Klymyshyn Design by Kelly Klem

Mom

2011-05-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

It's too bad you can't know my mother. She passed in 1995. Two months after Dad. She did manage, however, to plant little bits and pieces of herself in me. I am proud to carry on these qualities: undying love for my children, a certain sweet feminity that I couldn't shake off if I wanted to, the most incredible knack for saying something wrong but hilarious!
Mostly, she taught me to take people for who they are rather than who I want them to be as I simultaneously learn to live with my own flaws without holding a grudge.
Mom, you may be gone from this world but you will always be within me. I will hold you in my heart. Hold you there, forever.

Top-Down or Bottoms-Up?

2011-02-27T08:28:00.000-08:00

Well, as soon as SPRING FINALLY GETS HERE the tops on convertible cars will be going down. Convertible (reversible) dresses, however, are best sewn from the bottoms up (IMHO-hem first).
When knitting sweaters - top down is good. The more complex parts are done while you are still excited about a new project, the cast on edge gives good elasticity at the neck edge, and the "mindless" knitting is done toward the end.
HOWEVER! Never vacuum stairs top down or THIS COULD HAPPEN: terrifying episode where said lightweight upright suddenly lunges toward you while swirling dust and cat fur, growling ferociously, (never purchase a vaccum whose handle looks very much like a blunt WEAPON) - incurring blunt force trauma.
Bottoms UP to Top downers!

Inspiration

2011-02-15T05:58:00.000-08:00

The promise of Spring is awakening! We are reminded that what once was frigid, dangerous, nearly dead can be renewed. Tiny buds of growth appear. Sweet musical sounds announce the morning. Furry creatures venture out from hiding. Hope, dreams, ambition is within grasp. Carry on with joy.

Short Row Heel Made EASY

2011-01-13T07:46:00.000-08:00

All is calm, all is bright

2010-12-26T18:03:00.000-08:00

It was a white Christmas but not overly white like last year. The kids are content and wondering how they faired so well (you better watch out...). I made tons of stuff, even streetworthy knit and crocheted boots for the teen daughters. Heidi loves her faux UGG/Candies though these are crocheted (rather than knit) with cotton and Ecuadorian alpaca (my niece gave me days before Chrismas). They are mounted on the footbed/sole of some Clarks I used to wear. Chrissy's LOOK like slippers but have a more substantial (and, yes, recycled) sole as well. I used my new Trellis knit stitch pattern in Bernat Mosaic. It's always fun guessing which color will come up next. 1 skein was just perfect for making two matching boots.
It was a tumultuous end to the year 2010. Sweet Gilligan managed to get some yarn wrapped around the back of his tongue (on Thanksgiving DAY) and spent a night at the emergency veterinary hospital.
That set me back on my CARON assignments but I got all 3 design projects in within 2 days of the deadline. Which set me back on my Christmas gifts and before I knew it CHRISTMAS was upon us!
The girls made a gorgeous wooden door harp for my sister whom I will likely see along with my brother later in the week.
My book proposal is all but in the mailer.
I contacted Spinrite about working up an Irish Knit design booklet and they sent me a HUGE designer box! I need to put the correct spin (ha) on that as I spoke to some Irish knitters on Ravelry who consider the American perspective on Irish Knits rather old-fashioned. I need to do this publication though. It is a public "thank you" to our Ireland born neighbor who saved my husband's life last year. (Alan is likewise directing a C.U. production: Dancing At Lughnasa which is a slice of life in Ireland)
Katie got a roar from her Uncle Bob when she shouted, "I got a Barbie castle even though I was naughty!"

My Day Has Come.

2010-08-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

Actually, OUR (each member of the Klem clan) day has come.

After his year of diligence working as the Artistic Director for the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival, Alan is on a peace filled bass fishing expedition. Next week classes at Creighton University where he teaches acting and directing will commence.

Our lovely eldest, Chrissy, began her first day as a senior at Central. She landed a great "first job" at Coldstone Creamery and is her usual happy self to be more than busy balancing her honors academic schedule with playing in the frontline of band, playing second base for the varsity girls' softball team.

Stuck in the middle (birth order) but always a free spirit, Heidi, began her first year of high school. Central High is a BIG school with HIGH academic standards ranking with the best private schools in the area. I asked her if she had any trouble finding a spot at the lunch table. "No, mom. I walked into the courtyard and people" - nearly fought over where she should land. She's playing shortstop on the junior varsity girls' softball team and already has an interest in Augie (a boy). I'm not worried. She goes through boys like I go through M & M's. She has an excellent sense of her self.

