Congrats to Geri! You’ve won the beautiful Emerald Cowl pattern from Laurel Coombs!
Winner!
Thank you all for participating!
Keep watching the blog for more exciting news and events…Quite a bit is changing around Chez Digitalnabi…
Emerald Cowl Pattern Winner!
February 20th, 2011Interview & Giveaway with Laurel Coombs
February 14th, 2011
Laurel
Today I am proud to host a stop on another blog tour! This time for Laurel Coombs of Lobug Designs. Laurel has designed everything from dishcloths to sweaters. Many of her designs are published in Yarn Forward, for The Unique Sheep, and in her Ravelry pattern store.
GIVEAWAY
Laurel has been kind enough to give away a copy of her beautiful cowl pattern Emerald. To win, leave a comment on this post by midnight on Friday, February 18th. I will do the drawing and announce the winner on Saturday.
Lobug Designs
INTERVIEW
How did you get started in knitwear design? and what are your design goals?
I pretty much fell into knitwear design by accident. I wanted to make a sweater for my husband, but couldn’t find a pattern that he liked. So I finally asked specifically what he wanted; and we talked and figured out what he would wear that I would enjoy knitting- and The Celtic Cross Skater Sweater was created. Not long after that, I discovered knitting on the internet- and Ravelry . When I found the Designer’s Forum and saw a call for submissions, I thought, “oh that would be fun”. My first submission ever was accepted and I was totally hooked. (Although the publishing company that was going to do the book later went out of business, and that pattern was never published! Which I think is just funny. I still have it. No one else has wanted it!)
I just love designing and want to keep doing it. I want to keep designing for independent dyers and clubs, get some books out because I am overflowing with ideas and I want them to go somewhere, hopefully get some more work published in a lot of different places. I haven’t really sat down and written out and specified my goals as yet. I know that’s something I should do- but I guess I’m just now beginning to see it as much more than just a hobby.
You have designed everything from dishcloths to sweaters, but many of your patterns are sock designs. As a sock designer myself, I have to ask, are socks your favorite items to design? why or why not?
You know, I never meant to have so many sock patterns! But this whole design thing has just kind of happened. It’s like it has a life of its own!!! Which is not to say that I don’t enjoy designing socks, because I do. But I really can’t say they are my favorite thing to design. I would have to say that at this point, I don’t have a favorite item to design. I love the fact that socks are so very versatile- you can do so very much with them. I’ve done a lot of socks (obviously), but still haven’t touched so very many of the techniques that can be used to make them. I want to try it all. Which is why I also love designing sweaters and a myriad of other knits. There is so much new in knitting to do, which is one big reason why I love it so much. I have to admit dishcloths are not my favorite. I can get tired of them pretty quickly- they are too much like gauge swatches! 
Some designers have trouble with inspiration, writing, grading, etc. What do you find is the most challenging part of the design process? and how do you overcome this challenge?
The most challenging thing I deal with in design is taking what is in my head and turning it into a pattern for anyone to understand- the pattern writing. I can figure out most things with my knitting in my hands. I can knit some cool stuff. But explaining it so that you could repeat it?? Much more difficult for me. But so far it seems to be working all right, people say they like my patterns. 
If you had to pick only one yarn to use for the rest of your life, which would you pick?
Oh wow, that is an incredibly hard choice. I love yarn. All different kinds. If I could choose a company, I would choose The Unique Sheep. If I could choose only a fiber, I would probably choose bamboo blends. If I can really only choose one yarn- ack, I don’t think I can!!!
Um, Classic Elite’s Wool Bam Boo. It is very versatile and soft. As well as warm. If you ask me tomorrow I will change my mind.
If you could give new designers one key piece of knowledge you wish you would have known when you started, what would it be?
Only one? There is so much I would love to tell new designers.
Learn. I think that’s the most important. Never think you know all that you need to. You can never know it all in knitting. There is so much information available. The internet provides such great resources to new designers. Utilize it. Find the websites of the people that are and have been where you want to be and learn. Read their books. Be a massive sponge. Then use what you’ve learned.
