old school

You can call me old fashioned, but when grading a pattern I still don't use Excel, there is just something about using just pencil, paper and a calculator that I find pleasant. It makes me calm...... It isn't fast but I like to write those numbers down, don't get me wrong I do have a spread sheet I just hate using it for grading :) here are some pictures






- Posted by Marleen from my iPhone

Lacey Beret

And besides all the large sample knitting I need to do I could use a fun little project perfect for those prescious one skeins everyone has lying around in their stash just cause they felt so soft or had a fabulous color :) This yarn has everything: EasyKnits Alpaca/silk in a gorgious semi solid purple. And it knits up beatifull
See


There is one thing I like when it's so cold outside. Floor heating! And it's perfect for blocking samples that don't need pinning down. Tho I do need to be careful where I put them otherwise she will confiscate and won't give back ;) if you look closely at next picture you can see the beret under my seat


This is how it turned out picture made by DD1 ;)


- Posted by Marleen from my iPhone

oops

Oh my, it's been a while since my last post. For the last six weeks I've done lots and lots of knitting and I can't show you anything :( Sample 1 and 2 for Yarn Forward Magazine are blocking at the moment. Sample 3 also for Yarn Forward is halfway done. Sample 4 also for Yarn Forward needs to be done from scratch cause I don't have the yarn yet with great thanks to the postal services it's still not delivered and no one knows where my package of gorgious Merino/Bamboo is in the great world of lost packages :( Sample 5 is for The Knitter and is almost done.

Now I need to write the patterns and I'm having some trouble to actually start. I know that if I'm able to start I've no trouble writing them, in fact most times when I'm writing I forget everything around me including eating on time. I always have a timer next to me so I don't forget appointments. But for some reason I have a lot of trouble to get started. And reading on Ravelry doesn't help of course :) But I did found this post of Annie and guess what I'm not the only one having trouble :) You can read it here http://modeknit.com/2010/11/22/queen-midas/

Because I needed a change from all the large projects I was working on and believe me, if you start knitting at 8 AM till it's time for dinner it isn't really that much fun, though I made it more fun to watch all 7 seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 4 weeks. :) i needed desperatly something new and fun to knit just for myself. Or rather for DH he earned it :) a nice warm scarf made from gorgious Fibrespates Srumptious Merino Silk DK and the pattern? Well that will be available as soon as I manage to get started on pattern writing ;)





- Posted by Marleen from my iPhone

first part handwerkbeurs Rotterdam

Well it all started with a lot of stress..... I ordered some metal shelves to present the yarn and knitting kits and they weren't delivered the day before we had to go and set up...... a lot of phonecalls and e-mails later they promised it would be delivered at 8 of the morning of the set up day.... and pffff they did, unfortunatly it did cost me a night of sleep
One other thing that was that due to personal stuff my friend and sample knitter Anne couldn't make it for all 4 days, we both had looked very much forward to do this together, well at least this show we'll have 1 day :)

Everything fitted perfect in the car and because I had some place left in front DD1 could come along


She worked very hard to make the stand look great and so did Alet and Marian


A very big suprise was it when these to came to visit us



bringing us these tickets


These women are the gymnastic trainer from DD1 and when they heard I brought her with me they picked her up so she and I could spend some time watching the gymnastic teams practice for the World Championships. They offered also to watch DD1 while I set up the booth. Ladies a very big thank you!!
Take a look at her


Finally we left at 9 were om at 11 and we're both very tired but the booth looked great



- Posted by Marleen from my iPhone

I Knit Weekender

Time for some pictures I promised of my London weekend :) We had fun, not enough sleep and my Twitter account decided to stop working from the moment I arrived in London :( I arrived in London Thursday evening and Jon picked me up at the airport, from there to his place, dropped my bag off, loaded the truck with all the stuff and off we went to set up for the show. Here's Jon posing


back at his place we chatted way too long (and drunk way too much wine) at a very very late souper


The next morning we needed to get up very early to be on time needing a few more hours to make the booth look great, and it did :)


Friday eveving we went out for dinner with friends and we had so much fun, it turns out I speak better English then my friends speak Dutch but I still don't know what the Irish waiter said :)
Saterday was a lot bussier, and we were totally wasted when we got back home at Jon's place.
Sunday Jon and Mr EasyKnits took me to Greenwich parc sight seeing. What a beautiful parc wish we would have something like that here



followed by a nice meal, we had a perfect Sunday....
- Posted by Marleen from my iPhone

wine tasting

Just some wines we tasted tonight





- Posted by Marleen from my iPhone

And the winners are.....

