New Knitting Pattern - Ascend Cowl

 

I'm very happy to introduce my newest knitting design, the Ascend Cowl.

I've long admired intricate Estonian lace knitting and I've knit a few projects in this delicate style, but I wanted to design a pattern that was approachable for newer lace knitters (especially without nupps!), cozy in a chunky wool, and pretty without being fussy.

After a little experimentation, I came up with a variation of a traditional Estonian stitch that swirled easily up around the cowl, in the manner of a spiral staircase, requiring nothing more of the knitter than working the simple pattern repeat. 

Spiral staircases can be so intriguing, and our trip to Ireland last May provided us the chance to climb dozens of them. This one is located in Aughnanure Castle. 

After joining in the round, the ribbing edge flows seamlessly into the main lace pattern, then back through the ribbing to the top, using simple lace stitches. 

Ascend is easy to wear singly or doubled up to keep out the cold. 

The yarn used is the gorgeous Plucky Bulky from The Plucky Knitter. Plucky Bulky is soft and cushy with a nice amount of twist, and it comes in an amazing variety of colors. The pattern project was worked in the Narragansett Gray colorway, a serene blue-gray.

The easy stitches, heavier weight yarn and larger needles make the project zoom by at lightning speed. Plucky Sarah also knit an Ascend up herself (in about a day!) in Snug yarn, featured on her Ravelry page in a delicious pink. 

If you'd like to try Plucky yarn, an update is scheduled for tomorrow and I recommend shopping early because her yarn sells fast.

My thanks to my 7 awesome test knitters - your expertise is appreciated!

Much of the US, including our area, has been hit with unusually early cold weather and snow, so I'm glad I've had my Ascend cowl to keep me toasty. I hope you are staying cozy where you are, knitting and crocheting with one of your favorite yarns. 

Thanks for stopping by today, happy stitching! 

The Return of the Greyhaven Cowl

The Greyhaven Cowl design has been around for several years and I love it, but a while ago, I decided this little pattern deserved an updated format and an additional sizing option 

to add to the existing cozy neckwarmer design.

I had a lot of fun knitting several experimental prototypes and I'm happy to announce the return of the newly updated and expanded Greyhaven Cowl pattern.

I am an inveterate tweaker, and experimented with many interesting and entertaining ideas, but ultimately I kept the original stitch pattern unchanged (although I added sleeker shaping to the bottom of both sizes when I designed the Slouchy option). 

I've also expanded the pattern instructions and charts and provided a tutorial for one of my favorite bind off methods. I'm extremely happy with the fresh new pattern format.

The original Cozy size cowl is a super fast, one-skein project that's easy to tuck into a coat collar.

I love the original version, but I also enjoy that the new Slouchy size offers plenty of styling options including wearing it draped simply around the neck,

folded in on itself for coziness, 

or closed with a fun pin.

I think the larger version would make an especially nice gift presented with a pretty stick pin or brooch. The twig shawl pin shown in the photo above is from Jul, you can read more about it in this post. 

The Greyhaven design is one I did more than two years ago, originally inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of Rings trilogy (and made into movies by Peter Jackson). I'm looking forward to the release of the film version of Tolkien's The Hobbit this weekend, and I planned to have the pattern available just in time for the event.

When I designed Greyhaven, I adapted a lace stitch pattern that I thought looked rather like leaves and/ or arches - both themes which are heavily used in the LOTR movies. The stitch itself is fairly simple and easy to memorize, and the cowl is worked in the round, so requires no seaming or grafting. 

Although I knit several of the prototypes for the update in leftover stash yarn (including the natural white one shown in this post), 

the gray and plum yarn featured in the new pattern is the scrumptious Primo Worsted from The Plucky Knitter. 

You may remember that I used Primo Fingering in my Amethiste pattern, and was thrilled to be able to work with the heavier weight of this merino/ cashmere/ nylon blend.

The yarn is wonderfully soft, the stitch definition is superb and it blocks lace like a dream!

I've already worked out the matching hat and fingerless mitts, but those patterns will have to wait until later this winter, I'm going to get busy now preparing for the holidays.