Something silly: I see you have designed a cowl that is actually a cowl and I love it . I have mentioned my aversion to calling neckwarmers cowls and other weirdness. First, what do you think about cowls that are not cowls? Second, do you have any knitting pet peeves?
I’m smiling here. 
I remember reading your posts on that a while back and thinking- “oh she’s so right, and she hates my Love the Forest Cowl.” Because that is definitely a neck warmer and totally misnamed. My excuse is it would have been a real cowl, but I ran out of yarn. I wonder how many other “cowls” that’s happened with!? I have to agree with you. Most are misnamed. But it’s such and easy word to remember. There’s another term for a real cowl too- a Russian term that I really like, but I can never remember it. It refers more specifically to cowls that are fairly snug and really keep you warm. Now that I’ve said that, maybe somebody knows what I’m talking about and can tell me the name.
Pet peeves. Hmmmm. I don’t really know. I can talk all day about what I do and don’t like about knitting and knitters, but I’m not really sure I have a pet peeve. I should ask my husband, he’d probably say I do!
Thank you for hosting me.
IN CLOSING
Many thanks to Laurel for the interview and the free pattern giveaway and to Ida for setting up the blog tour. Don’t forget to comment for your chance to win the Emerald Cowl (which really is a cowl)!
Winners!
February 11th, 2011From the interview with Stephannie Tallent post, I have drawn two winners…
Winners!
Congrats to Mylyne and Sairy! You have both won the complete Spring 2011 Knitcircus pattern collection! Thank you for participating in the blog tour. I will send your information to Stephannie so that you can collect your prizes.
Monday I will again be hosting a stop on a blog tour. This time for Laurel Coombs of Lobug designs. Be sure to stop by for another great interview!
Interview & Giveaway with Stephannie Tallent
February 4th, 2011Today I am pleased to bring you an interview with knitwear designer Stephannie Tallent. This is the second stop on her blog tour to promote her new e-book Mittens!
As mentioned the other day, Stephannie is an accomplished designer with designs published with Knitcircus Magazine, The Sanguine Gryphon, Knit Picks and of course on her site, Sunset Cat Designs.
COUPON
As part of the tour Stephannie has been kind enough to offer a coupon code to readers on the tour. The code is blogtour and is good for 20% off on all her patterns via Ravelry from February 2nd to the 8th.
GIVEAWAY
Stephannie’s pattern Blue Lupine Fingerless Mitts was just published in the latest Knitcircus issue!
Knitcircus Spring 2011
Blue Lupine Fingerless Mitts
As part of the tour she has allowed me to give away TWO copies of the entire Knitcircus Spring Pattern Collection! To be eligible, simply leave a comment on this post. I will accept comments until midnight Thursday, February 10th and will draw and announce the winners next Friday, the 11th.
And now the moment you’ve been waiting for:
INTERVIEW
First, your designs are all lovely. Looking at them, I notice a lot of cable work, and you mention loving lace on your blog. What is your favorite knitting technique and why?
Well, I really love cables and traveling stitches. Those are my favorites. Why? I love the texture and the interplay of light and shadow. Also, they’re fun and interesting to work. I like seeing the patterns develop as I knit. FWIW, I cable without a cable needle. I think, if you’re going to do a lot of cabling, it’s a lot faster and easier. Also, I think working the cables without the cable needle is more intuitive.
Next, I like colorwork. I’m not at all adept at it, but I like playing with it. There’s going to be quite a bit more stranded pieces this year.
Lace is something I’ve not done so much of, but I’ve started incorporating lace panels into some of my pieces, Zylphia Pilots Her Airship and Emily Prefers to Flounce (both for Sanguine Gryphon) being the prime examples. I really love the panels I chose for Zylphia and will be using those in a coordinating piece — I think that’s the post you saw.
Although I’d like to do some cowls, I’m not really a scarf or shawl person, so I don’t think I’ll start doing those sorts of lace patterns.
Your first e-book, Mittens! looks great! What led you to choose mittens as your topic?
I really like mittens (especially fingerless mitts, which I get to wear more often). Like socks, they’re small, relatively quick projects, but, depending on the weight of yarn, you can get a lot of detail in there. The back of the hand is a better canvas, to me, than the leg of socks for playing with designs and details.