Talk about milestones...my darling baby, Katie, began kindergarten! We snuggled (upon her demand) for a good half our in the rocking chair before heading out on foot, only 6 neighborhood blocks. We were so happy to find her name on a desk in Mrs. Anderson's classroom (pictured).

My sweet little girl is beginning to have a little independence now. We're all so proud of her.

I didn't leave myself out. I am free to write without distraction.

Goals are Being MET!

2010-06-24T05:17:00.000-07:00

I quit my day job almost five years ago when my husband and I welcomed our bonus baby, Katie. She was a happy baby (as long as I nearly always held her). Together, Katie and I found bliss. Katie snuggled in my arms as I knit for hours. Sometimes we have to do what we did not plan to do. If we follow the path set in front of us we may discover that changes of plans do not necessarily have a negative impact on our lives.
This week I was delighted to see Annie Modesitt's newest release, 1000 fabulous knit hats. I knew I had been accepted as a contributor to the book. I did not realize I would have 6 entries published: pages 182, 201, 248, 252, 273, and 297. I was even more excited when I discovered that this book has been distributed to the major markets. 1000 fabulous knit hats is an inspiring compilation of hat culture that is flourishing around the world. http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=1592536107
That is not ALL!
I continue to have a wonderful professional relationship with Caron International. This is a good fit for both of us and I'm humbly grateful for the intelligent manner that they promote my name as a designer. I just received Leisure Arts pamphlet #75346, GRANNIES GONE WILD. This is a contemporary take on the traditional Granny Square promoting Caron Simply Soft yarns. I am in fine company with 5 other Caron designers with "go check on granny", a multi-color square with fewer knots and no gaps. My stitch pattern variation makes GRANNY less holey, less knotty - but worth having around. http://shop.leisurearts.com/cart/pc/Grannies-Gone-Wild-225p1811.htm
Am I famous yet?
The Double Knitting Group at yahoo.com intertained me (and purchased many ECO Sock patterns). Carol and Michele in particular shared their woes as they buried their heads in the Flatfold Tubular increase. Once they mastered it they felt very satisfied with their success and promised to knit this pattern again and again. I'm satisfied that others enjoy this brain bending technique as much as I do.
Finally, I am breathless with excitement as I work to prepare my book proposal on Tubular Double Knitting. I believe it will be ready to send in July. I have been developing this technique for twenty two years. The discoveries I've made along the way have been the most joyful epiphanies and I MUST share them!

Brooks Family Chair

2010-04-08T06:29:00.000-07:00

As I await warm gardening weather I've found plenty of work to do indoors. This ancient platform rocker is my all time favorite chair to knit in. It leans me back a little, to give my back a pleasant weightlessness. It took me a few months to figure out what fabrics I wanted to reupholster it in but I'm so happy with this choice!

When life brings you snow...

2010-03-03T15:22:00.000-08:00

It's March now and we still have snow from two December blizzards. It was too cold to play in back then. We tried to make a sled run but could only be outside 30 minutes at a time. Went through a lot of hot cocoa. Today we got up to 40 sunny degrees - perfect for building Frosty. His whole face is made of baby carrots.
Katie is now ready for Spring gardening. I LOVE how she embraces the uniqueness that each season brings us.

2010-01-30T09:43:00.000-08:00

Exactly thirty years ago I was a theatre major at Creighton University. A graduate of Texas Christian University, Alan Klem, came onto the CU campus to direct "Two Gentlemen of Verona", the rock musical. Equipped with his actor's Equity card from his days at Casa Manana in Fort Worth our production won an extended run by popular demand.

Today, Alan Klem is the Artistic Director for the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival which will be breathing this wonderful script back into existence in Memorial Park this coming June/July. We will celebrate our 18th year of marriage at the same time.

This production will bring joy to our hearts as it brings tears to our eyes. Alan broke his ankle a few weeks ago. Just one week ago he nearly lost his life throwing blood clots to his lungs.

The Nebraska Shakespeare Festival is also producing Romeo and Juliet. There is nothing like tragedy (or near tragedy) to bring events into crystal clear perspective.

Viva!

All that deep, deep, DEEP snow!

2010-01-04T04:04:00.001-08:00

All that snow HAS TO GO!

The last month of 2009 brought Omaha a very white Christmas. Unfortunately, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the following Sunday church services were nearly ALL canceled. If the streets had been plowed to permit traffic there would be no place to park...not to mention the mountains created (by plowing) at each intersection.

