Crocus Bud Revisited

Every morning for the last few months, I worked on the Crocus Bud Shawl while my coffee brewed. It became such a pleasant daily habit, I was actually a little sad last week when I realized the piece was about as long as it needed to be.


Pattern: Crocus Bud Shawl by Sharlene Boyce
Yarn: Madelinetosh Prairie in Winter Wheat
Hook: 3.5mm

The pattern is written as a rectangular scarf or shawl, but I made it an infinity cowl by slip-stitching the two edges together.





It seems really odd now, not seeing that beautiful golden color waiting for me on the kitchen counter each morning. I have about 250 yards of this gorgeous Madelinetosh Prairie left and feel like I've got to use it for something. Any ideas? (Doesn't have to be crochet.)



The Crocus Bud Shawl is one of those designs that's a joy to make more than once. A few years ago I made a wide, cozy version in Knit Picks Shadow:


Pattern: Crocus Bud Shawl, by Sharlene Boyce
Yarns: Knit Picks Shadow in Sunset and Oregon Coast overdyed gold
Hook: 4.5mm



It's entirely likely I'll make another Crocus Bud ... and if anyone I normally make gifts for would like one, for a 2012 birthday maybe, feel free to drop a hint! Be sure to tell me which colors of Prairie you like, because I would love to work with this yarn again. (Colorways of Madelinetosh Prairie here.)

Who Doesn't Love Rowan Felted Tweed?

Handwashed handknits = happiness for my Buddha cat. Snickers especially loves when I wash Astor (knit with a double strand of Rowan Felted Tweed).





Such delicious sunshine we're having today. It's still hard to believe that only three weeks ago we had a freak snowstorm that knocked out power for days and brought down trees everywhere you looked. I'm glad we're back to normal, weatherwise.

Pre-Thanksgiving Sale

Save on patterns! Today through Wednesday, November 23, all patterns in my Ravelry shop are discounted $1.00, including Restless ...



the ever-popular Squash Blossom Bookmark ...


Hunky Dory ...


Leaves of Three ...


Pomegranate, and more ...


Happy shopping, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Flukra

Have you seen Gudrun Johnston's lovely new shawl pattern, Flukra? In Shetland, flukra means "snow falling gently in large flakes." (Follow the link on Gudrun's blog post to hear it pronounced.)

When I started Flukra in late September, I assumed snow would be far off--but instead we had a foot before Halloween! Of course, I'm not blaming the shawl ... it's too beautiful to hold accountable for our freak storm.


Pattern: Flukra, by Gudrun Johnston
Yarn: Fearless Fibers Laceweight Merino
Needle: US4 Hiya-Hiya

Flukra is a triangular shawl using the same Shetland construction that Gudrun used for her popular Aestlight design. It begins with a garter stitch triangle with yarn over loops along each edge. They're picked up and knit when you begin the lace portion.



I'm taking part in the Flukra KAL over on Ravelry. Come join us! It's not too late--some knitters have only just gotten started. The shawls already completed are so beautiful and inspiring: Izi's tawny Flukra takes my breath away; so does gingerknitting's. Hers, like mine, is knit in the springy and subtly dyed laceweight merino from Fearless Fibers.



In other news: I'm excited that Pomegranate has been garnering attention in the blogosphere. Last week, it was one of five new patterns featured in the "What's Hot on Ravelry" post at Falling Stitches. And it's today's pattern pick at KnitNook.

Looking at my blog stats, I noticed I've been getting traffic from Pinterest thanks to people pinning Pomegranate (this is starting to sound like a tongue twister, don't you think?). So I decided to dip my toe in the Pinterest waters and create an "all things pomegranate" board. It's a mix of everything from paintings to jewelry to cheesecake to jelly. I should warn you, it might make you hungry!

Are you using Pinterest? If you are, what are some of your favorite boards or people you're following?