If the weather forecast is right, summer will be back for another round with temperatures around 30°C next week - so why not rerelease a pattern perfect for knitting on hot days? The Mantilla Stole is such an airy, lightweight project, knitted in a lace weight yarn on rather large needles in Shetland Lace motifs.

The stole is not only the perfect accessory for a chilly summer night, but it is also an eye-catcher when worn with your favourite outfit in the cooler season. Depending on the yarn blend and the colour, it goes with your favourite casual outfit just as well as with elegant evening wear.

From suffering from the summer heat to the first autumn storm in less than a week - not really happy that there might be a lot more of this grey, rain and 'ugh!' ahed. So some cheerfulness is definetly needed...

Like a new pair of socks in happy colours. Say hello to my Whirling Socks.

The socks are knitted form the cuff down, mainly in intarsia in the round technique. They are a great project for small amounts of yarn leftover from other projects, since for a pair as shown only about 25 g of fingering yarn in five colours are needed. The same colour is used for cuff, heel and toe and the same four colours are used for the stripes. But you can, of course, use as many colours as you like to use up smaller amounts of yarn.

Aaaaannnd - another pair of Chained Mittens jumped of the needles. This pair in Malabrigo Yarn Arroyo in colourway Pocion and I already know who is going to get these. Together with a matching hat and fortunately only for x-mas... since the hat is no more than a brim at this time and it already went on the 'must finish one day' pile thanks to some new pattern ideas on my needles...

I know, I know, it is still summer in the northern hemisphere and here she comes again with her winter wolies. But I 'm sure it's cold enough for mittens somewhere and also, we knitters like to be prepared, don't we? It doesn't make a lot of sense to start knitting the moment you need warm accessories and also, it's never to early to start the gift knitting and therefore: Say hello to my brandnew patterns: Chained Mittens and Chained Hat.

The patterns came to life, because I have this fancy for highly variegated yarns, especially the ones by Malabrigo Yarn are always so hard to resist - although I know that I usally love the look in the skein, but I am at loss what to use them for. So when looking for a pattern to showcase the beauty of variegated yarns without the yarn overwhelming the stitch pattern, I found that slipped stitches do the trick. And why not have them swirl in chains all around the project? No sooner said than done.

You know why it takes so often long before I get round to re-publish patterns from magazines? Because I need to take new pictures… and that can be a pain sometimes. The weather is wrong, there isn’t anybody around to take pictures or to model the things, the season isn’t right (no fun to take mittens pictures  at the height of summer) and truth be told, sometimes I’m plain too lazy to get dressed up for pictures… So it was just fab that my niece offered to model some of my shawls!

Of course, it had to turn into an extremely hot day on which you don’t even want to wear the airiest lace shawl, but thanks to the location we picked in the forest it was bearable. And my dear husband was not only our driver but also gave the 'clown' to make the model act silly and laugh so that I was able to get some really natural pictures. 

Yes, I know it’s weird I show you all this ‘winter warmers’ during the summer, but I am so proud I finally worked on my long neglected patterns from magazines, so here we go: Chequers Brioche Scarf, also previously published in Love of Knitting.

The scarf is knitted in two colour brioche, always with one colour at the time. The placement of the lighter and darker colours form ‘blocks’, so that the scarf gets an all-over checked pattern.

My dear husband will be happy that the pattern is finally re-released (because he was eyeing the sample quite a while but wasn’t allowed to take it from my office yet) and should you wish for a Chequers Scarf in brioche knitting for yourself or a loved one: the pattern is now available from my Ravelry Store, here: Chequers Brioche Scarf.

The other day somebody asked me what my favourite knitting technique is and I was at a loss. I don’t know about other knitters, but for me it’s often a ‘temporarily love’. Sometimes I work a couple of items using the same technique, like for example cables or stranded colourwork, but then I need a ‘break’ and won’t use the technique for a while. With some techniques I even learnt that I’m not the biggest fan of them, so I come back to these techniques very seldom, like for example Entrelac. I reallylike the look, but I don’t enjoy the knitting that much.

Anyway, the question was what I like, and closest is probably 'ribbing'. Even though it is not really my favourite to knit, I often come back to the basic 2/2 rib or a variation thereof for my patterns. I like that it is so stretchy and makes for great fit, which I think is important for items such as socks or fingerless. Also, it is a big advantage when knitting for someone whose measurements I don’t know exactly.

So I figure it comes as no surprise that I’m playing around with a new pattern idea using rib…but pst, it's still a secret, a colourful secret... You'll learn more in a couple of months. 

Seems I am on the roll to brush-up with my pattern from quite a while ago, since today the Guernsey Shawl, also previously published in Love of Knitting, found its way into my store.

The shawl is generously sized and knitted in worsted weight yarn, so it’s really something to snuggle up in on a cold day. It is knitted from the top down, featuring traditional knitting patterns. The name refers to the fact, that knitters in Guernsey decorated close-fitting fishermen’s sweaters know as ganseys or jerseys with similar knit and purl motifs.

Of course, I’ve also worked my very own version of the second pattern included in Knit Picks Vivid Shawl Collection or, to be honest, of the Hashtag Shawl I’ve finished two meanwhile. The one below, in Knit Picks Gloss Fingering in colourways Bordeaux and Sterling shows the motif very well, but the colour combination has a bit more elegant and subdued look.

My favourite though, is this version in colourways Black and Kenai as shown in the book. However, I reversed the colours and made Kenai the contrast colour that form the motifs and this makes the ‘hashtags’ stand out even more this way. I’m not much of a shawl person, but I think this one stays in my wardrobe. ;-)

Years ago one of my hat pattern was published in the (unfortunately discontinued) Love of Knitting magazine and I finally found some time to give the pattern a brush-up: Pearls Hat

The hat is knitted from the brim to the top always with one colour at the time. On a background in whichever colour you like (I, personally, love this pattern with a variegated background), ‘strings of yarn pearls’ are worked in a contrast colour. The knitter can choose to vary the number of strings or their colours, e.g. use a different colour for each string and also the placement of the ‘strings’. In the pattern they are worked at regular intervals with 6 rounds of Stockinette stitch between them, but the distance between the strings can be changed easily.

The pattern includes four sizes to fit head circumference from approximately 45.25 to 53 cm (17.75-20.75”). It is now available from my Ravelry store, here: Pearls Hat.

So I told you the other day about my new shawl pattern Playfully, which is available from the Knit Picks website, here.

I absolutely love the version worked up for the collection with all the triangles in high contrast, but for my very own sample I decided to go for a more subdued look and combined a skein of Stroll Handpainted in colorway Northern Lights as background colour with a Stroll Mini Pack in colourway Aquarium for the contrast coloured triangles.

For me the highlight of this shawlette are the long tassels and I think the pattern looks just as lovely with colours from the same colour family. How do you like it?

The best things come in threes - which in this case is even true with my patterns. Together with Knit Picks' shawl collection, a colleciton with patterns in mosaic knitting was realeased and ta-dah! I also contributed a pattern to Mosaic Medley: Slip-Stitch Colorwork Collection. My pattern is a poncho-style wrap knitted in one piece called Maze Ruana.

Inspired by the colorful ruanas created and worn in South America, this wrap makes an eye-catching outdoor piece. Its mesmerizing mosaic pattern reminiscent of a maze dazzles when worked in a gradient yarn.

The Maze Ruana is worked in one piece from the bottom of the back towards the shoulders, where it is split into two sections for the fronts, which are worked from the top down. For a good fit, the neckline is shaped slightly. Front bands and a shawl collar are added after finishing the main piece. The mosaic stitch patterns are written and charted.

