Countdown to the Crawl: Road Warrior

It's almost here! The 7th annual DFW Yarn Crawl begins tomorrow! Here's one more new shawl pattern to tide you over until then.

Inspired by Yarnold, the armadillo mascot of the DFW Yarn Crawl, my Road Warrior shawl pattern is a simple, relaxing knit of garter stitch with occasional slipped stitches and basic increases. It’s also easily customized to whatever yummy yarns may follow you home from your local yarn shop. Just use a needle size suitable for your yarn weight and keep knitting until you run out of yarn.

The sample will be on display for the entire crawl (Aug 17-26) at McKinney Knittery, where you'll also find the Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light used in the sample. So feel free to pop by and check it out if you're in the neighborhood.

SIZE
One size, easily adjusted

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Span: 68 inches
Height at center: 19 inches

GAUGE (after blocking)
19 sts/44 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch

MATERIALS
Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light
[100% merino; 420yds/384m per 100g skein];
1 skein each in Scout (A) and Charcoal (B)
US #5/3.75mm circular needle
6 stitch markers
Tapestry needle

Buy the pattern now on Ravelry!

Countdown to the Crawl: Unicornucopia

Only 2 more days until the 7th annual DFW Yarn Crawl, and I still have 2 more new shawl patterns to share with you!

This next one is a bit whimsical. Okay, a lot whimsical. When Logan of Leon Alexander Yarns said he was dyeing an exclusive colorway for Amy at West 7th Wool and asked if I'd design something for it, I knew it had to be something unique, something that showed off the playful side of both Logan and Amy. Enter the Unicornucopia shawl!

This crazy colorful unicorn horn was created using bi-color brioche with a strand of Countess Fingering and a strand of Jester DK Mohair, each in the W7W exclusive colorway "ATTN: UNICORN DEPT" (and yes, you can absolutely substitute a second skein of fingering weight yarn if mohair's not your thing).

If you'll be participating in the DFW Yarn Crawl, you can see this sample in person at the Leon Alexander trunk show, all day Saturday 8/18 at West 7th Wool in Fort Worth. You might even run into yours truly. ;)

SIZE
One size
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Span: 70 inches
Height at center point: 16 inches

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

MATERIALS
LC: Leon Alexander Yarns Countess Fingering
[85% merino, 15% nylon; 430yds/423m per 100g skein];
color: ATTN: UNICORN DEPT; 1 skein
DC: Leon Alexander Yarns Jester DK Mohair
[75% mohair, 20% wool, 5% nylon; 240yds/220m per 100g skein];
color: ATTN: UNICORN DEPT; 1 skein
US #5/3.75mm circular needle
Tapestry needle

Buy the pattern now on Ravelry! And if you aren't able to make it to W7W for the exclusive colorway, you can still find lots of other gorgeous yarns at LeonAlexanderYarns.com from the comfort of your own couch.

Countdown to the Crawl: Prickly Pear Pastures

It's the most yarnderful time of the year! The 7th annual DFW Yarn Crawl starts in just 3 days!

From Friday August 17 to Sunday August 26, fiber enthusiasts from far and wide will be gallivanting around the Dallas-Fort Worth area, visiting shop after shop, collecting yarn, notions, prizes, stamps in their yarn crawl passports (which can lead to even more prizes!), and of course, fun memories with their fiber friends. To celebrate, I'll be releasing 3 new shawl patterns this week!

I met Linda from Yarnies of Texas at the Stitches Texas expo last year. After seeing her gorgeous yarns and learning that she's based a stone's throw from my hometown, I knew something inspired by West Texas was in order. Thus, the Prickly Pear Pastures shawl was born.

This shawl begins at the top center with five sections of expanding lace that shoot outward like a patch of prickly pear. Tiny beads knitted into the fabric suggest the succulent's spines (without actually being poky, of course) and also serve to give the shawl some weight, helping it to drape nicely over your shoulders and stay in place.

If you'll be participating in the DFW Yarn Crawl, you can see this sample in person at the Yarnies of Texas trunk show, all day Saturday 8/18 at Georgina Estefania in Fort Worth.

SIZE
One size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Span: 46 inches
Height at center: 22 inches

GAUGE (after blocking)
24 sts/38 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

MATERIALS
Yarnies of Texas D’Lish Silky
[70% merino, 30% silk; 438yds/400m per 100g skein];
color: Desert Rose; 2 skeins
US #2.5/3mm circular needle
6 stitch markers
80g of size 6/0 Miyuki glass beads in Silverlined Crystal (810 beads)
Tiny crochet hook (1mm or smaller) or beading tool
Tapestry needle

Buy the pattern now on Ravelry, and shop Yarnies of Texas' Etsy store to find the perfect yarn!