July is Lena

I've got my July design nicely underway, named Lena for my great grandfather's cousin. (It's this family line – the brother of my great, great, grandfather who traveled with him from Switzerland in the late 1800's – that eventually marries into my husband's family long before I do, but that's a story for a future knitted piece that I'll get to pretty soon.  Sadly I am running out of family names and will eventually resort to assigning design namesakes to those of us who are still living, though this may well please my pals. Family tree research sure has been fun!)

The design for Lena was spawned initially from my search for a lace.  I ran across the Double Wing pattern in one of Barbara Walker's books.  It's easily memorized (a requirement) with short repeats and I loved that there was both an open version

and a closed one.

Initially I thought they might look cool paired, but after swatching I found the open version more appealing so I stuck with it. 

At this writing, Lena's bodice will be shaped, as per my usual, and with a wide scoop neck.  Her sleeves will be slightly longer than those for recently published Marjorie.  I like this silhouette, and lately like playing with raglan sleeves so I stuck with these design elements too.  I'm working the sample with Quince chickadee, also my usual, but in the new-to-me petal color that I've found to be unexpectedly fantastic –

at first glance almost colorless in its pale-ness, but while working it has become nicely saturated.  It feels quite rich to me by now, and a favorite. 

Also note, I'm tweeting!, turned on to twitter by Juliet who found, to my delight, that fellow tweeters were mentioning my designs.  For those of you who tweet too, you'll find me there as @DebHossKnits.  I hope you'll follow me as I post regular updates about my knitting progress, and maybe a bit more.

Marvelous Marjorie

I can never forecast which design will be popular and which will not.  I hold my breath, hit publish, and see what comes.  And though I love them all, some clearly do better than others.

Happily, it's now apparent that my June offering – Marjorie – launched yesterday, is a hit with my fellow knitters on ravelry!  What a thrill.  I'm not even trying to wipe the smile off of my face. Thank you knit pals!

You'll find the pattern for marvelous Marjorie on ravelry and now on craftsy too, with additional information available here. 

Going with the flow

Last month I was delightfully surprised to find my Mary design included in the Patternfish Newsletter.  The resulting increase in blog traffic and pattern sales following that post was dizzying! and made me realize the value of this outreach. And so it's been with renewed motivation that I've spent the month of May designing and preparing submissions to online and print publications in the hopes of making an appearance one day in their pages.

I have no illusions about the likelihood of acceptance.  I understand that it's a bit of a lottery driven by many factors I can't predict or control. Its risks are few – some weeks of invisibility maybe as I put my self-publishing aside, and the potential of a bruised ego if/when my submissions are rejected – while its ultimate benefit, if designs are accepted, is great.  What I didn't anticipate however, were the benefits of the process.

I'm on the mailing lists of Interweave Knits and Twist Collective and receive notice when submissions for future issues are being accepted. 

Mood boards are included highlighting required styling themes. As luck would have it, notices for winter 2013 and spring 2014 issues came in at the same time of my Patternfish epiphany, so I was more than willing to see how I could fit.

One of the themes for Knitscene spring 2014 (a production of Interweave Knits) was Black and White.  I'd been working with color blocks lately so it seemed a go.  My favorite yarn supplier, Quince&Co, didn't have a white that was white enough, so I went on an online search and discovered a bright white in a wool I'd not used before, Cascade 220 sport, in my favored gauge.  (Canadian readers will find Cascade 220 sport here.)  I found a supplier in a local store, Gather Here, that I had been meaning to visit for a while.  It turned out to be quite a treat and I've been back a few times since.  I suggested this same bright white for my Twist Collective winter 2013 submission, a match to its icy winter photo collage style sheet. 

Candy Box was one of the requested themes for Interweave Knits spring 2014, aiming at feminine colors and lace.  I felt that this too would work for me.  In a whitknit.com blog interview I'd come across recently, Pam Allen mentioned Susanna Lewis’s Knitting Lace as a book every knitter should own, and now I do.  It's this book I mined for my candy box lace, along with the previously untried Quince color of Dogwood, a luminous pink I now swoon for, and that is now on my needles for my next project as well.

So with all submissions made by their respective deadlines I'm back to my own design stream, armed with new wool, new colors, new lace, a new store, and 3 new fleshed out designs that I'll publish myself if the responses come in as "thank you, but no."  It's all good.  I'm going with the flow.

