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!

Miriam

Last month Kristi told me that she had been working with her mill to improve Zoe Sock.  Since it's one of my favorite yarns, I wasn't sure how it could be better than it already was.  When she offered to send me some to knit up a sweater, of course I jumped at the chance!  I searched through Ravelrys massive data base of patterns and decided on Miriam.  It looked like a straight forward pattern and I loved the fit on the model. 

When the Zoe in Driftwood arrived I was so excited I wound it and cast on.  Miriam proved to be a quick and uncomplicated knit.  The new Zoe is so soft and lofty and worked perfectly for Miriam. 

The moment it was done blocking, I grabbed it and headed out the door.  I hijacked Andy on his lunch and we went to a local park to take some pictures. 

 

 

Ok, I am skipping in this last picture.  It was a beautiful day and the sweater fit perfectly.  What else can make a knitter so happy?  Well the fact that I have another full skein left over for matching socks doesn't hurt!  Now, just need to pick a pattern.....

PS Shalimar Yarns is giving away a skein of the new Zoe on their Shalimar Yarns Facebook page!

 

 

 

Hexipuffs

I have been  knitting crack hexipuffing all weekend.  There are 49 of them done now.  I seriously need some help because I can't seem to stop knitting them.

They are cute, fun and quick to knit.  I knew I had been saving sock and fingering yarn left overs for a reason. 

Even the bunny likes them.

Knitting!

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to take Anne Hanson's Sweater Fitness Class at the Shalimar Yarns Studio in MD.  Ive always been particular about my clothing and how it fit's.  Anne's class really helped me to get to the next level in my knitting.  When I returned home I immediately cast on for Sprossling in Breathless Hemmingway.  My goal was to have the sweater completed by TNNA so I could wear it while working in the Shalimar booth. 

Because the pattern sizes didn't match my measurements, Anne showed me how to make adjustments to ensure a proper fit by changing needle sizes in one area.  Since I prefer a lower neckline I dropped it down by two inches.  In the past Ive been hesitant to make changes to a pattern.  What if it didn't look right?  Or the fit was off?  Knitting can be ripped back, but Im one of those people who is in constant denial if something isn't going right.  I just keep knitting and ignore the problem until sleeves are miles too long or a hat is so big it could fit a giant.   I did make some mistakes on the decreasing and increasing and had to re-knit the fronts of the Sprossling.  I kept telling myself that ripping back was the right thing to do and I wouldn't be happy with they way the finished sweater looked if I kept going.  It was worth it!  I wound up with a beautiful sweater that fit's really well. 

Here is the finished Sprossling on our manniquin.  Her measurements are actually very close to mine, but she does have an annoyingly smaller waist.  She must spend more time at the gym that I do, which would be anything over five minutes!

Andy, Kristi and me in the Shalimar Yarns booth at TNNA

I also started a fun project that uses up left over sock and fingering weight yarns.  It's the Beekeepers Quilt by TinyOwlKnits.  It's really popular on Ravelry and I couldn't quite figure it out until I saw one of them in person.   Once you start the little hexipuffs you won't be able to stop.  Ive knit sixteen of them in two days! 

I can look at each hexipuff and remember what the yarn was originally used for.  The variegated pink, green, yellow and brown is from the very first skein of  Zoe Sock that I purchased.  The colorway has been discontinued - Pillow Mint.

Happy Knitting!