Masterpiece and a new design: Diamond Transitions Hat

As I've mentioned before, I have started teaching classes at my local yarn store Stash - A place for yarn.  I began with teaching a toe-up afterthought heel sock class, which inspired publishing a sock pattern for my students.  Next request for a class topic was a color work class.  Color work is one of those techniques that often scares people because it looks so difficult but in reality it's not.  When planning for the class, I decided that I wanted to design my own hat pattern to teach from.  I had never designed a chart or a hat pattern but I'm very excited about what came of it.  Hope you enjoy it too!

Diamond Transitions Hat

My finished Project details
Pattern: Diamond Transitions Hat by Natalie Martinez Rush
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight in Currant and Callalilly
Cast on date: Jan 22nd, 2015
Finished date: Jan 27th, 2015
Notes: Ever since I knit the stockings for my family, I have come to love knitting colorwork and how it looks.  I was asked to teach a class and I figured this was the best time to try my hand at designing a hat to teach colorwork with.  I had so much fun playing with this chart!  I really wanted it to transition into another color as I love how that effect looks.  Once the pattern was set in my head and the chart on paper, this hat knit up quickly!  Of course, now little Miss Carmen requested a pink one so while the pattern currently only has a size medium, I will be adding to the pattern as more sizes are fleshed out.  If you buy it now, ravelry will alert you when the pattern is updated!  So excited about how this came out and hope you enjoy knitting it if you choose to!

This pattern can be purchased via Ravelry by visiting this page here or the link below.

The pattern can also be purchased as part of a kit from my local yarn store Stash - a place for yarn.  The kit comes with a copy of the pattern and 2 skeins of Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight yarn in the colors of your choice. Special price of $20, plus shipping, US only.  She has a lot of options so please call the shop for further details.

Happy Knitting!

Carmen's First Birthday Socks...Published!

Socks, socks, everywhere socks!  I love socks...I love wearing them and I love knitting them!  When Carmen was born I knit her a tiny pair of infant socks and she wore them a couple times but they were so adorable on her!  When I was looking for a pattern to knit socks for her for her first birthday, I couldn't find a pattern that was her size but how I knit socks. I don't like knitting from formulas as sometimes, especially when it comes to socks which are my brainless knits, I want it already spelled out!  I want to just see the numbers and go from there. So, I came up with this pattern so I can knit her multiple pairs.

Carmen's First Birthday Socks

If you find any errors or have any questions, please contact me. As bigger sizes are worked, I will add the stitch counts to the pattern. Can’t wait to see the little socks others knit from this pattern! Enjoy!

Happy Sock Knitting!

PS...with a walking toddler...it's amazingly hard to get a good picture of her wearing these socks.  

Padfoot Socks Pattern Design Published!

Barknknit Design's First Pattern!!

A couple months back, my friend Shelby, from Shelby B's Designs, was sending me a skein of yarn as a thank you and asked me what my favorite Harry Potter character was and naturally since he turns into a dog it's Sirius Black. She had not created a colorway for him yet and she decided to create one! She came up with this beauty...
After receiving this beautiful yarn and not being able to find a pattern to knit with it, the Padfoot socks pattern was born.
It's a top down cabled ribbed pattern with a seed stitch panel.
I think it's a great pattern for sock yarns that have many colors.The pattern includes both a chart and written instructions. It is now available for purchase on www.barknknit.com and Ravelry.

Last week while I was working on publishing this pattern, my friend's dog Scorpio was hit by a car. He had gotten out of her backyard and someone hit him and never stopped. As someone who has gone through this, I decided that I wanted to donate 30% of all proceeds from the sock pattern from now until March 15th to help her offset some of the costs of his vet expenses and surgery. I'm hoping this helps her even just a little bit with the un-expected cost an accident like this incurs.

Well, I hope you enjoy this pattern and please feel free to send me any feedback as this is hopefully the first design of many.

Thank you to all those who have already purchased the pattern and for all the support my friends have given me! I appreciate you all!

Padfoot socks sneak peak.

Soon...I'll be publishing my first pattern. I decided to try designing a pattern when Shelby from Shelby B's Designs sent me this beautiful colorway. It's called "Sirius" after Sirius Black from Harry Potter. Shelby dyes beautiful Harry Potter colorways and I actually got to meet her and interview her at SAFF. When I first met her she asked me what my favorite Harry Potter character was and naturally it's Sirius Black because umm...he turns into a dog and he's named after the Dog star. So, she came up with a colorway and send me this...I then started searching for a pattern for this lovely sock yarn and I just couldn't find one. So, I came up with one. The first sock is completed and the 2nd is in the works. I don't have any pictures of it but I'll get them and you'll get to see them soon. My friend Courtney is test knitting my pattern for me so as soon as she's complete and makes sure there are no major errors...then the pattern will be published on Ravelry! I'm so excited!!!

Well...there is my sneak peak...you'll just have to come back for the pictures and the pattern!

Happy Monday!!!

Natalie