Armadillidium vulgare October 9, 2009
Posted by La in Design.8 comments
aka the common pillbug. I’m sure you’re familiar. Recently I found that I resemble the behavior of this fascinating little creature in as much as when I feel threatened I curl up onto myself, presenting an armor-plated exterior to the world, and wait for the threat to pass, hoping I don’t end up in some curious 4 year old’s ear, like the fate of the one my baby brother found oh so many years ago. (Hi Thomas!)
Now, normally being rather extroverted, when in this state of mind, I tend to turn to creative outlets for the energy I’m trying hard (with moderate success) not to put into what-ifs and coulda-woulda-shouldas.
And it was under this exact circumstance that my newest design was conceived. I’m in the final stages of drafting the pattern, but a sneak preview can’t hurt!
TENDERFOOT
I found that when I would wear hand-knit socks all day, the bottoms of my feet would feel like they were on fire from walking on the nubs of the purl stitches all day. So this design features the sole of the foot knit in such a way that the smoother, knit side is against the skin, thus making it more bearable for this tenderfoot to wear hand-knit socks.
Knitted toe-up in Dizzy Blonde Superwash Sock’s Betty/My Blue Heaven, the top of the foot is ribbed, while the sole is knit in reverse stockinette.
(Photo Lightened to better show cable pattern)
And look at this leg! What a gorgeous intertwining series of 4×4 cables!
I had started this design at the beginning of the year to submit for publication in some print magazine, whose name I’ve forgotten, and whose deadline I SO did not meet, so it stagnated.
I picked it back up in May, determined that I would work on it and finish them, so help me wool!! Then, much to my chagrin, I found that I wasn’t the only one with this idea, in fact, I was beaten to the punch! Stupid procrastination.
When Knitty released their 2009 Summer issue, my mouth dropped. Looks like Janice Kang had a similar idea with her gorgeous Outside In socks. What can I say? Great minds think alike. Well, our basic concept may be similar, but our engineering is not, making both designs unique in their own right.
The pattern should be available shortly. Stay tuned (hopefully I won’t go back into pillbug mode and take a month to post again) for release dates and locations!
Fly By Posting August 27, 2009
Posted by La in CommunKNITty, FO, WIP.7 comments
Ugh, I have SO neglected this blog! And because of it, I have so much to catch up on posting. I could cite the usual busy-busy excuse…but who isn’t busy these days? So, I guess I have to come clean with all of you and say it like it is. I COULD blame Tribal Wars, Farm Town and Bejeweled Blitz, in all their time-suckage glory as the reason why I haven’t posted. But to be honest, I’ve been lazy as hell. There, I said it. And see? Here you all thought “La” stood for Laura Ann, didn’t you? Nope. LazyAss is more like it.
Drawing Results
For those of you who lost track of what’s been going on here, on August 8, 2009, Dizzy Blonde Studios celebrated its 1st anniversary! To celebrate, I put all the yarn on sale, gave away vouchers for free patterns along with any yarn purchase. Also, I held a drawing for a prize package of undisclosed goodies. Now, you can ask anyone who’s been the recipient of one in the past, LazyAss gives good prize.
And the winner is:
That’s Piddleloop, NOT PiddlePoop, like my twisted mind keeps reading it. sorry Jen…
Congrats! Your prize package will go out…well, whenever I feel like sending it. Remember, I’m LazyAss. (pssst. probably Monday)
On The Needles
I’ve got 2 projects on the needles, both original designs. At about 75% knitted, the first project is a pair of toe-up socks which, for lack of a better name, will be called Tenderfoot. The concept is rather unique…well, it was when I started. That was before the latest Knitty hit the monitors. (Speaking of which, just how cute is that crab???) Oh well. Even if the concept is now yesterday’s news, the engineering of it is still rather unique, and I look forward sharing my genius (yeah right) with the world.
