Pattern Release: Nightbloom Cowl

March 27, 2024 Bonnie Sennott

Textures and lace combine in my newest pattern, the Nightbloom Cowl. It’s now available on Ravelry and Etsy. Take 20% off the pattern in both shops with the coupon code COWL20.

This cozy cowl can go casual or dressy and offers multiple styling options—wear it long, for dramatic effect, wear it doubled around the neck for extra warmth. Nightbloom’s knit-purl textures and easy lace make for an engaging knitting experience—not as simple as garter stitch but not complicated, either.

Nightbloom is worked flat in fingering weight yarn; after blocking the two ends are joined using the three-needle bind-off to create a continuous loop. Instructions for the provisional crochet cast on and the three-needle bind-off are provided. The stitch patterns are provided both in written, line-by-line, format and in a chart.

The pattern provides two size options, 8.75 (13.75) inches/22 (35) cm wide by 59 (64) inches/150 (163) cm circumference. The photos show the wider/longer size. You can modify the size by working more or fewer repeats of the Lace Pattern, but keep in mind that if you make it wider or longer, you’ll need more yarn.

I used ElsaWool Cormo woolenspun fingering in Silver for the sample. It was perfect in every way—light and lofty, with a lovely drape and soft texture. I highly recommend a woolenspun yarn for this design—but of course, you can substitute any fingering weight you like or already have in your stash.

The introductory sale ends Friday, April 5—just use the code COWL20 to take 20% off. Happy spring!

LINKS

Nightbloom Cowl—Ravelry
Nightbloom Cowl—Etsy

A Wee Rhinebeck Sale: Katydid Cowl

October 19, 2023 Bonnie Sennott

Greetings, knitters! Are you headed to Rhinebeck this weekend (aka the New York Sheep and Wool Festival)? This year I won’t be going—but of course I’m excited to see everyone’s social media posts. Will the big maple be as bright and orange as ever? I hope so!

Although I won’t be there, you can see a beautiful new sample of my Katydid Cowl at Tidal Yarns. They’re in Building 30, Booth 7 this time. The pattern uses one full skein of her fingering weight yarn, plus four mini skeins.

To celebrate Katydid’s appearance at Rhinebeck, I set up a sale! Through October 31, you can take 20% off the pattern in my Ravelry, Etsy, and Payhip pattern stores. Use the coupon code SAVE20 (the code works in all three shops).

Above is the sample I knit last year. Tidal Yarns chose to use a gorgeous grey-brown for their sample (below). I think the cowl looks equally good with either a light or dark main color. They have a lot of color options, so have fun choosing your colors!

Worked in the round on a circular needle, the Katydid Cowl requires no seaming or grafting. The pattern includes two sizes—a shorter length (quick to knit, perfect for gifts) or a longer version that can be doubled around your neck for extra warmth. Stitch patterns are provided in charts and in written, row-by-row instructions.

If you’re at Rhinebeck, I hope the forecast of rain doesn’t come true. There’s just nothing like wandering around the fairgrounds on a bright, sunny (but not hot) day, seeing so many beautiful handknits all in one place. And the sheep! Sometimes I think the sheep barns are my main reason for going. I can hear them baaing and smell the hay as I type this.

Whatever you’re doing this weekend, I hope it’s a peaceful one.

Katydid Cowl Links

Ravelry
Etsy
Payhip

Pattern Release: Katydid Cowl

October 10, 2022 Bonnie Sennott

The seasons go round and round . . . just in time for Rhinebeck (aka the New York Sheep and Wool Festival), I’ve released a new cowl design knit with yarns I purchased last year at Rhinebeck.

The Katydid Cowl is now available in my Ravelry, Etsy, and Payhip pattern stores. Use the coupon code KATYDID to take 20% off the pattern (the code works in all three shops).

A mix of lace and stripes creates beautiful textures and keeps the knitting fun in this infinity cowl. The pattern includes two sizes—a shorter length (quick to knit, perfect for gifts) or a longer version that can be doubled around your neck for extra warmth. The pattern photos feature the longer size.

The Katydid Cowl is worked in the round on a circular needle, so there’s no seaming or grafting. It uses five colors of fingering weight yarn—a main color and four contrast colors. Stitch patterns are provided in charts and in written, row-by-row instructions.

For my sample, I used naturally dyed fingering weight yarn from Tidal Yarns. I purchased one full skein and several minis from her at Rhinebeck 2022. They’re all so beautiful—it was hard to choose just a few. If you haven’t seen her yarns in person, be sure to stop by the Tidal Yarns booth!

The Katydid Cowl introductory sale ends Sunday, October 16 (the last day of Rhinebeck). I plan to wear Katydid at the festival—with predicted temps in the low 60s, it will definitely be cool enough for a cowl. (What a welcome change from last year’s warm weather!) If you see me, say hi—I love to meet Blue Peninsula knitters “in the wild!”

Katydid Cowl Links

Ravelry
Etsy
Payhip

Pattern Release: Kindred Cowl

January 2, 2021 Bonnie Sennott

Happy New Year, dear blog reader! I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready to turn the page. I hope with all my heart that 2021 is far less stressful than 2020. May the new year bring us all an abundance of happiness and good health.

I’m excited to share that my Kindred Cowl — first released as part of the annual Bare Naked Wools Red Scarf Fundraiser last fall — is now available exclusively as a Blue Peninsula pattern. To celebrate, I’m offering an introductory discount: save 20% with the coupon code KINDRED20 at Ravelry and Payhip.

