Knitting Daily TV

My Gossamer Smocked Tunic pattern was recently featured on Knitting Daily.  Have a peek!

Nantucket Vest-Interweave Knits

At long last, I have finally found the time to post my latest published pattern.  It can be found in Interweave Knits Summer 2011.  It's a very quick and simple knit.  I wear it with everything.  Enjoy!

Belated Happy Birthday to Alyssa!

Happy Birthday Ally!  You are a wonderful, creative, inspiring person.  I can't believe that you are already 12!

Long Time No Post

It has been an insanely busy year.  Now that summer is here, things have calmed down just a bit.  I'm working on knitting pattern submissions and crocheting a rather crazy looking rag rug.  I'm also trying to de-clutter, which is not my forte.

Taylor (my 16-year-old daughter) has been having medical problems for over a year.  She has seen doctor after doctor in search of answers.  Her list of symptoms is WAY too long to list, but her major symptoms are ventricular tachycardia, extreme fatigue, weakness, tremor, difficulty thinking, very high heart rate, very low blood pressure, and did I say extreme fatigue?  We have been told that her symptoms are a result of the war in Iraq (huh?), depression and anxiety, MY depression and anxiety, her imagination, fibromyalgia, electrical problems in her heart, etc, etc, etc.  I have been told by many very brilliant doctors that there is nothing wrong with her and that I am doing her a disservice by allowing her to be home schooled through our school district.  What they don't get is that she can't go to school.  She is too ill.

Finally, we found an absolutely amazing doctor who actually LISTENED to us, payed attention to her long list of weird symptoms, and put the puzzle pieces together.  He did a tilt table test to confirm her diagnosis and (drum roll, please) she has POTS.  Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.  She also has Neurocardiogenic Syncope.  These are specific types of dysautonomia, which means that her autonomic nervous system does not work properly.  The main treatment for this condition is to increase salt and fluid intake by A LOT.  There are also medications, but we are hoping that she won't need them.  For now, we'll just have to see how things go.

Sweet 16

Happy 16th Birthday to my wonderful daughter Taylor!

New Website

Check out my new website (still under construction)!
www.shelleygerber.com

Happy Birthday Paige!

Happy 14th birthday to my wonderful daughter, Paige!  I am so proud of you!

Gossamer Smocked Tunic Pattern!

Link to Interweave Knits Spring 2011 Preview

It's almost here!  The preview for Interweave Knits Spring 2011 is up and available for your viewing pleasure.  The magazine will be on bookshelves soon.  I really enjoyed writing this pattern and knitting the Gossamer Smocked Tunic.  I knit this sweater in Mexico while on vacation this summer.  (See below for proof!)

Gossamer is knit with Shibui Silk Cloud; a beautiful combination of mohair and silk.  If you have never knit with Shibui yarns, you should really check them out.  The Baby Alpaca is also wonderful.

I would pair this sweater with skinny jeans, boots or sandals, and a glass of champagne.  (In fact, maybe I will!)

I would love to hear what you think of Gossamer and post your photos on my blog.  Click here if you would like to send me an email!

Happy Holidays!

Look for my knitwear designs in
Interweave Holiday Knits 2010 (out now!)

Spring 2011 Interweave Knits
Summer 2011 Interweave Knits

Karma Ballet Slippers
by
Shelley Gerber

The new Interweave Knits Gifts 2010 is here!

I am pleased to announce that my first published pattern is out!

This magazine is packed with great projects, so pick up a copy at your local bookstore, or at

www.interweaveknits.com

I would love to hear what you think of my Karma Ballet Slippers.  If you knit them, please share your photos!  I will post them on my blog (with your permission, of course).  

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Shelley

Interweave Knits Gifts 2010 is Almost Here!

Here's a sneak preview of my Karma Ballet Slipper pattern from the new Interweave Knits Gifts!

You can purchase the magazine directly from Interweave here:

http://www.interweaveknits.com/holiday/holidaygifts2010/gift-preview-2010.asp

You can also find it at your local bookstore in early November.

