Dissecting a Frog

The Frog Prince, as you may remember, was sent to Time Out.  Like, two years ago.  The process of translating this design from a tailored boiled wool jacket into a sweater that regular people could just have fun knitting did not go as I had hoped.  Not even a little bit.  Rather than a sweater that looks like the original jacket, I ended up with Franken-Frog.  The sleeves didn't puff.  The hem didn't swing.  The underarms did this bizarre batwing/dolman thing (The cast of Dyanasty called; they want their sleeves back).  And in the meantime, they stopped making the tapestry ribbon I had trimmed the original in.

In spite of all these problems, I had forged on, hoping I would somehow come to love the Franken-Frog in the fullness of time.  This denial may have had something to do with the 5 skeins of size 2 stockinette I had invested.  I did all the finishing (sans the tapestry ribbon trim; the plan was to hunt down a replacement after I fell in love again).  I even edged the wee beastie in velvet, all the way around.  All I had left to do was recreate the deep, patterned cuffs, when something snapped, and I just couldn't go on.  I hung the Frog in a corner of the living room.  Which did nothing to make me love it, because people kept coming into my living room and asking why I didn't just finish that thing, already.  Time marched on.  Books got written.  Other designs that I love have been born.  I've continued to make promises and excuses to the dear knitters who still want to make Frog Princes of their own.  There formed a fine layer of dust on Franken-Frog's velvet trim.

And then one night a couple of months ago, I dreamed that I was frogging the Frog.  It wasn't sad, but cathartic.  Like finding the real sweater trapped inside the Franken-Frog.  And when I woke up, I determined that it was time to admit defeat.  It was time to Frog the Frog.

And so, today was the day:

It took all morning.  And it wasn't as cathartic as in my dream.  But it's done now, and I'm ready to wash and reskein the yarn.  And then I'll go back to the drawing board, in earnest.  For those of you who have not given up on me, I thank you.  For those who have no idea why anybody would want a sweater with frogs on it in the first place, I have to say that I kinda feel the same for now.  But I'm not giving up, and neither should you, my would-be Princesses.  Wish me luck: I'm gonna reincarnate the Frog Prince.
 

Selbu-Baaa-Ter

Here are the mittens I designed for the Knitters Review Retreat next November:

This is what it would look like if a sheep wore a Norwegian sweater.

Yes, the sheep are wearing actual little brass bells, and No, I do not have any self control.  At All.

Knitters in my "Sassy Selbuvotter" class at the retreat will get a kit with the yarn, pattern, and even the wee little bells.  Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock in five super-sexy colors.  I may actually have tickled myself to death this time. 

Registration for the retreat begins on August 3.  CLICK HERE for more information. 

 

Thinking Cap

This week I'm working on new class material for this fall.  One of my new ideas is a re-tool of my "Stranded In Your Socks" class, which some of you may remember is my introduction to stranded colorwork knitting .  It's still going to be the same fun and easy introduction, but now I'm also offering it with this new sexy hat as the project!  It's called "The Forest For The Trees".  I love it so much I'm going to also offer the pattern for sale on Ravelry, as soon as I have it finished. 

Another new class I'm putting together is about color theory.  It's going to be a full-day class, with a swell project, centered around the fundamental concepts of how colors play together.  This one is still bubbling in my little grey cells, so if you have suggestions/ideas about what YOU'D like to learn in such a class, post a comment and let me know!

I'm also planning a new advanced class.  It's going to focus on how knitters can use steeks to shape knitted garments, both in stranded colorwork, and beyond.  I'm realizing that I've converted enough steek-lovers that I need to give them a new class which takes it all to the next level.

And if all that weren't enough to make my (your) brain hurt, this week I'm creating a brand new pattern for the Knitters Review Retreat.  It's a new mitten for my Sassy Selbuvotter class, and it's a show-stopper, if I do say so myself.  Stay tuned for the photos!

Keep an eye on my events page to see where & when these things are all happening, and in the meantime, bear with me if I go dark for a bit:  I've got on my Thinking Cap.