Copacabana V-neck Top

Copacabana V-neck Top

I've been so incredibly busy... who isn't, right? Besides working on 3 rather large knitting projects, in addition to couple of tests I need to study for (and have not started yet!!?), plus a Czech & Slovak event I am helping to organize for our Slavic association for the next month, I've been also wanting to list a few of my patterns on my websites that I had been putting off on a back burner. To list a pattern up for sale is a bit more time consuming than the time I have available right now, but I just wanted to do it. Maybe I can commit myself to listing one every month? Hmmm. I'll try. :)

Front

So here's the first one. Originally designed for Bijou Basin Ranch line for Spring/Summer 2010 collection, Copacabana V-neck Top was one of the two first designs I did for this awesome company. If you have not gotten a chance, check out their website for they have just released new yarns for Spring/Summer 2012.

This Copacabana V-neck Top makes me think of summer, sand and pretty beaches. Vertical stripes from a simple lace and cable pattern create the sought-after illusion of a slimming silhouette that flatters any figure.

Side detail

The nature of this lace and cable pattern makes contours curves beautifully without having to work waist shaping.

The piece is worked in Bijou Spun, Lhasa Wilderness yarn that makes this top very light weight, soft and luxurious. It can be worn casual, or paired with slacks for work, or worn with a wide belt and skirt for a night out. So jump in and create something that will give you lots of wear for years to come!

 You can get this pattern in my new on-line store on Craftsy.

Back detail

Back

Simply Crochet: Giselle Vest

Giselle Vest (Simply Crochet, Dec 2011)

This is a second stop on my blog on the Simply Crochet Countdown to Fun Blog Tour. The Giselle Vest is a second design I had contributed to Robyn Chachula's book Simply Crochet: 22 Stylish Designs for Every Day. The book is  now available for purchase in both hard copy and e-book.

This top vest is crochet in a beautiful flower lace design forming horizontal lines that is flattering to many body shapes. The top has an easy construction; the body is worked from side to side beginning and ending at center back finished with edging around the top and bottom edges and shoulder straps crocheted on. As all Robyn's books, the instructions are given in both written form and accompanied by charts.

Giselle is worked in Cascade Yarns, Heritage (75% merino superwash, 25% nylon; 437 yd/400 m /3.5 oz/ 100 g): #5648 strawberry cream with D/3 (3.25mm) hook. The yarn is very soft and very easy to work with. The yarn has a great yardage; you need only 2-3 hanks to make this top so it is very budget friendly.

What is your favorite fingering yarn to use for crochet projects? Let me know in the comments.

Next stop for the blog tour is tomorrow, December 15, 2011, at Robyn Chachula's  www.crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com.

New pattern posted ...

I just wanted to let you know that I have put the last American Girl pattern on sale in my store. If you want to download it immediately, you can buy it below in this post.

Cotton Candy

$4.00

This top fits to an American Girl doll size and any comparable 18” doll.

The top has TOP-DOWN seamless construction - no sewing required except for weaving loose ends. The hat is also knitted in a round, no seams and sewing required. This is a quick 3 - 4 hour project; great for last minute gifts.

SIZES: One size – to fit 18” doll

MATERIALS:
• 1 3.75oz./100g ball (each approx. 178yd / 163m) of TLC
Cotton Plus (51% Cotton, 49% Acrylic) in color #3706 light
rose; OR 135yd/ 148m of any comparable medium weight
(worsted) yarn. (Note: when choosing the yarn, choose rather
some stretchier yarn for this project since it needs to be put
on overhead and needs to stretch a bit to fit.)
• One set of 5 dpn US size #6 (4mm) needles OR SIZE TO
OBTAIN CORRECT GAUGE
• 4 stitch markers (m)
• Stitch holders (or scrap yarn)
• Tapestry needle

GAUGE:
• 19 sts and 26 rows = 4” square over St st using US size #6
(4mm) needles
• 21 sts and 48 rows = 4” square over Bubble patt using US size #6 (4mm) needles

New patterns posted

I had a wonderful test-knitter, Irina, who test-knitted my newest designs, Candy and Rubine, for me. I have added the patterns to my Etsy store today. If you want to get direct download, you can click below on this site (all possible through Ravelry download).


Candy

$4.00

This top fits to an American Girl doll size and any comparable 18” doll.

