Pattern Preview: Mayblossom Shawl

I’ve been busy putting the finishing touches on a new lace-and-texture shawl pattern. Just a few photo editing and layout tasks remain — the pattern will be released early next week.

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Named Mayblossom after blooming hawthorn branches, this asymmetrical triangular shawl is worked in DK weight wool. I used three skeins of Purl Soho Good Wool, a soft, squishy woolen-spun yarn.

Mayblossom Prelim_on stone.JPEG
Mayblossom Prelim.JPG

Mayblossom is knit sideways, from just a few stitches, gradually growing longer and wider as you knit. It’s a generously sized shawl, really perfect for wrapping yourself up in, whether indoors or out. There are two sizes, with wingspans of 71 (77) inches/180 (195) cm along the longest edge. I can’t wait to share the pattern with you — it won’t be long now!

New Pattern: Sugar Dusted Socks

If you haven’t decided which socks to knit for the summerlong Sunshine + Socks KAL starting next week, here’s a new design to consider — my just-released Sugar Dusted Socks.

A pretty confection of texture, lace, and color, the Sugar Dusted Socks feature columns of lace on the outer leg and foot, surrounded by clusters of purl stitches. Worked top down in two colors of fingering weight sock yarn, they're easy yet engaging to knit.

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I used a solid main color and a speckled contrast color for my sample pair, but you could do just the opposite — use a solid on the cuffs, heels, and toes instead. Or two solids? The possibilities are endless — this design lets you create a truly unique pair of socks using colors you love.

I used the Bakery Rye colorway of Bare Naked Wools Better Breakfast Fingering for the main color. This yarn marinated in my stash for a long time until the lightbulb went off and I knew what to make with it. The lovely neutral was a good match for a colorful skein of The Fawn and the Fox Otter, in a colorway called Let’s Stay Home. The Better Breakfast Fingering, a blend of merino, alpaca, and nylon, is a soft yet sturdy yarn with a satisfying crispness equally suited to textured stitches and lace. The Otter, a blend of superwash merino and nylon, was a delight to knit — with every round it was great fun to watch the colors change.

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I’ve added the Sugar Dusted Socks to my Sunshine + Socks sale on Ravelry — save 20% on this pattern and all of my sock patterns with the coupon code SUNSHINE. The sale ends on the first day of summer, June 21.

Friday, June 21, is also when the Sunshine + Socks summer knitalong starts. Knitters are already chatting about yarns and pattern ideas — feel free to join in anytime. The KAL will continue all summer, ending on September 1. There are some great prizes, too — head to the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group to get all the details. I hope you can join us for a summer of leisurely sock knitting!

LINKS

Summer Sock Sale

I myself don’t wear wool socks in warm weather, but I do love to knit them. A sock is the perfect knitting project for summer: small, portable, easy to pick up and set down. You can tuck one in your bag and take it with you wherever you are, whether that’s in your car (not driving, of course!), the beach, or your own backyard.

Now through the first day of summer, all of my sock patterns are 20% off on Ravelry. Use the coupon code SUNSHINE to get the discount. You can use it as many times as you like through Friday, June 21. That’s the day the Sunshine + Socks KAL begins in the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group. Once you pick your pattern(s), come join us for a fun, relaxed-pace summer of sock knitting.

Next week, I’ll be releasing a new sock pattern called Sugar Dusted — a pretty confection of texture, lace, and color. It will be added to the sock sale so you can get the 20% discount. Stay tuned!

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New Pattern: Con Brio Cowl

I enjoyed knitting this new cowl so much, I almost didn’t want to finish it. But — of course I did, and now the pattern’s ready for you to cast on and enjoy knitting, too.

This light, airy lace cowl, worked in DK weight yarn, can be made in one of three sizes, ranging from 23 to 54 inches / 59-138 cm. It’s knit in the round, so there’s no seaming or grafting.

The Con Brio Cowl is on sale for 20% off on Ravelry. Use the coupon code BRIO20 to get the discount.

I made the largest of the three sizes, using Juniper Moon Farm’s Patagonia, a woolen-spun organic merino with a soft hand. I’m really impressed with its stitch definition and beautiful drape. One skein was more than enough for a swatch and the cowl.

When designing this cowl, I was inspired by my Con Brio Mitts, which have the same energetic, waving lace stitch. They’re my favorite spring mitts, and now I’m excited to have a matching cowl to wear with them. The two patterns can be purchased together in an ebook set, which you can pick up on Ravelry for just $8.

The Con Brio Cowl sale continues through Wednesday, April 24. Thanks for reading, and happy spring knitting!

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Downy Has Flown to Round 2!

The results are in: of the initial 64 patterns in this year’s Mason-Dixon Knitting March Mayhem bracket, 32 have advanced to Round 2 — and I’m thrilled that Downy is among them.

Today and tomorrow (March 26 and 27), you can vote for four patterns in each of the bracket’s categories: Head & Hands, Neck & Shoulders, Pullovers, and Cardigans. The top vote getters will advance to the next round on Friday.

