Dorothy is done!

    I just released the pattern for Dorothy a few minutes ago :D.

     Whenever I publish a new design I get all worried that I'm going to do something wrong.  My heart starts beating fast and it takes me a few hours to wind down afterward.  I always feel like I'm going to push the wrong button and delete the entire Ravelry.
     After that comes the doubt about the file: did I upload the right one?  Does it have mistakes?  What if people start buying it and then demand their money back???
     I know it's silly and if something goes wrong I can fix it - eventually, but every single time I add a new pattern and then upload the file I have the same doubts and fears.  The craziest part?  I think I'm enjoying it.  But you knew I was crazy already, right?

Celebrating

     Next month (April) we'll be celebrating two years of the Mawelucky Love group over at Ravelry.  As a thank you to all the wonderful people I met over there I've created (well...am creating) a new design which will be done as a KAL.
     The Birthday Pi is my gift to all the amazing folks who took a chance on me and were adventurous enough to try my patterns.

The secret is out

     I suck at keeping secrets...I came up with the idea for my latest design sometime last year, but due to other obligations, had to sit on it until now.  I'm so glad I don't have to keep it a secret anymore.

I think my brain is finally back on

Or so I hope.

I rely heavily on the internet for inspirations and I have to say that for the last few months most of the things I've seen are luke-warm at best.
Mind you, I'm not saying the things I've seen are ugly, but they are...obvious(?).  "Been there, done that" kind of projects, nice stitch patterns used in such a way that if I tried to knit I'd poke my eyes out with the needles out of boredom - or kill someone (not good).

Yesterday I was browsing the new patterns and my friends favorites, like I do every time I log in, out of routine, when this showed up.  My first thought, when seeing the thumbnail was "interesting...Too bad it's color work, but I'll check it out anyway".
When I got to the project page I was blown away by it!  This scarf is one of the most intelligent uses of empty spaces I've seen in a looooooooooooong time.
With no envy or jealousy involved I can honestly say that I wish I had designed that.
As I looked at that project (can't wait until it gets published - I'll be the first to buy it), like magic - or a cork being removed from a hole in a dam, my creativity started flowing again.  Thank you Jeri Lea!

I also found a few other projects that gave me some ideas I might use in the future, amazingly, the majority is crochet.  (No, I won't start doing crochet patterns ;P).

Anyway, the things I saw yesterday were enough to get me going again.  I picked up Paola - a new stole design I'm knitting on and off (more off than on) and am set to finish it already so I can start with the new ideas I have in mind.

On a side note I'd like to say a big thank you to my awesome test knitters who are patiently waiting for me to finish the files for Linda.  You guys rock!

Linda

I'm still working on the Clematis Stole, but had to stop knitting it for a while so I could finally finish this shawl:

I don't have any specs to post as of now, but will do so in another blog entry. This shawl was dreamt more than 6 months ago and I was knitting it non-stop until I hit the last tier.
Ah...the last tier! It made me stop dead on my tracks as I couldn't figure out the math for it. Then, I felt like this shawl needed an edging and that kept me from touching it again for a long, long time.
I finally found out a simple enough edging, read about a new (to me) way to work the corner and puff! It's done. Now I need to write it down (if there is interest) and send it to test knitters.

Long time...no post

:P I've been meaning to post for some time now, but time just flew by and I did nothing...

So, I finally finished Luiza in 20/2 yarn. It took me forever to finish, there are 22 repeats. If I were to do it again (won’t!) I’d go with 3.5mm 3.00mm needles .
ETA: After writting this , I tried the same yarn with 3.5mm and didn't like the result. I think a 3.00mm would work better. I don't know what is going on...I'm usually quite good at finding which size needles goes well with a yarn, but this one is beating me into a pulp.

I used some 700 yds of yarn (Jaggerspun Heather) and the finished shawl weights 55g (2 oz). This yarn blocks beautifully and isn't too fuzzy. The fact that it comes in cones is always a plus ;)
Do not, I repeat, do not use the same size needles I did. When I took the shawl out of the washer (spinning cycle) it was so small it would only fit a doll.


With this behind me, I can focus on other, new things. I'm back to spinning and dyeing again, although at this moment I have nothing to show (maybe in a few days). One of my handspun was lost in the mail and I spent the last week or so dyeing more roving and spinning yarn so I can replace it. I ended up doing two skeins and am just waiting for them to dry so I can send pics to the buyer.

I'm also doing a test knit for Linda Choo - LindaCC on Ravelry. The name of the pattern is Clematis Stole and you can see two versions of it here and here. This pattern offer a choice of two different borders, two different bodies and the option to choose between nupps or beads.

On the design front, I'm working on a stole design. So far I've cast on...oh...I don't know...maybe 4 times. I get the center almost done, then find something that is off and frog. I've changed the yarn, the needles, the color, the position of elements...sigh. I'll get it done, though. I have to, since there are 3 other ideas floating around in my head, one of which I've already dyed the roving for.