Catching up on New Patterns: Whitemud Creek and Blooming Fine

I'm more than a little behind on things lately, and am going to try to catch up at least a little bit here. First off, I should be sure to tell you that my Whitemud Creek Pullover is on the cover of Knit Now Magazine Issue 109!

Image courtesy of Knit Now Magazine, used with permission

Image courtesy of Knit Now Magazine, used with permission

Worked in Rico Design Essentials Soft Merino, the Whitemud Creek Pullover is worked in the round to the underarms, then shaped and worked back and forth in rows to the shoulders. Shoulders are seamed, then stitches are picked up at the armhole edge and worked back and forth in rows, with a join worked at the underarm edge at each pass until the underarm is fully integrated into the sleeve. The sleeve is then worked in the round down to the cuff, and the collar is picked up and knit around the neckline.

Image courtesy of Knit Now Magazine, used with permission

Inspired by Autumn strolls over crunchy leaves in the Whitemud Creek Ravine near my childhood home, this pullover features a winding cable panel on the back and front that recalls that shallow meandering creek.

Image courtesy of Knit Now Magazine, used with permission

The magazine also features a pattern from a fellow Albertan, Barb Brown, who has designed a gorgeous Christmas Stocking.

Image courtesy of Knit Now Magazine, used with permission

You can order your copy and find out more information about the magazine here: https://www.knitnowmag.co.uk/2019/11/05/knit-now-issue-109-out-now/


I also have a new pattern out with Ancient Arts Yarns, and that one is a quick fun stranded colourwork knit: Blooming Fine Mitts!

Worked in Lascaux Fine, which is a two-ply fingering weight yarn that is a blend of Manx Loaghtan and Punta Arenas wool, the Blooming Fine Mitts feature a flower-like motif that is embellished with bobbles for a bit of extra fun. Two 50g skeins (one in each colour) gives you enough yarn to make two pairs if you reverse the colour scheme for the second pair.

You can buy kits for the mitts right here: https://ancientartsfibre.com/collections/yarn-and-kits/products/blooming-fine-mitts-kits

Fennel Cardigan

My subscriber copy of Interweave Knits Spring 2019 arrived back on Thursday, and it reminded me that I had not yet written a blog post about my contribution to the issue, the Fennel Cardigan.

Photo Courtesy of Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits

It's very nearly a year since I set up a proposal for this sweater to send in to Interweave, and I was very pleased that they decided to include my work in the issue. I enjoyed every minute of knitting this sweater, which uses Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok, a delightful worsted weight 100% wool yarn.

Photo Courtesy of Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits

The Fennel Cardigan features a simple yet striking cable pattern that is mirrored at the back and to either side of the buttonband, a V-neck, set-in sleeves, and pockets. Nice, large pockets. The theme for this magazine issue is Impressionist Art, and I felt this is the sort of cardigan one could wear while painting or sketching outside on a mild day, with plenty of room in the pockets for a small notebook, some pencils or brushes, or perhaps small treasures found while on a walk. It's also the sort of cardigan one could wear in a chilly office year-round, around the house, or well, pretty much anywhere. While sized for men, the sample for this cardigan fits me nicely (well, if I fold the cuffs back for my shorter arms anyhow), and I am looking forward to wearing it when the sample comes back to me.

You can purchase the magazine issue here for the digital edition, and here for the print edition. If you like the Fennel Cardigan, why not head on over to Ravelry to add it to your favourites (and/or your queue if you're planning on making the sweater).

Photo Courtesy of Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits

December Pattern Releases (In January...)

Hi, I've been away for a bit, mostly in order to keep hard at work meeting a deadline, and then a wee vacation after that. In the meantime, in December there were two new pattern releases to let you know about!

First, the Tricycle Track Mittens:

Photo by Dan Walmsley for Practical Publishing, used with permission.

Tricycle Track mittens, so called for the three stripes of garter stitch that resemble treads, are available in Issue 68 of Knit Now Magazine, which you can purchase here! The mittens are worked cuff-up in the round, using Knit Picks City Tweed DK.

