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!
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.
I finished the second version of my upcoming Trillium Path. This version has optional eyelets, which I highly recommend.
I’m in love.
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!
I’ve been craving a simple knit, and here it is. Working title, Trillium Path. It’s simple stockinette with assigned pooling fields.
I love the fields of flowers. I’m adding optional eyelet bands for texture to this second knit. Why? Because the first one ended with eyelets to discourage the bind off from curling, and I’d like to incorporate them in the body, too.
I’m looking for a few test knitters for this single skein piece. This is meant to be simple knitting, perfect for travel or social knitting. It’s knit with fingering weight yarn, 100g. I used A Chick that Knitz Singles Fingering in From Paris with Love (green) and Wildflowers (blue). Let me know if you’re interested!
Well, that was a hoot! With a hootenanny! The second annual Nash Yarn Fest by Modern Daily Knitting was a great opportunity to see old friends and new, hear music and speakers, and shop for yarn and yarn-adjacent goodies. I had a great time. And participated in country line dancing for the first time. It’s not unlike tai chi; you learn some simple steps that get combined and repeated, and do them with a room full of like-minded people. Fun!
Ann Shayne of MDK, with hubbo Jon aka singer Merle Hazard (he’s good!)
The event was well-run, as you’d expect from the team at Modern Daily Knitting. This year’s event was even better than last year’s. More speakers, more music. I don’t know if there were more vendors.
Me, Julia Farwell-Clay, and Kay Gardner
Kay is the other half of MDK. See her nametag? She’s the one who got us all hooked on Rudiger Schlomer’s Knit Hello. She and Karen Tumelty knit nametags for all the vendors. And there were tables set up so everybody could knit their own nametag, too. I already had mine, so I was good to go.
Denise really caught the Knit Hello bug! She knit hello, her name, and couldn’t stop. Good thing she found a thrifted vest to display her tags and pins!
with Franklin Habit and Gaye Glasspie (GG Made It)
It was great to see Franklin Habit, who came all the way from Paris to give a talk on his miniatures and creativity. And GG is always fun.
with Jeni Hankins and Odile Bunny
Jeni Hankins is a gem. She’s a talented singer/songwriter/writer/crafter, and she sang for us on Saturday. She has Appalachian roots, and many of her songs tell stories of her family. She writes for MDK, and she’s working on a piece about making doll clothes.
I told her about my knitted Barbie clothes made by my Aunt Vivian, so the next day she showed me Mary Jane, her Mary Hoyer doll that will be the subject of her MDK story.
Jeni Hankins
Jeni sang a song using her manual sewing machine as accompaniment, and sewed a project as she sang.
with Shelley Brander
Shelley Brander of Knit Stars was there, with her cute dog Charles Barkley (he’s on the floor, out of view). Do you subscribe to Knit Stars? I’ve participated in all the seasons (they’re video classes), and there’s always something interesting to learn.
Nancy Marchant
Nancy Marchant and her sister Jane came in woven knit vests. Woven knitting is Nancy’s current fascination. Cool!
There are more pictures on my Instagram page, if you want to scroll through. Including my game of yarn chicken on a project that I finished in Nashville!
Yarn from A Chick that Knitz
I picked up some more yarn inspiration from A Chick that Knitz. Three are pooling yarns. The teal green on the left is by itself for a single skein project, and the other two pooling yarns may or may not be combined with the variegated or semi-solid to their right. We shall see.
goodies!
The hootenanny came with a commemorative project bag and a skein of Atlas, as well as an enamel pin (next picture). I love surprise swag. I also bought a shawl pin from Birdie Parker Designs, various repair hooks from Stunning String Studio (because my Susan Bates handi-tool is a little too long for my notions tins), an embroidery project, and a glasses case that may be my new notions tin…or my glasses case.
The pin!
The pin, on my Julia Hilbrandt felt tote that I bought last year at Nash Yarn Fest. Julia wasn’t able to come this year, but the bag is going strong.
(last year)Project bag from Dani’s Knitting and Crochet, Logan UT
I came home to find this gift from Chilali Hugo, a Facebook follower. She sent me this frog themed project bag because she’s been knitting so many Portland Frog Hats. This bag is lovely; it has six pockets inside for organization, and is big enough for a small sweater project. I love it! Thank you, Chilali.
My shawl project has been living in the bag, but I just finished it. What goes in there next?
I usually knit from a center pull ball. They’re tidy, and if you put a yarn sleeve on the ball, it doesn’t collapse into a messy heap. Yarn sleeves shown above. And you can make your own! See this post.
Some yarns require a little more strategy. I’m currently knitting with Noro Silk Garden, and the high silk content makes it not very elastic. I could see that the ball was going to collapse, yarn bra or not. I decided this was a good candidate for knitting from the outside of the ball. The original put-up was very loosely wound, so my first move was to rewind it on my winder to tighten it up.
