Yay!

Yay! #iftttkd via Instagram http://bit.ly/1zJz5H1

Back-issue patterns available on Interweave (plus 30% off)!

Have you been waiting for some of my recent patterns to be available as individual downloads? All designs I have published with Interweave are available in the online store. And in honor of National Craft Month (did you know that was a thing?), you can get these patterns for 30% off at Interweave using with the code LUV2CRAFT.

Quadrille Pullover - flattering and feminine, I might need a cable/bobble fix this Spring (KAL, anyone?) 

Ozark Wrap - fun to knit and seriously cozy to wear (love mine during NYC's deep freeze) 

Kellynch Cardigan - another flattering sweater, this time with romantic lace detail and integrated buttonbands (this is my other candidate for a KAL - let me know if you would like to join me) 

Strawberry-Picking Shrug - a perfect, small project to master working lace on both sides 

Back issue patterns include:

• Honest Woodsman Pullover (Enchanted Knits 2014) 
• A Vest for Charles (Jane Austen Knits, Fall 2013) 
• Benwick (Jane Austen Knits, Fall 2013) 
• Sotherton (Jane Austen Knits, Summer 2012) 
• An Aran for Anne (Jane Austen Knits, Summer 2012) 
• Bixby (Knitscene, Fall 2012) 
• An Aran for Frederick (Jane Austen Knits, 2011) 

Fine print: These are Interweave's reprints of my patterns as they appeared in various magazines, not kathleen dames | knitwear design editions. They will not show up in your Ravelry library, since they have not yet been published on Ravelry. You will receive a PDF direct from Interweave. I receive a small royalty payment for each pattern sold by Interweave, as well as an affiliate micropayment if you use the links in this email. I do plan to publish my own editions of these patterns on Ravelry once Interweave's 1-year exclusivity period is complete and when there is room in my publishing calendar. I will always provide support and love for you when knitting from any version of my patterns.

Until next time: Happy knitting!
xoxo,
Kathleen

quick + purly: 5 cardigans

A new feature for you, my friends: quick + purly posts.

Once a week I will share five patterns that have caught my eye. If there is a category you'd like me to explore for you, let me know.

This week, since we still have ... more winter to go, I found some lovely aran-weight cardigans for women. Cozy, quick-to-knit, with special details, and (the way this winter is going) wearable for a bit longer. 

1. Sweet Oak Hooded Cardigan by Megan Goodacre $5CAD
   
2. Winter Weeds Cardigan by Katya Gorbacheva $7USD 
   
3. Long Way Home by Julia Trice $7USD 
   
4. alpenglühen by Isabell Kraemer 5.30EUR 
   
5. Carillon Cardigan by Allison L $6.50AUD 
   

And just to toot my own tiny horn, since it showed up on page 3/6 of my search:
Sailor's Valentine by Kathleen Dames $7USD

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - just want to spread the love!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen

Putting together a pattern

As I'm preparing a few patterns for testing/editing, I thought you might be interested to see the elements that go into a pattern. Every designer has a different skill set, but with my former life as an Art Director and Graphic Designer, I am able to do the layout, photo editing (sometimes photography, too), and chart creation, in addition to the writing and grading. There are a couple of areas where I'm mulling over changes, and I'd love your feedback. I've included the Thistle Leaf Shawl pattern pages for reference :)

cover

• title - preferably memorable and evocative of the design, not numeric (Cardigan #987, anyone?) or generic (Long Sleeve Pullover), and as a general rule not tied to the color of the sample, since I never want a knitter to feel left out because they don't like the way they look in blue, or red reminds them of their ex
• description - also known as "romance" copy - interesting and explanatory, since I want to set the scene and highlight what makes it special, with correct grammar and spelling, of course (I was an English major, and my mother was a language arts teacher back in the day)
• photos - a "hero" shot (one that shows the item and conveys the mood and doesn't have me looking too doofy) plus a close-up (usually of the stitch pattern) and an image that gives an idea of overall size/shape and/or the back of the item (and if there is room on the following pages, I will include additional images for illustration)

info page

• sizing - I'm currently considering doing away with "letter" sizing completely on my graded patterns and just providing finished measurements with ease information
  What do you think about letter sizing vs. finished measurements?
• materials list - yarn, tools, notions - I want to make sure knitters have everything they need to successfully create their version of my pattern, and I've started to include yardage approximations for each size, not just number of skeins, for easy yarn substitution
• gauge information - usually given in Stockinette Stitch to help knitters in their yarn choice
• skills needed - a list of which techniques are used so that knitters aren't surprised
• notes - specifics about techniques used in the pattern and other helpful tidbits
• abbreviation list and stitch guide - I always cross check these against the written pattern to make sure I cover every abbreviation used and provide instructions for any stitches not charted/written out
• schematic - these are kind of my bete noire, but hopefully you can't tell that from looking at them! Generally, they are in imperial measurements, but I'm mulling over including metric (ditto for sizing)
  Would the inclusion of metric help you?
• thanks and my blurb - I don't do any of this on my own, so I like to tip my hat to my testers, tech editor, photographer, etc., and then share a little bit about me

pattern page(s)

• charts (if applicable) - I create all my charts in InDesign with the knitsymbols typeface - it's a very satisfying, detail-oriented part of the process for me
• chart key - a chart isn't much help if a knitter can't understand it!
• written version of charts - another challenging area sometimes since I'm a visual person (the written version of Upon the Spanish Main was quite complicated but turned out really well) - every time I think of going chart-only I am reminded of all the different learning paths there are in the world and the knitters whose brains cannot process the information in a chart
• pattern - the actual written instructions, which need to be clear, efficient, and address every size for all portions of the knitted item, including finishing 

Lots of different pieces go into a pattern! And as a former Art Director I'm always trying to fit things together as snugly as possible (must. save. paper.). But that's the basic formula for how I present a pattern. Now, how I write it? That's a story for another day.

I'd love to hear what you think about those two questions. If you're a designer, I'd love to hear what elements you include in your patterns.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen

Pomegranate cardi: test knitters wanted

ETA: Send me an email kathleendames at gmail dot com or a Ravelry PM, if you're interested.
Pomegranate cardi: test knitters wanted #iftttkd via Instagram http://bit.ly/1B8ZJ1o

Cold(and getting colder) day calls for cosy, cabled knits!

Cold(and getting colder) day calls for cosy, cabled knits! #iftttkd via Instagram http://bit.ly/1GlZ8JU

Time to pull out the woolliest of woollies! Ozark Wrap from Interweave Knits Winter 2015.

Time to pull out the woolliest of woollies! Ozark Wrap from Interweave Knits Winter 2015. #iftttkd via Instagram http://bit.ly/1w6C819