Au revoir, Craftsy

Upgrades coming soon to a Ravelry store near you!

After a lot of number crunching and feelings consulting (with thanks for the moral support, +Tara Swiger and #starshipbiz), I have closed my pattern store on Craftsy. Those of you who purchased patterns there, thank you thank you thank you!!! I will be in touch shortly to make sure you have the pattern support you need. Patterns you purchased should remain available in "My Craftsy", but if you want to purchase more patterns, you should visit my Ravelry store, which is open to all.

Originally, I liked the idea of selling patterns to you on a few carefully selected sites to ensure you dear knitters could buy my patterns where you like to virtually hang out. But keeping everything up-to-date in multiple places has become a drain on my time, and I'd rather be designing and knitting new patterns for you!

For many designers, Craftsy is a great venue, but it just didn't work for me the way I wanted it to. There were little things, like the way my pattern photos were pixelated in Search view with no way to fix it and the fact that when you searched "Kathleen Dames" in patterns, other people's patterns came up, which just seemed weird to me. But the big thing was the way Craftsy decided to (not) handle VAT (let's not get started on that except to say that it's a headache for small businesses like mine).

What does this mean for you? Not much! You will still be able to purchase my patterns on Ravelry, which is where those little "buy now" buttons on every pattern page lead to. Since I won't have to worry about keeping pattern info up-to-date in multiple places (I closed my Etsy store in January for similar reasons), you might find me a little more cheerful and getting more done. Otherwise, it's all systems go.

My patterns are available exclusively on Ravelry (squee! all the patterns are starting to get matchy-matchy, thanks to the summer of upgrades!), but if you really don't want to join Ravelry (why not?! they treat crafters and designers with massive doses of awesome), you can always purchase my patterns by clicking the "buy now" buttons on individual pattern pages*.

So, what major decisions have you made lately? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

*Now that I have a little more time, you will soon find those "buy now" buttons on a handsome new Patterns page. I just have to talk to my web designer (me) and programmer (me).

Pattern: Aphros

Aphros $7 on Ravelry (no account necessary)

Lace is a wonderful project for travel—one ball of yarn, one set of needles­—whether you’re flying across the country or washed up on a deserted island. And Aphros (Greek for “sea foam”) is an airy and elegant stole that can serve as cover for your evening gown or over-sized scarf for your everyday ensemble. Gently undulating seafoam stitch, simple yet beautiful, forms the body, while a lacy edging adds a graceful flourish to the ends.

What you'll love about knitting Aphros:

• Gorgeous Seafoam pattern is a fancy-looking version of Garter Stitch, so it's easy-peasy knitting that only looks complicated
• Quills edging is a fun bit of intermediate-level knitting that will expand your skill set and make the stole truly elegant
• One skein of yarn + one needle + one pattern = perfect travel knitting!
• This is the perfect pattern to begin your lace adventures: by beginning with the Seafoam pattern, you will get used to working with skinny yarn on larger needles, and once you've mastered that, you will be ready for the lace edging

What you'll love about wearing Aphros:

• a lightweight stole is always useful
• it will scrunch up to fit in your purse yet is large enough to wrap up your shoulders on a chilly evening
• lightweight fabric also allows you to wrap around your neck without a lot of bulk - perfect for adding a pop of color to your outfit

Size/Finished Measurements
65 x 18 inches after blocking

Materials
madelinetosh tosh lace [100% superwash merino wool; 950 yards/868 meters per 120g skein]; color: Kelp; 1 skein
US3/3.25mm 24-inch circular needle (ndl)
Waste yarn
Tapestry needle

Gauge in Seafoam
46 sts x 24 rows = 7 x 4 inches

Skills Needed
Casting on
Binding off
Knitting
Purling
Increasing
Decreasing
Working lace from charted or written instructions

Thanks!
Tech Editing: Joeli Caparco
Photography: Nicholas Dames



Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Pattern: Sotherton

Sotherton $7 on Ravelry (no account necessary)

“You have a very smiling scene before you,” [said Mr. Crawford.] 

