New Year, New Pattern: Leucania Shawl

Happy New Year, friends! I’m excited to begin 2022 on a positive note—with a new pattern added to my Ravelry, Etsy, and Payhip shops: an all-season textured shawl called Leucania.

Save 20 percent on the Leucania Shawl pattern at either Ravelry or Payhip with the coupon code NEWYEAR. You can also save 20 percent at Etsy, where no code is needed. The sale continues through January 9 in all three shops.

Knit in fingering weight yarn, Leucania is an all-season piece—it’s perfect for casual wear (wrapped around your neck, it will keep you warm on winter hikes!) but equally suited for weddings and other special occasions that call for a light and elegant accessory.

Named after the Obscure Wainscot Moth (Leucania obsoleta), this triangular shawl is worked top-down from a garter stitch tab cast-on (instructions provided). The upper part of the Leucania Shawl is worked in a wide rib pattern, creating a light but warm fabric. The knitting goes quickly, and before you know it, you’re at the ornate stitchwork border. The design ends with an easy-to-knit scalloped edging.

Do you recognize the edging? I used it on a much earlier shawl design—the Peppernut Shawl that I published back in 2013, using the same yarn (the beautiful Stone Soup Fingering by Bare Naked Wools). An an extra bonus, I’ve set up a sale for Peppernut as well—save 20% at Ravelry or Payhip with the coupon code NEWYEAR (or, at Etsy, with no code), also through January 9.

We’re having a rather gloomy New Year’s Day here in western Massachusetts—foggy and rainy. I like to take a long walk on New Year’s Day and I think I’ll continue the tradition today in spite of the poor weather. After all, that’s what umbrellas are for! The weather was much more amenable a couple of days ago, when I went on a rambling walk on trails around the Mill River and Puffer’s Pond (below).

Do you have a New Year’s Day tradition (other than sleeping late)? However you are spending the day, I hope your 2022 is off to a peaceful start.

Puffer’s Pond, Amherst, Massachusetts

LINKS

Leucania Shawl
Peppernut Shawl
My Ravelry Designer Page
Payhip
Etsy

Pattern Release: Bluetta

I’m pleased to share my last new pattern for 2020: Bluetta, a cozy, feminine scarf/shawlette to knit for yourself or as a gift. The pattern is now available in my Ravelry and Payhip pattern stores, where you can enjoy 20% off with the coupon code BLUETTA.

Named after a variety of blueberries, Bluetta combines easy garter stitch and a scalloped lace edging. Worked from one end to the other, it has a gently tapered crescent shape. And, it’s reversible! No worrying about getting the “right” side up when you wear it.

The pattern provides step-by-step instructions in written form and in a chart. A schematic helps you to visualize the progression of the knitting, the increase and decrease sections, and the piece’s overall shape.

There are two sizes — a scarf and a shawlette — as well as tips for shortening or lengthening the piece.

Any single or plied fingering weight yarn can be used. You’ll need 475 yds/435 m for the scarf and 550 yds/505 m for the shawlette. For the sample, I used handspun Three Waters Farm Rambouillet in the Blue Flourish colorway.

The introductory discount continues through Thursday, December 10, at Ravelry and Payhip. Use the coupon code BLUETTA to save 20%.

Thank you for your support during this year like no other. I couldn’t have gotten through it without you. I’m truly grateful for each and every pattern purchase.

Happy knitting—and happy holidays to you and yours.

Pattern Release: Next in Line Wrap

Five colors of sock yarn, lots of soothing garter stitch, and a fun log cabin construction: meet the Next in Line Wrap, a striking unisex accessory sure to unleash your color creativity.

Next in Line Wrap, by Bonnie Sennott

The pattern’s available on Ravelry and at Payhip. Save 20% at either site with the coupon code NEXT20.

The wrap’s two ends are knit separately and then joined with garter stitch grafting. Never done garter stitch grafting before? Not to worry — the pattern provides complete, step-by-step instructions.

What colors will you choose for your Next in Line Wrap? Once you cast on, be sure to share your progress on Instagram with the hashtag #nextinlinewrap. You can use that same hashtag to see progress photos I posted as I knit the wrap.

Don’t forget, the introductory sale ends at midnight EST this Sunday, November 8!

