UXBRIDGE SHAWL
This sweet shawlette is perfect for that special skein of sock yarn you’ve been holding onto. The rick-rack lace pattern looks great on both sides, and doesn’t compete with variegated yarns. The fact that it’s cashmere is just the icing on the cake!

SIZE
One; 56” / 142cm from tip to tip, 20” / 51cm deep at center

MATERIALS
Yarn
1 skein Tanis Fiber Arts Purple Label (400 yds / 385m per 4 oz/115g skein; 70% merino wool, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon) in ‘autumn sun’ colourway

Needles and Notions
US 6 / 4mm circular needles, 32” / 80cm or longer
2 stitch markers
tapestry needle

MORE INFO
The Ravelry page is here.

3 page PDF pattern includes both charted and row-by-row directions. Payment through Paypal, download through Ravelry (no accounts required).

After I sent the original off to Tanis, I knit another one for myself out of Dream in Color Starry – so fun with the sparkles, and just one skein is plenty!

Geary Avenue is a quick to knit earband that uses just a little bit of yarn. An interesting cable pattern makes it fun to knit, as well as super cozy and warm. Technical Editing by Alexandra Virgiel.

SIZE
One; 3.75” / 9.5cm at widest point, 19” / 48.5cm long. Band will stretch with wear, so don’t make it too big! However, length can be adjusted if necessary.

GAUGE
20 sts and 28 rows = 4” / 10cm square in Stockinette Stitch

MATERIALS
Worsted or aran weight yarn, 90 yds / 82m.
Shown in Dream in Color Classy (100% superwash merino wool; 250 yds / 229m per 4 oz / 115g skein), color: Purple Rain, less than 1/2 skein.

US 7 / 4.5mm straight or circular needles
cable needle
tapestry needle
one button, approximately 3/4” / 19mm

MORE INFO
The Ravelry page is here.

3-page PDF pattern includes photos, abbreviations, chart and row-by-directions. Measurements given in imperial and metric systems. Available through Ravelry, payment through Paypal (no accounts required).

$3.50 CAD

Pattern: Escargot from knitty
Yarn: Jill Draper Makes Stuff Hudson in Steel, leftover Malabrigo Rios and Tanis Fiber Arts fingering weight

I found the brim a bit roll-y and insubstantial as written, so I picked up stitches on the inside with a smaller needle and knit a bit of a brim lining. It’s super cozy, and while I normally have a really hard time actually wearing hats I think this one will get a lot of use.

I was exhibiting some of my pieces in Ysolda’s booth that year, among them the Carter Cardigan. Stephen tried on my original, waist shaping and all, and of course looked smashing (as he always does). Photographic evidence!

Stephen knit up another for himself (proooobably omitting the waist shaping) and he’s awesome enough to let me share some of his photos with you. Here’s his Ravelry project page.

Thanks Stephen!

Thick, squishy warm socks out of Dream in Color Classy, in Purple Rain.

With the leftovers from the socks, I whipped up an earband this week – I just LOVE those cables, and this should hold me over until I make a new hat! Not that it’s actually been cold out or anything, it’s supposed to go up to 6C tomorrow.

Patterns for both the socks and earband are mine, and will be published soon.

2011 seemed to be a bad year for a lot of people I know – and I had my share of ups and downs too. Focusing on the “ups” though, I got a great new apartment, a wonderful boyfriend, and I finished lots of great knits!

This one came off the needles way back in November, but I don’t think I ever blogged finished photos of it! I just love this cardigan. It’s knit out of Ultra Alpaca, and it’s a bit fuzzy after some wear but it’s sooo warm and cozy.

The pattern is my own, and will be coming out for sale soon! I have some big hopes and plans for 2012, and while lots of other people are doing the “12 sweaters in 2012″ thing, I have a bit of a challenge set for myself – to design and release 12 sweater patterns in 2012!

I’m cheating a bit – some of the sweaters have already been knit up, and are nearly ready to be released anyway. But hey, the final few steps are the hard ones – photographing, editing, general tidying up before a pattern can be sent out into the world.

I’ve decided not to do this as a pattern club or anything, since I like the idea of being able to decide what you want to purchased based on each pattern alone. The other thing I’d like to do more of this year is blog, so I’ll be writing lots of posts along the way! (I hope.)

Anyway, I hope you all had a great holiday, and thanks for supporting me in 2011 – here’s to a bright new year!