Comfort Knitting

Last weekend was pretty epic. We got to host a BBQ for 150 people. It was a blast. I even got the house cleaned by Sunday morning. I was on a pretty serious high. I tried to come off of it strong too. I got up at 5:30 on Monday morning and spent some quality time with my planner, trying to get a picture of what all needs to happen before this baby comes in December. But I crashed. Hard.

Thankfully, I had a pretty good idea this might happen. And I planned for it. I finally decided I wanted to make a blanket for our little one, and big surprise, it would have lots of moss stitch. I’ve been addicted recently. So I ordered a whole bunch of Deluxe Worsted Superwash by Universal Yarn from Jimmy Beans Wool. So on Sunday, when the dishes were clean, and Chuck put on Blue Planet, I pulled it out and cast on.

Pattern: Some mitering wonderfulness from my head
Yarn: Deluxe Worsted Superwash by Universal Yarn, Steel Cut Oats colorway
Needles: Size 7 (4.5mm), Knit Picks Zephyr Acrylics (discontinued, I believe)

I had planned it to be some good comfort knitting, and it has not disappointed. The perfectly predictable incremental decreases combined with the almost, but a bit more interesting, vanilla feel of the moss stitch has made for the most perfect comfort knitting.

What kind of knitting do you use to unwind??

Introducing the Puckery Posy Cowl!

I am thrilled with this project.


One of the things I strive for the most in design is to create projects that are fun for knitters to make AND really, really look like you picked it up at a boutique hipster clothing store. And while I seem to see beautiful knitwear from these stores all the time, the challenge to design something in the same vein is usually much harder than I expect when I begin a project.


This time around I had extra inspiration. I teamed up with Chandi over at Expression Fiber Arts. If you’ve never taken a look at her yarn, you must! Her colors are amazingly beautiful and cutting edge. And I love following her blog and Facebook page, she’s a wonderfully sweet and encouraging person.


This cowl was designed with her brand new line of Spectrum Color Shift yarns. A single ply wool yarn with long color changes. When she sent me a photo of the different colorways, it was all I could do to choose just one!


My fashionable sister agreed to model for me. I don’t what I’d do without her. She loves playing with my twins, she weighs in when my fashion sense is completely off base, and she even likes modeling the final project. Isn’t she beautiful?


Here’s to one or two more cuddly, wool projects before spring is here!

Details:
This fashionably funky cowl is a breeze to knit up, and with a simple twist you’ll take your knitted work from warm and pretty to downright adorable. It’s designed so that there is lots of thick warm fabric right around your neck for you to snuggle your chin down into without adding any bulk to your coat. The sample in the photography is knit up in Spectrum Color Shift by Expression Fiber Arts, a single ply worsted yarn with long color changes. The color changes paired with the textured stitch pattern add depth and interest to an otherwise simple accessory.
Size: One Size Fits All
Dimensions: 25 inches/63.5cm around x 8 inches/ 20.5cm wide
Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches/10cm
Materials:
-2 skeins of Expression Fiber Arts Spectrum Color Shift (100g, 175 yds/skein), Coffee and Cream colorway.
-Size 6 US/4.0mm needles
-8 removable stitch markers (at least three need to be a different color from the others)
-Darning needle

Purchase the pattern over at Ravelry, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/puckery-posy-cowl.