The second project is another one I started ages ago that got bumped in favor of Oooooh, shiny! It’s a cabled panta/head band that I hope will have matching mitts before I’m through with it. And even though the cabling concept of this IS unique to me, the engineering is so not.
I also have ideas in the works for a beaded lace scarf, a lace cowl, a lace shawl (see a theme here?) and finally getting around to designing my Hoban Washburne-inspired mansweater. Also, somewhere in there, I want to do a child’s dress and another Firefly-inspired baby blanket.
Off The Needles
Yup, that’s not a typo. I have an FO. In fact, I have 2.…well, 2 that I can share at least.
First, yet another pair of Roman Udones. Wow! How unusual!
And I’ll KEEP making them as long as there are Romans with cold feet!
And then there’s La’s Cumparsita:
Stats:
Pattern: La Cumparsita by Marnie MacLean
Yarn: 1 skein – Dizzy Blonde Studios Superwash Sock (100g/560yds); Veronica/Lac Noir
Needles: US size 5 (3.75mm) Addi Turbo Lace
Started: April 19, 2009
Finished: August 12, 2009
Mods/Notes: It’s very hard to tell by the photo, but I added beading to the shawl…in each “eye” of the oriole and in the edging.
The pattern was wonderful to knit. The finally product looks a lot more difficult to make than it was. The instructions and charts were very easy to follow. And I LOVE how Marnie “gets it” when it comes to lace shawls. Her treatment and application of lace is delicate and airy-looking, but still substantial enough to be more than “window dressing”. Not heavy -handed at all, unlike a few of the shawl trends I have seen lately. I will definitely knit this one again…and maybe again.
I must be one hell of a tight knitter, because my shawl fell short of the recommended dimensions. But I see that other Ravelers, while using the yarn the pattern was written for (pssst….Dizzy Blonde Studios) got the larger shawl Marnie intended, so I know the fault lies with me. I think the next one I do, I’ll go up a needle size or 2, and even add an additional repeat of the small leaf pattern. I definitely like the effect I got with the beads, and I’ll use them again.
On the Calendar
This Saturday, August 29, 2009, I’ll be attending Griffin Dyeworks Fiber Frolic with spinning wheel, lazy kate, drop spindle, and knitting in tow. Any Southern California fiber enthusiasts are welcome to join me! I’d love to see this local event grow into something big and permanent. There seems to be a lack of knitting classes, so I’m hoping to set up shop and/or teach at the next one. Be afraid…be VERRRRRY afraid!
Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! August 7, 2009
Posted by La in Miscellaneous.11 comments
Tomorrow, August 8, 2009, marks the 1 year anniversary of the opening of Dizzy Blonde Studios! It’s hard to believe it came around so fast! So how do you think I plan to celebrate? Well…besides having champagne, that is. Give up? Okay, I’ll tell you.
First, all day tomorrow, all of my current stock will be discounted $2 per skein. Second, any one who purchases yarn tomorrow will get an email voucher redeemable for one of Dizzy Blonde Studios’ original designs, either an existing pattern available for purchase, or any one that will be released in the next year. So if you don’t see something you like, you can wait until you do…as long as you don’t wait until August 9, 2010, that is. At the time you redeem your voucher please let me know which pattern you would like, and it will be emailed you in PDF form within 24 hours.
But that’s not all! We’re having a contest! For each skein of yarn purchased any time tomorrow, the purchaser’s name will be entered into a drawing for an awesome grab-bag type prize. (Basically, I’m not certain yet what the prize package will include, but ask anyone, I give good prize!)
So…discounted yarn, 1-year voucher for a free pattern and a chance to win a prize package. Now, is that one hell of a way to celebrate or what??
Cheers!
Alle, alle auch sind frei! July 8, 2009
Posted by La in Design, Dyeing.7 comments
aka, “Where the Hell Has La Been, Anyway?!?”
