Frostwork

I'm so pleased to announce the release of Frostwork, my latest sock pattern.  Frostwork is knit up in Peppino from The Yarns of Rhichard Devrieze which is now being carried at The Loopy Ewe!

I had so much fun designing this sock and watching the lace pattern take shape.  It reminds me of diamond window panes from an English cottage that have been gracefully decorated in the night with Jack Frosts artwork. Use Coupon Code: JackFrost2014 for 20% off of Frostwork in my Ravelry Shop through 2/25.

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!

3 Million and Counting

Ravelry just reached its Three Million Member mark.  Three Million.  That just amazes me.  It means there are three million fiber enthusiasts that are all in one place.  People from all over the world; knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers, farmers, all banding together for camaraderie and fun.  All with one thing in common: the love of yarn and fiber.  I can honestly say that a large percentage of my kitting and fiber friends Ive met because of Ravelry.  My position at Shalimar Yarns started from a friendship formed on Ravelry.  I spend countless hours browsing patterns and chatting with friends on there.  Thank you to Jess and Casey, you guys are the best!  I wish you many more millions of members and future success!

 

Speaking of Ravlery, (I know not the best segway but it's all I have going on the Monday after Daylight Savings Time) I recently added my latest pattern: Mirrored Step to my Ravlery shop:

 

 

 

It's a fun and very easy knit which produces a lovely textured pattern.  The socks are a mirror image of one another.  The unisex design is versatile enough to work with both semi-solid and variegated yarns.  The socks above are in Sanquine Gryphon's Bugga Adonis Butterfly. 

 

This is a close up of my dear friend Tierney's Mirrored Step test knit. She used Into the Whirled Saginaw Sock in Viola.  If you have a chance, check out Tierneys Blog.  I just noticed that she posted a new cookie recipe on there.  I know what I will be making tomorrow!

 

 

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.