P.S. If you’re shifting from Ravelry to Payhip, use the link below to browse my patterns. To make it simpler, I’ve organized them into collections (garments, shawls, etc). Click the blue “follow” button to receive an email whenever I add a pattern to Payhip — it’s an easy way to stay on top of what’s new!

LINKS
Next in Line Wrap - Ravelry
Next in Line Wrap - Payhip
Bonnie Sennott: Ravelry Designer Page
Bonnie Sennott: Payhip

Pattern Sale, and a Spinalong/Knitalong

Where did October go? I can hardly believe it's already November!

I’m excited to announce a big sale, and something fun for spinners — a spinalong/knitalong (SAL/KAL) in the Three Waters Farm Ravelry group. You can cast on one of my patterns using TWF handspun in your stash, or you can start spinning some TWF fiber to use for a Blue Peninsula design. (Or both, I guess, if you’re ambitious or fast!)

I’m honored they’ve organized this event around my patterns, and to celebrate I’m holding a pattern sale. All Blue Peninsula patterns and ebooks are 20% off on Ravelry through Sunday, November 8, with the coupon code TWF20. If you don't use Ravelry, you can also get the discount with the same code in my Payhip store.

I'll be working on the Bluetta Scarf (upcoming pattern, below) that I'm knitting with fingering weight singles I spun using Three Waters Farm Rambouillet in the Blue Flourish colorway. Hope to see some of you over in the Three Waters Farm SAL/KAL!

November’s going to be a busy month — while I work on finishing Bluetta, I’ve got two additional new patterns almost ready to release. Watch for the Next in Line Wrap in the next week or so, and later in November, a new sock pattern. More soon!

Coming soon: Next in Line Wrap

Wrap and Turn (Bike Wheels, That Is)

It’s the time of turning — from summer to fall. From long, hot days to shorter, cool ones. From daylong birdsong to just an occasional racket of jays trying to scare off a hawk. From nights filled with crickets and katydids to ever-increasing silence (except for the coyotes).

Time to say so long to the hummingbirds and monarchs and wish them well on their journeys. (How I wish I could magically fly along and see where they go!) Most days it’s hard to find anything positive to say about the coronavirus pandemic, but there have been a few blessings. Being home so much over the summer meant getting to see the hummingbirds much more than I usually do.

The annual “hummingbird cafe” I grow in pots on the deck outside my living room had lots of visitors every day this summer. It was a joy to see them. Any day now they’ll depart, and then the long season of waiting for their return will begin.

This is a knitting blog, not a nature blog, so I guess I should share some knitting content, right? During the summer, I mostly worked on two new designs that will be published later — one in the fall, and one in 2021. They’re secret for now, and I can’t wait to show you them when the time is right.

I also knit quite a lot on a log cabin wrap inspired by my Next in Line Afghan. The afghan was worked in four colors of worsted weight wool, but the wrap uses five colors of fingering weight or sock yarn. Like the afghan, the wrap employs a log cabin construction and stripes to create a striking geometric design. There are two identical ends — I’ve finished those, yay! — that are joined by a center colorblock section (I’m working on that now). Look for the pattern this fall.

I’ve got a colorwork sock pattern in progress, too — something fairly simple I can take with me on bike rides this month. The yarns were a set I purchased over at OlannGra on Etsy; the colors are November Skies and Pigeon Gray.

I’m riding both indoors and outdoors this month as part of the virtual WillBike4Food fundraiser for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Cyclists of all ages and abilities are riding to raise funds for emergency meals for those in need in our community. So far I’ve ridden 17 miles and raised $225 — I’m only $25 away from my goal of $250! If you’d like to donate, just visit my donation page.

This is another unexpected positive of the pandemic — the usual one-day ride can’t be held, so they’re doing this monthlong virtual event instead, making it possible for casual riders like me to join the effort. A daylong ride up and down hills isn’t my cup of tea, but I can definitely manage 25 miles in smaller rides. Plus, it’s great to choose my own terrain and scenery, and to ride indoors on a stationary bike, too.

I’m taking the sock along with me whenever I ride. To follow my rides and progress on the sock, follow me on Instagram.

I hope you’re enjoying these late summer days. It’s been beautiful and peaceful here in western Massachusetts, but every day the news reminds me that’s not the case out on the West Coast. The destruction of communities and rising number of deaths caused by wildfires are just heartbreaking to witness. So many have lost their homes and possessions or are dealing with poor air quality; and all this suffering is happening during a pandemic.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless, but you can make a difference. Wear a mask and social distance; donate funds or your time to groups that are helping others; and, above all, exercise your right to vote this fall!

