Category Archives: Knit

VogueKnitting Live NYC wrap

Posted on January 21, 2025 | 7 comments

I had a quick weekend in New York City, teaching at Knitting Live by Vogue Knitting (the official name, but we mostly still call it Vogue Knitting Live). I taught five classes, saw friends old and new, checked out the market, and came home! Thursday to Sunday, bam. Some pictures to amuse you:

Mount Hood at dawn as seen from an airplane

I left Portland at dawn Thursday, and enjoyed the view of Mount Hood. I arrived in time for the teachers’ meeting Thursday evening, and saw lots of teacher friends.

I didn’t remember to take photos in all my classes, but here are a few.

Cutting a steek in knitting

No one ever goes home sad from my steeking class! It’s empowering, and you know everything you need to finish your two Sheepy Steeky Coasters.

knitter with brightly colored knitting

Maria has one cut down, one to go. I’m teaching this class again this coming weekend at Hook and Needle Fiber in Vancouver WA. Come snip with me!

Two smiling women, one holding a copy of Brioche Knit Love book

Barbara was in my Tink Drop Frog (fixing mistakes) class, but I think she really wants to fix brioche mistakes. She ordered a copy of my Brioche Knit Love book on the spot.

Entrelac knitting

All ready for Minerva entrelac class, with step-outs at the ready. This is how we stay ahead of the students in class.

Many smiling knitters at Vogue Knitting Live

So many smiles!

The marketplace was hopping, with fashion shows and interviews on stage, and lots of beautiful yarn and clever products.

Maker’s Talisman Necklaces by Birdie Parker Designs

My favorite thing: Talisman necklaces by Birdie Parker Designs. A stockinette themed charm, semi-precious stone, crochet hook, hand-made silver darning needle, and two stitch markers.

stitch marker and cable needle necklace

Remember my DIY cable hook holder? This is next level.

Knitted wreath with wool locks knit in
Sweet wreath with wool locks knit in from Long Island Yarn and Farm

There are art installations outside the marketplace (which is on two floors). Here’s a taste:

Crochet art by Will Chatlosh
Dragon soft sculpture
Dragon by Going Gnome
Ellie D’Eustachio is a textile street artist
Beam me up with fiber artist Sarah Divi! Loved this fun display.
Sara Elizabeth Kellner’s knitted Victorian Housecats

And it’s not VKL NYC without an iconic escalator video!

I finished my last class at 5 pm on Sunday, and scurried to the airport. It was snowing lightly, and I was worried about my flight home. We ended up with a 3 hour delay for plowing the runways and de-icing the plane.

De-icing, us and the neighbor plane

I was relieved that we actually took off!

Hello 2 AM Portland!

I love teaching at VKLive. It’s a big vibrant show, with something for every knitter, at all levels. Definitely something to experience!

Now it’s back to work. I need to finish writing the pattern for this shawlette, which I enjoyed wearing this weekend. I think I’m going to remove the bind off and use the rest of the yarn to make it just a little bigger, now that I have time.

If you want to know when the pattern is published, sign up for my newsletter! You’ll be the first to know, and you’ll also get the subscriber discount of 25% off. Sign up here.

I hope you had a great weekend, too!

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Posted in events, Knit, pattern design, travel

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Do as I say…

Posted on January 15, 2025 | 11 comments

Not as I do. Was it ridiculous to knit til 1:30 am on Monday night/Tuesday morning so I could soak and block my new shawlette?

A gray and white brioche knit shawlette featuring assigned pooling stars and a syncopated caramel colored edging

Deadlines. I’m headed to New York early Thursday, and I knew it would take two days to dry completely. So, it was worth it to me! I want to wear it at VKLive this weekend. I still have to write the pattern, but that will have to wait until I get back.

detail of a gray and white brioche knit shawlette featuring assigned pooling stars and a syncopated caramel colored edging

I love this color combination. It’s from A Chick that Knitz, Hibernation and Caramel. The shawlette still needs a name. Starstruck? or Stardust? Stardust Nebula? Help me decide.

Oh, also in the “Do as I say, not as I do”: Remember to take breaks and stretch when you’re on a knitting marathon! I can feel a little achiness in my forearm tendons. I’m giving my arms a break for a couple days. Time to pack!

Want to know when the pattern is published? Sign up for my email newsletter and you’ll be the first to know! You’ll also get a coupon for 25% off the pattern; its a subscriber benefit.

Soon!

