Verdigris Knits

Hearts A Bustin for Valentine's Day

2012-02-09T07:50:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I knit with a great group of women once a month. They like learning new stitches, so last month we worked on a fairly straight forward brioche stitch found in Barbara G Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns - Fluffy Brioche. I picked it mainly because of the name, but also because it's only worked over 2 rows in one color. Before long the group was churning out swatches of Fluffy Brioche. The stitch has a great texture, and quite a bit of horizontal stretch. Fun sure, but the question around the table was "what's it good for?"

Well, hats for one thing. I worked up this hat in 2 colors of a super bulky yarn (Sensation's Sumptuous), modifying the original Fluffy Brioche to be worked in 2 colors and in the round. The result of working the red as the Main Color was surprising - little puffy hearts spiraling around the hat. I've posted a complimentary pattern for this hat over on the right hand side of the blog - Hearts A Bustin Hat.

It is a quick knit in super bulky and would work really well in Malabrigo Rasta. You only need about 40-45 yds of each color. I made 2 hats out of 2, 86-yd skeins (red and cream). The hat has just enough slouch to be comfy but not too heavy. Sized to fit 20-22" heads. But it's an easy pattern to change sizes, just cast on more or less stitches in multiples of 4.

I hope you give this hat a try - it's a quick knit and makes for a fun hat. If you make it up, please post photos on Ravelry. Can't wait to see how it works up in other colors.

Incidentally, Nancy Marchant has designed a very cute top using a derivation of this stitch pattern zomertijd. In her version, she uses 2 differnt needle sizes to create even more texture.

Having a Super Day

2012-02-05T07:36:00.000-05:00

Today is the day! Today, Super Bowl XLVI will be played here in Indianapolis, capping off a 10-day celebration that has highlighted all the great things about our city.

No doubt if you watch the game, or follow any of the news stories about the event, you'll see that one of the hits of the event is the Super Scarf. A call was sent out 2 years ago that 8,000 hand crafted scarves would be needed to outfit the volunteers of this event. As of last count, 13,000 had been turned in.

I've had a blast walking around town looking at all the different scarves - so many wonderful designs. This gallery features some of my complimentary patterns, created specifically for the Super Scarves effort. These patterns are available on the right hand side of the blog. Enjoy the game and come see us in Indy if you have the chance (great yarn stores and another "little" sporting event known as the Greatest Spectacle in Racing in May).

Knitting For Royalty - The Butler Way

2012-02-04T14:54:00.001-05:00

So, the other Sarah Burton got to design a few dresses and such for the Duchess of Cambridge last year (just google if you are among the 1% that didn't watch the wedding last April). As the Creative Director over at Alexander McQueen, that SB is just a tad more well known. Again, just google and you'll see the fist 1,049,253 links point to her instead of anything related to Verdigris Knits.

But this week, this SB got to knit for one of the most famous mascots in America - Butler Blue II - the mascot for the Butler Bulldogs. Here is Blue II rocking his 2012 Super Scarf. He's been quite in demand for appearances this week in the Super Bowl Village. And he is one deserving volunteer - he has been a tireless volunteer not only for Butler, but for the entire city of Indianapolis, spreading joy and spirit to all of us.

Photo curtesy of Kimberly Harms

Here's the scarf. Knit in the round in stockinette with short row shaping around the neck to help the fit. Stranded bones and paw prints on one end with a bit of fringe. The other end is a self formed loop with the patch sewn on the top.

Inadvertent Designing - Thankful in Malabrigo

2012-01-23T13:37:00.001-05:00

I'm working up another Thankful sweater in some divine Malabrigo Chunky in colorway Stone Blue. This yarn is so lovely to work with, and I love the slight tonal variations. I ended up having to move down to a US 10, (6.5mm) needle to get the right stockinette gauge.

I and just finishing up the Right Sleeve/Top piece and couldn't help but notice that the little bit of border pattern added to the back neck piece is pulling in just a bit. I was at first a little horrified by this, and was on the verge of ripping it out when I decided to go look at the original piece for the design. Low and behold, the border had pulled in a bit on that sweater as well. Looking further, I decided that this "feature" was not a mistake that needed to be fixed, but in fact, an inadvertent design enhancement. The little bit of shortness in the neck border creates a little bit of give in the back of the sweater. This is in fact way this sweater fits as well as it does around your neck and shoulders. Ha, I love it when a plan comes together - cough, cough....

This sweater is working up so quickly, I should have it done by the end of the week in time to wear it at the Fans of Mass Avenue Knits gathering this weekend.

