Life happens and so does loss...

I haven't been on here in some time.  I've not been in a place where I could share for the last several weeks.

My constant companion and special friend, Baby Kitty became very ill toward the end of December. She required tube feeding and much time concentrated on trying to get her well. When she did not appear to be responding to treatment and was showing signs on being in pain, we had to make some choices that were some of the most difficult we have faced.

We had to let her go across the Rainbow Bridge, peacefully and where she has no pain or sickness. 

She was 14 1/2 years old and lived far longer than she might have, as the little feral kitten we rescued after the hurricanes of 2004. She was a beautiful and sweet Manx, who was born wild but became our baby all those years ago.

We are mourning her far more than we imagined, but know she is better off not being in pain. We made the most loving choice we could and saw her off nearly three weeks ago. I have been absent from here for longer because of holidays at first, then this personal loss.

If you have pets, love them while you have them, but make the loving choice if need be. It is far harder than I could have imagined and I still have some grieving to do. I can't say when, if ever I will be back to this blog but I need time for now.

If you read this, take care in 2019 as it lays before you shiny and new, strive for your best year ever.

Thanks for reading this. 

Paula

Flying Along at Warp Speed...

Sorry, I haven't posted in the last week or two, but I had two patterns finish testing and go live on Ravelry, plus I have another that just finished.

Pelican Beach, a cabled cowl will be released on Ravelry as of  November 15 at 6:00 p.m. EST -  if everything goes according to schedule. See a picture and a couple of stitch details below.😁
 👇

If you read this before that time, you have a chance to score yourself a free copy of the pattern.  If you, sign up for my designer update newsletter you will get a free copy, with a special code just for subscribers.

The first 20 downloads will all be free, but they will disappear pretty quickly - so be assured of  a free pattern by signing up here. 👈

After that, there will be a 40% discount for 24 hours until 11/16 at 6:00 pm, when it will shift to 20% discount for 48 hours until 11/18 at 6:00 pm. By the way, all times listed are EST (US Eastern Standard Time).

I will also be sharing information about a new collaboration with Sunshine Dye Works very shortly and I will also be taking part in the 6th Annual Indie Designer Gift-A-Long for 2018 starting 11/23 so watch for those details as well.

Happy knitting!

Pelican Beach Cowl

Ribbing & Cable Details

Sunset Beach is in Testing, along with Petite Plumeria

I haven't been here, because I've been a very busy designer.  Sunset Beach is now in testing, as is Petite Plumeria.

Sunset Beach will be launching in the beginning of November, with Petite Plumeria close behind as part of the Artesanitarium Designer Challenge - which has been running since the beginning of October. I designed a baby dress/tunic with 4 sizes from 6 months - 24 months based on the plumeria flower which is so prevalent in Florida yards and voting is about to end up.  If  you see this and would like to vote for my design you can find it here.

Here are a couple photos to whet your interest.

Sunset Beach progress

My collaboration with Sunshine DyeWorks is in full swing, so I thought I would post a few pictures of swatches and beyond for your inspection. I'll post more when I have them.

New Collaboration with Sunshine Dye Works.

I have a new collaboration going with Scarlett of Sunshine Dyeworks. She was looking for a designer to work with and I was available, so we decided to try it.

I perused her lovely offerings and thought sunset colors since she is on the west coast of Florida. The working name is Sunset Beach, but may change at some point. I used this as the spring board for my design idea in the Initiate Knit Design Workshop. This is the mood board that I created, with images and words that inspired me.      
I chose colors that spoke of twilight, the special peace of sunset and promise of magic that can occur at the hours between day and night.
I chose Indian Summer, Sriracha-cha and Dana, which a pictured below. Stay tuned for swatches and further progress.

Stella Eve and her Snoozle

I'm finally giving Stella Eve's Snoozle a proper pattern launch.  I'll be running a sale starting, 07/11 at 19:00 EST through 07/17 23:59 EST with a tidy discount of 20%!

There will, of course, be a better discount for newsletter subscribers. If you would like to sign up for that, you can find it here.

Stella Eve's Snoozle is a great blanket for any baby with chevrons, eyelets and ridges from beginning to end. A snoozle is another name for cuddle, caress, hug, snuggle or nuzzle. All the things you do with a baby and blanket, colors selected for whatever nursery it which it will be a part. It was designed for my grandniece, Stella Eve.

Self-striping yarns, such as the ones used in the original, make it easy because they're aren't as many ends to weave in.  If you decide to make one, don't forget to tag it on Instagram with #kraziknitzdesigns, #stellaevessnoozle or both. You can follow my posts about this blanket and the baby who it was made for by following me on Instagram here.

This is Stella Eve and her Snoozle!

Canova Beach Made Ravelry Hot Right Now Top 20 and how I arrived there...

Just a quick note to say thanks to anyone who favorited, liked, queued or otherwise supported Canova Beach on its release date of 06/29!

It made it to Ravelry's Hot Right Now Top 20 and stayed there for a few hours! A tremendous accomplishment according to my design instructor, Francoise Danoy of Aroha Knits.  I studied her approach to knitwear design through her signature on-line design course Swatch Studio a bit over a year ago.

I had forty plus knit/felted designs but knew I could do more than that tiny niche, but lacked the courage and drive to try. I had all but given up designing, when I spotted a post about a design workshop being hosted by Frenchie (her nickname) and I was intrigued. I had taken her 5 Shawls 5 Days Challenge previously, so I knew a bit about her.

The Initiate Knit Design workshop helps demystify knitwear design and provides an easy to follow framework that Frenchie herself uses. I took the workshop and had an idea, which became my first post-felting design Infinite Surf. I learned from the challenge that Frenchie has infinite patience and gives a lot of time and effort into her workshop. The free 10 day workshop took me from inspiration to fleshed out idea to the beginnings of a written pattern and design sample.

When the opportunity came to sign up for Swatch Studio, I jumped on it and was the first one to sign up for that round.  Of course, early bird prices and a coaching call with Frenchie were also inducements, because for the first time in ages I felt empowered that I could do this.

I can recommend this workshop for anyone who may have toyed with the idea of designing or just simply curious about the design process. I known other knitters who have taken the workshop as a way of improving their own understanding of knitting and knitting construction.

I have rediscovered my passion for design and have been working on new designs ever since. I have made many friends in this wonderful supportive community and am grateful for their friendship and support.

If you are interested in taking the design challenge, you may sign up for it at www.initiateknitdesign.com.  I've signed up again for my fifth or sixth round because each time I get fresh idea. It starts again on July 16, so I hope I see you there.