New Pattern: Falling Water Shawl

Easy but elegant lace — not too much, just enough to keep things interesting — balanced by soothing garter stitch: doesn’t that sound like the ideal knitting project during this stressful time filled with all kinds of difficulties and uncertainty?

Falling Water Shawl by Bonnie Sennott

During the past month or so, the Falling Water Shawl has kept me (relatively) sane and (relatively) distracted from excessive worrying. It’s been exactly the right project for this unusual spring — fun and not at all stressful. Now that it’s finished, the pattern is available on Ravelry, where you can take 20% off with the coupon code SPRING.

Fun fact about this shawl: you can make it as long (or short) as you like, because the final section of knits and purls can be worked over any number of stitches. My sample is a generous 68 inches/173 cm along the top edge — the “wingspan.”

The Falling Water Shawl features the lace motif I used in my Falling Water Scarf, modified to fit nicely within the shape of an asymmetrical triangular shawl. I’ve also updated the scarf pattern with a new sample, new photos, spruced up instructions, a new chart, and additional sizes. You can use the SPRING coupon code to save 20% on the Falling Water scarf as well as the shawl. This introductory sale ends Sunday, May 3.

Or, purchase both patterns together in the Falling Water ebook set and save even more!

The Falling Water Shawl begins with a cast-on of just three stitches and gradually grows longer, with a column of lace flowing up the right side and garter stitch on the left. Yarn overs worked on the left side create the shawl’s triangular shape. The shawl is knit flat, but a circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of stitches. Stitch patterns are provided in charts and also are written out, line by line — so whichever you prefer, you’re covered.

For the sample, I used O-Wool O-Wash Fingering, an organic, 100% merino yarn. It was a splurge last fall at Rhinebeck — and I'm so glad I didn't hesitate to get it! It's been a pleasure to have on the needles and has a lovely drape that's really perfect for lace. Another fun fact: O-Wool will be a vendor this weekend at the virtual Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. The “real” festival had to be canceled, but they’ve come up with a nifty online event to keep everyone connected.

One of my favorite (and local) annual fiber festivals, the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair — held every year at the end of May at the Cummington Fairgrounds — also isn’t happening, due to COVID-19. Lately I’ve even been wondering whether there will be a New York Sheep and Wool Festival this October — what a shame if it has to be canceled! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, right? We’ll just have to wait and see what the coming months bring and keep our fingers crossed that big gatherings like Rhinebeck can safely happen again.

In the meantime, keep on knitting, support healthcare workers and first responders, thank the staff at supermarkets and gas stations and pharmacies etc. etc. for being there for you — and above all, be well and be safe everyone.

LINKS
Falling Water Shawl
Falling Water Scarf
Falling Water Ebook Set
Bonnie Sennott: Ravelry Designer Page

Designs in Progress (and a Wee Sale)

Looking for a relaxed-pace knitalong to join as you shelter in place during the coronavirus pandemic? Mason-Dixon Knitting has announced they’re having an MDK March Mayhem KAL — and you can knit any pattern that’s been in any bracket — from 2017 to this year. That means you could join the KAL to knit Downy, which was in last year’s bracket.

To celebrate, the pattern is on sale in my Ravelry pattern store for the next two weeks. Save 25% on Downy with the coupon code MAYHEM. The sale ends midnight EST on April 1.

And don’t forget to vote in the MDK March Mayhem bracket! See this year’s 64 patterns here.

Downy Hat, by Bonnie Sennott

I am home for the time being — Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker has ordered nonessential businesses to close and has issued a stay-at-home advisory. I’m using this time to take a lot of online yoga classes, go outdoors for walks as much as possible, and work on upcoming patterns (of course!)

I’m rewriting and reformatting my Falling Water scarf pattern — the first I ever published, back in 2006 — and knitting up a new sample, using O-Wool’s O-Wash Fingering. The chart and pattern layout will be upgraded to my current pattern format, and the instructions will be expanded to include the original narrow scarf and a wider version, too.