Lake Effect Augmented - Adding Beads

2012-01-18T18:19:00.001-05:00

I have a love-hate relationship with beads when it comes to my knitting. I love the look of beaded knits, but the idea of stranding all those beads on the yarn first, and then dealing with all those beads as the project is worked, just puts my teeth on edge. Especially when working with a lace weight mohair blend. And the whole bead placement issue always leads to some less than desirable results in my swatches.

But there is one way of inserting beads that doesn't make me want to pull my hair out. And the bead placement is predictable and stable (no beads working their way to the back of the piece). You'll need a very small crochet hook (size 12/1.0mm or size 10/1.3mm) and beads with a hole large enough for the hook to slip through. These small hooks are readily available at most big box craft stores or one line. Size 6 or 8 beads usually work for this technique. Don't try with 11s.

The technique is really easy, and just takes a little patience. I wouldn't use this technique if I was inserting a great deal of beads, but if you are just going to use the beads as an occasional accent - this is the technique to use.

Here's how it goes:

Knit up to the stitch where the bead will be placed (pb - "place bead" is often used to indicate this location).

Slip a bead onto the neck of the crochet hook.

Hook the next stitch and pull the stitch off the needle.

Slip the bead off the hook and down onto the neck of the stitch.

Place the stitch back on the left needle (assuming standard left to right knitting) and work the stitch as directed by pattern.

That's it.

For Lake Effect, I placed the beads on Row 1, on the slipped stitches. I found it easier to place the bead, put the stitch back on the left needle, then do the slip, yarn over, yarn over maneuver. You may be able to place the bead and then slip the stitch onto the right needle, thus eliminating a step.

Here's a short video to demonstrate the technique.

So go ahead, glam up your knits with a few well placed beads.

Braided Rein Mittens - Ready for Primetime

2012-01-07T21:06:00.000-05:00

Finally - that's all I can say - the pattern for these mittens has finally been published.

I created this design way back in September of 2010 as a part of the Project Yarnway design challenge over on Ravelry. I made the original pair using worsted weight Berroco Ultra Alpaca. I wore them all last winter and loved them. I made a second pair under contract for another Raveler using the same yarn. But after a season of wearing the mittens, I decided that they might fit a little bit better with more negative ease. The problem with trying to make the design smaller is that the number of stitches in the pattern doesn't really lend itself to modification. I swatched with less stitches and the cable motif just didn't have the right look. If the pattern itself couldn't be altered, then my only option was to go with a different gauge. I needed more stitches per inch.

I swatched with Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light, a dk weight yarn, went down a needle size and came up with a mitten with a finished size of 7" around the palm. But due to the stretch inherent in Brioche stitch, these mittens easily stretch to fit my 8" hand. The negative ease makes for a great fitting mitten that hugs my hand.

A second benefit of Brioche stitch in a mitten is that the fabric is essentially a double layer, with lots of space to trap air and create warmth. These babies are warm.

If you'd like to make these mittens, you'll need 1 skein each (1 oz/50 g) DK weight yarn in 2 contrasting colors – Yarns tested include Alpaca with a Twist Baby Twist, Berroco Ultra Light, and Knit Picks Capra. Minimum of 110 yds/100.5 m yardage required in each color. Yarns with greater than 50% cotton, bamboo, or silk are not recommended.

A down loadable electronic version of the pattern is available here for $4.00 buy now. You can pay with pay pal or a credit card. A link is also available in the Verdigris Knits Designs page above.

This written pattern uses Brioche terms and abbreviations as established by Nancy Marchant in her excellent book Knitting Brioche (North Light Books, 2009) and at her website www.thebriochestitch.com).

I've been thinking of creating a group over on Ravelry to try some knit-alongs with some of these patterns. Let me know if you would be interested in that.

2011 - Slipping away

2011-12-30T20:02:00.000-05:00

One this last day of 2011, I thought I'd address a question that has come up frequently with many of my patterns involving slip stitches - which way to slip, knit wise or purl wise? And there have even been a few, what do you mean "slip the stitch"?

My first mosaic project

The first time I tackled a pattern that incorporated slip stitches I felt like I was breaking some kind of rule - what do you mean slip the stitch? How can I not work the next stitch? Won't the whole piece just fall apart???   A deep set feeling of angst set in. And then I just succumbed to the directions and moved that stitch from the left needle to the right without working it - holy cow - nothing happened. I kept on with the pattern and realized that I could actually break some rules and the results would be wonderful and surprising stitch patterns. Holy cow, indeed.

