Summer already??  Yesterday I was surprised to see that the pattern pages for the summer issue of Interweave Knits were posted.  I've only had a handful of hot days here; it is hard to think about summer!  But if you start now, by the time the projects are done they are ready to be worn in the hot hot days of July and August.  There are some really lovely transitional cardigans and sweaters, plus tees and tanks for hot weather.  

I am super excited to share two patterns in this issue, including the sweater on the cover!!  Yay!!  Even though I have quite a few designs under my belt, I get a big thrill every time I see a new one in print.  This is my second time being on a cover, and I still jumped up and down all over my office with my dog.

The pattern on the cover is the Kayleen Pullover.  If you keep up with my designs, then you know how much I love designing cable motifs.  This one started off as a mish-mash of several Barbara Walker motifs all morphed together with lots of trial and error.  I am really happy with the result; it makes me think of a built-in necklace.  No jewelry required?  Haha.  I tried out a new idea for the sleeves, split petal sleeves trimmed with I-cord.  

I absolutely loved the yarn Interweave sent me, Sabine by Juniper Moon Farm.  I'm usually not a fan of pure cotton yarns, so this yarn is a perfect warm weather blend for me-- cotton, llama and merino.  The yarn is lightweight, bouncy, and is nicely heathers with the different blend of fibers.

My other design in this issue is the Sand Dollar Cardigan, a dolman-sleeved open front cardigan with multiple stitch textures.

Sand Dollar Cardigan is worked flat in pieces.  The body is worked in Stockinette stitch, and the sleeves are worked in an open eyelet stitch.  The edges are worked in a Garter rib.  The yarn, Knit One Crochet Too 2nd Time Cotton, is a cotton/acrylic blend that has a very interesting two-tone color.  Sometimes cotton yarns make my wrists ache and cause a callous on my fingers, but this one was actually quite pleasant to work with.  

The Knitting Daily preview isn't up yet, but you can see all the pattern pages for this issue on Ravelry here.  Lots of beautiful projects!!  What will you knit for summer?

The eggs have been found, the ham was eaten, and now it is time to get back to work!  I am happy to introduce the next pattern in my Dreaming of Egypt collection.  Say hello to Dahshur, a lacy short sleeve pullover.

Inspired by some of the oldest pyramids in Egypt, Dahshur is a raglan-sleeved pullover featuring a textured lace stitch pattern and a high-low hem. Worked in one piece from the top down, the body is worked straight then uses short rows to create a curved hem. Edges are finished with Garter stitch. Dahshur is intended to be worn with 0-2” ease in the bust. Shown with no ease.

I used the lusciously soft Lorna's Laces Honor, an alpaca and silk blend.  While I wouldn't wear alpaca in hot and sticky weather, this yarn was nice and cozy for a day with a cool spring breeze.  The different stitch textures highlight the color variations in hand-dyed Honor.

$6.00 for the single pattern

$20.00 for the 6 pattern Dreaming of Egypt ebook

I am pleased to share my  new pattern, Rhodora, as part of Harrisville Designs Spring Thaw 2014.  Rhodora is a simple dolman sleeve top with a lace yoke. It is worked flat in two pieces with stitches cast on each side for the sleeves. The yoke is worked in a simple zig-zag lace. 

 I have used Harrisville yarns in the past as a weaver, and was excited to try their Silky Wool knitting yarn, a nubby lightweight yarn perfect for warm weather.  Even plain Stockinette stitch has an interesting surface texture.

You can see the entire 9 pattern Spring Thaw collection here, and the pattern page for Rhodora here.

The Spring/Summer issue of Twist Collective is now live, and I am very happy to share my cardigan pattern Nopales.  I have been a fan of Twist Collective since its debut, and I really got excited to finally have the chance to work with them.

Now, a bit about my pattern.  The body of Nopales is worked in a simple cat's paw lace pattern.  The collar and cuffs feature welts of varying lengths to add some interesting texture.  My original intention was for the cardigan to be worn open, but I really like how it looks with the cute bumblebee pin.  The styling in the photos is just what I envisioned, worn over a pretty and delicate spring-y dress with lace.

Nopales is one of those designs that I've had brewing in my head for years, and it took lots of time for me to hammer out the exact details.  I'm really happy with my final pattern, and I hope others are too.  Happy Knitting!