Ruth, you rascal :)

Great aunt Ruth married pastor Albert, my grandmother's brother.  Word is that pastor Albert enjoyed watching his rascal bride Ruth vacuum au naturel. Makes me wonder how that word ever got out (hee hee!) – but oh how my mum enjoyed this story.  I like to think that with her house finally cleaned Ruth might have slipped on this rascally tee to go out on the town.

Thinking of you dear Ruth – with a loving grin.

My Ruth is a cap-sleeved tee covered in scroll lace with back waistband ribbing to accentuate the curves. 

You'll find this pattern now published and available from my ravelry shop, and also linked from here.

Glorious grape

Oh I love my work – my play? Absolutely.

Ruth.

Pattern writing is underway.

Lyrical Lillian

Great aunt Hilda's birth certificate shows her name as Lillian Hildagard, though no one ever called her that.  I'm not sure why.

She was a lovely lady, hiding her lovely, lyrical name from the world – but not for long.

Here's Juliet modeling Lillian – a shapely, color-block, garter trimmed pullover, with bracelet length sleeves and a circular shawl collar.

For a closer look, you'll find this published pattern available from my ravelry shop, and also linked from here. 

In like a lion

March 7th and true to form in Boston where it's snowing a blizzard, March marches in like a lion. 

But that's okay.  This weather gives me a few more weeks to wear Elizabeth – my latest cozy knitted piece. 

Published pattern is now available from my ravelry shop, and also linked from here.  Next up, thinking spring.

Revise, reuse

During our last design brainstorm session Juliet suggested using my Grand Loop Jane Cowl as a collar – same wool, color, texture, dimensions – but attached instead.  hmmm..

So I did.

And I'm glad.  Turned out fun, huh?  Pattern writing is eagerly underway. Elizabeth will be published and available soon, on Ravelry.

Lovely Laura

Namesake of a distant paternal cousin (with a special wink to a current day pal) is lovely Laura worn by lovely Juliet.  Another delightful collaboration between us has resulted in this sweet design – making me quite ready to rename my enterprise Deb and Juliet Hoss Knits, but how fun is that! 

It takes 2 images to show the fullness of this piece – simple in the front and lacy in the back – with garter trimming wrapping it all together.  A fitting valentine for my girl.

You'll find this pattern for sale on Ravelry, or link here for pattern details on my site.

Taking photos with our little friend

I'm aiming at a new pattern launch later today (and cannot wait!), but for now offer this sneak peek – with our little friend.

Jazzy Jeanette

"Fresh and modern" is how one ravelry follower described Jeanette, this latest lacy pullover – thrilling feedback to be sure! And although I'd like to take full design credit, alas, I cannot.  This is the brainchild of Juliet, who wears it so well.  Truly my muse, my daughter aims to keep my thinking young (while nature takes its course with all other parts of me). 

Jeanette is the name of my grand-aunt Margareta's daughter-in-law (and also of her granddaughter) – appropriate namesake for this piece I'd say.  With a slightly longer bodice, three-quarter sleeves, and garter trimming Margareta's been jazzed up a bit – much as, I'd like to think, my girl does for me. 

Click here for pattern details.  You'll find this pattern for sale on Ravelry.

Jazzing up January

Oh the trials of photographing all the details of a black lace sweater in low-light January!  But we've made it work I think, I hope.

Jazzy Jeanette pattern coming soon.

Anne delivered

A short name for a short and happy project! 

Warm and cozy, just what I had in mind for Anne – my latest sweater release, a vest with deep pockets and stripes! This is a shapely piece worked in seeded rib check on worsted weight wool.  Its colors intertwine as pocket linings segue into upper bodice stripes that finish at neckline and armhole trims.  The neckline sits just low enough to allow a peek of tee shirt from underneath.  It's a quick knit you'll surely enjoy.

No blocking required, except for pocket linings, as this pleasing fabric lies flat and stays true to gauge. Pieces are knit flat, bottom-up, with seaming, and circular knitting on trims.

Click here for pattern details.  You'll find this pattern for sale on Ravelry.

