The weather here in Los Angeles is so perfect! I’m definitely far away from where I could see my breath in Amsterdam’s “spring”. I enjoyed a restful morning knitting on the porch of my friends’ house on Mount Washington.

Not a bad view.

I’m working on a new design prototype with some delicious DK weight cashmere from Lotus Yarns.

I’m also sporting my very first pair of Fluevog shoes. Thanks to Ysolda for sucking me into the Fluevog vortex.

I don’t wear a lot of purple, but these beauties were too good to pass up. They even match the yarn I got from The Little Knittery yesterday, how perfect is that?

The yarn is Noro Shiraito, an incredibly soft and fluffy cashmere, angora, wool blend.

I’m headed to San Francisco in a couple days to visit A Verb for Keeping Warm, but when I get back I’ll have another Top-Down Shawl Workshop Tuesday in L.A. which still has a few spots left. The Little Knittery is a very cute shop and I’ll have my suitcase of samples to show off and the newest Book Three to sign as well.

I’ll leave you with a few choice photos of my new feline friend named Shopping Cart or Winkelwagen for you Dutch folks.

Shopping Cart makes me want to knit a sweater to match him.

I’m in California on my spring break during the next two weeks. I just arrived into L.A. last night and happened to sit right next to a knitter while waiting for the plane in Amsterdam. There really must be some magical energetic field that draws knitters together. She was working on a cute baby sweater after visiting the Netherlands from Iowa with her husband. I got a lot of knitting done during the 8-hour plane ride.

I made my California trip a bit longer which means I’m visiting San Francisco for the first time! I’ll be at A Verb for Keeping Warm this Friday, 12-2pm and Saturday, 2:30-3:30pm signing books and I’ll also have a bunch of knit samples with me. Please come say hello if you are in the area! The shop’s website is here.

And here are some of the many samples I’m bringing…

I also updated my events page here, which includes information on another Icelandic knitting adventure this fall.

I’ll be at The Little Knittery in L.A. Tuesday, May 1st teaching my Top Down Shawl Workshop from 4-7pm and signing books from 7-9pm. I’m bringing lots of samples so you can come see all the new designs in person!

You can find all the workshop information here.

I’m also looking forward to another teaching trip to Iceland this July! All the details are . There are some spaces still available if you’ve always dreamed of visiting Iceland. It’s my favorite place in the world. I’ll be joined by Cirilia Rose and we’ll be doing a couple photoshoots for upcoming collections/books. She made a nice post about our inspiration for a collaborative book. The planning and beginning stages of design is always one of my favorite parts. I love dreaming of new shapes and textures and picking the color combinations!

I met Carol Feller aka Stolen Stitches for the first time this summer at Knit Nation in London. I got to talk to her a bit about her new book Contemporary Irish Knits. Then, I impatiently waited for the book to release while I admired the photos that were gradually added to Ravelry at the end of the summer.

In general, the book is very spirited and is stuffed with beautiful photographs of all the gorgeous cabled designs. The book contains some enjoyable Irish knitting history, but what I love most about the book are the features on mills and hand-dyers. Information and stories about these mills and hand-dyers (including Hedgehog Fibres, one of my all-time favorites!) divide the book into sections where Carol features their yarn in a batch of designs.

The book’s strength is definitely in the stunning cabled garments. Carol is a master of creating seamless and intuitive sweater patterns that are made to flatter and fit the body. A couple of my favorites are Ardara

and Killybegs

Both sweaters look very classic and comfortable, but also stylish and tailored to perfection.

About two years ago I knitted the first sample for the book ‘Killybegs’. At this stage the book was really just a dream so I didn’t know where the pattern was going to end up. In the months after that was knit I started to talk with Wiley about the possibility of a project featuring Irish mills and they really loved the idea. From there I fleshed out a series of ideas to see how they worked together and Killybegs was the first completed project in the mix. -Carol Feller

There are also adorable children’s sweaters like Ballinagree

and Rossberg.

I absolutely love the bright pop of color for that little cardigan. Speaking of color, I am crazy about this golden colorway called Autumn from Cushendale Woollen Mills. The blanket/shawl shown below in that color is called Dangan.

I saved my absolute most favorite design for last. It’s the Straboy hooded pullover.

I would have bought the whole book just to have that one beautiful perfect pattern. That textured hood combined with the plump cables make my heart go pitter patter. I’m already furiously contemplating which yarn/color to choose to make one for myself. Plus, the pattern just so happens to be sized for men, which is perfect for me! However, I have been known to modify many women’s sweaters to fit manly figure, but Straboy saves me from making any of those changes.

I asked Carol to give me some behind the scenes info. about the new book so enjoy these words from the designer herself!

