It’s been a minute since I wrote a blog post about what I’ve been knitting. That is partly because I haven’t been doing all that much knitting. I started a new 40-hour-a-week day job. And I delivered one of the people I love best halfway across the country. One thing is draining and the other pretty devastating. So, for a while now all I’ve been knitting is socks….or nothing at all.
I’m starting to have more things on the needles now. So, here’s a look at what I’m knitting these days.
FINISHED
Luckily, I had already completed several designs before the difficult months of May, June, July, and August. Since the last time I shared, the Orchid Tee, Gemstone Shawl, Gansey Boot Cuffs, Turquoise Trail Shawl, and Little Bluestem Cowl all released! (These are each Ravelry links.) I offer these same designs (and many more, plus some pretty awesome gifts for knitters) at Tallgrass Knitting (my Etsy shop). The test knits for each moved along even with some chunks of time where I couldn’t check in on them. I’ve mentioned it before, but test knitters really are the best. I couldn’t continue to be a designer without their input, help, and support.
Plus, my feature article about The Fiber Mill came out in the Interweave Knits Fall 2022 issue!
ON THE NEEDLES
Pictured from top to bottom and left to right: Wine Country Sweater, Hot Chocolate Boot Cuffs, Bamboo Cowl, and Blustery Cowl.
The Wine Country Sweater test knit (Ravelry link) is almost finished. I went with a small group of dedicated knitters for this test. And I’ve been super happy with the input on the sweater pattern and the looks at their projects! I’ll be honest – I almost didn’t move forward with this one. Sweater pattern math in 9 sizes was more than my brain wanted to handle during the hardest part of this season. So, I’m also very grateful for the support, help, and patience of my tech editor for this one too!
The Bamboo Cowl test knit (Ravelry link) is moving fast too. I love, love, love this cowl! And the pattern is so simple. I’ve been getting great feedback from test knitters on this one. And several testers finished so quickly and love it so much that they’ve already cast on second cowls. That is always great to hear from testers and knitters.
The Hot Chocolate Boot Cuffs are almost ready for test knit too. Boot cuffs are so quick and easy to knit. Plus, they make great gifts and are a blast to wear as the weather gets chilly. And to be honest – this pattern is simple enough my brain could handle it and comforting to me since we all know how much I love my Hot Chocolate Hats. As an added bonus, I can now feel matchy, matchy wearing a Hot Chocolate Hat and Hot Chocolate Boot Cuffs. Fun! I could even go matchy, matchy, matchy by adding my Cafè Blend Cowl.
The rights to the Blustery Cowl revert back to me mid-October too! I’m working on getting it ready for release soon. The Blustery Cowl originally published in the Knit Picks book Serendipity: Luxurious Knits Collection. I’m excited to start offering this pattern on Ravelry, at Tallgrass Knitting (my Etsy shop), and Love Crafts. It will also stay at Knit Picks through their IDP program.
Just for fun, here’s a look at some of the socks I’ve been knitting while my heart and brain needed a break from designing. Plus, a look at the Halloween Hat knit out of leftover sock yarn. I’ve been having fun with knitting socks. I gifted one pair for a friend’s birthday, donated one pair for a fundraiser for a local youth space, gifted another pair to my MIL for her birthday, sent one pair to the older teen in a care box, and kept a pair for me.
My plan is to get back to more regular blog posts about what I’m knitting. In them meantime, you can sign up here for my newsletter to see what I’m up to, receive new pattern updates, find exclusive discounts and get the first word on any sales I might run on my patterns. Please be kind to yourself and others.
