Free Knitting Pattern Blue Ridge Shawl

Hello, my Friends! I hope you are looking forward to a happy weekend ahead!
Today I want to share one of my paid patterns, Blue Ridge Shawl, free of charge!
As you know, I love to crochet, but I also love to knit. Blue Ridge is a great pattern to make as a gift because it's knit in worsted weight yarn and it was designed to be knit with one skein of Malabrigo Worsted or Manos Del Urugay Maxima.

Be sure that your gauge is correct when you begin this shawl. If you don't, one ball may not be enough to finish it!

Here's the link to the pattern...I hope you enjoy it!
Blue Ridge Shawl

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New Ravelry Group

Hi All!

I just wanted to let you all know about a new Ravelry Group, The Gingerbread House.  It is a group for anyone working on any one of my designs.

This month, we are featuring a Gingerbread Hat knit a-long and will be starting a Dry Falls knit a-long beginning December 1.  If you are interested in either one of these, please visit my Rav group here.

This is the worsted version of my Dry Falls pattern...so much larger, more of a shawl than a shawlette.  

Merry Gift - A - Long

Well, my friends, gift making has begun in earnest.  I have spent the last couple of months working on shawl patterns and now find myself mixing in the annual Christmas/Birthday gift making with my design business.  Works out nicely when the designs can be gifted.....

Blue Ridge Shawlette

Becky loved it and I think it came out well! It is a one skein project using Malabrigo Worsted or you can use Manos Del Uruguay Maxima.  Either way, the result is lovely....and warm!  The pattern should be available by the end of next week here, and on Ravelry. I'll keep you posted!

Next, I am working on a Crochet Hat for Emma's best friend, Esther.   I'll be using these lovely African Flower hexagons. You can find the pattern for these, here.

Not joining as I go...I'd much rather seam these into the shape I want for the hat...something fitted, I think!

I'm also working on a couple pairs of socks for Mom and Hubby, both DK, so no biggie. Should get them done with no problem.  And a two-needle hat is in the works for Dad and David, which may end up being a free pattern, if everything works out!

For now, I'll get back to my stitchin' !

Gift Shawl

This is a shawlette I recently completed for my sister, Becky.  Her birthday came Saturday, and I thought the blue in this Malabrigo Worsted was a perfect match for her eyes....

I love the color and the way the garter stitch waves at the edge of the horseshoe lace. I do think it needs a stretchy bind-off, so I will be adding that to the pattern. The edging is a faroese version of horseshoe lace, and I've been wanting to try it for some time. The Faroes would knit the lace in all garter, but I like it in stockinette too, so that's what I did. I'll be making my next one from Manos Del Uruguay Maxima, I think.  Also very pretty and very similar to the Malabrigo, but, whichever you choose, this is a one skein project, my friends!! I love those things, as Junie B. would say;-) That means this would make a great gift for someone.  So I will be writing this up and posting it in my shop. It will be available soon, so look for it.

Details:
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted, Kettle dyed merino wool, 215yds
Needles: Size 7 (4.5mm)
Size: 50" span and 10" at widest point.

Dry Falls

I want to introduce you to my latest pattern, Dry Falls.....

This is a garter stitch, crescent shaped shawl that absolutely flew off my needles.  I had so much fun with this project and the work really did just flow from my heart to the needles...I loved knitting it, and I love wearing it even more.  As usual, Emma is the perfect model...

I used Plymouth Encore DK for this one, and I have to say that it seemed to be more of a sport weight to me, so I think if this was knit in a true DK weight, it would be somewhat larger. 

This shawl could be knit at any gauge, though I could only suggest fingering/sport/dk or worsted.  I am offering it for sale here, on my blog, or at Ravelry.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

The lace edging on this piece reminds me of water cascading down, so, here's a picture of the inspiration for this shawlette, Dry Falls in Highlands, NC.  This waterfall is beautiful to view year round, and is just off Hwy. 64, so there is no great hike to see it. It is called Dry Falls, because you can walk behind it and stay dry.  

Forgive Me For Geeking Out....

...but I can't get over how much fun it is to create your own yarn from a large 2 oz. piece of lovely, creamy white, wool roving. I spun this clockwise (z twist) on my drop spindle and am not plying but knitting with it as a single. It is smooshy, and springy and I love it! The pattern pictured is the Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark, knitted with a size 4 circular.

The Big Mag Project Reveal

Here is the part of The Big Mag Project I've been keeping from you.....Ta-da!

My Reader's Shawl at Crochet World Magazine, February 2013 Issue!

I am pleased as punch (and that's putting it mildly) that my shawl made the cover! I didn't know!
But, what a wonderful surprise it is! I really enjoyed designing and making this shawl. The mitred squares are soooo addictive! But, with the portability of the squares, you can bring a ball of the Lion Brand 'Amazing' yarn and your hook along to Doctor appointments or soccer games, and you're set. I hope you'll pick up your copy of Crochet World and give it a try!

March

So, what a month March was for me.  You know how life can be.  Lot's of things can happen that you do not expect.  I had a month like that.  I watched a biography of Margaret Mitchell, author of 'Gone With The Wind.'  She said that, when she was a young girl, she complained to her mother about school work, or something. She said that her mother put her in a buggy and drove her around Atlanta to show her ruins of houses and plantations that had been destroyed during the Civil War.  Her mother told her that these people had lived in such a secure world and that it had come crashing down around them, and God help her if she didn't have something about her to stand up to it. That struck me. This did happen to me, not once, but twice during my lifetime. My anchor has been God and my love for the needle arts (I believe this is God's gift) which grant me some peace, whatever my situation. I mean this in that I can always find some happiness, serenity, with my yarn projects. They have gotten me through a lot.  So, money can't buy happiness, but it can buy yarn, which is kind of the same thing....
With my own version of 'March Madness,' I did not have much time for my blog, social media, or designing,  though I do have some ideas...those never seem to stop.  But that doesn't mean I put down my hook or needles. No, indeed, I did complete a project....


This is the 'Have A Heart Shawl' by Joyce Nordstrom.  You can find it here, free.  I used a J-10 Hook and a Gi-Normous ball of Red Heart Super Saver, plus some extra I had in my stash.  It is perfect for use around the house, which I intended it for. I made mine one pattern repeat shorter, which worked out well for me. It also is not too long for Emma and she likes to wear it in church to keep from catching a chill. This pattern was easy to memorize and I was able to carry it with me to work on whenever I wanted a distraction in waiting rooms.

Also, I joined CGOA back in January.  I submitted my application to be approved as an Associate Professional and in March, I received my approval, so I am on my way to Professional status. With CGOA Associate Professional status, I can be paired with a professional mentor, an invaluable benefit.  There are also other great benefits, so, if you love crochet, I encourage you to join. 

http://www.crochet.org

I am looking forward to a quiet April.  At least, a somewhat less eventful one.  I hope you all have a wonderful, peaceful Spring and Summer! God is Good. He truly is.