#test knitters needed

[sarahdawnsdesigns]

So, I've finally gone and gotten the Fire and Light Shawl test-knit posted, and I'm looking for two more testers! The test deadline is July 15, but that can be extended at need!

It's a half-circle shawl using 976 yards (892 meters) of yarn, with a mix of written and charted instruction.

All the details are up on yarnpond - if you're interested, please check it out!

[classicalsongbirdknits]

Test knit call!

The Little Cafe socks are ready to be tested! These socks are designed to show off every kind of colourway, from variegated to tonal. A simply cable twist adorns the cuff before flowing into slipped stitches, like espresso pouring into a mug.

I knit mine up in Arcane Fibre Works Merino Nylon Fingering, but any fingering weight sock yarn will work!

I’m looking for testers for four adult sizes. You can find all the info and apply here.

[lphaneuf]

Today's projects? Intermediate finish work: shoulders seams on this, hem bind off on that.

With that, I now have three pullover that just need sleeves and neck bands.

[yllene]

Enough test knitters have been found, and this testing call is now closed. Thank you to all knitters who joined this test knit!

CALL FOR TEST KNITTERS

I am looking for test knitters to test knit my first ever pattern, Seashells Legwarmers. 

This is an advanced pattern, as it combines two-colour brioche and double knitting. Lifted increases and make one increases are worked within the double knitting. Right-slanting and left-slanting decreases as well as 4 stitch decreases are worked within the brioche knitting.

The seashells legwarmers are chunky and warm. The style is meant to be bulky around the ankles. The pattern is one size: adult.

The pattern has been tech edited. The piece is knitted in the round, using one colour at a time. Every second stitch is slipped, which means that every round of the seashell pattern will be knitted twice, once for each colour. 

As a test knitter I wish that you give feedback and point out any errors or unclear instructions. Please do keep track of how much yarn was needed to make your legwarmer. I will also want to see a picture of the finished piece. 

Participation in this test knit is on a volunteer basis. As this is the first knitting pattern I have ever made, I can not offer any other compensation than the finished pattern.

Pattern release will be in September 2025. The pattern will be released in my Ravelry store only, at this point. As the test knitting is done on a volunteer basis with no compensation, I will not be stressing you with a deadline.

If you are interested in test knitting, fill in the Google form below.

[lexirosewrites]

this is a No Upside Down AU & Not Nancy Wheeler Friendly bc I needed drama

O!Steve is a prolific knitter, his grandma Harrington taught him a thing or 2 but when she passed away she left him all of her unused yarn & knitting needles & without his grandma to guide him thru knitting mistakes he ends up finding a knitting circle tht meets weekly at the Hawkins Public Library made up of knitters of all sorts of genders & ages

It's at this group tht he learns abt The Sweater Curse, for those unfamiliar its a superstition within the knitting/crochet community tht if u begin making a sweater for a significant other the relationship will end before the project can b finished or shortly after the project is finished, so widespread is this superstition tht many won't make anything for their partner till after the 2 r married

Steve learns this but then he starts dating A!Nancy & he feels so in love, so he learns everything he can abt her like her favorite colors or favorite material to wear etc. all in the effort to make a sweater for her for their approaching one yr anniversary,

Only to b blindsided when one day a beta he only knew in passing from Nancy's work, Jonathan Byers, comes to him at his own work when he's locking up the used bookstore to tell him tht Nancy has been cheating on him w Jonathan for several months now & tht Jonathan didn't know the two were together bc Nancy always brushed Jonathan's questions off & tht Jonathan had only learned they were together tht morning & he came by to tell Steve bc Jonathan thinks Steve should know if he doesn't already & tht Jonathan will b ending things w Nancy tht night... Steve cries but thanks Jonathan & accepts the comforting hug the other offers & then........ then Steve & Jonathan hatch a poorly thought out plan

When Nancy gets to Jonathan's apartment tht night Steve is sitting on the couch unraveling the project he'd undertaken for Nancy while Jonathan cooks him & Steve dinner, Jonathan hands Nancy the small bag of things she'd "forgotten" in his apartment & tht he won't say anything at work unless she makes this a problem, then Steve hands Nancy three much bigger bags full of the half-assed courting gifts she'd given him & everything he'd encouraged/allowed her to keep at his own place & tht he wasn't interested in hearing anything she had to say, the 2 then tell Nancy she should leave & she does but not without getting a snide remark out abt Steve being clingy & Jonathan being oblivious

