On the bus to Stitches Midwest

My LYS is sponsoring a bus trip to Stitches Midwest in Chicago on Saturday, August 27. I love to go to Stitches market! It's the biggest yarn shop under one roof for 3 days. If you can't find it here at one of the vendors booths, it probably doesn't exist. :-) You can shop until you drop, rest, and shop some more. My stash is so big that I try not to buy too much. That said, I never go home empty handed. LOL!

I feel a little awkward saying this but people have told me that would like to meet the designer. (Me? Really?) If that's your wish, look for a short, silver haired woman, wearing a Ravelry button and a Simple Knits badge. (There are a few pictures of me here on my blog. I don't post many as I don't think I've very photogenic.) If I'm not shopping, you'll probably find me sitting and knitting (or crocheting) with my friends at the tables near the food vendors.

Just in case someone finds me, I've printed up a limited amount of discount cards to give out that can be redeemed for a free pattern with the purchase of two from my Ravelry pattern store. :-)

Happy shopping!

Lotus Buds Shawl to crochet

Lotus Buds is an easy-to-crochet shawl worked from the top down. It is constructed in ray/wedges that create a generous half circle shawl that wraps around and stays in place. The body of the shawl features an easy repeat that evolves into a beautiful leaf and lace motif at the border points.

You'll need 600-650 yards of fingering/sock weight yarn and a size G (4 mm) crochet hook for this project. (Though you could make it with whatever weight of yarn you choose by changing the hook size.) Use one color or choose a second color for the border like I did. The 4 page pattern includes both written instructions plus crochet charts for the body and the lace border.

The pictured shawl was made with Miss Babs Bamboo Baby fingering weight yarn (a wool, bamboo, and nylon blend) in purple and green. The blocked size of this shawl is 54" along the neckline x 26" long x 115" along the bottom edge.

The 4 page pattern can be found in my Ravelry pattern store


For more information, visit my Ravelry pattern store to see all my available designs, current pricing information, and purchase pattern downloads.

Canyon Sunset Shawl to knit

Canyon Sunset is my newest knit shawl design. It's composed of 3 triangles -- one more than the usual triangle shawl. This makes is stay in place better and gives a nice straight line across the back.

The horizontal lace is a simple repeat set between textured ridges that ends in a lace border. The design looks great in solid colors or shows off long color runs that could break up larger lace motifs. The pictured shawl was knit with 1 ball of Zauberball sock in the rainbow or tropical fish colorway. Blocked, it measures 40" along the neckline x 15" deep at the center back x 80" along the bottom edge. If you want a larger shawl, simply knit more repeats before adding the border.

You'll need 400 yards of light fingering weight or heavier laceweight yarn and size 4 (3.5 mm) knitting needles for this project. Or substitute 400 yards of heavier fingering/sock weight yarn on size 6 needles, 575 yards of sport, DK, or a light worsted weight with size 7 or 8 needles, or about 600 yards of worsted weight with size 9 needles. Make an even larger shawl by knitting more repeats before adding the border.

If you want a regular 2 triangle shawl, it's easy to modify the directions for this type of shawl. Just work 2 triangles instead of 3.

The 4 page pattern contains written instructions and lace charts.


For more information, visit my Ravelry pattern store to see all my available designs, current pricing information, and purchase pattern downloads.