Seems to be the theme of this blog this summer. In the last 7-days I’ve managed to get T off to France for his yearly cycling tour. Actually he packed, I cooked, knit and watched him pack and then dropped him off at the airport on July 5. He’s having a fabulous time!

In those 7-days I managed to get T’s new MAC ready for the road, redraft a sweater, knit and seam up a storm, check out the local PSU farmers market and work for clients and get ready for a conference July 27-29 in SF. Unfortunately, fatigue from working to much and pushing my PT a bit this week set in yesterday. I’m still coping with a bit today and hope tomorrow is better. I tell you, this recovery thing is humbling and long. Still a ways to go, but getting there.

The week in pictures.

T’s new 13″ MAC. Uploading and downloading… This took a day and a half. Slow connection and lots of downloads for updates.

Finished laptop and CO contraband knitting. The Girasole KAL.

Redrafted pattern #5. I started knitting based on new calculations, but had to redraft for the final presentation. Oddly enough I really enjoy this bit.

Close up.

Young boys vest. Waiting to be blocked.

Nihon Vogue sweaters in final or almost final stages of knitting/seaming.

Flowers from T on my desk.

Have a great weekend.

While sipping coffee early, early this AM I let my mind wonder and dream about what an ideal studio space would be. I promptly opened a word doc and came up with:

Space Aesthetics: Open space, natural northern light, clean simple colors to show color, urban, functional. Japanese meets Italian Design.

Functionality: Drawers for storing drafting paper, paints, gauche and brushes, knitting needles (straight and circular) shelves for yarn, books and magazines, file drawers, drafting table, computer workstation, wall to hang work on maybe  include a chalk board. I love wall chalkboards.

Materials: Wood (light/darks), light colored walls with one a soft grey/green, fabric on furniture, pillows, cozy seating area, rugs.

OK, maybe a small house… but it’s a dream, so it can be what ever I want it to be.

What about you? Do you have a dream studio?

PS: An assistant….

I’m so over the constant Grey weather we’re having this June. Come to think on it, last June was the same. Global warming? I think so.

I’m hoping the rain stays at bay so that I can get in a hike today. I’m just not in the mood to go to the gym. Haven’t been for a month or so now. Once I manage to get the hike done I’m hoping to run some errands and then get some Nihon Vogue homework done for next weekend. I’m still a bit behind. I’m working to get the round neck to a point where I can to the pick up or at least a mock pick up for something to work on. Then it’s off this evening for a celebratory dinner at Cafe Allora for T. He recently received a promotion that is well deserved.

Anyone headed to Black Sheep? I’ve decided it’s a no go for me this year. I’m to tired to get in the car and drive a couple of hours, walk around and then drive back. My body’s just had enough these last couple weeks (fatigued, really fatigued), with another conference coming up in 5-weeks. I love it, but it’s a lot of work and I’m still not up to my old work habits. It sucks. I’m gone next weekend for Nihon Vogue and then T leaves on July 5 for 10-days in France for cycling. It’s a good weekend to be home.

More and pictures later. Off to get some cleaning done and then a hike.

That’s what life seems like these days. I’m just back from 4 days at TNNA where I was helping out some clients, meeting new ones and launching my new site, Urban Fiber Studio. Phase 1 is officially complete. I’m giving myself a breather of a couple of weeks before I begin to tackle Phase 2. Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement these last weeks and at the show. You know who you are.

My check list for this week is:

1. Knit
2. Knit
3. Knit some more
4. Work on getting work done for my tech clients
5. Work on book chapter
6. Work on two knit designs (not Nihon Vogue)
7. Finishing of 2 Nihon sweaters
8. Recuperate. It’s still very hard for me to travel and keep my energy level up. Sigh.

Here are some really great photos I managed to take on a walk early Friday morning. I forgot how much I miss the old brick houses of the South.

Cute, cute.

Some stately homes.

Lots of green and flowers.

Walkway to front door. Love the brick texture.

Best Ice Cream. Ever.

TNNA is fast approaching, which means the new site is almost ready. It’s been a world wind of staying on top of the web agency to get it done so that I can take a final review Wed. for changes while I’m on a plane Thursday. It’s touch and go, but I think they’ll make it. My graphic designer has been amazing. I’m happy to report that all client work for the show is done. Phew! At least as much as can be done till I arrive.

I had to take some serious down time this weekend. T observed that I was so tired that I was in a ‘fog’. Not far off. I still find it hard to roll at 50+ hours a week without being totally wiped out at the weekend. For me, that’s big. I’ve always been a workaholic (65+ hours a week). It’s NOT a bad adjustment, just an adjustment. A hard adjustment.

Nihon Vogue homework is clipping along. I’m almost done with the V-neck pullover and closing in on the cardigan round next and v-neck.

Pull over cable pattern1

Pattern shot 2.