The snow is mostly 2' deep with much larger drifts.

Did I mention what 2010 is ringing in? On Wednesday January 6 Mother Nature is threatening to bring us 4-7 more inches!

WHITE CHRISTMAS

2009-12-27T05:31:00.000-08:00

It was "beginning to look a lot like Christmas" the second week of December 2009. My first daughter was delighted. She had her 17th birthday party after her last day of school in 2009 ... the kids went sledding on 10" of snow, had cocoa, made s'mores at the firepit, (got my hardwoods pretty messed up).
WHO WAS IT that was "dreaming of a White Christmas"? We got 12" more from Christmas Eve through Christmas Day!

The weather outside is frightful!

2009-12-09T01:57:00.000-08:00

The weather outside is FRIGHTFUL and it's trying to come INSIDE! Even with the storm window closed and this old window was freshly glazed 5 years ago (glaze lasts 50 years)- the wind is so strong that the snow is sneaking up through the sill drain (purposely there so rain won't collect in the sill). If you squint you can see outside drifting on the neighbor's barbeque. It's a day for knitting! -and maybe some baking since the kids have another snow day!

copyright Kelly Sue Hitch (Klem)

2009-11-30T05:33:00.000-08:00

Here is my very nauvice attempt to share some of my original music in this 3 part arrangement. I Knew A Man is a song I wrote, arranged and performed. My 4 year old can't figure out how I sang 3 different parts at once! I hope this song blesses you as much as it continues to bless me.

kelly

Chocolate Pie Topper!

2009-11-26T03:36:00.000-08:00

Use this flavored whip cream on ANY pie! It is great with fruit, pumpkin - and if you really wanna surprise your pancreas put it on pecan.

1/2 pint whipping cream

4 t granulated sugar

2 t unsweet baking cocoa

1/4 t ground nutmeg

Place all ingredients in an electric mixer, whip on medium speed for about 15 minutes or until peaks form. VIOLA! You have a Chocolate Whipped Cream with a Hint of Nutmeg! (makes a pretty light brown color)

Thanksgiving

2009-11-19T03:07:00.000-08:00

This little whirling dirvish is in cahoots with my creative muse and I love it!

This November I am thankful. I feel I have finally managed to go about my priorities without slighting others.

It is normal for women to feel PULLED this way toward a working career and that way to ensure being the best mother she can be.

Katie LOVES dresses. My dresses. the dresses I design and make. (Yay, I'm not the dorky mom forcing the kids to wear handmade!)

Katie looks terrific in dresses.

Katie is comfortable in dresses.

Katie feels good in dresses.

Katie is delighted over dresses.

Knowing this inspires me to please her. It's truely a WIN-WIN situation!

Approaching the GOAL!

2009-10-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Caron International (maker of Simply Soft, Bliss, SPA, and Country yarns) has commissioned me to design for TWO Leisure Arts books which will likely hit the shelves in 2010. Buy their yarn - they are the BEST to work for. They always give me name credit, plenty of time and yarn to work with...and in this economic downturn - Caron yarn is AFFORDABLE!

No pictures for this post...

I will also have a picture of a hat design in Annie Modesitt's compilation book "1000 Fabulous Knit Hats" which will be released in 2010.

These publications work to give me the credibility I need as a designer to pursue authoring my own book, a lifetime goal.

In the meantime, my Etsy/Ravelry pattern sales (self published) are doing well - I'm a happy girl.

Go Check on Granny

2009-09-23T13:18:00.000-07:00

Granny's just as SQUARE as ever, she isn't as HOLEY as she used to be ...... but she isn't KNOTTY either!
Variation on the "Granny Square" by Kelly Klem.

My sweet Katie is four years old now!

2009-09-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

Little Katie is the one who made me "quit my day job" four years ago.

As a newborn she absolutely would not sleep unless I held her. While it is completely delightful to hold a baby I needed to feel more productive for the sake of my family.

I soon discovered that I could knit to my heart's content while snuggling my darling late comer. (I was 44 years old and already had 13 and 10 year old daughters when she came into our lives)

My sweetie pie never fails to inspire my design muse.

This Reversible Wrap Dress makes Katie feel like the princess she is. (Yes, she is also my biggest fan.) You cannot put this dress on inside out. On the flip side of the cotton floral is a dressier chiffon whose skirt is gathered in three full widths of fabric. This pattern will become available at my Etsy shop: www.KlymyshynDesign.Etsy.com in little girl sizes 18 months, 2 and 4 years old soon. PDF.

