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.

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

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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).

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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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Sunshine + Socks Summer Knitalong

Save the date! The next Blue Peninsula knitalong starts on June 21, the first day of summer. Seems like the perfect day to start a summer KAL devoted to socks, don’t you think?

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You can knit any of my sock designs for the Sunshine + Socks KAL. And before it starts, I’ll be releasing a brand-new pattern. While you wait, feel free to browse my sock patterns on Ravelry.

More about the KAL and the new pattern soon!

Spring Cowl Pattern Sale

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

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

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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

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!

Mason-Dixon Knitting: March Mayhem

March Mayhem has begun! The “world’s only bracket for knitters” was cooked up by Ann and Kay over at Mason-Dixon Knitting to celebrate knitting patterns created by independent designers. Out of the thousands of patterns published during 2018, only 64 were chosen to compete in March Mayhem. I’m thrilled that my Downy Hat is among them!

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How does it work? There are 16 patterns in each of four categories: Cardigans, Pullovers, Neck and Shoulders, and Head and Hands. You can view them all here, with handy links to each pattern’s Ravelry page.

Starting this Thursday, March 21, you’ll be able to vote online for your favorites in each category. There will be five rounds of voting, with the top patterns in each round advancing to the next round. The championship round, April 5-7, will determine the final winner. And after that? More fun - a big knitalong begins!

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Keep up with the voting and the excitement as patterns advance at Mason-Dixon Knitting. If you like my Downy Hat, I hope you’ll vote for it!