FO: Still knitting socks... and baby hats

Just saying hello, ladies (and occasional gentelmen). I finished the last (red) pair and donated all of them to the shelter. Ran out of yarn and needed only 10 g, and a kind soul from the neighboring province sent me the whole skein! So I have to make one more.

I am also working on my website that will hopefully turn into a community blog. Have you ever read something like that? I know Bernat blog has many contributors… did you see any charity related community blogs?

Also, I am trying to rewrite a pattern for a newborn hat for the local hospital. The original pattern is for fine#1 (sock/fingering), and I am playing with more common ‘baby’ DK weight. As we got more info as to how these hats are used, we need to adjust our knitting.

This is the metamorphosis (sorry for picture quality, there are just for record keeping). The new lilac hat needs tighter ribbing, so I am working on the second one using 2 pairs of needles.

Beautiful socks and hats! :heart: :heart: :heart:

Do I recognize Prym/Inox/Aero needles? Some of my favorite needles! Last ones I ordered as Aero came in a combination of the three. The retailer actually apologized for the difference…no problem as I have all three and love them. Started buying them years and years ago when Bernat carried them.

Judy

Great looking hats and socks! You’ve been busy lately–unlike me. Spring is in the air here, and when that happens I want to be outside gardening or kayaking or fishing or . . . . something (but not knitting).

I think your idea for your blog will be lots of fun. I’ve never heard of another similar kind of blog, but there may very well be one out there. OR you could be a pioneer in this area!

Thanks! No, those needles – don’t laugh - are of unknown origin from the needle library that our knitting group has. But they look different in the direct sunlight on the picture – nice and shiny – in reality they they are painted light grey.

Well, it’s -7 C here and it was snowing yesterday. So, no gardening for me I am afraid :slight_smile:

As for the blog, it’s really hard to write a charity related knitting blog that is not self-aggrandising self-advertising :slight_smile: I think people do get inspired when they read about other do-gooders but only if it’s written by someone else. Or if it’s a collection of blog posts from different people. I solicited a very interesting person to post – and she is being interviewed by the local newspaper about the same thing today… So maybe others will write about their charitable efforts or do some kind of interview… Because the list of things that can be donated around the town (the original purpose), no matter how well researched and explained, is not endless.

(sorry, got carried away a bit).

Beautifully knit socks and hats. I’m sure they will be much appreciated, especially with your cold temps. It’s a wonderful idea to have patterns for baby hats available for different sizes and different yarn weights and it’s good of you to figure this out.

Wonderful socks and hats! :heart:

Nicely done!! I know the last day of winter and it’s snowing here
as well. I did get some gardening done on the week-end and have covered the transplants…ugh…where’s spring??

Could have sworn I’d replied this… :?? Anyway, they look awesome! You’re on a roll!

Thanks! I know, it happens to me all the time. I look at something and think ‘how cool’ and then kids scream and… :slight_smile:

By the way, I am testing three patterns on Ravelry now, finally took the plunge :slight_smile: It was super scary to post first but it’s exciting too.

And I am working on the forth now, and you will be the first to see a new crazy purple hat :slight_smile: I thought about asking all of you in the General Knitting forum if you are in a Free Pattern Testers Group on Ravelry… just cause I know you and you are sweet and won’t bite :slight_smile: But then I decided to let you know about the correct patterns instead (see above: ‘you are sweet’ part).

They will be released for free anyway to raise awareness and I plan to post in Charity Knitting together with local programs info, free patterns, and other relevant info.

Your work is always spot on! I didn’t realize you are also into charity knitting! Kudos to you.

About Pattern Tester Knitting you mentioned: I have a Rav BFF who volunteered to be a test knitter, an intricate cowl. It was a frightful experience. She was essentially re-writing the pattern for the designer. She said she’d never get sucked into “test knitting” again because it’s not until you’re committed that you realize you’re really the “pattern writer”, followed by the knitting. Very frustrating and time consuming.

I realize not all test knitting is such a bummer, but it scared me off. Writing the pattern is the hardest part.
The “designer” really took advantage of her test knitters on that one. My BFF is the type to follow through, no matter what. I’m afraid I’m the type that would heave the mess right back where it belongs, in the designer’s lap, or her desk.

I’ve often thought of doing test knitting, but I’m not good enough yet. However, I [B]would not[/B] be rewriting the pattern for someone. I would definitely be sending it back with a request for THEM to fix it before I moved on. Perhaps your friend is easily taken advantage of or maybe I’m off base and when you agree to test knit something, you agree to fix all the designer’s mistakes, too???

Well, my Rav BFF was under this impression: “the pattern is complete and ready to be knitted. If any part of the pattern language is unclear, let me know so that improvements can be made for clarity’s sake, so the published pattern is clear and regular knitters will have a good experience.”

Yeah, riiiiiiiight.

The pattern was so full of errors, my BFF had to re-write it just to get the cowl done and out of her hair.

When you sign up to be a test knitter, the designers have a ton of rules and deadlines for the test knitter. I think test knitters should require the designer to sign something, too. :doh:

I’ve never quite understood what the “draw” is for “test knitting”. I understand the advantage to the designer, but what does the test knitter stand to gain? I’d be a designer’s nightmare test knitter, scrutinizing every aspect of the pattern, tweaking, modifying language, etc. Nope, test knitting is not.for.me.

To Artlady:

I am sorry to hear about your friend’s experience. Mine was very positive and I am pretty happy that I did it :slight_smile:

I think it’s more of an isolated incident, specific to THAT DESIGNER. If all the designers took such advantage of their test knitters, I’m certain they’d lose all their “help”.

Plus, this design wasn’t for charity. It was for profit. Maybe charity knitting has better karma, coming from the heart.

I admire your efforts in behalf of these babies and their families!

Maybe not so isolated. I made a baby sweater about a year ago and noticed immediately that the pattern was wrong…so I contacted the shop I bought it from. A copy of my e-mail was sent to the designer who in turn contacted me and said I was the only one who had ever “complained” about his design. He said he’d had the pattern test knitted twice and neither knitter made note of anything awry…made me wonder what the point of test knitting was. I was able to remove the 10 extra stitches and go on with the sweater, but some poor unsuspecting newbie would’ve been tearing her hair out!

Turned out I didn’t work the pattern the way the designer did, but when he confirmed the error he did apologize and posted errata on the pattern page.

Judy

Judy,

Oh my. Well, I feel your pain. I’ve experienced the wrath and paranoia of one particular designer, and let’s just agree: creative people are not always the most agreeable! No social skills. Paranoid, cranky, and emotionally derailed.

Hopefully no one will ever experience the wrath of BMB.

Happy to hear that your designer apologized. Not all would.

This is why I’ve taken to being my own designer using gauge, swatch, rulers, and size charts. At least when I do it, I know it’s been done right. I rarely follow patterns anymore. Half the time I’m finding fault with them, stitch counts or whatever, and redoing them anyway. It’s not so bad if you’re an advanced knitter, but it’s frustrating to a beginner or an intermediate. They push the patterns through without being perfected trying to make a fast buck. All some of them care about is the credit card clearing. After that, it’s your problem.