Before I sign off I must first give a huge thank you to my tech editor Katherine and my wonderful crew of Greyhaven test knitters: Laurie, Julia, Kim, Connie, Paula, Gillian, Cheryl and Josefina! These ladies are super knitters and were extremely helpful in working closely with me to craft a pattern I am thrilled with.

Thanks for stopping by everyone, have a fun and safe weekend!

New Knitting Pattern - Orbs Cowl

Knitting magazine design submission calls, or 'sub calls' (when magazines email designers to request design submissions for specific issues) are always fun. The themes, suggestions and photos they send spark a lot of ideas and even when I don't submit anything, I enjoy reading the final issue and comparing it to what I had in mind when I received the sub call. Sometimes they are different than you might expect!

When I received the email from Knitscene last year with a call for designs for their planned new accessories issue, I was especially intrigued. 

The part of the note that really caught my attention was a request for loop/ infinity style cowls and scarves, built around a theme of outer space or sci-fi inspiration.

I love the beauty of the heavens and the quiet mystery of space. And I am a fan of Star Wars, Star Trek and other space-adventure movies.

I contemplated the brilliance of the night stars in the Milky Way,

Saturn's mysterious rings,

and the luminous path of the moon around the Earth. This lunar eclipse photo suggests to scientists that there might be mountains on the moon.

I wanted to make something just a little funky and offbeat and yet still very simple.

All these things influenced the final design I submitted for this issue, the Orbs Cowl (the pattern name was a total surprise as it was not the one we worked with almost until publication, but I think it's a nice fit also).

The cowl's deeply textured stitch pattern reminds me of the moon's craters and craggy surface.

 

The decision of which end is up is 'wearer's choice' with this cowl since the reversible chevron stitch means there is no wrong side up, down, inside or out.

Worked in the round on size US 10.5 needles, the Orbs Cowl is a fast and fun knit, and it's easy to add or subtract pattern repeats to adjust the size of your project.

Berroco's Flicker yarn was a simple choice for the cowl as it has wonderful loft and airiness from a tubular construction, and a lot of 'give' in the strand - a nice quality in an alpaca yarn.

The sub call suggested sparkles or sequins, which I am not normally prone to knitting with, but the metallic thread running through Flicker is very subtle and adds a soft, pretty touch of shine without being flashy.

I am happy to be included in this premier accessories-specific issue alongside so many other wonderful designs. Knitscene Accessories 2012 is packed full with loads of great small projects, perfect for summer travel and early holiday gift knitting. The issue is currently available for preview and purchase online and will be in stores soon.

For fiber fans in Ohio, the Great Lakes Fiber Show will be held this weekend in Wooster. I'm hoping to get up there, so check back here in coming weeks for a rundown and photos from the show.

Thanks for stopping by everyone, I wish you much peace, many blessings and to my US readers, a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend!

photo credits:

milky way

saturn

moon

Knitscene photos courtesy of Interweave Press

New Knitting Pattern - Lesia Loop

After much positive feedback and interest from blog readers and Ravelry members, I'm happy to announce the publication of my latest pattern, Lesia Loop.

The light, soft Brushed Suri yarn from Frog Tree creates a lovely halo similar to that of mohair and the resulting scarf is equally light and soft with a lot of drape.  

Although Brushed Suri is listed as a fingering weight yarn, the fiber halo allows it to be knit up in a variety of gauges, depending on your needle size. I think another fantastic yarn choice for this pattern would be a mohair or mohair blend.

I love the simple, beautiful stitch pattern that looks pretty from both sides, 

allowing this wrap to be worn in a variety of ways, including doubled as a cowl, 

buttoned along one side through the eyelets in the stitch,

or given a half-twist, Moebius-style, and re-buttoned as a shoulder wrap as shown in the photo at the top of this post.  

The pattern stitch is presented in both charted and written form, and the design's garter stitch selvages, button and buttonhole bands lend a clean, modern look. Lightweight shell buttons add a little shine and don't weigh the piece down.

I named this pattern in honor of a very sweet friend I made while traveling in the Ukraine some years ago.  Lesia is a name meaning "of noble kind."  What a beautiful thought.

Some of you may recall this design from earlier posts, and I wasn't certain I would actually publish this as a pattern since I already published a chunky-weight version,  Lingonberry Loop, in December.  

