Congratulations Melissa and Fairyknits!
I meant to do this yesterday but didn't have time, so I apologize for being one day late in announcing the contest winners!
I used random.org to choose a number from 1-132 (the number of comments left before the deadline) and here are the results:
Congratulations Melissa who loves Cascade 220! You're the winner of the aqua Leila shawlette:
And our second winner is:
Congratulations Fairyknits (sorry, you didn't leave your real name, so I have to call you Fairyknits!) who loves Malabrigo! You're the winner of the wine Leila shawlette:
Ladies, I've emailed each of you to get your shipping info, please let me know where to mail your shawls!
Thank you to everyone who entered, I wish you could all have won! I loved reading the comments as they came in and this contest was so much fun for me, I'll definitely be doing it again in the future. I'm going to be analyzing the "favorite yarn" comments and posting a summary here shortly . . . stay tuned!
The Leila Pattern is now available!
Thanks for your patience folks! I came home after a long day at work yesterday, mostly filled with editing a huge Word file, and sat down to edit my own (not that huge) file! There were some final corrections that needed to be made but now the pattern is finished and ready for you!
Introducing Leila!
The pattern includes instructions for both the full size shawl and the shawlette size. All instructions are written out (yes, every single line!) and charted. The large shawl is knit in light fingering weight yarn, I used 2 skeins of Cashlana (sadly discontinued) for the sample you see above.
For the shawlette size, my aim was to write a pattern that could use sock yarn and required no more than the amount of yarn needed for a pair of socks. We all have way more sock yarn stashed than we'd like to admit, right? This shawlette took less than one skein of Socks that Rock Lightweight, and would work equally well with other sock yarns you may already own. At least for me, knitting this shawlette took much less time than knitting a pair of socks does! It's a great way to knit down your stash (if you're into that sort of thing that is).
Both sizes are included in one pattern for $5.00. Purchase from my e-junkie shopping cart or from Ravelry.
Here's a link to the official Leila Pattern Page with all the yardage and size measurements.
Or if you're ready to buy now, here are the purchase buttons!
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me (click "Contact" above and fill out the form) with any questions!
Enjoy!
Now available for purchase: Soho!
At long last I've finished writing, editing, and photographing that shawl I was designing in Koigu Cashmere! Introducing Soho, a wrap that can be worn as a scarf or stole!
I designed this wrap specifically to work with Koigu and other handpainted yarns. Knit on size 5 needles and worked in a combination of a few simple patterns, this wrap knits up quickly and lets the gorgeous yarn be the star. The unusual construction plays up the variegation of the yarn and helps keep your interest! Here's a shot of the gorgeous center panel:
I knit the sample with 6 skeins of Koigu Cashmere, but you can use any one of the many gorgeous sock yarns that are on the market today.
Requires size 5 circular and double pointed needles. Pattern is suitable for an advanced beginner, as it requires only Knit, Purl, and YO.
Available as an immediate PDF download for $5.00. Click here to go to the pattern page and purchase through PayPal.
Sock Pattern Now Available: Cecil Socks!
Cecil Socks Details:
Finished Size & Measurements:
8" Adult Medium (8.5" Adult Large)
Gauge:
30 sts and 46 rows to 4" in stockinette on US#1/2.25mm needles
Materials:
1 skein Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock, 360yds/4.5oz
Suitable Yarn Substitutes:
Any fingering weight yarn
Pattern Price:
$5.00
I've just finished proofing the pattern and adding it the website, and it's now available either directly from the blog or from its own Cecil Pattern page!
Have you ever tried to take a picture of your feet that shows the outside corner of each foot? I hope you've never had to, because I felt like I was failing beginner yoga while trying to take these shots . . . although they came out surprisingly well considering! I'm especially proud of the single-sock shot, it looks so professional, as if I had a foot form! (I don't, that's my actual foot)
These socks came out better than I expected, and the pattern really works even with this brightly-painted yarn -- which goes to show that you don't have to knit plain socks out of all your handpainted sock yarn if you don't want to!
I want to try these in one of the gorgeous semi-solids, too, I think they'd work just as well.
The diamond is easy enough to do without a cable needle, and would be a perfect project to try that technique for the first time!
I had a whole bunch of yarn leftover after knitting the smaller size, you could easily knit the legs longer than my 5" and have enough yarn.
Introducing: Onda!
I'm proud to introduce my latest pattern, now available for sale at Chiagu: Onda!
This rectangular stole is knit with 7 colors of Koigu KPPPM which shade from light to dark. I was thinking of the ocean when I knit this, and found great colors to capture that mood of waves crashing on the beach. The shawl would look equally great in other color progressions: I can imagine it in shades of green, for example, or bright reds and oranges. . . the options are endless!
The lace pattern is a straight-forward version of Feather and Fan so this pattern would be great for a beginning lace knitter to get her feet wet!
I spent part of the weekend organizing my stash and then a brilliant idea hit me: Why not sell KPPPM kits for this pattern?
So I went ahead and created a few colorways, so now you can buy this pattern either as a PDF download or as a kit.
The kits consist of 7 skeins of Koigu that I handpicked from my stash to work well in this design. When you order a kit, you will receive the yarn (I can wind it if you'd like me to, just ask in the special instructions) plus the pattern as a hard copy, and the skeins will be marked 1 through 7 so you know what order to knit them in.
Since most of my stash was bought before the latest price increase, I've decided to price the kits at $84 (which breaks down to $12 for each ball) and include the pattern for free. Shipping will be $5 and the kits will go out via USPS Priority Mail.
There are currently 5 color choices (and of course, each kit is unique and will never be replicated!) and I will add more if there's a demand. If you're looking for a certain look or color and none of these are what you're imagining, email me and I'll see what I can do. There's still plenty of Koigu where that came from! I figure I can share the wealth. ;o)
As always if you have any questions or need help, just email me! Thanks!
(oh, BTW, "onda" means "wave" in Portuguese)