So I told you the other day about the new Knit Picks' shawl collection and my Playfully shawlette, but there's even  more to tell, because I've even contributed a second pattern to said collection: Hashtag Shawl.

The shawl is started at one of the top corners and is worked on the bias as a sideways triangle with a centered bottom. It is worked with one color at the time; two rows in MC alternate with two rows in CC. The stitch patterns are written and charted.

The Hashtag shawl combines stripes in Garter Stitch with motifs and borders in mosaic knitting. The mosaic pattern is reminiscent of the hashtag symbol, which has become so popular in the last couple of years.

With a bit of delay, thanks to the stupid virus that messes with my everyday life and even with third party release dates, here's finally something new to share. Knit Picks latest collection of shawl patterns knitted in fingering weight yarn is now available from there website and I'm thrilled that I contributed to it!

The shawlette named 'Playfully' is knit sideways completely in Garter Stitch. At given intervals, triangle shaped insertions are worked from the bottom edge, creating the crescent shape, using German Short Rows. As the eye-catching finishing touch, tassels are added to all triangles in contrast colors.

... my wrist bone has stopped being nasty after the fracture and knitting has become a tad easier. I still only knit a short while each day, but since there are so many almost completed items in my knitting basket, there are finished projects  to show every now and then. Like this new pair of Irregular Socks.

And I'm so happy I finished them now - because I got to take this picture. Isn't it just adorable with all the forget-me-not in the background? The colour works so well with my pair of Jeans, swoon... Ah, how I wish this wonderful flower would bloom all summer long.

I knitted the socks in Dream in Color Smooshy and the pattern is Irregular Socks, available form my Ravelry shop, here.

The other day I had a nice chat with some fellow designers and it was quite interesting how differently we all tackle the pattern writing process. I am not talking about the idea for a design itself here, but about the way the idea turns into a project. To my surprise there were quite some who sketch and calculate a lot and have all their numbers ready before they even start to knit.  I am somewhat in awe how organized they are because, hm, I'm quite the opposite... My new designs almost always start with a swatch and often - because I knit quite a lot of accesssories - by starting the project itself and then I'm all game for a bit of 'trial-and-error'.  I rip back and re-knit until the items looks like I imagined it and usually I just scribble some notes on whatever piece of paper I find.

Yes, true, the latter gave me trouble every now and then, not only because I tend to omit which project the notes refer to but also because it took my dear husband a while to understand that under no circumstances he's allowed to throw away receipts, junk mail or tickets without checking them first... ;-) But we are on the same page now and meanwhile it's actually a source of constant amusement for him. 

The above, some notes scribbeled onto the back of a concert ticket, is basically the first draft for the Warm Feet, Warm Heart sock pattern I released in March for the Knitter's Pride / KnitPro charity craftalong and which is now available for free download in my Ravelry store, here.

How's everyone doing? With scary message about the virus coming from all over the world, I hope you and all your loved ones are doing well during this difficult times. In my neck of the world life has come to an almost standstill with schools and most stores closed and all events, no matter whether sports, theater play or concerts, cancelled. But it can't be helped, the only way out is through this - and we are all in this together!

I've followed the advise of staying at home as much as possible right from the start and one postive aspect is that I knit way more than I usually have time for. Among other projects (which I can't share yet) I happily work on are my charity socks and here's a progress picture.

One down, one left to go. But I've started and I'm sure there'll be some more progress this weekend. Really happy how these turn out! I hope you, too, have something to keep you busy and that relaxes you in this stressful times! Stay safe, everyone!

I told you the other day briefly about the charity craft-along Knitter's Pride organizes this spring, but let's chat some more about it. The craft along is open to everyone who wants to knit or crochet a pair of socks (perferably for charity) within the next six weeks. You can use any pattern you like , but there is a brandnew knitting pattern available for those who sign up for Knitter's Pride newsletter: Warm Feet, Warm Heart.

And there are awesome prizes such as needle sets to win! All you need to do to participate is to knit or crochet a pair of socks by May 1, 2020 and share a picture in their Ravelry group or on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #KPCharityKCAL

Are you game? I'd be happy to see your socks!

I've decided to knit along (but of course I can't win), having thanks to the darn virus more knitting time available than usual. Here's a first picture of my Warm Feet socks.

There are so many things to love about my crafty hobby, but one thing that I particularly enjoy is the abilitiy to create handmade gifts for loved ones as well as for those in need. What I knit most often to donate to charity - usually to local homeless shelters - are socks. There are so many unfortunate people living on the streets, and it makes me happy to imagine that my craft helps a little to give them at least warm feet.

So I was glad to be chosen by Knitter's Pride for a cooperation for their first charity craft-along in 2020. I wrote up my go-to sock pattern for socks I knit I plan to donate and I called it:  Warm Feet, Warm Heart.

 The socks are knitted from the cuff down, almost entirely in ribbing patterns with an integrated heel. They have sufficient elasticity to fit differently shaped feet and even accommodate to the needs of people with swollen ankles. I developed the pattern  especially for those of us who enjoy knitting for  charity, having unknown recipients in mind.

One of  the patterns I absolutely enjoyed designing and that is still one of my favourites is Cube Socks, so I more than happy that it is finally available from my Ravelry store.

The socks are mainly worked in intarsia in the round and I know that not everyone likes intarsia, but it really is easy-peasy. There is a pictured tutorial in the pattern and I'm sure it enables even newbie intarsia knitters to manage the technique.

The socks as shown require five colours of sock weight yarn, approximately 25 go of each. However, when I started with the pattern, what I had in mind was to make use of leftover bits and bobs of yarn. Each block uses less than 5 g -  can't you just imagine these using different colours for each block?

I wasn't sure whether to turn it into a pattern at all, but now that I see the blocked shawl I know it's worth it! Love how the pattern pops in this gradient yarn.

The gradient yarn by Wollelfe jumped into my shopping basket last year when I bought a gift for a friend, ahem... But we all know how much I love green and how could I resist something called 'Radioactive Neon', lol. Now to get my behind into gear and work on the pattern!

... since  I told you the other day about my cardigan design in Interweave Knits - but there is even more to tell. In the same issue there's a hat pattern of mine: Devonshire Beanie.

The hat, knitted in an oh-so-soft cashmere blend, is worked in sections: First the cable band is worked in rows from side to side and grafted. A tutorial on grafting knitted cable patterns is included in the magazin. Next stitches are picked up on each side of the cable band and the ribbend brim and Stockinette stitch crown are worked in the round. If desired, a pompom is added as the finishing touch.

The newest issue of Interweave Knits is now available and I'm happy to tell you, that I contributed a garment pattern to it: Sandness Cardigan.

The cardigan with dropped shoulders is meant to be worn with an oversized fit. It  is worked from the bottom up in pieces and seamed. The key features are the wide cabels running up both fronts and the back, embedded in lines of ribbing.

After a bit of a relaxed and lazy start into 2020, I'm finally back on my desk, taking care of my patterns. And the first one to release this year (well, actually it is a re-release since it was published in Knitscene before), is Accented Socks.

The pattern is a great introduction to stranded knitting. The stitch pattern forms geometrical shapes, so it’s easy to keep your place in the chart. Also, they’re designed so that you never have to deal with a long float; the small pattern repeat keeps the yarns tidily lined up on the wrong side.

These socks are worked from the cuff down with a so-called mock short-row heel. This type of heel is worked with decreases and increases (by picking up stitches). The pattern includes three sizes, woman's S, M and L and it comes with charts and full written instructions for the stranded motifs.

