Dawn Brocco's Life & Design Blog

I'm finally out of the *languishing in new design avoidance* mode I've been in! Started the new baby blanket design, though it's taken a surprise turn for me. I made a chart in Stitch Painter Gold, stared at it for days, not being able to figure out an easy enough way for knitters to make the thing.

I can't think of how *I* would knit something, but of how others need to be able to knit things. I do this for a living (such that it is!), others knit in spare moments here and there. I can work for hours on end on a design, whereas others, unless retired, have small children and/or full-time jobs that use up their days and evenings. So, a large chart is OK, IF the majority of it is a repeating element. This wasn't a repeating element - it was row by row need-to-read-the-chart - not good!

But I rethought the idea just enough to make it do-able and it has become a charming idea on its own. Yes, I'm being cryptic. No details can be posted until its done - that just the way it is with designing - big tease until all is revealed!

But I have posted 2 photos below. The first shows the childrens' samples for the newly revised Pillbox Hat pattern and the 2nd shows the new samples for the newly revised Jester Hat & Mittens pattern. (Yes, there are adult Pillbox samples, but are in a separate photo.)





Patterns and photo tweakings are not done yet. Both new patterns will be taking the place of the originals on my website. The yarn for the original Jester Hat is kaput, and I wanted the Pillbox Hat to be worked in more easily available/popular (less rustic) yarns AND I wanted to expand the pattern with 2 girls' sizes in 2 wts of yarn. So, an all-around improved pattern. The original version will still be made available to the mill (Bartlettyarns) and any shop that desires it and carries that yarn, though it will no longer be available at retail on my site.

Onward.