Back from Nashville

Posted on September 27, 2024 | 3 comments

We went to Nashville last week for AmericanaFest, and I didn’t knit a stitch! But there was a lot of great music, from many new-to-me artists, and a few that I did know.

Brandy Clark at City Winery

We saw Brandy Clark in the round with several other artists. This was the one singer I really wanted to see. I love her songs; she can really turn a phrase! Her song “Dear Insecurity” won the AmericanaFest Song of the Year award the night before we heard her sing it here. So close!

Old Crow Medicine Show

Old Crow Medicine Show did a pop-up at Robert’s Western World; we found out about it a few hours before. There was quite a line when we arrived, and DH was sure we’d never get in. I told him we’d stand in that line til they told us no! We got in, and eventually ended up right in front. And I got a free beer (PBR, but whatever), a cowboy boot-shaped beer cozy, and a show poster. Made out like a bandit!

My new favorites: Paul Thorn, Tami Neilson, Steve Poltz, Melissa Carper, Sunny Sweeney, Grayson Capps. Go find them all on Instagram! Now to listen to more music; I generally work in silence but it’s time to change things up.

Stopped for a soda on a hot walk, and there was a John Prine booth. Of course, Nashville, of course.

The area near 5th and Broadway has gotten a lot nicer. There’s a new National Museum of African American Music, which was excellent. And the Assembly Food Hall (in the same building, right across from the Ryman Auditorium) offers a lot of dining choices at reasonable prices, a big plus.

This was the tastiest ice cream I’ve had in a long time!

Back to my knitting! I’m teaching two classes this weekend, Sheepy Steeky Coasters at Hook and Needle in Vancouver, Washington, and Brioche Pastiche at For Yarn’s Sake in Beaverton, Oregon. Both are sold out. Happy knitting season!

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Eastern Uncrossed Brioche

Posted on September 15, 2024 | 6 comments

I had a busy weekend teaching for Vogue Knitting Online. Sunday’s Brioche Pastiche class was particularly interesting from a teacher’s standpoint. Brioche Pastiche is a choose your own adventure pattern, good for brioche beginners and those ready for learning increases and decreases.

Brioche Pastiche options

Several of my students had tried brioche before, and wanted to review and move forward. Two had taken classes with me before. I teach brioche with conventionally mounted stitches (right leg in front), either English (right hand throw) or Continental (left hand carry, pick or throw), but the stitch mount is the same. Right leg forward.

Last February I had a student who knit using the Eastern Uncrossed style, where all stitches and yarn overs are left leg forward. I made a video for her, because it’s so different from what I usually teach.

That same student came to yesterday’s class to move forward with increases and decreases, so I had to learn that on the fly. I made a video after class, and here it is.

If you don’t knit Eastern Uncrossed, you probably don’t want to watch it because it will confuse you. But it does show that I’m dedicated to making sure my students get what they need!

How was your weekend?

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Peekaboo Cowl, test knitters wanted

Posted on September 12, 2024 | 10 comments
Peekaboo Cowl, RS

Who says you can’t have it all? I’ve been dreaming of combining brioche knitting and assigned color pooling since January. After working through many design ideas, I’ve finally found one that lets both of these techniques shine.

Peekaboo Cowl, WS

This is my new Peekaboo Cowl. It’s 2 color brioche rib, knit in the round with fingering weight yarn. It features assigned pooling peeking out between the ribs. The Peekaboo stitch is reversible, and the inside of the cowl looks completely different! You get two looks with one knit.

I knit this with yarn left over from one of my Trailing Leaves cowls. The small cowl only uses 165 yards/38 grams of each color. You can easily adjust the pattern for length and height if you like longer/taller cowls.

The pattern is back from my tech editor and is ready for test knitters. Let me know if you’re interested in test knitting this lovely little cowl! (Or bigger cowl, if that’s your jam.)

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Trailing Leaves coupon extended

Posted on September 10, 2024 | 3 comments
Trailing Leaves

Well, last week was super hot, 100 degrees F here in Portland. Definitely not dreaming-of-wool weather! So I’m extending the discount for Trailing Leaves to September 15, 2024. Use coupon code WILLOW for 15% off the Trailing Leaves pattern on Ravelry or Payhip.

Trailing Leaves

It’s going to be a lovely 74 degrees here in Portland today, with rain coming in tonight. Perfect.

I made a new video tutorial! Trailing Leaves uses a brioche purl increase along the border edging, brpyobrp. Which is just what it sounds like, but here’s the video. There’s also a link to it from my tutorials page, should you ever need it.

Time for me to get back to my knitting! I’m on a brioche plus assigned pooling tear…

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Stitchmastery charting software

Posted on September 7, 2024 | 8 comments

I use software called Stitchmastery to chart my knitting patterns. The software then turns out the written instructions for me, so I know they’re accurate! Stitchmastery has brioche stitches in their charts, which is very important to me and my tech editors. There are also colors, cables, increases and decreases…everything I need for writing patterns.

I was invited to be interviewed about my knitting and design process, and how it works with Stitchmastery. You can read the interview here.