Second, Nor Good Red Herring.

I started this one a long time ago, but finished it up in time to be my last pattern release of 2016. Nor Good Red Herring was inspired by a herringbone pattern from a Dutch fishing gansey, but has here been transposed onto a circular yoke more in keeping with an Icelandic-style sweater, and worked in a luxurious English-spun merino yarn—making it neither fish, nor fowl, nor good red herring. The herringbone pattern runs not only around the yoke, but also up the sides and mirrored on the sleeves. This pullover is worked in Yarn Stories Fine Merino 4ply, and can be purchased here.

Bangor Pullover

I'm proud, pleased, and excited to be able to say that Interweave Knits Winter 2017 is out, and in it you will find my Bangor Pullover! This issue of Interweave Knits is available via the Interweave Store (here: print edition or here: digital edition ), and my contribution was part of the Whiskey and Wool theme, which features an excellent array of cabled knitwear worked in gorgeous wool.

Photo by Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits. Used with Permission.

I'm particularly proud of this sweater, and I've had a closeup of it as the wallpaper on my mobile ever since the day I sent in the sample! I love the yarn; it has good stitch definition, feels great, and looks amazing. Worked in Cascade 220 Heathers, in Pumpkin Spice, the colour has a brilliant amount of depth. Every person who saw the sample in person while I was knitting it exclaimed at the colour and looked closer to see the different shades that worked together to make a great blend.

Photo by Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits. Used with Permission.

My goal with this sweater was to make a comfortable yet stylish pullover. The cables remind me of the grains of rye that are used to flavour Canadian whisky, and the seed stitch works with the cables to add more texture while keeping simple clean lines. The cables on the sleeves continue up into a saddle-shoulder for a handsome finishing detail.

Photo by Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits. Used with Permission.

The Bangor Pullover is worked from the bottom-up, in the round to the underarms, then front and back are worked flat separately. The sleeves are likewise worked cuff-up in the round to the underarm, with the sleeve caps and saddle worked flat, then set-in and seamed, with the collar picked up and worked in the round to finish. This sweater is a good choice for those who are new or newer to cables, as the cable is a simple one worked at regular intervals.

Photo by Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits. Used with Permission.

Finished Size: 36 (39½, 44¼, 46¾, 51½)" chest circumference. Pullover shown measures 44¼"; modeled with 4¼" of positive ease.

The Bangor Pullover pattern can also be purchased individually from the Interweave Store here: Bangor Pullover

Smoky Lake

My Grandpa grew up near Smoky Lake here in Alberta, and I love when he tells the story of the time he and his brother came home with what they thought was a big fluffy dog that was only too happy to follow them. My Great-Grandmother was less than enthusiastic about any intent to keep the creature, and my Great-Grandfather brought the bear cub back to where the boys had found it.

The last time I was in Smoky Lake (the town, not the lake), it was rather an icy day in February, and I could have used a warm, sturdy, cozy cardigan to wrap myself up in. Smoky Lake, my design for Twist Collective Fall 2016, is a cabled and double-breasted cardigan with a shawl collar that totally fits the bill for warm, sturdy and cozy.

©Twist Collective. Used with permission

This cardigan is worked in Briggs & Little Atlantic, which is a bulky 3-ply wool that shows off cables nicely, even in a relatively darker shade like Grape, which Smoky Lake features. Of course, Briggs & Little Atlantic also comes in an excellent range of colours, both in heathered (like Grape) and solid. I think if I was knitting Smoky Lake again, I'd be tempted to also try Grey Heather, Fern, or Rust.