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Yarn review: MDK Atlas

Posted on January 8, 2025 | 2 comments
two skeins of Modern Daily Knitting’s Atlas yarn in shades of blue

I’m playing with Modern Daily Knitting’s Atlas, a worsted weight 3 ply Rambouillet. It’s bouncy and round and fun. The spin and ply aren’t particularly tight, which makes this a bit fluffy! It’s described as a light worsted weight so I thought it would feel thinner while knitting, but it feels substantial and squishy at the same time. Not quite as soft as merino, but nice and wooly.

brioche knitting in shades of blue, brioche pastiche hat

I need some new Brioche Pastiche samples, so what better way to test drive a new-to-me yarn? I’m loving it so far.

Atlas is USA grown and raised. I don’t see the words superwash anywhere, so I’m guessing it would also felt/full nicely. But I’m not about to try that with my brioche hat! Maybe something for a swatch later.

I have so much knitting and related work to do before VKLiveNYC next week! So I’ll be over here, knitting and writing and packing and…

Peekaboo Shawlette (brioche plus assigned pooling/algorithmic knitting) and assigned pooling yarn

By the way, if you’re planning to take advantage of the introductory discount for my Peekaboo Shawlette, use discount code PEAKING for 15% off through Ravelry or Payhip by January 10, 2025!

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Both Sides Now sighting

Posted on January 6, 2025 | 2 comments
Colorful yarn and a peek at a brioche knit shawl

I was tickled to see my Both Sides Now Shawl peeking out under a pile of yarn in an email from Knit Picks.

screenshot of Knit Picks yarn sale

A green version of Both Sides Now is on the website.

Colorful yarn and a peek at a brioche knit shawl

I received another email this morning. It’s like seeing your kids out in the world. Sweet!

I’m not sure how long the sale lasts, but if you want to buy some Hawthorne, here’s the link.

Woman wearing Both Sides Now brioche shawl

Here’s Both Sides Now, available for purchase on the Knit Picks website. It was on the cover of their brioche book several years ago. So pleased to see it again!

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Introducing Peekaboo Shawlette

Posted on January 1, 2025 | 1 comment
Peekaboo shawlette featuring brioche rib and assigned/algorithmic knitting
Peekaboo Shawlette

The Peekaboo Shawlette is a 2 color brioche shawlette, knit flat. It features assigned
pooling/algorithmic knitting motifs that peek between the brioche ribs. When your pop color arrives, you begin a Peekaboo motif, which is worked over the next several rows.

Right and wrong sides of Peekaboo shawlette showing reversible motifs
Right side and wrong side, both lovely

Peekaboo is reversible, with a different motif on the “wrong side”. Choose 2 skeins of fingering weight yarn, one of which should be dyed for assigned pooling. I used A Chick that Knitz Singles Fingering.

assigned pooling yarn and peekaboo motif detail

Gauge is not critical, work to get a fabric you like. A video tutorial for the Peekaboo motif is provided in the pattern. Most of the knitting is simple 2 color brioche.

Peekaboo Cowl featuring brioche rib and assigned pooling/algorithmic knitting
Peekaboo Cowl

You know I love brioche, and you know I love assigned pooling! I’m thrilled with both the Peekaboo Cowl and this new Peekaboo Shawlette.

The Peekaboo Shawlette pattern is available on Ravelry, link here. It is also available on Payhip, link here. Use coupon code PEAKING for 15% off on either site through January 10, 2025.

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2024 wrapup

Posted on December 31, 2024 | 4 comments
a mosaic of 16 knitting projects that I completed in 2024

These are the 16 projects that I completed in 2024. A couple aren’t published yet, but there’s a lot of duplication this year! I see Prosecco Pop and Bellini Bubbles, Fuzzy Memories in Cabrito, two Emotional Support Chickens, 4 (!) versions of Trailing Leaves while I was trying to get it just right, Peekaboo Cowl, Peekaboo Shawlette (coming soon), Starstruck Shawlette (also coming soon), 3 out of a whole bunch of korknisse that I knit this past week, and a Minerva entrelac scarf that is just off the needles.

I see assigned pooling, brioche, and assigned pooling + brioche. You know my favorite techniques! And Minerva, because party trick knitting is my favorite.

