I'm not sure if you've noticed, but the last 12 months have been a bit slower on the design front from me. This is mostly because work and family commitments have meant I haven't had the time for concentrating on my design work as much as in the past.
When I reflect on 2023 though, I've still released some pretty good patterns! There has been the Bobble Cowls set, The Enid Tee, Nefta Shawl, Wirambi and the Space Invaders beanie and cowl set. For a part time designer I still think this is a decent effort!
Wirambi is something I've wanted to do for AGES because I really wanted to teach more people about how to create centre short rows. Along with Wirambi came comprehensive blog articles with YouTube tutorials on how to tackle centre short rows. I still have grand plans (only in my head) for using centre short rows in a basic sweater design as a way to raise the back of the neck and to make optional bust darts. I've even got the yarn ready for it, so, watch this space because as the weather cools down in Sydney I'll probably tackle this design head first.
While neither of these big commitments have slowed down (and probably won't for quite a while), I've decided this year to say yes to a few more invitations that have been coming my way.
Here's what's confirmed:
- I'm going to be teaching at the inaugural Australian Yarn Show at Canberra on 23 and 24 March 2024. There will be a beginner and expansion Tunisian Crochet course. I've taught a mix of these classes before but these classes will be more refined from my previous ones and I'll be able to teach them again and again.
- NSW Knitters Guild bi-annual Guild Gathering. This is in August and is open to anyone who wants to come along. You don't need to be a guild member but you get a cheaper rate to the Gathering if you are. I'll be teaching the same classes as Canberra.
- My next garment pattern is in prototype stage (I'm in the middle of prototype's 2 and 3) and the pattern is 3/4 written.
- My next shawl pattern is ready for testing. It's my second foray into architectural design for a shawl. I liken these kinds of designs to 'chucking a Stephen West' and my plan is to become the Stephen West of Tunisian Crochet shawl designers. Wanna sneak peek?? Here's the yarn I used by Jokamamo Textiles.
Here's what's in the works:
- A collaboration with a well known Sydney yarn store. Probably starting with teaching.
- A collaboration with a world famous yarn company that most of you have probably heard of.
- I'm not judging the Easter Show this year, so I'm entering. I will not be satisfied until I have a purple ribbon and a spot in the Standard of Excellence cabinet.
- More designs. There are always more designs. Release of patterns is always haphazard for me, and I'm ok with this.
Maybe while I'm at it, i'll post a bit more on this blog. It has always been my plan to be prolific on here but I don't get too much feedback on my posts so I'm not sure how many people get value out of it. Perhaps I'll look into setting it up as a mailing list. But that would require more effort than I'm currently prepared to give. And I'm also ok with this.....
Oh, and have you seen Haemish's latest hook efforts? He's been getting negative feedback about his order form lately. Yeah, we know it's crap. He just doesn't want to get any more popular at this stage because he also works full time and with all the hook orders he's had lately, I've turned into a 'Shed Widow' just about every weekend. Anyhoooo, I'm going to look at alternatives this week as we do need to do something about the ordering system.
Feel free to drop a comment below about what else you'd like to hear from me below.
xx Abbey