As of today, Accented Socks is available as individual download from my Ravelry Store, here.

I hardly ever knit a pattern more than once - but every now and then there is an exception to the rule and I've started of the New Year with one of these exceptions.

The last few days I've happily knitted away on another pair of Thank you for the Music Socks as a birthday gift and I think they turned out great  - now to hope the recipient will like them. 

A short while back I received a lovely surprise in the mail: my copy of Knits from the Greenhouse.

It came as a surprise since the release of the book was postponed from June to 'some day' (thanks to the insolvency and the following sale of Interweave Books to Penguin Random House) and when it was publsihed in November it happened rather silently and unnoticed. Which is a pity, because this book, dedicated to designs using plant-based fibres only is filled to the brim with 18 gorgeous designs for accessories and garments.

My contribution to the book is the Spring Sprout Stole, a rectangular stole inspired by rows of cultivated seedlings, worked from one short side to the other.

The garter stitch blocks seem to be tipped at angles, but are simply worked in straight lines. The groups of increases and decreases, which slant either to the left or right, pull the garter squares one way or the other, creating a most unusual pattern. The simplicity of the stitch pattern makes the stole a perfect project for relaxed knitting.

What do you need when it's all the time grey, cold and ugh outside? Yes, exactly, you need to knit a pair of lacy socks in a cheerful summery colour. So that's what I did. And not only that, I turned the idea into a new pattern right away.

Okay, the picture taking bit means that you either freeze your butt off or you have to stick to indoor pics, which makes you go bananas because of the poor light, but still: My new socks make me really happy.

I called the pattern Ornamental Socks because of the intricate lace panel running down the front of the socks. The easy to memorize lace pattern is worked with clustered stitches for extra texture.

How difficult can it be to take pictures? Well, very difficult, if you ask me... when I've got time for it, it's either the weather not being nice enough, or there isn't anybody around to take the pictures (or model the knitted item) or the season doesn't work for me. Somehow it feels  plain wrong to take pictures of gloves in the summer... but finally:

Cassandra's Gloves! The pattern was previously published in Interweave's Jane Austen magazine and it was inspired by the fact that during the Regency era, gloves were always worn outside the house. They varied in length from above the wrist for day wear to above the elbow for evening wear.

These gloves, knitted in a fingering-weight yarn, make a great pair for everyday use and will not only keep your fingers warm but will add an elegant touch to your wardrobe. They are knitted from the cuff up to the fingers and you can choose to work the cable pattern from the charts or from written instructions.

As of now, the pattern is available from my Ravelry store, here: Cassandra's Gloves.

Working all the time on all the patterns that were previously published in an Interweave magazine.  The (very ambitious) goal was to have them all available in my Ravelry store by the end of the year - but it's so not going to happen. I didn't even realize how many there were! Anyway, another one, and actually one of my favourites, is now available: Agatha Shawl.

The Agatha Shawl is knit sideways on the bias. It is knitted back and forth in rows, mainly in garter stitch stripes with a wide border in mosaic knitting as the eye-catching feature. To add additional interest to the knitting and the look, small mosaic insertions are added to the garter stitch stripes given intervals.

What I really like about mosaic knitting, is the fact that the knitting is always done with one colour at the time. The zig-zagging pattern is simply created by slipping stitches. The most important thing is to keep the yarn in the correct position when slipping stitches, but once understood, the shawl is  easy to work and a beginner friendly project.

The pattern includes boths, charts and written instructions, and it is availble here: Agatha Shawl.

Ich habe Euch ja neulich von meinen Wintertime Kissenhüllen erzählt, aber ich habe Euch glatt verschwiegen, dass noch ein zweiten Muster von mir im selben Heft veröffentlicht wrude. Oneway Slippers.

Wenn es Euch so geht wie mir, dann heißt Winter auch gerne mal kalte Füße und was wärmt Füße besser als ein kuscheliges Paar gestrickte Hausschuhe?

Die Hausschuhe werden in Runden gestrickt, vom Bündchen zur Spitze. Die Ferse ist mit verkürzten Reihen mit Doppelmaschen gearbeitet; im Magazin gibt es ein bebildertes Tutorial für diese Technik.

Der Hingucker an den Hausschuhen die hauptsächlich glatt rechts gestrickt sind, ist ein Band mit einem Muster aus abgehobenen Maschen, das sich vom Bündchen bis zur Spitze zieht. Gestrickt in einem dicken Garn, Stylecraft Special Aran with Wool, sind die kuscheligen Hausschuhe in kürzester Zeit fertig gestellt.

Das Strickmuster findet sich im Magazin, Knit Now Issue 109, das jetzt in Geschäften überall in Großbritannien erhältlich ist und ebenso als digitale Version von moremags.com,  hier.

So I've told you the other day about my Wintertime Cusions, but I haven't yet told you that there is a second pattern of mine in the same issue of Knit Now: Oneway Slippers.

If you are any like me, winter is the time of could feet and what better way is there to keep your feet warm than with a pair of knitted slippers?

The slippers are worked in the round from the cuff down. The heel is worked using German short-rows with double stitches. There comes a tutorial with the pattern to explain the technique.

The eye-catching feauter is a pnael in slipped stitches running from the cuff to the toe. Knitted in a heavyweight yarn, Stylecraft Special Aran with Wool, these comfy slippers are finished in a couple of hours.

The Oneway Slippers pattern is inculded in Knit Now Issue 109, now available from stores across the UK and also online from moremags,com, here.

Truth be told, especially in winter when it’s cold and grey I enjoy staying at home, snuggled up on the sofa with my knitting. And what makes a home more welcoming and cosy than handmade decorations? So I'm happy to tell you that today the latest issue of Knit Now magazine hits the news stands  and it includes one of my patterns: Wintertime Cushions. 

This matching pair of cushion covers are worked using stranded knitting. They are both worked using the same colours, but feature different patterns that combine the clean look of geometric shapes with traditional Scandinavian stitch patterns. The cushion covers are started with a provisional cast-on and are then worked in the round from the top to the bottom. They were knitted in West Yorkshire Spinners
Colour Lab DK in colourways Harbour Blue and Natural Cream.

The pattern for the Wintertime cusions is included in Knit Now Magazine Issue 109, now available in shops across the UK and also online from moremags.com, here.

There really is no denying it: what I like to knit best are socks! But then, who wouldn't wish for a new pair of socks, now that the days are getting colder? So here's what I  have for you today: Irregular.

 Irregular socks are knitted from the cuff down, entirely in narrow knit and purl stripes which head towards each other, stay combined for a short while and then separate from each other again. The pattern is absolute regular - but nevertheless it seems to form irregular lines and segments.

For a good fit the socks are worked with heel flap and gusset; the heel flap is worked in pattern too.

I've been working on some brand new patterns which can't be shared yet - but I've also got something new in my Ravelry pattern store previously published by Interweave: Zinger Socks.

And here we go again: one of the patterns I really loved when designing it for Love of Knitting quite a while back, finally got a thorough revision and it is now available from my Ravelry pattern store: Bargello Socks.

Worked in stranded knitting, zigzags in varying widths create an all-over pattern. Place the stripes at random, or use a wildly coloured self-striping yarn as the background colour, to make your pair of socks unique.

The socks are worked cuff down with heel flap and gusset. The gusset decreases are done at the sole towards the middle of the sole.

