Mystery of the Blue Train

I don't usually post about a design until it's ready to be released. But I'm really excited about this one for several reasons. It's going to be hard to squish all the back story onto the pattern page on Ravelry, so I thought I'd dedicate a blog post to the story of these socks.

There is a distinct left and right foot,
with the Train pattern running down the
outer front of the sock.

Blue Train, as I'll call these socks for short, was inspired by the Agatha Christie novel The Mystery of the Blue Train. It's going to be the fifth of six in my Hercule Poirot design series.

I was browsing through my stitch dictionaries and flagging photos which caught my eye. Then I went back and tried to find commonalities and that 'spark' of inspiration.

I love the look of twisted stitches, so the motif which became the front of the sock naturally caught my eye. It reminded me of train tracks, which got my imagination churning away. A number of Christie's novels involve train journeys, so these titles naturally started coming to mind. In addition to train tracks, the 'parallelogram' shapes made me think of the sleeper compartments on trains, with the twisted stitches representing the passengers (and the bobbles in the original motif being the passengers' heads).

Okay, so I had a train story. But what else? I didn't want to simply create a sock with a motif taken straight out of a book. I wanted to make it more 'mine'. But it had to make sense. It couldn't just be "more" without making sense to the design and intent of the overall Poirot series.

Back of the sock.
Strands of a jeweled necklace.

Looking back over the motifs I'd tagged with a sticky note, one seemed to stand out. It had cables - bringing it in line with what I'd picked out for the front of the sock. Ditto the twisted stitches.

To top it all off, it made me think of the strands of a jeweled necklace. All the pieces slid into place and I had "The Mystery of the Blue Train" in which the famous ruby necklace, "Heart of Fire" is stolen and its owner murdered on her way to the French Riviera. The Blue Train was the name of the regular train which brought the English elite down to the French Riviera.

I set about tweaking the motifs, adjusting a few things here and there. I wanted this design to accommodate several official sizes as well as being totally customizable for anyone who wanted to adjust it for their personal foot size. I decided to put the stitch patterns on a stocking stitch background - that would make the total number of stitches very customizable. Not every design I document is 100% customizable (it depends on the stitch counts), but I really do want (and expect) people to be able to customize them if they need to.

5 stitch nupp option.

The original stitch patterns called for bobbles as the passengers' heads. But from browsing Ravelry forums I realize that not everyone likes bobbles. Plus, I didn't want bobbles on my socks. So I experimented with a 5 stitch nupp. It didn't add as much bulk, which was good. But something was missing (and I recalled many Ravelry posts bemoaning the difficulty of doing nupps).

One morning, as I was getting ready for the day, I was thinking about the design and pondering bobble/nupp alternatives. Then it hit me - beads! Giving knitters the choice of a nupp or adding a bead would be perfect! I'm all about choice/modifications in my designs. Plus, the beads would align perfectly with the whole jewelry robbery theme. To maintain a sense of balance (and belabour the jewelry analogy) I added beads to the cabled necklace pattern on the back of the sock.

Beads!

The reason I'm so pleased with the bead idea is the fact that I am not a bead person when it comes to knitting. I've done one or two beaded shawls, and I think they look lovely. But it's not a natural choice for me. So in a small way, the very idea represented a moment of growth for me as a designer.

The cables themselves are a bit unusual and may seem intimidating when you look at the sheer variety of cables in the pattern's stitch definitions. But they're all variations of 1/2 and 2/1 cables. The variations are the result of knitting each of the 3 cable stitches either through the back of the loop, purling them, or just plain knitting them - it all depends on the flow of the overall pattern. If you know how to read your knitting and can read a chart, it will quickly make sense to you. Being able to read the charts isn't a necessity though. Just take your time with the different cables and it'll come together.

So there you have it - the story behind "The Mystery of the Blue Train" socks. They're in test knit now and should be released in mid-late June. As usual, they'll be available in toe up and cuff down, in 3 sizes. Beads, nupps or neither as you prefer.