I’m still not sure on a name. The pattern was inspired by a series of columns, but remind me of moving waves. Waves as a name just to vanilla for me.

Off to get some sleep.

Has it really been 2-weeks since my last blog?

TNNA is just around the corner for a client. That’s been keeping me hoppin’. I also signed off on the new business look and feel and wrote the first draft of copy. It’s still on target to launch on June 12. A BIG shout out to those that weighed in on the final design. Many of you Visionary Retreat friends. You’re support and comments have been invaluable!

Other exciting news. I’ve been asked to design a sock for Mt Hood Fibers Community Sock Club. I can’t wait. I’m also knitting up some projects for a Cabling class that I’ll be teaching at a local retreat in the Fall. I did quite a bit of both when I lived in San Francisco and worked at Noe Knit. I’m enjoying getting back into the rhythm and taking the time to bring this dream to fruition. I had a couple of false starts this year. All of them great learning experiences. I’ve recently gone back and looked at my old business plan. I’ve split it into two phases and have been revising and changing accordingly.

Other news? We took a break from the world last Friday until this AM. We rolled out of town at 2:45 pm. Destination. Hood River. We had a wonderful time. We had a light meal on Friday at the Horse and Hound and then T promptly took a nap from about 6:00-7:30. He’s been putting in some pretty long hours at the office. Saturday T headed out for an epic ride (over 3-hours) and I took a 6-mile hike. We capped it off with dinner at Celilo. We have some amazing restaurants in Portland, but I have to say this meal surpassed any we’ve had in Portland in the last several years.

Yesterday was a quiet day. I took time to reflect and give thanks to those that I know serving and more importantly those that I have known and have given their life in service of our country.

Nihon Vogue homework is coming along. I’ve finished several sleeve BO-offs, a pair of set in sleeves and closing in on final seaming of two projects. Now to get them recorded and CO sweater 5.

Some photos from this weekend.

This color always makes me smile.

Old Highway railing.

View from the hike.

Homeward bound. Is it just me or can you just feel this tug boat leaning into the wind.

Do you get them? I rarely do. Until this morning at 2:00. Wide awake and second guessing this investment in myself. Yes, I know the answer is yes, but when one is taking what little money they do have and spending it vs. saving it in this environment it can be a bit a lot unnerving.

Times are tight no doubt about it. I do feel like I’m ahead of the game this time. I have work and know more people. 14-years ago I didn’t know a soul in Portland, the west coast and only two people in the business world. I had all of $150.00 to my name, a great dog and a car on its last leg. For real. Family stepped up to the plate as did people I didn’t even know. Three of them are still friends today. I came close again in the dot.com bubble. Had some savings that time around. But it boiled down to hard work, a little luck, friends and business connections. I’m grateful that I have the same this go round and a leg up with some skills that I hope will benefit another industry. I still have a lot to learn, but I’m stepping off that cliff anyway.

I have faith and hope + a lot of grit and work to the bone attitude. OK not as much energy on the later as I use to have. Gone are the 14-16 hour work days. Surgery. Recovery. Sigh. But I have the attitude!

I’m lucky, very lucky.

Nihon Vogue update? Let’s not go there. I’m behind. Sigh.

I have ~ 2-weeks to the Nihon Vogue weekend session. I’m in a mild panic to get everything done. Deep breathes really are the order of the day and weeks to come. It’s all doable, but it’s a lot.

I’m just casting off Sweater 3. Yea!!! Well at least as much as I can until class. I’m just getting ready to cast on 4. I had to take some time to review the actual draft, my notes, the cable graph, etc.

For sweater #4 my process started with an image in my mind and then lots of sketching. This one had been sitting noodling in my head for quite some time so the normal process of doing a series of sketches (think multiple blocks on a sketch pad with ideas running across and down) did not happen.  I didn’t do as much swatching as I normally do either. One of those lucky design flukes and a library of past swatches helped me know what the fabric needed to be.

For me, the design process either starts from a goal to accomplish a certain look or type of pattern that I want to incorporate into a design or lots of swatching to see how the fiber and textures or combination of both work together. I could swatch for hours it seems. Sweater 5 evolved in this way.

I’ve documented the process of one of my designs from design drafts, notes, swatches, etc. below. The process appears linear, however it’s quite a bit of back and forth in the draft, swatching stages.  Sweater goals for the class-a V Neck, waist shaping (my choice) and set in sleeves.

Step 1: Sketch (final) & notes

Step 2/3: Draft out the silhouette. Tweak idea. Input idea on draft.

Step 2/3: Swatch a cable, stockinette stitch and 1×1 rib swatch. Tweak draft as needed.

Step 4/5: Graph out cable pattern

Step 4/5: Calculate sections of sweater based on swatch results

Step 6: Determine V Neck length and depth

Step 7: Draft sleeve and lay out pattern on sleeve.

