Oldie but Goodie!

Before I talk about being re-united with this sweater I want to thank you all so much for your birthday wishes and wonderful words of encouragement re the pattern collection. It helps a LOT to know I have folks eager to see the fruits of my labour!

So, the OBG! I haven't had this sweater for almost 3 years but it made it's way back to me last week. It is of course my Slipped Hours design that I made for the Sanguine Gryphon using her Dance yarn.

I was really satisfied with this design (an early one in my short career as a designer) and am very happy to have it as a new addition to my wardrobe (this sample fits me so well too)! I love the pleasing, simple shapes of the slipped stitch pattern, the 3/4 length sleeves and the floppy cowl.....

Unfortunately the yarn used for this is to be discontinued but I have plans to re-knit it using a different Sanguine Gryphon yarn and then re release the pattern here on my blog.

Now to choose a yarn and colour from all the wonderful ones on offer over at the Sanguine Gryphon!

A Wee Revelation

What isn't a revelation is that I turned 36 today! However as I'm feeling in a celebratory mood I thought it was an apt day to share important news on the knitting/designing front!

I've been keeping this to myself until I felt sure that enough of the pieces were coming together and I'm now at the point where I think I can safely nod the affirmative to that.

So....the real revelation .....I'll be self-publishing a collection of Shetland Trader patterns! There will be around 8 or so designs, all Shetland inspired (mostly lace influenced) and all to be photographed in that beautiful landscape this summer. The designs will also be available individually.

As it is going to be a bit of a wait before this collection is ready I felt the need to be able to share some of the process here with you on the blog. I won't be giving you full disclosures but rather snippets here and there....to whet the appetite as it were!

Hope you'll stick with me as I attempt what feels like an exciting and hopefully rewarding new venture!

Reasons To Be Cheerful

Hello! It's been a frighteningly long time since my last post as my husband keeps pointing out so I'm popping in with a brief recap as I emerge from my semi-hibernation!

So...reasons to be cheerful:

1) It's March and spring is in the air (as can be seen by Maya's colourful wellies and socks above). I'm so happy to be leaving February behind...always a tough month for me. It might also have something to do with the fact that March means birthdays in our house, one of which is mine!

2) I'm grateful for my beautiful friends who I'll be hanging out with on said birthday to make hula hoops and have henna tattoos applied!

3) Enjoying watching my kids grow and find their way.

4) We almost have a new mud room (interior work still unfinished)! It's maybe a little reflective of the tidy parent I have become that this makes me so happy!

5) Making music with my friends Jenn and Gerry has been a big part of my life these last couple of months. We're all in a band together (with some others) and have been jammin (it's a reggae influenced dynamic)! Here's a sneak listen!

6)...and last but not least knitting....always makes me cheerful (well maybe not the ripping). The hap shawl shown above is in preparation for a retreat I'm teaching at this coming weekend for Green Mtn Spinnery.....2 nights at an old inn and knitting...can't wait!

There is of course a lot of other knitting going on but I'll save that announcement for a different blog post!

An Audrey Of My Very Own!

After seeing so many gorgeous Audreys pop up on Ravelry (111 projects to date) I've been wanting to make another to add to my own wardrobe. The original is still with Twist Collective and in a shade of red that's not the most suitable for my tones.....and I plan on giving that one to my sister who immediately coveted it on it's publication!

I seem to be particularly drawn to purple these days and found the exact shade I was looking for in Soft Sea Wool by Great American Yarns. This yarn also has great stitch definition so the Unst Lace really pops.

Buttons were picked out yesterday at WEBS (I think they're tagua nut) and sewn on this morning.
So happy to have a new cardi!

Squam Art Workshops!

Hey what are you doing in June?
Looking for a fun filled artsy retreat by a lake in the woods?
Come to Squam!
I'll be lucky enough to be there as a teacher this year and I'm very excited! I'm offering a class on the Traditional Hap Shawl and also a class on my Aestlight Shawl.

There are many other wonderful offerings from many other wonderful teachers.
Jess and Casey will be there to host a Ravelry party and Stephanie Pearl McPhee is also going to be hanging out!
Registration for classes opens tomorrow....go and check it out!

....and here's something I made earlier!

I signed on to Ravelry this evening and saw that this had been added to my design page! I did indeed design it for Classic Elite several months ago but didn't know it would be out already.
I'm particularly proud of this one.....and I love Soft Linen!

ETA: I made the sweater below at the same time....it just showed up today on my Ravelry page!

The Conway Cloche

My friend Jenn's birthday is on the 24th of December and for a several years now I have always knit her a hat as a present. This year I even designed one especially for her (she's a very good friend). I've been drawn to the cloche style recently and decided this would suit her too. I chose to use the same ribbing as seen in my Tanit's Jacket. This texture is wonderfully dense and therefore creates a really cozy layer, which is much needed in my neck of the woods at this time of year!

I admit that I was also taking my own considerations into account when designing this, knowing that I would be making one for myself too. One of the major things when it comes to hat wearing for me is to have my ears nicely snuggled inside. It ruins a winter walk for me if my ears get exposed! So the Conway Cloche is nice and long in the body. The folded brim also adds to the length and even has a nice little contrast of colour on the inside which I find very pleasing to the eye!

You even get a choice of whimsy to add for decoration!

Size
21-inch circumference at brim of hat. To fit head size 21-24 inches. The ribbed pattern is very stretchy!

Yarn
215 yrds of worsted weight yarn. Shown in Berroco “Vintage” yarn in blue and Berroco “Ultra Alpaca” in red.

Materials
US 7/4.5mm 16-inch circular needle US 7/4.5mm set of DPNʼs US 8/5mm 16-inch circular needle Small amount of scrap yarn (in contrasting colour to hat yarn) Stitch Markers
Tapestry Needle Button (optional depending on which flower is added).

Gauge
20 sts and 35 rows = 4 inches in ribbing pattern on US #7/4.5 mm needles. 19 sts and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st on US #7/4.5mm needles.

$4.00

All proceeds of this hat pattern will be donated to MSF for their relief work in Haiti from now until the end of January.