Twiners are so intriguing, how they easily they find their way into even the most difficult spots, and they were my inspiration for my newest knitting pattern: Twining Twigs.

The stole features  a twig pattern that finds its way diagonally across the stole. It is started in one corner and is knit on the bias towards  the diagonally opposite corner. It is knit entirely in a twig  lace pattern, but to create a more interesting look the twigs  are placed at different intervals.

Twining Twigs is included in Knit Picks' collection Transitions: Lacy Patterns. The eight patterns in this collection are all knit with either sport or DK weight yarns, all with lacy stitch patterns to keep them plenty airy for a nice breeze. Perfect for a nice layering garment in the changing of seasons!

The pattern Twining Twigs Stole is now available from the Knit Picks website for individual download or as part of the collection, here: Twining Twigs Stole.

It's hot this summer - not that I complain! I love warmer weather - and I know that one or the other doesn't like to knit when it is very warm. I think it all depends on the project you want to tackle and my tip for summer knitting is: Small, quick and easy projects. Like for example mitts, which will be needed soon enough when the weather becomes cooler.

I recently republished the pattern for a favourite of mine - To and Fro Mitts. I just love the zigzagging lines and how neatly the thumb gusset emerges from one of the lines.

The pattern includes three sizes - woman's S, M and L - and each pair requires only about 250 yds of yarn. Doesn't this sound like a perfect summer knitting project? The pattern is now available from my Ravelry store, here: To and Fro Mitts.

Is summer the right time to wear your handknits where you live? Well, I think it depends on where you are and what you want to wear. Over here my beloved socks take their summer break at temperatures well above 30°C, but lightweight shawls or tees on cool summer evenings are definitely an option. Or a summer poncho, like Winona.

Winona is a tiny village located along historic Route 66 in northwestern Arizona. The area has been inhabited for ages—first by Native Americans, then by European settlers—and the Winona Poncho incorporates artistic influences from the different cultures that have populated the area.

The poncho is worked in a linen yarn in one piece from side to side in an allover wave lace pattern and then grafted.  The fringe adds the final touch to this bohemian-inspired summer poncho.

So, should you wish to spice up your wardrobe with a poncho in boho style, get knitting. :) The pattern for Winona is now available from my Ravelry store, here.

And just like that four weeks are over and the next issue of Knit Now magazine is available and - what can I say? - there's one of my patterns in this issue too: Acacia Stole.

The light as a feather stole combines traditonal patterns from Estonian and Shetland knitting. The rectangular stole is worked using an interesting construction method: It is started with the border of one short side knitted sideways, then stitches are picked up from the border and the main part (including side borders) is knitted in one piece; finally the top border is knitted on to the main part sideways and there are only a few stitches to graft. With this method there are hardly any finishihg touches, but of course the stole does need a good soak and blocking, to open up the lace and show the beauty of the pattern.

The pattern is included in the newest Knit Now magazine, issue 144, available since yesterday from stores all over the UK and also online, for example from Craftstash.

Really, sometimes I wonder whether I should take a break from playing around with new pattern ideas, because the look at my backlog of patterns I could have self-published by now makes me a bit dizzy. And the longer ago the pattern was initially published, the harder it gets to rewrite it into my style... So in an effort to make things easier for me a bit: Here's a pattern that was only published a couple of month ago in Knit Now magazine: With Love Socks.

These socks are knitted from the cuff down. They are worked with an integrated heel in intarsia in the round technique in a contrast colour. The leg and foot are embellished with stripes in stranded knitting with adorable heart motifs.

So, do you want to show someone you care? Why not do it  with these beautiful heart motif socks. The pattern for With Love is now available from my Ravelry store, here.

It's always exciting when a new pattern is released, but in this case I was even more anxious than usual, because Patches was chosen for this year's Supersock World Championship. If you follow my blog, you will have heard about it last year, when it took place for the first time. The SWC is a knitting game on Ravelry and basically it's all about speed. Each of the six rounds takes approximately two weeks and knitters have the choice between two patterns. For round 2 that started yesterday, my Patches were chosen to be the 'high octane' (so the a bit more challenging) pattern and I'm thrilled the pattern has been well received. :)

The socks are worked from the cuff down with a heel flap and gusset. Some parts like cuff and toe and ‘interim rounds’ between the patches are worked in the round. However, the main feature are the patches placed on leg and foot which are worked in intarsia in the round technique. The idea is to place these patches randomly (although there are rules for SWC to keep it a fair game for all participants).

Since all segments - cuff, heel, toe and the patches - require only small amounts of yarn, Patches is the perfect pattern to use up small bits of yarn left over from other projects. And it's also a great opportunity to go wild on colours. I've very much enjoyed seeing the colour combinations folks have chosen for the pattern. It's amazing how different the pattern looks in different yarns.

The pattern, which includes a tutorial with pictures for the intarsia in the round method as well as design suggestions (for different sizes patches, the order of patches etc), is currently only available for participants of the Supersock World Championship. It will be released to the public after the end of the game, probably mid of September.

When I saw the first pictures of my latest pattern, I actually looked back at my files to see when I had the idea for it. And it came as no surprise that I started to work on it a couple of days after we spent a fantastic evening at an event dedicated to 'The Doors' with texts by and about Jim Morrison and lots of music. Clearly, my head was still in 70s mode and there might have even memories of 'Pril flowers' popped up... I guess these are unknown to anyone who didn't grew up in Germany, but back in the 1970s the detergent Pril came with adhesive brighly coloured flowers on the bottle and to my delight I was allowed to use them to decorate our bathroom door. Perfect motivation to make a kiddo do the dishes, don't you agree? But I'm wandering off - I had meant to tell you about my design. But maybe have a look yourself. :)

The shawl is knitted from the top down using pi shaping, with increases made using yarnovers which are closed in the Garter stitch sections. The pattern combines garter stitch with an easy to memorize net lace pattern. It requires four skeins of fingering weight yarn and the shawl has a wingspan of approximately 160 cm (63"). It can be blocked to a perfect half circle shape or as shown to an almost half circle with a wider wingspan.

Now, what do you think: Does this look 70s to you?

The pattern is included in the newest issue of Knit Now magazine, issue 143, now available from stores all over the UK and online from Craftstash.

At least in my neck of the woods summer has finally come into full swing with lots of sunshine and warm weather. Aand what better knitting projects are there for hot days than lightweight lace projects? So it is a perfect match that Knit Picks released today there newest colleciton of lace patterns, Haven - Knit Lace Patterns. The collection includes 13 patterns for lace garments and accessories and I'm thrilled that one of my patterns made it into the colleciton: Ocean Mist.

This stole uses Shetland Lace stitch patterns and is also knit the traditional way. First a center is worked and border patterns are added on both sides. Finally, the edging is knit on sideways.

Shetland Lace has long been known for its airy, light-as-afeather appearance, just like the translucence of sea spray when ocean waves crash against the shore, which was the inspirations for the pattern name.

Ocean Mist is now available as individual download or as part of the Haven collection from the Knit Picks website, here.