Steve cries after she's left & Jonathan does too but they lean on the other & eat the food Jonathan made them & begin a friendship

A friendship tht slowly morphs into something more & leads to a kiss on Steve's couch almost half a year later & when Steve's heat approaches after the kiss he asks Jonathan to join him & it's full of so much care & Jonathan tells Steve he loves him the day after his heat cools & Steve says it back, they end up exchanging mating bites 3 years later & Steve makes Jonathan a sweater of his favorite colors & the softest cotton yarn & Jonathan is ecstatic to receive it especially when he unfolds it & a positive pregnancy test tumbles out onto his lap

🥰 my stonathan agenda has shown itself

awwwwww🥺 way back when ST first came out, I used to indulge in a stonathan fic or two! then it became harringrove and suddenly it was steddie, but i still love all the Barbies I’ve smashed into (literally) Steve🤭

[pinazee]

Heres a few more random HC’s because i get bored at work!

TGWDLM

Paul has hiked every trail in hatchetfield. He once tried to get emma to go on a hike with him early in their relationship but when he showed up at her place at 5AM (not 5pm like she thought) she nearly ended it right there. Paul spent that day in absolute despair thinking that he ruined things with her but she texted him later and they hung out at a beach instead. He promised to never show up before 10am again- (unless he was sleeping over ;) -emma)

Bill Woodward and Mark Chasity have been in an unspoken feud for several years all because they both brought cinnamon rolls to a church bake sale and it got competitive. They, of course, were polite but would add small comments like, “oh adding orange zest was certainly an interesting choice,” and “wow, i love how large they are! Almost too large! Haha!” For years. Just petty comments.

Black Friday

Tom and Becky are karaoke royalty. It took some time for her to get used to people watching her for the right reasons again, but after tom coaxed her into singing the classic don’t go breaking my heart and receiving a standing ovation, that old cheerleader came right back out. Their most popular request is Lousiana Woman, Mississippi Man by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty as they really make it their own (tom seems like a country fan, but just the old stuff, everyone groaned at first but then they killed it).

Gary was a nerd his whole life but always managed to hang out with the popular kids and college students. He’d let them copy his homework, praise them endlessly, debase himself if he had to- all to be a part of the “right” crowd. Most of his clients are actually old “friends” that he charges up the ass (and i like to think, even if it doesn’t quite mesh with his personality, that he balances this out by doing a fair amount of pro bono).

NPMD

Ruth failed her drivers test twice because she’s too aggressive. Richie never tried, preferring to bike (and plans to move to chicago for college so why bother) Petes been able to drive since he was 13 because ted taught him in case he ever needed a designated driver (he was being responsible! What? You want him to drive drunk and hit some poor old woman just trying to cross the street at 3am?)

Detective shapiro (as a classic detective thriller trope) was secretly working on a cold case from chicago when she moved to hatchetfield. Its the one case that haunted her and forced her to seek refuge in a small island town. After the incident with max though, she finally dropped it, accepting that some things could never be explained. [And just for fun, she’s a fervent knitter. Im talking 2 full closets of just blankets ;) ]

Ruth has auditioned for the local theater 6 times, but they have no idea what she sounds like. They let her stand on stage for a minute, hand her a lollipop as they usher her off, and politely say “maybe next time, ruth.”

Richie was on a first name basis with the local comic book shop. When they heard of his murder, they put up a memorial for him with a display of (almost) all the manga he’d bought from them.

[yourimaginationrealm]

Genin!Sasuke x reader fluff

Just wanted to write that … I rewatched the Original Naruto and became addicted again. Why Sasuke ? No idea… I just became creative with his character…

He cheers you up and I hope you like it…

The crickets are noisy as they chirp in the summer night. You are sitting close to the lake, your arms crossed and your head down in your knees. You want to shut up your surroundings. Tears are flooding down your cheeks like a waterfall and won’t stop. The images of your teammates as they got killed, are playing in a loop. I doesn’t matter if your eyes are closed or open. In the end, how you hold your friends head in your own hands was humiliating and daunting. A never-ending Nightmare. Your fingertips are clenching together as the fabric of your clothing knitters together. 