The top / cardigan has TOP-DOWN seamless construction - no sewing required except for weaving loose ends. The top can be worn both as a top or a cardigan. The hat is knitted in a round, no seams and sewing required as well. This is a quick 3 - 4 hour project; great for last minute gifts.

SIZES: One size – to fit 18” doll

Materials:
• 160yd/ 175m of any medium weight (worsted) yarn.
I used TLC Cotton Plus (51% Cotton, 49% Acrylic) in color #3707 medium rose
• One pair of US size #6 (4mm) needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN CORRECT GAUGE
• One set of dpn US size #6 (4mm) needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN CORRECT GAUGE
• One F/5 – 3.75mm size hook
• 4 stitch markers (m)
• Stitch holders (or scrap yarn)
• Tapestry needle
• 5 buttons

Gauge:
• 20 sts and 30 rows = 4” square over St st using US size #6 (4mm)
• 20 sts and 30 rows = 4” square over Traveling Eyelet patt using US size #6 (4mm)

For the other American Girl (18” doll) patterns of the sets pictured in the last 2 photos, please see my other listings.

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Rubine

$4.00

This top fits to an American Girl doll size and any comparable 18” doll.

The top / cardigan has TOP-DOWN seamless construction - no sewing required except for weaving loose ends. The top can be worn both as a top or a short-sleeve cardigan. The hat is knitted in a round, no seams and sewing required. This is a quick 3 - 4 hour project; great for last minute gifts.

SIZES: One size – to fit 18” doll

MATERIALS:
• 135yd/ 142m any medium weight (worsted) yarn.
I used Caron Simply Soft (100% Acrylic) in color #9748 rubine red
• One pair of US size #6 (4mm) needles

OR SIZE TO OBTAIN CORRECT GAUGE
• One set of dpn US size #6 (4mm) needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN CORRECT GAUGE
• One F/5-3.75mm hook
• 4 stitch markers (m)

• Stitch holders (or scrap yarn)
• Tapestry needle
• 5 small buttons

Gauge:
• 21 sts and 26 rows = 4” square over St st using US size #6 (4mm)
• 20 sts and 30 rows = 4” square over Lace patt using US size #6 (4mm)

For the other American Girl (18” doll) patterns of the sets pictured in the last photo, please see my other listings.

Reversible Hat and Scarf Set

Today I have been working on reformatting one of my patterns. I took some new photos of it which shows better the product. Here it is:

This is a PATTERN for an easy to make hat and scarf set with interesting stitch using only purl and knit rows creating totally reversible fabric, so you get 2-in-1 hat and scarf set! The hat is worked in a round on circular needles all in one piece including the I-cord with "ball". No sewing necessary. The scarf is worked from side to side in rows.

SIZE:
Hat: S/M (M/L)- head circumference 21" (23").
Scarf: S/M (M/L) - 63" (69")x 6" (6")
Size shown: M/L on 21 1/2" model head circumference

MATERIALS
The yarn is MEDIUM - Worsted/Aran weight
The yarn used in the M/L sample is Caron Simply Soft yarn - 1 skein of each color Grey Heather (MC), Soft Blue (CC), and Sage (CC).

NEEDLES
S/M:
Size US #6 (4.0 mm) circular needle 16" long (for hat), 32" long (for scarf), one set (5) dpn needles US size #6 (4.0 mm), and 2 dpn needles US size 5 (3.75 mm).
M/L:
Size US #7 (4.5mm) circular needle 16" long (for hat), 32" long (for scarf), one set (5) dpn needles US size #7 (4.5 mm), and 2 dpn needles US size 6 (4.0 mm).

GAUGE
To achieve either of the sizes, adjust needle size to get the following gauges:
17 (15.5) sts and 40 rows = 4"/10cm over the Pattern Stitch

You can buy the pattern through Ravelry's purchase download or in my on-line store here.

Bell Sleeve Shrug #2

This weekend I was testing the new pattern Bell Sleeve Shrug. I made it for my youngest daughter in size 6yrs. She is only 4 years old but wears size 5/6.









Bell Sleeve Shrug #2
Size: 6
Yarn: Red Heart Ltd. Soft Yarn Solids
Needles: US#8 (5mm)

Now I am going to work on the size 8 yrs because my middle daughter want one too.

