Tag Archives: pdxknitterati

Introducing Starstruck

Collage of shawlette, detail of shawlette, and the assigned pooling yarn

The Starstruck shawlette combines two of my favorite knitting techniques, brioche and assigned pooling. This asymmetric triangle is knit from the narrow end to the wide end. The syncopated edging evokes swirling nebulas, and the body of the shawlette features assigned pooling stars.

woman wearing a gray and caramel colored shawlette with white assigned pooling stars

The shawlette requires two skeins of fingering weight yarn, one of which should be dyed for assigned pooling. The assigned pooling yarn is featured in the body of the shawlette and stars, and the other yarn is featured in the syncopated edging.

detail of assigned pooling stars on brioche rib, and a syncopated brioche border

Your pooling yarn tells you when it’s time to make the stars. I knit my shawlette with A Chick That Knitz Singles Fingering, in Hibernation and Caramel.

This pattern is available on Ravelry and Payhip. Use coupon code NEBULA for 15% off through March 5, 2025.

Thanks to tech editor Meaghan Schmaltz, test knitters Ann Berg, Debbie Braden, Diane de Souza, Nancy McNally, Annette Morsing, Lynn Murphy, Brynn Riordan, Tammy Pelfrey, Anna Zeigler, and model Sharon Hsu.

Special thanks to Tammy Pelfrey/A Chick that Knitz, for the beautiful yarn for this design.

And yes, I did change the name of this design from Stardust Nebula to Starstruck. Shorter, punchier, easier to remember? I hope so!

PDXKnitterati sample sale

My sample bins are overflowing! It’s been 8 years since I had a sample sale, and it’s time to make some room. Now you can have PDXKnitterati originals, and you don’t have to do the knitting!

Items are named clockwise from top left in each set. The names are hyperlinked to the pattern pages so you can see more pictures, not necessarily in the color/yarn that’s being offered, but it helps to know the shape.

$10 shipping and handling to USA addresses, or local pickup if you’re in the Portland area. Leave a comment if you’re interested in a particular piece, and I’ll email you. (I can see your email address; you don’t have to leave it in the comment.)

Shawls

Lucky Star (Knitted Wit Fingering), $75 (sold)

Star Flower (Dream in Color Smooshy), was $75, now $65

Nymphaea (with beads) (Bumblebirch Heartwood), was $85 now $75

Rain Chain Shawlette (with beads) (Knit Picks Gloss Fingering), $75 (sold)

More shawls and a scarf

Cherry Blossom Wrapture (Hazel Knits Artisan Sock), was $95, now $85

Aspen Leaf Scarf (Knit Picks Chroma Worsted), $75 (sold)

Lobelia (KnitCircus Greatest of Ease), $55 (sold)

Prosecco Pop (Knitted Wit Summer Slubbin’), was $55, now $45

Cowls

Trailing Leaves (Knit Picks Chroma Worsted), was $75, now $65

Ebb and Flow (Moss Fibers High Twist Fingering), $55 (sold)

Aspen Leaf Cowl (Manos del Uruguay Alegria), $65 (sold)

More cowls!

Shall We Dance (Blue Moon Fiber Arts Plushy), was $55, now $45

Dotty Cowl (Knit Picks Chroma Worsted), $55 (sold)

Slip Away Cowl (Malabrigo Rios), was $55, now $45

Twirlywhirl Cowl (Knit Picks Chroma Worsted), was $55, now $45

Entrelac Cowls

Athena Entrelac Cowl (Knit Picks Chroma Worsted), $55 (sold)

Athena Entrelac Cowl (Knit Picks Chroma Worsted), was $55, now $45

Lacy Entrelac Cowl (Knit Picks Chroma Worsted), was $75, now $65

Minerva (Knit Picks Chroma Worsted), $55 n/a

Even more cowls

Madrona Cowl blue (Malabrigo Worsted), $65 (sold)

Madrona Cowl green (Malabrigo Worsted), $65 n/a

Meander Cowl (Delicious Yarns Sweets Sport), was $55, now $45

Snowy Woods (Oink Pigments DK), $65 (sold)

Kerfuffle Cowl (Malabrigo Worsted), $55

Hats, and a cowl

Leafy Origami Hat (Malabrigo Worsted), $35 (sold)

Brioche Pastiche one of a kind (Malabrigo Rios), $35 (sold)

Whale Watch Cap and Cowl set (Malabrigo Rios), $70 (sold)

Deep End Hat (Malabrigo Rios), $35 (sold)

That’s it! For now. The bins are still pretty full…

15 seconds of fame for me and #pdxcarpet on NBC Nightly News

Remember my recent post about customizing sneakers? I ordered sneakers featuring the Portland airport’s #pdxcarpet for DH’s birthday. They arrived last week, and he was thrilled.

#pdxcarpet selfie

The airport is replacing its 30 year old carpet this year. This has prompted an outpouring of love for the old carpet, which means home for lots of travelers. I know, Keep Portland Weird. We went to the airport to take a picture of DH’s new shoes on the matching carpet. A cameraman was kneeling on the floor taking video, so DH put his foot in front of the lens. Camera guy looks up, and says, “You’re kidding.” Nope, not kidding at all…

NBC Nightly News Crew

I thought it was a local news station, but it turns out that NBC Nightly News sent Harry Smith to do a story on the carpet. We were interviewed for the story that ran on Friday, January 23. Here’s the story:

Only in Portland Would the Airport’s Carpet Reach Cult Status

I took some screenshots from the story:

#pdxcarpet shoes

pdxcarpet shoes

pdxcarpet selfie

It was very fun. DH says it was the Best. Birthday. Ever. He blogged it, too. Not bad for the right shoes in the right place at the right time!

Thrumbelina KAL begins today!

We’re casting on for a Thrumbelina KnitALong today! This KAL is not a mystery KAL. All the information you need is in the pattern. We’re sharing questions, tips, progress…

thrumbelina2

Before you cast on, you should read through your pattern for information on how to thrum. You can also watch my thrumming video on youtube.

I just made an extra tutorial on a tip for continental style knitters.

Just remember, it’s important to make sure your working yarn wraps around the thrum, rather than coming up underneath it.

continental thrumming

Edited to add: The Thrumbelina pattern is on sale for 25% off ($4.50 instead of $6) through the end of January. Click here to purchase through Ravelry. I meant to do this earlier, but I forgot! If you purchased this pattern during the month of January, I’ll be contacting you.

Who’s casting on with me? Come join the discussion in my Ravelry group!

Don’t worry; I’m still knitting the Rose City Yarn Crawl Mystery Shawlette KAL. But I’m caught up until the next clue comes out on Friday.

Knit on!

What’s in a name? I’m PDXKnitterati everywhere

I just changed my username over at Ravelry. I’m now pdxknitterati over there. I think it’s easier to remember than MicheleLB. (How many L’s in Michele? Why random letters LB? huh?) If you know my blog, you know my Ravelry name, and my twitter ID, too. Come follow me down the garden path!

P1040222

Still swatching, and charting, and I think I have a plan for the next design. What I don’t have is some good mindless knitting that I can just pop into my knitting bag for those spare moments. I’ll get to that…soon. Maybe some big fat worsted weight socks! What’s your “on the go” knitting project?