Something Old

2009-08-11T04:52:00.001-07:00

Grandma still had wooden spools of "boilfast" cotton sewing thread in her stash when she left us. All of them had a sale price of under a quarter.

My mother saved them but never found the ideal use. Maybe she just saved them for me, being a fiber lover.

This sewing thread is superb. It's slightly heavier than the thread made today, is still very strong, and has a wonderful twist, sheen, and color depth (unlike today's threads).

Last year I sold my first pair of thread crocheted earrings to a very enthusiastic woman who shared with me that they would not only be worn on her wedding day but, also, be passed down through the new family line she would begin with her new husband. (She returned to buy more.)

How wonderful is it that a 19 cent item would become so cherished and important?

ECO Sock Rows 34-41 extension help!

2009-06-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-03T09:03:00.001-07:00

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!

2009-05-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-05-11T16:24:00.001-07:00

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!

2009-03-31T16:13:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-03-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

Every three months someone in our immediate family has a birthday -- except for those New Year's celebration babies of which we have two (in September).

This year we now have TWO teenagers (and a 3 year old! .... hrumph ... New Years celebrations...) This birthday girl was my birthday present 13 years ago (which means I'll get a year older in 3 months!)

She was the piece of life that helped me look forward to keep on livin' after my mom died. She has kept me on my toes ever since.

Her kindergarten teacher put it well, "Heidi will always be happy" - because she seeks fun - constantly.

What did she want? (thank God her birthday finally CAME...'cause the ideas of "what she wanted" kept coming in - daily!) The first was an apron (shown below) and a chef's hat - the pattern for this will be available soon. (I think she likes the hat - she's had it on all day!)

She also got an original sweater (by me) - a skinny sleeve, cropped cable jacket in cotton and wool - knit with absolutely NO SEAMS.

At the very last minute she wanted some fuzzy socks...so I made those too. I can't believe I got it all done. And baked her a cake, too!

Happy Birthday, darling...ya drive me nuts but I wouldn't have it any other way. MOM

Messy Cooks

2009-02-22T07:25:00.000-08:00

So...I worked out a deal with Etsy shop: CraftsByCarer (fantastic person) to get my little cook an apron for her upcoming birthday.

We had insufficient light (doggone it!) for this preliminary photo shoot...but it's just so funny I had to share it anyway. Hey, isn't the apron perfect?

How Old Am I Gonna BE?

2009-02-09T16:38:00.000-08:00

I am Kelly's daughter...and I am about to have a birthday on March 9. I was "due" on my mom's BFF's birthday but -- I always jump the gun!

Please have some fun guessing how old I am gonna be!

Okay...I KNOW you need a few perimeters:

1. I am old enough to be IN school but not old enough to be OUT of school.

2. I have acted in 5 full length plays.

3. I have only broken 1 bone.

4. I have been asked "out" but not gone "out".

5. I love boys in general but none in particular.

6. My armpits stink if I don't deodorize them.

7. I shave my legs.

8. I am a diva.

9. I do not have any idea my mom is doing this.

10. When I was 0-5 years old I was the spittin' image of Mom and we have pictures to prove it.

11. Now, I look very much like my Dad's mom (go figure!)

12. I am completely adorable when I'm not hell on wheels.

13. If you can't guess now...

TEEN Fashion Trend

2009-01-11T07:29:00.000-08:00

So...my 16 year old daughter came to me a week and a half before Christmas with a picture of some slipper boots (all the rage with teens) from Urban Outfitters...in these colors...that were no longer available for purchase!

Okay - I did think that they were gorgeous, however, they were slipper boots: meaning they were soft sole...and...hello!...we live in Nebraska! (and I KNEW she'd be wearing them to school).

...a lightbulb went off...I've had these perfectly comfortable KEDs tennis shoes (all broken in) but "looking" broken in...so I knit a fair isle upper in Caron Bliss and a turqoise sport yarn which no longer had a label (from my stash)...knitted feverishly...lined the upper in bright pink stretch fleece...stitched and glued it to the shoes and ... VOILA! A slipper boot that is more a boot and less a slipper. Was she happy? Ya think?

The Daring Old Chic!

2009-01-09T17:06:00.001-08:00

EXPOSED!!!!

It's not difficult for me to show old pictures of myself (or look at them). However it IS HARD to see new pictures of my OLD SELF!

I am doing this as an exercise to live out loud in 2009 - and do this without apologizing - YAY me!

This is the way I look to most people...as I look up from constant knitting!