You passed the Chunin Examen Test of the second part yet you feel that you lost everything. This Orochimaru just killed you closest friends and now you are the only survivor of this team. Actually, you shouldn’t pass the second part of the Chunin Examen. Then, the Hokage let you still pass because you already had the scrolls, make it to the tower and helped other teams getting beaten up by a team from Otogakure. However, it doesn’t feel like you won. You don’t even know if you should continue…

Suddenly, you hear steps on the wooden ground of this dock. You grit your teeth. The steps stops directly behind you.

„Seriously, Naruto! I already told you to let me be. I just need to be alone. Don’t take it personally.“

Naruto felt with you. He wanted to cheer you up but right now, he just worsen your emotions. Somehow, his constant worrying got on your nerves. You don’t hear him leave.

„None taken…“ You shoulders clench together. That isn’t Narutos voice. Too arrogant and deep. „I am not Naruto.“ He continues. After his second phrase, you recognize this voice after he mouthed Naruto. Sasuke Uchiha. „Moreover, I am sitting always here…“ You sigh loud. He is not lying, you saw him often here. He walks beside you as he sits down. 

„What do you want, Sasuke?“ You growl more than you wanted when he blurt his words out. „Thank you for protecting us. I heard from Sakura what you did…. And like said, normally I used to sit here…“ he shows you a side smile but you kept your head down in a frown. You shortly inhale as you recall the moments in the forest. Sasuke was unconscious so like Naruto. She was alone being harassed and attacked. You helped her even after your comrade were killed from Orochimaru. Rock Lee joined your attempt but got knocked out after he used this forbidden Jutsu. You just felt feral at that time and were ready to kill anything…. Thank god, Team 10 arrived and Shikamaru Nara, an old friend of yours could calm you down. 

„I… I .. didnt do anything you should thank Team 10 for helping us…“ Again tears dwell in your eyes. 

„It is not easy to thank you, what?“ Huh? „Before Rock Lee and Team 10 arrived Sakura was alone and even you have lost your Team members you had enough will to help her. I just thanking you for this. And… I am sorry for your loss.“ The last phrase he spokes out, were very soft.

„I am pathetic..“ You mumble as you couldn’t look up.

„….?“ Sasuke seems clueless why you insult yourself as you tell him more. „I cry here over two people and you lost your whole clan.“  The silence is killing you until Sasuke starts to talk again.

„You can not compare this. You shouldn’t align with it…. It is different and still tremendous to lose someone close to you…..“ He seems to be deep in thought. There is silence as you try to keep you tears in. 

„I going to kill this man Orochimaru!“ Sasuke bits his lip as he looks forward and touch his curse mark.

Even you peek out of your arms into the water as you agree with him. You think that tears stopped long enough so that your face didn’t show any clues of crying.

„Me too!“ You look forward determined. He smirks as his eyes looks to the side to your clutched form. 

„So finished with the crying?! You are all red and puffy!“

You gasped and pout. „I wanna see you crying all day and night, how you look! Definitely, not good like now.“ He rest his head sassy in his hand. „So… I look good right now…“ He teases you as you blush. Okay, you found him attractive yet you are not a fangirl! Yes, the night and moonlight add something to his charm. „I won’t answer this to fill more confidence in you….“

He scoffs as he looks from you angered  form away to the lake again.

„Then, let’s agree to defeat him together.“ His voice again softer but serious. 

„Yes.“ You simply state and breath in so out. You stand up slowly and stretch your body. Then, you slap your own cheeks as you out of nowhere jump into the water. Sasuke is surprised and shocked as he watches you.

„What the hell?!“ He kneels over the water to have a look where you were. Did you really just jump into..? As you cut surface again, he calms down his nerves. You swim to the dock and rest your hands-on the shore while looking up into his eyes.

„Sasuke!“ You shout out determined to him to gain his attention. „Huh?!“ He seems a bit out of it.

„I decided to continue the Chunin Exam for the sake of my comrades!“ You boldly state towards him. He smirks as he sees in your face confidence and hope. 

„Thats good to know. Yet, you know that is possible you have to fight me?! Are you ready for that? I am not going easy on you.“

„Hah!“ You wave his taunt off. „You really think that you are a big shot, huh?“You grin as you tease back.

„ I shall remind you that I was better than you in the academy…“ „The academy is long over…“ „Don’t take you mouth too full now, Y/N!“ He closes his eyes confidently with a smirk. He is sure that he can beat you.