©Twist Collective. Used with permission

For warmth, I can tell you I tried this one on one warm summer day, and would have melted if I had kept it on any longer than it took to snap a few photos. I feel Smoky Lake would be perfect for a fall (and spring for that matter) coat. If I had been able to wear it while camping with my family this summer, it would have also been just the thing for chilly mornings in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

©Twist Collective. Used with permission

The wool is not only warm, but hard-wearing, and will keep your knitting in good form for a very long time. Briggs & Little Atlantic relaxes slightly with a wash, and plumps up a wee bit too; it keeps its shape and definition while making the drape and handle come out just right.

When designing Smoky Lake, I wanted to use cables that would be sculptural enough to stand out even on a darker wool, but that would work well with a bulky wool without distorting the overall fabric. I settled on two cables that would play nicely with each other in columns. I wanted a Pea Coat feel to the sweater, a sense of being wrapped in wool against all weather and ready for outdoor exploration over lake, sea, woodland or field. A double-breasted coat with a voluminous shawl collar had the right sort of feel too it, and so I sketched this up:

Of course, with bulky wool and a good sized button-band in the front meant that there would be less density of cables than in my sketch (I also don't think I got the eyes quite right, but that has very little to do with the sweater, right?); but the sketch conveyed the feel I was looking for, and once calculations and adjustments to assure a good fit for all the sizes in question for men and women were worked over and approved, I set about crunching numbers and making sure that the sweater worked up into a cozy and beautiful garment. I really enjoyed working up the shawl collar; no matter how often I use short-rows, they feel like magic, and the bands worked up particularly quickly in the bulky yarn.

©Twist Collective. Used with permission

I am so pleased to see my idea fully transformed into reality, even better than I had imagined it. I really enjoyed working with Twist Collective on this project; much thanks to all of the Twist staff! Twist Collective, as always, has beautiful photography, and I recommend even to the non-knitters who read this blog to go take a look through this issue (and back issues as well)!

Thanks and love to my Grandpa, who, by the way, always looks great in a double-breasted jacket.

The Smoky Lake pattern is now available for purchase here through Twist Collective.

©Twist Collective. Used with permission

Fall Knitting is for the Summertime: Presenting the OXO Pullover!

As a knitter, I say it's never too early to start thinking of Fall. I also say that Summer is the time to start knitting up sweaters so they're ready to wear in the Fall, not to mention the odd chilly day out camping during the summer. Luckily, Love of Knitting seem to be in agreement on the subject, as they have just released their Fall 2016 issue. I am also very happy to say that I have a design included in this issue!

Presenting the OXO Pullover!

Photo by  Carmel Zucker for Love of Knitting. Used with permission.

I was so excited to see these photos when they arrived in my in-box. The model is just so adorable, and they did such a lovely job!

Photo by  Carmel Zucker for Love of Knitting.
Used with permission.

The OXO Pullover is a classic child's pullover with a bold X and O cable pattern forming columns.

Worked in Patons Classic Wool DK Superwash, the wool is warm, cozy, soft, durable, and machine-washable; all things that are ideal for a child's sweater. This yarn comes in a variety of colours that will appeal to kids and grown-ups alike, and I had many comments on the beautiful emerald colour as I was working on the sample.

Photo by  Carmel Zucker for Love of Knitting.
Used with permission.

The single-rib side panels give the sweater extra stretch allow extra room as your child grows; this and the modified drop-sleeve style allow for a comfortable relaxed fit without a lot of extra fabric to get in the way of a day of play. Finished Size: 25½ (27, 28, 29½ , 31)" chest circumference. Shown in size 28".

Photo by  Carmel Zucker for Love of Knitting. Used with permission.

Photo by  Carmel Zucker for Love of Knitting.
Used with permission.

The Fall 2016 issue of Love of Knitting is coming to newstands very soon, but in the meantime, you can order a print copy here:

http://www.interweavestore.com/love-of-knitting-fall-2016-print-edition

or a digital copy here:

 http://www.interweavestore.com/love-of-knitting-fall-2016-digital-edition

Frobisher

This past week, I've had two designs published (which makes for an exciting week!), and I am so glad to be able to finally share this one with you!