“Do you mean literally or figuratively? Literally, I conclude. Yes, certainly, the sun shines, and the park looks very cheerful. But unluckily that iron gate, that ha-ha, give me a feeling of restraint and hardship. ‘I cannot get out,’ as the starling said.” As [Miss Bertram] spoke, and it was with expression, she walked to the gate: he followed her. “Mr. Rushworth is so long fetching this key!”

—Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

Sotherton is inspired by the iron gates sprinkled, frustratingly, throughout the grounds at Mr. Rushworth’s estate of Sotherton. While they proved no match for Miss Bertram’s determination to trespass - with Mr. Crawford’s assistance - the Gothic Lattice pattern prettily constrain a knitter’s curves.

Worked in the round from the bottom up, the purl ground between left- and right-twists is the perfect place to tuck away decreases for some elegant waist shaping. The fit is close and elegant with the twist-stitch lines lengthening the wearer.

What you'll love about knitting Sotherton:

• Worked in the round from the bottom up, so you can always see where you are in your work
• Twisted stitches keep your interest but aren't hard to work
• Shaping is worked in the purl ground between twisted ribs making it almost invisible, but your figure will be flattered all the same
• Seamless construction means less finishing - weave together the underarms, sew in a few ends, and you're good to go

What you'll love about wearing Sotherton:

• Close fit shows off your curves
• Beautiful lattice pattern highlights your waist and is repeated on the cuffs
• Waist shaping increases are all worked in the front to create more fabric for your bust - right where you need it

Size/Finished Measurements

Chest circumference: 27¾ [31¼, 34½, 38¼, 43¼] inches—shown in 34½" size with 4 inches negative ease

Materials

• Madeline Tosh, Tosh DK (100% superwash Merino; 225 yds/ 110g): filigree, 4 [5, 5, 6, 7]
• Size 6 (4 mm): 24-inch circular (cir) and set of five double-pointed needles (dpns)
• Markers (m)
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle

Gauge
22 sts and 29 rnds = 4 inches in Twisted 2 × 6 Ribbing

Skills needed

• Casting on
• Binding off
• Knitting
• Purling
• Increasing
• Decreasing
• Working in the round
• Working stitches out of order (cabling)
• Working from charted instructions

Thanks!

Previously published in Jane Austen Knits, Summer 2012
Photography: Nicholas Dames

Everything you need to create your very own Sotherton has its place in this professionally formatted (by me!) pattern. Twisted stitches are provided in chart form only.

Lovely knitters who purchased this pattern when it was originally released should have received a message from Ravelry that the updated version is now in their libraries. Don't miss the special customer coupon code!

And don't forget that Sotherton is part of my Jane Austen Knits bundle. Use code jakbundle to purchase An Aran for Anne, An Aran for Frederick, and Sotherton for $15 ($21 value). Previous purchases from my Ravelry store will be credited towards the bundle price at checkout.



Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Wedding sweater: math(s)

Oh, mathematics. Where would a knitwear designer be without you? While it may not be the most fun for those of us who just want to knit, swatches, measurements, and calculations are vital elements to creating a sweater that fits the way we want. And if you like the fit, then you will love the sweater and wear it all the time. That's what we all want out of our craft, isn't it?

So, math(s). I found that my swatch on US4 needles gives me 6spi and 8rpi or 24 sts x 32 rows = 4", which is pretty much what I was aiming for (yay!). I'm going to create a sweater with a 38" bust, giving me 1" positive ease, which means I should cast on 228 sts (38 * 6 = 228). Since I also plan to work an integrated button band, I'm going to add six more stitches to account for the button band overlap, giving us a grand total of 234 stitches. 

