Gable and Mayu

In the past few months I've had two pullover patterns published as part of collaborative collections.

Earlier this fall it was exciting to be featured in the Japanese magazine Amirisu alongside some of my pals, including Carrie Hoge and Pam Allen.  

Mayu, which means cocoon in Japanese, seems the appropriate name for my long a-lined body and sleeve pullover featuring Quince & Co. Osprey.  Enveloped in squishy loose spun wool with just enough twist, the fabric is divine! 

More details on Mayu and Amirisu Fall 2014 HERE.

I was very excited when Jared invited me to be part of Wool People again!  It was a treat to design Walpole for WP3 - that cardigan remains one of my favorite designs!  I wanted to use the twisted rib pattern from Walpole as a design element, and decided to try a pullover in Loft.  A subtle triangle rises from the center front hem.  Short row shaping is featured in both the hem and the neck.  In the end the elements used in this round yoke pullover work together rather than compete for attention - just enough interest in this otherwise simple go-to piece.  

More details on Gable and Wool People 8 HERE.

CustomFit Featherweight & KAL

Since it's release in 2009, my Featherweight Cardigan has been wildly popular among knitters worldwide. Many variations of this sweater have been knit, with Ravelry boasting over 6500 projects cast on!

Exciting news: Featherweight is now available through Amy Herzog's CustomFit!  

Note: You'll need to create a CustomFit login account to view the CustomFit pattern details.

What does this mean?  

After entering your body measurements and information about your own gauge, purchase the CustomFit version of Featherweight and get a pattern that was tailored specifically for your body and materials!

One of the most common requests I've gotten over the years is help with changing Featherweight's gauge. A CustomFit Featherweight makes this easy - we generate numbers to match your knitting, not the other way around. (Have a perfect floaty yarn that knits up to a bulky gauge? Just can't match row gauge no matter what? No problem!) 

The CustomFit Featherweight is knit in pieces with set-in sleeves.  Each set-in sleeve, CustomFit Featherweight pattern is also crafted for your body exclusively. No need to think while you knit. Follow the instructions exactly as written - and get a comfortable, wearable garment that's just right for you in every way. Your pattern will also include instructions for knitting your sweater almost seamlessly, with sleeves that are worked from the top down with short rows.  Instructions also include custom waist shaping to fit your body. You can choose to adjust the length of the sleeves and body when you create your pattern.

Swatching for your CustomFit Featherweight

So yes, it's true, you can choose any yarn in the entire world and CustomFit with generate the pattern based on YOUR gauge with that yarn.  This means you must swatch, or CustomFit won't know your gauge!

I strongly encourage you to pay attention to the fabric you're producing as you swatch for this project.  Keep in mind that the original cardigan was knit with lace weight yarn at 6 sts to the inch or 24 sts over 10 cm.  If you want to knit one using aran weight yarn, you can!  But do remember that it won't be "featherweight" any longer, it will feel more like a jacket.  If you have a yarn you'd like to use, knit a nice big swatch, at least 6" square.  Wet block it, let it dry and then hold it up and see what it does: imagine this fabric being the fabric of your Featherweight.  If you are choosing a heavier weight yarn, consider using a silk or alpaca blend, so that you can achieve at least some drape in your fabric.

CustomFit Featherweight KAL

We hope you'll knit along with Amy and I HERE in the CustomFit Featherweight KAL group on Ravelry.  Let us and the community support you as you choose your yarn, cast on and knit your Featherweight!  Make sure to check out the Nitty Gritty KAL details HERE.

Many, many beautiful Featherweight cardigans have been knit from the original pattern. And if you have this version and want to participate in the KAL, you're more than welcome to! A CustomFit Featherweight opens up a bunch of new possibilities, though, so we hope you'll check it out!

If you'd like to knit a fingering weight version, take advantage of our sponsor's special offer: Buy 4 or mores skeins of Quince & Co. Tern and receive 10% off!  Offer good 10/16 & 10/17 ONLY, coupon code FEATHERWEIGHT.

KAL Sponsored by:

Hello out there!

Oh my.  My poor neglected blog.

As many of you know, I have two small children, a two and a four year old.  Up until this summer I'd been involved in a number of collaborative work products, in addition to continuing to design for my Knitbot line.  I decided in the Spring that I was going to have a truly "summery Summer", and so I took 3 whole months off from work.  

The first month I was antsy, the second month I relaxed, and the third month I gained some perspective.  And it's with this new perspective that I've been slowly easing myself back into work.

In case you missed it, I did release a new sweater pattern a few months back, Moto Jacket.

My husband and I have been working on an iOS app called StashBot since the beginning of the year.  We finally submitted it to the app store this past Friday!  So very soon we will have lots to share with you about that.

A second season of knit.fm has kicked off, there are already 2 episodes available!  Head over to knit.fm to hear Pam and I talk about color (episode 9) and Amy Herzog and I talk about modifying patterns (episode 10).

And lastly, Amy Herzog and I have something exciting to share with you later this week.  It involves a fully customizable version of Featherweight Cardigan and a KAL.  Interested?  We think you will be!

I will be at the NY State Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY this weekend.  Please come by the Ravelry meetup on Saturday and say hi to Alana Dakos and I, I'll have buttons for you!