The Yarn Bearer

Crocheted Skateboard

TheYarnBearer — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 19:04:16 +0000

It’s been hectic with an increased performance schedule, the booklet, and this:

It’s all crochet and needle felt over a skateboard.

The art show this is going into is tonight, the Blood, Sweat, & Boards Art Show presented by Underground Clothing & Skateboard Company. I’m also performing, so it’s going to be a big night. There are first (limited edition production run of the artist’s deck), second ($1000 gift certificate to Stranded Tattoo parlor… I WANT TO WIN SECOND PLACE), and third ($150 in art supplies from Utrecht) prizes, so I’m pretty excited to see how it turns out. But for now, I’m going to get back to my booklet knitting.

Booklet Check In

TheYarnBearer — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 23:52:00 +0000

I’m just popping in to say that yarns are arriving and spending most of my time writing and knitting. The first and largest project is nearly finished. Come back soon to see some sneak peek shots!

What I’ve learned on Ravelry

TheYarnBearer — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 03:36:39 +0000

Raveler since October 15, 2007

Yup, that’s me. I was just sitting here thinking about the past few years I’ve spent as a member of Ravelry. I’ve learned a few things that I would like to share with you:

Every time the word “copyright” is written in the Big 6, someone has an aneurysm.
Patterns with lengthy, extraneous titles don’t usually live up to them. Throw together a garter stitch scarf in Red Heart Super Saver and then get fairy-fucking-tastic with the name of the pattern. Start with something like “Lady of the” and add an adjective like “enchanted” or “mystic”, followed by a location such as “forest”, “sea”, “wood”, or “truck stop shit house”. Get creative with it. Then add a $7 price tag. Pat yourself on the back because you’re a professional now!
Disagree (1)? DEAL WITH IT.
There are about ten times more knitted/crocheted penises than vagina.
Knitted/crocheted bathing suits = instant camel toe.
Does anyone buy any of those dishcloth patterns?!?!???
Now, I really want to design something that I can name “Lady of the Enchanted Truck Stop Shit House”.
Disagree (176)? You’re probably an asshole.

Cabled Pullover

TheYarnBearer — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 21:38:11 +0000

Finished! You can check out the errata in the post below, but let’s forget about the negative for now and check out these sexy cables.

The pattern (free from Lion Brand) originally called for one of their yarns, but I had just enough of Mmmmalabrigo (Pearl colorway) to do the job. I didn’t knit the seperate cowl pattern and I also used a smaller gauge to get a more fitted pullover.

You can find my Ravelry pattern page here.

Other things

TheYarnBearer — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 21:11:37 +0000

While I’m waiting on all the booklet yarn to arrive (and there’ s a lot, pics next week when they come in), I’m finishing up a few personal projects. I had purchased Malabrigo Worsted from Wild Fiber (lys in Savannah, Georgia) and after searching for the perfect pattern, I found the Cabled Pullover from Lion Brand. Le sigh. I saw that there had been corrections back in November and again just two days ago, but apparently they were still not aware of the shoulder shaping problem I ran into yesterday. At least for the smallest size, the should shaping numbers do not add up and would be very ill-fitting even if they did. So, I’m worked up the shoulders my own way. If you would like to follow my errata for the pattern, you’re welcome to it:

Shoulder shaping (for front and back, smallest size):

When armhole measures 7″, BO 9 sts at armhole edge.

Work next row (which, for the back, is neck shaping).

BO 10 sts at armhole .

Work next row.

BO remaining sts.

Hope that helps. I’m finishing up my Cabled Pullover as soon as I finish this post. Pictures will be added shortly, so check back in the next couple of days for the completed pullover.

Pattern Booklet on the Horizon

TheYarnBearer — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:00:58 +0000

That’s right! I’m in the process of writing my first pattern booklet that I anticipate to be available in the next three months. Currently, I’m swatching, writing, and doing way more math than I ever thought I’d have to do after high school.

Wondering what to expect in the booklet? For now, I can tell you that there will be men’s and women’s sweaters and accessories as well as some home comforts. Featured yarns include Cascade 220, Cascade Epiphany (WEE! this is a new yarn blend of alpaca, silk, and cashmere), Brown Sheep Burly Spun, Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, Malabrigo Twist, and Malabrigo Rasta, to name a few.

I’ll update soon with sneak peeks and details as they develop.

A little ditty on criticism

TheYarnBearer — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:04:48 +0000

Indie designers, who are typically very casual and accessible, get a great deal of critiquing. I wouldn’t go on to say that indie designers receive more criticism than your headlining, Vogue Knitting contributors, but they certainly receive a fair amount. Criticism is inevitable, both good and bad, when you produce something made available to the general public. These critiques reach far and wide with the enormous following on Ravelry.com as well as personal blogs. So, how do designers handle dialogues amongst knitters and crocheters? What’s the appropriate avenue to take with the positive and negative feedback on their work?

Let’s use the Ravelry.com forums for an example. When a person or group praises your pattern work in a forum thread, would you enter the conversation to thank them for their support and kind words? It’s a matter of opinion. Personally, I do. Establishing a presence is important to me for creating positive relationships with pattern patrons and letting them know that I am readily available.

But what about the negative feedback? Let’s use the same scenario as before, but now the person or group is negatively criticising your pattern work. It appears that when there is negative critiquing involved, it is either ignored by the designer or perhaps handled through private messages. Why is it different here? What do you think makes it taboo for a designer to step up publicly and refute or remedy the situation?

You can’t please everyone, that is true. I believe in the 10% Rule, which means that 90% of a designer’s clients are generally good, well-mannered people with tact. The other 10% are not as level-headed, emotional, and in some rare instances, combative. Do you engage them? I guess it depends on whether or not they engage you. My take on it is that if they rage publicly without directly communicating with you, take it in stride. Read their thoughts, determine whether or not it is a warranted criticism, and leave it be. However, if they communicate with the designer about the grievance they have with the pattern and begin a public dialogue, it becomes a sticky situation. Do you ignore it or call them on it? The designer should put forth their best effort to help the person through the problem, privately or publicly – it’s their call. If the negative review remains, at least you would know that you had done your best to make thing right.

What’s your take on knitting and crochet designer criticism?

What to expect in 2011

TheYarnBearer — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 16:04:15 +0000

I didn’t get as much knitting in 2010 as I would have liked. Most of my time, in last half, was spent training in aerial silks and improving my hoop dancing skills. I’ve been get hired as a performer a lot more and solo travel has been a big time suck as well.

But now that clients are scheduling well in advance, I finally have time to knit… and write. I’m working on a pattern booklet, so expect secret project photos and tid bits about new patterns. I’m excited! 2011 is supposed to be a good year for Leos, so I’m going to run with it.

2010 in review

TheYarnBearer — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 15:54:43 +0000

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 7,500 times in 2010. That’s about 18 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 20 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 128 posts. There were 21 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 28mb. That’s about 2 pictures per month.

The busiest day of the year was January 5th with 182 views. The most popular post that day was Mrrrphmrrf Cowl.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were ravelry.com, homespunliving.blogspot.com, craftster.org, en.wordpress.com, and christhalinette.canalblog.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for cheap sex, guernsey knit, riothooping, slouchy cardigan pattern, and the yarn bearer.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

Mrrrphmrrf Cowl January 2010
3 comments

New Babeh, Free Pattern! June 2010

A Finished Something April 2008
1 comment

Tuft Love Shrug March 2008
7 comments

Slouchy Cardigan September 2008
2 comments

Bitter End Sweater

TheYarnBearer — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:21:38 +0000

New pattern available on Ravelry: Bitter End

Sized for busts 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52)”