Sometime later I started to become aware of how I was slipping the stitches. I'm certain at first I always slipped knit wise. This was the slip direction that I used in the left leaning decrease, slip, slip, knit (SSK) so I think I just didn't even reason out that the stitches could also be slipped purl wise. At some point, I must have read something in Barbara G Walkers stitch treasuries that introduced the concept of slipping purl wise to avoid twisting the stitch - and then I had another Ah Ha moment.   I discovered the concept of stitch mount.

If you look closely at a row of stitches on a left needle, you will see that the yarn sits over the top of the needle at an angle, not directly perpendicular to the needle. One leg is closer to the tip of the needle than the other. If the front leg, the leg closest to you, is closer to the tip of the left needle, then this stitch is mounted in the traditional western stitch orientation. To keep a stitch in this same orientation while slipping it, it must be slipped purl wise. Or to state it another way, insert the right needle tip into the front leg of the next stitch as if you were going to purl it, but instead of wrapping the yarn, just move the stitch to the right needle with out working it.

I've seen some rules bandied about explaining when to slip knit wise or purl wise.  The most common one is to slip the stitch knit wise if it is going to be worked again on the same row (as in a decrease like the ssk) and to slip purl wise if the stitch is not going to be worked again until the next row. I think there are probably a few exceptions to this rule. And rules can sometimes keep you from discovery. So the next time you encounter a slip stitch where the designer doesn't specify how to slip that stitch - just give it a try either way, and decide for yourself which you prefer.

Happy New Year - may 2012 bring you many knitting adventures.

New Brioche Videos

2011-12-20T17:12:00.002-05:00

Just uploaded a couple of new videos to the Brioche Tutorials Page (see page links near the top of the blog just under the title banner).

Both videos are meant to help with the end of round transition when knitting brioche in the round. I know from comments here and on Ravelry, that this point creates some angst among knitters. One reason is that on one of the rounds, you must end a row with a slip1 yarn over combination. The next round is started with a slip 1 yarn over combo which seems like a very dysfunctional thing to do when knitting. But it does work out.

One video shows how to manage this transition when knitting with 2-colors and the other shows how to do it when using only one color. I find the single color brioche rib in the round to be a bit more confusing than the 2-color, but that could just be me.

Happy to edit these if they aren't clear. Also, if you have suggestions for more videos, I'd love to hear them.

Happy knitting

Lake Effect Lace Scarf Pattern Ready for Download

2011-12-18T15:55:00.000-05:00

The Lake Effect Scarf worked up beautifully in Rowan Kidsilk Haze. One 25 gram skein produced a 54" (137cm) long scarf that is about 4.5" (11cm) wide. I did not block this scarf as I really loved the gently ruffled edges that resulted from the stitch pattern. But I think you could carefully block and still keep the edge effect.

This is a super easy technique - even if the directions read a bit wonky (cause it's brioche after all). But seriously, once you get the technique of creating the wraps down, it is a very straightforward stitch pattern. See the video of the cascade stitch if you need a visual. In the Lake Effect stitch pattern, the "cascades" line up over each other; in the cascade stitch pattern the "cascades" are staggered, and occur over 4 rows instead of 6.

I'm anxious to try this in other yarns as well.

You'll find the link to the pattern over on the right hand side of the blog - under the Complimentary Pattern heading.

If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to leave a comment or send me an email.

Update - this post shows how to add beads to this design.

Lake Effect

2011-12-11T07:36:00.001-05:00

I spent last week working in Ohio, and three of those days in Columbus. You might think that would tough sledding for a Michigan Wolverine, but really, I love Ohio - the State. Beautiful, pastoral, rolling scenes, and if you are in the northeast corner, east of Cleveland, in the winter - snow.

While on this trip, I was working on another Brioche Nine Patch Blanket as a Christmas gift, and wondered how the cascade stitch would change if I stacked up the "cascades" instead of staggering them. I swatched up with a couple of different versions of the number of "yarn over" rows and came up with following arrangement that I like - of course, you could vary not only the number of rows, but also the number of plain stitches between the "cascades".

Here's the pattern worked up in a couple of different kinds of yarns.

If you have a skein of lace weight, you could work up a lovey scarf in no time - it's a quick knit once you get the hang of slipping the stitch combined with making a yarn over (a common brioche movement). Take a look at the "cascade stitch" video if you need a refresher.

I'll post the pattern later this week.

Day 28: NaBloPoMo - NoMo

2011-11-28T21:51:00.001-05:00

Today is the last of the NaBloPoMo posts. Thanks for indulging me for the last 28 days.

What I’ve learned:

Daily posting is a larger commitment than I anticipated and requires much more planning than I thought.

