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Saturday, December 26, 2015

Knitscene Spring 2016

Knitscene Spring 2016 is here and I'm particularly excited for this issue because I've got four new patterns in it! 

Photo Credit: Knitscene/Goodfolk Photography

I'm delighted to be this season's featured designer and I used the opportunity to create a collection of patterns focused on the theme of movement. You can read about my design concept in the lovely profile that Karen Templer wrote after interviewing me. 

THE DESIGNS

Siula Grande sweater is my perfect spring sweater. It's soft, light, draping, and has a relaxed, feminine fit. I worked it up in Malabrigo Lace, so it's almost featherweight. The sweater is mostly worked in ribbing, but I added some sweet little lace details at the hem, cuffs, and along the lines of the raglan shaping. The wide scoop neckline is finished with a clean and simple rolled hem. 

Photo Credit: Knitscene/Goodfolk Photography

Mismi Shawl uses contrasting colors of soft gray to create a bold and versatile piece. It's an asymmetrical triangle worked from the wide side to a point. It involves a little Intarsia to join those two colors, but if you haven't done it before, this would be a great introduction. There's really nothing to it - just twist the yarns around each other and go on your way. The lace is clean and geometric and I can't get over the incredible stitch definition I got from the Quince & Co. Tern I used in my sample. 

Photo Credit: Knitscene/Goodfolk Photography
The Chachani Hat uses the same little lace pattern I employed in the Siula Grande sweater, but it's doubled to keep your ears warm. The spiral twisted stitch pattern moves gracefully around the body of the hat and meets up at the crown in a lovely, organic way. I knit mine up in Swans Island Natural Colors Merino Fingering, which is a fairly light fingering weight yarn. I love the soft, supple fabric it gives, and there's something special about working with indigo dyed yarn. (It turned my hands blue, but I kind of love that!)

Photo Credit: Knitscene/Goodfolk Photography
And the Salcantay Cowl uses the simplicity of a big garter chevron and stripes to make a graphic but understated accessory. I know this will be a go-to piece in my wardrobe when I get the sample back. (Yes, I've been wearing my samples! Once they've done the rounds, I can't seem to let them sit in storage because I want to wear them too much!) Hikoo Rylie is an alpaca/silk/linen blend and it makes such a great fabric! It has a gorgeous drape, as would be expected, and it's soft with a tiny bit of halo and a tiny bit of crunchiness from the linen. 

Photo Credit: Knitscene/Goodfolk Photography
I hope you like the collection! You can get the digital edition now from Interweave, and the print magazine will be in your LYS and local newsstand soon. You can also learn more about the other patterns in the issue on the Knitscene blog.

Happy Knitting!

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

The Moon & the Mountain Giveaway


Not only am I announcing a new pattern today, The Moon & the Mountain, but it was designed with a brand new yarn and I've partnered with Craftsy to do a giveaway of the pattern kit too! (Scroll to the bottom of the page if you just want to get to the giveaway.)

UPDATED DEC. 8, 2015
We have a winner! The giveaway is now closed. Thank you for entering!

You probably know that I love designing with giant, chunky yarns. The outsized stitches are so fun and bold, and make a project quick to knit as well! I made the Moon & the Mountain using a draping, soft, chunky Merino yarn - Cloudborn Superwash Merino Bulky. It's great for the chilly weather we've been having here, and would make a perfect gift knit too!




It's worked from the top-down, so the rows just get quicker the more you knit! And the geometric striping pattern is done using the Intarsia method - just twist your colors around each other when you switch. (It's surprisingly simple to do, and this is a great first-Intarsia project.)

SEE IT ON RAVELRY

PATTERN SPECS
Finished Measurements 
Wingspan: 56 in/142 cm
Depth at Point: 31 in/78.5 cm

Yarn
Super bulky yarn in two colors:
Main Color: 295 yd/270 m
Contrast Color: 100 yd/92 m

Shown in Cloudborn Superwash Merino Bulky (100% Superwash Merino; 109 yd/100 m per 100g skein)
Main Color: Grey Heather; 3 skeins
Contrast Color: Ocean; 1 skein

Blocked Gauge
Gauge measurement should be taken after blocking.
9 sts/16 rows = 4 in/10 cm in Stockinette st

Needles & Notions
Needle sizes are recommendations only; always use needle size necessary to achieve given gauge.

US #13/9 mm needle

tapestry needle
row counter (optional)

Skills
Intarsia, shaping using decreases

Get 10% off the pattern using coupon code THEMOON for two days only! Sale ends Dec. 10.

Price $7 








AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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