Ranunculus FO

Posted on July 16, 2026 | 2 comments

I finished Ranunculus. It was such a quick knit, I decided to just forge on and see what would happen once it was off the needles. I knit the underarm to 8” including the twisted rib, using less than 3 50g/164 yard skeins of Quince & Co. Sparrow, less than 400 yards total. (This means you really could knit this with one skein of sock yarn!)

white unblocked linen sweater

Here it is unblocked, fresh off the needles. It’s linen, so it’s pretty crunchy. 50” wide (matched the gauge, but it hasn’t been blocked).

blocked linen sweater

And here it is blocked. The sleeves are no longer curly, and the fabric is somewhat smoother. But now the sweater is 46” wide, and the underarms are 10” long. Gravity always wins! It wanted to grow longer, and that length is stolen from the width.

Ranunculus before and after blocking

You can see that it’s quite a bit longer, and longer than I want. I left a long tail so I’d be able to frog back and adjust. And look! Bisquee’s tail is in the picture, too.

I showed it to my friends, asking for advice on how long it should be. And then I decided to have Bev try it on; she’s much taller than I am.

woman wearing Ranunculus sweater

It looks like it was meant for her, so I gave it to her! I have more of the same yarn, and it doesn’t take long to knit. I have a better idea of how long to knit it under the arms.

This is the project that I’ve lost interest in; I started it in 2022? maybe? I’m frogging it for the yarn. I don’t have enough to go further, since I used the last 3 skeins for the sweater above!

This has been a really fun knit, so I don’t mind doing it again. Part of what made it so much fun was an accidental mini-KAL with Annie, my test knitter extraordinaire. We were texting back and forth with progress updates. She knit hers with DK weight yarn.

woman wearing Ranunculus sweater

She didn’t swatch either. It looks great on her! And she’s knitting another one in blue.

I was working on my second one in the car wash the other day. Totally fun!

Do you knit repeats? I’m also starting a second Luminos Tee, after I finish my second Ranunculus.

MadelineTosh Twist Light

The pink is MadelineTosh Twist Light, Coquette Deux. I bought this color a while ago to go with something else but it didn’t work out. I went to my LYS to get a second skein, as well as this contrast color, but they’re out of the pink so I’m ordering online. I’m not worried about dye lots; I’ll start the second skein above the striping so it won’t matter if it’s not an exact match. The variegated is from Dream in Color.

Do you knit repeats? Why or why not? I like working off the knowledge I got from the first one, and tweaking things to perfection!

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Introducing Trillium Path

Posted on July 7, 2026 | 3 comments

Trillium Path is an ode to spring wildflower hikes. A field of simple, twinkly assigned pooling flowers on stockinette combined with optional eyelet stripes make this eye-catching accessory sparkle. This asymmetric triangle is knit on the bias from skinny point to wide end. Trillium Path can be an easy-to-knit social knitting project, or a multi-tasker’s dream.

A video tutorial for the assigned pooling pattern is included in the pattern.

Trillium Path is knit with one skein of fingering weight yarn that’s dyed for assigned pooling. You can also extend your shawlette with a second skein of yarn if that’s your jam.

The eyelet stripes are optional, but I highly recommend them for visual interest, and also as mini-goals while you knit. The final eyelet edging at the bind off keeps your edge from rolling.

I knit my shawlettes with A Chick That Knitz Singles Fingering in Wildflowers AP (blue) and From Paris With Love AP (green).

stitch detail

The Trillium Path pattern is available on Ravelry (link here) and also on Payhip (link here). Use coupon code THRICE for 15% off on either site, through July 21, 2026.

Are you interested in a knitalong? This could be a fun and easy summer KAL! Let me know; if there’s enough interest I’ll announce it here.

Thanks to tech editor Jen Lucas, test knitters Ann Berg, Greta Heintz, Karen Viglione Lauterwasser, Martha Grace McCune, Iris Mondri-Kish, Melissa A. Rowe, Patty Scruggs, Evan Tribelhorn, Sue Zois, and model Sharon Hsu.

Special thanks to Tammy Pelfrey of A Chick that Knitz for this beautiful yarn to design with!

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On a (sweater) roll!

Posted on July 5, 2026 | 3 comments

I finished my Luminos Tee. It looked great right off the needles, and even better after wet blocking. The size stayed the same, but the stitches and edges are smoother. I knew the size would be consistent, because I knit, washed, and blocked a swatch. That’s always good for a sweater that you want to fit!

A quick mirror selfie. Yarn is a kit from Knits All Done/Yarn Snob, merino/silk/cashmere. Luxurious!

Do I always knit, wash, and block swatches? Usually yes, for sweaters. But I’ve been eyeing the Ranunculus sweater, and I’m not sure it matters. The instructions are the same for all sizes through the yoke; the actual size is determined after knitting the yoke, when beginning the raglan shaping. You can use any weight yarn, and a size 10 needle is recommended. That’s all pretty loosey-goosey!