Photograph by Dan Walmsley for Practical Publishing

Frobisher is named for the rose in the Explorer series, which in turn is named for the explorer of the same name; quite appropriate for a sweater with both British and Canadian connections, right? The Canadian connection is of course myself, and the British connection is Knit Now Magazine, who have published my sweater in issue number 53, available for online purchase from Moremags at this link.

Photograph by Dan Walmsley for Practical Publishing

I am so pleased to have my sweater on the cover of this magazine, which is full of delicious cables, colourwork, and tweed; just the thing for October. There's even a crossword puzzle I'm hoping to try out over coffee later on; that too is full of woolly goodness!

Worked in Sirdar Wool Rich Aran, Frobisher features plenty of cables, including a large cable running up the sleeve into the saddle shoulders. The shawl collar is thoroughly cozy, and the choice of fit is reasonably flexible with the stretch in the cabled ribbing; that is, the size small fits me if I want a snug-but-comfortable fit, but if I wanted a more relaxed fit I would go with the medium that I usually wear. Sized in women's sizes from XS to 3XL, the sweater is actually unisex, so observe the actual measurements in centimetres to choose the size to knit for men.

I wanted the Frobisher pullover to be at once rugged and cozy, and there is just something about cables that speaks of both to me. I enjoyed designing and knitting Frobisher, and hope you will enjoy knitting it just as much!

In Which I Finally Finish a Few Things

I had a rather productive weekend, despite something in the way of a low-level migraine (I don't get them often thank goodness, but it's even rarer for it to keep threatening to return off and on). I finished swatching for a submission, wrote it up, and sent it in. I spent time visiting with fellow knitters and spinners while knitting and spinning. I finished and delivered baby gifts:

Gather by Tin Can Knits, knit in Rowan Pure Wool Worsted, accompanied by my usual baby mittens, and a pair of books for an adorable pair of babies. Gotta keep heads and hands warm, and gotta start filling up a bookshelf with lovely reads. This time, I went with Sandra Boynton's Going to Bed Book, and Julia Donaldson's The Gruffalo. These are both favourites at our house, but I'm always looking for more great books for little ones, so I'd love to hear from readers what some of your favourite baby/kid books are to read or give as gifts!

I also finished my modified Slable by Woolly Wormhead. Now, I wouldn't have modified it if I'd had enough yarn, but as I was using my handspun, it would have been very difficult to spin up some more as I would have had to order in more roving first, and also because it's a cabled yarn that took a lot of time and work to make in the first place, and my spindles are all otherwise occupied anyhow.

If I'd known I was going to run out of yarn, I would have continued with size 23", but would have started the charts and such based on size 21" for where the repeats would fall. As it was, I had to back up and start the decreases earlier (I just plain didn't want to go all the way back to the brim), which worked fine, and pretty much just left out one repeat.

I couldn't resist sneaking in one last cabled section as I worked the last several decrease rounds, but worked them in single twists to make up for how few stitches were left at this point. It was a bit taxing on the hands, but it worked neatly enough, and I'm satisfied with the result. I was too eager to wear Slable to block it just yet, but will do so soon.

I'm certainly developing an appreciation for just how little yarn I do have once I'm finished spinning 100g, and hopefully will be able to estimate a bit better. Even better, will work on measuring more accurately, helping that by measuring AFTER washing the yarn instead of before.

Irish Cowboy

Presenting my latest pattern, Irish Cowboy:

I had some leftover cashmere. This, of course, was no hardship. The perfect thing to knit in order to best appreciate the luck of having leftover cashmere, it seemed, was some sort of cozy neck-warmer, ideally with gorgeous cables. 

Even better, it should finish up in a shape that effectively keeps the neck warm while wearing a v-necked jacket. This was done by working a flat piece with a cable trim extension on one side, then seaming the cast-end to the side near the cast-on end.

