And a good time was had by all

When I was contemplating the photoshoot for Clementine, I had the wacky idea that I should try something a little Rebecca-esque and fun. So I recruited Marnie and we set out for the beach:

Wir sind deutsche M�dchen! Wir sind so gl�cklich!* We are German girls! We are so happy!

Passen Sie auf! Ich werde Sie erhalten! Watch out! I'm going to get you!

Nein wirklich! Ich bin!! No really! I am!!!

Das Monstermash!!!

M�dchen mit gro�en Kolben machen die schaukelnde Weltdrehung! Fat bottomed girls they make the rocking world go round!

The wonderful thing about LA is that not only are there a gazillion wonderful places to do such a photoshoot, and superb weather to do it in, but in addition, no one pays any attention when you don a wool sweater in 80 degree weather, roll your hair up in donuts and dance maniacally in front of a camera on self-timer. Everyone assumes that you are just another indie film-maker. Fabulous!

We took full advantage of this bizarre anonymity.

We swapped clothes. And boogied down. (Auf Deutsch: Boogied hinunter)

Took action shots. Das hair toss!

Some of us even managed to look pretty.

I got the shot I wanted for my Clementine release.

And then we skipped off into the sunset.

*Translations by FreeTranslation.com. Brilliant idea to mock Rebecca by using kitschy German subtitles by Mary Heather.

Clementine's Collar: Take 2

Last week I ripped out Clementine's first collar and settled on a second version, which I think is more in keeping with the rest of the sweater:

I know, a lone collar is not very exciting. You'll just have to trust me on this one.

With Marnie's fabulous ribbed neckline solution in mind, I tried out a couple of different treatments for the "corners" where the raglan decreases run. My first attempt looked like this:

We'll call these the "knit base" decreases

My second attempt looked like this:

We'll call these the "purl base" decreases

I thought I would like the purl-based ones better on paper, but in person I like the knit-based ones. Due to poor planning and a refusal to re-do the collar again, my sweater has both kinds. Knit-based on the back raglan corners and purl-based on the front.

I think of it as a sampler. *smile*

The final version will have purl-based decreases all-around. Neither version looks like Marnie's decreases as I remember them (Marnie's were truly elegant), but both are cute, and I like the final result. I also used the sewn bind-off for 2x2 ribbing found in Vogue: The Ulitmate Knitting Guide again, and I can assure you that once you have done it a few times it really does get easier.

Now you may be thinking to yourself: "Self, Julia finished this sweater almost two weeks ago. She also photographed the collar in natural light, which means she could have done a final photoshoot for us. What gives?"

What gives is that like everyone else out there in blogland I have had the not-so-hidden desire to design, publish, and perhaps even occasionally cover my costs in doing so by selling my patterns on my site. Clementine is my maiden voyage.* As such, I have a special photoshoot scheduled for her this weekend, which I hope that you will all enjoy sometime near the start of next week.

As for the sale of the pattern, I will be offering it on my site for $7, with 50% of the proceeds to go to the Dream Center, a local Los Angeles shelter that has taken in numerous refugees from Hurricane Katrina.

Please DO NOT purchase the pattern simply because you want to give to the cause. I think it's really important that all of the money that we have earmarked for charity at this time go directly to the people who need it, and I want to reiterate my support for the cause of curbing our own spending habits and giving to others here. However, if you are in the market for new patterns and find that this one suits you, know that 50% of your purchase will go directly to a great organization that is helping people in need.

That's all on Clementine for now - she'll see you again next week!

*For those of you who dig the freebies - don't worry. I'll continue to offer those and publish in the free mags as well.

Clementine's Collar: Take One

Here is Clementine's first collar, and by saying first I do mean to imply that there will be a second.

Click here to zoom out a little

It's cute enough, but I think the body of the sweater itself is fabulous in all other ways, so cute enough really doesn't cut it for me.