I wanted to play with some fingering weight linen that’s in my stash. Most of it is in an abandoned design project. There are 3 untouched skeins (50g/168 yards each), so I can play with what’s there without ripping the old project yet. This sweater takes 370 to 400 yards for the short sleeve version, so I’m covered!

It would make a very open and airy Ranunculus, to go over a tank top or sundress. I decided to jump in and start knitting; it’s just as easy as making a circular gauge swatch. I’ll have enough done when the yoke is finished to really figure out my gauge, and adjust accordingly. Because blocking is transformative for linen, I could put it on waste yarn and wash and block. Or not. The smallest size in this pattern gives me 10 inches of ease, so I’m not worried that it would be too small.

I took it to the Waterfront Blues Festival yesterday; it’s going pretty quickly. (Jenny Don’t and the Spurs on the screen.)

The weather was perfect for 3 days of music outdoors. Happy Fourth of July weekend! 250 years for this republic.

Time to knit…

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Busy and blue…and red!

Posted on June 29, 2026 | 7 comments

Well that was a busy weekend!

entrelac knitting

I taught an entrelac class for Modern Daily Knitting on Friday morning. Always fun to hang out with MDK!

Team Shakin’ Streetfighters

I rode in a fundraiser bike ride, PeDal Support for Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon (PRO) on Sunday morning. DH was on the organizing committee. They raised $20,000, which is great. I found our old bike jerseys in a drawer, so we had to wear them! PRO provides programs and information for People with Parkinsons and their care partners. DH hosts a weekly ping pong program for them, and a monthly support group. His blog, Shakin’ Street, is here. And if you’d like to donate to my PeDal Support page, that link is here.

The ride was on the Banks Vernonia State Trail, which is a rails to trails conversion. The path is fairly flat at the beginning, and then begins a gentle climb that goes on for a while. It’s an out and back ride, which means downhill on the return! The section in Stubb Stewart State Park is especially lovely, with dense forest and so many shades of green.

Our garden has been in berry overdrive! We have two blueberry bushes, one of which is probably 25 years old. We’ve had gallons of berries this year. Blueberry muffins, blueberry bread, blueberry cobbler, blueberries in the freezer…I’m about to make blueberry lime jam.

Blueberry cobbler (recipe link) and vanilla bean ice cream
Sugared raspberries with ice cream
Bisquee investigates raspberries and prosecco

Picked and dunked within 5 minutes. Bliss.

Luminos Tee by Yamagara

I’m making good progress on my Luminos Tee. I put it on 2 needles so I could see the shape! I’m currently working in the round, and it’s shaping the shoulders and V neck. The construction is very clever, and I’m enjoying seeing how it’s put together. (There is actually pink in the lighter stripe; the lighting at my dining room table is wonky because of the reddish wood.)

Test knitting for Trillium Path is nearly done. I’m looking forward to sharing this simple knit with you!

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Introducing Hi Ho Helix!

Posted on June 22, 2026 | Leave a comment
woman wearing hand knit striped hat and cowl
Hi Ho Helix!

Helix knitting is a method of knitting jogless stripes in the round. It works well for single row stripes, seamless garter stitch, and blending dye lots of yarn.

Two-color striped hat

This worsted weight hat or cowl begins with a jogless garter stitch band. Jogless stripes are then worked in your choice of two or three colors. These projects are great for stashbusting your leftover yarn from previous projects! I knit all of my samples with Malabrigo Rios.

Hat crown

I designed this set as a quick start project for a helix knitting class. We had class on Saturday, and it was fun!

The Hi Ho Helix pattern is available on Ravelry, link here.

And it’s also available on Payhip, link here.

Use code STRIPED for 15% off the pattern through June 30, 2026.

Stripe it up!

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It takes a village…of reminders

Posted on June 19, 2026 | 6 comments

Still enjoying the knitting on my Luminos Tee. This half is done, and I’ve also finished the second half and joined them to work in the round up the body.

See all the reminders to myself? Chain row counter to tell me which row I’m on, and also to increase on each side of the marker on right side rows. I do remember to change the chain loop when I move it; sometimes I forget with my barrel counter. Little locking stitch markers to remind me that I need to increase on the Right Side rows. Otherwise I’d sail right past, because sometimes I’m not looking while I’m knitting!

I brought this project with me, but didn’t work on it. I just wanted the picture with this bird.

Trailing Leaves

Because it’s a repeat model. And it never blinks.

I didn’t have my knitting with me when I saw this seal in Yachats.

But I did see this pair of otters having breakfast in the river! I didn’t realize that there were two until I looked at the video. Sweet.

I’m home now, prepping for Saturday’s helix knitting class at For Yarn’s Sake. There are a few spots left, if you’re looking for a fun and easy knitting project.

