Saturday, March 31, 2018

Stonefeather

Stonefeather

I often draw inspiration from nature for many of my designs - some subtly so, some not so subtle. Today's newly released shawl pattern falls into the latter category. Or perhaps it floats into it, slowly and gracefully like, oh I don't know, a giant feather maybe. That's right. I've designed this shawl to resemble a huge feather, with a center spine and lots of little barbs/hairs shooting outward.

StonefeatherStonefeather

This was a collaboration with the guys over at Leon Alexander Yarns, using two colors of their Heir single-ply fingering weight merino, one of which was held together with a single strand of their Heiress laceweight mohair/silk blend. They and their yarns were truly a pleasure to work with! The loose gauge and mohair halo give the shawl a soft, lofty, weightless feeling that might make you wish you could glide away on the breeze. And of course, being bi-color brioche, it's completely reversible! Purple with green on one side, green with purple on the other - or whatever marvelous color combination you fancy.

StonefeatherStonefeather

New to brioche? That's ok! This pattern would make a great intro to the brioche technique, with plenty of plain ribbing to practice the basics in between some simple shaping rows where you'll learn how to increase and decrease in this stitch pattern. So what are you waiting for?

SIZE
One size, easily adjusted

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Length: 84 inches
Width: 14 inches

GAUGE (after blocking)
16 sts/20 rows = 4 inches in brioche rib

MATERIALS
Fingering weight yarn, approximately 430yds/423m each of two colors
Leon Alexander Yarns Heir [100% merino; 430yds/423m per 100g skein]:
DC: Deadly Nightshade; 1 skein
LC: Haunted; 1 skein

Laceweight mohair yarn to be held double with LC (optional)
Leon Alexander Yarns Heiress [70% mohair, 30% silk; 460yds/421m per 50g skein]: Hemlock Root; 1 skein
US #4/3.5mm circular needle
2 stitch markers
Tapestry needle

Buy now on Ravelry!

StonefeatherStonefeather

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Sound Check

Sound Check

My latest design is now available for purchase through Ravelry! I'd like you to say hello to Sound Check. She's an asymmetric triangle shawl, worked from side-to-side in expanding sections of bi-color brioche on a garter stitch background, meant to mimic volume bars on a digital read-out. As written, two-thirds of the volume bars are to the max, but every 3rd bar is only half as loud (i.e., tall). Once you see how it's done though, it's super easy to customize to your preferred sound level by simply making each bar taller or shorter as you please. The overall size of the shawl is also easily adjusted by working more or fewer volume bars before bind off, or by switching up the yarn weight and gauge.

Sound CheckSound Check
Sound Check

This design was a collaboration with Abby and Byron at Twisted Owl Fiber Studio. They - and their yarn - were such a pleasure to work with! Their Super Sock base has maximum squoosh and is available in a vibrant array of colors. They have a couple different options of kits with two colors already paired up for you, or feel free to choose your own. Pick two highly contrasting colorways for the bi-color brioche to really pop, or a more subtle set to let the texture do the talking.

Sound CheckSound Check
Sound CheckSound Check

SIZE
One size, easily adjusted

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Span: 68 inches
Height: 27 inches
MATERIALS
Fingering weight yarn, approximately 463yds/423m each of two colors
Twisted Owl Fiber Studio Super Sock 4-Ply [75% merino, 25% nylon; 463yds/423m per 100g skein]
LC: Rocker Chick; 1 skein
DC: Technicolor Cowgirl; 1 skein
US #2.5/3mm circular needle
2 stitch markers
Tapestry needle

GAUGE (after blocking)
18 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in brioche rib
20 sts/40 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch

Buy now on Ravelry!

Sound Check