Side view

Inside view.

Hey, look at that!

One of our busier participants in the Indie Design Giftalong just posted a short interview with me! She's a young knitter who is showing a lot of talent and enthusiasm, which is great to see.

Want to know what I said? Check it out.

Tips and Techniques: I couldn't have said it better myself

On days when I ponder what to blog about next, I think "Add value!", "Demonstrate techniques!" - all stuff I see well-known knitters doing. It's the logical thing to do from a business perspective. You need to keep providing content that keeps people coming back to your site, because presumably that's how you sell them things. Or something.

But then I look at all the content that's already out there, at one's Google fingertips. And I think - what can I really say about knitting that hasn't already been said in many ways, in many places - and said very well already. Why add to the "noise"?

I'm a trained technical writer. As part of my training I learned a few guiding principles of writing that I apply to all my writing (and life in general, sometimes). The one I always come back to is this:

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
Just because you can write something in a fancy or cool looking, blinky font - doesn't mean you should. Just because you can add neat effects to a photo in Photoshop, doesn't mean you should. You need to think about what is going to be visually appealing, clear, and understandable for your audience. You don't need to distract them with cool things just because you can.

So, just because I can talk about knitting techniques, I keep telling myself I shouldn't re-invent the wheel when others have made such darn awesome wheels.

Like Tin Can Knits. They've put together The Simple Collection - a series of free, simple patterns designed to highlight basic knitting techniques. Each pattern is gorgeous, yet easy enough for beginners. And TCK provides wonderful tutorials for the techniques used in each pattern.

Today, their Rye Sock pattern is featured on their blog, along with the perfect step-by-step explanations of sock anatomy, techniques and tips for knitters new to socks. Their photos are beautiful. Their sock schematics are clear and easy to understand. And they make it easy for people to learn to knit not just socks - but anything.

So, if you're looking for the perfect entry-level sock pattern go check out Tin Can Knits' Rye Socks here.

As for me, I'll be over in my corner trying to reconcile myself to the fact that while I enjoy designing, want to be successful at at, and know that I should be emulating successful designers - my personal style is different. I want to share my love of knitting (socks), I want to share the great resources which have helped me over the years, and I want to create designs that are fun, beautiful and enjoyable to knit.

But I don't need to present myself as an expert with new & definitive things to say. I'm pretty sure wiser people than I have already said it and said it well. I think my personal style is more of an aggregator and sharer of useful information. And coincidentally, this is what I've always done in my professional life in the tech industry. I've always said, "I may not know the answers, but I know how to find the people who have the answers and connect you with them."

So go connect with Tin Can Knits' Simple Collection - they've said everything beautifully.

New sock pattern

I'm finally home after my week in the lovely and very green province of British Columbia. I had a wonderful visit with family and shopped at some lovely yarn shops (more on that later).

I can't believe it's October already. It certainly didn't look or feel like Fall in BC. Everything was so lush and green, with flowers still in bloom. Here in Ontario, the leaves are approaching their peak colors. The drive to work is filled with yellows, oranges and rich reds.

And being October 1st, it's time for the 4th pattern in my Agatha Christie Series: The Vicar's Wife.




This pattern reflects the age old May-December romance seen so often in 20th century (and earlier) British novels. The leaf motif which trails down the front of the sock reflects the blooming youth of May: fresh, energetic and hopeful - Griselda Clement in Murder in the Vicarage, by Agatha Christie. On the back of the sock is the bare Winter tree of December: the aged and sensible Vicar Leonard Clement, her husband.

Add a whimsical touch by duplicate stitching one of the leafs on the front of the sock. Will it be green – vibrant and alive, or the yellow, orange or red of Fall as winter approaches?

This pattern is available for $1.00 until Sunday, October 6th. Then it goes up to the regular price of $3.75. Or, buy the e-book for savings on more great patterns.