Knit in sportweight yarn, the Kindred Cowl is worked flat, from one end to the other, beginning with a provisional cast-on. After blocking, the two ends are joined with a three-needle bind-off.

If you aren’t familiar with these techniques, the pattern has you covered. It provides step-by-step instructions for working the crochet provisional cast-on and for the three-needle bind-off.

These winter months call for warm, cozy knits — and cowls offer so much versatility. On coldest days, you can double a cowl up around your neck for extra warmth. Once indoors, you can wear it as a single long loop (and really let those cables shine). If you’ve been doing nothing but holiday gift knitting, maybe now’s the time to cast on a special project just for yourself!

The introductory 20% off discount ends Wednesday, January 6. Use the code KINDRED20 at either Ravelry or Payhip.

Happy knitting — and 2021!

New KAL for the New Year: Winter Oak Cowl

December 30, 2019 Bonnie Sennott

January 1 marks the start of a new year as well as a new decade. I feel ready for both — how about you? I have ambitious plans for new knitting patterns, new artworks (I’ve got a show coming up in April!), a quilt made entirely by hand, and some personal knitting too (this shawl is at the top of the list).

January also brings the first Blue Peninsula knitalong of 2020. The Winter Oak Cowl KAL starts in the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group on New Year’s Day, but you can pop in and join anytime after that. Knitters are already chatting about yarns and colors — and some are going to try making it in fingering weight yarn (I designed it with sportweight). I can’t wait to see everyone’s color combinations and yarn choices — it’s going to be fun.

And don’t forget, there’s a sale! Through midnight EST New Year’s Day, you can save 20% on the Winter Oak pattern with the coupon code COWL20.

As I look back at 2019 and all the changes and challenges it brought, I’m so grateful for your support for my patterns. I’m always thrilled when I see knitters posting FOs they are excited about on Ravelry or sharing photos on Instagram. It’s an honor to be able to help others knit garments and accessories that give them joy.

I hope 2020 brings you many opportunities to make things you love, and if the Winter Oak Cowl calls to you, I hope you’ll join us in the KAL.

Happy knitting — and Happy New Year!

LINKS
Winter Oak Cowl pattern
Winter Oak KAL
Bonnie Sennott - Ravelry designer page

New Pattern: Winter Oak Cowl

December 12, 2019 Bonnie Sennott

As 2019 draws to a close, I’m excited to share just one more pattern with you—the Winter Oak Cowl. Inspired by the colors of oak leaves and bark in winter, Winter Oak is worked in the round with three colors of sportweight yarn. I knit up the sample in flyWHEEL by Harrisville Designs, a cushy, tweedy 100% wool yarn.

The pattern gives you two options for this cowl — a longer version with three lace bands (maximum warmth) and a shorter one with two lace bands (quicker to knit). Through January 1, you can save 20% on the Winter Oak pattern in my Ravelry pattern store with the coupon code COWL20.

On New Year’s Day, we’ll kick off a Winter Oak KAL in the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group. Feel free to join us anytime before then to chat about yarn possibilities and share your color ideas. I really can’t wait to see how the cowl looks in other color combinations. I chose a warm palette, but I can imagine this cowl would also look terrific in cooler colors — maybe light gray, deep blue, and teal? Or perhaps a trio of neutrals — beige, nut brown, and dark brown? Each knitter’s cowl will be different, an expression of their unique, personal style and creativity.

If you’re still working on holiday gifts, I hope you get everything done in time with a minimum of stress. Have a beautiful holiday season — and see you in January for the Winter Oak KAL!

LINKS
Winter Oak Cowl
Winter Oak Knitalong
Bonnie Sennott: Ravelry Designer Page

Spring Cowl Pattern Sale

April 20, 2019 Bonnie Sennott

My new Con Brio Cowl pattern is now available in my Etsy shop. To celebrate its release there, I’m having an Etsy cowl pattern sale. Save 20% on cowl patterns through Wednesday, April 24. No coupon code is required.

Clockwise from upper left: Birchleaf, Warble, Biscuit, Deephaven, Bluet, and Shallows

The sale includes Con Brio, a lace cowl that’s perfect for spring’s changeable weather. Worked in the round, it knits up quickly in DK weight yarn.

As always, thanks for reading and happy spring knitting!

New Pattern: Con Brio Cowl

April 17, 2019 Bonnie Sennott

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!

New Pattern: Bay Road Cowl

January 31, 2019 Bonnie Sennott

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.

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: What We're Making

January 18, 2019 Bonnie Sennott

The Treat Yourself KAL is off to a great start! Patterns cast on (or announced) so far include the Downy Hat, Tailwind Shawl, Indikon Mitts, Couplet Socks, the Catbird Shawl, Tortoise Shells Socks, Purlish Mitts, and the Biscuit Cowl. Such a nice variety!

If you’d like to join us, head to the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group. This KAL continues through February 25, so there’s plenty of time to cast on and finish.

Tailwind Shawl (photo courtesy Interweave/Harper Point Photography)

I’ve joined the KAL with a pair of Indikon Mitts in handspun Cormo. Ever since I spun this yarn and dyed it with hickory nuts a few years ago, I’ve been wanting to cast on these mitts. I’m so happy to be treating myself to them at last.

If you’re feeling like you could use a new handknit — maybe something lacy for your spring wardrobe? — hop over to Ravelry and join us. Any of my designs can be knit for this KAL. We’d love to have you!

LINKS
Treat Yourself Knitalong
Bonnie Sennott: Ravelry Designer Page