Here is a look at what I’ve finished over the last month and what I’m working on in December. Please note the design and test knit links throughout this post are to the Ravelry unless they say otherwise. Yarn links are to yarn companies. Etsy links are to my shop.
FINISHED
The Sweet Clover Cowl pattern is released! The Sweet Clover Cowl uses simple increases and yarn overs to evoke the sweet clover blooms on the prairies of Middle America during the spring and summer. The Sweet Clover Cowl is long for a draped-scarf feel. Lace is charted and written. Sample cowl knit in Mirasol Yarn Nuna. If you need to avoid Ravelry, here is the link to the Sweet Clover Cowl at Tallgrass Knitting (my Etsy shop).
My replacement Sherri Pullover is finished too! I’m super excited to have it in my closet and have already worn it a few times. I loved my original Sherri Pullover so much as a mid-layer for winter hiking that I felted the yarn and could no longer wear anyplace except on hikes. This version is out of the same Valley Yarns Amherst in the color Harvest Gold.
I had leftover of the Harvest Gold Amherst. So, I also knit up a quick Judy (my free ponytail hat) out of it. I love it!!! The yarn is so warm. Plus this was a good test of the simple peek-a-boo opening at a larger stitch gauge. I know the Judy pattern works for a wide range of yarns and head sizes. But I worried that the pattern wasn’t quite versatile enough. The Judy pattern is written at a gauge of 20 sts per 4 inches or 5 spi (stitches per inch). The Amherst yarn knits up for me at a consistent gauge of 4.5 spi. That means I expected this Amherst Judy to measure slightly more than 2″ larger around. I was fine with that since I knew my ponytail pulled through the peek-a-boo opening would anchor the hat and I love the slightly slouchy feel it would give. I did worry that the peek-a-boo opening would be too, too big and added extra decrease rounds on my first attempt. I quickly realized it was better to go back to the pattern as written even with this larger yarn!
ON THE NEEDLES
The Salt Water Taffy Cowl test knit is finished and I’m just working on final edits before release. It is sooooo close to finished and should be out early next week. The sample cowls for this one are knit out of Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok Worsted in the color Quartz Crystal for the pink version and Berroco Vintage Worsted in the color Envy for the green version.
The Beach Glass Sweater is finished too. I’m now working on the written pattern and the tech editing process. It should be ready for test knit starting in early January 2021. This sweater did go through one final rip back and redo of the bottom cables since they weren’t exactly how I wanted. Now all that is left is the final pattern edits and sewing in the ends. The yarn for this sample is Knit Picks Gloss DK in a dark teal/turquoise color named Kenia.
I’ve also been working on this new cowl design. It took a while but I finally figured out the hardest part of the design and I love it! This sample is out of Malabrigo Rios in the color Fresco y Seco (which translate roughly to Fresh and Dry….the younger teen is taking Spanish I in high school this year and I love being able to brush off my Spanish to practice with him). Back to knitting and yarn, I always forget how much I love working with Rios until I pick it up again.
I also picked up these glorious patterns during the sale portion of the Indie Design Gift-A-Long on Ravelry and I’m working on them to share in the GAL threads. I love participating in the threads and supporting other designers. I don’t normally spend a lot of time on other designer’s work, so I always look forward to this time of year and set is aside for exactly that. (Pictured above from left to right and top to bottom: Escape the Rain Hat by Helen Kennedy out of Kelbourne Woolens Germantown, Smock Tops boot cuffs by Sophia Minakais out of some Berroco Vintage DK from deep, deep stash, Hopcott Cowl by Chrissy Graham out of some 100% blue face Leicester hand-dyed wool that I got at the Taos Wool Market (it is a huge skein of 550 yards so I’m definitely going to have leftovers) and Yippee Ki Yay boot cuffs by Laurie Beardsley out of a precious single skein of Malabrigo Arroyo in the color Archangel.)
That’s it for this month. It feels like plenty to take me into the new year. As always, you can sign up here for my newsletter to receive new pattern updates and exclusive discounts. Please be kind to yourself and others as we all move forward. Take care!