Did I tell you that my dear friend Evey from Canada visited in September? Well, after we had agreed on which weekend she had time to spend with us, I came to realize that she would be here for her birthday. So I needed the perfect gift, right? And what else would I give to a fellow knitter than a handmade gift... so Evey got this:

A shawl in fingering weight yarn her favourite colours, knitted in mosaic knitting technique. And I think you can tell how much she loved it. :)  I made the pattern up while knitting, so at the moment it really is one of a kind - but should there be a pattern one day, Evey already named it: Celebrate!

Another one of my patterns came to light today: The Central Wrap is included in the brandnew Knitscene magazine, Winter 2019.

The wrap is worked back and forth in rows on the bias in  an allover garter-stitch diamond pattern. Thanks to the construction, from one corner at a short side diagonally to one corner at the opposite short size, the size can be adjusted to your preferred size easily.  The natural bias of the wrap makes it a parallelogram, but it can be blocked to a rectangle easily. It’s the perfect piece to wrap up in when you need an extra layer.

It surely takes it sweet time, but slowly but steadily I'm adding patterns to my Ravelry store previously published in magazines. Today it's Byzantine Tiles.

The socks are knitted cuff down with a heel flap and gusset. They are worked in an all over pattern in mosaic knitting technique. With moisaic knitting, you always work with one colour at the time and create the colourwork pattern by simply slipping stitches - one of the easiest techniques for great colourwork effects!

The slipped stitches create a geometric tiles patter and at random the two-coloured slipped stitch squares are replaced with squares in main colour only to give the socks a unique look.

So I told you the other day already about my new hat design, including in Interweave Knits Gifts magazine. In the mag it's called Glacier Ice Hat and the main feature is of course the 'skewed' brim.  The body is knit in a dotted rib pattern, which kind of continues the pattern of the ribbed brim. One of the things I really like about the design is that it looks really fab worked in two colours, this way emphasizing the slanted brim even more.

The pattern includes six sizes: 35.5 (40.5, 45.75, 50.75, 56, 61) cm [ 14 (16, 18, 20, 22, 24)“] circumference and  approximately 18.5 (21, 21.5, 24, 24.75, 26.5) cm [7.25 (8.25, 8.5, 9.5, 9.75, 10.5)”] tall over deepest section of brim.

The hat is knitted in oh-so-soft  Malabrigo Yarns Worsted and depending on the size it requires 50-70  g without the pompom, which is an optional design feature which can be omitted completely or worked to the desired size.

As I've told you before, I'm not a huge fan of hats, at least not when it comes to wearing them. But I do love to knit them and when I looked through my stash last winter I came across a lovely skein of Malabrigo Wrosted, that told me right away that it wants to be a hat. So I cast on right away and while doing so I thought: What if... So I played around with the idea a bit and the result is this: Skewed Hat.

The brim in twisted rib is shaped with short rows, so that one side of the brim is much longer than the other. This effects the body of the hat, since it now slants because it is knit on the bias.  When worn with the long side of the brim at the front, the hat gets a nice slouchy look at the back as it is fashion these days. But of course, one can wear the hat whichever way and change the look considerably withit - as this goofy picture of my DH shows you... ;-)

... finally got its long overdue revision and is now available for individual download: Nocked Socks.

When Knitscene Accessories announced the theme Hunger Games a while back, I knew that I wanted to contribute a pattern right away and an idea formed in my mind immediately. Socks, reminiscent of an arrow, inspired by the main character’s weapon of choice in the arena. And here they are.

The cuff is shaped with short-rows and combined with the twisted stitches on the leg it forms the fletching; the twisted stiches on the instep form the arrowhead. Take a good aim!

The socks are knitted in the round, from the cuff down with heel flap and gusset. Because most of the fabric is biased and increases and decreases are always made in the same place, the socks look skewed before blocking, but they fit snugly and comfortably and they sure are an eye-catching pair of socks.

I am excited to share my newest pattern with you: Balefire Mitts. I really had fun designing these, since the idea was to integrate the thumb gusset into the all-over pattern that 'spirals' around the mitten. And look - it worked. :)

The thumb gusset in plain Stockinette stitch emerges neatly from the all-over spiraling textured pattern. The mittens are knitted from the cuff to the top and they are mirror images of each other, i. e. the stripes spiral in different directions. It is completely up to the wearer, whether to 'hide' the distinctive thumb gusset on the palm of the hand or as an eye-catching feature at the back of the hand.

Today is the release date of the latest Knit Picks collection: Simply Socks! If you ask me you can never have enough hand-knitted socks and in this collection you find 18 basic and quick to knit patterns for socks that are wardrobe basics. As an avid sock knitter, I'm happy to tell you that one of my patterns is included in the collection: Blue Jean Socks.

Still happily knitting away on some new projects (well, mostly happy because I had my share of ripping back with one or the other), but still no pictures at this time. But at least another pattern added to my Raverly store today: Rose Garden Mitts.

The mitts are knitted in the round from the bottom up. The cuff has a folded picot edging, the main part is a lace and colorwork pattern, and they cover about half of the fingers with another folded picot edging.

You can choose to work the pattern either from the chart or the written instructions. The pattern includes three sizes.

This pattern also was previsouly published in Interweave's Jane Austen magazine and is now available from my Ravelry store, here.

Busy, busy, busy working on some new projects - but all of them are super secret so there isn't anything to share yet. Well, at least I got my act together and worked on some more of my patterns with the rights returned to make them available in my Ravelry store. Just added this week is the individual pattern for the Gentlemen's Hunting Socks, previously published in Intereweave's Jane Austen magazine.

The socks are knit from the top down with heel flap and gusset. They are worked with a slip stitch pattern, so they are worked with one colour only at the time. The pattern includes three sizes and you can choose to work the slip stitch pattern either from the charts or the written instructions.

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

No idea how the weater is in your neck of the world, but over here it's almost too hot to knit. Small and quick things are what I like to work on best when we have such fab summer weather, so my latest pattern fits the bill perfectly: Bay Mitts.

The mitts are worked in the round from the cuff up and they feature vertical lines of twisted ribbing that converge with horizontal rows of garter stitch, resulting in a purposely skewed look because of the  different row gauges.

The sample was knitted in oh-so-soft Malabrigo Yarn Sock in Cirrus Gray.

I'm humming the old Beatles song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' while typing this, because the song is actually the reason for my latest pattern's name: Lucy's Stole.

The stole is knit in traditonal Sheltand lace patterns and it got its name because of the diamond shaped stitch motifs worked all-over the main piece of the stole.

The main body of the piece is knit from one short side to the other. The edging is worked sideways and is knit onto the live stitches and stitches picked up from the small garter border around the body.

A few days ago I received a fab pick-me-up after a long workday: happy mail was waiting at home. I received my copy of The Art of Circular Yokes and I'm still over the moon that one of my designs made it into this awesome collection curated by Kerry Bogert!

The Scallops Cardigan is knitted from the top down with a cabled yoke. The cables start small and get wider with each yoke increase. This shows how you can shape a yoke simply by shaping each cable or element in it. One of the cables from the yoke is continued onto each sleeve as an eye-catching extra; on the sleeve the cable gets gradually narrower before it 'vanishes' completely. All edgings (bottom edge, buttonband, cuffs) are cabled too. The cardigan is worked completely without any seams.

... der immer dann eingesetzt wird, wenn meine Stricklust verschwunden ist: ich lasse Ulli Wolle für mein nächstes Projekt aussuchen. Denn wenn ich weiß, dass ich für Ulli stricke, ist es meist Motiviation genug und ich werde ruck-zuck fertig. So war es auch mit diesen Socken.

