My newest pattern is now available from the Twist Collective, Trousseau.  This shawl was a pleasure to knit, the lace pattern is quick to memorize and the gorgeous Sundara yarn just flows off the needles.

I love the concept of the ‘Pi’ shawl; working outwards from the central point with increase rows being spaced further and further apart. After the first few increases you have a wonderful large canvas to use for your lace stitches without needing to worry about fitting the increases in! This can make for very relaxing knitting as there is less counting as you work though it to ensure you have worked all of the increases every row correctly.
Now you may have noticed looking at the photos that this shawl isn’t actually a full circle ‘Pi’ shawl, well that’s because it’s a half-Pi shawl! This seems like a much more practical shawl to me. A full circle shawl can only be worn folded in two so half of your hard work never get to be seen. The same concept as a full Pi shawl applies but you just start with half the amount of stitches and work back and forth rather than in circles.
The lace pattern used in this shawl is not overly complex but it creates wonderful diagonals and visual interest across the knitting. You can see how with each increase the direction of the lace diagonal changes and the lace panels increase in size and length with each repeat. This lace is easy enough that it can quickly be memorized and the shawl quickly becomes a very relaxing knit. If fact I think it would make an excellent first shawl for a confident beginner.
We have done something a little unusual with the yarn in this project, usually the larger shawl is knit in the heavier yarn but we have actually shown the smaller sample with the heavier yarn – Sundara Yarns ‘DK Silky Cashmere’ in Raspberry. This nicely size shawlette only take 2 skeins (50g each) of this truly delicious yarn (or 320 yds). Almost all of both skeins were used, I think I just had a few feet of yarn left when I finished. This is one of the most beautiful yarns I’ve knit with in a long time; it is so soft and just glides off the needles effortlessly. The yarn holds the lace pattern while you are knitting also; it stayed open and did not need to be blocked aggressively to open it up.
The second shawl was knit from Sundara Yarns ‘Fingering Silky Merino’ in Caribbean. This shawl was a larger size (knit with lighter weight yarn and smaller needles) and used a little under 1 skein (150g). This yarn behaved very differently and more like a wool based yarn being worked in lace. As you are knitting it pulls in on itself with the lace pattern virtually invisible. However after a good soaking and some aggressive blocking and pinning it opened out beautifully to reveal the hidden pattern. I think that blocking lace often feels a little like a butterfly unfurling itself from its cocoon.
Two sizes and yarn weights are detailed (and knit) in the pattern but this is a very easy pattern to modify. A much smaller shawlette can be knit if you used the lighter yarn and smaller needles (from the larger size) and only worked the smaller size or alternatively a larger version could use the heavier yarn with bigger needles but work it until it is the size of the large shawl. The only thing to bear in mind with these modifications is yarn amounts; I’ve given an estimate in the pattern of how much more or less yarn would be needed for variations in the size but every knitter will vary with the yarn amount they use.

The gently draped material of Azami and delicate lace lends itself to simple styling that allow the lacework to shine.

A sleek charcoal grey turtle neck dress with chunky court shoes and geometric silver jewelry provides a perfect combination with the Azami sweater.

Playing around with styling ideas for Azami made me really think hard about how this sweater would look best.  The open lace panel at the neckline needs to be taken into consideration when wearing this sweater.  By providing a darker turtleneck backdrop the lacework will really pop and you won’t have the neckline of the undergarment draw attention away from your knitting.  The v-neck opening of the sweater lends itself to showcasing an interesting necklace, although it should be kept simple to avoid being too busy.

My previous styled version, Azami in White, has a lighter, summer feel.  Neckline of the top underneath is kept low so it will not detract from the lacework at the neckline.

The sample for this sweater was knit using Valley Yarns Southwick.  This yarn is a blend of Pima Cotton and Bamboo, both fibers have a great deal of drape which complements the style of Azami well.  When working with bamboo I would strongly suggest swatching and washing your swatch as it does tend to grow.  If necessary change your needle size so that you get the required gauge.  A 100% cotton version of Azami would create a similar effect as it will also drape well.

For a cold weather version of Azami it could also be knit in wool.  This will however change the look of the sweater somewhat, you would have to take care when blocking to ensure you had nice open lacework and good drape.

The Spring issue of the Twist Collective is out.  I’m very excited to have a pattern in it, Necco Wafer Hoodie. As you can probably tell from the pattern I love bright colors for children’s clothes, this sweater was great fun to knit.  They photographed it on such a cute baby, all of my children are too old now to wear it so I couldn’t see it worn until the photos came out.  It feels a bit like looking at someone elses work!

Go take a look at the issue, the designs and colors are just yummy.  Have you ever seem such a wonderful color as the yarn in Barber Pole?  I don’t knit many socks but I think these have me tempted!  The colorwork in Sleepy Monkey is just amazing.

For anyone out there who hasn’t seen the latest issue of Twist Collective go take a look now.  There are so many patterns that I just adore I’m not really sure how I’ll ever find enough knitting time!  I especially love Gytha, the colour combinations are just so beautiful.  Heroine is such an unusual but very functional jacket.  It looks like it could withstand a cold winter!

I have actually managed to finish some knitting over the last few weeks.  I got the second of my Monkey socks finished (I have serious sock syndrome!!) and my green cabled jumper is finished.  I didn’t add in the hood as it just seemed like too much weight with Kilcarra (it weighs several pounds as it is!)…  I hope to take a few photos over the weekend and will get them up to show off the finished pieces.

For anyone looking for some top down hat patterns I will be publishing a pattern with several variations in the next few weeks.  Watch this spot..