What's In A Name & A Pattern Resurection

Change is hard.

I've been going through some of my older posts and patterns on Ravelry and was brought back to my old blog. I really love the layout of that blog. I'm still proud of the header (made by me in MS Paint, lol) and it made me sad that I've deviated from my EdwardRad moniker. You have to understand that I used that name online for lots of forums and websites for about 15 years and I have a lot of internet friends who recognize me across the web as Ed.

As I move forward with getting patterns published, I'm realizing more and more that I need to use my real name and that I need to expose myself a bit if I'm going to reach people. This is kind of a scary realization and part of me wants to just go back to being Ed and using that old blog. It sounds odd, but I've never really connected myself to my real name. I respond to it, but it doesn't hold much meaning for me. It feels like any other word or like something that I have to do just because it's something that must be done. Does anyone else feel that way about their name? I think that is part of why I have such a strong connection to my online names. They are something that I've created on my own and hold a special meaning for me.

My current fiber-related online name is Yumi Yarns because EdwardRad always brought up too many questions from those unaffiliated with Cowboy Bebop (the show Ed originates from, not Twilight). I thought that having a more yarny name would make things a little easier since almost everything that I post is about fiber, knitting or crochet (and sometimes food). Ever since getting my first pattern published, though, I've wondered if I shouldn't just be using Shaina Scott Designs or something along those lines but it sounds so stuffy. And even though I love enforcing the rules at work, I'm not a fan of rules in my fiber world and just want to do what makes me happy. That is after all why I love fiber crafting.

After doing all that reminiscing I've decided to move the free patterns from my old blog to this one so here's the first one:

 Mom's Shower Cloth

   The main stitch pattern that I used in this cloth was one that I learned while making my Sense and Sensibility socks and is a variation of Eye-Of-Partrige. I modified it so that you could make use of the purl-bump pattern that appeared on the inside of the socks because I really thought both sides looked nice and deserved some attention.

There are a couple of techniques worth explaining before you begin your knitting...
Sl 1 YiF: Bring your yarn to the front of your work and slip the next stitch knit-wise. Bring the yarn to the back of your work before continuing to the next stitch.
SL 1 YiB: Bring your yarn to the back of your work and slip the next stitch knit-wise. Bring the yarn to the front of your work before continuing to the next stitch.

Pattern:
Cast-on 54 stitches. Knit 6 rows in garter stitch.

Begin stitch pattern:
Row 1: Knit 3, *K 1, Sl 1 YiF (repeat from * 12 times), *Purl 1, Sl 1 YiB (repeat from * 12 times), K 3.
Row 2: K 3, K 24, P 24, K 3.
Row 3: K 3, *Sl 1 YiF, K 1 (repeat from * 12 times), *Sl 1 YiB, P 1 (repeat from * 12 times), K 3.
Row 4: K 3, K 24, P 24, K 3.
Continue in pattern for 11 repeats.

Begin next stitch pattern:
Row 1: K 3, *P 1, Sl 1 YiB (repeat from * 12 times), *K 1, Sl 1 YiF (repeat from * 12 times), K 3.
Row 2: K 3, P 24, K 24, K 3.
Row 3: K 3, *Sl 1 YiB, P 1 (repeat from * 12 times), *Sl 1 YiF, K 1 (repeat from * 12 times), K 3.
Row 4: K 3, P 24, K 24, K 3.
Continue in pattern for 10 repeats plus rows 1-3.

Knit 6 rows in garter stitch. Bind off and weave in ends.

Have a great week everyone!!  ^_^