Die Socken waren mein Projekt für unterwegs, und daher sind sie recht einfach. Denn wie's im Auot so ist, ich quatsche mit Ulli, singe lautstark mit oder beschäftige mich mit sonst irgendwas und das ist viel zu viel Ablenkung für komplizierte Strickmuster.

Bei diesem Paar habe ich fast alles im Bündchenmuster gearbeitet. 2 rechts, 2 links  am Schaft wurden an der Ferse zu 3 rechts, 3 links für eine integrierte Ferse verändert, und auch der Oberfuß wurde dann in 3 rechts, 3 links gearbeitet.

... to lure my knitting mojo out of hiding: Have Ulli choose a yarn for a new project. When I know it's a gift for him, there's enough motivation to keep going. And as so often before, it did the trick with these socks also.

They were my car knitting project, so I kept them easy to work. Let's face it, when in the car chatting with Ulli, singing along to music and what not, there's just too much distraction for complicated patterns.

They are basically knitted completely in rib, the leg in 2/2 rib which I increased to 3/3 rib to create a hybrid fleegle heel. The 3/3 rib is continued onto the instep.

One of the knitting techniques I really enjoy is double knitting, because every time I work in this technique I'm intrigued by the fact that the created fabric is reversible and looks beautiful from both sides since there seems to be no 'wrong side'. 

A double-knit fabric is comprised of two layers of fabric worked simultaneously. It is worked in pairs of stitches, for each knit stitch worked on one side, a purl stitch is worked next for the other side. This technique creates a thick fabric, which seems to have two right sides, because the wrong sides are facing each other in the middle of the fabric. 

The technique can be worked with just one colour for example for an extra thick scarf, but more often two colours are used to form motifs. The fun effect is, that the motif appears on the second side as a negative image with reversed colours. In the picture below you see the 'right side' with white lines on black and the 'wrong side' with black lines on white.

The first pattern in double knitting technique I published a while ago was the Rhomboid Cowl. Worked in a classic monochrome geometric pattern, enhanced with small details in a contrast colour as the eye-catching feature. The red 'line' above is the cast-on edge, done in the third colour; the optional contrast coloured diamond (in red in the picture) was added at random using duplicate stitch.

I've recently revised the pattern and added detailed written instructions for everyone who'd like to give double knitting a try, but is hesitant to work from charts. The pattern is available from my Ravelry store, here: Rhomboid Cowl.

Well, what can I say? Yet another one of my sock patterns was published this week: Slanted. The pattern is included in the latest Knit Picks collection Outrageous Socks, a stunning collection with 18 modern sock designs, all of them suitable for colourful yarn.

My pattern, Slanted, uses simple knit and purl stitches which create stripes that seem to spiral down the leg. The socks are knitted cuff down with a so-called hybrid Fleegle Heel, which is integrated into the leg and worked in rounds. The heel emerges neatly from the diagonal stripes and it also seems to wander into the right position. The toe is worked as a kind of star toe, which picks up the slant of the diagonal lines.

... is the theme Zen Yarn Garden chose for their premiere pattern collection and designers were asked to design pieces inspired by the great impressionist painters. And well, there are just so many paintings with water, on which wind and sun create ripples and shadows, that an idea formed in my head right away. And why not turn the idea into the project I like to knit best? So...

please say hello to the Composition Socks, my contribution to Zen Yarn Garden's The Impressionist Colleciton.

Knitted in Zen Yarn Garden Superfine Fingering weight. a soft blend of 90 % merino with 10% nylon added for durability in the stunning colourway Eternity, the socks appear like a detail in Monet's Houses of Parliaments series.

The Composition Socks are knit cuff down with an all-over lace pattern, reminiscent of the wind rippling the surface of water. The hybrid fleegle heel is integrated in theleg, i.e. heel flap and gusset are worked in the round together with the leg. The used stitch pattern works very well with tonal variegated yarns. The socks are mismatched in that the ripples slant in different directions for a more random look. The pattern includes three sizes to fit 17.75 (20.25, 22.75) cm [7 (8, 9)”] leg circumference and it comes with charts and also written instructions.

Do you consider knitting a pair of composition socks? The individual pattern is available from Ravelry, here, and there are also kits with pattern and yarn available from the Zen Yarn Garden website, here. The kits are offered at 15% off for a limited time (through May 31, 2019), with the use of the coupon code IMPRESSIONIST15.

Another one of the patterns I really enjoyed working on last year can fianlly be shared, since the newest issues of Interweave Knits, Summer 2019 is now available. The magazine's theme is coast-to-coast knits and it is filled with a wide array of summery sweaters as well as socks and shawls in colourwork technique. My contribution is a large three-coloured shawl: the Tubac Stole.The semisolid and variegated colorways of the stole were inspired by the blue sky and dry desert of the U.S. Southwest.

The stole is constructed in a rather unusual way: It is worked from the center out in rounds, beginning with Judy's Magic Cast-On and then increasing on the four corners. The stole is worked with one colour at the time. The first colour change is done in mosaic technique, while the second colour changes blends in the new colour in rounds worked alternating between the two colours.

As per pattern the stole is approximately 195 cm (67”) long and 52 cm (20.5“) wide, but it could be worked to any desired size. However, the number of sitches cast on set the proportions. Fewer stitches = less length, more width; more stitches = more length, less width. The contruction method means that there are right from the start a rather big number of stitches to be worked, but everything is worked in rounds, so there are no 'annoying' purl wrong side rows as there are with many other shawls. I really enjoyed working on the stole and I've lately played around with an idea using a similar technique, but it's not yet in the state to tell you about it. Stay tuned.

So thrilled to see that now the newest Interweave knitting book The Art of Circular Yokes can be pre-ordered. Why, you ask? Well, as I've told quite often, what I love to knit and design best is usually smaller things like socks, mittens, shawls, and only occasionally I tackle garments. So I am absolutely proud that one of my designs, the Scallops Cardigan, made it into this fantastic garment collection.

The Scallops Cardigan is knitted from the top down with a cabled yoke. The cables start small and get wider with each yoke increase. This shows how you can shape a yoke simply by shaping each cable or element in it. One of the cables from the yoke is continued onto each sleeve as an eye-catching extra; on the sleeve the cable gets gradually narrower before it 'vanishes' completely.

All edgings (bottom edge, buttonband, cuffs) are cabled too; buttonholes are worked into the cable. The cardigan is worked completely without any seams.

Another club pattern that has been on the backburner for way too long, got finally repolished and is now available:  Rows & Rows Socks.

Basic knit and purl stitches combined to a beautiful pattern that forms rows and rows of horizontal, vertical and diagonal stripes. The socks are knit cuff down with a heel flap and gusset. The pattern includes three sizes: Women’s S, M and L and you can choose to work the pattern from the charts or the written instructions.

The queen of procrastinating (yes, I am talking about myself here) finally got her act together. Last month I worked on a pattern that was released years ago, as a club pattern available to members only, and ever since I thought that I would like to make it available for everyone to enjoy. Hm, it sure took its sweet time... Truth be told, there were some issues that needed to be solved and I didn't like the original layout one bit, so there was some work involved, including tech edting and a round of test knitting. But with all that done, the pattern was finally added to my store: Multidirectional Mittens.

It really is a pattern to show off the beauty of variegated yarn  because the changes in knitting direction create stripes that change directions too: vertical, horizontal, angular.