Up to this point I’ve primarily worked as a self-published designer with some patterns also in magazines. However I really enjoyed the challenge of pulling a bigger project together. I ended up doing most of the larger garments first of all as I knew they’d take the most time and didn’t want to have to rush. The smaller children’s items and accessories where done after the big ones were done.

The project ended up being quite a family affair. The models in the book are cousins (3 cousins), 3 of my sons, my niece, my sister, father, friend’s husband and me! Now I wonder if your readers can spot who is who in the book! It does make it tons of fun for my family to look through the book, a real family album. I was delighted for my husband (Joseph Feller) to be able to do the photography here in Ireland. This meant that we could take full advantage of our travelling to get the perfect photos. When we went to Donegal last summer as a family to visit the mill we made pit stops along the way to photograph the scenery. This in fact is where the photo of the goats in front of the red door came from, it is fact not staged! The photos of Ardara in front of the waterfall were all done with our four boys sitting in the car behind Joe while photographing. You really never know what is going on at the other side of the camera…. -Carol Feller

Carol is generously donating a copy of Contemporary Irish Knits. Leave a comment for a chance to receive the book and I’ll randomly select a winner. You can also purchase the book here.

Photos © Joseph Feller

This evening Ysolda and I declared that it’s knit whatever you want night. I’ve been knitting all summer on designs for Westknits Book Three and I’m already finishing a batch of other individual designs in addition to working on a whole new collection. Phew! Knitting is always fun for me, but it’s nice to give myself something to knit without a deadline or figuring out a new design.

So, I cast on Gudrun Johnston’s Vaila pullover with some delicious 100% cashmere in a steel grayish blue colorway. It’s going to be heavenly. I only had to do a tiny bit of math to modify the flared shaping into a more straight body to accommodate my lack of lady-like curves. I’ve had my eye on this pattern since it came out and I’m so happy to finally have the perfect yarn and excuse to knit it. My excuse? Because I want to. Not because I don’t have other garments on the needles (I have 7), but because it makes me happy.

I hope you grab a project or cast on a new one tonight that makes you just as happy to be a knitter.

I recently got the chance to look at Anna Dalvi’s (Knit & Knag Designs) new book, Shaping Shawls. The new books contains 10 lace shawls utilizing different shaping techniques. Now, I’m not a huge lace knitter myself, but I did just cast off a new lace scarf and I enjoy my increases and decreases a lot so I find this new book to be quite intriguing.

The jewel-toned semi-solid colors in the shawls are a delight to see. What strikes me most about the book is the playfulness and variation within the different shapes. There are rectangles, squares and several designs that play with the basic triangular shape using different shaping techniques, which is something that I also love to play with.

The patterns contain super clear charts and schematics so you get a clear visual of the lace designs and shape.

In addition to several new designs, the book also contains tips on designing your own shawls. I find shawl design to be very playful and addictive especially when experimenting with different shapes. The possibilities are endless and designing or knitting a shawl can be much less intimidating than making a sweater because the size doesn’t have to be exact. That’s one of my favorite things about shawls, gauge isn’t always crucial. If you don’t need the FO to be an exact size, choose a yarn and gauge that you like. Let the yarn speak to you and create a fabric that suits your taste.

I got the chance to ask Anna some questions and here they are…

Could you share a bit about how you conceptualize new designs? Do you start with a yarn, stitch pattern or shape?

I often start with a yarn and ponder what that yarn tells me it wants to be. Sometimes it’s really obvious to me, and sometimes it takes more mulling over. The theme and the shape are usually the first things that are determined, and the stitch pattern(s) come last for me. I think of the shaping as the part that determines the canvas space I have to play with for the shawl design. I don’t think I have ever started a shawl design with a nifty stitch-pattern and determined the shawl shape that way.

I do, however, sometimes find the theme and the shape before I find the perfect yarn. And then the hunt for the yarn ensues. That’s a lot of fun if you are at a yarn festival, or somewhere with a lot of choice in yarn, but it’s a little harder sitting at home, browsing on the computer. I have been lucky to have worked with a number of different indie dyers, and several of them have created perfect colours for me.

I do both swatch and sketch, but the sketching always comes before the swatching. Most of my sketching relates to the construction of the shawls – the shape, the direction of knitting, where to do the increases and decreases, etc. – so it’s really early in the process.

Do you have a favorite shawl or shawl shape that you find yourself wearing the most?

I tend to gravitate towards shawls that are some type of general triangles – I like the versatility in terms of wearing them. They get worn over dresses, bunched up as scarves, worn draped sideways over my shoulder, etc.

Do you have some behind the scenes shawl-love stories or tips?