You slowly got into position to grab his collar and draw it dangerously close. You hear him gasp when your lips almost touches and directly have eye contact. Maybe, you lips touches slightly when you counter back. „Same goes for you!“ His eyes flicker over your wet lips. For a moment he wants to say something as he stutter a bit. He can not control his flustered state. His cheeks burn red and he breathes hastily.  This surprise of you and the weird desire to touch our lips with his own. How could you be so bold suddenly and draw him down towards you. Moreover, you grin evilly as you see that you got him cornered. All these emotions last only seconds when he… „Huh I- What are you-?!“ Splash!

 … is dragged by you into the water. You laugh out loudly and get fast out or you wanted too. As he arises from the water, you look behind you and just stretch out your tongue. 

„If you are like this in the Examen, I think I can handle you….“ Before you can stand tall on the dock, you feel something grasping your ankle and got drawn back. ‚Oh no!‘ You yell in your head. Even so, you control your Chakra at your feet to stand on the water. Sasuke notices this as he flipped you backwards and you got dizzy while landing into the deep wet again. You dive up and splash him annoyed. „What was that?!“

„Huh, Payback.“ He said cocky. You roll your eyes.

„Wait…“ he focused on your face. „What is it?!“ „Your Headband is gone…“ You touch your forehead and yeah somehow the knot got loose. You directly look into the water yet the dark night doesn’t  help you out with the sight.

„I can’t see it. Damn it.“ The problem is… The lake here isn’t shallow at all. So you have to find it before it hit the ground. You shrieks when Sasuke points out „There!“ And dive rapidly into the water. You can only wait until seconds pass. The moonlight comes out behind some clouds and gifts you a slight chance to see movements under water. Does he got it? You hate to wait and can not do anything. Suddenly, the water brakes and Sasuke inhales loudly. „You got it?!“

He closes one eye and rises one arm out of the water where he hold your headband.

„Yay. You are the be-!“ Ugh. 

„What am I?“ He teases and shakes your headband.

„Thank you, you did well and please hand it over…..“ You spread your arms out.

„Hmm…“ He rises his arms higher as you were about to grab it. „What?!“ 

„What is my thanks?“ He playfully looks away.

„Woah! I didn’t take you for this kind of play. What do you want?“ The water is not freezing could yet the summer night is a bit chilly and just standing makes you shiver a bit. You begin to drench the water out of your hair while pouting. He got you in the end.

His eyes flicker for moment again to you lips as he shyly blush. „I don’t want anything..“ He mumbles bashfully. You cluck your tongue again annoyed. This boy drives your emotion from ‚Oh how nice‘ to ‚He pisses me off‘ again to ‚Oh, how adorable and than to ‚What the fuck does he want.‘ „Seriously….!“ You just swim towards him and try to catch your headband which is still in air. 

„Hey, we didn’t agree..“ He starts his sentence while having his arms stretched out  behind his head and you force yourself onto him. You have an annoyed expression on your face and focus on getting your precious headband back. What is he playing anyway, you thought. He is so out of character. Then, you feel yourself losing the balance and almost fell backwards. You climbed halfway on him. Out of reflex, he grasp your thighs tightly and your hold yourself on his shoulders. Your and Sasuke nose brushing together as you feel your ears getting burning red. You begin to stutter when you search words for distraction. Why is he looking like he is about to-! 

„Hmpf.“ The Uchiha boy close the distance and kissed you lips. How could he not? The whole time, he was drawn to your lips and as they got again so close, he saw the wet lips getting shine upon the moonlight. There was nothing holding him back. (Wait is that not a song xD)

You deepen the kiss when your arms slide over his shoulders and your hands wander over his neck into his hair.  He shivers as your hands rush over his curse mark to his hair. Definitley, one of his sensitive area. You relaxed firstly because he is really warm, secondly  all the mixed emotion you felt from frustration, depression, sadness, it makes you feel at ease in his arms and thirdly his kiss feels just so good. His arms wander  from your thighs to your back. Slowly, you apart from his lips to breathe again. He touches your forehead with his.

„Is it wrong when I kiss you again?“ He breathes with half lidded eyes. You want to say a ‚No‘ but you kiss him already. Now, his hand reaches towards your head to push you more passionately on him. You can only focus one one thing and your thinking stopped. Or you thought so. Then, you push yourself away hastily. „You still got my headband?!“ As nothing roams in your brain, this just emerged up.

„Really, now?“ He shows you his left hand which he still had it. „Thank god. Sorry I thought you lost it because of all this.“ He chuckles when he flicks your forehead. „Ow, Why?!“ You hold your forehead with a hand and pout at him. „Give me more credits.“ He says with a smile. A kind smile. Without sensing  your assault you dip his body under the water as you press you weight on his shoulders. This time, you make it to the shore and hold your arms while you shiver. 

