kephrenknitting

Technical Editing and Original Designs

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How To Streamline Your Pattern Writing Process and Save Money On Tech Editing

How To Streamline Your Pattern Writing Process and Save Money On Tech Editing

I’ve recently been asked for advice on how to produce more patterns faster, and how to keep tech editing costs down when a designer is just starting out. Below is a list of the things that have worked for me and other designers. There is also a list of resources at the end of this post. If you have specific questions about a pattern you’re writing or my tech editing services you can always email…

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My First Quilt!

My First Quilt! Read about my first quilting adventure (there are bound to be more) on the blog now!

Last year my local library held a yarn and fabric swap, so I went to see what they had and to drop off some fabric. There wasn’t much yarn on offer, but several large tables were pushed together to display a wide array of fabric. There were large pieces and small scraps and everything ranging from polyester knit to thick upholstery fabric. The organizers had thoughtfully arranged the bits of…

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The Orthagon Wrapper

Part shawl, part blanket, the Orthagon Wrapper is a generously sized, rectangular “shlanket”. Simple garter stitch stripes in varying widths are turned at right angles by working a series of increases. The unusual construction and finishing details of this piece make basic garter stitch anything but boring!

Copyright Harper Point Photography/Interweave

For the sample I used Blue Sky Fibers…

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Me Made May

For the last few years I’ve been watching in awe as people post pictures of their handmade wardrobes on Instagram for Me-Made-May. It started on the So-Zo blog ten years ago.  “Me-Made-May is a challenge designed to encourage people who make their own clothes to develop a better relationship with their handmade wardrobe. You set the specifics of your own challenge to make it suitable and useful…

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Lucky Gansey

Have you seen the new Crossings book from Knit Picks? It’s a collection of 12 sweaters and wraps all showcasing classic cables. My contribution to the book is the Lucky Gansey, an all-over cabled fisherman style sweater worked from the top down.

  The sweater starts with a cable at the back neck which spans the saddle shoulders and continues down the sleeves. Shoulder shaping is worked into the…

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Hand Washing Handknits

Hand washing isn’t any more difficult than machine washing. There are several different methods depending on the space and tools you have available, and I’ve tried most of them! A common misconception about wool is that it shrinks. It doesn’t; it felts. Shock and agitation cause felting, so those are the things to avoid when washing hand-knits made of wool and other animal fibers. Cotton also has…

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Compass Points Pullover

The Compass Points Pullover was published in the Fall/Winter 2018 issue of knit.wear magazine. It’s a bulky cabled sweater featuring raglan shoulder shaping, a thick and cozy funnel neck, and a long tapered waist. Cascade’s Boliviana Bulky yarn makes the knitting speed by, so you’ll be dressed in a new, warm, winter sweater in no time at all!

The pullover is worked from the top down beginning at…

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The Bristol Raglan and Holiday Sale!

The Bristol Raglan and Holiday Sale!

I’ve just added the Bristol Raglan to my Ravelry pattern store. This pattern was first published in the Spring 2017 issue of Interweave Knits magazine. I’ve revised the pattern to include written directions along with the cable charts, and I’ve changed the directions slightly to make it easier to follow the raglan shaping directions and cable patterns at the same time. This pattern and all of my…

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Lake Geneva Sweater

The Lake Geneva Sweater is my design for the Winter issue of Knitscene. It’s a top-down, drop shoulder, V-neck sweater, made entirely without seams. The marled effect is created by holding two strands of fingering weight yarn together. For the sample I used Cascade Yarns Soratain Charcoal and Silver. I love the simplicity of this design and I think it will be a fun and easy knit for both beginner…

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Tree Line Henley

Felix the cat supervising the design process

The Tree Line Henley is a lightweight pullover with colorwork details and a Henley neck opening. When I was designing this sweater I imagined it being worn on a hike in the mountains or camping in the Fall or Spring, when the weather is cool and lightweight layers are a necessity.

My original design sketch

The colorwork is fairly easy; it is only…

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I signed up! #fibreshare2018 #fibreshare https://ift.tt/2wjh1MD

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Finishing these socks feels more like putting them out of their misery! I just don't like the yarns together, and the stitch pattern was too fiddly. The short-row garter stitch heels are interesting, but it seemed like a lot more work than afterthought heels. I'll be happy to get these off my needles! #taatsocks #toeupsocks #boxofsocks #sockknittersofinstagram #handknitsocks https://ift.tt/2Nf9iFF

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That Time of Year

That Time of Year

It’s August, the start of prime knitting season, and my birthday! To celebrate, all of my independently published patterns are 30% off until Saturday, August 25, 2018. You don’t need a coupon code, just add the patterns to your cart and the price will change automatically. I’ve organized all of the patterns on sale into this handy bundle.

An updated version of Augusta, one of my most popular…

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It’s my birthday! All of my independently published patterns are 30% off the regular price now through August 25, 2018. No coupon code needed! Just add the pattern(s) to your cart and the price will change at checkout. Follow the link in my profile to see them all. Thank you for knitting! https://ift.tt/2nPRENK

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It's so nice to have my tools neatly organized and close at hand when I'm knitting at home! Clockwise from top left: #cocoknits stitch markers, #theloopyewe tape measure, Lucky Cat stitch markers from #winemakerssister, #ringosstitchmarkers, crochet hook, yarn needle, #bryspun brass safety pins, scissors, and #knitterspride gauge tool. #knittingtools #kephrenknittingstudio #knittersofinstagram #knittingathome https://ift.tt/2M8tifU

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Another pair of socks finished! That's three of the twelve pairs I have planned. These are about mid-calf length, which is just what I want in a pair of hand-knit wool socks. It seems like most other hand-knit socks are much shorter, sometimes barely above the ankle, and I'm not sure why. Surely, the point of socks is to keep your feet and legs warm? #boxofsocks #yearofsocks #handknitsocks #taat #socks #sockknittersofinstagram #stashdash2018 https://ift.tt/2NMUu13

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The Augusta cardigan is now available in my Ravelry store! The updated version includes charts and written directions for all of the cable sections, as well as new photos. #augustacardigan #indieknitdesigner #wollfolkyarn #knittersofinstagram #ravelry #ravelrydesigner #interweaveknits #kephrenknittingstudio https://ift.tt/2zVMbxG