (or all three) would be accepted but that's not up to me right now. I will be sending in some other design ideas to JCA and another source.

I am currently working on a little eye candy exclusively for my blog. I can't give too much detail but I'll be posting a sneak peak in just a few days.

In the meantime here is my finished hourglass sweater fresh from the blocking table.

enjoy!

It's Been Far Too Long...

and I have many, many things to show you! There's been quite alot of knitting and finishing going on.

First let me present to you ... Mikey's Tomten. Made in shades of grey Lopi size 10 needles (or was it 9?) The only mods I made was that I made the sleeves a little shorter (the Mikester doesn't like rolled up sleeves). I loved the pattern and I have yet to put on the green border and buttons but he likes it just like that. He just clutches it closed... as shown in the picture.

Next, is a little magic show where I (insert famous magic name here....Luanda the Great Perhaps....naaa too pretentious) take 7 skeins of this yarn

Follow this pattern.....And get these results.........

This was a sample knit for one of my favorite LYS's...Stix-n-Stitches, Montclair, NJ. Here is a picture of the sweater among the other yarns of it's kind in the shop.

I have to say it was an easy knit. The pattern was interesting and well written. The yarn was soft and yummy. The colors are not my favorite but they really work well with the sweater. It was a quick knit at 14 st/4" on size 10 1/2 needles.

Confession time....this is my very first sweater worked in pieces. I usually work sweaters in the round because I really don't like the sewing up. But I must admit it wasn't so bad. Maybe because it was new to me but I found this to be very quick for me. The whole project from swatching to weaving in the ends took me about one and a half weeks. I was tempted to keep the sweater but instead, I'll just knit another for myself. Maybe out of wool this time?