 „Sure, you got me here…“ He groans while climbing out of the lake. Before you wanted to say good bye, you kiss his cheeks. 

„Thank you for cheering me up…“ „You know I didn’t kiss you only to cheer you up.“ „I know but the reason you came here..:“ „Like I said, Its my spot…“

„Yeah, Yeah it is almost morning, Idiot. Don’t tell me you-! AHHH“ Again he pushed your sideways from the shore. With one eye open and a smirk, he just wanna know if you make it back unharmed.

„If I had lost my headband again, I would kill you!“ 

„Show that attitude in the Chuunin Examen, cry baby.“

„I am so gonna beat you!“

„Like hell.“

„I know your weakness, Uchiha!“ Before, he can counter you back, you tease him with stroking his neck by your finger tips. He shutters while grasping his shoulder. 

„Wha-!“ His voice trembles. 

„You really thought I wouldn’t notice-ACHOO!“

„Get your butt better home and take off your wet clothing before you are disqualified because you are sick.“

„Yeah,….“ You groan. „Can I get a good-bye ki-!“ You playfully ask him when two finger move towards your forehead and push you a bit  back.

„Next time, Y/N, when you are not totally drenched.“ With red cheeks you brush you forehead pouting as you look to him up. „Okay.“ You turn your heels and leave the boy in the dark night of the streets.

„Good night, cry baby!“ You glare at him back while stucking your tongue out.

Out of sight, the Uchiha starts to sneeze ,too.

„Damn it, it is fucking cold!“ He embraces himself while walking to his lonely home.

[ohwyrmies]

Call for test knitters!

I've done the first test of Spica, and need test knitters for all sizes!

These are the calculated sizes from elbow to elbow.

Size 1: 148 cm Size 2: 157 cm Size 3: 166 cm Size 4: 175 cm Size 5: 185 cm Size 6: 194 cm Size 7: 203 cm Size 8: 212 cm Size 9: 221 cm

the pattern comes in three different lengths; cropped, mid, and long (cropped shown).

message me if you're interested in test knitting any size. I'll ask for your email and send you a copy of the pattern draft. I don't pay my test knitters because I don't have the resources to do that, but because I don't compensate you, I also don't do deadlines. life gets in the way of knitting (unfortunate) sometimes.

all I really need from this test knit is yardage and any notes on clarity or potential improvements.

[kimije]

A loom!

This took more time designing than making I think. It's based on an Ashford knitters loom, I was going to buy one and I still might get a bigger one later, but the idea was to make the sides of it all pretty and have multiple cross piece sets to make a loom the width of your current project so if you're making a 2" band you don't need to lug the 48" loom around.

I think most people just solve this problem by having multiple looms.

Each side piece is 2x6mm and one 3mm piece of poplar laser ply which has been glued together. The decorative pieces were cut out of the 3mm layer and painted separately while the rest was stained, after they were glued together it was finished with a Matt clear acrylic spray.

The cross pieces are Tasmanian oak and were not finished beyond a bit of sanding. The bracing pieces were a pain in the neck because they were too long to fit in the drill press and I can't drill straight to save my life so it took a couple of goes to get right. This is also the reason the different sizes are on hold until I need a different sized loom.

3d printing was used for the handles and ratchets and the washers between all of the moving parts

The reed was laser cut out of 3mm poplar laser ply as well, I am wondering if it would have been better to 3d print it, the edges are a little splintery.

Overall it went together a little tight, but with a bit of sanding everything moves as it should.

I don't currently have a long enough stick shuttle and at the price they are to buy vs how much effort it would be to make something even close to the same quality, well, it will be arriving on Wednesday and I'll start actually weaving then.

I tried looking at yarns for weaving some nicer cloth and uh I need to do a bit more research before I get into that (Ne 8/4? Nm 14/4?? 10-18 epi??? What is a sett???? Do I care if it's unmercerised?????????) SO, the acrylic wool from spotlight is ABSOLUTELY FINE for testing the loom.

I'll post more side detail pics later, I ran out of photo slots.

[elvneedleworks]

Looking for Test Knitters!

Are you a knitter? That's all you need in order to be considered for this test knit of the Dragonfly Bandana for Elv Needleworks!

Click here for more info, and to apply!