Marieke, Sockwisperer, Csteekjes, Axioma and Fiberrachel
Vlinder will be send through Ravelry :)

Almost Ready and give away

So it's the night before I go to I Knit Weekender. Yes, I'm travelling again..... This time to London were I will be in the stand of EasyKnits to sell my patterns (and Jon's gorgious yarns, ofcourse)
I only have to pack some clothes and I'll be ready to leave, at least I packed enough patterns :)


And see Haze? This time I have some bussiness cards with me....
So if you're going to I Knit Weekender I would love to meet you.... come say hi!!

And now for the exciting stuff :)
Give-a-way!!!!!
You can either leave your name on the list at the stand at I Knit or if you can't come, leave a comment here, I'll pick (well the random generator) 5 names at random for some free copies of Vlinder. Give-away ends on Sunday 24:00 (that's greenwich time -1)
Make sure I can contact you, you can do that by mailing me at contest AT DutchKnittingDesign DOT com or leave your ravelry name in the comments.

- by Marleen from my iPhone

Vlinder

Vlinder is a perfect shawl for the fall. The shawl is worked in two parts and then grafted together by using Kitchener Stitch. The body is shaped by using carefully placed increases and decreases forming a neckline. This shaping makes sure it will stay on your shoulders.

Yarn: 436yds/400m fingering weight yarn. Sample shown in Bamboo-Merino mix from Easy Knits.
Needles: 1 US 5/3.75 mm circular of length 40 in/100 cm. Markers
Gauge: 18 sts and 30 rows = 4 in /10 cm in pattern stitch.

Directions are given for 1 size: 51 in/130 cm wide and 16.5 in/42cm long at center.

Pattern contains written instructions and charts
Pattern is available in English and Dutch

Buy now for $7

Buttons and yarn

So I completely forgot to show you my purchases at the market at Knit Camp, yes I now I did the stand from Joan (White Lies Designs) but you know me..... I always find time to get me some pretty yarns/buttons :)
These buttons I found at the stand of www.TextileGarden.com and oh my.... what a gorgious buttons they have, I had a hard time deciding which ones I wanted. But the lady assured me they ship international (oops, yet again a place where my money just needs to go) Well see for yourselves








I also bought some beautifull gotland sheep yarn at www.blackerdesigns.co.uk It was actually one of my students who told me to go and get some (thanks Jane!!) and I do love the natural fleece colors.






- Posted by Marleen from my iPhone

Photoshoot

Finally we had some sun, or at least not much rain. And a gorgious sky with all those clouds.

Take a look

First one is Nacoya but then made in EasyKnits Semi Solids color Heather

Second one is Alyssum made also made in EasyKnits Semi Solids color Plum Jam

And here's Vlinder made with EasyKnits Bamboo-Merino Mix, color Bamboo Lagoon.

About the name.....I ran into some trouble with the names, I called this shawl so long Vlinder that nothing else seems to be right. So Vlinder it is :)

Name?

This one is curretly being tested and tech-edited, it's made with EasyKnits Bamboo-Merino mix and I really enjoyed knitting with it. I'm glad I ordered lots of it for in my knitting kits ;)
The pattern will be ready for sale in 2 weeks. I only have one problem, I don't know what to call it. Any suggestions? If I'm going to use your suggestion you'll get a free copy ;)


Detail (sorry for the crappy pictures, but it just keeps on raining here)


- Posted by Marleen from my iPhone

my office

almost finished :)
As you can see, I'm halfway, still lots of room for some more beatiful yarns I'm expecting here are some pictures


yarn ;)


room for more yarn


and my newest printer :)


I'm ready ;)
-Posted by Marleen from my iPhone

I have the best DH ever!