Photo shoot

Winter's here so photography can be challenging.  I decided to give interior shots another go. Following is Anne underway – a delightful sweater vest.  The belt was a Christmas gift from Juliet.  Its yellow is the same as the flecks in Brooklyn Tweed's Shelter wool, colors Sap and Foothills – the reason they worked well together and the reason I chose them for this project.  How did she know?

Pattern release forthcoming.  Stay tuned.

Jane cowl series – an ebook

Agnes was the name of my grandmother, matriarch of dad's family, and also of her third daughter, my aunt.  Turns out they shared Jane as their middle names too – who knew! Happily, me now, thanks to dad's work on his family tree.

Keeping spirits alive, I'm pleased to introduce my Jane Cowl Series, namesake of the Agnes Janes.

Dubbed an ebook because it contains 3 patterns, I launched this cowl set yesterday on Ravelry. Pattern details may be found there – or here and here.

Jane cowl series – grand cowl preview

We're having an unseasonably warm day here in Boston so I persuaded Pete to take some preview photos of my Jane Grand Cowl, the first of 3 in my Jane Cowl series. This simple sheath took a few trials to get the shaping just right, but boy am I happy with the result.  Wear it around your neck as a regular lacy scarf,

 or slip it over your shoulders for some extra stylish fun.

Yum, huh?  I hope to get this, along with the Little Loop and Double Loop versions published very soon for Ravelry sale.  Pattern writing is underway!

Cowl thesis

My foray into a gift-worthy knit this year has turned into a thesis – my cowl thesis!  And as long as I stay within gift giving deadlines, an enjoyable one at that.  I don't typically wear cowls so exploring their variations in dimension, fit, and fabric drape has created a bit of a research project for me. 

All versions have their lace in common – flame chevron – named appropriately I'd say for taking the chill off.  This stitch pattern is shown above worked in Baby Alpaca DK (green tea) by Shibui Knits and Lark (frost) by Quince & Co.  And just to prove my mettle, I've worked another, not shown, in Quince & Co's Chickadee!

The piece I'll gift is slowly coming into focus and will require a 4th version, slated to be on my needles today. I plan to offer them all as a set in a single pattern – soon – for other knitters to enjoy.

Paper toys 2012

Every August I pause from knit design to orchestrate something else – the Hoss family Christmas Picks.

I make paper toys that highlight an event from the past year and announce the upcoming holiday gift giving assignment for each of my dear in-laws, 16 of us in all.  This year we celebrated Pam and Scott's new home.

By now it's well known that Santa Deb will deliver something knitted.  And sure enough, design work is underway.

Teresa and the Bernards

Teresa married Bernard Henry. Bernard's father was named Bernard Henry too, and so was his son.  His grandson they named Henry Bernard, probably because his cousin Bernard Henry had already snagged it in its original form. Confused yet? Henry Bernard's grandson – my dad – was a Bernard Henry too, and I'm pretty sure that's the end of the naming line.  I know of no Bernards and Henrys within the family since then.  Probably a good thing.

This sweater is named for great-great-grandmother Teresa, and dedicated to all the Bernard Henrys and at least one of the Henry Bernards I know of.

Introducing Teresa, a long-sleeved cardigan with a deep v-neckline. Worked in 2 colors (one main and its trim), Seeded Rib Check is its stitch – a simple alternating sequence of knits and purls, dense and springy, and super comfortable. Horizontal pockets positioned at the hips are lined with the color of its trim, for some secret fun. Pieces are knit flat, bottom-up, with seaming.

Versatile Teresa will surely become one of my year-round favorites. I can just tell.

Click here for pattern details.  You'll find this pattern for sale on Ravelry.

For my next project

I decided to try something new. Brooklyn Tweed puts out a very cool set of Look Book Collections so I ordered a skein of their Shelter wool in color Sweatshirt. I'll admit that its name had a lot to do with my selection, for some reason bringing me back to Sky King on Saturday mornings after swimming lessons when I was eight – oy. The wool proved to be in keeping with its name so I've been working a correspondingly cozy design in my head with this wool, while actively knitting Terasa (below) – a 2 color cardigan worked in seeded rib check, the same stitch pattern I used with Amelia.

Teresa, now happily done, was fun to make and I'm pleased with the resulting fabric, fit, and colors!  I used Quince Chickadee wool in marsh and crocus and I think they bring out the best in each other.  Hope to have this pattern posted by tomorrow, I'll be working on it next.