Will - O - Wisp

It's getting colder, the sky is dull and grey, and we all settle to nest in an knit... But it's also the time where leaves are starting to fall, the sun breaks through and you go on a stroll througth the beautiful changing forests. It's not cold enough to take out your warm winter jacket, but cold enough for an additional layer.

Will - O - Wisp is perfect for the changing seasons. It can be worn around your neck, but it's also big enough to wrap around all of yourself for that additional layer of warmth when the wind picks up. And I do mean all of yourself - as the pic shows below, it's even big enough for me. And I'm not a tiny person.

The lacy triangles remind me of the little, playful wisps of wind that swirl around you on those breezy autumn days. Wisp from Dream in Color is a gorgeous laceweight in silk and wool that's just wonderful to snuggle up in. I love the subtle shine of the silk content, and it's just heavenly soft. And yes, the pun is intended.

I'm really happy with this shawl. I'm even tempted to knit it again in a slightly heavier yarn. And by the way, the pattern includes a little variation paragraph - if you follow my blog, you probably already know I love versatility in my patterns.

Klick on the tab designs above to see all of my works.

Kite Shawl goes print!

I'm so exited, my first pattern is going to get published in print! Stackpole books accepted my Universal Kite Shawl/lette for their new Beginner's knitting book "Basic Knitting and Beyond". I'm really exited about this. I've always been quite proud of the Kite Shawl, and I'm so happy that it'll get published in print!

Funny fact: My first pattern ever is also going to be my first published pattern in print.

This is the original Kite shawl, a warm and cushy version of the pattern.

For the book, I'm going to knit a lighter version using the gorgeous Malabrigo sock. Here are my chosen colors in Cote D'Azure and Archangel:

And last but not least, I feel a little bad that I've ignored this blog a little in the last couple of weeks. Sadly, I'm working on two patterns that I can't share here right now, but now I've got another project I can update you with regularly!

Shawl love

Let me start this post by saying: I was never a shawl person.

No, seriously. I never even remotely considered buying a shawl. Then why, you might ask, was your first design ever, of all things possible, a shawl?

Yeah, well, I needed to get deep into knitting to discover how great shawls can be. Things you can knit, you just can't buy. You can't hang around in ravelry as much as I do, and not notice how much people rave about shawls. So I had to try it. And I really loved the art-deco look of all those multi-colored shawl patterns. Thus, my Kite shawl was born. And really, I love it. I wore it every day in winter.

Despite that, a long time, I totally ignored lace shawls. I just didn't see the appeal. Yes, a lot of the lace patterns are really beautiful, but not something I'd wear. But again... you can't hang around ravelry without hearing people rave about lace shawls. So naturally, because I'm a curious person, I had to try, and started swatching. And what you don't see in the pictures - how cushy and nice garter stitch in lace weight actually is! And when I saw that Dream in Color offered to work with designers for their new yarn base wisp, the deal for me was sealed. Looking at the gorgeous DIC colors always inspires me.

Yesterday, my DIC yarn arrived! Look at the gorgeous Wisp - and so soft! Now I only need to choose which one to use for CC. I've already wound the MC.

And this is my current comfort-knit. (Easy, second knit for those times when you're tired and/or don't want to mess with complicated details) Do you believe this is my first pair ever of vanilla socks?

Gotta love beautiful yarn!

Yarn. It's not only working material. It's a joy to look at, a joy to pet, and oh so cushy to cuddle into, once your knitting is finished. Of course, I also own that one odd duck of yucky yarn... it happens to all of us. Or more than one, of course more than one! ;) If you are following my tuts, you are already acquainted with ACK-rylic.

But this yarn is different - it's of the stuff that makes you dream about cushy softness, joyful knitting - and lets be honest. I totally squeed when the package arrived and I cuddled the 6 skeins in my hands.

It's a high quality base from Atelier Zitron (a german yarnie), custom dyed by the fabulous Faerbulous, who I found on dawanda. Check out her store!

Since this color is extremely hard to capture in pictures, it wasn't so easy for me to tell exactly what I wished. But she knew exactly what I meant and I'm so happy with those skeins!

Also, surprise! Stitch markers are a pleasant surprise. They are cute! I actually like using the little plastic rings, so I've never bothered to buy or make some - but those are cute and I'll try them the next time I need markers! I suppose that's Faerbulous' way of saying "thank you for doing business with me"

I'm planning to design a lightweight sweater with this yarn. I love worsted weight sweaters - but I often have a problem wearing them. I'm not a person who gets cold easily. And always when it's getting cold, I'm having the same old problem - too cold with just a shirt, but too hot with a sweater. Sigh... I figure a thin sweater will be the perfect solution!

And since I need to challenge myself, I'm going to work with a zipper for the first time. I'm kinda afraid and exited about this at the same time! But I know it will totally be worth it in the end. Stay tuned!