Oh, Canada!

My newest design, the Butchart Gardens Shawl, was inspired by a beautiful Canadian yarn and a world-famous Canadian garden. When I travel, my favorite thing to do after visiting local yarn shops is to tour local public gardens.  I fondly remember Butchart Gardens near Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC as having the most spectacular colorful flower borders.  And so, it was only natural that Butchart Gardens came to mind when I was trying to think of a name for the spectacular flower bordered shawl that I just finished making.

The shawl is knit in Handmaiden Fine Yarns' Sea Silk, a fingering weight yarn that I just started carrying in my online store. The yarn has gorgeous drape and is a joy to work with.

As I was finishing this shawl, news erupted of the terrible wildfires near Ft. McMurray. I was moved by the pictures on TV, and the idea came to me that perhaps my Canadian inspired shawl can help me do something to help Canada. I will be donating a portion of the proceeds from pattern sales to the Canadian Red Cross. I am also starting a knit along for this shawl in my Ravelry group, hoping that we can get a large group going and make a healthy donation.

Interestingly, and just by chance, the name of the
colorway that I used for my prototype is Phoenix.
Let us hope that is prophetic, and a sign that Ft. McMurray will soon rise from the ashes.

This link will take you to the Ravelry pattern page.

The Better Bobble Scarf

Introducing . . .

The Better Bobble Scarf

I'm pretty excited about my newest design.  How much do I love it? Let me count the ways:

1)  It's highly textured and totally reversible. You can find lots of scarf patterns that are textured, and tons of scarf patterns that are reversible, but you don't often find one that has so much texture and is reversible at the same time.  
2) It may look difficult, but an advanced beginner could handle it without a problem.  
3) 7 out of every 9 rows are stockinette or reverse stockinette, but just when you are getting a bit bored, the bobble rows come along to add some excitement. (Did I mention that it's easy?)
4) The bobbles are made without turning, and since it's knit lengthwise, it knits up pretty quickly (especially for a pattern with bobbles!). (Uhm, did you get that about the easy part?)
5) It will look great knit up in all sorts of yarns -- it does a great job of showing off the Blue Heron Rayon Metallic that I used in my prototype, but I can't wait to try it with a lofty and luxurious solid that will show off the pattern texture. 


Speaking to that last point . . . I really would like to see this pattern knit up in all sorts of different yarns.  I'm starting a knit along over in my Knitter's Journey fan club group on Ravelry.   The pattern will be free to anyone who wants to join our KAL through June 1st.  (After which it will be available for sale on Ravelry).

Come on over and join us!