no time for email

I totally overestimated the time I might have to answer my email these days! New babies do sleep a lot, so I thought I would have the chance to send those pattern updates, but I also have a 2-year old! Anyway, I've replied to all your emails this morning, so check your inbox for the new patterns if you requested an update (if you don't know what I'm talking about, check my previous post). Mr. Mitten was also kind enough to answer most of my Ravelry messages for me, since I never get time to look at those (hint, if you need to ask me something, email is much faster than Ravelry - it's such a time-suck to go on there, I try to avoid it).

I am getting a little knitting done these days. I got 75% of a vest knit for Lev, from this pattern. Only to decide in the end that my gauge was doing weird things, and it would be way too warm for him to wear much. So it will be frogged, and knit again in plain stockinette (the vest does have a nice shape, and the instructions will work even without the slip-stitch pattern and stripes). I also started a Big Teddy, since that pattern desperately needs to be updated. I decided to add a pinafore dress to the pattern, so you can make a girly bear too (it's simply a skirt attached to the overall bib and straps, so a super-simple change to the original).

And here's a video of our little family enjoying some time together!

2011-04-21: Flying and vocalizing from Kay Ryabitsev on Vimeo.

two updated patterns and a freebie

At long last, we've started to update some of my oldest patterns! Cold, rainy early-Spring days leave us lots of time to get a bit of computer work done during naps. We've started with the remaining few patterns from Fuzzy Knits, because I had edited those last year. Next we'll start on the other patterns hanging around from my first year of designing (these require re-knitting, so will take me more time).

The first two done were the Panda and Boyish Monkey. If you bought these on Ravelry, you've already been sent a link to the updated pattern. If you bought these elsewhere, you can email me a proof of purchase for an update. For Etsy purchases, I simply need your Etsy user-name. For Lulu purchases, you can forward me a copy of your Lulu or Paypal receipt, or attach a copy of the old pattern. I will try to respond as quickly as I can, but having a newborn does make it hard to check and answer my email promptly.

I've decided to retire the Girly Monkey pattern, as it overlaps with the Boyish Monkey too much, and I don't feel you should have to buy both. Since the Girly Monkey's dress is so simple, I've posted an updated version of the pattern below. Enjoy!

 Girly Dress

Materials: 20 g of DK or worsted weight yarn, pair of 4 mm (US size 6) knitting needles, tapestry needle, scrap yarn, buttons or ribbon (optional)
Gauge: 22 sts and 32 rows per 4" in stockinette
Size: 7 1/2" around, 4" long

Lace Pattern
Row 1: P 1 row.
Row 2: k1, [k3, yo, k2tog] x 6, k1.
Row 3: P 1 row.
Row 4: k1, [k3, skpo, yo] x 6, k1.

Back and Front (make 1 each)
CO 32 sts.
Row 1-21: Work in Lace Pattern.
Row 22: k1, [k2tog] x 15, k1. (17 sts)
Row 23-31: Work 9 rows in st st, slipping first stitch of each row.
Row 32: k4, bind off 9 sts (1 st rem on needle), k3. Or, bind off all sts.
Cut yarn and place live sts on scrap yarn.

Finishing
Once you have made both Front and Back, graft together shoulders, or sew shoulder seams if you bound off all sts. You can crochet or embroider around the neck opening to make it look nicer. The neck opening is small, but the head should be able to squish through. Alternatively, leave one shoulder open and attach a button and button-loop. Finally, sew the side seams from the hem to the decrease row (Row 22) and weave in all yarn ends. Embellish with buttons or ribbon if you like.

Abbreviations
CO = cast on
K = knit
k2tog = decrease 1 by knitting 2 stitches together
P = purl
skpo = decrease 1 by slipping 1 stitch, knitting next stitch, then passing slipped stitch over knit stitch
st or sts = stitch or stitches
st st = stockinette stitch
yo = yarn over

over-flowing inbox

If you've been trying to contact me, I'm starting to go through my inbox today. However, estimating by the amount of email there, and how much time I have on the computer, it could take me a week or two to get through everything. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

Update (2:47 pm): I've replied to most of the messages in my email inbox, as well as Etsy messages. However, Ravelry messages will have to wait until tomorrow, as I have an upset baby to care for. (I wish there was some way to get all my messages in one place!)

Until then, look at the cute baby in knitted things! (the vest and slippers are both improvised designs, and made with some Knit Picks sock yarn I dyed a couple years ago)