Many thanks to my sister Sharon, who is a fabulous model! And I even modeled my Peekaboo Cowl myself, via selfie.

collage of top nine instagram posts from 2024

Here’s what Top Nine says were my top nine Instagram posts in 2024. I see 3 Emotional Support Chicken posts, assigned pooling yarn and Bellini Bubbles (green shawlette in progress), Whale Conga Line, Rabbit Hole Knits’ knitted Victorian housecats at VKLive NYC, Olle Bolle (a Thomas Dambo troll), and my Apple watch mistaking my yarn winding for an elliptical workout. Ha!

Wishing you a very happy new year, with lots of knitting fun to come in 2025.

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Kona aloha, 2024

Posted on December 30, 2024 | 4 comments

We spent a week in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii earlier this month. This is a favorite place of ours. The west coast is on the dry side of the island, and we see more rocky lava than beach. We stayed in a different condo complex this year, the Keauhou Kona Surf and Racquet Club. Still oceanfront overlooking lava rock and the ocean.

two wine glasses and a hawaiian sunset overlooking the pacific ocean

We made it in time for sunset. I woke the next morning at 5 am, after moonset and before sunrise, so I had the joy of watching the Geminid meteor shower around the setting Orion constellation. I saw 12 meteors in the 45 minutes before the sky began to lighten. This was the only morning the Geminids were visible; on subsequent days there was too much light from either the setting moon or the rising sun.

Rainbow over the Pacific Ocean as seen from Keauhou/Kona, Hawaii

I love hanging out on the lanai. I saw kayakers, canoers, dolphins, waves, and this beautiful rainbow.

Makole’a Beach

Our complex was just south of Mākole’ā Beach. It has tide pools, black and tan sand, and Ke’eku Heiau, a restored temple.

Ke’eku Heiau at Makole’a Beach, Kona Hawaii
West end of Ke’eku Heiau
carved statues at the end of ke’eku heiau
Statues at the east end of Ke’eku Heiau
Looking past Ke’eku Heiau towards Kahalu’u Beach
Looking north past Ke’eku Heiau towards Kahalu’u
Spiny sea urchins
Spiny sea urchins
yellow tang fish in the waves

One morning I saw schools of yellow tang in the waves!

Sunset at Makole’a Beach
Sunset over tidepools at Mākole’ā Beach

It was a great place to watch the sunset, but I think I like sunset on the lanai even more.

Kaloko Honokohau lava field
Aloha Costco!

We explored more of Kaloko Honokōhau National Historic Park. The park ranger advised starting the loop with the lava field and ending with the more pleasant beach and petroglyphs. Good advice; a mile over lava rock trail wasn’t very pleasant. Glad to have my hiking poles.

Kaloko Fish Pond

The next feature was Kaloko Fish Pond. This was built by native Hawaiians for raising fish. The ocean is to your left. The rock wall has been rebuilt; it’s impressively level.

The trail continues along part of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, which follows the coast. It eventually comes to Honokōhau Beach, which is my favorite place to look for honu (green turtles).

Four Hawaiian green turtles basking in the sun
hawaiian green turtle (honu)

I wasn’t that close; this is zoomed *and* cropped!

The trail continues on to Ai’opio Beach, which has a fish trap and heiau, another favorite place for turtle spotting. The trail then heads back up towards the welcome center and lava fields, while passing a petroglyph field.

Petroglyphs at Kaloko Honokohau National Historic Park

I see people, a long gun, a fish hook…what do you see?

A piece of knitting being held in the air with the ocean in the background

Of course there was knitting on the lanai. Heres a sneak peek at my latest design project.

It was a lovely relaxing week, and we came back ready to tackle Christmas and Hanukkah prep. Which was good, because I hadn’t done any beforehand!

I hope your holidays are merry and bright. Looking forward to new adventures in 2025!

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Berroco Wizard yarn review, Minerva entrelac

Posted on December 29, 2024 | 2 comments
Minerva entrelac scarf knit with Berroco Wizard yarn
Minerva entrelac scarf

I’ve enjoyed playing with this new-to-me yarn. This is Berroco Wizard, 85/15 Superwash Wool/Nylon. It’s a very light and lofty chainette, classified as bulky. Recommended needle size is 10-10 1/2 (6-6.5 mm), but I’m using a US9 because I like the fabric better. I knit til nearly the end of the ball, and the result is a short scarf, but long enough to cross over my chest. Based on the light and lofty fabric, I decided that this version would be a great Minerva scarf instead of a cowl. You get to see more of the entrelac fabric if it’s not doubled up around your neck.