It can get very hot where I live, and both the summers I have been here I have wondered why on earth I am running the dryer when I could be drying my clothes for free in the heat.  My husband has been accumulating more and more laundry than needs to be air dried, and my collapsible drying rack just can't hack it anymore.  Finally, I have myself a clothesline!  Yay!  I used it for the first time and discovered two things:

1.  Since I'm not using dryer sheets, fabric softener is very necessary.  Luckily it was just towels I washed, and they were so stiff I could have leaned them up against the wall.  

2.  I need some sort of receptacle to hold my clothespins, because a handful is definitely not enough.  

To solve problem #1, I decided to make my own fabric softener.  More and more I'm trying to make my own cleaning products, and I suppose laundry supplies are next on my list.  I'm going to try the vinegar-hair condition concoction, which were most of the recipes I found online.  We'll see how that goes!

To solve problem #2 I continued my apron-making kick and made a half-apron with deep pockets.  I spent quite a long time last night going through my quilt fabric stash, and at the bottom of the bin I found this hilarious print that looks like an old-fashioned Sears & Roebuck catalog.  Well, a clothesline is pretty old-fashioned, so it seemed appropriate.  

I had a big *duh* moment the last week while looking at sewing patterns and not finding what I wanted; I realized that I really should use my fashion design degree and draft my own patterns.  Yes it will take more time, but I can get exactly what I want and hopefully get a better fit.  I have one of those basic bodice and skirt patterns, I just need to take the time to make up the muslins and get a good fit.  

For now I'll deal with rectangles and design my own apron.  I had to alter my original dimensions to fit the amount of fabric I had, but overall I am pleased with how it came out.  I think I had about half a yard of each fabric.  If you want to make one for yourself, here are the basics:

Main fabric:
body: 23" x 16"
pocket: 23" x 16"

Contrast fabric:
waistband: 18" x 6"pocket band: 23" x 3"
ties: 22" x 6" cut 2 [I made them only 22" long because of a lack of fabric; if you have enough fabric, you might want to cut them longer]

My seams were about 3/8"-1/2"; since a perfect fit wasn't necessary I sort of made it up as I went along.

1.  Sew pocket band to pocket RS together with a 1/4" seam.  Iron seam allowance toward band.  Press under 1/4" along top edge.  Fold band in half and press.  Pin inside edge over seam.  Stitch in the ditch on RS.  [Note:  I am really terrible with stitch in the ditch since I never seem to catch the loose edge on the WS.  Here I used a blind hem stitch so that I was more likely to catch the edge.  Sssshhh don't tell!]

2.  Place RS of pocket on WS of apron, aligning bottom and side edges.  This is where I messed up and had to rip out since I'm so used to putting things RS together.  Sew with a 1/2" seam; turn out and press.  Fold back remaining seam allowance on apron sides into a 1/4" narrow hem.  Stitch along sides and bottom with a wide zig zag or straight stitch.

3.  Fold the apron across into thirds and make a crease on the fold lines.  Mark a dashed line on the creases of the pocket section with a fabric pen.  Sew a straight stitch over the lines to create a three section pocket.

4.  Sew ties to each side of waistband and press flat.  

5.  Gather top of apron to fit between seams on waistband.  Stitch to waistband.  Fold back seam allowance on top of waistband section only and press.  

6.  Fold ties in half RS together and sew, leaving waistband section open.  Turn out and press.  Pin waistband section over seam on WS and pin.  Sew around entire waistband/ties with wide zig zag or straight stitch. 

Voila!  You have yourself an apron.  I don't know about you, but wearing this apron might make me enjoy doing laundry just a little bit.

I am happy to present a new cresecent shawl, Nile Valley.  Worked from the bottom up in an intricate lace border, the main body of the shawl is continued in a winding lace pattern worked in short rows.  Nile Valley uses one skein (about 430 yards) of fingering weight yarn, so it is perfect for using that one skein of hand dyed sock yarn in your stash.

Nile Valley is the first of six patterns in my ebook Dreaming of Egypt.  I have loved studying ancient Egypt since I was a little girl, and now all aspects of Egypt, from the pyramids to the Nile River, are my source of inspiration.  Dreaming of Egypt will contain patterns for three warm weather garments and three accessories, using yarns that range from lace to DK weight.

For more information, you can view the Ravelry page for Nile Valley here. 

$5.00