La Bella Tunica is in KNIT'n STYLE

In the new issue of KNIT'n STYLE magazine on page 58 there is a pattern and some beautiful photographs of La Bella Tunica. Cascade Yarns chose to feature my designfor this December issue and I am thrilled. I loved to work with Soft Spun yarn. It makes a beautiful stitch definition and you can see how crisp the cables are shown. The model is just perfect for this tunic. It is exactly how I intended it to look. If you have a chance, pick up this issue and you will see the photos on the side as well as this one that I scanned from the magazine (obviously not as good as the original).

NEW DESIGN: BRENDA'S BASKETWEAVE BAG

Despite the fact that I know how to crochet almost as long as I knit, this is my very first published crochet design. The new issue of Interweave Crochet, Accessories, 2010 is full of great small projects that can be done very quickly for gifts or just for fun. I made my list of hats already.

So, here is my design. This bag is a version of a messenger bag. You can use it in so many ways. It can hold a laptop, iPad, books, and, which is more important for us knitters, a disguise for a knitting bag.

Finished Size
13.5" wide x 12.5" tall x 2.75" deep

Yarn
Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool (100% wool; 465 yd [425 m] / 8 oz [227 g]; CYCA #4) : #125 brown heather (MC), 2 skeins; #126 nature's brown, 1 skein.

Hook Sizes
G/6 (4 mm), F/5 (3.75 mm). Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Gauge
20 sts and 12 rows = 4" in basketweave patt on a larger hook


To make it sturdy, I used double strand of yarn for the strap.



The above photos are © Interweave Press.

My vision of this bag was very clear from the beginning and I did not have to change anything.

Interview with Angela Hahn

It is my pleasure to welcome Angela Hahn to The Designer's Studio. I am positive that you know and love her feminine and beautiful designs. She plays with stitch patterns in a way that her designs look effortless, light, and very appealing. I always enjoy looking at her creations and I know I am not alone. Angela focuses on style and comfort so any knitter can see herself making and what is more important - wearing the garment she makes when she follows a pattern by this designer. You just cannot miss Angela's designs.
Read this interview in full here.

Yarn Harlot is making my Sweet Honey Beret!!

For about two days I was trying to figure something. It was a complete mystery to me why the "user activity" tab on my Ravelry page suddenly was going crazy. So many people came to see my designs and liked one hat called Sweet Honey beret that was published in the Winter 2008 issue of Interweave Knits in particular. I was not aware of any forum discussions, or promotions going on. Since it is not my nature to leave things unresolved, I searched in many different directions, but could not find anything.
It was not before my friend Heather of Intwined Pattern Studio told me, I learned that famous Stephanie Pearl McPhee a.k.a. "The Yarn Harlot" blogged about making this hat. Here is her post.
As most of you know, Stephanie wrote many books on the topic of knitting. If you have never read her books or magazine articles, prepare yourself for a treat. She is funny, informative, and inventive in a way she relates the story. Stephanie very quickly became an important figure in our knitting world. She also is a great knitter. You can see her own designs here.
I already thanked her personally for choosing my hat for her next small project and I am happy that she likes it. The mystery is solved in the most exciting way.

October 12th: Stephanie posted pictures of her daughter wearing her new beautifully made hat.

Interview with Lily Chin

Lily Chin is a well-known name in the knitwear industry. Her career began many years ago in her native New York as she was working for such designers as Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang, Diane von Furstenberg, and Isaac Mizrahi. Read this interview in full here.

October

October is always interesting around here. It is still very warm and people dress for summer, but if you look down, there are leaves on the ground. I guess Fall is coming no matter what people are thinking. It is absolutely fine with me. I love cool knitting weather. Very soon many trees will turn color and it will be magical.
For me October is also a month of many birthdays among friends and family. In other words, it is a cheerful time of the year.

Progress report: Two out of three deadline projects are done and sent away. I am working on the next one with a tight deadline as well. I need to be done by October 16th with knitting, pattern writing, schematics drawing, chart making, and so on. I am fine. I will be able to do it.

Just when I thought it was my last project with a strict deadline for a little while, I got an e-mail saying that there is another one on its way. I am very excited about this one as well as others. I do not like to keep secrets, but this is a game I play.

Very soon Interweave Crochet Accessories issue will be out. One of my designs will be in it. I have not seen the photographs of it yet. So I am going to see it at the same time as you.

I am also waiting for a December issue (which will be out soon) of Knit & Style for the same reason.
Back to knitting.