What do you like to knit in the summer?

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Knitting break

Posted on June 14, 2026 | 6 comments

I’ve been knitting/working a LOT. Last week I had 3 designs in test knitting, and I was knitting/finishing versions of two of them. One of them is for the helix knitting class next weekend; that one was at the tech editor. All my knitting is done, so it was time to pick something new to knit.

Alsea River

I’m away for the weekend, and I want to knit a little summer top for myself, that I don’t have to design. I just want to follow someone else’s instructions!

My options: a little brioche top from Knit Graffiti (Mist), Ranunculus in fingering weight linen if I abandon something I started several years ago and will probably never finish, and Luminos Tee.

I discovered that I didn’t have enough yarn for the brioche top. Poot.

This is the linen top that I was freestyling, that I don’t feel inspired to pick up again. I started it in 2022. I may have knit some in 2023 and 2024, up to the armhole. The lace pattern is the same as the one I used in Kittiwake, which was Aran weight linen. I think Kittiwake is more appealing.

Kittiwake

But I wasn’t ready to frog the fingering weight piece.

yarn from Yarn Snob

Last year I bought this kit from Yarn Snob. It’s superwash merino, silk, and cashmere, for the Luminos Tee.

Luminos Tee by Yamagara, photo from their Ravelry page

Winner winner!

The construction of this is so interesting. It starts with the two triangles at the bottom. I finished one last night. Working on the second one, and then I get to join them and start the stripes going up the body. Super fun, and the instructions are very well written so far. The side triangles are a great social knit; the increases are very regular.

What’s on your summer needles?

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Introducing Effervescent

Posted on June 12, 2026 | 2 comments
woman wearing brioche knit shawl with assigned pooling motifs

Effervescent is an asymmetric triangle brioche shawlette, knit from narrow end to wide end. It features a syncopated brioche edging, and assigned pooling bubbles on the body of the shawlette.

The pattern requires two skeins of fingering weight yarn, one of which should be dyed for assigned pooling. You’ll need a 24″ circular needle for working 2-color brioche flat.

Don’t be intimidated by brioche plus pooling! Assigned pooling works well on many backgrounds such as stockinette stitch, garter stitch, and brioche rib. If you can knit brioche rib, assigned pooling is a fun way to play with it.

This pattern is available on Ravelry and Payhip. Use coupon code FIZZY for 15% off through June 19, 2026. Newsletter subscribers, check your email for your special code.

Thanks to tech editor Meaghan Schmaltz, and test knitters Ann Berg, Micaela Langevin, Ashely Meshioye, Lillyvette Montalvo Ostenson, and model Sharon Hsu.

Special thanks to Tammy Pelfrey/A Chick that Knitz, for the beautiful yarn for this design!

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Summer quinoa salad

Posted on June 11, 2026 | 2 comments

This is an old favorite from a 2015 blog post. That’s an old picture! Add a couple handfuls of spinach to round things out; I did last night and loved it even more. You can add any of your favorite salad goodies.

Summer Quinoa Salad

1 cup quinoa
1 cup frozen shelled edamame
1 cup frozen corn (or cut fresh corn directly off the cob)
1 avocado, diced
1/2 lb grape tomatoes, various, cut into halves
1 15 oz can garbanzo beans, rinsed & drained
1/2 cucumber, cut into bite sized pieces
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (unless you have friends who are cilantro averse. I’m looking at YOU, Lisa!)

dressing
4 T fresh squeezed orange juice
4 T olive oil
4 T apple cider vinegar
2 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp sugar or honey
1/4 tsp salt
liberal grind of black pepper

Rinse quinoa. Put in pot with 2 C water. Bring to boil, cover & simmer 20 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Fluff with fork and transfer to large bowl to cool.

Combine corn & edamame in microwave-safe dish. Add 2 TBSP water. Cook for 3 minutes on high. Drain and cool.

Assemble all dressing ingredients and shake in a jar.

When quinoa, corn, and edamame are cool, combine with all other salad ingredients. Add dressing to taste. Serve at room temperature. Serves 6-8, depending on how hungry you are.

I took this to a happy hour yesterday, delish. What’s your favorite thing to cook when it’s warm out?

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Blocking is magic, redux

Posted on June 5, 2026 | 5 comments

I finished the second version of my upcoming Trillium Path. This version has optional eyelets, which I highly recommend.

collage of assigned pooling shawl, fabric, and yarn

I’m in love.

two blocking shawls

I blocked it much more assertively than the green version. The fabric is floatier, more diaphanous. Both fabrics are lovely, but I prefer the airier version. Also, eyelets really love blocking.

The green version is now soaking for a reblock! Both yarns are A Chick that Knitz Single Fingering.

Trillium Path is currently being test knit. I’ll publish the pattern in July; stay tuned!

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