Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Coastal Hoodie now Available!

hoodie 3 by LachesisandCo.
hoodie 3, a photo by LachesisandCo. on Flickr.
I am just popping in quickly to let you know that my Coastal Hoodie pattern is now available for pre-order! It is in the final editing stages and will be released at the full price of $6.50 August 16th. Until August 15th at 10pm edt it can be pre-ordered for just $4! You'll receive a preview pdf with the materials list, stripe pattern, notes and the schematic. Then one the 16th, you'll receive the full pattern :)
 

hoodie 4

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Coastal Hoodie...done!

hoodie 5 by LachesisandCo.
hoodie 5, a photo by LachesisandCo. on Flickr.
Hello my lovely readers! I hope I haven't lost you all with my extended absence! Things have been quite busy with coaching close to 100 marathon trainees, not to mention marathon training myself. Plus I was just a tiny bit burnt out after the last eBook, I wanted a little time to not worry about knitting deadlines. I learned how to spin with a drop spindle, too!

Anyway, after months of fits and starts and redesigns...my Coastal Hoodie is complete and I am in love! I wish it wasn't 100 degrees out so I could wear it all the time. This sweater is a top down, reverse stockinette raglan with a nice roomy hood, pockets (i ♥ pockets) and turned hems/bands with a contrasting facing.

I am trying out a new testing/editing model for this pattern. My editor and I are doing a really thorough editing first, then doing a quick "test" with some knitters to make sure the pattern is easy to follow and then if all goes well it will be ready to release. They'll be reading through and starting the pattern looking for the less tangible things that don't always get caught on the technical side. Like readability and clarity, is there a better way to word it for the average knitter.

Many self-published patterns by indie designers are briefly edited to make sure nothing is glaringly wrong, then test knit to completion to check the numbers (or just test knit without the initial edit for "simpler" patterns), etc and then edited again. This model works well for accessories, but adds at least a month to the editing time on a garment pattern. I have to admit that I am so excited about this pattern and the interest in it so far that I think I would burst if I had to wait a month before publishing!

Publications (books and magazines) often leave out the test knitting step and thoroughly tech edit to get their product out in a timely manner. So I figured it would be interesting to try especially due to the ease of editing and grading a top down raglan. Fingers crossed that all goes well...and if it does, the Coastal Hoodie pattern could be available for download quite soon!