August 2014 Archives

I'm really excited to unveil my newest design, the Willowherb Pullover. If you like some of my other designs, you may recognize both the name and motif. I released a Willowherb Hat and Mitten set earlier this year.

This pullover has been tech edited and ready to go for about a month, now, but I've been waiting to release it until today because Kristi's including me in an update. This Thursday, starting at noon, EST, if you buy a sweater's worth of Paulie Worsted, you'll get a coupon for a free copy of this pattern. Plenty more details on the Shalimar update page and in the Shalimar ravelry group.

This pattern is available in 10 sizes, from 32" / 81.5 cm to 60" / 152.5 cm and fits comfortable with a little negative or positive ease. If you are between sizes, you can simply choose a size that suits your personal preference. I'd probably go down to the lower size, but if you like a fit that skims instead of clings, going up to the next size will be your best bet. Either way, I offer plenty of tips along the way, to customize your fit. You'll also find a comprehensive schematic in the pattern. It can be really helpful to measure a well fitting sweater in a similar weight, and compare it to the measurements in the schematic.

The sweater is offered for $8 as a stand-alone pattern or $10.50 if you buy it with the Willowherb Hat and Mitten set. You can either buy the two-pattern ebook, or buy the patterns individually. The discount is automatic and retroactive for customers who bought the hat and mitten set before I released the sweater.

As always, I want you to be happy with any purchase you make from my store. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me and I'll do my best to help you out.

The new edition of Twist Collective came out, last week. Did you get a chance to see it? If not, grab a cup of your favorite warm or cold beverage, and take a few minutes to flip through its virtual pages, because there are so many fantastic pieces. I feel like I can't even pick favorites because I like so many of them for so many different reasons. The shawls, in particular, are really inspiring. Every last one is a winner and they look like they'd be a heck of a lot of fun to knit, too. And if you are a mitten person, especially if you are a colorwork mitten person, I really think you'll love what the designers have come up with. And of course, there are tons of garments, some socks, hats, mitts and cowls. So go take a look.

My piece is called Heyday. It's a sort of yoke/raglan hybrid, with body darts and a split neck. Just a few short rows over each sleeve, help shape the yoke around the shoulders. A simple cable/bobble pattern is worked around the hems and yoke and the neck is finished with some basic crochet. If you are a knit-only person, you can always substitute i-cord.

Worn open, the split neck makes a flattering v-neck, tied close, the neck is more of a ballet style, with a keyhole opening. Since the garment has so few details it's really a breeze to alter. Do you want to eliminate the split? Just work the yoke in the round. Do you want to make the neck narrower? Add more decreases rounds. Wider? Take out some decreases. This is really a piece you can customize and make your own.

My original swatch and proposal, even suggested subbing the small bobble for a glass bead. I didn't think Sundara's stunning Sport Merino Two in this richly hued colorways, needed any extra adornment, but for a subtler colorway like one of her Vintage shades, a little glimmer might be just the thing.

I really enjoyed both designing and knitting this piece. It's my first yoke-ish design and I was happy to see it come together without any big challenges. It's always a risk, taking on a new construction, under deadline, but I couldn't think of a better way to show of that swag-like stitch pattern.

If you like this design, you can find out more about it in the following locations:

• Twist Magazine
• Twist Shop
• Ravelry
• My shop

And you can find the yarn here with new colors coming all the time. I would love to know what your favorite piece in the edition is. Can you pick just one?