The individual parts of the mittens are worked using different techniques and are worked in different directions: The cuff is worked flat and knit sideways; lower hand and upper hand are worked in the round, part of the thumb gusset section is worked flat in short-rows.

The pattern includes three sizes, women's S, M and L.

My brain very obviously was occupied with other things a while back, because I completely forgot to tell you that I released yet another sock pattern back in February: Snuggly Cables.

The socks are knitted cuff down socks mainly in garter rib for a snug, yet comfortable fit with a heel which is integrated nicely into the stitch pattern. The eye-catching feature though, is an interesting cable panel running down the front of the leg.

The pattern includes three sizes and the cable panel can be worked from a chart or written instructions.

The latest issue of Knitscene, Summer 2019, is now available and I'm happy to tell you that one of my patterns made the cut: Plasma Shawl.

The inspriation for this shawl were flames and well, if flames are hot enough they can create plasma, hence the name.

The shawl is worked top down in rows with increases and decreases to create the flames - the open flames only come to life when binding off the shawl by dropping stitches and unravelling them. Such fun to work in a smooth yarn such as the one used in the sample: Malabrigo Yarn Sock.

The other day I told you about my Flight of Birds Shawlette, published in the Accents collection by Knit Picks, and here's finally a picture of my sample.Even though it is in a different colourway than the one in the book, it looks pretty much the same, except for the finishing touch which I find essential for this shawlette: tassels.

I'm usually not into what I call 'cutesy stuff', but somehow I like this shawlette so much more with the tassels. What do you think? Tassels or not?

A loooooong time ago I told you about a pattern I had designed for Knit Now magazine and back then I already had the idea to make a matching pair of mittens. And at long last, here they are! And even though I'm already waiting for spring, we yet have another bit of snow, so hooray for a new mittens pattern in March: Speckle Mittens.

The mittens are knitted mainly in a textured pattern that forms horizontal and vertical lines. The allover pattern has a lot of stretch which leads to a snug yet comfortable fit. The eye-catching feature though, is a broad ribbed cable which runs along the back of the hand and which gets smaller and then vanishes completely at the top.

The pattern includes two sizes and the pattern can be worked either from charts or written instructions. It is available from my Raverly pattern store, here.

Another pattern I worked on last year already is now ready to be shared here: Twirling Socks. They are my contribution to the latest book by Interweave Coffeehouse Knits.

Inspired by the ritual of sipping and stitching, Coffeehouse Knits is a collection of 2o knitwear designs combined with stirring essays. So why not pour yourself another cup and settle with this lovely book and/or your needles?

 A project to bring to knit group gatherings should be portable, and the pattern should be easy to memorize so that one doesn’t lose track while chatting. These socks meet those criteria perfectly. The main pattern is a knit-and-purl ribbing, which travels to the side every couple of rounds. The interesting detail is the heel because the heel flap and gusset are integrated into the leg and are worked in the round. The skewed heel flap “triangle” emerges from one of the knit columns in the ribbing.

My knitting mojo still isn't anywhere in sight, so it's good that I was busy last year to have something to share with you. A sock pattern of mine was released a couple of days ago: Trailhead Socks.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought it was time to release a pattern that has been finished and sitting on my desk for months: Love you Till Tuesday.

My musical inspiration for these socks was the song “Love you till Tuesday” by David Bowie. The title sounds like there will be a new love on Wednesday and many to follow afterwards, so my socks feature lots of hearts for all the loves yet to come.

The pattern comes with 5 different heart motifs between 7 and 14 stitches wide and between 7 and 21 rows high. The idea is to place them randomly on a Stockinette Stitch background. Just use one motif, for example the Heart to Heart outline as an eye-catching stand-alone feature or place different motifs all over the socks – whatever you like best. If desired, the motifs can even be continued onto the heel flap and the toe. Each of the motifs is included as a chart and also as written instructions. For those who don't feel like working 'at random', there are extra pages giving placement suggestions (as in the picture) added to the pattern.

The pattern is available from my Ravelry pattern store, here.

So I told you: Every once in a while I stop 'producing' a neverending pile of accessories, but work on a big project instead. Like this one: Buds Pullover.

The pullover was knitted in a single-ply, DK-weight, merino-silk blend yarn, which makes it both lightweight and pleasantly warm. It’s worked in the round from the bottom up in an allover shifting rib pattern.

You find the pattern for the Buds pullover in the current issue of Interweave Knits, Spring 2019, which is available from the Interweave website, here.

Finally... Do you want to know what is the hardest part for me when one of my designs is published by a third party? Having to wait that I can share pictures, especially when I enjoyed a new project as much as I did with this one.

The shawl is knit from the top down in an easy to memorize 'flame lace pattern', created by simple decreases and increases. The flames grow bigger the biggere the shawl gets. Worked in awesome Twisted Fiber Art Arial Evolution in colourway Eclipse, the shawl was knit up in no time (you know, the 'let's see the next colour change' effect) and I totally love how it turned out.😊 The Flame Lace Shawl is included in Gradient Style, a new book by Interweave, now available...

Happy New Year, everyone! I certainly couldn't be happier - spending New Year in our 'home away from home' and with a new pattern out today: Flight of Birds Shawlette!

So I told you about Knitscene Accents, but what I haven't told you is that I have a second pattern in the magazine: Hearbeat Mitts.

A simple slip-stitch pattern and three colors of yarn create the funky, lovable Heartbeat Mitts. The eye-catching pattern is easy to work, so the mitts are quick and fun to knit. They are worked using slipped stitches and knit 1 (2 or 3) row(s) below, using only one colour at a time.

Ever since I got my hands on Andrea Rangel's wonderful AlterKnit stitch dictionary , I knew that had to use the fun Masked Bandit chart in a design and meanwhile it happened: Say hello to the Ring-Tailed  Bandit Hat.

Aaaaaaaannnnnd - my hat even made the cover of the digital Knitscene Accents magazine! Woohoo!

The hat is worked in the round from the bottom up and bound off after the ribbing, then stitches are picked up to create a chain detail before the motif in stranded colourwork. The pattern includes three sizes.

It's been a while since I last told you about a new pair of socks, isn't it? See, I do knit other things than socks... ;-)

Anways, today I released a sock new pattern: A Song of Knit and Purls.

Squares in four different textured patterns flow down the leg and form a patchwork-like pattern. The heel flap emerges between the stripes of squares and is worked in the round in a fifth knit and purl pattern. The toe, worked with paired increases, features yet another textured pattern on the top of the foot - knits and purls at their best!

So I told you about the Firebricks Cowl last week, but in my excitement that the project made the cover, I completely forgot to tell you that there is another pattern of mine in the colleciton: Intensify Shawl.

Stashbuster knits was the theme of a new collection from Knit Picks - so why not use the leftover yarns in your stash for a quick and easy cowl? Said and done and I'm happy my pattern not only made it into the collection, but was also chosen for the cover. :)

The differently colored garter stitch stripes on the neutral background get sectioned by the slipped stitches and seem to form bricks – just like bricks in a country-style brick wall. The cowl could be worked using only two colors for a more subdued look, or as many colors as there are stripes. Choose your favorite colors to make your Bricks cowl unique!

This cowl is worked in the round and can be made a smaller or larger cowl by adjusting the cast on number.

Hm, seems a bit  I had a thing with sets lately, because another one was released a couple of days ago: Black Forest Hat and Cowl Set.

The set is knit in oh-so-soft HiKoo by Skacel Llamor (DK weight in 100% baby llama) and it uses the illusion knitting technique. The pattern is worked using one colour at a time and the clever use of knit and purl stitches creates a hidden pattern of diagonal lines, which changes the look of the knit depending on the viewer's perspective.

