New Pattern Available: Slipstream

This scalene shaped shawl will remind you of paddling down the river, coasting along in the white, bubbling slipstream flow between rocks and over shelves into the quiet pools of deep peaceful blue on a sunny afternoon.

Finished Measurements and Yarn Requirements will vary based on your yarn & needle selection as well as chosen number of Body Chart repeats. As a general guide I offer the following:

Sizes / Blocked Dimensions:
Small: (11 body chart repeats) 50” wide x 28” deep
Large: (16 1/2 body chart repeats) 73” wide x 40” deep

Yarn Requirements:
Small: Approximately 420 yards of fingering weight yarn
Large: Approximately 840 yards of fingering weight yarn
Shown in Merino Light (color: cousteau) by Madeline Tosh.

Needles:
Size 4 (3.5mm) 40-47” circular needles
Note: For cast on and setup, I prefer to work on either short straights or DPN’s. It provides more control and less clutter, allowing you to establish your setup with more stability.

Supplies:
Cable needle, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and row counter may be helpful.

Gauge:
Approximately 24 sts in pattern = 4” (10cm).
Your gauge will vary depending on your yarn and needle choice.

Available now on Ravelry - $4.00

New Pattern Available: Claire

Just because I love surprising you and hearing you laugh.  I love that you’re married to Roger.  You are such a beautiful example of unconditional love and generosity.  Look carefully.  There are a lot of things woven into this design – your kids, their spouses, your grandkids, and lots of love.  Just because.

Sizes:

Women’s – Will fit head 22-25”

Yarn Requirements:

Approximately 200 yards of worsted weight yarn.
Shown in Cascade 220
(220 yards, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool, color: 9419 – Vermeer Blue).

Recommended Needles:

Size 5 (3.75mm) 16” circular needle and a set of double pointed needles (DPNs) in the same size

Gauge:

22 sts = 4” (10 cm) in pattern
Change needle size to obtain gauge.

Supplies:

Cable needle, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, ruler and four (4) stitch markers.  Row counter may be helpful.

50% of the profits from the sale of this pattern will be donated to Mercy Health System of Maine in honor of the pattern’s namesake, my mother-in-law, Claire, who is bravely battling cancer.

Available now on Ravelry - $3.50

Sneak Peek: Slipstream Shawl

Coupon Code!

http://www.ravelry.com/stores/jesseknits-by-jessica-lheureux

Pattern Design in Progress

I've got a new sock design in progress.  This time, I've given myself the challenge of creating a design that can be knit in two sizes and worked either from the toe up or top down.  And just because that seemed entirely too simple, each foot is a mirrored pattern (left/right specific).  Essentially this design will be four patterns in one.  I'm working with techniques to make the patterns in such a manner that you can knit one sock toe up, the other top down, and have them appear as a proper match.  It's a fun challenge.

Do you have a directional preference when knitting socks?

Knitting to Go

I'm always knitting. Okay, almost always. I can't very well knit while typing, but as soon as I master holding the needles between my toes, I'll try.  I knit in the car (as a passenger, not driver), in restaurants waiting for food, in waiting rooms, while watching movies, and generally whenever I have an idle moment.  So, when a trip away from home occurs, I have to plan accordingly.  

In a week's time I work on multiple projects, 30, 45, 60 minutes at a time.  Weekends often afford me two or three hour stints.  A trip across country by plane is a totally different animal.  I'm looking at a potential five to eight hours of confined knitting opportunity.  There is no running into the studio to change up projects or grab a missed tool.  Planning is required.

One of my favorite movies is "Best in Show".  It is a mockumentary about dog show people, and covers not only the dogs' show performances, but the trials of preparing for and traveling to the show as humans.  When I think of packing knitting for a trip, I'm reminded of one of the couples followed in the movie as they argue over how many kimonos one man is packing for the four day trip to Philadelphia (incidentally it's around seven if I remember correctly.)  In my mind, a six day trip with about 16 hours of flight time will require about 22 projects.  I'm trying to calculate how much space one less pair of socks will take in my luggage if I promise to complete a pair on the flight out.  I could get away with two fewer pair if I knit one pair on the flight out, buy yarn at my destination and knit another pair during the first four days of the visit so I can wear the second pair I knit on the flight home.  Then again, if I knit a pair on the flight out, and complete the 1/2 done sweater in the first four days, I could wear the socks and sweater home and have more room for yarn purchases in my return luggage, otherwise, I'll need to accidentally leave something behind for a relative to mail to me or knit myself another piece of luggage.  See the madness?  Then again, if you are a knitting addict like myself, you may only see the logic.  Is there therapy for this (and does it include fiber retail)?