Ah, January. I have no idea why it's taken me so long to write my usual welcome-January-new-year-goals post because for once I really have some news to tell you! I have finally published some of my patterns, nine hat patterns to be exact!
These five tams are the class samples for the Color Outside the Lines: Fair Isle Tam class. I developed the colorways for the class, but students are given only a blank template to fill in, placing the colors where they want following traditional Fair Isle color use principles. Well, a number of people wanted to re-create the samples themselves, so I decided to make the patterns available: Clockwise from upper left, Foggy Cove Tam, December Sky Tam, Garnets Tam, Summer Lake Tam, and Mossy Rock Tam.
Clockwise from upper left are the Raven Cap, the Helsinki Cap, the Wisconsin Cap, and two colorways and fits of the Cascade Cap—Winter and Natural. More information at Feral Knitter. All these designs are sold as downloads through Ravelry: Janine Bajus Designs.
To be honest, I am really proud of these patterns. It was really difficult for me to write in standard pattern language so the instructions could be understood; I worked with a very helpful technical editor to get it right. My friend Alysha Naples designed a template to give the entire range of patterns the look I wanted: clean and fun. The biggest roadblock to publication, though, were my strong albeit unfounded worries about putting myself forward. Now that I've broken the ice, though, I'm working at great speed on the yoke sweater patterns. There is something freeing about facing fears and pushing through!
By the way, the cap model is my daughter, Gingko (not her real name--I'm not insane, after all. I call her this on the blog to give her some privacy because when I began blogging she was still a teenager). Well, Gingko celebrated her 24th birthday yesterday!
We had a lovely weekend: haircut at a nice salon, viewing The Hobbit, having breakfast at our favorite breakfast haunt in Berkeley (900 Grayson--hint: Demon Lover all the way), and the birthday girl's favorite dinner: Tofu Pot Pie (unbaked, above). I am lucky to have such a great daughter!
Here's wishing you all a happy new year!
24?!!!!!!! How did THAT happen?! Happy Birthday, dear Ginkgo!
Posted by: Ryan | January 14, 2013 at 07:43 PM
Fabulous, Janine! Just fabulous!
Posted by: Bridget Rorem | January 14, 2013 at 08:37 PM
I have your tofu pot pie recipe in my gmail account somewhere and search "Janine pot pie" when I want to make it!
Posted by: Ann | January 14, 2013 at 09:13 PM
hannah's 24? let's see, that makes me ....OMG! how could you let this happen lol!
Posted by: tori sand | January 15, 2013 at 03:21 AM
Have you any photos of the tams being modeled?
Posted by: Colleen | January 15, 2013 at 05:07 AM
Beautiful hats! They are so wonderful. A tofu pot pie sounds very interesting. What flavors does it have?
Posted by: Barb | January 15, 2013 at 08:26 AM
Love the hats, I understand about pattern-writing. Will hop on over and order them for myself. Looking forward to taking your class at Taos next Fall!
Posted by: Celeste | January 15, 2013 at 10:52 AM
I love how each colorway seems to make different elements of the pattern pop forward or recede backward - if you look at the blown-up photo, you can see it's the same pattern but the emphasis is different. Very cool.
Posted by: Caroline | January 16, 2013 at 05:16 AM
These designs are stunning!
Posted by: Irene | January 17, 2013 at 05:48 PM
Wow! Love them all!
Posted by: Penny | January 18, 2013 at 11:09 AM