The Ides of February

It's been quite a week here in the free world...

1. Today is my mom's birthday - happy birthday mama!

2. Working on top-secret projects for Interweave Knits and Vogue Knitting... So cool!

3. I'm pretty excited about the Socks For All Seasons club!

I just finished knitting up the first pattern for March, it's being checked out by the test knitter right now. All I can say is that it's um, you know what? I can't say anything about it yet. No spoilers here!

It's not too late to sign up. Details here.

In fact, I finally started a Ravelry group! It's called Keep on Knitting in the Free World and it will be a pace to post pictures of your club projects, chat, get help, whatever! The Ravelry group is here. I hope you'll join me!



4. Hey! Interweave is selling the Freshman Cable Sock Pattern I designed for Knitscene Fall 2009! It's available here, exclusively.

5. Tomorrow is my pal Lee's birthday. Go on and wish her a happy one, and while you're there, check out her connect the dots stitching kits!

Dorothy's Basket, now available

This pattern was on lock-out for about 8 months - I'm happy to say it is now available to the public!



While daydreaming of a world over the rainbow, a farming girl from Kansas would have to also be practical. She would need a light shawl to wear while walking her dog to the mercantile. This project was inspired by something a young Dorothy Gale might sport to coordinate with her gingham dress and hand basket.



Because this project is worked side to side, it is a great way to jump into lace knitting without the casting on or binding off of hundreds of stitches.

How about a pic of the shawl in action? Thanks to my work buddy, all around foxy moxington and hairspirational BFF Vivian for always having a good attitude about posing with my hand knits!



Size: One size

Measurements:
Elongated triangle. 70” long, 24” deep at center, blocked.

Gauge: 24 sts/32 rows = 4" [10cm] in Stockinette stitch

Yarn: About 525 yards of any lace-weight (or fingering, really) yarn of your choice. I used Fresh From the Cauldron MCN Lace (80% Merino, 10% Cashmere 10% Nylon; 565 yards [517 m] / 4.06oz [115 g]), 1 skein.

Needles: 1 set US #4/3.5mm circular needles or straight needles, or size to get proper gauge.

Skill level: Intermediate. You will need to know how to cast on, increase, decrease, work simple lace, and follow written or charted instructions.

Pattern PDF = $4.99

Juliet

Another finished sweater?







Yarn: De-Vine by Blue Moon Fiber Arts in color Jasper

Pattern: Juliet by Sarah Johnson (Zephyr Style)

Buttons: Spalted oak hand-made by etsy seller wooden treasures.

I love it!

Opal Creek Cowl and Mitts

Living in Portland, Oregon, I am surrounded by countless expanses and pockets of overwhelming beauty. Opal Creek is a wilderness area located in the Willamette National Forest on the border of the Mount Hood National Forest. It has the largest uncut watershed in Oregon. Early prospectors waded in Opal Pool and remarked on the natural glory of the crystal water. The stitch pattern in this cowl suggests gentle currents and leaves, inspired by Opal Creek.




It's the February Installment of Twisted’s Single Skein Club 2010!
(Available to the public May 1st, 2010.)

This new pattern set also includes a crossword puzzle. Check out Twisted here.

Thanks to Vivian for the lovely photos!

Arctic Blast Mitts

It's been a long wait, but this pattern is finally available!

Despite illusions of spring arriving, we are very much in the heart of winter. It was this time last year I put together a pair of armwarmers for Twisted's Single Skein Club.

Backstory: December 2008, Portland. A snow storm hit our town hard. Some called it Snowpocalypse. It was offically named Arctic Blast. So too are these fingerless gloves I was knitting at the time.



(Thanks to Vivian for being such a fun hand model!)

Yarn: Malabrigo Silky Merino (50% Silk, 50% Merino; 50 grams,150 yards/137 m) 1 skein



Some people live in towns that expect two feet of snow. These towns have snow plows and salt and intrepid spirits that function despite the challenges.

I live in a town that panicked. We had some plowing of the major streets, with sand instead of salt. But if you didn't have chains, you weren't driving anywhere.

I did what I had to do... I stayed at home with some hot tea, bad movies, and knit some armwarmers. And now I get to brag that I officially survived the Arctic Blast of Ought Eight.



This intermediate level pattern includes instructions to make a pair of lacy wrist warmers. You’ll need to know how to read a pattern, cast on, work simple lace, and work in the round. The lace pattern is charted as well as written; take your pick.

$4.99