Category Archives: yarn

Green Tea Chai Scarf

Posted on January 26, 2026 | 1 comment

I’ve always meant to individually publish some of the patterns from my book Brioche Knit Love: 21 Skill Building Projects from Simple to Sublime. I managed to publish one, Seafoam Latte, and then the project slipped to the back burner. Oops.

woman wearing brioche knit scarf
Seafoam Latte

On to the second one, 3 years later!

A leafy green brioche knit scarf
Green Tea Chai Scarf

The Green Tea Chai Scarf is a two color brioche scarf, knit flat. Regular increases and decreases create the leafy pattern. The stitch pattern is easy to memorize, and it’s a great opportunity to learn to read your knitting.

Pattern requires two 100g balls of worsted weight yarn in contrasting colors. Knit to the length you like. Gauge is not critical. I used two balls of Malabrigo Rios in contrasting colors for my scarf.

You can find this pattern on Ravelry and Payhip. And in Brioche Knit Love, of course! If you’re planning to purchase more than 3 or 4 patterns, you’re better off purchasing the e-book or paperback. I like giving options. The download consists of two files: the pattern, and the abbreviations used in the pattern.

Use coupon code SIPPER for 15% off through January 31, 2026. (Editing to add: this coupon now works on both Green Tea Chai and Seafoam Latte! Use on one or the other, or both.)

A note: RIP Alex Pretti and Renee Good. My heart is broken for the people of Minneapolis.

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Posted in Knit, my book project, pattern design, yarn

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Oops I did it again

Posted on January 23, 2026 | 2 comments
Peekaboo shawlette featuring brioche and assigned pooling

I should have knit the Peekaboo Shawlette on a smaller needle. I did correct that in the pattern, but the looseness bothered me in person. It made the motifs not quite close at the top.

a collage of reclaimed yarn

I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do with this. I’ve charted it out and I just have to wait until the yarn is dry so I can wind it back up.

The lovely yarn is from A Chick That Knitz in the Singles Fingering in Forget Me Not and Glenhaven (green).

Stop me before I frog again!

I don’t have any further frogging plans, so I think we’re safe. For now.

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Wear it or Frog it!

Posted on January 22, 2026 | 3 comments

I have a shawl that I don’t wear, and I decided to frog it (rip-it! rip-it!) to give the yarn another chance to shine.

a purple brioche shawl with orange stars

I didn’t publish this design; I didn’t like the edge (this was my first attempt at putting brioche and assigned pooling together). And I decided (much later) that I didn’t love the high tonal contrast of this dark purple with the pooling yarn.

knitters by the ICE facility in Portland Oregon

I decided to frog it with the ICE knitters today. It was 31 degrees F when I left the house, and I knew my current tiny needle entrelac project would be too fussy for cold fingers. Ripping is much easier.

I got most of it done, but had to finish at home. Too cold!

Balls of yarn and a green Portland Frog Hat

Why yes, I was wearing my Portland Frog Hat while frogging!

Two hanks of frogged yarn. Kinky!

It didn’t look too bad in the ball, but you can see how kinky the yarn is when it’s no longer under tension. I wound the purple yarn on my 2 yard niddy-noddy, and the pooling yarn on my swift. The swift is easier; I’m not sure if I put a twist in with the niddy-noddy.

The yarn has been soaked, and it’s now hanging to dry. I may use a lighter purple, or what if I went all the way wacky and used magenta? Too much? I have some velvety deep blue in the same base, and that could be nice, too. This is MadelineTosh Twist Light.

I need to get something on my needles before I leave for New York next week! I’ve packed my teaching suitcase with class supplies and tech, so I’m almost ready.

What are you dreaming of knitting this year?

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Frogging a frog hat

Posted on November 17, 2025 | 2 comments

This Portland Frog Hat is a little too big. I have a big head, and it’s big on me. So I started knitting another one, 4 stitches smaller. It turns out I don’t have enough yarn to finish the smaller one, so…I’m frogging this one! The hat will be going to Sheryl in Spokane (proceeds going to Northeast Emergency Food Program), and she’d prefer the smaller size, too.

I had steam blocked the hat shown above, so the yarn was pretty kinky. I didn’t want to soak it, in case there’d be any color change. Steaming is my best option. But first, I’d have to wind it into a hank. You can’t steam a ball of yarn!

new hat WIP, and previous hat yarn on niddy noddy

I wound the yarn on my Kromski niddy noddy. I don’t spin, but this thing comes in handy sometimes, anyway!

green yarn on a niddy noddy

I had to look up how to wind on a niddy noddy; it’s been a while.