[rannadylin]

Ranna's Knitting Goals: 2025

I don't really make new year resolutions buuuuuut I will make a nice little "Someday!" list out of my Ravelry queue and other things I've been meaning to work on, huh? :-D I might even get some of these done this year and not a decade from now, but no promises!

Publish the Gloves of the Reunited Kingdom pattern: It's...mostly done? I think I got it pretty much done over the summer but thought it could use test knitters before I actually publish it, and that didn't happen and then the fall semester kept me too busy to think about pattern publishing.

Also publish the Ribbon Twist Socks pattern. I'm pretty sure that one was done but it also fell to the Fall Semester trap?

Write up my Feather and Fan Socks pattern and publish that as a free pattern! As I mentioned on my 2024 Knitting round-up post this morning, this is my go-to for self-striping yarn nowadays. In fact I rounded up all the feather and fan socks I could find in my drawers (I don't think any are currently in the to-wash pile but I could be mistaken? I may have also given some away to my mom) so you can see that I do indeed knit this pattern a lot! It's a pretty easy lace pattern (so a nice one for someone new to lace knitting) and looks great with or without stripey yarn, and I thought it'd be nice to have a free sock pattern people can download as a sample before I upload Ribbon Twist and any future sock patterns as paid patterns.

Knits to finish:

Clapotis 2024B! The one I didn't finish in time for the Knitty contest, but it's more than half done and is likely to be my first 2025 FO. I finally took a WIP picture of it just to prove that it exists (and that it is such a lovely colorway!):

Vox Machina Blanket. Seam that thing finally, Ranna! (I hate seaming...)

Dollegina's outfit.

I do just need to seam up the Chorus of Cats hat, and that is much less seaming than a blanket, so surely this one can get done in the next 12 months? XD

Knits to design:

Dolls! I mean, this is the basic doll body pattern and it's not my design, but I'd like to extend my series of fandom-inspired dolls based on it (currently: Dollegina, Dolloth, Fenris (and Hawke), Kylo Ren & Eleven for my niece!) to include some LOTR Rangers and maybe some BG3 and/or Veilguard characters!

Thrill of the Weave Socks: So I got this gorgeous skein of yarn sometime last year and when I opened that package I was in the midst of playing BG3 and my first thought upon seeing those colors was (of course) "Gale socks!" The colorway is called Thrill so (of course) the pattern would have to be called Thrill of the Weave, and that's as far as that plan has gone for now. I have vague ideas of a lace or cable pattern based on the embroidery on his purple camp shirt? That may not come across well in a multicolor yarn, though, so I am pondering Plan B's.

I started work on a colorwork chart for a Lyrium Dagger bookmark... :-D It'd be three colors though, so still pondering whether to do intarsia (not my beloved) or try to do three-color double knitting (what even is that? triple knitting?) or stranded (but for a flat piece...what am I thinking). It probably should be intarsia. And that's why it's still in this rough form and I haven't cleaned up its edges yet:

If anyone who likes intarsia more than I do wants to take that and run with it, feel free!

I'm also working on some mythology-themed dice bags for JCL convention! Got a Minerva and Apollo panel done so far but I need to make some variation of the JCL logo to pair with them for the back of the bag.

Knits from the Ravelry queue:

Amphora Cardi: I have the pattern and the yarn; it was on my 2024 knitting to-do list but not one of the things I got around to, so this is my reminder to self that it needs to happen!

Might be up for knitting a vest this year? Maybe Sennit or Canton or Rockhound. Or Tracery!

Choose Your Fellowship! Mix and match colorwork LOTR sweater? Yes please!

Aglow - I can always use another pretty lace-and-beads shawl! :-D

Techniques:

I tried mosaic knitting (in the Chorus of Cats hat that I still need to seam) for the first time in 2024! So for 2025, my knitting bucket list still includes trying Entrelac and Brioche knitting.

[sarahdawnsdesigns]

There's still two spots for testers open for the Fire and Light Shawl test-knit!

If you're interested, you can check out the testing call via the linked blog post - I'd love to have you! 💙

[classicalsongbirdknits]

EDIT: the test knit call is now closed. Thank you to everyone who applied!

Test knit call!

A hint of fall is in the air, which means it’s time for the City Lights fingerless mitts to be tested! These stranded colourwork mitts are designed to mimic how lights reflect off city streets, knit with two colours to create a speckling effect.

