As the weather gets colder, I find myself pulling out my unfinished wool projects and rummaging in my stash to start something new.  I've wanted a sweater made of this beautiful Silk Garden colorway for a long time - I started a top-down raglan a long time ago, ripped it out (it looked pretty, but really - way too warm, and the horizontal stripes were not a good look for me), and the yarn has been waiting for inspiration to strike ever since.

I had a flash, finally, of what I want this yarn to become - and I'm enjoying the process of creating this sweater so much.  The colors change in the light, brighten and get richer; knitting in the evenings at home, the subtle, deep tones are soothing.  I love it.  If it continues to go as planned, I hope to sell the pattern here on my blog.  I'd like to finish this in plenty of time to wear up home for Christmas - cosy, cheerful, warm.  In between the gifts I'm working on, this project is soothing me.

It makes me smile to log in to Ravelry and see this on the main patterns page:

Do you see it?  Right there in the middle?  "Jess' Selection?"  It's my Capelet pattern!  I was so flattered that Jess picked it as her featured pattern, and it has been so fun watch the number of queues and grow in Ravelry, and check out the new projects that are popping up.  Thank you, Jess! 

Twisted Knitter Janet wrote such a sweet post last week mentioning the featured pattern and showcasing two of the four (four!!) capelets she has knit.  I met Janet waaaaay back in 2005 when she was visiting L.A. and came to Knit Cafe... and started the first of those capelets!  We've been blogfriends (I call you all my "imaginary friends," by the way) for years now - time flies. 

For anyone who has found my website through Ravelry and this capelet pattern - hi!  Thank you for your interest, and please email me (there's a link on the sidebar) if you have any questions!  I'll be happy to help. 

I'm remembering now - I need to take pictures of my own personal capelet!  It's on my list of "unblogged" projects I've neglected to post.  Too bad I've thrown away all my crap unblogged knits... I regret it now that some time has passed and I could have a little fun with them.

I'm so excited to finally share my designs from Kat Coyle's adorable book, Boho Baby Knits.  Kat asked me to design five patterns for the book, and I had such a fun time working with her.  Kat is a good friend and a truly talented artist, and I really value all the feedback and encouragement she gave me.  I am a sappy person, and could gush and gush (I have already), but I know that it embarrasses Kat and I have some seriously cute baby pictures to post!

Sigh. That little girl makes me so happy. That's the Honky-Tonk Jacket, and it's a fun little cardigan with toggle buttons and fringe, knit out of Berroco Suede. In the book, it is also modeled by a boy, and I love that it's a nice unisex knit.

The Roadie Moccasins, also in Berroco Suede. Originally, I had thought of these with the cuffs rolled down, but when I brought the finished booties over to Kat's, the cuffs had unrolled in my bag. I remember we set the booties up on her kitchen counter and both said, "wait, I like them UP!"

The cuteness level of the kids modeling the knits in the book is very, very high. I mean, through the roof! The drummer is wearing the Garage Band Tee, knit at a very fine, soft gauge (size 2 needles) out of Brown Sheep Cotton Fine. I hadn't worked with this yarn before, and the finished fabric is very nice and soft - and I just love the colors. 

Oh, the sweetness. The Modernist Stripe Sleep Sacque - this was so fun to knit up! It is knit mostly in the round, so it goes very quickly, even though the body is pretty long. And I just love the look of a baby in bunting. So cozy. You can even see, in the picture above, a hint of my final design:

The Mobile Menagerie. I knew, when Kat and I first discussed this pattern, that it would be the most challenging design, and I was right! For that reason, I'm so proud of it. I think that the result was worth the struggles, and I'm pleased not only with the little stuffed hanging creatures (they're detachable, so that little ones can play with them!), but also of the construction - the mobile hangs and moves well from the crocheted ties, and the ties don't pull on the knitted cover for the hoop, so the mobile will look good for a long time.  It felt great when I brought it over to Kat's house - her son (and my little buddy) Felix zoned in on the bee sticking out of the bag as soon as I stepped in the door, and wanted to pull out play with the mobile creatures.  And I didn't even bribe him or beg or anything! 

The other designers in the book are Kat Coyle (of course!), Julia Trice, Marnie Maclean, Edna Hart, and Beth Abaravich.  They all created such wonderful projects, and I am flattered to be in their company.  Also - many thanks to Mandy, who was the tech editor for Boho Baby.  Her comments and changes in the flow of some of the pattern instructions were eye-opening - saying the same things, just in a different way - and I learned a lot. 

It really is a beautiful book.  Congratulations, Kat! 

I had a birthday (my 29th), I got a new iMac, I got a beautiful advance copy of Kat's beautiful book Boho Baby (yay! more on that later), but for tonight - a quick, fun post: the pattern for the Tidepool Socks is over on the left... click on over to download the free PDF!

It's sort of a choose-your-own adventure sock pattern. Two sizes, two lengths, two cuff choices.  The stitch pattern is easy enough to make these perfect for carry-around knitting.

A note about yarn amounts:  I had several emails and comments from those of you who were excited that the anklets were knit using only one hank of Koigu.  The ankle socks shown definitely were knit with only one ball, but they were knit in the smaller size, with the ribbed cuff, and I only had about 10 yards left.  I think that's enough leeway for slight gauge irregularities, but the larger size or a picot cuff would definitely need a little bit more than one hank.  Contrasting heels and toes would probably do the trick (especially if you also used the contrast color on the inside of the picot hem).  The Fleece Artist Sea Wool socks were knit in the larger size, and I have about 100 yards left over.

If you have questions, please email me (there's a link on the left). Hope you enjoy them!

I finished the cosy little Tidepool anklets - they practically flew off the needles. They are officially my new favorite slipper socks.

One skein of Koigu, a few days' knitting, and that's it - easy peasy anklets.  I think they're so cute!  I'm very happy with how nice the stitch pattern looks in variegated yarn.  When I wear them, I want to plié.  

Pattern (for both Tidepool versions) coming here soon!