Of course, with Mittens!, I focused on the detailing being in the cuff. I have a fingerless mitten pattern coming out in Spring 2011 Knitcircus that involves knitting the cuff first then picking up stitches for the rest of the mitt. After doing that pattern, I really wanted to explore different cuff options. Mittens! grew out of that.
As a designer myself, I am always curious to hear about the self-publishing experience. What were the most fun and most grueling parts of putting together the book?
Most fun: I really like the design and layout aspect of desktop publishing.
I originally started laying out and publishing patterns via Word. Word’s not meant for that. It’s clumsy and awkward and frustrating if you want to fine-tune the layout. At one point I had problems with the font in one pattern pdf showing up as a blurred image for my testers who had Macs. When I used another PDF converter (other than the one built into Word) they could see the font, but then my schematics (done in Inkscape) looked like crap. I realized at that point I needed to get better software, and ended up getting Adobe Creative Suite.
I did crash courses in InDesign and Illustrator via a one-month trial subscription to Lynda.com.
I love InDesign. It makes the creation of the pattern or layout booklet fun, not frustrating. I really like Illustrator too – I do my schematics in Illustrator. I did my diagrams for Mittens! in Illustrator (showing where to start picking up the stitches for each mitt) too.
I guess I’m a bit geeky about all this.
The hardest part is stopping. Just saying ‘enough’, instead of wanting to tweak things just a teensy bit more.
How do you utilize the internet and social media as a designer?
I blog, and follow a bunch of blogs. I’m trying to be better about commenting. I know I love it when readers comment. I’ve started to tweet in the last couple months. I’m on Ravelry way too much. (I’m StephCat on both Twitter and Ravelry.) I have my own group on Ravelry (Sunset Cat Designs).
I’m not much for Facebook. My blog posts are linked to show up on Facebook, but other than that, I don’t do much there.
If you could pick only one stitch dictionary to use for the next five years, which would you choose?
Oh, that’s not fair. I just posted about stitch dictionaries on my blog. Probably the second Barbara Walker, just for the variety of patterns, not because it’s necessarily my absolute favorite. I think the most unique one I have (including the Japanese dictionaries) is Annie Maloney’s Aran Lace. She created all the stitch patterns, combining cables and lace.
Do you have any future books planned?
I have two collection ideas for this year. One is going to be skewed a bit more to mittens and small accessories, but I plan on including at least one sweater in each, mittens or gloves, cowls….I have the general theme for each, but I’m starting to research and make my own moodboards for each and getting a rough idea on the actual projects.
IN CLOSING
Thank you, Stephannie for both the interview as well as some goodies for the readers. And thank you to Ida for setting up the tour.
Tomorrow, look for the next stop at Purls Entwined. And don’t forget to comment for a chance to win one of two copies of the Spring 2011 Knitcircus pattern collection!
Winter Woolens
February 2nd, 2011I’m proud to announce that on Friday, digitalnabi.com will play host to a blog tour stop! I love this idea and I love helping fellow designers promote their work. Please stop back on Friday when I will post an interview with designer Stephannie Tallent of Sunset Cat Designs.
Stephannie has released a new e-book called Mittens! and has published designs with Knitcircus Magazine, The Sanguine Gryphon, Knit Picks and of course on her own site. As part of the tour Stephannie has been kind enough to offer a coupon code to readers on the tour. The code is blogtour and is good for 20% off on all her patterns via Ravelry from February 2nd to the 8th.
Stop back on Friday for the interview!
What have I been working on?
If you follow my plurks/tweets/status updates you know I’ve been working on a lot of secret projects. All of which are still secret and unsharable at this time. I’ll be sure to share when I’m able.
As for an unsecret project, I’ve been designing a sweater! Check it out:
cables - yum!
It’s a top down raglan with crew neck and cables. Sorry for the bad phone pic. I’m working it up in Cascade 220 and it’s so super squishable and soft.
