Fire Socks :)

THE SECRET IS OUT, THE SECRET IS OUT!

If you've been reading my blog for a bit, you've probably come across my Self-Imposed Year of Projects, which updates on Sundays (usually - I'm not perfect and life gets in the way once in awhile). In last Sunday's post (which you can view here), I noted that information would be available about the release of one of my patterns on Friday, which is today......

So, here's the skinny: a few weeks ago (early February, perhaps) I caught a call for submissions for Knotions in one of the designer groups on Ravelry. They were looking for new designs for their online magazine's spring edition/collection. They cover everything: hats, cowls/shawls/scarves, mittens/fingerless mitts, socks, sweaters, and everything in between...even crochet, and while crochet doesn't interest me, it does often get the shaft so it's nice to see the inclusion. Anyway, she said she had plenty of submissions for items like hats and shawls and fingerless mitts but she was seemingly low on socks. Oh hey, I have a sock design for which I had just finished the prototype...but it wasn't ready for full submission (yet). So, instead of doing the full submission, I just did the proposal, thinking nothing would really come of it other than the standard "polite no," especially as about a hot minute after that, she had a bunch of sock submissions. So, imagine my surprise when I was asked if I could get the full submission done because they'd love to have it.

And now, a caveat: this is why I like to have a full prototype done of a design before I go submitting it (or at least be very close to finished). All the photographs you will see for Knotions were taken by Husband in the front room of our house (except maybe a couple that were taken by me on the floor in Little Man's room). Which means I needed to have some sort of FO to photograph in the first place. Which means I needed to finish a prototype. Hence, make a prototype first. I'm just that way.

So, I spent some time getting the pattern typed out in their formatting, having Husband take photos, making sure the socks were going to look how I wanted them to look, and so on and so forth. I took about 3-4 days doing the pattern writing part and then Husband and I took some time during one of Stormageddon's naps for the photographs. Luckily, I took copious notes and wrote a lot of things down so aside from the physical act of typing what I had written, the pattern had been finished for awhile, which is why I was able to get the turnaround so quickly.

Anyway, today is the day. The Knotions preview of the spring collection is up. You can view it right here. The pattern goes live on Saturday, April 2nd (which I will probably write a post regarding that, as well).

And, since the preview is already up....here are some more photos from our photo shoot :)

Honestly, I think the last photo is what sold them.......I mean, really, who, besides myself and Cristi (from whom I got the idea and did some slight modifications to her original idea), knits their gusset decreases on the bottom?!

So, now that the cat is out of the bag, you're going to go knit these, right? Of course you are :)



You might want some specs before you decide to knit these (and I know you do!):

Sizes: XS (7.5"), S (8.45"), M (9.3"), L (10.25") - example done in size M

Yarn: Wollmeise Sockenwolle Twin in Campari Piccolo (510 yds) - one skein

Needles: two US #1 (2.25 mm) circulars (24" at least; probably no longer than 40")

Notions: two locking stitch markers (for the heel) but you may optionally use them to mark pattern repeats (XS - 6, S - 7, M - 8, L - 9), tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a small crochet hook for picking up dropped stitches

Gauge: 30 sts x 48 rows in stockinette after wet blocking; stitch gauge is more important than row gauge (you can always add more rows, right?!)


I hope you're having a lovely Friday :)