Tadaa! New Pattern's Done

So today I have formatted and finalized my new pattern Red Cabled Cardigan Hoodie. It is a body-fitting cardigan with a hood forming a nice collar when it's down. The fronts have a simple cable run from bottom to top; both the back and the sleeves are worked in a simple rib pattern, which makes this cardigan to fit perfectly to a body without any shaping required.

The cardigan is worked in one piece to underarms and then divided into fronts and back and finished separately to minimize sewing. Further, the cardigan was designed, so that no button holes are worked in; instead, the closure is made up of 4-stitch I-cord tubes sewn on once the cardigan is finished - very simple. This creates a decorative element to this cardigan. The cardigan could be also worn without the buttons and closed only with a belt.

It comes in a wide range of sizes (listed below) and I have included also the materials needed to make it. Now you can buy the pattern in my Simona's Designs Shop here, or you can click on under Buy My Designs Here to get to my store.

SIZES:
2 (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16) yrs

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
Chest - 22 (24, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33)"
Length - 12 (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24)"
Shown in size 10 yrs (chest - 29").

MATERIALS:
* 4 (5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9) 1.75oz./50g ball (each approx. 137yd / 125m) of Elian Klasik (100% Acrylic) in color #212 red; OR 450 (600, 680, 750, 830, 960, 1100, 1240) of any comparable DK weight yarn.
* One pair of circular US size #6 (4mm) 24" or 29" or 32" long (depending on the size you are making) needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN CORRECT GAUGE
* One pair of dpn US size #3 (3.25mm) needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN CORRECT GAUGE
* Cable needle (cn) - optional if you can cable w/o it
* Stitch markers
* Stitch holders
* Tapestry needle
*5 wooden 1 1/4"/ 3 cm long buttons with 2 holes


GAUGE:
*22 sts and 32 rows = 4* square over St st with US size #6 (4mm)
*27 sts and 32 rows = 4* square over Rib patt with US size #6 (4mm)







NEW WIP
As I have stated in my last post, I have started knitting Stefanie Japel's Forecast cardi, which I like very much. I am posting a few pictures as I promised. You can see that I have omitted the collar because I don't think it would look very good on me being rather top heavy; even though I like the on Stefanie. What I am planning to do is to knit on a more conventional collar in a pattern of the bottom part. I'll see how it goes.

I am using a Red Heart Soft Yarn (because I got tons of it on sale - $10 for the project!). I hope I am not going to regret it and that the yarn will hold up good. Does any of you have any good/bad experience with this yarn? Let me know. I don't mind using it, since I am mainly knitting this to learn how the process of knitting from top to bottom works. But I still would like to wear the cardi.

Ravelry and FO

As I might have said before, I have finally gotten my invitation to join Ravelry. I have spent tooo much time on it so far. It's a really good place to see what other knitters and designers are up to, what's on their needles. I love to look what others are working on with the yarns I have. I love the forums and group chats.

On Monday I have sent off my 2 projects I was working on for Vogue Knitting. It was a rather short deadline, so I was pulling a few late nighters, but I am glad I have finished on time. Now I have time to focus on other things.

First, I desperately needed to clean up. When I design or work on a project, I do not have time put things away and pull them out again because I work throughout the day an hour here and an hour there, depending on what my kids are doing, so it would be a waste of my precious time to tidy up each and every time. But it is really hard for me to see the mess around me- see pics below (it stresses me out - I'm probably weired that way), so I was happy I had some time to clean up yesterday (how odd that I was happy to clean up!?). Anyways.














Here I am organizing my magazines and other materials, so I can find what I am looking for. Big problem for me when in the mess-zone, I know what I am looking for, but I don't know where exactly it is located. Frustrating. Though, not anymore (at least for right now). :-)

Right now I am writing a pattern for the Red Cabled Hoodie Cardigan for children. I'd like to have it done in a few days (only if it was not for the Ravelry and me spending too much time on it, ah) . I'd like to list it under this month's featured patterns. Further, my eldest daughter has been nagging me for a shrug for some time, so I am swatching for that as well. I am thinking I am going to give a try to designing it from top, since I want to make it an easy knit. We'll see, I'd like it to be easy enough for kids to make it themselves.

New Pattern finished

So I have finished the pattern for Marina - Leaves Top. You can see some pictures left. I had been trying to upload a picture to my Pattern of the Month sidebar and had been having a trouble with it. My pictures always came out stretched and unclear. I don't know why. Does any of you have any clue why this could be happening? Anyways, I managed to download one pictures, which seems to be in focus on the sidebar.