My New Year's Resolution is to write as many patterns as I can. And I have a STRONG start: I've written a tubular medium weight sock in DK, a tubular sport weight felted fingerless glove in DK, a scoop front medium weight cotton socklet (like a ped) in DK, and a mitten with foldover mitten flap glove pattern (take a breath!) all this year!!!

2008-12-19T04:37:00.000-08:00

Today is Christina's birthday. She is 16 years old! She's actually bummed because school is cancelled (last day before winter break) and her friends were planning a grand party for her at school...awww.

I made her this giant cupcake (her request) to share with her lunch table at school. It was REALLY FUN to make. I had to rig it so that she could take it in a protective container (to high school) and then be able to get it out without ruining it. One cake mix was made in an angel food tube pan and the layers from another mix were added (using a shot glass to cut the middle hole out.)

The middle tube of the angel food pan was rigged with curly ribbon which is also a handle (and a candle!)

I guess it was yummy, too. It vanished!

Sorry Chrissy, no driving today...we had a sleet/snow storm last night.

Chrissy is the daughter I always dreamed of having.

Be Careful What You Tell a Three Year Old

2008-12-19T04:30:00.001-08:00

Little Katie's fifteen year old sister told her, "Do you want to be a princess?" --Well, duh! (most 3 year old girls wanna be a princess!) Katie sat patiently while Chrissy did something to her hair (she was sure her sister would make her beautiful.

OOPS!

Katie was disappointed...becoming a princess evidently doesn't mean you get curly hair...Katie thought that Chrissy was making her hair LONG!

...and blew a heckuva gasket when she discovered her hair was STILL short.

Ah, but she IS a princess (by her reaction!) and Chrissy made her hair SO CUTE!!!

I finally figured out how

2008-12-04T04:55:00.000-08:00

to make a PDF file. (it was SO easy I slapped my own forehead and drank tomato juice!)

...and after two days of trying to upload it to Ravelry I discovered - duh - they have to "okay" me first.

Since this IS a blog - I should add that: yesterday I broke my printer while installing a new black ink cartridge...but after a 15 minute nap with my cuddly daughter I fixed it! (it involved a little spring and flap thingy)

Then (since I still have some layout space here)

I figured out HOW TO keep the toilet paper from rolling out completely onto the floor! If you're having this problem, too: sort of squish the empty toilet paper roll (the one that everyone refuses to throw away) inside the new one. Voila!

I need a brown paper bag to blow into!

2008-12-01T06:31:00.000-08:00

Today I'm sending in my query to Interweave Knits for an article on Double Knitting which has only taken me 20 years to develop. I feel like my first-born is about to jump off a CLIFF! It took me 20 years to develop this new way to double knit because while I was figuring out the best way to communicate it I also knew I needed designer/writer credibility before anyone would even consider hearing what I have to say on the subject...

A couple of weeks ago I decided the time was RIGHT when I discovered that the bible on DK: NOTES ON DOUBLE KNITTING by Beverly Royce was selling USED in PAPERBACK for $60 to $80 a pop!...Guess what?! It has now jumped to $80 to $110 per copy and when I try to purchase it I CAN'T!!!

For those of you who don't know, I find Double Knitting to be an intellectually challenging but physically comfortable way to knit in-the-round.

Knitting for Caron International

2008-11-06T03:58:00.000-08:00

Caron International yarn company has been very wonderful to me this year - handing me over 12 knitting and crochet designs to complete. The Juno Toddler Sweater Dress is one of my favorites. They had originally asked me to include some embroidery - however, with my background in bridal I chose to add sequin and bead embellishments to this 3 dimensional flower stitch pattern which I am SO PROUD to have innovated.

http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/juno/juno_1.html

Wonder-FULL Halloween

2008-11-03T03:34:00.000-08:00

This year Halloween was all about our 3 year old, Katie. She took great care in choosing a costume with LOTS of prissy elements: the crown, the tights, the (as she calls them) ballet shoes, the tutu, the wings, the beautiful dress. And all that work I took to create her costume (as well as her Christmas dress) was WELL WORTH IT!! I cannot believe there were no meltdowns.

The evening was perfect - in the upper 60's with no wind or bugs or mud...and our neighbors set up an extravagant cemetery scene with lights and sound that really brought Katie's sense of wonder to its highest peak!

As we trekked from house to house she repeated, "My basket's not full yet!"

It's all about TEAM work!