Thank you so much for the love you’ve shown for Downy. Be sure to vote in Round 2! And just a reminder: through April 15, you can save 20% on the pattern in my Ravelry store. Use the coupon code MAYHEM to get the discount.

Happy voting — and happy knitting!

New Pattern: Bay Road Cowl

Knitters of cowls, lovers of cables and lace: I’ve got a new design that’s just for you!

The Bay Road Cowl has just been released on Ravelry, where it’s on sale for 20% off. Use the coupon code COWL20 to get the discount.

Named after a winding road with views of apple orchards in my hometown of Amherst, Massachusetts, the Bay Road Cowl features gently curving cables and pretty wrapped cluster lace stitches, all framed by crisp seed stitch.

The cowl is knit flat, end to end, in fingering weight yarn, beginning with a provisional crochet cast-on. Finishing is simple: after the piece is blocked, the two ends are joined with a three-needle bind-off. The pattern includes instructions for both the cast-on and bind-off, in case either of those techniques are new to you.

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With a circumference of 51.5 inches/131 cm, the Bay Road Cowl can be worn either in a single loop or — on those coldest days — doubled up for extra warmth. In yesterday’s freezing temperatures, it kept my neck toasty warm all day.

For this design, I used a special skein of yarn that I purchased from White Barn Farm Sheep and Wool at Rhinebeck last fall. I fell in love with both the lovely color and the soft Cormo wool. This is a new, 2-ply fingering weight version of their DK NEST yarn. It’s not in the Ravelry database yet; according to the label there are 365yd/334m in the 100g skein. The cowl used nearly all of the skein.

The 20% off sale ends this Sunday, February 3. Happy knitting — and if you’re dealing with record-breaking cold, I hope you are warm and safe!

Treat Yourself KAL Ideas: Garments

The Treat Yourself KAL lasts six weeks, starting Monday, January 14, and ending Monday, February 25. If you’re making a larger project like a sweater, feel free to get started swatching this weekend. That way you can hit the ground running next week.

Here are some garment ideas, if you’re thinking you might like to dive in and cast on a sweater or vest.

Treat Yourself Knitalong Ideas: Garments

Pattern: Meadow Road
Yarn: Stitch Sprouts Yellowstone

Easygoing A-line shape, gathered sleeves, seamless construction — there’s lots to like about Meadow Road (named after the rural road where we shot the photos). The pattern provides instructions for six sizes: 32.25 (35.5, 39.25, 43.25, 47.75, 51.75) inches/82 (90, 100, 110, 121, 131) cm .

Pattern: Pom2
Yarn: Bartlettyarns Sport

Like Meadow Road, Pom2 is a seamless design, worked in the round from the bottom up. There are six sizes, with finished bust circumferences of 36.5 (39.5, 44.25, 47.75, 52.25, 55.5) inches/93 (100, 112, 121, 133, 141) cm. Want to make the knitting go faster? You could work the lace panel on the front only and knit stockinette on the back!

Drafter’s Cardigan, by Bonnie Sennottphoto: Interweave/Harper Point Photography

Drafter’s Cardigan, by Bonnie Sennott

photo: Interweave/Harper Point Photography

Pattern: Drafter’s Cardigan
Yarn: Plucky Knitter Traveler Sport

It may be coldest January now, but spring will come eventually, and wouldn’t a lace cardigan be a nice addition to your spring wardrobe? The Drafter’s Cardigan, from the spring 2017 issue of Knitscene, is worked in one piece to the armholes; after finishing front and back and joining the shoulders, you work the set-in sleeves top-down in the round. Bust sizes range from 33 to 53 inches/84-135 cm.

Pattern: Wichita
Yarn: Woolen Rabbit Emma

If the time commitment of a sweater doesn’t work for you, maybe a vest would be a good project instead. Knit in one piece from the bottom up, this double-breasted, cabled vest lets you get creative with buttons (I used mismatched vintage buttons purchased at a thrift shop).

Mathews Street Vest, by Bonnie Sennottphoto: Interweave/Harper Point Photography

Mathews Street Vest, by Bonnie Sennott

photo: Interweave/Harper Point Photography

Pattern: Mathews Street
Yarn: Green Mountain Spinnery Sylvan Spirit

Here’s another garment idea that’s definitely doable during the KAL — the textured Mathews Street Vest, originally published in knit.wear, fall 2016. Like Wichita, it’s worked in one piece to the armholes. It features an attractive knit-and-purl pattern; garter stitch details at the hem, armholes, front bands, and neck pull it all together.

If you’re joining the Treat Yourself KAL, pop over to Ravelry this weekend and let us know what you’re making. You don’t have to wait until Monday. Photos of yarn are always appreciated!

LINKS

Treat Yourself KAL

Bonnie Sennott: Ravelry Designer Page

Bonnie’s Garments Bundle