Here are the things I don't like about it:

The ribbing pulls the collar in too much. I bound off early on the body and sleeves to insure that the collar would sit lower on the neck. The ribbing undoes that effect. Blocking might help. Separating the neck join early would probably help. Ripping it out will definitely help - so that's where I'm going!

The ribbing isn't long enough to flow back over the sweater the way I envisioned. I could add more ribbing, but then I think we'd be getting into bulky territory. This sweater is more delicate. If I added ribbing at the collar, I'd have to add it at the hem and sleeves, too. I'll stick with delicate.

See? Not very flowy.

The break in the neck is a little sloppy along the edges. Someone could have done a slip-stitch edging. Someone will next time.

Things I like:

These button holes.

Aren't they cute? To make them I just stopped knitting with the working yarn three stitches from the end. I picked up a new bit of yarn, finished the row, and knit the next three stitches of the next row. I dropped the scrap of yarn, then picked up the working yarn and finished the row. On the next row I re-joined the last three stitches with the working yarn. Very cute, right? Unfortunately, it has to go with the rest of the collar. At least I have a picture.

The very cool sewn bind-off for 2x2 rib that took forever to do. This technique can be found in Vogue: The Ultimate Knitting Guide. It can be very hard to do if you don't sit in utter silence with Vogue: The Ultimate Knitting Guide spread out before you. It can be very hard to do even in utter silence with Vogue: The Ultimate Knitting Guide spread out in front of you. It took me about two hours with Vogue: The Ultimate Knitting Guide spread out in front of me. It will probably take even longer to take out. At least I know that it is worth the effort. It gives a very nice resilient edge that doesn't pull in or flare out. I *heart* sewn bind-offs. (The regular one is much easier than this one, just FYI.)

What's next? I'm thinking a square-ish short ribbed collar. Marnie showed me a very cute one last weekend that I may have to copy shamelessly.

How to have a wonderful Sunday

Awaken early, and make yourself a nice cup of tea.

Trader Joe's Lady Grey doctored with milk and honey

Lounge in bed while weaving in

a hundred ends.

Maniacally pin together all the pieces of your sweater and then set up the tripod so that you can photograph yourself in your jammies before it gets so stinking hot that putting merino next to your skin for even a second would be too much:

I am, I am Superman. And I can do anything!

Spend the heat of the afternoon time in the shade of the back patio, haphazardly seaming away with friends and margaritas:

The haphazard seaming has something to do with the margaritas, I'm sure.

Do the *real* seaming after MH and Marnie leave, aspirin has kicked in and the buzz has subsided!

Quick, get me a neckline!

Oh My Darling, Oh My Darling...

Clementine....

Long ago and far away, before I started maniacally working on book submissions and the occasional (or maybe frequent?) sock, I picked up some wonderful orange RYC Cashsoft DK at my favorite DC haunt, Stitch DC. There were only three skeins left, but I knew I had to have it, and that I would find a way to work around such an unfortunate shortage. (I am generally a single-color girl, so if I find a good orange like this, I want a dozen skeins - who doesn't?)

Luckily, there was a lovely blue and a wonderful mauve that really bridged the gap between the two colors. I filled my bag and set off for home to start to design. Within a week, I had a general plan and had mapped out the back and front pieces, and knit the back. I was sailing along. And then work struck. And submission deadlines. And moving across country. (Again.) So Clemetine went into a protective ziplock and marinated for about six months.

This shot is true to the actual colors on my monitor.

Until a few weeks ago when Marnie came over to hang out. I had been feeling a little uninspired and was closing in on Happy Green (all it needs now are buttons), and didn't really know what I wanted to work on next. When I pulled Clementine out again, I remembered how much I had enjoyed working on it, and felt a renewed interest in designing something that would not be geared to anyone but me.

I think it's going to be a very special piece when it's all done, and I've decided that rather than publishing it elsewhere, I'm going to chronicle my adventures with it here, and then offer the pattern for sale on my site and perhaps at one or two special LYS's I know. It should be a fun process - I hope you guys enjoy the ride!