I steamed it on my ironing board with my steam iron, and it went from curly to smooth.

I’ll be done re-knitting tonight. And then I’ll weigh the FO, and see if there’s enough for a second hat in the smaller size.

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Posted in Knit, Portland area fun, spinning, yarn

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Introducing Jelly Jewels

Posted on November 2, 2025 | 3 comments
Wall hanging jewelry organizers

Necessity is the mother of invention. I was frustrated by my box of tangled silver necklaces. Every time I wanted to wear one, I had to untangle the pile in my necklace box! Some problems can be solved by knitting, and this was a perfect opportunity.

Wall hanging jewelry organizer

Jelly Jewels are wall hangings designed to serve as a jewelry organizer.

Three knit circles

They are knit in the round from the center out with fingering weight yarn, and feature assigned pooling
petals on a stockinette stitch background. Choose a yarn that is dyed for assigned pooling, with an accent color run of about 8-10”/20-25 cm long. One skein of pooling yarn is enough for five or more pieces, depending on what size you make. I used a skein of Cadillac Sock, colorway April in Paris, from Garage Dyeworks.

cat clip stitch markers on assigned pooling knit fabric

I used these Cat Clip stitch markers to hold my necklaces. The stitch markers are from Twice Sheared Sheep in the large size (affiliate link). Cute, and the ears help hold the stitch markers in the fabric. More information on the pattern page for Jelly Jewels.

The pattern includes video tutorials for the center out cast on, and for the assigned pooling petal motif. There’s also a written tutorial for blocking and finishing your Jelly Jewels.

The pattern is available through Ravelry, and also through Payhip. Use coupon code TANGY for 15% off the pattern through November 10, 2025.

Why are these called Jelly Jewels? I knit these at the coast, and the jellyfish reminded me of my knitting. Pictured: Knitting and Twin Rocks in background, Moon jelly, Lion’s Mane jelly.

Tidy is as tidy does!

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Posted in cat, Knit, pattern design, yarn

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Cheating at Yarn Chicken

Posted on October 30, 2025 | 10 comments

Can I just say, a yarn scale is one of the best knitting tools you can have.

I just finished knitting In Threes, one of my favorite baby knits. I can knit the smallest size with one skein of Malabrigo Rios. I don’t remember the name of this colorway; it was in my stash. Lots of pinks and oranges.

As I was approaching the bottom garter stitch edge, I started weighing my yarn. It was taking 3 grams for every two rows, or 1.5 grams per row. I figured out how many rows I would need to finish following the instructions (6 rows garter plus 2 rows stockinette, plus bind off which I always equate to two rows, so 10 rows total). That meant that I would need 15 grams to finish, whenever I left off from the stockinette body. I could see that I’d have to short the body a little, knitting 2 rows fewer than what would get me to the preferred length, in order to have 15 grams left for the finishing. No big deal.

Yarn scale and 1.8 grams of leftover yarn

After binding off, this is all I had left. Not enough for 2 rows of stockinette (the ones I skipped), which would have used 3 grams. If I had knit 2 more rows of stockinette, I would have had to rip back. Nope. I WIN! (Also, this picture is more representative of the true color of the yarn.)

speckled buttons

These are the sweet buttons I bought from Tracy at Hap Bee at Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. I love how they’re just enough color to show up, but not take away from all the different colors in the Malabrigo yarn.

buttons on a baby sweater

Now to get this off to the sweet recipient!

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Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival 2025

Posted on October 22, 2025 | 4 comments

I spent the weekend in Albany, Oregon teaching at Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. I taught entrelac, Darn It! (mending), and log cabin knitting.

I think the mending was the most challenging for me, because it’s been a hot minute since I’ve taught it. But I was ready, and we had fun.

I didn’t have a lot of time in the market, but I managed to snag a few things.

Yarns for frog hats, and some sweet buttons for a baby sweater.

How do you start knitting a frog hat? Rib it! Rib it! 🐸 This super bulky is knitting up quickly on US 15 needles. I’m riffing off Pussy Hat for 4 gauges by Sarah Keller, pattern free on Ravelry. I’ll add buttons and felt for eyes.

Flock and fiber festival isn’t just for knitting. There are animals (I only saw the bunnies), spinning, weaving, crochet.

