I've re-sewn the sleeves to the body on my Cross Your Heart, and I think that it will be enough to negate the need for the gussets. I have sewn another side seam, and I'll get the other one done this week, then pick up the neck sts for the (shorter) funnel neck. Amira's cropped hoodie is near completion also. The pattern is more of a guideline for me, I'm kind of making it up as I go along at this point. I've changed the gauge and size, did the math for that, and I'm working it as much in one piece as possible to minimize the seaming.


Yummy Rowan yarns: Lima in Rosario, KidSilk Haze in Royal Blue, and Cocoon in Frost. Plus some Habu Stainless Steel Thread.
I was able to go to the Rowan Yarn Tasting at Paradise again this year. It was supposed to be a fun trip for a few of us from this area, but I was the only one who ended up going. They give rather generous goodie bags, so I like to make it just for that, not counting all the other fun stuff and shopping there. Even though I didn't win any of the drawings, my competitive streak kicked in to get me another skein of Rowan yarn. Someone hadn't claimed her drawing prize and after giving a couple warnings that after a certain time they would offer it again, they did. Only this time, they asked a trivia question about the significance of the patterns on Aran sweaters. I won't say that I ran, because I don't run, but I certainly did scamper down the ramp to the check in table, and blurted my answer out before the lady who was there could say anything, and I won! I didn't even know what I was winning. That is how competitive I am. Anyway, I didn't buy a ton, but Rich instructed me that I was to buy a ball winder, since it would speed up the process for everyone at our home, and I had forgotten my needles to work on the project I brought, so I bought another set of those, and picked up some stainless steel thread from Habu to make some jewelry type pieces for the kids, but I wish I had picked up the copper thread, too.

My other project at the moment is swatching for a Saint Nicholas stocking for a magazine. I think it's a really strong design, and I'm hoping it works with their issue, as well. If it doesn't fit the rest of their story, I will finish it and publish it myself. It may become Yasmina's stocking, since I owe her, Mariam, and Nejat their own handmade ones, but I had a different design in mind for her, so I'll have to think about that. After that submission and another that is almost ready to send, I'm going to take a little break from submissions and work on my own self published designs some more. I've had to neglect them a little with deadlines and so on, and I'd like to get more out there that is either ready or just about ready right now.



Swatch for Amira, which needs testers in about a month.
I will be needing testers in November for a woman's, sleeveless shell, knit in the round, with minimal back and forth knitting and only as much seaming as you like. As you can see from the swatch, it involves texture and simple lace. The pattern requires standard chart reading skills, ability to increase and decrease, make yos, knit in the round, and pick up stitches. Right now, I'm working on my own top in a deep red. There are no specific brand requirements for the yarn, simply a DK weight yarn that knits up at 5.5 stitches per in in stockinette (the gauge for the top will be about 5.25 spi, but I want a yarn that will drape well at that gauge). I'd like to have at least two testers per size: 29", 34", 39", 44", 49" finished bust. Yardage requirements are calculated for each size, respectively, as: 790, 900, 1000, 1100, 1225 yds. This is still an estimate, however, so I recommend getting an extra skein of whatever you buy, or if you are using stash, making sure that you have an extra ball's worth of the yarn. I'll want you to join a Facebook group for testers, if you are able, but will require a Ravelry entry, tagging me in it, and a link up when the pattern is released. The specific details will be given if you take this on for me. I will give the finished copy of the pattern to testers when the pattern is released, a percentage/amount off coupon to my Ravelry Store for those who complete the test, and a coupon for a free pattern for those who provide photos and link up to the pattern page. If you are able to do this, please contact me. Here's the weekly reminder to like Arabian Knits Designs on Facebook, if you haven't already. That's where I put updates and testing opportunities and other design news. Thank you!

I did not finish Everywhere Present: Christianity in a One-Storey Universe, but I'm still reading and enjoying it. We are continuing with The Restaurant at the End of the Universe in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 25th Anniversary Edition.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On.

Labels: Books, Design, Family, Homemaking, Knitting, Yarn, Yarn Along