Connie Chang Chinchio

I wish I were independently wealthy

changcon — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:47:03 +0000

I took a quick window shopping trip through the many children’s boutiques in Soho after work yesterday. The wee blouses, dresses, sweaters, and pants were so adorable, but so completely out of my price range. I would have balked at paying those prices for myself, much less for someone who would double in size in a few months. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but Olivia is outgrowing her clothes pretty quickly. Maybe I can justify it as a business expense (i.e. styling for knitwear photoshoots)?

The clothes were really well made. And mostly from France (made in China though).

Some quick cell phone snapshots from my afternoon…. I went to Kisan Concept Store, Makie, Les Petites Chapelais, and Bundle (no photo).

Flagstone – new Twist pattern

changcon — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:02:44 +0000

It feels like forever since I’ve released a new women’s pattern — so it’s with great pleasure that I give you Flagstone, a new design I have in the just released Twist Spring/Summer 2012 issue. This design incorporates some of my favorite elements — namely pockets, a smattering of lace, and minimal finishing. The beginning is a little tricky to set up because the lace band and raglan increases need to be established at the same time, but once all the lace stitches are accounted for, it’s pretty smooth sailing from there.

The cardigan is knit from the top down with inset pockets. After the bulk of the sweater is finished, you pick up stitches all around the fronts and neck to work the thin garter buttonhole and button band.

Unfortunately, I didn’t really have time to take modeled photos of the sweater, but I do have a picture of it on my blocking board. My husband, ever the precise scientist, helped me stretch it to the right dimensions. I tend to knit a wee bit tightly when on deadline, but fortunately his methodical pinning and blocking managed to whip the sweater right into shape.

You can purchase this and other great patterns directly from Twist.

Happy 1st Birthday to Olivia

changcon — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:56:55 +0000

I can’t believe it’s been a year since Olivia came into our lives, changing it irrevocably and wonderfully. To celebrate, I’m offering a one-day 20% off sale on all of my patterns. No coupon code is necessary, discount will be applied at checkout. Sale ends tomorrow (March 8th) at midnight EST. See all the patterns here: http://www.ravelry.com/stores/physicsknits—connie-chang-chinchio-designs

Happy birthday, sweetheart. Your mommy loves you very much.

Olivia says ‘don’t forget that the wee Austin sale ends tomorrow (Monday) night!’

changcon — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:45:13 +0000

I took these photos of Olivia in her wee Austin last weekend, but I couldn’t get her to look at the camera. She’s becoming a more willful model in her old age This hoodie is in the 9 month size in the Cousteau colorway. Pattern details can be found here.

A wee Austin for the wee ones!

changcon — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:11:41 +0000

I’m really excited about finally releasing the wee Austin Hoodie, the baby and child sized companion to the adult Austin I released a year and a half ago. I knit the 6 month size (in Tart) as a gift for a friend’s new baby and then knit it again in the larger 9 month size (in Cousteau) for Olivia. It’s my daughter’s first time modeling for me and I think she did a great job. She managed to not melt down too much while her crazy mom took a ton of photos — although the not-seen-in-the-photos baby wranglers (i.e. my patient fiber husband) may have had something to do with that!

This hoodie is knit at a slightly tighter gauge than its adult counterpart for hardier wear and has an explicit button band (instructions are included for both girls and boys) for practicality. As always with baby and children’s clothing, please do measure the intended recipient to ensure an accurate fit. Babies and children’s bodies vary so much as I’m discovering with Olivia’s commercial clothing. Stuff she’s wearing right now ranges from 6 months to 12 months. I think she even has a pair of pants in the current rotation that’s labeled 18 months! It’s kind of crazy.

To celebrate the beginning of what I hope will be a new line of baby and children’s designs, I’m offering a 20% discount on this pattern for the first 2 weeks of its release. The promotion is good through Monday, February 20th. The wee Austin is the inaugural piece in my Piccoli Tesori line. Piccoli Tesori means little treasures in Italian and tesoro is also a term of endearment. I have more knits in the works for Piccoli Tesori and a new logo for it drawn by my brother, so stay tuned! I hope you’ll want to make my knits for the tesori in your life.

wee Austin
Click button to buy ($5.00 $4.00):

Stats/Specifications:
Finished Size: 19½ (21½, 23¼, 24¾, 26½, 28)” to fit 6m (9m, 12m, 2y, 4y, 6y) with a suggested ease of 2 to 4”. Sample measures 19½”.
Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (100% superwash merino wool; 420 yards, 100 grams): Tart, 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3) skeins.
Needles: Size 5 and Size 4 32” circular needles.
Notions: Markers (m); stitch holders; spare US 5 needle for 3-needle BO; buttons — 6 (6, 6, 7, 8, 8); tapestry needle; sewing needle and matching thread.
Gauge: 25 sts and 34 rows = 4” in St st with larger needles. 26½ sts and 34 rows = 4″ in 1×3 rib with larger needles. 25 sts and 38 rows in Double Woven st with smaller needles and two strands of yarn.