This wet felted hat with needle felted ornamentation was my favorite piece in the exhibition. It’s by Val Kinman, who was in my log cabin class on Sunday.

Needle felted pygora goats. I didn’t catch the name of the artist. If I find out, I’ll update here. Edit: Lester Nishimura is the artist, and he has only been needle felting since early this year!

Navajo style weaving by Bob Van Slyke

Saw lots of fiber friends over the weekend; it’s always great to catch up! You can see more of my pictures on Instagram, if you’re so inclined.

Karen’s frog hat is fabulous! I was going to use the green worsted for a brioche beanie and add eyes, but I really like the shaping on this one. We shall see…this pattern is Frog Hat by Annanitato Lolo, available on Ravelry. The eyes are crocheted.

It’s definitely knitting season!

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Posted in classes, events, Knit, yarn

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Introducing Fantasia Cowlette

Posted on September 30, 2025 | 6 comments
Woman wearing a hand knit cowl featuring assigned pooling fans

I’m so pleased to publish the Fantasia Cowlette! Fantasia is a fingering weight bandana cowl knit in the round, featuring easy assigned pooling fans on a stockinette stitch background.

Choose a single skein of fingering weight yarn that is dyed for assigned pooling. I used A Chick that Knitz Singles Fingering in Tropical Flowers for mine.

yarn dyed for assigned pooling

The pattern is available through Ravelry and Payhip. Use coupon code FANCY for 15% off the pattern through October 9, 2025. Let’s get knitting for fall!

Reminder: The Knit Your Own Adventure Summit is next week! This free online event will help you be a more confident knitter. Learn more about the Knit Your Own Adventure Summit, and grab your free ticket here (The links to the summit give me credit for you signing up, which is free. If you upgrade your access with an Expedition Pass, I receive a commission. Your choice!)

I’m presenting a segment on frogging your knitting and how to get back on track. And I’m participating in a Zoom presentation on Tuesday, too. Come join the fun!

Onward!

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Introducing Simply Stellar

Posted on September 1, 2025 | 5 comments

Simply Stellar is an asymmetric triangle brioche shawlette, knit on the bias from narrow end to wide end. It features assigned pooling stars. The pattern requires two skeins of fingering weight yarn, one of which should be dyed for assigned pooling.

I knit my Simply Stellar with A Chick That Knitz Deluxe sock in Wildflowers (pooling) and Sassy, a fabulous hot pink.

I designed this shawlette as a slightly simpler version of my Starstruck. Tammy Pelfrey, the dyer at A Chick that Knitz, told me that some people were intimidated by the syncopated border on Starstruck, so Simply Stellar was designed as a simpler introduction to brioche plus assigned pooling. The shaping is very simple, and the yarn tells you when it’s time to make a star.

This pattern is available through Ravelry, link here, and Payhip, link here. Use coupon code SHINE for 15% off through September 9, 2025.

Have fun!

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Busy as a bee

Posted on August 29, 2025 | 5 comments

We’re barreling towards September, and I am juggling several projects! I’ll have a new design out next week (Tuesday, September 2), another one ready for tech edit and test knit, and a fun online project for October. I had a photo shoot with my sister yesterday. She doesn’t work for cash, so we go out for our favorite lunch instead. Her: chicken and waffles. Me: usually the perfect fried chicken sandwich.

Lunch at Screen Door, PDX Pearl District

But this time I had a fried chicken salad. It’s salad, so it’s healthy, right? (Look away from the bacon.)

I’m still editing pictures, so you’ll see those later.

I’ve been looking for a way to store my everyday necklaces and earrings. Right now they’re jumbled in a pretty box, and they’re always tangled. I’m planning to use a big circle of knit fabric in an embroidery hoop, and add some hooks to hold the necklaces. Those hooks may be spiral stitch markers; we’ll see if they work. Earrings can go directly into the fabric. Wish me luck!

I started knitting with leftover yarn, but I really wanted something that coordinated with our bedroom, and I wanted it to be more interesting than a stockinette circle. Assigned pooling is doing the trick.

I bought this yarn, MadelineTosh Tosh Merino Light, at For Yarn’s Sake on the way to a meeting. I didn’t have the right sized dpns with me, so I bought these Knit Pro Cubics. They’re square shaped. I like them!

We’re heading into a holiday weekend. Hope yours is full of knitting. I hope mine is, too!

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