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.

It took longer than usual, but on our last day in Iceland I finally went into a yarn store to sniff and fondle Iceland yarn. And I guess it doesn't come as a surprise that I left the store with some souvenirs. I have no idea what the yarn will eventually be - but the colours reminded me of our fantastic trip to the Ice Lagoon and I couldn't resist.

And obviously I don't have enough books with sock patterns... ;-) Kidding apart, Socks of Iceland by Hélène Magnuússon is not only a book with sock patterns, but it also includes lots of information on the Icelandic sock knitting history and books like that are totally up my alley. Can't wait to start reading and hm, maybe even cast on.

Those who've know me a while have probably heard me say at some point: I would never wear a hat! I love to knit hats and even develop designs and write pattern, but wear one? No, not really. It happens very seldom and only when it's really cold, I wear a headband, but usually I just make sure to wear a coat with a hood, just in case.

Well, I might have changed my mind... When I talked about our coming holidays, I was told by lots of people that it's advisable to bring warm accessories, even during the summer -  so with our holidays  in Inceland just around the corner, I had the idea to knit myself a hat.

And what can I say? I love it! It's small, so the fringe is visible (like that much better than all hair under the hat) and I found the perfect solution for my ponytail too. :) I couldn't be happier and might wear a hat from now on - at least every now and then. And maybe there'll even be a pattern some time in the future.

With some patterns it's the small details that make them special, isn't it? With Anacapa Wrap one of my favourite elements is the cabled tab cast on, that then leads into the border cable on each side of the shawl.

Anacapa is a rather big lace shawl, that sits really nicely on the shoulders, thanks to its almost three-quarter circle shape. It is worked in five lace segments worked in two different patterns which are devided by the same cable pattern that forms the border. As an eye-catching finishing touch a sideways knitted lace and cable edging is added.

Do you like it just as much as I do and are looking for a nice summer knitting project?

The Anacapa Wrap pattern is now available from my Ravelry pattern store, here.

I really like gradient yarns and I am always a bit disappointed when I can't use all the colours in a project, so with this design I tried to use up as much as possible. And I succeeded. I played a wee bit of yarn chicken - in the end I only had 1 gram left - but it was so worth it. Can you imagine not to use every single bit of this precious sock blank?

The sock blank was dyed especially for this project by Ella from Big Knitters and she kindly named the colourway 'Love, Mone'. :) The special colourway is available from their online shop, Big Knitters, but you can also choose to receive a different combination of three colours for your shawlette.

Now, what did I do with this beautiful yarn? I used it for the Crest of the Wave Shawlette and the pattern was released today in Knit Now issue 142.

The shawlette is worked from the top down and features  an easy to memorise lace pattern. It is started with a  lace cast-on in the width of the first small section in garter stitch section. This
section is then shaped using short rows to achieve a crescent shape. In the lace section, additional stitches are increased on both sides of the shawlette.

Knit Now magazine is available from stores all over the UK and also online from Craftstash (print) or Pocketmags (digital download).

Life is good in handknitted socks - so why not start a new sock project? My Peregrinate Socks are are the perfect pair to snuggle up on the sofa during wintertime, but they also make a perfect travel companion to wear on the plane on a long distance flight or while on a camping trip.

Leg and instep feature a brioche pattern called Fishermen’s Rib worked with knitting into the stitches one row below. The pattern is continued onto the toe. Some of the ribs meander from left to right and form a wavelike pattern. For extra cosiness the cuff in 1x1 rib is worked extra long and folded down.

As of today the pattern is available for individual download from my Ravelry store, here: Peregrinate Socks.

Who would have thought that I didn't loose momentum with a 10 weeks KAL? And I even added the zipper to my second cushion case right away, woohoo! It actually ended in even more work, because I liked the different sewing technique I  used for the second zipper a lot better, so I took out the zipper from the first again and sewed it in differently. But they are done! And I really love how they turned out. :)

The pattern is called Sassenach Scheepjes KAL 2022 by Carmen Jorissen and is available for free from the Scheepjes website, here.