I’m a Weird Knitter
January 25th, 2011By now you all know that I’m odd in some of my knitting pet peeves. For example, my aversion to the word cowl to describe accessories that are not actually cowls. Anyway, I thought I would share some other weird things that bother me. Please note that these are personal opinions and are not directed at any specific patterns or designers.
- I don’t like to wear shawls with the point in front – I think worn as such they look like bibs or like cowboy bandana’s. Since I am not a baby nor a cowboy, I never wear mine in that fashion. Instead, I wear mine either in the traditional point in the back way, or askew with the point over one shoulder.
- I don’t like pointy hoods – I’m not a fan of the pixie look and most hoods are constructed with points. Even on my winter coat I looked for one specifically sans point.
- I don’t like bobbles – I think they look like growths. Something about the bobble just looks like a wart or a nipple or something…eww!
- I don’t like scarves that have an unattractive wrong side – I like my scarves to look good from both sides. This may or may not mean they are fully reversible. If the back side is attractive, then it’s ok, even better if they match.
- I don’t like cropped sweaters – unless it’s clearly a shrug. I think cropped sweaters look like they are just too small or perhaps the knitter ran out of yarn. Shrugs are different, and in my mind, should not attempt to look like sweaters.
- I don’t like wraps that fit snuggly over both shoulders – something about these make me think of straight jackets. While I appreciate the warmth, I also think that while being warmed I should be able to move freely. I can just imagine trying to answer the phone and my wrap popping up around my face because I moved my arm…not cool.
- I don’t like sweaters knit with super chunky yarn – I think they make the wearers look like marshmallow men wanna be’s. This has been a trend in the recent years and I just don’t get it. Even on emaciated models I think this fashion looks absurd. I’m sure they are super soft and super warm, but yeah, not for me. Save your chunky yarn for accessories.
What are some of your knitting pet peeves?
Introducing: Olivia Fey
January 24th, 2011
Check out Crafty Detour for more details!
Introducing: I.B. Footsie
December 29th, 2010
Check out Crafty Detour for more details!
Holiday Blues
December 22nd, 2010Yes, I have the holiday blues. Seems like every year is the same. I’m not sure why this happens. I have a great family, great friends, and a wonderful husband. But without fail, every year during the holidays I get down.
Maybe it has something to do with the lack of sunlight, or perhaps just being overwhelmed. There are gifts to buy, food to cook, cookies to bake, cards to send, and tax filing looming in the future. Part of it too could be the prospect of another year ahead, looking back at what the last year has brought.
My year has been a roller-coaster ride. A lot of good things have happened, but somehow all the good things feel far away and doubt is clouding my view of the future.
Please don’t let my post get you down. I know I will get out of this funky mood once the new year turns over and the holidays are behind us.
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season, hope it brings you merriment and joy.
Last Minute Holiday Sale!
December 16th, 2010From now until midnight on December 25th, enjoy a 25% discount on all my patterns with the coupon code: LASTMINUTE
Classes
December 13th, 2010As a goal for my knitting career I would like to become a regular teacher. On the side I have added a link to my current class list. These are classes I have taught in the past or will be teaching in 2011. The list will continue to change, be updated, and added to in the coming months. I will also be adding a class schedule once they become finalized. So far I am scheduled to teach at Flying Fibers and The Mannings in 2011.
If you are interested in having me teach at your local yarn shop or event, please feel free to contact me at hzoppetti AT gmail DOT com
New York City
December 12th, 2010I visited New York City yesterday and had tons of fun! My Dad and I took a bus trip. I have been to the city plenty of times before, however never as a tourist. Here was my opportunity to be one of those annoying people roaming about the city with a camera/phone in hand and stopping in the middle of the side walk to take photos. All photos are from my phone.
First we went to the Kinokuniya Bookstore. Check out their knitting books and pen aisle:
So many awesome books
Pens!
Next we went to the Empire State Building. First, when they say there is a 45 minute wait, they are lying. It was at least twice as long. Second, it doesn’t help that they have airport-like security set up. You know, the old kind: take your belts and jackets off, all possessions get put into a bin to be scanned, and you go through a metal detector. Really slowed the whole process down. Then the real waiting takes place. [Wait in line, move to another section of the building] repeat 5 times.
