Camberwell

Butterflies have been a source of enjoyment for me since I was a child.  I loved to see them flying around my Grandmothers rock garden in the summer time.  Many species of butterflies migrate to warmer climates in the fall.  Their flight path is incredibly long and I find it amazing that a creature so small can travel so far.  Last fall when Andy and I were fishing we got to experience seeing Monarch Butterflies on their path to Mexico. It was incredible to see the huge number of them all flying in the same direction. I've kept an eye out this fall, but so far haven't spotted any.

When I started the design for the Camberwell Collection, my inspiration was the Camberwell Beauty.

I love the brown, blue and golden color of it's wings and almost chevron like edging. The contrast between the colors is so striking.

I think I've come pretty close with the design and colors.  The yarn is Shalimar Breathless in Butterscotch, Neptune and Bark.  The cowl is long enough so that you could wrap it twice around your neck on those really chilly winter days that are right around the corner.  The mitts come in two sizes and knit up in no time.  This is a really fantastic stash busting project.  My test knitters all did stash diving to make theirs!  I have a few friends who live in colder climates who tease me about my fingerless mitts. While they may not be the ideal thing for subzero weather, they are perfect for keeping the chill out here in Virginia and work great layered over full fingered gloves on cold days.  If you work in a chilly office or live with someone who tends to be more conservative with the heat than you would like, fingerless gloves are great to wear inside as well.

The Camberwell Collection includes the cowl and mitt pattern on Ravelry for $8.50.  They can also be purchased separately in my Raverly Pattern Shop.

A HUGE thank you goes to the best group of test knitters: Beth, Margi, Tina, Sherry,  Pam, and Isabelle.  They knitted like the wind to get their projects done on time and had great feedback for me as well.  Tina blogged about the Camberwell Collection and has a pattern giveaway there.  The drawing for a copy of the Camberwell Collection is on October 11, so be sure to leave a comment on Tina's blog before then!

A couple of months ago, I had mentioned the KAL that Wendi from Indieway Yarns was hosting with my Ferry Beach and Wandering Wildflower patterns.  The KAL has wound down and it was so much fun!  I had a great time getting to know all the fun gals in the group and had a chance to knit another pair of Ferry Beach socks in Wendi's First String Sock Yarn.  My all time favorite thing from the KAL is this picture!

 

Photo by: Keith Spiro

Ferry Beach socks AT FERRY BEACH!  How cool is that?  Adrienne, aka killerb on Ravlery, and her husband Keith were on vacation and just happened to stop and take a picture of Adrienne and her socks at Ferry Beach State Park.

I won't be blogging next week because Andy and I are taking a much needed vacation.  The biggest worry is what to bring to knit on.  My current WIP is a shawl design that should be coming off the needles tonight.  I may make another Frost in Bloom.  It's a super easy to knit pattern and makes a great gift.  The holiday gift giving season is nearly here and that might put me ahead for once. 

Indieway KAL

I'm so honored that Wendi from Indiway Yarns is hosting a KAL on Ravely with two of my patterns!  It's beginning on August 9th and running until midnight on September 30.  Choose between Ferry Beach, a cuff down sock and Wandering Wildflower, an infinity cowl.  Use any of Wendi's fab yarns to participate.

 
Wendi has generously offered free shipping for yarn for this KAL using coupon code: shipfree in her Etsy Shop.  If you would like to purchase Ferry Beach or Wandering Wildflower for the KAL I have a coupon code for 15% off until August 4th.  Use coupon code: Indie in my Ravelry Pattern Shop. Wendi will be having a drawing for a prize at the end of the KAL too! 

I  hope to see you in the KAL!  It's going to be a lot of fun.  I'm enjoying getting to know everyone in Wendi's friendly group.  My long time Ravelry pal Tess is taking part in the KAL and I'm really excited that she is going to be knitting one of my patterns!

A couple of weeks ago I posted about the lovely Frost in Bloom that Wendi made using her Delicate Pastels Colorway.  It's a really beautiful colorway and would also look great as a Wandering Wildflower Cowl or Ferry Beach Socks!

On Stranger Tides

I have had so much fun designing On Stranger Tides.  Not only was it a blast to knit (I'm casting on for a second pair), but there were so many fun ideas that I had for the pattern layout.  I don't want to give anything away, but it's full of intriguing graphics and definitely ocean themed!  Ive always loved sea creatures and the mysteries of the deep.  When I was a kid and got to go to Disney World one of my favorite rides was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  Towards the end of the ride a giant squid would wrap it's tentacles around the submarine we were riding in.  That was my inspiration for the pattern logo.

 Shown in Sanguine Gryphon Bugga Satin Green Forester

The pattern design was inspired by the lacy plants and tentacled creatures that live in the tropical waters of the warm Caribbean.

 Shannon did a fantastic job test knitting and should have her socks up on Ravelry in a few days.  She's on a much needed long weekend with her hubby.  I managed to coerce her into a quick photo shoot after knitting the other day at the library. I think they look great in this lovely blue yarn too.  It's Dream in Color in the Superhero colorway.

Use coupon code: Tentacle on Ravelry for $1.00 off of On Stranger Tides.  The coupon is good through Sunday April 7.  

Ive been very honored to have my Ferry Beach pattern nominated in the Socks that Rawk group for their Q2 KAL.

Saturday update!  Ferry Beach made it to the finals for the Q2 KAL! 

Ferry Beach

I was fortunate to grow up and spend a good portion of my adult life in Southern Maine within close driving distance from several beaches.  My all time favorite is Ferry Beach.  It's small and quiet and has a wonderful family atmosphere.  As a child I spent countless days combing the beach for sand dollars, shells, sea glass and whatever else that may have washed up there.  When Andy asked me to marry him, we took a trip to Maine to visit my family.  He was curious about where I grew up and we took a drive over to Ferry Beach so I could share this wonderful place with him.  It's a very fond memory for both of us now, but not so much at the time...haha.  We wound up going a little too close to dusk which is not the best thing to do in an area next to a marsh where the state bird is also known as the mosquito!

When I started working on my new sock design, the spiraling lace pattern reminded me so much of the patterns in the sand caused by the tides and the wind and the little shells that wash up on the shore.

Shown in Madelinetosh Sock Glazed Pecan

 

Ive had so much fun designing and knitting the Ferry Beach socks.  The whole time I was having fond memories of summers in Maine spent at the beach.  

 

 

Thank you to Beth and Jody who did a fantastic job test knitting.  Jody's sock is on her project page, and you can see Beth's on the home page for Ferry Beach.

 

 

 

The pattern can be purchased in my Ravelry Pattern Shop or in my Etsy shop.