The Creative Process of The Crazy Penguin Lady.

The Crazy Penguin Lady has been on a creative jag for the past few months. When she gets this way, little else matters.

Honestly, a lot of other things matter.

I rarely accomplish much else but getting the pattern ideas onto the needles, finished, photoed and written down as a, hopefully, coherent pattern.

Sometimes coherency is not an easy thing.

If I do not get them out, they keep me up nights, running around in my head, bouncing off my skull, while I attempt to sleep.

You really don't want to see me sleep deprived. Trust me, it isn't pretty.

 

It takes a lot of fiddling around with graph paper and computer programs and swatching and rejecting and swatching and rejecting and swatching and coming up victorious. 

Did I ever mention that I absolutely hate swatching?

Then I get to knit the first draft and scribble notes on the original draft of the pattern and frog what didn't work, then knit what I scribbled on the original pattern, then look at it after I have knitted on it for a couple of days and decide that I hate the gauge and frog it again and start over with a different needle or yarn or both.

This happens more times than I care to think about.

 

Then I knit a "proof" sample of the pattern to see if all the bugs have been worked out. I generally knit up some of my stash yarn for this.  Great way to burn stash.  IF, and that is a big IF, that "proof" makes me happy, then I knit it in a yarn that is readily available at The Scarlet Skein. 

Sometimes this is a very long process.

Sometimes this process keeps me from posting patterns that I published on Ravelry months ago. For this I am truly sorry.

Here, for your knitting pleasure, are a shawl, a scarf and a pair of slipper socks.

  Saguaro Shawl

$5.00

Mobile device compatible version available.

The lace pattern of this shawl is reminiscent of the Giant Saguaro Cacti found only in the Sonoran Deserts of South Eastern California, Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico.
Shown as knit in DK Weight yarn on size 6 U.S. (4.0 mm) knitting needle, but Saguaro can also be knit in Lace Weight yarn on a size 4 U.S. (3.5 mm) knitting needle.

Filigree Frippery

$4.00
Mobile device compatible version available. 

Super easy lace pattern for newbie lace knitters.  Knitters  have a choice of either a picot edge or a plain garter stitch edge.

Detail of lace.

The Slipper Which Shall Not Be Named

$4.00

Knit with Worsted Weight yarn on size 7 U.S. (4.5 mm) needles, these toe up slipper socks are great for the beginning sock knitter.

A long time coming.

This post has been a long time coming, indeed.

I had a slight mishap mid December and suffered a badly sprained ankle and it pretty much put the kibosh on most of my holiday plans. It took 4 weeks for me to be coherent enough to knit with any creativity and sense, but I have managed to create 5 patterns to share with you.

Here, now, for your knitting enjoyment are 3 hats, a scarf and a pair of socks.

Oh, Helen!
Download this pattern for free.
Mobile device compatible version available. 

A cute little something to dress up those warm weather t-shirt and jeans days.
Raindrops on Roses Beret
$4.00
Mobile device compatible version available.

A beret that can be knit slouchy or very slouchy, as shown.

Aaron's Awesome Jubilee Hat
$4.00
Mobile device compatible version available. 
Another slightly slouchy toque with a touch of texture.
This time, diamonds and stripes.

Little Stephanie Sunshine
$4.00
Mobile device compatible version available.  Yet another slightly slouchy toque with a touch of texture. This time an all over pattern of delicate diamonds.

And finally,
Miss Mary Lou
$4.00
Sassy, cute and girly. That's Miss Mary Lou!
This sock has a simple toe up construction with short row heels and toes. No picking up heel stitches. No Kitchener stitching toes. Reinforced on the heel and ball of foot to add durability.
Works with Double pointed needles, Magic Loop or Two circulars.
Shown with optional ruffled cuff.

That's all for now.
More news and knitting, as it happens.

Upcoming pattern spoiler!!!
It's going to be lace, kids!

And sometimes she Crochets.

Recently, I came across some notes that I had made while designing some crochet neck warmers. I have been busy deciphering and "Proof Crocheting" what I have begun to call my "Lost Notes of 2009" Collection.

Here is the first offering.
Randomness.

$4.00

&

For your knitting pleasure, I give you Uniquely Ali.

A slightly slouchy toque with a touch of texture.
$4.00
Mobile device compatible version available.

Feeling a Little Bit Bohemian.

The fall winds are blowing and it is time to start bundling up.

Keep yourself warm with a little bit of flair.
Wear this wrapped front to back, back to front, close around the neck or draped loosely and tossed over one shoulder.
Be a little bit Bohemian!

Download this pattern for free.
Mobile device compatible version available. 

This is a quick and easy knit. Another great one for holiday gift giving.

NEWS FLASH! Busy knitter posts more patterns!

I have been busy these past few weeks designing up a storm and starting to teach classes at The Scarlet Skein! I have also found some notes for items that I created over a year ago. I am currently in the process of deciphering exactly what I wrote and re-knitting or re-crocheting all of them, so I can attempt to write coherent patterns. Amazing how those scribbles were perfectly clear patterns when I jotted them down and now they seem to have been written by a five year old on Jolt Cola and Pixie Stix! More patterns as they are decoded.

Have fun going where your needles, hooks and yarn take you.

Click on the names, or the pictures of the patterns to purchase.

(We Got) Elegance.
A Neck Warmer.
$4.00

Very easy, very quick and gender neutral. Make it masculine or feminine just by changing the color or the buttons. You can make two from one skein Punta del Este "Merisoft" yarn.
Perfect for holiday gift giving.

Morning in San Francisco, a scarf.
$4.00

Everyone deserves a bit of luxury. Spoil yourself with silk, mohair, lace and beads.

Laura
$4.00

Mobile device compatible version available. 

Continuing with my sock obsession, I present the second in my series,
"Sockin' it to my family!".

Life and Knitting Happen.

It has been a while. My time has been filled with Life and Knitting. Some thrilling, some hilarious mishaps, some sad frogging. Life and Knitting will march on.
I have succumbed to the urgings of my friends and have started offering patterns on Ravelry. Here are my "maiden voyage" pattern offerings. You do not have to be a member of Ravelry to download these patterns. Just click on either the name of the pattern or the picture and you will be sent to the proper download page.

Bangarang!
A free download.

Rachel
$3.00

Have fun going where Life and Knitting take you.
More patterns will be forthcoming, soon.
Really. :)

Places my Altoid Tin dragged me to, in San Jose, CA.

My Altoid Tin, My Beloved and I went to San Jose last week and here are some of the places we went and things that we did.

Outside of the Clarion Hotel, San Jose.

Complimentary breakfast at The Island Grill.

Making friends at The Island Grill.

Hanging out with friends, by the pool.

The Clarion Hotel, San Jose Airport was a delightful surprise. On site restaurant, room service, spacious well lit lobby in which one can knit, read or just have a cup of coffee. The food, both room service and in the restaurant, was delicious.

Hanging out with Otis, the Yarndog at Yarndogs in Los Gatos.

Yarndogs is a must see when you are in the Bay area. Wonderful yarn, helpful staff and Otis, the Yarndog. No-one batted an eyelash at our request to photograph Otis posing with My Altoid Tin.

A wonderful time was had, by all.