Along the way I cannot help but nerd out to the architecture.
Welcome to Rapture
Ok, yes, I’m a nerd, but really doesn’t it make you feel like maybe this is an underwater paradise? No? Ok, maybe I was just very bored.
Can you see it?
Change Begins Here
All the while they have you going past these huge electronic displays (ie. Multiple monitors all display the same movie clips) touting how they have made the Empire State Building a leader in sustainability. Couldn’t they have just printed some posters out? It seems counter productive to be running these elaborate displays. (Sorry no pictures of these.)
Finally we made it to the observation deck. (If you want to go up to the very top you have to pay an additional $15 per person at this time.)
View from the 86th floor
View from the 86th floor
View from the 86th floor
We walked past Macy’s and stepped inside:
The World's Largest Store
We had lunch at the Bread Factory. I did have other food besides cheesecake, but I couldn’t resist!
The desert case at The Bread Factory
Cake!
Walked down to the water. We didn’t have time to take a boat out to the Statue.
Boats
We took a taxi to Grand Central Station:
Grand Central Terminal
Inside Grand Central
Went to see the tree at Rockefeller Center:
Giant Tree
Other things we did: We tried to see the window displays outside of Macy’s but these were so crowded. What we could see looked kind of like the old clay-mation style animations. We went into several amazing bead stores and ate dinner at the Cosmic Diner.
Here’s the loot I came away with for the day:
Loot
Now my whole body aches from walking all day. But what a grand time! My friend Irina was also in the city, but we never met up. Maybe next time…we should plan a yarn crawl!
Ground control to Major Tom
December 7th, 2010Wow, seems like all I ever post here anymore are pattern announcements. So sorry about that. Here’s a brief update on some goings on around chez Digitalnabi.
- Bad: I never finished my Crafty Detour CHALLENGE project. What a bad example I’ve set! I had too many other irons in the fire and this little project fell to the back burner.
- Good: I haven’t missed a Crafty Detour CSI: Most Wanted monthly sock release yet. This has been quite a challenge in itself. I came very close in November, but pushed and emerged victorious! Six patterns have been published so far with four more to follow. I think this would be an excellent gift idea for the sock knitter in your life. It’s easy to send patterns as gifts via Ravelry by clicking the “send as gift” link that appears on pattern and e-book pages.
- Bad: Pattern rejections are filling my mailbox. This is just how this business goes, but part of me still gets very sad about it.
- Good: I have been asked to be a designer for an awesome club which I must keep secret. I’m very excited and was quite honored to have been contacted. More on this next year.
- Bad: I have found out that I am very, Very, EXTREMELY, ANNOYINGLY impatient. I hate waiting on things like e-mail. My husband has a co-worker who makes it a point to only look at an e-mail once. Meaning, look at it and respond if a response is needed. Don’t file it away to deal with later, because you will probably forget. Some days I feel like every e-mail I send gets put in that “forgot” folder.
- Good: I have excellent on-line friends that listen to me whine and offer what virtual support they can.
- Bad: I have still not worked on technology (coding) projects for friends that I have promised. (See last status post)
- Good: I have not forgotten about said projects! This is actually a good thing because it seems lately that I forget everything. An example: I walk into the next room and have no idea why I am there. While standing there trying to remember, I think about something I want to check back in the first room. I reenter the first room and have no idea why I am there. Rinse. Repeat. I’m either really tired or simply going insane.
I actually have other news, like things I am working on, etc. But those will have to wait for another time, if I don’t forget…
Introducing: Typsi Miovre
November 29th, 2010
Check out Crafty Detour for more details!
Holiday Discount!
November 24th, 2010From now until Saturday midnight (EST) I will be giving a special Holiday Discount of 20% on all patterns!
Just use the coupon code TURKEY at checkout to get the discount!
You can find my patterns by clicking on Pattern Store or on Ravelry here.
Introducing: Dawn Gnot
October 25th, 2010
Check out Crafty Detour for more details!
Not A Cowl
October 18th, 2010Introducing a new pattern! This neck warmer is knit in a luscious merino/camel blend. It’s both light weight and warm.