But after many folks said they prefer to just purchase a pattern that gives exact details rather than modify it to suit their preferred yarn, I decided to go ahead with it. Thanks everyone for your enthusiasm and great input!

I currently have two introductory promotions running for this pattern, both through the end of March.

For all Ravelry members, when you purchase the Lingonberry Loop pattern, you will receive the Lesia Loop pattern for just $1 when you add them both to your Ravelry shopping cart.   Anyone who has previously purchased the Lingonberry Loop will also be eligible to receive the special price.

But...  I also want to offer a little something extra special to my blog readers.  After trying unsuccessfully to navigate the murky waters of adding multiple promotions to my Ravelry Pro account for this pattern, I've decided to offer you a free copy of Lesia Loop with the purchase of any of my other Ravelry patterns.

If you purchase any of my patterns through Ravelry, just drop me a Ravelry PM or post a comment to me here in the blog, and I will send the free pattern to your Ravelry library.  I apologize to anyone who tried to use the faulty promotion link previously posted here!

Thanks again everyone, and peace, blessings and happy knitting to you!

Spring Knitting, Really?

Now that it is officially meteorological spring, I realized I hadn't finished posting about our winter adventure in early February.  My, how time flies.

It was a 4-day trip packed full of crafts, yarn and winter sports fun, staying in a small community in northern Michigan.

The weather was cold but beautiful, and the sunrises spectacular,

with the deck overlooking the lake a-twitter with tiny birds.

Walking down the incredibly steep steps from the house along the cliff to the frozen lake was hair-raising at times! The tram works in winter, but seems more scary than walking/ sliding down somehow.

The scene out on the ice was worth it.  At least it was quiet that morning - no snowmobiles roaring by.

Of course I visited many area yarn shops, some I've already discussed in earlier posts, but the last one I have to mention is Gaylord's Imagiknit yarn shop.

The day I visited, the shop had a small group of ladies knitting in the front area, including one person who turned out to be someone who had known my aunt very well.  What a small world it is indeed.

I also had a great time meeting Ravelry designer Deby Lake (Ocknitiot on Ravelry), who works at Imaginknit.

The shop was well-organized and neat, featuring lots of Deby's lovely designs and a nice selection of yarns.

I liked the Michigan-local Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool shown above in a lovely range of colors.

The photo at the very top of this post shows the lavender heather Shepherd's Wool that jumped into my hands and came home with me.

I haven't knit with it yet, but I love the springy, squishy feel of the wool in the hank.  I am considering working up another version of my recently completed top-down cardigan with it, we'll see.  I'll be sure to review this yarn here when I do. 

Other than look at pretty yarn and knit, my husband and I hiked, ran, snow-shoe-d (sp?) and cross-country skied till we about dropped.  This was his first time on XC skis and he did great. 

We enjoyed the peaceful beauty of the area.

My husband brought along woodcarving supplies to hand-carve some horses.  Some will be made in natural wood, a few were painted.

First we painted the bodies in solid colors.

Then my husband, mom, aunt and I had a hilarious time attempting to paint them in a traditional Dala horse style.

 

My husband is a terrific wood-carver, often making beautiful buttons and shawl pins for me or for sale at yarn shops.

This ring and pin set in purple heart wood is such a pretty, glossy, natural plum color.

The bocote wood has such a beautiful grain.

The single sticks look nice in unusual shapes for shawls, wraps or even for use as hair pins.

I couldn't leave winter 2010/ 2011 without sharing a few of my favorite snow photos of our little dog.

She is a 3-year-old, 7-pound Pomeranian (a Spitz breed bred down from sled dogs like Huskies), and she adores playing in the snow. 

She loves to run, jump, dig in and eat it.

 

Although I'm ready for spring, we certainly had a fun and beautiful winter with few complaints save for the one big storm and power outage.

Now I'm looking forward to a new growing season and some warmer-weather knits, maybe another cardigan, some hats, a vest, more shrugs, a camisole and a pullover?  Definitely some shawls, lots more spinning and a little crochet.  Ha ha ha, a big list I know.  I'll be laughing even more about this come September.

I wonder what everyone else is planning now that the season is changing?

Peace, blessings and happy knitting to you!