Testing, Testing, One Two Three
I think the time has come to explain a bit about the testing process and how I approach it. I'm doing this in part because I'm still new at this and would love to find out more about how more experienced designers do it and in part because I have gotten a few messages that seem to indicate that there are some hurt feelings when I don't pick someone to test for me. I find testers in a few places. Some of my testers are people who have knit my other patterns and told me they particularly enjoyed them. Some [...]
Not Happening
I was too busy doing stuff at Sock Summit to write about it. Sorry 'bout that. I will talk about it over the next few weeks, but in the meantime I can say with certainty that Oregon is a pretty part of the world. See?
Packing
I'm packing for Sock Summit. Generally I pack fairly light. I've done enough traveling to know better than to bring things I don't need (and really you don't need as much as you think), I have a simple wardrobe, and I hate carrying things. I'm a big fan of the carry on approach to travel. I could fit all I'll need for this trip in a carry on if I had to. But this is Sock Summit. I intend to bring home yarn. Possibly a lot of yarn. So I'm taking checked luggage (half empty) with the intent of loading [...]
Twist Twist Twist
Sorry for the disappearing act. I was off playing in the woods with The Boy and his family. I don't, as a general rule, do woods. The woods are traditionally in that space known as outside, and I am philosophically opposed to outside. Outside is where the evil scorching sun lives, and his minions (itchy) plants and (creepy) bugs can cause all sorts of mayhem if you spend too much time out there. It is much safer to stay inside with the books and the air conditioning and the refreshing beverages. The knitting is also generally found inside. I was, [...]
Pedigreed
You were patient. You were astonishingly patient, and now your patience has been rewarded. Pedigreed has been tested to within an inch of its life and is now available! I feel I should warn you that this is not an easy pattern. It's not hard exactly, but it is certainly not a mindless knit. There are lots of twists and turns and you need to pay attention to both the text and the charts. Speaking of charts, this is a substantial pattern. It is 13 pages long and has 8 charts, 6 of them full page charts. There are several [...]
Me? Seriously? Me?
In one of those truly mind bending moments, I find myself in the running to be one of the designers of the month on the 2009-2010 Sock Knitters Anonymous schedule. In case you're not on Ravelry (and really, why aren't you? There isn't even a waiting list anymore! Go sign up, I'll wait.) I'll explain. Sock Knitters Anonymous is the biggest sock knitting group on Ravelry with more than 7,500 members. Each month has a featured technique and a featured designer. Every month, the members knit a pair of socks that is the work of the featured designer or that [...]
Any Minute Now
The testers (skilled and speedy knitters that they are) have succesfully made the Pedigreed socks. The pattern is almost done (all 13 pages and 8 giant charts of it). With any luck at all, I should have it out early next week. Start your finger excercises now. This is not an easy pattern. It's a bit of a brain teaser and requires both nimble fingers and careful attention. It's worth it (I think) but it will be a bit of a challenge. You like that though, right? I'm also working on a sock for a mystery knit along on Ravelry. [...]
Propitiate
They're done! Two legs, two heels, two toes. All finished, and I even got them on The Boy and him outside before the sun went down. See? More about them and how you too can knit them for your very own feet can be found right here.
Clickity Click
Propitiate is almost done. They need a few more hours of knitting, Wednesday is the goal. The real question is how much does having them finished matter? Is it ok to release a pattern that just shows one finished sock, or do you prefer to see both of the socks finished in the pictures included in a pattern? They have been finished by a whole slew of test knitters, so I am confident that the pattern works. It's just a matter of finding the time to finish my own pair and then getting them on The Boy's feet for a [...]
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