Flourishing Fields Update

Last summer I got a new camera, and posted about how much better it is than my old camera. I’ve slowly been using it to take improved, updated photos of some of my patterns, while I also update the format of my old patterns to be more consistent.  It has been very slow going because I’m only doing it in my very limited spare time between current designs and the day job.  I channeled by typical springtime craving for all things green, and have completed my update of Flourishing Fields!

Flourishing Fields, by Christina Loman

If you are a previous buyer, you’ve received an updated copy already, free of charge, via Ravelry or an email sent by Ravelry. Whether you are a previous buyer or not, know that the content of this pattern has not changed. These are still fairly simple cuff-down socks with the exact same cables as before. All that has changed is the format, plus a few new photos. Enjoy!

Warm Weather Knitting

Wow, I am impressed at how enthusiastic you guys were about yesterday’s contest! I will have to do another scavenger hunt in the future! I was a little worried there wouldn’t be much response since many people stop knitting as the weather warms, and my sales typically dip then too. Clearly I am not the only one who continues to knit voraciously in spring and summer! What do you like to knit this time of year? For me…

1. Shawls

 

Ironically, I don’t really wear shawls that much. I LOVE to knit them though. They’re lighter and more delicate than say, a cabled sweater, so they’re great for knitting when it’s warm out. If you’re a shawl-wearer, they’re also immediately wearable in the springtime. For me, unless I’m knitting for a special event (like the upcoming new design for a friend’s wedding), I tend to wind up giving my shawls to a friend or relative. They’re one of the only things I knit that are more about process than product.

2. Tank Tops

For a while I was seriously skeptical about knitted summer shirts. Something about knitwear and summer just seemed mutually exclusive. Then I discovered linen. From there it progressed to cotton, silk, bamboo…there’s just no stopping me! Sleeveless tops knit up fast, even with thin, light-weight yarns. They don’t weigh much or make you sweat as they sit in your lap mid-project. AND…instant wearability! While central air-conditioning does allow me to knit long-sleeved pullovers and blankets in the summer, there’s nothing quite like the reward of putting on a piece fresh from the blocking board.

3. Socks

 

No, I’m not going to wear these right away. In fact, I try to wear as little on my feet as possible, for as much of the year as possible. However, the cold weather will return eventually, and it’s always nice to have a fresh new pile of socks waiting for me when that happens. Socks are fast, light, and easy to stuff in a purse or carry-on when I’m traveling (as I tend to in the summer). Again, they’re small and not going to make me sweaty while I knit them.

I’ve also very recently discovered a serious affection for summery cardigans, thanks to a phenomenon I call the Summer Deep Freeze. Sometimes American businesses are just a little too enthusiastic about air conditioning for my taste. My school seems to be especially guilty of this, so look for a lot of new cardigans to come from me!

P.S. If you can’t tell from the photos, yes, the seasons do influence my color cravings. Spring means greeeeeeeeeen!

365 Days of Blog

It’s this blog’s first anniversary! To celebrate, I’m having a scavenger hunt. I’ve hidden 10 single-use coupon codes somewhere on this blog. First person to find each one gets a free pattern of their choice from my Ravelry store. If the first code you find no longer works, keep looking! Maybe one of the others hasn’t been found yet. I will post updates as they get used.

Some clues for the regular readers:

1. pages

2. other anniversaries

3.  bead mania

4. knitting truths

5.  my most popular post ever

6. POD

7. a free teaser

8. Sandy

9. looking good in my hand-knits

10. a very cold wedding

As of March 30, 7:50 pm EST  – WOW! You guys are amazing! Thanks to the overwhelming interest, I have changed out 5 of the 10 codes for new ones. That means 5 more eagle-eyed readers will win a pattern today; 15 total! Additionally, as of this moment 569 people have viewed this post. If we get to 1000 views today, I will discount all patterns for tomorrow so that those who didn’t get here fast enough can still join the Feel Good fun!

As of March 31, 8:45 am EST – You guys are so awesome! All 15 patterns have now been found; thanks for playing along! We didn’t quite make 1000 views, but maybe next time! Happy Easter and thanks for making it a great year!

Leonardtown

I know it’s only been a couple weeks since I released Misty Morning, but I am too excited by the return of Spring to hold off on this one! So, I am very happy to introduce Leonardtown!

Leonardtown, by Christina Loman

The rectangular lace shawl is absolutely perfect for this time of year, when it can be so sunny and gorgeous out you can’t even think of staying inside, but there’s still just enough chill in the air that bare shoulders just won’t work.

A bit of cozy merino is just what the doctor (Mother Nature?) called for. The size of the repeat on the Vine Lace may look intimidating at first, but it’s actually quite memorizable and surprisingly intuitive. It becomes almost meditative after a while. I’m sure it’ll impress the idle viewer though!

The simple garter edging and picot cast-on and bind-off also add interest and stability to the shawl. No monotony here! So be sure to check out Leonardtown, and join in the fun! I’ve chosen to knit the sample in green because, well, Spring. In my mind, there is no greater color than green this time of year. What color will you choose?

Misty Morning

In the northern hemisphere, there’s still just about one pullover’s worth of cold weather left in this season. If you’re in the southern hemisphere, lucky you! You’ve got months of cold (or cool) weather knitting ahead! Either way, I hope you’ll consider my newest pattern, Misty Morning.

