Fastening Off

I'm not too sure where December went. Ok, if I'm completely honest, I'm not too sure where 2022 went. Especially from July on.

And I had all kinds of plans to write posts about this and that, including the Fasten Off Yarn Along. I know I wrote an intro post, saying I was taking part as a designer and a participant again. And then things went down that yarny rabbithole from whence they never appear again lol.

To be absolutely clear and have full disclosure: I am a participating designer and volunteer with FOYAL, and have been since it debuted in 2020. Other than acquiring the following patterns for my personal use, either by purchasing them or by won or volunteer prizes, I've received no other benefits. Just spreading some pattern joy with everyone. Gray blah January days need joy.

I decided it would be cool to look at the patterns I bought in the sale and the ones I selected from my prizes (most from playing games, two from volunteering). With 108 designers, not including me, there was such a great variety!

And, I can point out that the FOYAL database is still totally operational! It's there for you to search for patterns or designers right now! How cool is that?? You can find it right here 2022 FOYAL database🔗 (link to FOYAL website). If you're looking for Off-Rav designers and/or patterns, this is a great spot to check.

Ok, so I went looking for smallish patterns to start out. And the first one I purchased during the sale period was Talamh by Liz Corke🔗. These are a simply beautiful pair of fingerless mitts with a faux cable detail running up the back of the hand on the pinky side. I'm actually knitting a pair in Briggs & Little Sport "mauve" for Sistwerp right now. I really enjoy Liz's fingerless mitts patterns so this was a pretty quick and easy purchase to make.

I was in a mind to make some small decorative touches for the living room, and came across Karen Butler's Mini Knits pattern🔗. This includes the patterns for her Mini Mitten and Mini Sock, which are just too cute! I'm thinking a couple of each might form a little elves' laundry line type decoration for next Winter.

The next pattern I kept 'walking away' from and coming back to. I wound up buying it after the sale period was over! I've been trying to be really intentional about my pattern purchases, asking myself when I'm going to make it and when will I use the finished item. As a result I've been focusing more on worsted or Aran weight sweaters with the occasional hat or pair of mittens, fingerless and standard. But the Woven Gemstones Wrap by Emily Sullivan of Sweet Paprika Yarns🔗 (link to pattern page on Sweet Paprika Yarns website) made me forget my resolve. This simple (it's garter stitch that's literally woven over!) but stunning wrap is very high on my must make list. And the sample colors are very literally my colors, so this could be a rare time I'd use the specified yarn for a project. Now nobody faint lol!

I won a prize playing the Scavenger Hunt game on the FOYAL Discord server, and when asked which craft I'd prefer by the Prize volunteer, I decided to go a bit different and chose Tunisian crochet. In playing Scavenger Hunt and Picture Party I kept seeing beautiful Tunisian crochet patterns in the database, and this is a craft I don't have too many patterns for or much experience in doing. I was sent a prize code for Aklori Designs, who has some stunningly beautiful patterns. After much back and forthing, I chose her Catalina Shawl🔗 as a next step up in my Tunisian skills. This is something I'd like to fit into my 2023 projects if I have time. 

And then I won a second time playing Scavenger Hunt on Discord! This time I went with knitting, thinking to maybe find a new sweater. I was paired up with Polka Dot Cottage, a new-to-me designer, and was super happy to find their pattern 

Porthole Pullover🔗. I really like the colorful yoke using slipped stitches instead of stranded colorwork. (Stranded colorwork is gorgeous, me and it just don't get along too well)

Then came time for Volunteer prizes. I received a code for Paola Albergamo's Payhip shop. This took some time to pick. She has so many gorgeous designs! 🤩 I was really torn between Brise Soleil🔗 and Grafitti🔗, but went with Brise Soleil in the end. The texture pattern intrigues me, and it's such a wearable cardigan. I think I'd like to find a semi-solid blue to make it in...

Also for volunteering I was connected with Susanna Winter of talvi knits. This was another tough decision, but the gorgeous back cable panel of her The Comeback Cardigan🔗 had me returning to it several times. I think you all know I love a good cable panel. I can really see this in Briggs & Little Heritage, maybe one of the heathered colorways? I'll need to ponder that a bit. 

I thought I was done, but I hadn't counted on my FOYAL Bingo card getting drawn for a prize. I received a prize code for Carolyn Lisle's patterns. I bought her MADvent shawl pattern a few years ago and I follow her on Instagram, so I was a bit more familiar with her designs. It was a tough decision once again, but Cracked Glass🔗 is so eye-catching! What a fun scarf and I recently came into some mini skeins (10g = 40m/43.7yards) that should be just right for it.

And that, yarn friends, is the patterns I acquired during Fasten Off Yarn Along 2022. All links go directly to the mentioned pattern's page in the designer's Payhip shop or on their website; these are all safe non-Rav links. I hope I've directed you to a new-to-you designer or two, and maybe a pattern you didn't know you've been looking for. There are so many wonderful designs out there, but finding them can be hard. That's why I'm so glad the FOYAL database and its search features are available year round. 

Did you shop the FOYAL database in late November, through December? Let me know what designer(s) and/or pattern(s) caught your eye and are now saved to your computer or device 😉 I'd love to hear about them!