Karma Slippers
Shelley Gerber

Finished Size About 6 (7½, 8¼)" from back of heel to tip of toe, to fit a child under 10 (child 10+ years and women’s U.S. shoe sizes 5–7, women’s U.S. shoe sizes 8–10). Note: Child’s larger size and adult’s smaller size are the same size. Beaded slippers shown in 6" length, fuzzy flower and bunny slippers shown in 7½" length, and beaded flower slippers shown in 8¼" length.
Yarn Main slipper ShibuiKnits Highland Wool Alpaca (80% wool, 20% alpaca; 246 yd [225 m]/250 g): #220 peony (beaded and fuzzy flower slippers) or #229 mulberry (bunny and beaded flower slippers), 1 skein.
Edging for beaded slipper ShibuiKnits Baby Alpaca DK (100% baby alpaca; 255 yd [233 m]/100 g): #1675 pagoda (orange), 1 skein.
Embellishments Beaded flower ShibuiKnits Baby Alpaca DK (100% baby alpaca; 255 yd [233 m]/100 g): #7501 ivory (MC), 1 skein, and ShibuiKnits Silk Cloud (60% kid mohair, 40% silk; 330 yd [302 m]/25 g): #7495 wasabi (CC), 1 skein.
Fuzzy flower ShibuiKnits Silk Cloud (60% kid mohair, 40% silk; 330 yd [302 m]/25 g): #1605 dragonfly (MC) and #7495 wasabi (CC), 1 skein each.
Bunny ShibuiKnits Baby Alpaca DK (100% baby alpaca; 255 yd [233 m]/100 g): #1765 blossom (MC), 1 skein, and ShibuiKnits Silk Cloud (60% kid mohair, 40% silk; 330 yd [302 m]/25 g): #7501 ivory (CC1) and #7495 wasabi (CC2), small amount of each.
Needles Slippers and beaded flower—size 8 (5 mm). Fuzzy flower and bunny—size 2 (2.75 mm). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Notions Stitch holder; tapestry needle; pins; ¼" elastic (optional); 48" of ⅝" wide ribbon (optional).
Beaded slippers Size G/6 (4 mm) crochet hook; sixteen ½" silk flowers; 16 red crystal beads; sewing needle and matching thread.
Beaded flower 32 champagne-colored crystal beads; 32 ivory pearl beads in assorted sizes; straight pins or head pins; round-nose jewelry-making pliers; jewelry-making wire cutters; size G/6 (4 mm) crochet hook; sewing needle and matching thread.
Fuzzy flower 14 teal crystal beads; sewing needle and matching thread.
Bunny Size B/1 (2.25 mm) crochet hook; stuffing or batting; black and dark pink embroidery floss; sewing needle and green thread; 8 green crystal beads; eight ¾" silk flowers.
Gauge 18 sts and 32 rows = 4" in garter st.
Beaded flower 18 sts and 22 rows = 4" in St st with MC.
Fuzzy flower 32 sts and 64 rows = 4" in garter st with yarn doubled.
Bunny 30 sts and 64 rows = 4" in garter st with MC.

Family Photo 2010

Alyssa 11, Taylor 15, Alex 17, Page 13

Bob and Shelley

Look for my knitting patterns in Interweave Knits Gifts November 2010 and Interweave Knits Magazine Spring 2011!

Chemo Cap Fundraiser

I'm so proud of my daughter, Taylor, for her charity work.  Since January of this year, Taylor has donated 713 hats to chemo patients and others in need.  Click here to check out her blog: Tête-à-Tête Hats Ronda's Closet, a local boutique, will be holding a fundraiser for Taylor's charity, Tête-à-Tête Hats, on September 22 from 3:00 to 7:00.  Click here to check out the recent article about Taylor: Taylor's Article

If you're interested in knitting or helping in some way, please feel free to email her at tete.a.tete.hats@gmail.com.  There is never a charge for hats, so if you know if someone who needs one, just email Taylor to work out the details.

Back to School

Well, it's that time again.  The lazy days of summer are gone.  Back to the early mornings, massive doses of homework, soccer practices, and cooler weather.  The good news is that it's going to be easier to keep up a regular yoga schedule.  In theory, anyway.

I'm working religiously on my current project for Interweave Knits.  I'm so excited that my design for Interweave Knits Gifts should be out soon.  It's a November publication, but that means that it will show up in the bookstores earlier than that, right?  I can wait to see what they did with the photos.  It's an incredibly fun project to knit and I can't wait to hear what other knitters think of it.  It's my first published pattern.

Taylor (my 15-year-old daughter) and I are working on hats for a group of 46 moms that are shaving their heads in LA on September 7th.  The moms are raising awareness and money for childhood cancer research.  This is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month.  If you're interested in checking out Taylor's chemo cap donation site, go to http://tete-a-tete-hats.blogspot.com/.  Her site also lists the 46 Mamas Shave for the Brave information.  We are very excited that Ronda's Closet, an amazing boutique in our area, is going to be holding a fundraiser for Tête-á-Tête Hats in late September.  More info coming soon regarding the date/time in case you would like to attend.

Cancun Wedding Flowers

Sangria roses for Dan and Dahiana's wedding ;-)

Flower Designs

I'm working on some fabric flower designs. Once I fine-tune them, I'll post the instructions. This is a rose made up of individual petals with Swarovski crystals and sterling silver beads.

Bridesmaids

The girls are going to be in their dad's wedding on August 20th.

Here are Taylor and Paige in their dresses!

Yummy!

Yay! My scrumptious Shibui yarn finally arrived! I used this yarn for my upcoming Interweave project (watch for me in Interweave Knits Gifts this November!) and I fell in love with it. The Baby Alpaca DK is super soft and has a lovely drape. The only problem is that it makes Snowflake, my cat, insane. It's like catnip to him. I literally have to carry my knitting around with me and protect it with my life or next thing I know he is rolling around in it, cross-eyed, shredding it with his hind legs. The Silk Cloud is sort of like Rowan's Kidsilk Haze, but slightly less fuzzy and much softer. This color is Wasabi. Isn't it great?

Evil Alpaca Eater

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my wonderful 11-year-old daughter, Alyssa!