I usually knit sitting at a table, so I decided to try the Yarn To Go Carousel from Twice Sheared Sheep. I received this in my teacher’s gift bag at Vogue Knitting Live in 2025, so it’s been waiting for a while! Like I said, I’m usually a center pull knitter.
The wooden carousel comes in 3 pieces. On the left, you can see the spindle and base plate for holding the yarn. There’s a loop at the top for an optional wrist strap, but I’m not one to try to knit while walking. I’m a klutz! Maybe just standing, to take a break from sitting? You can use these 2 pieces by themselves, or add it to the spinning carousel.
The carousel piece on the right has two magnets on top, and revolves (on inner ball bearings?) as I knit. It spins very easily and doesn’t require a big tug to unspool the yarn. The platform itself is a little thick, but not a big deal since it’s sitting on a table and not weighing me down.
The ball is rapidly shrinking, and I am absolutely charmed by the sheep appearing as the yarn ball gets smaller.
I think for brioche or colorwork projects, I’m still happy with my 2 center pull balls with yarn bras. Two spinning carousels seems like it would be quite a production. But for this single ball of Silk Garden, it’s a good choice for me.
If you want to get a Yarn To Go Carousel, they’re available from Twice Sheared Sheep. They also come in a sunflower and mandala design, instead of sheep. The links are affiliate links, so if you purchase through the link, I get a commission. But this review is my honest opinion of this unsolicited gift!
No, my shawl isn’t done yet. But I needed to make this Noro swatch for an upcoming teaching project. Heading back to my brioche now.
Soooo are you Team Center Pull, or Team Outside the Ball? For me, it depends!
Posted onApril 10, 2026|Comments Off on So much knitting, so much better
I’ve finally passed the point where I frogged the whole project, Row 196. I’m on 207 of the re-knit now. Whew! I like the fabric a lot better; it won’t stretch open as much when it hangs on the bias.
This picture is from knit group at the local coffee shop; it’s our table on Friday mornings! I don’t get to go to this very often because Friday is a gym/pool day for me. But my gym buddies were both away, so I played hooky and enjoyed the company.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks, so the knitting on this has been a bit slower than I want.
I took some time out to knit a hat band to wear to the No Kings protest on March 28. I love this Typeknitting from Rüdiger Schlömer. You can make it say whatever you want, and it’s so legible.
I met a fellow frog hat knitter on the way to the event.
I love seeing frog hats in the wild!
The hat band works on my sun hat, too. The hat doesn’t have a crown, and is size adjustable, because I have a big head. But not as big as I thought! I was originally planning to knit a headband, but I made it a bit too long. Which made it a perfect fit over a hat!
We participated in this art installation for Mike Schneider (@blcksmth on Instagram) on the Burnside Bridge; it’s created with umbrellas. We’re the 2 white umbrellas on the top line of the second E in the word KEEP.
And we were lucky enough to get tickets to see Bruce Springsteen on the Land of Hope and Dreams tour. It was an excellent show.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Have you ever had a knitting pattern tell you to increase or decrease a number of stitches evenly over a row or round, but not tell you how? Or have you designed or adapted something for yourself, and struggled to get your increase or decrease round to work out?
More about numbers: I’m pretty distracted lately, and my handy barrel counter/stitch marker isn’t getting the job done for me. I sail past it, and then I can’t remember if I turned the number. Usually I can read my knitting and figure it out, but sometimes that’s not easy.
Both of these row counters show that I’ve finished two rounds of ribbing.
When I move this chain marker from one needle to the other, I’m also changing to the next number. Now I know that I’ve advanced the counter.
There’s a little extra clip to mark the tens, so this can count from zero to 99. The clip requires a little squeeze to make sure it doesn’t slip off. The row counter is available as a straight chain, as well as this circular chain. I chose the circular chain because it doesn’t dangle as far down my knitting. I don’t want it to be a cat toy!
This row counter was a gift to me from Twice Sheared Sheep. Search for row counters on that page, and you’ll see them all, straight or circular, with various charms. (The link is an affiliate link, so if you order through it, I earn a small commission.) I like it so much that I’m planning to order a second one, this time with a sea turtle charm.
I first encountered Twice Sheared Sheep at Vogue Knitting Live in New York last year. They had goodie bags for the teachers, and I eventually used the cat clip stitch markers in my Jelly Jewels jewelry organizer. They were exactly what I needed before I even dreamt of this project.
I enjoy well-made products that get the job done, especially if they’re pretty, too.
How do you like to track your work? Have you ever used a chain counter like this one? I remember my Susan Bates peg counter, but I could never be sure that my pegs wouldn’t fall out!
Find my patterns on Ravelry: Michele Bernstein Designs
Here are some of my favorites, and the newest. Many of my designs are also available through my Payhip store.
PDXKnitterati 