Smile Shawlette to knit

Smile Shawlette is so easy it will make you smile. It’s a top down, garter stitch (no purl!), half circle shawl.

You may remember seeing pictures of some of these I knit as Christmas gifts last year. Those were knit in synthetic yarns and were not blocked. I've added a new version to the pattern that is knit in wool and blocked. The blocked version also includes a simple pointy border. You must block the shawl to get the points!

The pattern contains written directions for these shawls:

1) A blocked version in light fingering weight wool or even a heavier laceweight yarn (375-400 yards) on size 7 needles. It has a pointy border and must be blocked! Blocked size: 51" along the top x 23" long.

2) An unblocked smaller version in Red Heart Shimmer (280 yards) on size 8 needles (pink) that was 32" x 14" and,

3) An unblocked version in Patons Lace (498 yards) on size 6 needles (black/white) that was 40" x 16".

4) General instructions that let you make any size shawl you want with whatever yarn and needles you choose. Block or don't block depending on the yarn you use and the size shawl you want.

These make fun and easy gifts!

The 3 page pattern can be found in my Ravelry pattern store.  

All purchase price of this pattern will be donated to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana.

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

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.

Dream Weaver Baby Set

The Dream Weaver Baby Set contains patterns for a baby blanket and a matching hat and bib. The same reversible stitch pattern is used in all 3 items. It's an easy to knit woven ribbon stitch. I published the baby blanket pattern earlier this year. I've created a bib and hat that has been added to the pattern. (The thought has crossed my mind that this would make a fun baby cardi too. :-) )

The blanket has a garter stitch border around the body of the blanket. You'll need about 500 yards of worsted weight yarn and size 8 (5 mm) knitting needles for the baby blanket. I used Lion Brand Pound of Love in blue for mine. Mine measured 27" x 27" unblocked. (I include instructions on how to make it bigger if you like.) The blanket includes written instructions and a stitch chart.

The baby hat is knit with about 60 yards of worsted weight yarn and size 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles for a newborn to 3 month size. (Use size 8 needles for a 3-6 month size). The hat is knit from the bottom up in the round with either double points or circulars. The hat is closed at the top with a 3 needle bind off. The stitch pattern makes the top corners of the hat fold into ears (or horns). I used Lion Brand Pound of Love for the hat.

My bib was knit with Lily Sugar 'n Cream worsted weight yarn and pair of size 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles. You'll need about 50 yards for the bib (less than a ball). It's knit in one piece from the bottom up, ending with the strap. After you're done, find a button that fits the buttonholes in the adjustable strap and sew it in place on the bib. The bib measures 6.75" wide x 6.5" tall (not including the strap).

The 3 page pattern contains the blanket, hat, and bib 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.

Loopy & Yo Yo Kitchen Set

You may remember these from a post earlier in the year. These projects are ones I made as Christmas gifts for friends and family last year. They made nice gifts, especially paired with a little something extra, and were easy on the budget.

Loopy is an easy-to-knit textured dish towel. The stitch repeat is very easy to remember and knit. The name comes from a corner loop you can use to hang it up to dry and keep it handy in the kitchen. You can add a button if you'd like to button it around a handle. Or there are instructions for adding a tie to the top that you can use to tie the towel up to dry. Instructions for the loop and the tie include both knit and crochet directions.

A 10" x 12" towel can be knit from one ball of Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn (about 95 yards) with a pair of size 8 (5 mm) knitting needles. For a dishcloth, knit a few less repeats.

Yo Yo's are very simple scrubbies to knit in garter stitch from scraps of leftover cotton or other worsted weight yarns. They measure about 3.75". Raid your scrap basket for 20-25 yards lengths of worsted weight yarn and grab a pair of size 8 knitting needles and cast on. I've included a photo tutorial on how to finish these so you don't get confused. They're constructed differently than any other round scrubby pattern that I've seen. An added bonus: If you knit these out of softer yarns, they will make nice facial scrubbies or makeup remover pads that you can wash and reuse.

Any of these items will make nice and inexpensive gifts. Pair them with a pump bottle of hand soap, a bar of soap, some lotion, etc. for an even more special gift.

The two page pattern is available in my Ravelry pattern store.

All money from pattern sales is donated to the Mercy Corp.

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

Three New Shawls - 2 knit, 1 crochet

Here's what I've been up to for the last couple of months. The pictures I'm showing here are the shawls laid out flat so you can see their shape. You can view pictures of them being worn on their pattern pages in my Ravelry store.

The red shawl is called Three of Hearts. It's a top down shawl that is more than a half circle. My sample was knit with Knit Picks Gloss DK (though this yarn is thicker than a typical DK and much more of a true worsted weight yarn). You'll need about 550-600 yards of worsted weight for this shawl and a circular needle size 9 for the body and size 10.5 for the ruffle. The pattern also includes a 4 heart no-ruffle version. My blocked shawl measures 52" along the neckline edge and 18" long. (You'll need 400-450 yards of fingering/sock weight and a needles in 6 and 8 for a smaller version of the shawl.) My testers were having trouble hanging on to their shawls as every female who saw it wanted to take it home with them. LOL! The pattern includes written instructions and lace charts for the heart panel and the border lace. The 4 page pattern can be found in my Ravelry pattern store.

The blue one is called Over the Moon. This is a fast and easy shawlette to knit. (Make it into a larger shawl by knitting more repeats.) I wanted something that would show off those beautiful sock/fingering weight skeins of yarn that we all buy and don't want to use them for socks. I knit this one with one skein of Fleece Artist Nova Sock. You'll need 350 yards of sock/fingering weight yarn and a size 6 (4 mm) circular knitting needle. Blocked it measures 30" along the neck and 10" long. I've included options for a DK or worsted weight version. You'll need 400 yards of DK yarn with size 8 needles for a 40" neckline x 12" deep shawl or 450 yards of worsted weight with size 9 needles for a 45" neckline x 15" deep shawl. This is a pattern you will make again and again. The 2 page pattern with written instructions and a lace chart for the simple lace border can be found in my Ravelry pattern store.

The pink and green shawl is a crocheted shawl is called Cat Walk. The stitch pattern emulates a knitted cats paw pattern. This top down, three triangle shawl gives more coverage than a two triangle shawl. You'll need 600 yards of fingering/sock weight yarn and a size G (4 mm) crochet hook for this project. (Make a smaller one with 450 yards of fingering/sock yarn that measures 46" neckline x 18" long x 75" along bottom edge.) My sample was made with Zauberball sock yarn and measures 56" along the neckline x 18.5" long x 92" along the bottom edge. This 3 page pattern includes written instructions and a professionally drawn crochet chart. This 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.