I think that a lot of people are intimidated by lace, and lace shawls. The important thing to remember is that lace is really no more difficult than any other type of knitting, provided you take it one stitch at a time. There are knits and purls, some increases and decreases, and perhaps occasionally some special stitches, but nothing is really particularly difficult. And really, if something goes wrong, what’s the worst that could happen? It’s only knitting, and as long as you have fun doing it, that’s all that matters.
Shawls are very forgiving, in that the gauge and finished size is not critical. If you knit a sweater, you may spend weeks, months, what have you, working on a project that might not fit. But a shawl will always fit. Even if it’s a tad larger or smaller than expected, it’s still a shawl.
So my best advice is to enjoy the process and not be afraid to try something new.

How many shawls do you have? Do you wear all the samples and rotate them with your wardrobe?

I’m not sure. 60 or so, perhaps. All different designs. I don’t wear all of my samples regularly, but I do have a dozen or so that get a lot of use. Some of the larger shawls I wear for more formal occasions, or at shows and knitting events, simply because they are so eye-catching, but while I love them dearly, they are not always very practical when dressing kids in hockey equipment or while grocery shopping. So for the more everyday use, I tend to stick with the smaller shawls or scarves.

How do you store them?

The shawls that are not in the regular rotation are stored in plastic tubs in my closet. Always within reach.

Where did you knit them? Do you have a favorite knitting spot?

I knit everywhere and anywhere. I knit mostly at home or at the cottage, but also out and about, in the car (not while I’m driving though – there has to be a limit), and during hockey season I knit for hours and hours at the arenas while the kids have their games and practices. My favourite places though must be either by the fireplace, or by the lake. Both are so peaceful, and it’s lovely to knit and just take in the surroundings.

I’m glad I could share the shawl love and I think the book published by Cooperative Press is definitely worth taking a look at!

You can purchase the book through Ravelry here!

Photos copyright Kristen Caldwell Photography

I use the garter tab cast on for most of my top down shawl designs like Daybreak, Herbivore, Akimbo, Pogona, and the 2011 Mystery Shawl: Earth & Sky.

The stitch counts in the photo tutorial below represent the exact same instructions for the beginnings of Transatlantic, Pogona, and Earth & Sky. You can use the same tutorial for my other shawl designs, but the cast on number or garter stitch rectangle length may be slightly different.

1. Cast on 3 stitches. My default cast on is the long tail method, but just about any cast on will be fine here.

2. Knit 6 rows. At the end of last row, do not turn to work other side. Sometimes this little rectangle can look wonky, especially when worked with fine yarn. Give it a little tug and make sure it is not twisted for the next step.

3. Rotate piece 90 degrees clockwise so that you are looking at the long side of the garter stitch rectangle. Pick up 3 stitches (1 in each purl bump from the garter ridges).

4. Knit into those 3 picked up stitches. The picked up stitches can be picked up all at once as illustrated in the photo above or you can pick up and knit those 3 stitches one at a time.

5. Rotate piece again clockwise so you can pick up 3 stitches along the cast on edge. This can be the trickiest place to pick up stitches. Just locate 3 strands of yarn along that cast on edge to pick up.

6. Knit into those 3 picked up stitches. You now have 9 stitches scrunched up in a little blob.

This photo shows those 9 stitches spread out a bit more.

You are now ready to begin the first rows of the shawl.

I thought I’d hop back on the blog to introduce a new summer pattern and share some upcoming news.

Spectra is a lightweight scarf knit with two skeins of fingering weight yarn. I chose the iridescent and drapey Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light combined with Noro Silk Garden Sock. Short row shaping creates the dramatically curved edge that coils and playfully drapes.

Basic intarsia technique entwines the two strands of yarn, creating seamless wedges that resemble a rainbow or color wheel.

I couldn’t stop knitting this scarf because the constantly changing Noro yarn and those short row wedges are so addicting. It’s totally potato chip knitting. I always had to make one more wedge.

You can purchase Spectra for $6.00 through Paypal

I can’t wait to see all the different color variations pop up on Ravelry. It’s sure to make a perfect drapey summer scarf for those air-conditioned rooms and it will be a fun transitional accessory into the fall months.

Spectra was inspired by one of the swatches I made for my Knitscene Summer 2011 garter stitch article. I played with short rows, intarsia, striping, and increases/decreases all in one little swatch. I simplified it a bit for Spectra, but I love this little sampler platter of a swatch.

Originally, Spectra was planned to be part of Westknits Book Three, but I went for a more natural and woolly color palette instead. If you’re a yarn shop owner going to TNNA this month, there will be a poster of all my new Book Three designs in the Deep South Fibers booth. Donna of DSF will be taking pre-orders for the book, due to be in shops by October!

