Mythology Monday : Summer 2012 DAL Inspiration and Submission

I am going to try to actually participate in and complete a project for the Ravelry Group Design-A-Long (DAL) for Summer 2012. The theme for this quarter is "Mythology" and the Mood Board, assembled by Alyoops can be found here.

 I wanted to participate this go-round as I am trying to generate some self-published patterns and this seems a great way to practice those design processes! I am in the process of preparing some article and design submissions to various submission calls as well, though, so I am aiming for a relatively quick and easy project. An accessory of some sort should do nicely. I have decided to use an illustration of "Idun and the Apples" as my inspiration - specifically the crown of leaves she is wearing in her hair. I will design a full-circle headband with a branching leaf lace pattern in crochet - joined at the top (or bottom) with some ribbing to give sizing flexibility.

  "Idun and the Apples" by James Doyle Penrose via WikiMedia Commons 

 First, I took a quick look through Ravelry at some of the headband offerings and crochet leaf ideas - both to gather inspiration and ensure that I am not reinventing a recently created wheel. Now - off I go to sketch and swatch...

   

 That is my original sketch and my initial swatch to work out the leaf lace pattern using Aunt Lydia's Fashion Crochet Cotton Size 5 in pine and a G (4.00mm) hook. 

My next step will be to use InDesign to create a submission proposal in my design submission format... (practice makes perfect... or at least better... hopefully!) I will post on that process another day!

Design A Long 1: Garden theme pattern idea

You have probably heard of a Crochet-A-Long (CAL) and a Knit-A-Long (KAL), but have you ever heard of a Design-A-Long? A group has been formed on Ravelry sponsoring a Design-Along. Basically, they have gotten members to cooperatively choose a theme, then contribute pictures for a mood board. Then members can submit sketches and discuss their design process over a few months. The goal is to have a written pattern that has been edited and tested and is ready for publication by the DAL deadline. I think after that point there will be some voting (and maybe even prizes!) for qualifying designs(i.e. those with ready-for-publication patterns that fit the theme and mood board).

The theme for Summer 2011 is "garden" and I have been mulling over what I might have to offer on that them (and whether I have time to work up a design and pattern in time for the end-of-August deadline). I am toying with the idea of a net market bag crocheted from cotton that folds into an attached strawberry - shaped pouch crocheted from thread.

I am moving at the speed of cold molasses, so will probably not make the August 25 deadline but at least I am getting my toe in for the future :')!

Child's Chevron Waistcoat - Entering the Self-Publishing Zone

Over the last year I have been dipping my toe into the garment design pool by designing a Chevron Waistcoat for my 5 year old son. (He was 4 when I started, but who's counting?) It occurred to me that the design did not have to be for boys alone, so, for my first attempt at grading a pattern, I worked up 5 sizes on paper and am using those numbers to make a sample for my 8 year old daughter.

In my excitement at having a real live garment pattern (in 3 to 5 sizes, no less!) in the works, I worked up a proposal for publication. Sadly, *violins softly playing* my proposal was rejected. Disheartened, I lay the project aside for a time. Encouraging comments from a crochet buddy got me thinking that perhaps I could also use this as a first effort at completely self-publishing for sale. I have free self-published patterns and am selling my Gathery Up Scarf pattern through Ravelry, but that was initially published by Inside Crochet magazine in the UK, so was not run completely through a self-publishing process.

As part of the process, I will try to track my progress via this blog and perhaps dip a toe into the social-media self-advertising sphere as well. Wish me luck!

Irish Rose Snowflake

Irish Rose SnowflakeCopyright 2008 Marika Simon
American Terminology

sl st = slip stitch

sc = single crochet (UK/AUS double crochet)

hdc = half double crochet (UK/AUS half treble)

dc = double crochet (UK/AUS treble)

tr = triple/treble crochet (UK/AUS double treble)

dtr = double treble crochet (UK/AUS triple treble)

At the end of each round I indicate what you should end up with as “= {completed round count}”

Chain 6; join with sl st to make a ring.

Round 1: Ch 6 (counts as dc, ch 3) in ring: [dc, ch 3] 5 times; join with sl st to 3rd chain in original ch 6. = {6 dc, 6 ch 3 sp}

Round 2: In each ch 3 space: [sc, hdc, 3 x dc, hdc, sc] NB: These will be a tight fit but give the characteristic dense 3D petal of the Irish Rose ; sl st in first dc from round 1 (between the petals) to join = {6 petals}

Round 3: Working BEHIND PETALS (see Note): [sl st into the back of petals, ch 5] 6 times; join with sl st to initial sl st. = {6 ch 5 loops behind petals}

Round 4: In each ch 5 loop: [sc, hdc, 5 x dc, hdc, sc]; join with sl st to initial sc = { 6 petals}

Round 5: Working BEHIND SECOND ROW OF PETALS: [ch 9, sl st behind sc stitches between petals] 6 times = {6 ch 9 loops}

Round 6: [[sc, hdc, 3 x dc, tr, dtr, tr, 3 x dc, hdc, sc] in ch 9 loop, sc in sl st between loops] 6 times = {6 pointed petals with a sc between each petal}

Round 7: ch 9 (serves as dc, ch 6); [dc in dtr, ch 5 and sl st in 4th chain from hook, ch 5 and sl st in 5th chain from hook, ch 4 and sl st in 4th chain from hook, sl st in first chain of original chain 5 (below the first picot), sl st in dc, ch 6, dc in sc between petals, ch 6] 6 times; join with sl st in 3rd chain of starting ch 9. Finish off.

Notes:

1. Rounds 3 and 5: If you cannot work your slip stitches into the back of your work between petals (whether into the back of the initial sc of the petals or around or into the post of the dc between stitches), you can put the slipstitch into the top of the dc between petals, just be sure to push the chain loop behind the petals before working into them.

2. If you are really having difficulty getting all of the petal stitches into the loops, add one chain per loop or try to chain loosely, but stitch tightly.

3. I learned the Irish Rose technique I adapted for this snowflake from The Reader's Digest Complete Book of Needlework copyright 1979.