Pussy Willow

If you've been following for awhile then you know that I am frequently inspired by my surroundings and my home. My newest shawl, Pussy Willow, is one of those designs! 

Pussy Willow branches were a constant in my childhood home. My mom had them tucked into different vases around the house; I always found them fascinating and a little untouchable. The vases that housed the pussy willow bunches were always up high were they couldn't get knocked by cats, kids, dogs, or my dad. 

While browsing my dictionaries I found this stitch and it immediately drew my attention with its similarities between pussy willow buds and tuck stitches. I decided to make my own non-fragile pussy willows to remind me of home no matter where I am. I hope this nature inspired shawl brings you the comfort of home, just like it does for me. 

Onto the yarn! I used yarn Tosh Sock, a 100% Superwash Merino yarn, sponsored by Madtosh in the colorway Glazed Pecan. The base I mentioned above is a multiply fingering weight yarn but I knit my original swatch in a single ply, with that, I believe any fingering weight base would work! I do suggest a tonal or a solid colorway otherwise the buds may not show well enough. Message me on Ravelry if you want a color consult! 

Leannán Cowl

I love this stitch pattern so much I couldn’t just design one piece out of it. Leannán Cowl uses a slip stitch cable to highlight the individual qualities and colors of hand dyed yarn. The cowl is a single skein project to use that one beautiful skein you have hanging out in your stash. 

I absolutely adore the color way I knit my sample in! The color way name is City Siren and it's dyed by Buxom Cat Knits. I pretty sure I could knit a whole sweater in this lovely yarn. I love the watercolor effect the dye has and the way the slip stitches help to highlight that. 

The base for this yarn was a regular sock base so any fingering weight you are comfortable wearing around your neck will work. The yardage required is 400-460. It's an 8 stitch pattern so very easy if you want to make it wider if you have more skein of yarn. 

I can’t wait to see what dyer you highlight in your Leannán Cowl! Here is the Leannán Sock pattern if you're more interested in socks than a cowl. Happy Knitting! - Sierra 

Summer Heat

As I’ve talked about multiple times, I grew up in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California, and let me tell you. it. is. hot! Global warming aside, the average temperatures in the summer is 95-100 degrees. We have well over 100+ degrees many times from May-October. I am now happily living in Port Angeles, Washington and enjoying the ‘hot’ days of ~75-80 (these are rare). 

This sock pattern (Summer Heat) was designed with those burning hot days of California weather in mind. The up and down movement of the ‘v’ stitch pattern reminds me of heat waves coming off the roofs, the side walk, cars, pavement, etc… 

Summer Heat is designed from the top cuff down and has a fun slip stitch pattern to create the ‘v’ stitches. I used a BFL/Nylon blend from Hedgehog Fibres that is a traditional fingering weight for socks. I liked the play of almost variegation with the speckles on top and the stitch pattern. 

The majority of my test knitters used variegated yarn but I think this pattern would also look really lovely in a solid color. Any fingering weight sock yarn will do, doesn’t have to be anything special! 

Happy Knitting!