Sean's Soapbox

So, if you’ve been following, it’s been an exciting time for me as of late. Today, I’ll be offering a pattern for sale, my first self-published pattern. Of course I’ve been writing, re-writing, tweaking the design, etc. But, I’m soon ready to send pattern #1 out into the world. The design:

… was influenced by Cat Bordi’s Swirling Capes design from her book, A Treasury of Magical Knitting and by Sivia Harding’s Harmonia’s Rings Cowl. I’ve been wanting to design something that grows from the magic of a moebius, but was looking to create something for summer, a garment that you could throw over your shoulders on a cool summer night or to wear in an office where the air conditioning might be a little cool. This was the result.

The pattern will be available for sale on Ravelry.com. If you’re not a member of Ravelry and want to buy it, please follow the link at the bottom of this blog post.

And special thanks to my friend, Kendra, for volunteering as my model.

Here are some shots of the capelet

Sean Riley's Moebius Capelet

buy now

OK…so it’s shaping up to be a good month (as I mentioned in an earlier post…there’s LOTS happening).

Meet Bentley, our new puppy. He’s crazy full of energy, super inquisitive, and is wearing his big sister, Gretl, OUT!

The next design of mine, designed in collaboration with Jamie Dixon of Scout’s Swag, is a pair of socks which will be part of the designs offered on the Petite Purls Summer 2010 collection.

The Sk8er Chick Sock was born from a conversation about designing an ironic sock. Jamie Dixon, of Scout’s Swag and I were going back and forth about design ideas and the idea of a hot pink and black colorway knitted up in lace and ruffles really tickled both of us. She dyed the custom color and the swatching began. And as soon as it did the design idea took off. There were a few design vs practicality hurdles to overcome, but I think I did.

I think the site goes live this afternoon…so check it out when you get a moment!

I’m really loving seeing the fruits of my labors…I have to admit that it’s really very exciting.

I don’t know really where to leave this information. Here or on my Personalknitter.com web site. Maybe both. We shall see. (I’ve gotta get the blog working on the personal knitter site first.)

Anyway, do you know Stephen West? If not, maybe you should. He’s got this amazing design sense. Westknits on Ravelry, he’s got an amazing following and the cause is a good one. Just look at these fresh, clean designs of his. And, I’ll be there and we’ll get to say “Hi.”

So, Stephen is headed north to the Boston Area and is going to be at Seedstitch in Salem, MA. I’m encouraging you to come out and listen to him. He’ll inspire you! Check out Seedstitch‘s website for more information.

Hope you get to see Stephen and I hope I get to see you guys!

I haven’t posted in quite a long while, it seems. My how time passes without notice if we’re not careful. What have I been up to? I’ve been knitting to keep my sanity! You may say that it’s too late! But it’s what I do to help me escape and keep “out of my head.”

As many of you know, last weekend was the Dutchess County Sheep and Wool Festival otherwise know as Rhinebeck. This was my second time going, having gone last year. And this year’s visit was as enjoyable and as different.

Here we are, Stephen, hizKnits, me, and momKNITS (Stephen’s Mom, Ann). momKNITS was a wonderful addition to the terrible duo…and I enjoyed her company a great deal.

(For a minute there, I had to wonder to myself where I was going with this Rhinebeck angle…oh, yes.)

It was at Rhinebeck that Stephen introduced me to Clara Parkes, or Miss Parkes as we tend to call her. I have long been a fan of her book, The Knitter’s Book of Yarn and (where have I been, under a rock?) was so excited and surprised to see that she was signing her new book, The Knitter’s Book of Wool. She was a delight and the book is my newest bed-time reading and obsession.

I’ve already knitted the Hill Country Hat — twice, in fact. And if you follow the link you can download the pattern yourself from Miss Parkes’ site, Knitter’s Review. And the other day I cast on the Sweet Fern Mitts. Today I cast off and I can’t wait for the temperature to drop so I can wear them! Here are some photos.

I’ve been encouraged by Miss Parkes to knit all the patterns in the book and I wonder if I shall.

Other than that…I’ve been spinning some Blue-Faced Leicester fiber (my only fiber purchase from Rhinebeck…can that be right?) And the resulting 3-ply yarn is turning out beautifully. But that’s another post.

While cleaning up the other day, I came across Anna Zilboorg’s Magnificent Mittens. I know I’ve looked through this book, but I haven’t really read it that carefully. That was a mistake! What a wonderful book. I’m not sure whether I’ll use the EZ “sore thumb” method or Anna’s “invisible thumb” method. But I am sure that I’m really enjoying the knitting. I’m using some stash – Green Mountain Spinnery’s Mountain Mohair on US 3s (I know it’s going to be firm…but they’re mittens and should be wind-proof as far as I’m concerned. Next time, I think I’ll try to work these up two at a time on 2 circular needles. But two-color knitting, doubling that up, I don’t know if I want to deal with the tangles. Perhaps knitting them one at a time is the way to go.

Here is a close-up of the knitting.

Check for updates in the next few days.

With the disaster of the Eco Wool sweater behind me, I decided to knit the Seamless Hybrid, but one color this time! The body is done. Now I’m starting the sleeves (2 at a time on two circs) with a 1×1 twisted rib. Here’s a picture!