My newest design - the Radiate Cowl pattern

I thought about this pattern for a long time before actually knitting it.  I really didn't know when I'd get around to knitting it.  But I walked into my local yarn store about a month ago and saw these 2 skeins.

I started knitting and, as I knit, I saw these radiating columns begin to form.  I didn't originally plan to have the columns be different lengths, but as I kept going, I liked how the columns drew your eye around the cowl, almost like spokes on a wheel.  And the word radiate came to mind.  Not only that spokes radiate from the center of a wheel, but that spring was almost here, and light and warmth were on the way.

I love how simple this cowl is.  Take any 2 colors you love and knit this one size cowl for anyone you love.

Each cowl takes only 2 oz. of a main color and 1 oz. of a coordinating color.  My sample is knit with Malabrigo Rios in Midnight in Paris and English Rose. These are my two favorite springtime colors together.

You can buy the Radiate Cowl pattern on Ravelry here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/radiate-cowl.

Welcome spring!

sale! (coupon code listed below)

When we got the first snow or two back in December, I was excited.  The kids could sled, they wanted to play outside, and everything looked clean and new.  About 100 inches later, and days away from the start of Spring, and snow fatigue has set in.

We're supposed to get another foot of snow tomorrow.  So to help me celebrate what I hope is the last snow, use coupon code lastsnow for 50% off any one pattern in my Ravelry shop.  The coupon code is good until the end of the day, March 21, 2013.

Stay warm, knit something, and hope for spring!

fresh air

I find a lot of inspiration in nature, especially at the beach.  I hadn't been to the beach in months.  Between snow, and snow, and more snow, and various illnesses that have swept through our house, I haven't ventured outside much at all.  Things were starting to feel a bit claustrophobic.  But yesterday the girls and I went down to the beach.

When I visit the beach, instead of looking out over the water, I spend my time looking closely at the ground to see what I can find.  I find taking this narrow view of things very peaceful.

The girls collected rocks (lots of them), shells and sea glass.  They climbed the rocky edge of the beach and yelled that they were queens of the world.  Some fresh air did us all a lot of good.

middle beach scarf

I'm excited today to release my newest pattern, the Middle Beach scarf.  Knit with 2 skeins of madelinetosh dk, it's a simple combination of knit and purl stitches that creates a reversible fabric.

Two sets of buttons increase the ways in which you can wear the scarf.  Use one set to wear the scarf as a cowl.

Wear the other set to wear it as a wrap around your shoulders.

From now until March 31, 2013, purchase the Middle Beach scarf pattern and receive any other one pattern in my Ravelry shop for 50% off.  The discount will automatically apply.

valentine's day

a little knitted bracelet...

a recycled garland...

 a bookmark for a beloved book...

paper hearts...

and a love.

  Happy Valentine's Day!

a temporary thaw

We had two days of respite from what has been a very cold winter so far.  The first day of the thaw was foggy and a little bit eerie.  I caught these water droplets on a few straggling honeysuckle leaves and the  yarn I used to support the plant.

And like that, the thaw is over, and the ice is back.  But I am dreaming of spring and longer days.  And I'm knitting for spring with a yarn called Frost.  It's exactly the color of the water droplets.  Fresh and promising.

Just recently, I've found the love for fingering weight yarn.  I purchased some Malabrigo Sock yarn last summer, hoping to make my oldest a poncho.  I cast on, even threw in some beading, but an inch or two into the raglan increases I realized that I would be knitting this poncho forever.

I didn't even bother to frog what little progress I'd made on the poncho.  I just broke the yarn and started on a pair of socks.  I found this gorgeous pattern -- Absinthe by Sara Morris -- and cast on.  These socks are worked from the toe up.  

I learned Judy's Magic Cast On, which was a little intimidating at first, but it was super easy and fascinating to see how your first two rows magically fit together.  No grafting!

This pair of socks was actually enjoyable to knit.  I bought 40" long size 1 circular needles.  This was a life saver and I can't imagine going back to 4 or 5 dpn's.  I also have learned to read charts in the last year or two.  While I initially fought learning to read charts, I find it much easier to keep track of where I am in a pattern with a chart.  

I wish I had captured some better pictures of these socks before I gifted them to my mom for her birthday, but I'm not as flexible as I used to be.  The combination of cables and lace make for a beautiful pair of socks.