Cool artwork from my little brother

changcon — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:16:58 +0000

My brother recently came back from a 2 year stint abroad studying in Hong Kong and is looking for graphic design/illustrator work. But in the meantime, he’s trying to stay busy and get his name out there with various small projects. One of those projects is an etsy storefront. He’s just beginning, but I think (and it’s not just the big sister in me talking) he’s off to a promising start with the first item he has on sale. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, he’s drawn an adorable Love Birds card. Just look at the detail in the pairs of birds below:

I especially love the punk rock couple on the lower right hand side. And the Mad Men-esque couple right next to them.

He’s planning on more cards and prints, including a nursery themed line for the young and young-at-heart. I’m sure Olivia will want some uncle-designed art for her room!

Vogue Knitting Live

changcon — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:25:39 +0000

This weekend I was fortunate enough to go to VK Live in midtown. I was there to sign copies of my new book, Textured Stitches, but it was also a great opportunity to catch up with old knitting friends and meet new ones. On Saturday I was at Bijou Basin’s booth and on Sunday I was at Knitty City’s. Bijou Basin has some truly drool worthy yarns and it took every ounce of restraint I had to not bring home any. The folks at Bijou Basin, however, foiled my good intentions and very kindly gave me some of their Tibetan Dream Sock yarn to try. Not only is their yarn interesting (yak is a new fiber for me), but their color palette is right up my alley — deep, intense yet subtle too.

These types of events — Rhinebeck, TNNA, etc — are always such a mad rush of stimulation, inspiration, and fun that it’s sometimes hard to properly catch up with friends. Luckily, my good friend Angela was coming in from Boston for the event and decided to stay with me, so we got the chance to really chat in earnest. I also got to hang out quite a bit with my buddy from Ithaca, Laura Nelkin, and the always in-demand, Melissa Wehrle.

Because I’m still processing the weekend, I’ll let photos do the rest of the storytelling. There was yarn-bombing in the marketplace, an adorable amiguri exhibit by the very talented Anna Hrachovec (check out the peeing gnomes below!), and I even had time to attend a lecture by Debbie Bliss on how to design for babies!

Look what came in the mail last week!

changcon — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:23:36 +0000

My books from Interweave arrived last week and it’s so exciting to finally be able to hold a physical copy in my hands at last. In the coming weeks, I’ll be talking about the designs that make up the book as well as the design process for some of them. Post any questions you might like answered in the comments. I’ll also do a book giveaway after the new year, so stay tuned!

Buttons = candy

changcon — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 03:39:28 +0000

I bought a little mini-collection of buttons for future baby designs on my way home from work last week. Don’t they look scrumptious?

The Carlmont Hoodie is now available

changcon — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:02:48 +0000

Because I spent the last year or so, elbow deep in work on my book, it feels like it’s been forever since I’ve released a pattern. I am so happy to finally do that with a design I did way back in May for the Fibre Space’s Indie Indulgence Club.

This fun pullover is worked in Tosh Merino DK (a rounded single ply yarn dyed in Madelinetosh’s gorgeous, glazed color palette) and combines two of my favorite designs elements — henley plackets and hoods. The placket with cable and garter stitch flourishes is closed with rustic wooden buttons, amping up the garment’s versatility. The generous hood is trimmed in the same cables that dot the placket while deep garter sleeve cuffs and body side slits are just the right details. Worked in the round up to the placket and back and forth thereafter, the Carlmont Hoodie requires minimal seaming. Sleeves are picked up and worked from the top down, making it easy to adjust their length to suit your tastes. More detailed specs and photos taken by the talented Parikha Mehta are below. I hope people like my latest offering.

Stats/Specifications:
Finished Size: 32½ (35½, 37¼, 39½, 41¼, 43½, 47½, 51½)” to fit bust sizes 31 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 50)” with a suggested ease of 1 to 2”. Sample measures 35½”.
Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK (100% superwash merino wool; 225 yards, 100 grams): Gilded, 5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, skeins.
Needles: Size 6 and Size 7 32” circular needles.
Notions: Markers (m); stitch holders; spare US 7 needle for 3-needle BO; Size H crochet hook; tapestry needle; 10 (10, 10, 11, 11, 11, 11) 1/2” buttons; sewing needle and matching thread.
Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4” in St st.