Today Knitcircus released its gorgeous fall issue. I'm fortunate to have my Mica Cowl pattern in there among the beautiful shawls, hats, socks and fingerless mitts.
The cowl is worked flat using varying numbers of assymetrical feather and fan repeats in the body. Stitches are then picked up along the side, and another set of feather and fan repeats are worked perpendicularly. This makes the fabric scrunch up in interesting ways. It's really more of a sculpture, but it's still very much wearable--soft, warm, flattering because it does not slump around the neck (my pet peeve regarding cowls).
The yarn is super soft and yet stands up to hold the shape. This cowl is so light and airy. The Imperial Stock Ranch Tracie is lovely, especially in this color, Desert Landscape. It's oatmeal, silver, plums and peaches and sand all in one. Other yarns that would work include any basic wool like Jamieson's, Bartlett and the like.
To celebrate the new Knitcircus issue and my small part in it, I'm giving away some great prizes! (When I was a kid I loved Price is Right so much. I was just thinking about it at the grocery store yesterday.)
The way Knitcircus works: you can go to their site and see the whole issue, including all the written content like book reviews and articles. Then if you want the patterns, you buy the pattern collection. Today, thanks to Jaala the Knitcircus editor, I can give away three Fall Pattern Collections and one one-year subscription (five issues).
To enter, write me a comment about something you love that you made with a traditional stitch pattern. Let me know why you love it, whether you used the pattern in a new way, anything. I'll draw winners Friday morning, the 26th, at 10 am Pacific Time.
In the meantime, you can fave or queue the pattern here: Mica Cowl on Ravelry.
I'm currently making a throw with an interesting mix of purling, cabling and YOs. It's a very unique pattern and is going to be beautiful and cozy. :)
Posted by: Melissa | August 24, 2011 at 08:54
I just finished a design that uses a rib and cable motif. It started as a pattern for my daughter. Now, I think I will write it up. It didn't turn out as I expected but that was ok. The shape of the cable looks like a banana so be on the look out for the Chiquita Cowl :)
Posted by: Michelle | August 24, 2011 at 09:23
Not entering your giveaway but just wanted to stop by and say that your pattern is lovely!
Posted by: Marie/Underground Crafter | August 24, 2011 at 09:59
I'm with you when it comes to feather and fan. My favorite thing (currently) is to use it to make scarves with self-striping sock yarn.
Posted by: ElizabethD | August 24, 2011 at 11:28
I love my Pacific Shawl, which I designed with a Feather and Fan-type border. I love the way it makes the edge scallop. To modernize the look, I added beads to the feather and fan portion. My first bead project; I love it!
Thanks for the giveaway. Fun!
Posted by: pdxknitterati/MicheleLB | August 24, 2011 at 12:27
I love the Little Braided Cables socks...nothing is better then an interesting sock pattern.
Posted by: Darci | August 24, 2011 at 12:36
I'm a big fan of Old Shale lace also! I've made so many projects using it that I've lost count. One that I was especially proud of though was a crescent shaped shawl that used old shale except that I replaced the yo's with m1s and did 2 row stripes so I had a scarf of waving lines and ridges. I gave it to my bff as a going away present when she moved.
Thanks for hosting the giveaway! I love your Mica Cowl!
Posted by: Alli | August 24, 2011 at 12:59
Not to be kissing up but I really love the feather and fan bonnet from you. I love how the stitch pattern creates the shape of the bonnet. I've made it several times.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | August 24, 2011 at 13:13
I love working with basic stitches in new ways, such as the baby pullover I made last year that was knit in garter stitch but side-to-side (from the book Weekend Knitting), and the great use of garter stitch in Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket. Thanks for the giveaway!
Posted by: Caitlin | August 24, 2011 at 13:37
Congratulations! It's a beautiful cowl.
Recently, I have been enamored with garter stitch. Simple, yet pretty to look at. I am working on a few projects that is garter stitch based. The experimenting phase is a lot of fun.