The resulting bandana-like piece reminded me of the lads from my Gaelic Football team that have moved to Alberta from Ireland. It made me think of the enjoyment the lads take in trying out local customs, particularly when they prepare to go “Stampeding” at the legendary Calgary Stampede Rodeo nearby and don a new uniform of Western-yoked snap shirts. If they want to wear their duds into the fall though, they'll definitely want to also wear the Irish Cowboy to keep warm!

Pattern has both written and charted directions, and is knit with 2 balls of Knit Picks Capra. 

Now on sale:

Spring! Skirt!

First things first: Spring!

I'm calling it spring. I'm not putting away the family's winter stuff until it's safely June or anything, I'm not that foolhardy! Raincoats and Rainboots are in the back hall alongside the winter stuff. Rainboots are being worn with winter jackets. Putting away the winter gear would be silly when there's still snow on the ground, and possibly one or two more snowfalls to come (likely with gorgeous weather the days before and after).

But, my tulips are on their way up, so that makes it spring, or at least, the nearest thing to it.








About a week ago, I finished my first knit skirt, Tralee by Carol Feller. I finished it just barely in time to wear to the Table Quiz fundraiser for the Edmonton Wolfe Tones GAA Club that includes my football team, and then proceeded to have a lovely evening out, enjoying wearing the skirt!

I made a few minor changes due to fears of yarn shortages. Having noted that all sizes have the same amount of stitches involved in the pleat, I reduced them very slightly. I thought I would need a larger size in the waist than I needed in the hips, so I started by knitting the size for the hips, and then decreased somewhat less for the waist. Then I tried it on when I reached the waistband. Then I pulled back the waist decrease section, ignoring the hours of work I was ripping away, and tried again, decreasing somewhat more than the pattern called for after all. Problem in knitter, not in pattern. My advice if you're making it: Go with the hip size, then try on as you go.

I have nearly a full ball of yarn left after all. Yarn is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, in Oyster Heather. I'm sure I'll find a good use for it sometime, after all, it goes nicely with my other Wool of the Andes remnants.









Now football will be my most likely excuse for not blogging as often as I'd like over the next few months (May's highly anticipated fundraiser is going to keep the volunteer crew very busy!), but I am still, always, stitching away, and will attempt to share the results of that stitching as often as I can get to it!

Presenting the Starlet Stole

I'm pleased to say that Knit Picks has just added the Starlet Stole that I designed to their Independent Designers Program!

It has been a lot of work getting this one ready, but it has been well worth it, and the pattern can be purchased for $2.99 USD here at Knit Picks.


This knitted stole features both cables and lace, with lace eyelets forming both the borders between cable panels and the background behind the main cable panel. The interplay between dense cables and airy eyelets is highlighted by the lovely drape and shine of the yarn.

Knit in Knit Picks Galileo, which is a bamboo/merino blend, it feels great both to knit with and to wear.

I used up every bit of the six balls of yarn. The Galileo responds well to blocking. In all seriousness, I had "Whip it Good" stuck in my head as I stretched and pinned this one out to full size!

I had been interested in exploring what would happen if I used eyelets not just between cable patterns, but also instead of purl stitches in the background of a trellised cable pattern, which is something I haven't seen done very often. The Starlet Stole is the result, and I am well-pleased.

Getting used to moving the eyelets around while simultaneously moving the cables across them was a bit tricky for the first repeat. However, it did become an established skill as I worked on the sample, becoming easier to keep track of the pattern as I gradually memorized it. I say this to point out that it's a wee bit tricky to get this one started, but to reassure you that it does get easier once you've gotten into it.

I would like to thank Stacey at Knit Picks for her work with the IDP program. I am very thankful to all the ladies who took the time to give me feedback, cast on the stole, or look over the pattern for me: Steph, Rachel, Kahlie, Shannon, Cailín, and especially Sigrun.

Thank-you also to my family for their patience with me while I worked obsessively on the sample, and to my youngest for her umm, "assistance" during the photo shoot (but especially her patience in waiting for her turn to be in the photos). I must say, she is a darling!