Both items are worked in the round from the bottom up. The hat has an extra long, foldable brim.

One of my favourite Interweave magazines was released last week: Interweave Knits Gifts and I'm happy to tell you that one of my designs mad the cut and is included in this year's issue: Changing Diamonds.

The Changing Diamonds Hat and Mittens Set is a fresh, modern, and fun take on matching accessories. The updated color palette and geometric colorwork motif make this a great first colorwork project.

While the motifs are different for hat and mittens, they are similar enough to make a matching set and I loved the idea of reversing the colours for the mittens. How do you like it?

As you all know, what I love to knit best are accessories, but every once in a while a bigger project is tackled. Like a cardigan...

Truth be told, this isn't really something I would wear (although I'd consider it if it was black and had a bit more of 'steampunk' look about it), but I enjoyed working on it and it makes me happy to now see it published in the Knitting Traditions magazine.

Hot, hot, hot in Germany - but for those who already plan their holiday knitting: here is a new pattern for you! The V-Mitts were recently published in the latest Knit Picks's collection Dapper, geared towards the men in our lifes. The collection includes 21 timeless garment and accessory patterns.

The V-Mitts are snug fitting yet comfortable to wear with a classy look. The fingerless mitts are worked from the ribbed cuff to the top, with a thumb gusset and individual fingers. On the back of the hand and the palm, a V-shaped section in Stockinette stitch emerges from the ribbing, enhanced by small cables.

The pattern is available as individual download or as part of the collection from the Knit Picks website, here.

Back from holidays to learn that another one of my patterns was released in Knitscene Fall 2018 while I was away: Agatha Shawl.

The Agatha Shawl incorporates two stitch patterns: a zigzag motif across the side edge and small motif “spots” throughout the main striped garter-stitch pattern. It is worked usig the mosaic knitting technique, i.e. it is always used only one colour at a time.

Even though it's way too hot over here at the moment to even think about wearing handknits, it's always time to knit for cooler weather, isn't it?

My newest pattern was released today in Knit Pick's collection Delicate Details. It's a collection featuring 15 delicate accessories and these patterns will have you draped in elegance from head to toe.  Geared towards the novice and intermediate lace knitters, these patterns can help you discover and explore the satisfaction of creating (and wearing!) the intricate art of lace knitting. My contribution to the collection are the Lace Track Mitts.

The Lace Track Mitts are a pair of fingerless gloves knit in the round and from the cuff up.  The easy to work lace pattern runs along the back of the hand, adding interest to the knitting and an eye-caching feature to this pratical item. These winsome mitts make a statement of subtle elegance with only a handful of stitches.

The pattern is available as individual download or as part of the collection from the Knit Picks website, here.

Inspired by the American Southwest, the summer issue of Interweave Knits is packed with 16 modern, appealing, and knittable designs.

My contribution to the magazine falls into the High Desert Lace story, with wearable, breezy, lacy, and bohemian-inspired garments that you can wear in the blazing summer sun: Winona Poncho.

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 one piece from side to side in an allover wave lace pattern that is worked on both right- and wrong-side rows. The fringe adds the final touch to this bohemian-inspired summer poncho.

The pattern is available for individual download or as part of the magazine from the Interweave website, here.

It seems there is no denying it what my favourite item of all times is to knit and design... but  I can't help it, I just love handknit socks!  And I'm happy to share with you that another one of my pattern was released last week: Transversal Socks.

The pattern is included in the latest Knit Pick's collection called Splendid Sole. It's a book filled to the brim with 16 beautiful  and clever sock designs.

My contribution, shown above in Hawthorne Tonal Hand Paint yarn, feature an interesting, architectural cable pattern. The pattern was inspired by the look of half-timbered houses with their wooden frames and filled panels between. The background pattern are segments in Stockinette stitch and reverse Stockinette stitch, alternating every couple of rounds, which get divided by diagonal cable lines. A classy pattern, suitable for women and men alike.

The pattern is available as individual pattern or as part of the collection from the Knit Picks Website, here.

Well, if you haven't yet noticed, here is another proof of what I like to knit best -  another sock pattern of mine got  published, the Zinger Socks.

This pattern, too, was planned for the Love of Knitting magazine which now sadly is no longer published. Instead the pattern is available for indvidual download.

The socks are knitted cuff down, with one colour at the time. The vertical lines are created by slipped stitches which get carried over the stripe in the colour used. It is worked with a short row heel using German short rows with double stitches. An easy to knit heel variation and I love the effect when one half is worked in one colour, the second half then in the other colour.

Remember the Cube Socks published in Knitscene I told you about the other day? There are now kits available from the Interweave website which include the magazine with the pattern and a set of SweetGeorgia Yarns Tough Love Sock Party of Five. For me it would be the hardest part to decide which one to choose, lol.

I love the rich colours in the set above in  Blueberry Cobbler, but then, I have a soft spot for monochrome stuff, so the kit below with a Party of Five in Graphite would be right up my alley also...

So I told you the other day about my contribution to Knitscene Summer 2018, but in fact there is even more: a second sock pattern of mine. It is one of the bonus patterns and as happy as I am it is in there, as sad is the reason, because it was planned for Love of Knitting, another one of the Interweave knitting magazines which is now no longer published. But well, things change, so let's talk about happier things: my Accented Socks. :)

These socks are worked cuff down in starnded knitting, mainly in two neutral colours. The eye-catching feature is the use of a third, bright colour for cuff, heel and toe as well as for two 'accent stripes'. The socks are worked with a short row heel, which is worked with decreasing and increasing stitches rather than the usual wrap and turn technique. I, personally, consider it it a perfect heel for beginner sock knitters.

Look what is now available from the Interweave website:

The latest issue of Knitscene maganzine, summer 2018 and I am happy to share what I contributed to it. Well, it won't come as a big surprise... because it's my fave item to knit: socks....

Have I actually told you about the new big project I've planned? In one of my Ravelry groups we have year-long challenges and this year we called it the 'rainbow challenge' and the idea is to knit up yarns in certain colours in 2018. In addition, there are challenges for techniques like brioche or cables or just fun extra challenges like 'a project somehow related to the Olympics'. You get the idea. Now, it wouldn't be me to not tweak the challenge so that it is a challenge for me, so here's my plan:

I'd like to knit up all these beautiful skeins of Cascade Yarns Heritage and create my very own rainbow. And of course, these have to be my very own designs. And the work on my 'Rainbow of Socks' (which will be the title of the collection), is well underway... :)

A new Knit Picks collection was released on Wednesday, Everyday Wraps, with 14 colourful, wearable and comfortable shawls, all of them knit in fingering weight yarn. And I contributed to the collection too: Wild Vortex. :)

I chose the name, because the shawl is knitted in wedges which seem to spin around an invisible axis - like a vortex in the sea. The shawl is knit top down and all colours are cast on simultanously; instructions for the colour changes are given in the pattern.

I do admit I am really lame with social media  even though I’m told all the time I should be more active and promote my designs and and and… Yes, I do write this blog (and sometimes it is hard work) and I'm active on Ravelry, but that's about it. So in an attempt to do better, I’m giving it a try this weekend and should you be on Facebook or Instagram this might be interesting to you, because - it’s giveaway time. :)

So… how about winning a prize? To celebrate the successful launch of my Irish at Heart collection, what better day is there than St. Patrick’s Day for a giveway? I am running a sweepstake on both, my Instagram account (@monemade) and my designer page on Facebook, so should you be active there, check it out. Lovely stuff to win…

It took me a bit longer than planned, but today I finally rereleased a pattern previously published in UK magazine Knit Now: Happy Hearts!