Misty Morning

This time of year is full of cool, grey mornings that really call for an extra bit of cozy. What better way to get your “cozy fix” than cashmere? The recommended cashmere blend is knit at a loose gauge for a bit of drape and elegance in an otherwise simple raglan pullover. Combined with the extra length in the torso and sleeves, this sweater is as comfortable as pajamas, but a lot more stylish!

 

The dramatic collar, which can be worn multiple ways, also adds a bit of flair. The moodiness of mornings this time of year just sort of demands some flair, doesn’t it? It also keeps the mostly stockinette sweater from being an absolute bore for more advanced knitters (although honestly, cashmere kind of does that all on its own)!

 

So cozy on up to your next Misty Morning and make the most out of the season while you still can!

Potomac

I’m very excited to announce the release of my newest pattern, Potomac!

 

Potomac is a bottom up, worsted weight sweater designed for a combination of warmth and simplicity for an active winter’s day. The recommended yarn is very warm for a DK weight, mainly because of the silk content (which also adds a pretty hint of shimmer, like the Potomac River on a sunny day).

 

The subtle color variations of a kettle-dyed yarn lend themselves particularly well to a simple pattern like this, where they won’t be overwhelmed by heavy texturing. Don’t fear the miles of tedious stockinette, however, because there are also simple cables up the front and back that provide just the right amount of interest without being complicated enough to distract from the yarn.

 

I had a lot of fun designing this sweater, and the inspirations for it are totally local. The yarn, the color, the pattern name – they’re all Home to me. Although I know most of you are not  from this area, but I hope you’ll love Potomac as much as I do!

100th Post Celebrations

Yay, this is post #100! Not bad for 9 months of writing! I’ve decided to do a couple of fun things to celebrate. First, I finally put together a group on Ravelry. It’s called Feel Good Knitting, the same as this blog, and you should most definitely check it out! We’d love to have you.

Second, I’m having a giveaway! To be entered, join my new group by January 12. I will use the Random Number Generator to select 5 winners on January 13. Winners will be contacted via PM and also ear-burned in the Promotions thread. Prizes include:

1st prize: a “Feel Good” care package containing both yarn and non-yarn goodies

2nd prize: A free copy of the e-book Private Reserve

3rd-5th prize: A free copy of the Feel Good pattern of your choice.

Sandy Hook Elementary

This was a busy weekend for us, as Hubby and I both had our office holiday parties this weekend. Unfortunately, particularly for mine, Friday’s events in Connecticut threw a bit of a damper on the festivities.

Regular readers know that when I’m not writing blog posts and knitting patterns, I teach elementary school. On Friday, December 14, a mentally ill 20 year old killed his kindergarten-teaching mother, and then proceeded to her school and massacred most of her students, as well as several other staff members and children. While Sandy Hook, CT is nowhere near Virginia, and a school shooting is always an unthinkable tragedy, this one is hitting particularly close to home. In all, 20 children under the age of 8 were killed, as well as 7 innocent adults, one of whom was exactly my age and literally took a bullet protecting her students.

What do you do in the face of horrors like this? What can you do? The answer is not much, and frankly, that sucks. So I’m going to do what little I can. For the next week, all profits from my Ravelry store will go to the Sandy Hook Elementary PTSA, via Crowdrise and the Network for Good, in order to help pay for things like funerals, and counseling for the survivors. I will also be making a donation from my personal funds to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) in the hopes that we can fix our broken healthcare system and a tragedy like this will never happen again.

Is it enough? No. But it’s something.

Esmeralda

Welcome, December! What a perfect time for a new sweater! I am thrilled to introduce you to Esmeralda, my latest release on Ravelry. This super-warm pullover comes in sizes from 32-44 inches and has just a bit of openwork at the cowl, hem, and cuffs, and traveling up the sleeves.

 

The wool-alpaca blend recommended is practically the definition of warm and cozy, and the jewel-shaped lace panels add a bit of sparkle to your wardrobe during a dark, dreary part of the year. The name “Esmeralda“ comes from the sample color and the shape of the lace panels - esmeralda is Spanish for emerald. However, this sweater would look just as lovely as a rubí, amatista, topacio,  or perla. So pick a color and have some fun with it!

 

Additionally, there are princess seams (Princess? Jewels? You’re practically royalty in this!) to add femininity and help create the most flattering fit. This pullover is ideal for the intermediate knitter, but has more than enough interest to keep an advanced knitter happy as well, and plenty of opportunity for customization if you are that advanced knitter. I hope you’ll enjoy Esmeralda as much as I did!

 

Private Reserve

It’s FINALLY here! The book my blog built (or at least, encouraged) is finally published! I am thrilled to introduce Private Reserve, a collection of wine-themed accessories and home goods. As a special thank-you to all my loyal readers who commented and encouraged me to make this book happen, I am offering 25% off the book price now through Wednesday. Simply use the code BLOGME during checkout or click here to purchase.

Without further ado, the patterns:

       Bâtonnage, a lacy cowl and matching boot toppers

Bâtonnage

 

Aeration, a customizable wine cozy

Aeration

Vitis, an e-reader cover with a grape leaf motif

Vitis

Vinifera, a vine-cabled e-reader cozy with felt grape leaves.

Vinifera

Grape Juice, a fun pair of socks with vines on the feet and bunches of grapes on the legs.

Grape Juice

Crush, a lattice cabled cowl and beret.

Crush

Raspberry Merlot – our old friend who *will* still be available as a separate, free download.

Raspberry Merlot

Bon appetit!