I don’t have enough content to blog every day in a meaningful (read interesting) manner.

That being said, having a committed frequency is a good thing – maybe a post a week is a better frequency to stay in contact and still provide value.

Look for a post once a week at least through January 2012. We’ll see how that works. And I’m going to shoot for a complimentary video or pattern at least once a month.

As promised, I am working on the pattern for the Thankful sweater. It's going to take me a few more days to get everything graded, drafted, tech edited, and tested a bit more.

Swatching for Oxford Gables

2011-11-26T20:20:00.001-05:00

Playing around with a new design. Just the beginnings of an idea, but here is the first swatch. Two strands (one sky blue and one mocha brown) of a kid mohair and silk lace blend held together. Played around with bead placement. We will see. This is going to be a very soft, snuggly garment that will need to be worn with a bit of negative ease, I'm thinking. Fun little stitch pattern.

Hail to the Victors

2011-11-26T20:02:00.001-05:00

As a tribute to Michigan's victory over Ohio State - today's post will feature my Michigan fan gallery of knits.

Thankfully Finished

2011-11-25T17:40:00.001-05:00

It's done - and I am very happy with both the fit and the style. I love the way the neck line fits, and sleeves and shoulders sit very comfortably - staying on my shoulders instead of riding to the back as so many of these shrug type sweaters do on me.

The back has a nice drape creating a slightly rounded lower edge and the illusion of waist shaping, even though the knitting is just a straight piece.

I did run out of yarn while seaming the body to the top/sleeve piece. I just subbed in some brown super wash that I had on hand, so the yarn type would be the same. You can't see it from the right side. So I know I'll need to adjust the yarn amounts in the pattern - this was too close for comfort.

I would love to see this knit up in a variegated yarn, maybe a noro type.

Pattern drafting is well underway.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T20:41:00.001-05:00

I'm happy I don't have to cook tomorrow. Just knit and maybe eat some leftovers. OK, not maybe, definitely.

And, I'm thankful that there are only 5 more days left in NaBloPoMo.

Thankfully Seaming it Together

2011-11-23T19:48:00.001-05:00

Today was a ~~hectic~~ frantic day trying to get everything organized for Thanksgiving dinner for 18 tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, I love hosting our family - Thanksgiving is the favorite holiday for both me and Mr. VK. But pulling it all together, cleaning the house, and this year trying to paint our den all at the same time will stress out anyone - as I am so sure many of you can attest to.

So today, in the midst of all the chaos, I made myself sit down and do a bit of seaming on the Thankful sweater. I grafted the two halves of the top/sleeve together and began to feel the soothing effect of the rhythm of grafting sink in. Yes, I said grafting is soothing. Nothing to be afraid of. There, I said it. Somehow, grafting or kitchener got a bad wrap. It is not hard to do.

Next, I seamed up the sleeves from the cuff to the underarm. Good old mattress stitch, with a selvage stitch on each side, and it works like a charm. Again - easy. Anyone, yes, anyone can do it.

OK, enough seaming cheer leading - go forth and seam. I am going back to marinate the turkeys and put together the sweet potato casserole.

Braided Rein Mitten Sneak Preview

2011-11-22T18:23:00.001-05:00

Are you ready for the warmest snuggliest mittens you've ever made?

Thankfully Blocking

2011-11-21T17:12:00.001-05:00

Also thankful that this is Day 21 of the NaBloPoMO. Only 9 more days of daily blogging left. Wont be doing this again. And the crowd goes wild :}

Knitting on the Thankful Sweater was completed last night. I have enough yarn left to graft to two top/sleeve halves together and to seam the body to the top. That's definitely cutting it too close for my comfort.

Today, I blocked my pieces

I debated grafting the two halves of the top/sleeve together before blocking, but decided against it - mainly because the body is already a big piece to block, and the two halves would be more manageable, well, as halves.

Now, I have a confession to make. All this time, I have been thinking (and blogging) that this yarn is Knit Picks Capra, a lovely merino, cashmere blend. However, when none of my spit splices were sticking I got a bit suspicious and went looking for the ball bands. I wound these balls up in September, and stuck the ball bands in my ball band stash box. Well, the yarn is actually Knit Picks Swish bulky, a washable merino. That means it has been treated so that it won't shrink or felt in the wash. Spit splice fail explained. Swish is still a nice soft wool.

My blocked stockinette stitch gauge is larger than the knit up gauge, just as my original gauge swatch suggested. I had no problem blocking to my planned measurements, except for the ribbing which is intentionally 1 inch shorter to save on a bit of yarn.