Posted by: Oiyi | August 24, 2011 at 19:43
I am in love with garter stitch, especially striped garter stitch. There are so many possibilities for structure as it is an even stitch both vertical and horizontal, plus it is reversible!
Posted by: Judy (norskiknits on Ravelry) | August 24, 2011 at 20:58
OK - yet again you amaze me!
Posted by: Eden | August 25, 2011 at 13:44
I'm using a selection of old orkney and shetland lace patterns to make a shawl for my first baby. I'm using an elizabeth zimmermann pi-shawl shape and trying to plug them in. I hope it will connect our forthcoming child to their scottish roots.
Posted by: Nina | August 25, 2011 at 23:49
I'm making a lace insert for an otherwise simple sweater!
Posted by: cruz | August 26, 2011 at 00:07
I made a Multnomah last year which uses feather and fan, which is a stitch I love, with it's curves.
Posted by: Stitched Together | August 26, 2011 at 00:39
Love your cowl. So fall'ish and pretty. I love to use traditional patterns (lace, cables and colourwork) in baby blankets. The shape is easy, the amount of knitting is not to big, and I love the unexpectedness of patterns used in new contexts.
Posted by: Little Miss S | August 26, 2011 at 06:16
That looks beautifully subtle. I love the yarn choice with this pattern :)
Posted by: Natalie aka @cloudynatknit | August 26, 2011 at 08:18
Beautiful cowl!
I like using traditional stitch patterns when I work on fingerless gloves. A single cable running up a fingerless glove looks so pretty!
Posted by: LeAnn Aguilar | August 26, 2011 at 08:19
Very pretty. I love cowls.
Posted by: Kim | August 26, 2011 at 08:31
I love simple, traditional patterns for socks especially. My favorite pair of socks is a simple rib. My most recent pair of socks has a very cool moss stitch rib that looks great (if I do say so myself.)
I love your cowl! I've never made one but I should! I wear stuff like that all the time!
Posted by: Meredith | August 26, 2011 at 08:35
I love traditional cables. Staghorns, especially. They're fun to do, and there's one that'll look good on anything!
Posted by: Kim | August 26, 2011 at 08:38
WOW! Great giveaway!
I love using simple stitch patterns when I do scarves. IMO, there's nothing more relaxing than making a scarf that incorporates simple stiches that when finished turn into something gorgeous that looks like it took a lot of effort.
OneOfTheHive on Ravelry & Twitter :-)
Posted by: Heidi H | August 26, 2011 at 08:45
I love using traditional lace patterns to make baby blankets.
The cowl is lovely!
Posted by: Libbie | August 26, 2011 at 08:49
Early in my sock knitting career, I decided to create an eyelet design on the leg of my socks but had trouble with doing this in the round. My design would shift one stitch every repeat. It was a learning experience but aren't those the most valuable ones?
Posted by: Cathy B | August 26, 2011 at 08:53
I've only been knitting since February, so not a lot of experience to call on! However, I am very pleased with a feather and fan scarf I made using Malabrigo Lace. I thought at first that the yarn obscured the pattern, so I added beads to highlight the curves. Turned out beautifully!
Posted by: Fiona | August 26, 2011 at 09:04
I made a... um, well, I still have to finish a baby blanket in chunky yarn using feather-and-fan. Fun! Love that cowl.
Posted by: Vicki | August 26, 2011 at 09:17
I designed & knit a aran sweater for my husband using traditional techniques with some modern ideas. It is the thing I am most proud of knitting for sure!
Love the cowl, it's beautiful!
Posted by: Leahbbear | August 26, 2011 at 12:25
I love to use just stockinette and reverse stockinette in "stripes" - it looks great in scarves and requires little thinking!
Posted by: Renee | August 26, 2011 at 21:57
Congratulations on getting your pattern into Knit Circus, it is very lovely.
Posted by: Kimberly (aka Melanthe on Rav) | September 09, 2011 at 18:46