The leap has been taken....

I submitted my first design proposal yesterday! It was very exciting and completely terrifying, all at the same time.

While I would love to have my design chosen, I am really happy to have gone through the process (yes, I realize this sounds like I am honored just to be nominated, but it's true, I swear!). I had some ideas scratched out on a sheet of paper, but that was as far as I had taken any of them.  This call by Three Irish Girls really gave me the kick in the pants that I needed to take the next steps and I have already learned a lot!

I never thought about just how many decisions designers make for each garment, it's really mind boggling!  Top down, bottom up, what cast on, what neckline, pattern stitches, increase methods, sleeve techniques, interesting detail placement, bind offs, etc.  I questioned a LOT of things as I was putting together my proposal, and I think that really helped make it better.  I hope it made it better.  And that I didn't just confuse myself.

Pride Goeth Before a Fall.....

The Yarn Harlot has mentioned this phrase in several of her books (which are awesome btw....) and it is so true.

I was really proud of the fact that I had learned the provisional crochet cast on to make this adorable giraffe toy that I am test knitting. I had never done anything like it, but thanks to Knitting Help, I rocked it.  The pride I mentioned before ;).  Actually, I should rock any cast on that I get to practice 300 times -- you see, this was cast on at the outer edge and worked in, so I was starting at the biggest part.

Everything was going along very well, markers were placed, increases made appropriately, picot edge row done. And then it happened.  I had these 300 stitches on my 40 inch circular, which I was only using because I don't have another size 3 circ and I hadn't gotten to my lys to buy another one.  (I take this as a sign that I should always go directly to my lys whenever I even *think* I might need different supplies). So, the stitches were all over this thing, twisting and ruffling around.  For some reason, I decided to double check that nothing was twisted.  Ignorance is bliss, I tell you.  It was twisted real nice.  So it got thrown into the bag I was carrying all my supplies in and has been sitting in time out ever since.

Maybe I shouldn't roll my eyes at the instruction so often seen in patterns 'Making sure stitches are not twisted'.  I thought I did......

Dare I?

Three Irish Girls has put out a call for designs. 

I *love* Three Irish Girls.  A lot.  It makes up most of my stash and I can always find more that I want.

I have a couple design ideas.

Dare I jump in and go for it? 

I've never designed anything before.  I have a pretty clear idea of how each of the garments would look and how each part would be constructed, so I may just take the leap and give it a try.  What's the worst that can happen?  I end up playing with my favorite yarn and wind up having to find another pattern to knit it into?  I can handle that.

Overcommitter -- that's what I am

Seriously, why do I do this to myself?  I commit to KALs (knit alongs) and test knits and things all at the same time.  Why?  Because none of the projects themselves take overly long to knit.  I am apparently just really, really bad at realizing just how all those projects will add up.  Sure, socks can be whipped out pretty quick.  That girls short sleeved cardigan, no problem with a close deadline on that.  But trying to get the cardigan and three pairs of socks done in a couple weeks when you have 4 kids and knitting time generally limited to after bedtime (with a  baby who rarely stays down for more than an hour or two at a time - I am quite good at knitting while holding a sleeping baby) is insane.

The big downside is that I find myself left with no time to knit the hooded sweater for the baby, the sweater for my 4 year old, the design ideas that are suddenly coming to me that I desperately hope I will be able to make into FOs (finished objects) and patterns.

The next time I go to sign up for something, stop me, please.  You know it's bad when you have to consider leaving the test knitting groups on Ravelry because there is always something so wonderful that you just have to volunteer to test knit. 

She's come so far!

I taught my daughter the very basic knit stitch when she was about 4.  She worked diligently back and forth in garter stitch, always very happy when someone would ask "Is she really knitting?". There were dropped and twisted and extra stitches, but it was impressive that a 4 year old could do about as good as any other new knitter.  Her interest in knitting has come and gone (she comes by that honestly!), but it's most interesting to see how far she has progressed from that first swatch of knitting.

We had a craft day yesterday with my mom, mother in law, and sister in law and my daughter cast on a dishcloth pattern out of a booklet my mother in law had brought. She worked away, only pausing to check how to do a yarn over and a knit 2 through the back loops. I took a look at her work today and I'm impressed. Her stitches are even and the eyelet pattern of the yarn overs is emerging just the way it should, it looks beautiful.

My Mama Knits -- I hope she's always proud to say that!

"My mama knit these," my daughter proudly told someone when they noticed her handknit socks.  She's 8.5 now and loves to show people things that I made.  I'm happy that she enjoys the things I make and that we will have this common interest as she grows up.

I do fear, however, that I have created a monster.  She now continually asks for more socks and will wear the ones she already has until I practically peel them off her and promise to have them washed and back to her soon. Not only that, she has gained a fine appreciation for 'the good stuff' very early in life.  She told me a few months ago that she wants to save up for her own 'collection' of Three Irish Girls yarn. A girl after my own heart :).

Then yarn began speaking to her. "This one really needs to be something for Grandma, doesn't it?" "That one has to be a hat for the baby." The kicker?  She's usually right!  I can hand her a pattern and send her off to my stash and the girl will come back with something great!