I’m planning an entrelac class at Hook and Needle in Vancouver, WA on March 29, and I wanted to see if this yarn they carry is appropriate. Why yes, it is. If you’d like to learn to knit entrelac with me, you can do so in person at Hook and Needle, and also at Vogue Knitting Live in New York City on Sunday, January 19. Minerva is bi-coastal! You can use this lovely yarn for a scarf, or you can use a gradient yarn for a different effect. The pattern gives instructions for both scarf and cowl.

entrelac knitting

Or a different color changing yarn for a short or long cowl. Knitter’s choice!

About the Berroco Wizard: I loved knitting with it. It’s very airy, so the fabric is pretty fluffy in hand. That’s the other reason I wanted it as a scarf rather than a cowl; it wants to drape itself artfully. Sometimes you have to let the yarn tell you what it wants to do! I highly recommend it; it’s fun to knit.

Are you looking forward to learning new things in 2025? I know I am!

PS: The Wizard colorway is called Fluorite.

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Korknisse rabbit hole

Posted on December 24, 2024 | 9 comments
small cork korknisse wearing an orange and purple sweater and hat knit from malabrigo worsted

How it started

small cork korknisse wearing an orange and navy blue sweater and hat knit with malabrigo worsted

And then this happened

3 korknisse wearing sweaters and hats knit with malabrigo worsted

Followed by a couple more. They’re addictive!

five cork korknisse wearing sweaters and hats knit with malabrigo worsted

This all started because I wanted a little red one for the neighbors, like my Stopover Korknisse above. I may knit a couple more today while procrastinating about wrapping presents. If you want to knit some too, here’s a quick set of instructions. The original pattern is in Norwegian by Manne, and is only available via Wayback Machine/Internet Archive. I’ve adapted it for champagne corks.

I used Malabrigo Worsted for most of these (Stopover is in Lopi). US 5 needle, worked in the round.

Sweater: CO 18 sts 
2 rnds k1p1 rib. 
1 rnd stockinette 
2 rnds 1×1 colorwork 
BO round in neckline color

Hat: CO 16 sts
2 rnds ribbing, 3 rnds stockinette, then decreases every other row; 3 per decrease rnd. If you work the first dec rnd as K2tog, k2, k2tog; (k3, k2tog)2x, that will make your following dec rnds simpler. You’ll knit one fewer st before the dec on each dec rnd, until you have 3 sts remaining.

This all started because I wanted a little red one for the neighbors, like mine above. I may knit a couple more today while procrastinating about wrapping presents.

4 korknisse with sweaters and hats knit with malabrigo worsted, and a can of spam macadamia nuts

Here’s a crew of korknisse from 2014. I’ll catch up with my current Kona post…soon!

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Under pressure, holiday edition

Posted on December 23, 2024 | 3 comments
a hawaiian honu green turtle rests on lava rock

I’m a little slow getting ready for the holidays, but I work best under pressure. We arrived home from Kona (Hawaii) on Thursday night, and Friday I put new lights on the porch.

blue and white icicle lights decorating front porch gutters

It wasn’t raining, so the timing was perfect.

wire christmas tree on top of the piano with assorted ornaments

I put up my tree, on top of the piano. That surfing Santa is finally getting his legs glued back onto the surfboard this year; one of our cats knocked him off the piano years ago. I also put up the Christmas stockings on the mantel.

five handknit christmas stockings hanging from the fireplace mantel

Old picture, same stockings!

christmas wreath with knitted bow made from wire lights

I’ve added my knitted lights bow to my Christmas wreath. I’m skipping the knitted ribbon with dpns, because last year the dpns got…moldy? Mildewed? Gross, whatever. The bow is fine by itself.

bottles of Irish Cream made with Tullamore DEW whiskey, and two korknisse with knit sweaters and hats

I made a double batch of Irish Cream from the recipe in this post, and I’ll make one more batch today.

ginger molasses cookies decorated with icing

I helped a friend decorate cookies. Aren’t these cute?

a little cork person wearing a knitted sweater and hat made from orange and purple Malabrigo worsted yarn

And I knit this little korknisse for Carole at coffee this morning.

Shopping is done. There are a few presents to wrap, a little more housecleaning to do (tomorrow, because it needs to be tidy the day after). And we’re hosting Christmas dinner here on Wednesday.

Lots of pictures in this post, so I’ll do a Hawaii post separately. We had a great time!

Are you ready for the holidays? I actually cleaned the wax off our menorahs, so I’m ready for Christmas AND Hanukkah!

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