E-book Details:
This pattern is part of an e-book series, The Agatha Christie Series, Volume 1. Follow along as I create designs inspired by Agatha Christie novels. There are currently 4 patterns included in this e-book: 3 sock patterns and 1 shawl pattern. Two more sock patterns will be added over the next 2 months. When you purchase the e-book you will automatically receive the new patterns when they are released and added to the e-book.

This e-book represents a significant savings over purchasing the patterns separately. And the earlier you buy, the more you save.

Buy in October 2013: $14
Buy in November 2013: $16
Buy in December 2013: $18

Sizes:
The pattern instructions are provided for four sizes, small, (medium, large, extra large), with an 7.75” (8.5, 9.5, 10.5”) leg circumference, blocked.

Skill level: Advanced Beginner, some lace and simple cabling

Materials:

• Approximately 400-450 yards (399-411m) of Squeaky Elliot Yarn, Squishy Merino sock yarn (1 skein= 399yd/365m per 100g), or any yarn of similar yardage. This pattern will look best in tonal or solid colors so as not to obscure the pattern.
• 1 set of 5 US #1 (2.5 mm double-point needles, or size needles required to obtain gauge.
• Tapestry needle

Pattern notes:
This sock is knit from the cuff down. However, experienced knitters can easily use the charts to knit toe up socks using their favorite toe, heel, and cuff methods.

Contest Time!

First off - my apologies for being a few days late with this announcement. I was suffering a horrible migraine over the weekend and was completely out of commission. But enough about me - let's get to the contest!

It's pretty simple. To launch our upcoming joint venture, Lola-Doodles and I are having a contest. But first, what is it we're celebrating?

Dowager's Prize Roses

The Deal
Starting September 1st, Lola-Doodles will be hosting an exclusive yarn/sock pattern combo in her Etsy shop. You'll have your choice of 2 colorways to go with one of my patterns, designed especially for these Lola-Doodle colorways.

What you'll get:

1. Your choice of Lola-Doodles Dowager's Prize Roses or Silver Linings in her Classic, Buff and Twinkle yarn bases.
2. An exclusive sock pattern: The Dowager's Prize Diamonds at a discounted rate of only $2.50.

Dowager's Prize Diamonds

The Dowager's Prize Diamonds pattern will only be available from Lola-Doodles between Sept 1 - Nov 30. After that, it'll be available in my Ravelry shop at the regular price of $4.50.

Once the Dowager's Prize Roses and Silver Linings colorways are sold out, Lola-Doodles will take dyed-to-orders for your choice of colorway with the pattern.

The Contest
We're offering 1 skein of Lola-Doodles Classic Sock yarn in your choice of colorway, plus a copy of the Dowager's Prize Diamonds pattern.

All you have to do is one or more of the following:

• Leave a comment here on which colorway you'd want if you win. Make sure you include some way for me to contact you, either your Ravelry ID or email (which isn't published). To see more colorways Lola-Doodles has to offer, check out the previous sales link under Shop Details on the Lola-Doodles Etsy site.)
• If you're on Twitter, tweet about the contest. Tweets must include my Twitter name (@iammo_25) and a link to this page.
• If you blog, mention this contest on your blog and then leave a comment here with your blog post URL.

You'll get one entry into the contest for each thing you do. So if you comment, tweet and blog - that's 3 chances to win!

Contest starts today and runs until end of day Monday, August 26th. On Wednesday, August 28th I'll reveal the winner, so be sure to check back then.

Dowager's Prize Diamonds in Silver Linings Buff Sock

Dowager's Prize Diamonds
in Silver Linings

Teaser...

Guess which blog is going to be giving away a skein of sock yarn?
Guess which blog is going to be giving away a free sock pattern to go with that sock yarn?

Guess who has partnered up with a certain Indie Dyer, who has appeared in this space before, to create an exclusive yarn/pattern pairing which will be available soon?

Answers:
This blog.
This blog.
Me! Lola-Doodles!

When: Contest details will be revealed Saturday, August 17th. Come back for your chance to win!