And thinking about it - what better day would there have been for a pattern like this? Happy Hearts on Valentine's Day. :)

The cosy socks with a cute all over heart pattern in stranded knitting come in two sizes, women's M and L. They are knitted cuff down with heel flap and gusset; the gusset decreases are made in pattern on the sole.

I do admit, when it comes to knitting I am usually more drawn to the smaller stuff like socks, mittens are shawl, but once in a while I have an idea for a garment I just can't resist. Like with this beauty, included in the newest issue of Interweave Knits.

The cardi, designed as an oversized cardi with dropped shoulders for a female model, very obvious is a true unisex pattern. :) It is knitted in fishermen's rib (a brioche stitch) combined with garter stitch squares which forms an allover geometric pattern with interesting horizontal and vertical lines. The garter stitch element is picked up again for all edgings, the shawl collar and the fold up cuffs.

So today is the day, and I added the - for now - last pattern to my (No longer virtual) Friends pattern colleciton: Interwoven. This one is for Melissa, who is one of the first people I ‘met’ when I joined Ravelry, and while many groups we mingled in are no longer active, our friendship has grown stronger over the years and it was the most wonderful moment when we first met in person at Indie Untangled.

I chose this textures stitch pattern which resembles interwoven stripes as a symbol of how close we’ve become even though there are thousands of miles between us. The picture though, doesn't show the socks Melissa received. She got a pair in a beautiful gradient yarn, but the socks were a bit too large for anyone around to model them. So I've knitted a second pair - and as many of you know I am so not a fan of knitting a pattern again and again  -  and well, yes, the photoshoot on a windy day at the beach was quite something too... Sand everywhere, even in my ears, but the picture was worth it, don't you think? Shows the texture really well and I am so happy Melissa's pattern is out in the world now too.

I can't help it but got to share how happy the current issue of The Knitter magazine, issue 120, made me when it arrived in today's mail. Why, you ask? Now...

... the news section 'The Knitter loves...' includes a nice feature about my very own Irish at Heart collection. Squee! I feel so honoured. :)

The Knitter is available from www.theyarnloop.com and you can purchase the Irish at Heart collection or indvidual patterns from my Ravelry store, here.

My knitting mojo is still somewhere in hiding (definitely fed up from all the awful weather), but at least I got my act together to work a bit on all the pattern I plan to re-release this year. These once are the Valar Socks, published first in Knitscene Spring 2015.

The socks are knit from the cuff down, and their main feature is a lace pattern reminiscent of blossoms. Knit in a happy yellow - what better way is there to chase away the weather blues?

Let's kick off the new year as the old one ended - with a new sock pattern: Picnic.

Picnic is also an addition to my (No longer virtual) Friends collection and the pattern came to life because of my visit to the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY, in 2016. Not only was it a fantastic show, but it also gave me the opportunity to meet with long-time Ravelry friends for the first time. Meeting point: Around noon in the picnic area. 

How about a new sock pattern before the year is over? Acorns is another addition to my (No longer virtual) Friends collection, these ones designed for Stacy who I had the pleasure to meet last year in Rhinebeck.

When travelling to that small town in New York, our route led us through long stretches of autumn forest. Maples, birches, oaks and several other kinds of trees formed the most beautiful scenery.  No wonder, I picked a stitch pattern that reminded me of acorns for Stacy’s socks.

Let's chat some more about the socks it all began with, shall we? As I told you when I introduced the Irish at Heart collection the other day, it all started with self-striping sock yarn in - at least for me - Irish colours. Now, as much as I love self-striping yarn when it's in the skein, I find it kind of boring to knit plain Vanilla socks, so most often I try to manipulate the sripes somehow. In this case, working a slipped stitch here and there, the stripes turned into hearts and the idea for Irish at Heart was born.

In the picture above you can see at the toe the plain stripes the yarn forms without any manipulation. To turn it into a pattern like the all-over heart pattern, the yarn needs to have a certain stripe squence and in addition the width of the sock needs to be chosen according to the yarn.

In my sample the yardage of the  small stripes is sufficient for two rounds plain Stockinette on socks with 64 stititches, which I was able to turn into three rounds in slipped stitches on socks with 60 sts. Of course it needs a bit of calculation, trial and error and you shouldn't be too persnickety about always working full rounds (I did start the new heart stripe whenever the yarn changed), but it is a fun experiment to try.

No matter where you are in Ireland you’ll come across one of the island’s most popular symbols: the Shamrock. According to legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain about the Trinity when he was trying to convert the Irish to Christianity. Nowadays many companies use it as part of their emblem and you find it on many Irish souvenirs. It is not a symbol for luck as such– as is a four leaf clover – but wearing a shamrock on St Patrick’s Day is believed to bring good luck and blessings!

The socks are knitted cuff down with heel flap and gusset. They feature an all-over textured pattern in which knit and purl stitches form shamrocks. This pattern looks best in a solid or semi-solid yarn.

When you visit Dingle, a town on the Dingle peninsula in county Kerry,  you will definitely hear about the town’s famous ‘inhabitant’: Fungie, also known as the Dingle Dolphin. Fungie is a bottle nose dolphin who, according to the locals, was first seen in Dingle’s harbour in 1983 and who has stayed in the Dingle Bay ever since. There are boat tours to watch Fungie and the townspeople even built a statue in his honor.

The socks are knitted cuff down with a heel flap and gusset. On the leg, there is a dophin motif in stranded knitting and to accommodate the tighter fit of stranded knitting there are stitches increased before that section, which get decreased again when the section is finished. The remaining sock is knitted in a textured pattern, reminiscent of waves.

I’ve visited Ireland several times and I’ve learnt that the prejudice that it always rains in Ireland is not true – but it does indeed rain a lot. There is a reason why the Irish use so many words to describe the different types of rain: it spits, drizzles, teems, buckets down and there are a lot more expressions. Even on the sunniest of days the rain is only ‘hiding’ and never far away – just like in these socks.

The socks are knitted toe up. They feature a raindrop pattern in illusion knitting technique: the socks are knitted in stripes, with one colour at the time, and the position of the knit and purl stitches and the shadows the raised stitches cast, create a pattern. So depending on the angle you look at the sock, sometimes the raindrops are visible and sometimes they are not.  If you've never tried illusion kintting, it really is worth it. It's an interesting technique, easy to learn and with a stunning result.

I enjoy cheerful and lively traditional Irish music and it is always a treat to watch Irish dancers in their colourful costumes dancing jigs and reels.This sock pattern was inspired by the so-called ‘Poodle Socks’ worn by Irish dancers.

The socks are knitted cuff down with a short-row heel. They are worked with a ribbed section around the foot, just as traditional dancing socks. The toe is worked as a spiral toe. The lace pattern worked on the leg is embellished with beads (optional, placed with a crochet hook while knitting).

In almost any small town in Ireland you still find independent shops. There are small hardware stores where you can buy the exact number of nails or screws you need and are not obliged to buy the whole bulk pack. In Germany, most independent small town businesses are long gone and were replaced by chain stores, so visiting this kind of shop in Ireland feels like a journey into childhood.

The socks feature a textured pattern with small stripes with different motifs, just as the 'bits and pieces' you can buy at O'Leary's. They are knitted cuff down with heel flap and gusset. The textured pattern is continued onto the gusset; the heel flap is worked  with slipped stitches.