There’s also a Falling Water Shawl coming — an asymmetrical triangular shawl similar in size and shape to my Notch Shawl. I’m knitting up the sample in O-Wool’s O-Wash Fingering in a very pretty color called Pasture Rose. I plan to release both Falling Water patterns at the same time — look for them later this spring.

I’ve also taken the opportunity of unexpected free time to start a log cabin wrap inspired by my Next in Line afghan, using fingering weight yarns in my stash. Clockwise from lower left, the yarns are Into the Whirled Pakokku Sock in Stark, String Theory Caper Sock in Canyon, Anzula Squishy in Hippo, Luna Grey Ariel in Goldenrod, and The Fawn and the Fox Otter in Let’s Stay Home (such an appropriate name!).

I’m using the Next in Line pattern as a jumping off point, but modifying it quite a bit. What I envision is two log cabin ends with a striped section between them, joined by grafting (or three-needle bind-off, if you really hate grafting). I will likely put out a call for testers, once I’ve finished knitting (and writing) one half of the wrap. If you’d be interested, please watch the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group for an announcement.

Every day brings new changes and challenges, and I’m so thankful to have knitting to focus on and keep my mind from going into full-on worrying mode. I’m not sure which of these new patterns will be ready first, but I’m definitely working on them every day.

How about you — are you doing more knitting? Have you joined a knitalong? Wherever you are, I hope you and your loved ones are well and safe. Keep calm — and knit on!

Pattern Release: Catharus Shawl

Good news, shawl knitters! My Catharus Shawl, originally published in At the Spinnery, is now available as a Blue Peninsula pattern.

Catharus, by Bonnie Sennott

Named after the hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus), this triangular shawl features a wide rib flowing gracefully into sculptural, nupp-flecked lace. It’s worked top-down in fingering weight yarn — you’ll need 800 yards (732 m).

Through Sunday, September 22, the Catharus Shawl pattern is on sale in my Ravelry store — use the coupon code SEPTEMBER to save 20 percent. It’s also on sale in my Etsy shop (no coupon code needed there).

For the sample, I used Green Mountain Spinnery’s Lana in the gorgeous Rosado colorway. This lofty 2-ply fingering weight yarn blocked out beautifully, creating a shawl that's warm and cozy yet light as a feather. I can't wait to wear it at Rhinebeck!

Get all the details on yardage, needles, notions, and more on Ravelry. The introductory Catharus sale ends this Sunday, September 22.

All Shawls Sale

As the mornings grow cooler and leaves start to turn, knitters begin daydreaming about cozy fall knits. To help you get started creating the perfect fall shawl, all Blue Peninsula shawl patterns are 20% off on Ravelry. Use the coupon code SHAWLS20 to get the discount (you can use it more than once).

A few ideas, clockwise from upper left: Ischnura, Mayblossom, Wonderberry, Hop Brook, and Streusel. The sale ends Monday, September 2 (magazine patterns are not included).

Happy knitting! If you’re in the U.S., I hope you have a fun and relaxing Labor Day weekend with plenty of time for knitting.

LINKS

Bonnie Sennott: Ravelry Designer Page
Shawls Bundle

New Pattern: Mayblossom Shawl

Named after flowering hawthorn bushes, Mayblossom is an asymmetrical triangular shawl worked in DK weight wool. Whether you wear it indoors or out, this cozy, generously sized shawl is one you'll love to wrap yourself up in.

Mayblossom Shawl by Bonnie Sennott

To celebrate its release, I’m having an introductory sale on Ravelry: take 20% off Mayblossom with the coupon code SHAWL20.

Mayblossom’s triangular shape results from increases (yarn overs) worked on RS rows on the left-hand edge only. This edge is the longest side of the triangle and is the top edge when worn. The shawl is knit flat, but a circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of stitches. There are two sizes — 71 (77) inches/180 (195) cm along the longest edge (wingspan).

Shawl knitting goes fairly quickly with DK weight yarn. For the sample, I used Purl Soho’s Good Wool, a soft woolen spun 100% wool yarn. For either size, you'll need three skeins.

Mayblossom would make a beautiful addition to your fall wardrobe — or a thoughtful holiday gift. (It’s never too soon to start thinking about holiday knitting, right?)

Enjoy the 20% Ravelry discount through midnight EST, Sunday, August 4. Here’s a direct link that automatically applies the coupon code for you.

Thank you very much for reading. Happy shawl knitting!