ECO Sock Rows 34-41 extension help!

I understand that the ECO Sock pattern becomes TRICKY in Rows 34 through 41 as the top of the sock is gradually increased. The increases work in the tubular double knit technique but the sock is NOT YET tubular! (a brain bending feat is at hand) -- so, let's more appropriately call this a "Flatfold" technique.

During the heel rows the bottom of the sock is established. In Rows 34 through 41 a FLATFOLD is created at each end of the needle and seems to get REALLY COMPLICATED.

The fold at each end distinguishes the bottom sock stitches from the top sock stitches. Right side knit stitches begin to be called "back stitches" and wrong side purl stitches are suddenly named "front stitches" as the piece is worked back and forth knitting odd rows and purling even rows.

After Row (RND) 41 the foot rows will be worked in tubular double knit.

Stranded Roving

I'm working on developing a technique called "stranded roving" - inspired by the thrum technique. The stranded roving adds a wool lining which will be perfect for this cotton and pencil roving wool lined hotpad!

I gotta thank my GREAT FRIEND, Theresa M., who sent me the most gorgeous roving in 3 sizes!!!!

How I LOVE to explore the possibilities that knitting opens up to me.

It's A WINNER!

I'm so pleased to announce that the previous post is a WINNER in TKGA 2009 design competition! 

I've gotta give credit to my adorable model, Katie (who really wants her dress back!) She's my biggest fan and she's only 3 years old. My heart is always warm and fuzzy because she, firstly, inspires a great many designs and, secondly, she prefers wearing what I've made to all the store bought clothing she has!

My husband was out of town on a fishing trip when I got the GOOD NEWS and I was busy being a mom (carting children to their events) - so I gotta also thank my dear friends on ETSY.com and the wonderful gals on RAVELRY.com for sharing in my joy!

...am I famous yet?...

Pins and Needles!

It's already a winner with my little model, Katie!

She keeps asking when she will get "her" dress back. Her dress is the design I entered into this years TKGA design competition. The fact that she loves everything I make for her is good enough for me - but if I can share it with others - well, that's just icing on the cake (of life).

We find out this week how well the dress did in the competition being held in Portland. Wish I could be there but : the husband is on a long deserved fishing trip with his best buddy and SOMEONE needs to cart our 3 kids to their sporting events, school concerts and award banquets that coincidentally pop up on a weekly basis at this time of year.

I was fortunate to meet two other contestants on Ravelry (a knitter's online community) and wish them the very best as well!

I'm a FINALIST in The Knitting Guild Association contest!

Design etiquette does not allow me to show the entire item before final judging...

I'm so happy to be promoting DOUBLE KNIT in this design, seamlessly knit in tubular double knit with DOUBLE KNIT finishing that is quite unique (and was a blast to figure out!).

Knit in Tahki Yarn "New Tweed" - a gorgeous wool/silk/viscose blend with a beautiful garment drape. The colors are heathered and work well in combination with other "New Tweed" colors.

The Knitting Guild Association Design Competition in association with yarnmarket.com final judging takes place May 15, 2009 at the TKGA National Convention Knit & Crochet Show in Portland (May 14-17)

--that means I gotta wait (while wearing my adrenal glands to a frazzle) for a month and a half.  In the meantime, it is so encouraging to know that I've been recognized already!

This year, for me, is all about establishing myself as a designer in knit wearables.

Patterns, Here I Come!

I've toyed with the idea of self publishing and selling my patterns at my Etsy shop for awhile now.  Last year Caron International kept me very busy with projects and I did not have time to work on self publishing. When you get $100 to $400 for a pattern from a yarn company and they keep you in stitches - there's no need. However, Caron (very kindly) informed their designers that in 2009 they will not have as many projects, due to the economic crisis. I thought it was VERY considerate of them to tell us that and began preparing PDF patterns for self publishing.

I'm pleased to share that in the first week that my ECO Sock pattern went up for sale I sold 20 copies! So, maybe self publishing is a thing to pursue in slow times. Magazine, book, and yarn company publishers of patterns are a wonderful venue because they reach a HUGE market.

I will continue to pursue them but, in the meantime, here is a preview of my next release at www.KlymyshynDesign.Etsy.com that is knit in the round on a pair of straight needles (who said you couldn't make lace in dk?)

Flatfold Knitting and Thrumming with silk

I consider my "Flatfold Knitting Technique" to be a progession on the technique: tubular double knitting, developed by the late Beverly Royce.

In the work above, the knit work was cast on closed and thrummed with silk while being knit in the round on a pair of straight needles. It is primarily knit inside out for the convenience of working "knit 1 back stitch, slip 1 front stitch" in one motion rather than moving the working yarn to the forward and back positions. This lends itself well to thrumming.

As you can see, after working the tube, I began knitting back and forth to create a slit opening at the chest and then proceeded to use bind off decreases until half of the total number of stitches were on one needle. These will be folded in half and kitchenered to make the hood of the silk thrummed baby swaddle pod.

In the second photo is the ECO Sock in progress. Half of the total number of sts was cast on and worked back and forth to make the heel. Increases are worked on the other side of the Flatfold and needle until the total number of sts have been increased. The foot rows will then be worked in tubular double knit on a pair of straight needles.