Yours in yarn and more acquired patterns,

Síle

Wanna See a Swatch?

No, really. I was playing around with double-knitting and texture the other day and I made this little bit:

I think it's kind of cute and also interesting. I've been toying with a double-knit blanket idea for a bit, and I think this might create the effect I was looking for in part of it. Possibly. I'll have to try a few other things out next.

What do you think? Something you'd like to try maybe?

Speaking of double-knitting, I should have a double-knit eyelet tutorial up later this week. And yes, it ties directly to the Hornpipe Bag pattern.

Yours in yarn and double-knitting experiments and photo tutorials,

Síle

Happy Birthday, KDRD!

They grow up so fast sniff

My little Knit Dance Repeat Designs is 8 years old today!

I launched my shop on R@v on January 6, 2015 with pdfs of the three free patterns that were on my original blog. Those patterns, Anchors & Ropes, MVP, and Pyewacket, are still here too! And they've been joined by 13 others in the intervening years.

My current plan is to release two new patterns this year, and continue with rolling out re-releases of my current catalog. Some needed new photos, all needed my logo added, and any with an existing low vision pdf are getting updated for that pdf to also be screen reader accessible. Practice Makes Perfect, which came out in 2022, was my first pattern released with all of these features included from day 1. All Knit Dance Repeat Designs patterns going forward will as well. Now I just need to get my older patterns caught up!

There are a couple of behind the scenes changes coming this year too. The one you'll probably notice is the dropping of ".blogspot" from the url. Other changes won't be noticeable to you but they'll help me on this side of the screen. That means more regular posts and tutorials. 

I don't know about you, but I'm excited about what 2023 will bring. Hmm, maybe a couple sweater quantities of yarn? ;)

Join me in raising a toast (I've got a glass of Dr Pepper, so you needn't be fancy) to 8 years of Knit Dance Repeat Designs! May year 9 be the best yet!

Yours in yarn and cake,

Síle

2023? Already?

Hello, my fiber friends!

I can hardly believe how quickly December flew by! Whoosh! Gone! Sort of like deadlines ;)

I can say that 2022's Fasten Off Yarn Along was once again a success. And fun was definitely had during the New Year's Eve Boonanza! I was literally crying with laughter a number of times! Fun with fiber folks; what more can you ask for?

Sadly, the weather here has been the pits. Newfoundland in December shouldn't be considered a rain delay. I think my toes are growing webs. It rained all but something like 6 days the entire month! Don't tell me climate change isn't happening, I'm seeing it real time.

Rain, especially heavy angry December rain, makes for rotten photo conditions. And that has pushed the release of my Hornpipe Bag back. I'm not even setting another tentative date at this point. When photos get done, I'll announce the pattern is releasing the next day. Done. I hope it'll be soon. I'm also listening to more rain falling as I type. I'd cry but I don't need finger webbing to go with my toes'.

I've put a few more yards into both the sample of Countess Cathleen, and my Twist Again (pattern by Robynn Weldon; link to her Payhip shop) during December. I also started but, unfortunately due to needle MIA, not finished a pair of Talamh (pattern by Liz Corke; link to her Payhip shop) for Sistwerp. The left fingerless mitt is done, the right isn't.

Have you ever attempted to work in the round with only 3 dpns? I don't mean 3 holding your sts and knitting with a 4th one. I'm talking 2 holding your sts and working with the 3rd. I don't recommend it, especially with 2.5mm dpns. Nope, not a good plan. I was forced by hand cramps to switch to Magic Loop. Some knitters like ML, others do not. I personally despise ML. The poor right mitt is suffering due to my loathing. I'm setting myself a deadline of Saturday, January 7th, to have mitt 2 done. Otherwise I fear the poor thing may never be off the needle!

I'm using Briggs & Little Sport in "mauve", which is a gorgeous gray-tinged lavender that I have to say is a really interesting color. Some light gives it decide blue hue, while other times it resembles dark/wet stone, like from an Irish or Scottish castle wall. It's a color you can definitely find a story in, which is very cool. If nothing else, I've discovered a new favorite color amongst Briggs & Little's fine color line up.

I hope you're enjoying new projects for the New Year. What have you cast-on recently? Finished anything fun? I have some double-knit swatching coming up soon for an idea I have. When don't I have new ideas?! I plan to spend the first bit of 2023 finishing up 3 specific projects: Twist Again, Countess Cathleen, and Four Hand Reel. The last just needs its lining sewn and attached. I really should have it done by now! One of these years, I might learn to sew properly. I say might! lol

What else can you expect from Knit Dance Repeat Designs in 2023? A few more of my existing patterns will be getting their updated looks and screen reader accessibility. I don't know how many I'll get through but I intend to keep at it. I'm fairly certain I'll be releasing at least one other pattern this year besides Hornpipe Bag. The front runners are Four Hand Reel and Hap-Hazard. We'll see what happens! I have a few tutorials I plan on sharing too.

For now, that's all I have to update you on. I intend to be a bit more regular about that this year. 

Happy 2023 to you and yours!

Yours in yarn and new year-ness,

Síle