Well, to the pattern. Here are some facts about it:

This is a PATTERN for a girl's top worked in WORSTED yarn. The top can be worn by itself as a top or over a long sleeve shirt or T-shirt as a vest. You can get lots of use out of this garment. The pattern is written in wide range of sizes.

SIZES: 4 (6, 8, 10, 12) yrs.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
*Chest/ Hips: 22, (24, 26, 28, 30)" / 55 (60, 65, 70, 75) cm
*Waist: 21 (23, 25, 27, 29)" / 52 (57, 62, 67, 72) cm
*Length 13 (14, 16, 17*, 18*)" / 32 (35, 40, 44, 46) cm
Shown in size 6.

MATERIALS:
*1 (1, 1, 2, 2) 7 oz./198g ball (each approx. 366yd/334m) of Caron Simply Soft (100% acrylic) in color # 9904 Country Blue.
*One circular US size 8 (5mm) 16" and/or 24* long needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN CORRECT GAUGE
*Tapestry needle
*Stitch marker

GAUGE:
*16 sts and 24 rows = 4*/10cm over St. st. using size 8 (5mm) needles














Again, you can buy this pattern in my store here.


Proposals finished

Tomorrow, I am expecting to get yarn for my new project for Vogue Knitting: therefore today I was trying to finish few things I was working on. I have finished my proposals for Knitter's magazine; only I was unable to put them into a comprehensive package to mail. Hopefully I'll be able to do it tomorrow, though I have a few errands to run.

I am hoping to go to the gym in the morning before the kids get up for school; but I am not holding my hopes too high since it's almost midnight and I am still up. Hmm, maybe I'll run on the treadmill at home (!?). We'll see. At the end of the week, my youngest daughter is going for an eye surgery, so I am feeling little uneasy about that. She had the same surgery a year and a half ago, and it was quite successful; I still have that uneasy feeling. Also, my second to oldest daughters is having a birthday party on Sunday, so it is a quite busy week for me (more stressful I guess than busy - you guys probably know what I am talking about). It's just few days away and I don't have everything ready yet.

P.S: I have also a few of tutorial pictures for the Marina - Leaves Top / Vest to make the pattern as easy as possible to follow - it's a pretty easy pattern I've got to say, no sewing required. So check in back later for that.

Knit Simpe, Fall 2007

A new pattern of mine was published in Knit Simple magazine. This one is an easy and fast project for fall and a great addition to your wardrobed for the upcoming season. Here is a preview of the Striped Vest:















Working

In past couple weeks all I have been doing is swatching and sketching for new design proposals for magazines and books, so I have not been posting as much as I would like. My living room and kitchen are a mess: tables full of skeins of yarns and pattern books.

Though, I have a new pattern almost finished (just have to proofread it) and it is ready to go for sale in my store. It is a pattern for a "Leaves Top". Here is a preview:
















Again, I am making the pattern in a wide range of sizes: 4 - 12 yrs (chest sizes 22 - 30"). I offer this patter FREE of charge to someone who is willing to give me feedback on it (first come first served basis) . So if you'd like to make this top for your daughter and are able to complete the project within 3 weeks or so - it is knitted on size US#8 needles! - please let me know. You can leave me a comment here on the blog or you can reach me privately at my Etsy store Simona's Designs.

OK, that's all for right now. Happy knitting!

Brooks Top Picture Ready

OK, we have finally taken the pictures for the Brooks Top. Here is a preview. The pattern is available in my store SimonasDesigns. The cardi can be worn by itself as a top or over a tank top or t-shirt as a cover up for late-summer nights. You can get lots of use out of this. It is well-fitted and flatters any shape. The pattern is written in wide range of sizes.


FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
Chest * 34 (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46)"
Length * 22 (22, 23, 24, 24, 25, 25)"
Shown in size chest 38".

Materials:
*2 8oz./230g ball (each approx. 550yd / 500m) of Brooks Farm Yarn MAcero (50% Merino Wool, 25% Alpaca, 25% Acrylic) in color # MA13.
*One pair of straight US size #7 (4.5mm) needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN CORRECT GAUGE
*One circular US size #7 (4.5mm) 24" long needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN CORRECT GAUGE
*Tapestry needle
*6 buttons

Gauge:
*18 sts and 26 rows = 4" square over St st with US size #7 (4.5mm)