Archives for February 2013

My newest pattern, Turtle Pond, was originally created as a Christmas gift for my adorable niece.

It is a joy to have a little one in the family again after all these years. She keeps us all smiling with her excitement at discovering the world around her. I named the pattern after Central Park's Turtle Pond, which is not far from her home in upper Manhattan.

Turtle Pond starts with a pretty picot hem, which can be eliminated to create a boy's sweater. From there it is worked in once piece to the underarms. The sleeves also start with a picot hem and are joined to the body before working the yoke.

I chose to design the sweater in Spud & Chloë Sweater because I think it is an ideal yarn for a child's garment. It has a wonderful range of bright colors, is easy to care for, and is very soft to the touch. My niece's size 2 took one skein each of Grass & Turtle.

The pattern comes in children's sizes 2-16. Judging by how quickly my niece is growing these days I'll need to knit another for her very soon.

Turtle Pond

I've got another book review and giveaway today, but first let me say congratulations to Cindy who's name was selected using a random number generator to win a copy of Gudrun Johnston's Knit With Me.

Now on to today's book, Wearwithall.

When I was in Maine last September for Fiber College I was lucky enough to get to hang out with two fun, creative, inspiring women – Mary Lou Egan & Gale Zucker. At the time Mary Lou along with 4 good friends – Theresa Gaffey, Scott Rohr, Shelly Sheehan, and Sarah K. Walker, had just published Wearwithall and Mary Lou brought several samples from the book with her for the Fiber College fashion show. Theresa Gaffney's Stole was a show stopper. As the model walked the
runway wearing this multicolored wrap the crowd could not restrain
itself and comments like "that's gorgeous" and "how beautiful" were heard
around the room. I could sense all of those knitters dreaming about what colors and yarns they'd choose for their own version of this very wearable stole. I know I was.

photo copyright Gale Zucker used with permission

Wearwithall is filled with designs like this that are both beautiful and versatile. And the book goes further to show knitters variations on each design, giving the 13 patterns limitless options. Mary Lou's sweet Baby Sweater and Tunic with it's choice of sweater or dress would make a wonderful baby gift for either gender. The Wearwithall website extends the options by giving us instructions for a pretty flower embellishment.

photo copyright Gale Zucker used with permission

The book is illustrated with Gale Zucker's outstanding photographs. I'm a HUGE fan of Gale's work, both her knitting photos (have you seen this chicken*?) as well as her photos of "Real People* in Real Places*", and this book is filled with photos that beautifully show off the designs through Gale's unique lens. One of my favorites is this playful shot of Sarah K Walker's Child's Vest.

*Give those links a second, a charming dog photo will come up first, then the photo I linked to.

photo copyright Gale Zucker used with permission

The authors of Wearwithall have kindly offered to send one of my readers a copy of the book along with the 2 skeins of Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light in the color Turquoise Mix. This is the yarn used for Martha Alvarado's slouchy Hat.

photo copyright Gale Zucker used with permission

For your chance to win the book and skein of Ultra Alpaca Light, leave a comment on this post by midnight on March 1st and I will randomly select one winner.

 

I designed Betula last spring for A Verb For Keeping Warm's Pro-Verbial Yarn Club, using their luscious light fingering weight Merino/Cashmere/Nylon blend, Even Tinier Annapurna. (Go on, follow that link, they've got some gorgeous colors in stock.) The sample shawl took almost the entire skein, so be sure to allow enough yarn and make sure you get gauge.

This top down triangular shawl starts with a garter tab cast on and moves into an easily memorized leaf pattern. The bind off is a simple crochet chain, but if you're just not feeling the crochet a standard bind off would work well too. Both charts and written instructions for the leaf pattern are included.

Betula is the botanical name for one of my favorite trees, the birch. At this time of year I dream about sitting in the grass on warm summer day, under a stand of birch trees. If like me, you are getting tired of winter snow and grey skies, think about knitting this shawl for spring in a sunny yellow, leaf green, or sky blue.

Betula

Finished Size (blocked): 70” wide x 28” deep

Yarn: A Verb for Keeping Warm, Even Tinier Annapurna, 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon, 565 yds per 115 g skein, Color: Matador, 1 skein

Needles: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needles  or size to obtain gauge

Gauge: 20 sts & 28 rows = 4”/10cm in Section 2 pattern – blocked, always take the time to check gauge

Other Materials: 4 stitch markers, tapestry needle, 4mm crochet hook

Price: $6.00 US