Free or not to Free, that is the question

I read a thought-provoking blog post by Robin Hunter today, titled The Economics of of Knitting - Free Patterns. In fact, when I tried to write a succinct comment on her blog, I realized I had more thoughts on the matter than would fit in a short comment.

A friend of mine once described me as "Switzerland - always neutral" because I tend to see all sides of an issue. Oh, I have opinions on things that matter to me. But I was blessed (cursed?) with an education that taught me to always look at something from many different angles.

As a knitter, I'm tickled pink when I find out that something I want to knit has a free pattern. I also believe that often you get what you paid for. I've seen some terrific free patterns and I've seen some really terrible ones, ones which I, as an experienced knitter, had difficulties deciphering.

But as a designer, I have to look at the effort I put into creating a pattern. What is that time worth to me and what value am I delivering? Robin made an interesting observation in her blog post, that often designers price based on what they think the market will bear rather than what will cover their costs. That is certainly one of the considerations I make when I prepare a pattern for publication.

When I design a pattern, I have some basic criteria:

• I want something I think will look attractive. I want it to be classic, clean and elegant. (Although I do have a few 'novelty' ideas bouncing around in my head.)
• I want it to hold my interest through the 25-30 hours required to knit a pair of socks. 
• I want it to challenge me without being too difficult or fiddly.
• I want it to be simple enough to be fun without being boring.

When I go to publish the pattern, I also have criteria for deciding how to price it:

• If it's a simple pattern that just happened to catch my fancy and didn't require much effort to convert into a sock, then it's a candidate for a free pattern. 
• Conversely, some patterns require more effort to turn into a sock. 
• The stitch patterns need to be re-written for in the round. 
• Calculations need to be done to fit the stitch pattern into sock sizes.
• Adjustments need to be done to center the motifs and make the leg flow nicely over the heel and into the foot.
• Number of sizes available. Am I offering 1 size or multiple sizes? Each one needs it's own calculations, testing and pattern modifications
• Hours spent having the pattern test knitted, photographed and doing pattern revisions.
• Finally, what are similar patterns selling for? Too much and no one will buy it, too little and I'm undervaluing my efforts.

I once calculated the average amount of hours I spend on creating, knitting and writing a pattern for release. Then I calculated how many copies of each sock pattern I'd have to sell to make even minimum wage ($10/hr) for that work. With pattern prices of between $1.99 and $2.99, I'd have to sell 450-500 copies of each pattern to earn that minimum wage for the hours spent creating that pattern. And that doesn't include the ongoing marketing time and pattern support or Knit-a-long efforts. I can't even begin to imagine the time and effort it takes designers to produce sweaters or cardigans, with multiple sizes. 

Clearly right now this is a labor of love. And I do love it. Every minute of it, otherwise I wouldn't do it.

I'm sure I had a point somewhere in all this. I can understand that people would rather have a free pattern than pay for one. Especially with the economic troubles that have plagued everyone the past several years. Many don't have the luxury of choosing to pay for a pattern. I totally understand.

But on the flip-side, if you want a quality pattern that has many hours of a person's time poured into perfecting it. A pattern that gives you hours of knitting enjoyment and results in a beautiful finished object. Then I think that pattern is well worth a few dollars given back to the designer. A designer who more often than not is carving time out their days spent with family or working a 'regular' job, to follow their passion and creativity.

Then there's the "but I can figure that out on my own" argument. As crafters we've all done that. We see something for sale in a store, or see it online and think "Oh, I can make that." And the more experience one has, the easier it would be to figure out how to replicate a design. Personally, I'm happy (and fortunately, able) to pay $5 to a designer for a pattern that's exactly what I want. That saves me the time spent doing gauge swatches and all sorts of math to figure out increases, decreases, necklines, and all that.

Simply put, everyone has their own reasons and criteria for deciding whether or not to pay for a pattern or look for a free version. There's no clear cut, one-size-fits-all answer. Which leaves me sitting here in "Switzerland" looking for the next project to cast on and wondering where my Swiss chocolate is.