Head full of thoughts,,,

Amazing how this blog is consuming my thoughts. I have not been able to stop thinking about it. Why is that I wonder? Excitement? Worry? Too many ideas floating around waiting to be released by expression? Whatever it is, it is happening to me.

I sent out 45 emails last night announcing this blog to some of my family and friends. Amazingly, I already have 5 followers. Whoa, that is heady. Gotta be careful here. I don't want pride to become an issue . You know, like becoming a rock star and needing to deal with all that publicity and pressure from the press. Ha, what a dilemma that would be. Imagine how that would interfere with knitting and crocheting time. I would be forced to rearrange my carefully designed schedule I explained to you yesterday. Well, I will leave all of those possibilities to the future and deal with them then.

Now on to more pressing thoughts...
I will not be working on my design today. I will be sewing and doing laundry. You remember, the other tasks in my busy schedule. But after dinner, I will continue knitting the current gift project. Those gift projects should remain unnamed because, obviously, they will be gifts to someone and that someone might just be reading this blog and then know what gift they are getting. Or maybe they wouldn't get the gift after reading about it and be disappointed. Then how sad that would be. But, on the other hand, the gifts I like to make are ones that I consider unusual or a challenge and I want to discuss those. So....what to do? Well, let me just say that this particular gift project is quite an unusual one; one I never expected to knit. It is also very functional, which is why I chose to knit it. It is quick. It uses my stash yarn, which is always good. It is the same but can be made to look different in many ways. That means there are many patterns for the same item. I can make lots of them and not one of them look the same. Well, I suppose that could be said about anything (like sweaters) I knit. This gift is a covering for something that can be hot or cold, depending on the situation. It also protects against the body. Can you guess what it is? If you do, then I will share the secret of this gift's identity on this blog.

Another thought related to the current working design...
I did find out that it is possible to insert an image, so I will give that a try when I figure out how to do it. I think for this first design that I will explain the process, so if any followers want to use this pattern they can. It would be great feedback for me to know if I am explaining the steps and details sufficiently to enable others to follow the directions and actually get the same results as I - a finished garment. This would also help as a backup should I lose the originals for any reason.

Also I am bothered by doubts - as to whether this design is too simple, maybe it isn't designer material, I am not good enough to design, no one will like it, and blah...blah...blah. There now I feel better. The thoughts are put down and can be left alone.

By the way - here is the link to this pattern I have posted on Ravelry. (http://ravel.me/dteresasimmons/stab)

3-Stitch Twisted Rib Pattern

Shell showing the Twigs & Bobbles Lace Pattern

PATTERN NAME:     TWIGS AND BOBBLES SHELL (based on the lace panel stitches)

TOOLS
Knitting needles sizes 3 and 6
Stitch Markers - 2 (to mark the 16 stitches needed for the Lace Panel Stitches)

YARN
Any medium weight yarn. (On a scale of 1 to 6, this would be a 3) Also know as DK (double knit); Light Worsted. It provides a gauge of 21-24 stitches to a 4" swatch knit in stockinette stitch. Needles ranging from sizes 5 to 7 can be used. I am using Plymouth Yarn Linen Isle. It is made in Brazil and is 50% Cotton, 30% Rayon, and 20% Linen. Linen is made from flax, which is a plant and I keep finding bits of the plant fibers still woven into the yarn. I just pull out the stuff when I find it. This yarn is machine washable, which is great since I don't like to use the dry cleaners if I don't need to.

Estimated Yardage = 912 yards of yarn. I used a Sweater Wizard program to help me with most, well actually all, of the computations for this pattern. Since my chosen yarn has 86 yards on each skein, I will be using 11 skeins of yarn. Since I have 12 skeins altogether, I will have what I need to complete this project.

GAUGE
The gauge helps me determine how many stitches I knit on the chosen needles. I knit a 25 stitch X 12 row swatch then measured how many stitches fit into an inch both ways. The gauge equals 5.5 stitches 7.5 rows per 1". Then I used the Sweater Wizard to determine the measurements for a Size 38 bust measurement, which is basically a size 12 or Medium size for women. This measurement includes the ease needed for easy movement within the garment, which in this case = two additional inches.

CHART
Most patterns require a chart as well as the written instructions to allow users to read and see the stitches. Sweater Wizard computed a chart for me, but I will actually design the charts I want later on graph paper once the shell is completed, meaning all necessary changes will have been made and noted. I have all my own pencil drawings and notes, too; but no one will probably see those but me. Later, when the pattern is complete and the garment made, there will be a photo of it to accompany the pattern, too.

ABBREVIATIONS
CO - cast on
st - stitch
sts - stitches
stst - stockinette stitches (knit one side, purl the other side)
k - knit
p - purl
tbl - through the back loop
rep - repeat
estab - establish
pat - pattern
rws - rows
inc - increase
x - times
pm - place marker
yf - yarn forward
tog - together
sl - slip
psso - pass slipped stitch over
alt - alternate

PATTERNS
RIB PATTERN - 3 STITCH TWISTED RIB (multiple of 5 + 2)
Row 1 (wrong side): k2, * p3, k2; rep from * to end.
Row 2: p2, * C3 (Cross 3 - see below), p2; rep from * to end.
Rep these 2 rws.

C3 (Cross 3) = Knit into front of 3rd st on needle, then knit 1st st in usual way slipping this st off needle. Now knit 2nd st in usual way, slipping 2nd & 3rd sts off needle tog.