2008-10-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

LJdesignPhoto (www.LJdesignPhoto.etsy.com on Etsy) and I have teamed up so that I may better represent my work. I am delirious with the wonderful pictures she came up with. Also an "art" photographer, LJ really KNOWS how to take "fashion" photography. And this precious little model really knows how to "work it" - making the sleeves on this mini hounds tooth print jacket look absolutely angelic!

Something for BOYS!

2008-10-01T12:33:00.001-07:00

I trolled the threads on Etsy to try to find something that not enough people make and came up with these crochet felted loafers. They are as comfy as a slipper but have a hard (not TOO hard), flexible sole that is finished in leather. These look very simple but they are fully equipped with rigid (but not TOO rigid) sides to keep them from rolling and hand crocheted old fashioned cotton gimp between the upper and the sole.

Christmas Is Coming!

2008-09-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

And the stress of getting a photo of my girls (and new kitty) for the front of our Christmas card is gone! From left to right: Heidi, Katie, and Chrissy with Gilligan in the box. The shot was FAR from perfect and could still be better but I LOVED the expressions on my daughter's faces. Chrissy was all made up for her second Homecoming dance (what a beauty!) I swear, I did NOT tell them ALL (cat included) to tilt their heads!

Free Crocheted Baby Blanket Pattern

2008-09-14T04:39:00.000-07:00

This baby blanket was my first project for Caron International. It was made with their new yarn "Country" - a wool blend. I guess they really liked it because they keep assigning me design projects which I will share as they become available on the Naturally Caron site. For a free download of this pattern go to:

www.NaturallyCaron.com, click on "pattern boutique", "crochet patterns", and the "Picadilly Crocheted in Country" (you will see the picture)

Halloween's COMING!

2008-09-14T04:27:00.001-07:00

Several years ago I wrote a pattern for a Goldilocks or Ragedy Ann hat that was published in Crochet Magazine...and sold to House of White Burches. This pattern continues to be available at FreePatterns.com, called Halloween Hats by Kelly Klem. You can download this pattern for free from the site (the site is free to joint) - just Google: Halloween Hats Kelly Klem! I used Lion Brand yarn but if you check the gauge another yarn may work as well.

This birthday girl changed my life!

2008-09-13T10:21:00.001-07:00

Can you believe I took this picture myself? (shot full of magnesium sulphate so I wouldn't die). Having Katie Leigh at age 44 did not kill me. In fact, she gave me a new lease on life. Upon bringing KT home I quickly discovered that she would ONLY sleep if I held her! Well, I'm not one to just sit around the house holding babies (yet) -- so I discovered I could knit...for hours at a time...KT and I found mutual BLISS!!!

Katie is the model seen most at my Klymyshyn Design shop on Etsy. She inspired the Hobbit Hat only 2 months after being born when I decided she'd be a pea in a pod for her first Halloween!

She is my live fit model. And asks about EVERYTHING I make: "you made this for me, Mommy?" (so she also gets to keep the prototypes)

Should Children Be Seen and NOT heard?

2008-09-13T10:14:00.001-07:00

This was Katie at age 2. She SHOULD be seen and not heard because she is very difficult to understand! No "L"'s or "K"'s are in her vocabulary so she speaks in code.

However, she speaks in very complex sentences and understands EVERYTHING!

My aunt passed away this week and I was sad and explained to her why, "because my aunt died". She immediately located her personal 4" x 4" family album and showed me a picture of my sister...whom she adores more than Santa (great gift giver) -- "Oh, no, honey - MY aunt died. YOUR aunt is just fine!" She was relieved.

Little Katie is 3 years old today!

2008-09-13T08:46:00.000-07:00

...and all she wanted was cupcakes and balloons (thank God!)

So, last night she helped her 12 year old sister, Heidi, make the cupcakes which turned out perfectly.

She's a happy little girl with a smudge of frosting on the tip of her nose. (can you see it?)

Fabulous at FAM!

2008-04-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

Several of the Fam ladies are responding to Alchemy requests. This is my second...I call it Beach Comber because the customer wanted this outfit specifically for a walk on the beach. It comes with generous pockets for collecting and is embellished with vintage buttons.

Knit...Crochet...Stitch by Kelly Klem

FAM is special

2008-04-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

We ladies of FAM have rather miraculously formed a unique group of women who can't resist helping each other: whether it's personal or business - we are simply THERE for each other. This did not happen as the result of rules, regulations, or guidelines. People tend to go where they are welcome and useful and we all innately understood this from the get-go.
I am not singing the praises of FAM for any other reason than my deep gratefulness for knowing you all. It's better than getting a sale!
Sincerely,
kelly.