Wentletrap

My love of seashells started when I was a small child. I would collect them in my pockets on trips we took to the beach in Maine. Even in the cold days of winter my family would walk on the beach to enjoy the fresh sea air. 

 

Wentletraps are a family of small high spired mollusks. Their shells are one of my favorites – delicate and complex looking with their spiraling forms. The spiraling pattern of the Wentletrap Sock is reflective of the beauty of these exquisite sea creatures.

  I really enjoyed designing and knitting these socks.   The lace pattern is very easy to remember and makes Wentletrap a perfect project to take to the beach or pool this summer.  I strive to make my patterns easy to follow and as uncomplicated as possible while still being interesting to knit.  I hope that you will enjoy knitting them as much as I have.

Wentletrap specially priced at $4.50 until this Saturday, July 20.

My test knitters did a fabulous job.  Thank you so much Jan, Lyz, Bhama,  Lydia, Tamsyn, Jenna, Margi and Ann! 

Nikomedes

I'm so excited to announce the release of my new sock pattern, Nikomedes.  I really enjoyed designing these pretty socks and hope that knitters will adore knitting them as much as my test knitters and I did!

I used Shalimar Zoe Sock in Driftwood for the design.  The color and yarn really show off the columns of lace cascading down the leg and instep and on the heel flap. 

 

 

Beth used Zoe Sock in Silver Sage for her's. 

 

Shannon used Three Irish Girls Springvale Sock in Driftwood.  It's so much fun to see my patterns come to life!

 

 

The three of us got together for lunch and a photo shoot last week.  I had visions of us going out into the garden and maybe sitting on a bench for the pictures.  The rustic background of a winter garden would have been the perfect backdrop.  It wound up being only 20 degrees outside, with a wind chill of what felt like -100.  We opted to stay inside, have hot cocoa and take pictures by the fire.  We stayed warm and had a blast!  There was a lot more giggling going on than actual picture taking. 

 

 

I think we are all hoping that Punxsutawney Phill is going to tell us that spring is just around the corner.  With that in mind, Ive created a coupon for my Ravely pattern shop.  Use coupon code: Groundhog for 15% off of any of my patterns from now until February 7.  You can click on the link above, or by copying and pasting this address into your browser: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/lara-smoots-ravelry-store

 



Is that snow on your garden gnome, or did he get into the cupcakes?

It's my favorite day of the year. It snowed last night and I woke while it was still dark. Andy brought me a cup of coffee in bed and Roper hung out with me while I relaxed into the morning. I snuck outside while still in my pajama's to take a few pictures. The sun was just starting to come up and the sky was a beautiful whitish blue. The only sound was the ice cracking on the trees as the breeze blew through them.

After living in Maine for so many years, I stopped enjoying snow. The last winter I lived there we had 99" of snow accumulation over the winter. There was so much snow and it was so incredibly heavy that the roof of the barn needed to be shoveled. By the end of the winter I could stand on the huge snowbank next to the barn to reach up and shovel more snow off. The first winter that I lived in Virginia was like being on vacation! It didn't snow at all and I don't remember it being colder than mid 40's. Since then, I've found that it does snow here on occasion, but it's never very much. It melts within a few days and looks pretty while it's here. There never seems to be that gray sludge on top of the snow from the street that happens further north. It's just pretty and pristine and reminds me of a frosted cake.

The Nikomedes pattern is nearly finished.  Im putting the final touches on it now.  Shannon and Beth have been really wonderful test knitters. The pattern should be ready to be released by the end of next week.  I've really enjoyed writing and designing this pattern   It's fun knit with a very easy to remember stitch pattern.  The lace  continues down the heel which is perfect for showing off with clogs!

Nikomedes shown in Shalimar Yarns Zoe Sock Driftwood

Here is a little teaser for Mirrored Step, which will be coming out at the end of February.  It's a great pattern for semi-solid as well as variegated yarns.  Knitted cuff down and will come in three sizes.  The Mirrored Step stitch pattern really helps to break up any pooling and will work well with a variety of yarns.

Cindy and Tierney have just gotten the test pattern for this fun knit.  Im anxious to hear how they are doing and see progress pictures.  It's so exciting when I get to see my patterns come to life in the knitting of others!  

  Check out Tierney's blog if you have a chance.  She has some really fun things on there and is very talented!