EYELET TWIGS & BOBBLES LACE PANEL STITCHES (worked over 16 sts on a bkgrnd of stst)
Row 1(right side): k2, yf, k3tog, yf, k3, yf, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yf, k5.
Row 2 and every alt row: Purl.
Row 3: k1, yf, k3tog, yf, k5, yf, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yf, k4.
Row 5: MB (make bobble - see below), k5, yf, k3tog, yf, k1, yf, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yf, k3.
Row 7: k5, yf, k3tog, yf, k3, yf, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yf, k2.
Row 9: k4, yf, k3tog, yf, k5, yf, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yf, MB.
Row 11: k3, yf, k3tog, yf, k1, yf, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yf, k6.
Row 12: Purl.
Rep these 12 rows.

MB (make bobble) = Knit into front, back and front of next st, turn and k3, turn and p3, turn and k3, turn and sl 1, k2tog, psso. Bobble completed.

DIRECTIONS
FRONT
1.  With size 3 needles, CO 107 sts using a k st CO.
2.  (Wrong side): Tbl [k2, * p3, k2; rep from * to end.]
3.  Estab rib pat on Row 2. Work 20 rws. [3"]
4.  On row 21 [k8, inc 1 in next st] 11x, k8. (118 sts)
5. (Right side): with size 6 needles, k51, pm, row 1 lace pat, pm, k51.
6.  Work in lace pat until piece measures 15". [row ???]

Okay, that is as far as I have gotten with my directions for this pattern. If you want to knit-along, I would enjoy your company. If you just want to knit this shell to check for errors and then send back corrections and feedback, I would really appreciate that. If you just want to read because you are interested, I would feel quite loved by you. If you want to quit this blog altogether because I lost you back with all the details, then I will understand and send you off with a sweet goodbye.

Until next time...
Teresa, the wishful knitter

Well here I go...beginning a new adventure.

I decided that I would set 2012 aside as the year that I would begin designing patterns for knitting. I have been knitting for several years but usually only knitting from patterns that I liked or others wanted me to make for them. But I have been storing ideas in my head for some time now and just recently started jotting them down on paper. I have no expectations whatsoever about this adventure. I am just going to start and see what happens and then eventually how it ends. I hope I can design and complete at least one project a month. I will see....

I began designing a web page in my mind and started gathering info for it; but then decided that I would start with a blog and just journal this adventure. I hope to share what I am learning as I discover the designer in me. If there is no designer here, then I will just enjoy what I do learn about knitting.

I am such a novice with blogging. I started with this page and before I knew it I was profiling all kinds of information about myself. When I completed all the prompts and hit the saved button, I discovered that I wasn't blogging. I wasn't even on a blog page. Somehow I was entering my profile for a Google account. Now how did that happen? I don't remember going to Google except to search for a blogging site that would help me set up my own blog. Go figure! It took a while after a careful search of the history to find my way back to this site. I am still not sure that I am blogging. Will I still be on my own site after I hit "publish post"?

I actually have started my own first design. I wanted to begin right away in January, so the project is underway. I gave much thought to where to begin. I have such exotic designs in my head but fear starting with anything too complex at the beginning. So I have selected a simple shell pattern that has a detailed ribbing pattern not often seen. The body of the shell is a basic stockinette stitch with a lace pattern panel insert in the front and back. So I wanted to offset that with a more complex ribbing. I am not sure how I will finish the neck and armholes yet. Thinking of something with an i-cord tie. But that will wait until I reach the neck.

I am using yarn that I already had in my stash. Someone gave the yarn to me. I don't particularly like the color for myself, but it seemed a good place to start. The yarn is a cotton, rayon, linen blend. I like only natural fibers when I knit or crochet so that is good. I also live in Arizona, so these fibers will wear well during the heat of summer.

Trying to find time to do this new thing - designing - caused me to rearrange my schedule to accommodate all the other knitting I like to do. I have many patterns that I love, like, and then just think I might want to knit/crochet pending in a file cabinet that catches all the papers, notes, and photos. These are the patterns I want to make for myself, or my husband, or to give as gifts. How to find time to knit for myself, for others, and design patterns, too? I thought about what I already do each day and decided to divide my week into sections that would allow me to work on all projects at the same time and finish without the pressure of running out of time before a pattern was completed. Three mornings a week I meet with other lovers of the craft to visit while we work on various projects together. I decided to use that time to work only on projects that I make for myself or Steve, my husband; alternating from me to him as each project is completed and a new one begins. I just started a new sweater for myself using white cotton yarn I was given for winning the door prize at a grand opening of a yarn shop. Every evening after dinner is finished and the kitchen cleaned and readied for the next day, I usually watch a movie to unwind before my evening ends and I go to bed. I chose this time for making all the projects I want to give as gifts throughout the year for birthdays and Christmas. I just finished knitting/crocheting gifts for this past Christmas that were sent to four siblings and their spouses, four children and their spouses, four of the fourteen grandchildren, and two best friends. Even though I started in September, I felt too much pressure for time slipping away too quickly and "almost" didn't enjoy doing this. So, I have started this month with my gift making and already finished six gifts. Each one only required one skein of yarn, which is good because it didn't take forever to make. I am now working on another gift - one that has been on my list to make for some time. Hooray, it is finally started. Now that left only one other project category for me to place into my schedule. So I decided to use four afternoons each week for designing and making my own patterns. That still leaves plenty of time to do all the other things that are necessary in a normal woman's life.You know - laundry, cleaning, cooking, shopping, paperwork, etc. Also I do have a husband, remember, so I have all the tasks that involve him. <grin>

I would like to post photos of my designs but haven't figured out how to do that yet. So that will wait until later. However, I am on Ravelry.( www.ravelry.com )My account name is dteresasimmons if you want to look me up. I have all my projects from last year posted.

Okay, that is it for now. I hope to share often and keep track of all my progress as I journal.
Teresa