Step 8: Cast on. Front and back body at cable. Keep notes.

Step 9: Write up pattern.

Step 10: Draft 1/25th draft in notebook with notes.

On another note, one of my key objectives during our summer break is to buckle down and re-write my notes into categories of Techniques, Formulas and Ratios. I had a light bulb moment this weekend. It means extra time, but I also think it will help me when I need to refer to a technique we worked on months ago.

Busy, busy. It’s a poor excuse and the only one that I have. I thought I was actually going to have some down time post the early April conference push. Hah!

My time (since I last wrote) has been spent designing, knitting, writing and executing MarComm, editing & PR  for both technology and textiles clients. I’m not complaining and I’m grateful for the work!.

I’ve also buckled down and have been getting ready for the launch of my new business. June 12 for the first phase to be exact. Phase 2 is slated for December 2009. My designer and I have (almost) sorted the branding for the web site. The web design team will start pulling that together May 1. Yikes! I’m working on the text. Due May 1st ish…I’m behind…

I promise to let you know when the site goes live.

Nihon Vogue homework has been my next priority. I have until May 15th to get two sweaters done. I’ll just make it. I’m finishing up Sweater #3.  I almost have the sleeves done. A slight hick-up had me pulling them back due to over zealousness on the stripping this weekend. They need to match the stripping on the sweater.

Sleeve draft.

Before. 2 extra rows of the middle color. You wouldn’t think it makes a difference. It does.

After

Barring no major issues they should be done in the next evening or two.

From a sweater perspective I have the shoulder short rows and neck shaping to go on the front and back. I should be able to connect at the shoulder seams by the end of this week. Then it’s ready for the next class section of inserting the arms.

The sweater has definitely been a learning experience. The goal with this one was to create a very, very casual almost mannish style sweater with yarn that a friend in Edinburgh gave to me. It’s extra special as she’s passed away. I also wanted to play with a ribbed edging, and work the sweater in a rib stitch. Over all I’m pleased with the end result. I’ve made notes for a ‘next’ design using these design constraints and ideas for a man’s sweater and a ’softer’ more shaped woman’s version.

I should be casting on Sweater #4 this weekend.

But it sure feels like it. The UPS and FedEx delivery trucks were beating down the door almost every day last week with wonderful surprises. Remember that money I didn’t spend at Stitches West?

I owe you an update on the SF trip, which started on Friday, April 3rd with sunshine, a cool breeze and a lovely breakfast with an old, old family friend at Toast. After Eggs Benedict and lots of laughter I was off to Green Apple Books to see if they had any new ‘used’ fashion books on pattern draping or older fashion books. Not this go round. But it was fun to poke around.

Fashion Section

Next stop. My favorite Japanese paper shop on Union Street.  Kozo Arts. They have the most amazing sketching books, journals, etc. All hand bound with hand made paper. I picked up two new sketch books, a journal and a Christmas gift.

From there I dropped off the rental car and met up with my two BFF’s – Sheryl and Sue. We spent the WHOLE afternoon knitting at the shop and topped the day off with dinner at Lupa. It was so, so much fun. I managed to pick up some yarn at the shop. New Zealand Merino. It’s slated for Nihon Vogue project 6 or 7.

Saturday was another BEAUTIFUL day (perfect for lots of walking!). I was off bright an early for shopping in The City. After a brief stop for a mani/pedi and Noe Valley Farmers Market for some fresh fruit I caught the J train. Once in town I made a B-line for buttons at Britex.

Noe Valley Farmers Market

Butons. Buttons. Buttons!

Can I just say. I LOVE THIS STORE.

Next I was off in search of shoes. First stop? Macy’s of course. It was the Annual Flower Show. This year’s theme – Bohemian. OH MY is all I can so. The whole make-up section was a riot of a Garden. Sadly no shoes. OK. Lots of shoes, just not what I was looking for.

Back on the train to the Castro for a coffee with a friend at Duboce Cafe. Did I mention it was sunny and in the 70’s with a cool breeze? If you ever have a sunny Saturday to ‘waste’ hop any of The City trains towards the Castro and get off at Duboce. Walk up Duboce to Sanchez. The cafe is on the corner. A perfect Saturday reading, knitting place.

Next stop? A beeline down Sanchez (about a mile) to the heart of the Castro on 15th and Sanchez to ImagiKnit. Where I found this.

My final project yarn! It’s from Peru.

Then up and over the hill (another mile) back to Noe and dinner with Sue.

The top of Sanchez. Noe Valley the other side.

Sunday Sue and I had a great brunch and then spent an hour or so knitting and hanging until I needed to leave for the airport. Just what I needed after 4-days of working a conference and 3 world wind days in SF. I miss SF, but it’s good to be home.

Happy (belated) Easter!

Next post. Nihon Vogue update.