I knit mine in Yarn Ink Classic Sock in the colourways Ink and f*ck off.

I’m looking for testers in three adult sizes. You can find all the yardage and testing info in the application form. The test knit will be run in an Instagram group chat, so an Instagram account is needed to participate.

New test knitters are also encourage to apply! I run very relaxed and welcoming test knits. I hope to see you there!

[im-fckn-threaded]

The dear @ohwyrmies graciously sent me their Spica pattern for test knitting.

I‘m so excited to try this sweater. It fits my style and the recommended yarn is Malabrigo, which I love. It‘s gonna be cropped. The only thing I need now are circular needles and yarn :3

And since I‘m yarn scouting at the moment, I thought I‘d ask ya‘ll for your opinion.

The candidates are all Malabrigo worsted, as suggested.

[timeslostart]

May 2nd, 2025

DEVELOPING A SIGNATURE COLLECTION AND BRINGING OLDER PATTERNS UP TO MY QUALITY STANDARD

What is going on with TLA?...

My set design style is chaos.  I've always been all over the place with my art, and at one time, it used to work for me... before I had a full-time job, before I was dating anyone, before I had kids.  Now I work 40 hours a week, have two young boys, and this work/life balance everyone talks about seems like a fairytale.  I barely have time to wash my hair; let alone do my art.  My dreams of running my own business and working from home seem more out of reach than ever, and I'm just plain exhausted.

This mindset, however, has made me realize that my chaotic method of designing just doesn't work for me anymore.  I'm not fifteen, I'm not twenty-five... I'm no longer single nor do I have a lot of free time.  So, knowing all this, I've decided to finish wrting all of my older knitting and cross-stitching patterns (yes I have a few) and grouping them into collections of sorts.  For my knitting patterns, specifically, I will be creating step-by-step guides for every pattern that are tailored precisely to that pattern.  So what this means is that TLA knitting patterns will now come with a knitting terms and definitions page, helpful tips and tricks page and, in some cases, diagrams for that particular project.  Also, every single one of TLA's knitting patterns will come with a test knit guarantee.  Before our pattern reaches your hands it will have been test knitted by a number of lovely knitters from Yarnpond.

Now, this is all great and all and does explain a bit about why the TLA website is, essentially, down.  But, what about my signature collection?  Well, in revamping a lot of my old patterns I've come to the realization that they are all very basic, which, don't get me wrong, was my initial intention; as I am trying to design patterns for the beginner knitter, but... I need something fresh.  So to achieve this "fresh", new signature look for TLA I've decided... TO GO VINTAGE!

More on this in the coming weeks... stay tuned!

Gabrielle Vansteelandt - Times Lost Art

[strongbookthoughts]

Notes on Add One Stitch Knitting by Alina Schneider

The concept of this book is pretty cute, though I may have a tiny quibble with how it's done. Overall this is going to be a positive review tho.

This book is arranged in a way that just makes knitting as unintimidating as possible. After the short introduction that covers materials and how to get cast on, the book is broken up into 15 lessons. Each lesson is a different stitch pattern, with guidance on making a test swatch, and then a project that uses that stitch pattern.

Project 1 is a garter stitch scarf. Pretty classic for knitters first project, really. Project 2 is a stockingette pillow. Most of the rest of the lessons are stitch textures tho. So you do some different ribs, moss stitch, seed stitch, that kind of stuff. I think the only other time you do an actual new stitch is the slip stitch.

Nearly all the projects are accessories made out of rectangles. The one top doesn't really have any shaping, just some casting off to shape the arm holes and neck. (top size is a 44in bust)

So I love how this is arranged. And I love that the swatches all have pics of both front and back so that you can more quickly learn what they look like.

What I really wish is that there were some projects that had increases and decreases. Like, I'm pretty sure that's probably the next things someone who wants to keep learning is going to need. A few of the projects are large enough that the knitter is going to figure out how to start a new skein mid-projects. So that sets them up for also being able to do basic colorwork....

I also like that there are tips and notes on the projects that explain choices in the directions, or put a little design freedom in the hands of the knitter. Like, the very first scarf project doesn't have a set number of rows. It just says to knit until you like the length. I feel like it's a good idea to start knitters with the idea that you can always adjust the pattern to your taste.

Oh, and finally, I actually used the cast on directions in this book. I'd been crocheting so much that I kind of couldn't remember how to do a long tailed cast on. So I can personally vouch for the book having GREAT illlustrations in the tutorial sections.