I also wanted to share news about my upcoming knitting adventure to Iceland July 25-30! Knitting Iceland hosts several knitting tours each year and I’ll be the guest tutor for Knit in the West with West where we’ll be traveling to the West fjords!

You can read all about the tour in the info pack here.

I’ll be teaching my top-down shawl workshop where I share all my favorite tips and tricks. We’ll focus a lot on construction and little techniques to make your knitting look as polished as possible.

I will also be sharing an informal lecture/discussion about my design process and love for fiber and color. Most of the week will be filled with social knitting time and adventure-seeking in Reykjavik, little remote towns, and Iceland’s gorgeous landscape. There are still spots available!

Summer is here and I can’t wait to start traveling! I’ll be heading back home in August and I want to plan some trunk show/teaching tours. I’ll keep you all updated on where those travels bring me.

The fall chill is certainly in the air and despite the epic amount of wooly accessories that litter my apartment I continue to knit more and more.

Every so often a pattern comes along that I absolutely must knit. Recently, that pattern happened to be Cirilia’s beautiful new cardigan, Aidez.

I love the cables she used and it’s knitting up super fast with Berroco Peruvia Quick. I promptly got my skeins in the Bing Cherry colorway shipped to Amsterdam and proceed to whip up the back with just over 2 skeins. I’m almost done with the left front. Those wishbone cable are very fun to make. Once I get started on a section it becomes easy knitting that I can take with me anywhere. The instant gratification is also a nice breather between several design projects I’m working on. If I keep up with this pace, I’ll have it completed in time for Christmas!

I spent several days this week working with some of the colors from my new Brooklyn Tweed stash. SHELTER has proven to be an absolute delight. The colors are radiant and I love how the rustic heathered texture shines through with simple stitch patterns.

I chose to cast on for a new shawl/scarf design that will be available later this Fall.

I clearly wasn’t satisfied enough with SHELTER though because I had to start a hat too. I swatched and cast on yesterday and couldn’t put it down, so now I have new hat! The pattern is slated for Westknits Book Two, which is just a couple short weeks away from going into production (layout, editing, etc…). Here’s a peak…

I recently acquired some yarn that will soon be worked into new projects as well. I don’t know, maybe you’ve heard of it. Does Wollmeise ring a bell? I can’t wait to knit with it and I already have a couple Christmas knitting gift ideas for a couple of them.

I invite you to a colorful little Wollmeise photo parade…

Colorway info can be found on my Ravelry stash page. I know I’m in for a real treat with these skeins. So far, my favorite is Spice Market.

Have you ever worked with Wollmeise? Do you have a favorite colorway?

Edit: It just occurred to me that this post was titled “on my needles” and the two SHELTER accessories are already off my needles. I guess that attests to my obsession with Jared’s dreamy new yarn. Maybe I should actually show you the 12 or so projects that are actually ON my needles sometime. That means I’d have to clean my room though, so perhaps another time.

I just got back from my first visit to London and I have to say it was incredible!

I only made a weekend trip, but still saw many areas of the city thanks to my friend/tour guide Sam.

Of course we managed to visit a couple yarn shops, one of them being Loop in Islington, London.

They have a fantastic selection within their beautiful shop and it’s always nice when you hear, “There’s a whole other floor of yarn upstairs.”

I found some yarns that I’ve never seen in person before like Old Maiden Aunt and Shilasdair Yarns. I walked out of Loop with a lot of new yarn to play and design with.

They also had many beautiful samples knit. Below you’ll see Ysolda’s charming Damson shawl and Kirsten Kapur’s Andrea’s Shawl.

Sam and I also visited a button shop on my last day called The Button Lady in Hampstead. If you’re in the London area, I would definitely recommend checking it out. They have tons and tons of vintage buttons. I have a few upcoming designs that require buttons, so I think I found the perfect ones and plenty of extras to inspire future projects.

A common theme in London was tea and cake, something I could easily get used to having every day. The desserts alone are worth the short travel from Amsterdam.

I am very much looking forward to visiting London again, which won’t be long as I’m planning to spend my Christmas there this year!

I got a lot of knitting done during my break from school last week. The most significant progress was finishing a sweater!

It’s the Carter Cardigan by Laura Chau. I just have to sew on buttons and take some finished photos. I used Rowan Lima yarn, which is incredibly soft and extremely warm, a perfect layer for this fall and winter.

While finishing the sweater last week, I started a new shawl/scarf design as well using a few colors of SHELTER by Brooklyn Tweed.

I love Jared’s new yarn, the texture and colors. It even smells amazing!

I’m knitting a lot right now with some of my favorite yarns including Malabrigo Twist, Madelinetosh Pashmina, SHELTER, Quince & Co, and The Sanguine Gryphon. Are you working with your favorites this time of year?