Cowl n.
definition from Merriam-Webster
1a. A hood or long hooded cloak especially of a monk
1b. A drapped neckline on a woman’s garment
2a. A chimney covering designed to improve the draft
2b. The top portion of the front part of an automobile body forward of the two front doors to which are attached the
windshield and instrument board
For some reason, I’m not exactly sure why, I have a cowl aversion. Not an aversion to garments like this one, but rather a dislike of calling these garments cowls. Therefore, this is a pattern for a neck warmer and Not A Cowl.
A special shout out to my awesome tech editor Sairy!
Not A Cowl
Not A Cowl
 |
Not A Cowl Available on Ravelry (no account needed)! Purchase the pattern for $4USD |
Wintersweet and Gerda’s Scarves
October 18th, 2010What an incredibly busy month October has been. I have 3 or so blog posts to write, so here is the first:
Two of my patterns are being published in the Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2010!
Wintersweet Scarf
Wintersweet Scarf (c) Interweave Knits
This scarf was fun to make for two reasons.
First, the yarn was nothing short of delicious! The yarn used is Lana Gatto Camel Hair (distributed by Plymouth Yarn Co.) and it is buttery soft and light and just plain luscious!
Secondly, the construction of this piece is unique. I have a thing against pointy hoods. I don’t know why, I just don’t like that point in the back. My goal for this hood was to make it non-pointy. I started in the front and using increases/decreases and short rows, created the hood in one piece (no seaming) from the top down.
The scarf is also fun. It starts on one end, splits when it meets the hood, and rejoins on the other side. The split takes half the scarf along the back of the neck and the other half up around the face.
The colorwork is simple but keeps the knitting interesting. You have to knit back in purls, but the short chart makes it easy; no catching floats or anything fancy required.
Gerda’s Scarf
Gerda's Scarf (c) Interweave Knits
Gerda’s Scarf has a little story, but since the magazine is not actually available yet, I’m not sure I can tell it. I’m hopeful they kept the story since they kept my name.
The yarn used here is The Alpaca Yarn Company’s Paca de Seda – another awesome yarn. This scarf features double knitting which is a technique that I have fallen in love with.
Double knitting creates a double thick and reversible fabric by working both sides at the same time. The fun thing about it is that on each side the colors are reversed.
For those interested, I have started teaching double knitting classes at Flying Fibers and soon at The Mannings.
Both scarves were incredibly awesome to make – mostly because of the awesome yarns I got to use, but also because of the excitement to be part of an Interweave publication. Everyone I have worked with at IK has been incredibly friendly and helpful. I love working with them and hope to work with them again in the future!
Rhinebeck 2010
October 11th, 2010WOOT! By this time Friday, my gals and I will be on our way to Rhinebeck!
As I mentioned before, I have signed up as a square in the Bingo. I’m not quite sure what I’ll be wearing yet. But here is a photo.
Not A Cowl
The neck warmer in the picture is the pattern I will be handing out to the first X number of people (depends on how many copies I make). It will go on sale sometime after Rhinebeck – so this is not only free, but also exclusive for a short time. Plus, I will be handing out exactly 50 business cards with a 20% coupon to my pattern store.
Hope to see you there!
Bingo!
October 7th, 2010It’s almost that time of the year…Rhinebeck!
This year for added fun I have also signed up to be a square for Rhinebeck Bingo. I haven’t done this in the past, but it looks like a great way to meet new people.
One of the things we are asked to do is to post some hints that will make it easier for people to find us. This will come in a later post…because I’m not sure what I’m wearing yet and I don’t have a good picture of me…
To encourage people to find me, I have also decided to give a little something away. I will be handing out business cards with a coupon code good for my pattern store (via Ravelry but no Ravelry account needed!) and also I hope* to have a pattern preview to give out for free. This will be a for-sale pattern to be released shortly after Rhinebeck. Recipients will get to see it first as well as get it for free. I will only take a limited number of both with me (number to be determined later), so catch me early!
*I have not actually completed this project yet, so while I really want to do this, sadly, it may not be possible.