The answer is here, buried under a pile of “to-do” lists and “sooper seekrit shit” lists, so basically, I have a lot to talk about, it’s either that I can’t, or I just can’t get to writing about them in any intelligible manner due to the whole overwhelming, OMG, WAY TOO MUCH STUFF AND I’M FEELING QUITE OVERWHELMED!!1!…stuff.
So, let’s see, stuff to which I am/was sworn to secrecy: Design
- 2 super secret designs for a super secret book collaboration project.
- 1 supper somewhat secret design submitted for magazine publication.
- Entered Annie Modesitt’s “1000 Fabulous Knit Hats“ contest (deadline now extended to July 15)
Stuff to which I am/was sworn to secrecy: Dye
- Mean Girls Yarn Club installment for August.
- Collaboration w/ undisclosable popular knitting personage on undisclosable project.
So far, most of these items are on the “done” list: Pattern & prototypes sent to book author; Concept board sent to Yarn Forward Magazine for consideration (please pick me!); sent multiple pictures of 2 of my more interesting original design hats to Annie (again, please pick me!).
Got the yarn all dyed up for August, and let me tell you, if I NEVER see that color combination ever again, it’ll be too soon! All that’s left is to perfect the nom, package and ship! If all goes well (fingers crossed) the installment will ship 1st and 2nd week of August.
And now onto the undisclosable super seekrit collaboration with an undisclosable popular knitting personage which can now be disclosed. The person is none other than the driving force behind Intentions Yarns, Happy Housewives Soaps & Sniffies and the Purple One (the Empurpleated One?) of the duo: Lime & Violet. Yup, I’ll be hand dyeing the yarns for the Mountain Sole Project. And let me tell you, I am VERY excited about this collaboration! I’m just thinking it’s about time I cloned myself…at least twice.
And, on top of all this, I’m planning to restock Dizzy Blonde Studio. I have 2 new colorways, one is a standard colorway, and the other is a Plurk-inspired signature colorway…
…and renamed a third to pay homage to my newest little everyone’s newest addiction…
Reintroducing Doris with her new last name: Farmtown
If all goes as planned the update will on Tuesday, July 21, sometime after 8:30 am.
Okay, gotta dive back into this pool of productivity. In the meantime, you can catch me on Plurk, Twitter, Ravelry or Facebook. I’m KnottyLa everywhere. Hopefully it won’t be as long between resurfacings. Who knew I could hold my breath that long, huh?
She Inspired a Generation June 25, 2009
Posted by La in Miscellaneous.3 comments
As kids there were always the three of us: Teri, Jane and me. And when we’d get together, you could always find us “reenacting” our favorite TV show. Jane, with her glorious long brown hair was always Kelly, that was a given. And since we always played at my house, it was only fair that Teri played Sabrina, which left me open to play Jill, naturally.
We would do the famous 3-chicks-with-guns intro pose, then half-sit on a the coffee table, talking to a shoebox. After we got our assignment, we would tear out of the house through the front door and chase down the bad guys (who would usually be my oblivious brothers). Of course we weren’t allowed to wear high heels yet, so we’d run on our tip toes pretending we had them on, and save the day. Yes, we’re talking Charlie’s Angels
By the time we were in junior high, we all had feathered hair. Jane’s was the best. We’d practice our best Farrah smile, work on our tans and wish we could fill out our one-pieces as nicely as she did. She, along with the other “Angels” sent the message to girls worldwide that you can be strong, smart AND beautiful. They inspired us and gave us all new hope and a new sense of independence.
She had made such an impression on this child of the 70s and 80s that hers was one of the first Dizzy Blonde colorways I came up with, filled with rich earthtones and sparkling highlights. Hers was a classic beauty. She was wholesome, sweetly spoken, all-American and yes, flawed. So, in essence, she was REAL. Today, she lost her battle with cancer. Her loss will be felt by an entire generation, and the world seems a little emptier knowing Farrah Fawcett is no longer in it.