On his free day he came with me to the Ikea, which isn't fun, especially not when it's still summer break. Lot's of people with crying kids :(
And know he putting the Billy's together so I have space to have my stash/patterns and other stuff organized
I have just the best DH there is ;)






- Posted by Marleen from my iPhone

My own office

Today we'll clean out the spare room and I'll be getting a proper work space, yeah! So for you're amusement here are some 'before' pictures. Enjoy, I'm off to the Ikea (honestly are there people who don't buy there?)










- Posted by Marleen from my iPhone

Knit Camp Memories

And I'm back home......

Actually I came home sunday evening after a wonderfull week, where I met so many lovely people, laughed so hard I nearly p###d my pants, I teached (yeah, I know), I learned and made friends for live. This week left me with a totally fried brain (thanks to Woolly and Norah, you can blame them for my next designs which will involve cables and lace, fully reversible)

I finally met Jon and Roy in Real Life (guys I miss you allready)

So I'll start at the beginning, I was terrified to travel all by myself and be away for a whole week without DH and the kids, but I knew that when I finally left it would be okay. At the airport I met a very sweet lady who also went to Knit Camp, so we traveled together.

Monday night there was a nice dinner and I met Jo and Doug who were organizing this event (thank you for that), first question Jo asked me was if I could take over a class on Tuesday. I had some doubt but also some wine.....

It was one of those things where everything turned out far better then I anticipated. I loved my students who were a great sport about having me as a teacher for 6 hours (without handout or preparation), and I wasn't the one they signed up for (seriously who can replace her) So I took Carol's advice, to only teach what you know. I know, obviously, but it is a good thing to keep saying it to yourself when you stand in front of a class without any preparation :)

Tuesday evening there was a pub quiz (Go Team Loose Ends!!!!) and we came in third because we didn't think of knitting with the Eifeltower :)

Wednesday morning I followed a class with Wooly Wormhead: Reversable cables and she totally f####ed up my brain, luckaly it was Stitch and Bitch at the union and we just went to drink, knit and chat

Thursday morning I had a class with Joan McGowan from White Lies Designs: Vintage Knitting. She is a great teacher, not to mention very sweet. In the afternoon I had a class with Norah Gaughan: innovative cables (anotherone to blame for a f####ed up brain, lol) so I had no choice to just take the boys and Sarah Jane (shumke, who did a great, great job in trouble shooting this week) to the pub only to find Carol and Wooly there too.

My Fridaymorning class was supposed to be designing the next greenjeans... by Amy Singer. but she didn't make it to Stirling, so instead we had Zoey (is that the correct way to write your name, please drop a line) Editor from Yarn Forward and Crochet Inside, let's just say that it was very interesting :)

Friday afternoon was the most fun class, cause Jon taught me how to do a toe-up sock :)By now I was really having a need for some proper food instead of the stuff they served at Haldane's (university food, need I tell you more...) So Pappa Joes it was pizza with champagne....you got to love that :)

Because Joan had to teach on Saterday (re-scheduled from Tuesday) I volunteerd to work her booth for her, and I had a great time, watching all those people come by, and probably the only day I got time to do some knitting on my own project. We were all too tired to go anywhere else so we just had dinner at the bar, what turned out to be the most fun evening when we tried to explain the bartender how many knitting goeroes were sitting in his bar :)

My taxi didn't come to pick me up before 1 the next day, so I had time to have some tea with Joan before I left for home. And now.... I'm back for 2 days and I have a hard time to keep up with my sketches, my pencil just doesn't move as fast as I want it to. Lots of ideas, now I only need my brain to function again........

Some pictures

Surroundings of the University

Jo and Jon at the EZ dinner

The booth from Easyknits, see what is in the corner :)

Joan at her vintage knitting class
Pizza, champagne and good company

Me, enjoying myself sitting in the booth of Joan

The best sign I saw at the market