Category Archives: yarn

Red Alder 2026

Posted on February 19, 2026 | 1 comment

I had a fabulous time at Red Alder Fiber Arts Festival last weekend. I taught 4 classes: Brioche Pastiche, Brioche Doctor, Embellished Brioche (brioche + assigned pooling), and Fun Stitches for Assigned Pooling. I was in my technique heaven!

Andrea wore her Whale Conga Line to Assigned Pooling class. I love seeing finished projects from previous classes!

Katherine wore hers, too! And I loved wearing my Seagull Flight shawl from Brioche Knit Love. (Seagull Flight pattern is still on sale for 15% off with code FLOCK through February 24.)

It was fun to have Lily Chin teaching on this coast! I usually see her in NYC.

The marketplace was full of goodies, as usual. And I feel like an influencer: Last year I asked several dyers if they had assigned pooling yarns, and I only found one.

Tara from Stranded by the Sea gave me the yarn that turned into Fired Up last year (see it over her shoulder?), and had lots more pooling yarn this year in both fingering and worsted weight.

I picked up some Starry Night to demo in my assigned pooling class, and also picked up sparkly yarn…and chocolate.

Phat Girlz Fibre also had pooling yarn, and Ashley took my pooling class to make the most of it.

Dragonfly Fibers/Canon Hand Dyes had gradient and rainbow assigned pooling minis (very cool).

And Northwest Yarns had assigned pooling yarn AND my books, which we sold out. Woohoo!

Greta showed me her Portland Frog Hat. I’m getting to ya!

I also loved Susan’s little frog hat in the Runway Rubber Duck contest. He took 3rd place, yay!

Debbie’s duck took Top Duck and Fan Favorite. The small scale lace and bead shawl plus the red hat were well done.

Anna-Lisa’s group won the Top Flock award with this Olympic themed team.

And Mr. New Beginnings at the train station modeled my Fired Up Cowl.

I had a great time teaching, socializing, shopping, and knitting.

But perhaps brioche plus pooling isn’t the best choice for knitting by the fire during a late night game of Cards Against Humanity. I taught Brioche Doctor the day before, so I was definitely prepared to frog and get this back on the needles!

This morning I gave a presentation on Design Process and taught an assigned pooling class for the Greater Boston Knitting Guild; we had a fun 3 hours together! Let me know if your guild would like a presentation or class, too. Tomorrow I’m off to Spain to visit friends. DH is staying home with the cats. Hasta luego!

1 Comment

Posted in classes, events, Knit, travel, yarn

Tagged assigned pooling, Brioche Knit Love, Brioche knitting, Fired Up cowl, portland frog hat, Red Alder Fiber Arts, Whale Conga Line Cowl

One more Portland Frog Hat

Posted on February 8, 2026 | 4 comments

A friend asked me to knit a frog hat for her. I don’t generally knit for hire, but I told her I would knit one if she would pay $75 to go to my favorite food bank. Okay!

Green knitting and a black and white RBG tribute project bag

I had the perfect yarn, so I took it as my travel knitting to NY for VKLive. I finished the ribbing on the plane, and realized that the stockinette portion was perfect for social knitting at VKL, so I stopped knitting and worked on a different project.

a green Portland Frog Hat — Portland Frog Hat

Done! I used Lamb’s Pride Bulky yarn for this one, 64 stitches on a US 10.5 needle at 3.25 stitches per inch. (I started with 60 sts, but it was too small, so I…FROGGED it and started over!) I’ve put the numbers into the Portland Frog Hat pattern, so now the pattern includes worsted, bulky, and super bulky yarn weights. Don’t worry, I’ll never knit it in fingering weight.

I think bulky weight is optimal! It’s quick, but not too thick. I love my super bulky hat, but you have to have big needles (US 15). A US 10.5 is something you’re more likely to have in your needle stash.

The pattern is free, so grab your green yarn and knit.

photo by Heidi Johanna Miller, @heidijohanna76 on Instagram

A friend shared this photo with me: A Portland Frog Hat at the Alex Pretti memorial in Minneapolis. I’m touched to see it there. I contacted the photographer for permission to repost.

Resist!

4 Comments

Posted in Knit, pattern design, yarn

Tagged alex pretti, knitting, peaceful protest, portland frog hat, tactical frivolity

A frog is (re)born

Posted on February 7, 2026 | 5 comments

It was a toss-up about which of my frogged yarns was going to be on the needles first.

And it was this one!

two balls of yarn, and a bit of knitting

Remember I said I thought the dark purple was too contrasty with the pooling yarn? Before I went to New York, I popped in the LYS to pick a green, figuring that Mother Nature knows what she’s doing. But I didn’t love this so I ended up going with the dark purple again.

two hanks of yarn, before soaking to unkink it

I was really glad I wound 3 of my 4 hanks on my swift, because the dark purple that I wound on my 2 yard niddy-noddy was too wide for my swift when I was ready to re-wind it after soaking. I had to wait for DH to come home from a trip so he could be my human swift, the night before I left for VKLive.

The initial bit of knitting looks pretty good. Using the dark purple as background and a small featured accent helps tone it down. I’m not sure about my pooling motifs, though. And then I had another idea while I was at my aqua-fit class. I do a lot of mind knitting in the pool.

So this yarn is now the project on the needles.

brioche and assigned pooling knitting in greens

I’m realizing that the orange color pop is shorter than I’m used to, but it works fine for the motif I’m using. Part of the fun of assigned pooling is that every yarn is different, and you can choose what you want to do or not do, to adapt or let it be.

So this is my “mindless” knitting project to take with me to Red Alder Fiber Festival on Wednesday. I’ll be gone for the weekend, teaching classes and hanging out with other fiber loving creators. For now I have to set it aside and prep my teaching things, and pack!

5 Comments

Posted in classes, events, Knit, pattern design, yarn

Tagged assigned pooling, brioche plus assigned pooling, brioche plus pooling, embellished brioche, frogging, knit design, Red Alder Fiber Arts, reusing yarn

Green Tea Chai Scarf

Posted on January 26, 2026 | 2 comments

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.

2 Comments

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

Tagged brioche knit love book, green tea chai scarf, Malabrigo Rios

Oops I did it again

Posted on January 23, 2026 | 6 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.

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.

6 Comments

Posted in Knit, yarn

Tagged A Chick That Knitz, frogging, frogging brioche, reclaiming yarn, recycling yarn

Wear it or Frog it!

Posted on January 22, 2026 | 9 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!

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?

9 Comments

Posted in classes, Knit, pattern design, yarn

Tagged Brioche knitting, frogging, frogging brioche, knitting, MadelineTosh, portland frog hat

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!

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.

2 Comments

Posted in Knit, Portland area fun, spinning, yarn

Tagged niddy noddy, portland frog hat, reclaiming yarn

Introducing Jelly Jewels

Posted on November 2, 2025 | 3 comments

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.

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

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!

3 Comments

Posted in cat, Knit, pattern design, yarn

Tagged Garage Dyeworks, Jelly Jewels, jellyfish, jewelry organizer, Oregon Coast, stitch markers, Twice Sheared Sheep

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.)

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.

Now to get this off to the sweet recipient!

10 Comments

Posted in Knit, yarn

Tagged buttons, hap bee creative studios, Malabrigo yarn, yarn chicken, yarn scale

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.