It may be all banged up, but my gauge tool is one of my best friends

The original plan was for a deep, ribbed hem, with the ribbing contracting the fabric nicely to provide waist-shaping without a lot of extra work - see how the ribbing at the bottom of the swatch draws it in? (I like waist shaping, but sometimes you just want to knit a tube/rectangle without keeping track of things beyond length to underarm.) However, since the original sketch, my sister and I have mulled things over and decided to have a more standard body to the sweater, so I'm going to work a garter stitch hem. I think this will make for a sweater that is easier to wear unbuttoned. A deep ribbed hem would look cute buttoned up but may not hit exactly right with the dress, so we've decided to make that change. 

With our bust/hip number, what Elizabeth Zimmermann called "K" or the key number, we can calculate the other numbers needed for our raglan yoke. The numbers we will need include:

• cast-on for sleeves - approx. 1/4 of stitches, though we are working 3/4 sleeves, so will start with a slightly larger number, since our cuff will begin at a wider part of the arm
• stitches needed for upper arm circumference - approx. 1/3
• how many stitches to be held for the underarms - 8%
• and our neckband goal stitches or how many stitches will remain after the raglan shaping of the yoke - approx. 40%, since we have decided to make a reasonably high yoke that will then fall open nicely when buttoned up most of the way

The other important thing to determine is the buttonhole rate. We have approximately eight rows per inch on the swatch. Since I do not yet have buttons, I am not constrained in how many buttonholes I can have, but something like every two inches seems about right. To get an exact number, I do have to figure out the approximate length of the sweater from hem to neck before I begin - something that can be ignored if you knit on your button bands after knitting the sweater. ... spreadsheets ... math ... double-check ... hold measuring tape up to self and be grateful my sister and I have similar measurements ... Looks like I will be able to do ten tiny buttons up the front of the sweater - I'd better go on a button hunt before we head up to Maine!

Previous steps: 1. Yarn choice. 2. Sketching. 3. Swatches

Next step: Knit knit knit. With all the numbers in my spreadsheet, I should be able to happily knit away on this. Cross your fingers for me that I can knit like the wind. with wool. in July. Luckily, it's fingering weight, so I don't have three pounds of wool in my lap. Hopefully I will have lots of progress to show you next week.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

quick + purly: 5 gloves

Now that Summer is firmly upon us in the Northern Hemisphere, the notion of knitting something that would fill your lap is, um, repugnant, isn't it? Unless you're safely tucked away in the AC, you'll want something small (or something in linen). How about some gloves? Sure, they may be a little fiddly with all those fingers, but don't your lovely, clever hands deserve something special? This week I found five glove patterns that each have some element that makes them truly spectacular. Take your pick!

1. Opus 300 by Linda OCarroll and Mel Browne £3 GBP (~ $4.80 USD) 

   

   Such a clever use of beads! Be sure to note the ring on the pointer finger.

2. Snapdragon Gloves by The Rainey Sisters $6 USD 

   

   Wouldn't you want a pair with colorful flowers AND a pair all in one yarn?

3. FINLAY by Alexandra Brinck £2.50 GBP (~ $4 USD)

   

   You wanted to figure out what to do with that awesome stripey yarn you fell for, right?

4. Texel Gloves by Dagmar Mora $4 USD 

   

   Such a clever use of color and stitch pattern - there's a ribbed option for the cuff, too!

5. Lady Wannabe (Den dama) by Tara Frøseth Design kr.35.00 NOK (~$4.53 USD) 

   

   A chance to paw through your button jar...

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

Special note: The über-talented Julia Mueller has, sadly, stopped designing gloves. Lucky for you, she has decided to make all her existing designs free (to avoid the VAT mess). There are so many lovelies to choose from that you should just go and pick your favorite(s) and then come back and tell me about them.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo,

Did you miss me?

We went to Greece last week, and it was amazing! I didn't even knit every day - that's how amazing it was. If you don't follow me on social media (Instagram, Flickr, Twitter, Tumblr), you weren't inundated with pictures last week like the one below, but you can follow those links and enjoy them now ;)

Sunset on Santorini - wearing some handknits

The sweater I'm wearing will go into testing soon - it's in laceweight so was perfect for the cool nights in the Cyclades, and the scarf was my linen laceweight travel knitting, which will also need a write-up and test soon.