I used Stitchmastery for my book, Brioche Knit Love, and continue to use and love it.

Thanks to Stitchmastery for the feature!

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RBG street mural refresh, encore

Posted on September 6, 2024 | 4 comments

Our original neighborhood RBG street mural was painted in September 2020.

She had a facelift in 2022; a lot of cars drive over her.

Another two years have gone by, and she was pretty grimy. Time for a makeover!

Many hands make light work.

All better!

Just in time for the upcoming election. Vote!

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Introducing: Trailing Leaves

Posted on September 2, 2024 | 2 comments
Trailing Leaves in Dream in Color Smooshy

Trailing Leaves is a brioche bandana cowl, knit in the round from the top down. It features a central double leaf motif in syncopated brioche against a background of MC brioche rib. Choose 2 skeins of fingering weight yarn in coordinating colors to knit this beauty.

Trailing Leaves in Knit Picks Chroma Fingering

A gradient yarn will add an interesting color play to the brioche rib background, as shown here in Knit Picks Chroma Fingering. Knitter’s choice! This pattern is easily adjustable for neck circumference and length. This is one of my favorite cowl shapes; it looks like a shawlette but doesn’t fall off. So easy to wear.

Trailing Leaves in Yarn Snob A Good Fingering

I’ve knit four samples of this, to get it just right. The sample above featured some assigned pooling, but it doesn’t show, so it’s not in the pattern.

Trailing Leaves in Knit Picks Chroma

And this sample was a little too long due to a different increase rate. But you get the idea!

The Trailing Leaves pattern is now available on Ravelry at this link, Payhip at this link, and is also available through Knit Picks at this link. The coupon code WILLOW will give you 15% off at Ravelry and Payhip through September 10, 2024.

I hope that you love knitting this as much as I do!

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Farmers market treasure

Posted on September 2, 2024 | 1 comment

We’re having out-of-town friends to dinner tonight, so it’s been an afternoon of prepping beautiful farmers’ market veggies for roasting.

I have multicolored baby carrots

And cauliflower in 2 colors, destined to be Smitten Kitchen’s Cauliflower Salad with Dates and Pistachios. This is such a great recipe; I’ve had it on repeat all year.

I also grilled some pineapple planks for fried rice. And I have two salmon fillets for roasting, too! The oven will be busy.

I’m also putting together a charcuterie board with cheese, crackers, grapes, marcona almonds, sopressata salami, stuffed olives…if I can fit it all on there. Maybe two boards…

How are you spending your Labor Day? (If you’re in the USA, of course.)

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Fall classes, virtual and live

Posted on September 2, 2024 | Comments Off on Fall classes, virtual and live

I’m teaching for Vogue Knitting for the September virtual event September 13-15, and live in New York City January 16-19. Who says you can’t have it both ways?

Whale Conga Line, modeled by my sister Sharon

I’m teaching Brioche Doctor (fixing mistakes), Whale Conga Line (brioche increases, decreases, syncopation), and Brioche Pastiche (beginning brioche, choose your own adventure). And of course there are a lot of other teachers offering classes in nearly every fibery thing you can think of, too! Registration is here.

Vogue Knitting Live NYC is January 16-19. I’m teaching Whale Conga Line, my only brioche class at that event. I’m also teaching a whole bunch of technique driven classes: Log cabin knitting, steeking, fixing mistakes, entrelac, fancy stitches. Early registration for VIP packages starts later this week, and regular registration will come after that. The registration link is here.

I’m also teaching locally at For Yarn’s Sake in Beaverton, Oregon, and at Hook and Needle in Vancouver Washington. Here’s the schedule:

Sheepy Steeky Coasters at Hook and Needle, Sept. 28
Brioche Pastiche at For Yarn’s Sake, Sept 29
Brioche Pastiche at Hook and Needle, Oct. 19
Stranded Colorwork: Islesburgh Toorie at For Yarn’s Sake, Oct. 20
Thrumbelina Thrummed Slippers at For Yarn’s Sake, Nov. 17
Starfall Assigned Pooling Cowl Zoom class via For Yarn’s Sake, Dec. 7

Come knit with me!

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Plum torte, redux

Posted on September 1, 2024 | 8 comments

The little purple Italian plums are in season, and my friend Ann gave me some. They’re so good for snacking, and also for cake!

Clockwise: Plums, placed, cinnamon sugared, baked

I love the way the batter rises up around the plums, so they’re just peeking out. Here’s the recipe from 2021.

Plum Torte

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) salted butter, softened
2 large eggs
3/4 cup all purpose flour plus 1/4 cup corn meal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
10 – 12 small plums, cut in half and pitted
1 tablespoon chunky sugar and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon for garnish

Cream sugar and butter, beat in eggs, beat in dry ingredients. The batter is quite thick. I put mine in an 8” springform pan (lined with parchment paper), because that’s the one I have. Top with plums, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or til done. Cool, remove from pan, celebrate!

It’s starting to feel like fall. School is in session; I can tell by the kids passing by on their way to the local school. Plum cake is also a sign of fall. And so is woolly knitting!

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