FO and new pattern published: Bel Canto Cowl

It’s been months since I posted (things have been hectic in my non-knitting life!) and I’m almost a month late with posting about this… but better late than never, right?

I’m pleased to announce that I have a pattern published in the Winter 2010-2011 issue of Knitcircus, a Madison-based online knitting magazine. (My pattern is on page 84, but take the time to flip through the whole issue–there are some really great patterns. The layout may look similar to Twist Collective, but unlike Twist, you can purchase the entire pattern collection at once and get ALL the patterns for $8, instead of $8 apiece… my favorites this time are probably Beckett, Treccia, and Sweet Georgia.)

My pattern is called Bel Canto–the design reminded me of a hair-braiding scene in Ann Patchett’s book of the same name. It’s a simple design, all stockinette, flared at the base of the cowl to fit the body where neck meets shoulders, with simple rolled edges at the cast-on and bind-off–the one focal point of the design is a dramatic three-strand plaited cable framed with lace eyelets and sweeping diagonally across the cowl.

The sample was worked in Rios, the new plied, worsted-weight, superwash merino yarn from Malabrigo. I was afraid the color (Azul Profundo) might be too dark to photograph well, but it came out fine. It’s a lovely yarn, a bit thinner, shinier, and more slippery than the normal worsted weight singles yarn. I think you could substitute normal Malabrigo Worsted Merino in this pattern pretty easily, but I might go up a needle size for improved drape.

This was my first magazine publication, and it was exciting seeing my design professionally modeled and photographed! How cute is this photo?

This would make a nice quick Christmas present if you are so inclined–it uses less than one skein (210 yards) of Rios. In fact, the original prototype for this cowl was knit in just a few hours, and used only 98 yards of yarn (the La Lana Phat Silk Phat I picked up in Taos last summer)–it didn’t have the flared shaping at the base, though, so I don’t think you could pull off that low yardage with the current version of the pattern.

Anyway, if you’re interested, I have one copy of the Knitcircus Winter 2010-2011 Pattern Collection to give away! Leave a comment by midnight on Saturday December 4 telling me what yarn you’d use to make this, and I’ll do a random drawing on Sunday. I’m on the East Coast (Boston and NY) for the whole month of December, so I’m hoping that since I won’t have my normal life and domestic responsibilities to distract me, I’ll get a little more time to catch up on updating my blog. And finish my Christmas knitting and shopping in the next two weeks. It might be too ambitious a plan, but hope springs eternal.

Knitcircus giveaway!

Hey, I have something exciting to share with you, so lurkers, come on out of the woodwork! Jaala Spiro, editor of Knitcircus Magazine and fellow Madison knitter, offered me a number of Knitcircus freebies to give away.

If you’re not familiar with Knitcircus, it’s a Madison-based knitting magazine that recently transitioned from a paper magazine format to online distribution. They now have a model sort of similar to Twist Collective (but a lot cheaper!) where each issue features some free patterns and some patterns that are for-pay only–the current issue is $7.50 for the full collection of 20 patterns. I’m glad to see them move to the online format–although I loved having paper copies of the magazine to hold and leaf through, the potential audience is much larger for the online mag. I’d love to see this locally published knitting magazine become as well-known as Twist or Knitty, so if you like their patterns, spread the word.

If you’re interested, leave a comment telling me which Knitcircus design is your favorite, and next Sunday, April 11, I’ll do a random drawing to determine the winners. I have two full year’s magazine subscriptions (value: $23.50 each) and three individual pattern collections (value: $7.50 each) to give away. Please make sure to give me your email address so I can get in contact with you if you win–if I don’t hear back from you within a few days I’ll need to pick someone else.

To get you started on the pattern browsing, here are a few of the lovelies from the current issue, Issue 9:
The Twilight Shawl–combines Kauni yarn with a really interesting shape, and for once I think the name is actually a reference to a time of day. (You have to look at the modeled photo on Ravelry with this wrapped around the shoulders and neck–the one below shows the shape but doesn’t show how pretty the shawl looks with the layers of Kauni stripes when worn.)

Raveled Wristies–free! And named after Ravelry! Awww.

Seamless Slippers–another free pattern, this looks like a great quick gift!

Four Seasons Cardigan–the cardigan from the cover, meant for layering.

Check out the archives, too–some of my favorites from past issues are Kate’s Cardigan from Issue 5 (the photoshoot involves ice cream! More of my pattern photos need to involve ice cream in the future) and And All Things Nice, a girl’s dress from Issue 8.