I'll do a more thorough post about Greece down the line, but for now it's time to get back to the grindstone (and get over my jetlag). I missed you all and hope your weeks were lovely.

This month there will be more pattern upgrades, as well as some re-releases of magazine-published patterns. In case you missed them, here are the patterns that have been upgraded so far:

• Wench linen pullover for women
• Babe in the Mist baby blanket
• An Aran for Frederick unisex cabled pullover
• An Aran for Anne women's cabled pullover

As always, thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, 

Pattern: An Aran for Anne

After An Aran for Frederick flew off to Jane Austen Knits for his photo shoot, I found myself staring at a bag of steely-grey/lavender worsted-spun wool that kept telling me it wanted to be something shapely. Having had so much fun with the construction for Frederick, I decided to see what I could do with the hybrid yoke style for a woman.

An Aran for Anne $7 on Ravelry (no account necessary)

She was looking remarkably well; her very regular, very pretty features, having the bloom and freshness of youth restored by the fine wind which had been blowing on her complexion, and by the animation of eye which it had also produced. ... [Captain Wentworth] gave her a momentary glance,—a glance of brightness, which seemed to say, "That man is struck with you,—and even I, at this moment, see something like Anne Elliot again."

—Jane Austen, Persuasion  

The elegant little woman Miss Anne Elliot merits her own pretty pullover, with waist shaping and a variety of twisted stitch patterns. Elegant Ribbing accentuates the waist shaping, while budding (bobbling) vines wind their way up front, back, and sleeves. And the easy-to-remember Inverted Gull Stitch pattern nods to Anne’s beloved, Captain Frederick Wentworth, much at sea.

Like An Aran for Frederick, An Aran for Anne is worked in the round from the bottom up. The yoke is a saddle-shouldered hybrid style. Waist-shaping and a wider, almost boat-style neck ensure that shapely Anne won’t be mistaken for manly Frederick!

What you'll love about knitting An Aran for Anne

• Gorgeous cable patterns that use a variety of knitting techniques
• Worked in the round from the bottom up, so you are always looking at the right side of those cables
• Hybrid construction brings all the cable elements together in the yoke in a way that is fun to knit and all but eliminates finishing work

What you'll love about wearing An Aran for Anne

• Shaping hidden in the purl fabric of the central cable plus the Elegant Ribbing at the sides forms a sweater that hugs your curves in all the right places
• Neckline shows off your lovely collar bones
• Feminine, nature-inspired cables make this one seriously pretty sweater

Size/Finished Measurements
Women’s XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X) (shown in size M with one inch negative ease)
Bust circumference: 29¼ (32¾, 37½, 40½, 45¼, 48¼, 53) inches

Materials 

• Louet Gems Worsted (100% superwash Merino; 175 yds [160 m]/100g): Steel Grey, 5 (6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 10) skeins
• Size 6 (4 mm): 16- and 29-inch circular (cir) and double-pointed (dpn) needles (ndl)
• Markers (m), including one different marker for end-of-round
• Cable needle (cn)
• Waste yarn or stitch holders
• Tapestry needle

Gauge
19 sts and 26 rnds = 4 inches in Rev St st

Skills needed

• Casting on
• Binding off
• Knitting
• Purling
• Increasing
• Decreasing
• Working in the round
• Working stitches out of order (cabling)
• Working from charted instructions

Thanks!
Previously published in Jane Austen Knits, Summer 2012
Photography: Nicholas Dames

Everything you need to create your very own An Aran for Anne has its place in this professionally formatted (by me!) pattern. Cables are provided in chart form only.

Lovely knitters who purchased this pattern when it was originally released should have received a message from Ravelry that the updated version is now in their libraries. Don't miss the special customer coupon code!

And don't forget that An Aran for Anne is part of my Jane Austen Knits bundle. Use code jakbundle to purchase An Aran for Anne, An Aran for Frederick, and Sotherton for $15 ($21 value). Previous purchases from my Ravelry store will be credited towards the bundle price at checkout.



Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,