I have an obsession with feather and fan. I love its simplicity — the kind of lace I can manage not to mess up while talking to others or multitasking. It is a relaxing pattern to knit, and it adds a special touch to a design. A few cleverly placed increases followed by a group of decreases creates this gentle, scalloped edge that graces some of my favorite knits.
One of my favorite blanket patterns is Tweed Baby Blanket by Jared Flood (pattern available in shop). I’ve knitted two of these in the last two months, and I find it addictive! Instead of the worsted weight yarn suggested, I used the Aran weight Eco Wool with size 10 needles. I so enjoy knitting with a sheepy yarn like Eco Wool, and it is fun choosing colors for this pattern. While I love the understated color palette Jared Flood uses (shades of brown or shades of grey), I decided to go with something different. Two harmonious colors with a little pop on the bind off.
Another recent favorite is Levenwick by Gudrun Johnston. I love the seamless sweaters she designs. Although this isn’t a dealbreaker for me when choosing a sweater to knit, I find it fascinating how a sweater can be created with no seams. I’m resisting the urge to knit Levenwick just like the picture, but doesn’t Shelter in Hayloft look perfect in this design? We are offering this as a class this fall, which is a great way to learn sweater knitting or try some new techniques.
When I saw Carina Spencer’s Whippoorwill, I immediately began to plan color combinations for this beautiful, traditional shawl. There are so many possibilities for this design, and I am particularly fond of the version knitted in Mini Mochi, which we have at the shop! I cast on for this in handspun—have you tried making your own yarn? We have spinning classes coming up in the fall!