If the pieces dry by tomorrow, I might be able to seam it up in time for T-giving.

Thankfully It's Working - But I Need Some Input

2011-11-20T18:05:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I posted about having to adapt my design to accommodate a yarn shortage. Note to self, from now on - promise me you'll buy one more skein than you think you'll need.

Happy to report that the adjustments are working out. To be clear "working out" means:

I'll be able to complete a sweater with the amount of yarn I have on hand
The sweater seems to be on track to be complete before the end of the month
Only a slight compromise on the design with sleeve ribbing 1" shorter than intended.
Neck adaptation actually lies better than my original idea.

One issue still to work out is the best way to join the two Top/Sleeve pieces. I think I will graft the two together on my version. So I've made the Right Sleeve piece longer than the Left Sleeve; the Right piece contains the entire back neck opening. I did this because of the linen stitch border on the back neck. If the two pieces were equal in length, then the join would occur at the center back - right in the center of my impromptu linen stitch border on the neck edge. I did not want to graft linen stitch, even if it is only 4 stitches. This way, the Left Sleeve ends right after the decreases so I can just graft stockinette to stockinette.

But I wonder how many of you will want to graft these pieces together? Would it be better as a 3-needle bind-off or just bind off and seam the two pieces together? Which would you prefer?

Comments welcome - help me develop a pattern that you'd be happiest working up.

Time to Punt or Fake the Kick?

2011-11-19T19:45:00.001-05:00

Running into a problem with the Thankful sweater. I'm pretty sure that I am going to be about 1 skein short on yarn if I stick with my original plan. Mr. Verdigris Knits does not understand how this can be the case when there is a room full of yarn upstairs. Oh if only there was something I could substitute.

But substitution of a different yarn just isn't an option with this sweater. Adding in another color would overly complicate this design I'm afraid. So that is off the table. I could shorten the ribbing at the sleeves, but Ive already shortened from 7 to 6 inches, and I don't want to compromise the sleeve design by making the ribbing any shorter. So no relief there.

Looks like it's 4th down and I'm looking at having to punt - having to order more yarn, but I'm not certain I can get the same dye lot, and I don't think I can get it here in time to finish by the end of the month. Might be time for a fake kick.....redesign the sweater, without having to reknit what I've already worked up so far.

Here's the play: the body was going to be attached to the top so that the front edges met at the center of the neck. But maybe the front edges don't have to meet, maybe I can leave a 6 -8 inch gap at the neck. That would save me about 8" of the body, which might just be enough.

I need to make another adjustment if I go through with this change. If the body is not going to be attached to the neck edge anymore, then that edge is going to need some stitch pattern other than stockinette or it's going to roll'em, roll'em, roll'em. I think a 4 stitch border in linen stitch will create a nice, firm, flat neck edge.

Never did like to punt, so I'm going for the change up. Back tomorrow with a report on how it goes.

Thankful Progress and Issues

2011-11-18T14:36:00.001-05:00

Time to get back to an update on the Thankful sweater. Remember that anyone who favorites Verdigris Knits on Facebook or follows on Twitter this month will receive a complimentary electronic copy of the pattern when it is published.

Here is the back, about 75% complete.

I stopped because I had to travel for work this week and the piece is now too bulky for airplane knitting. So I pulled out my needles, being too lazy to switch the tips onto another set of cables, and cast on for the right side of the Sleeve/Top piece. If you are following this saga in my other posts then you know that the ribbing swatch's pants burned off (liar, liar...) so I had to adjust my cast on.

But so far, everything else has worked according to plan. Here's the progress to date.

After the ribbing, a couple of rows of increases (I used the lifted increase 1 stitch in from each edge) spaced over 4 inches of stockinette completed the sleeve. Then I began the decreases along the front edge to shape the top from the armhole to the neck opening at the shoulder. The decreases are worked every 3 rows, so I am having to do a right leaning decrease on the purl side. I've worked one out, but I'm not sure I'm going to stay with it, so I'll let you know later what I've come up with. On right side rows, I need a left leaning decrease so I'm using my fave, ssk.

My latest concern though is that I might not have enough yarn after all. If this is the case, then I will either have to go back to knit picks and hope that there is one little skein left in my dye lot, or adjust. I have a feeling that some adjustments may be in my future. Stay tuned.

Exothermic

2011-11-17T15:49:00.001-05:00

Here it is finally - published in the KnitCircus Magazine, Issue #16, Winter 2011-2012.

There are a total of 23 designs in this edition, and a slew of great articles. You can purchase all 23 patterns in electronic format for just $8.49. That is such a great deal. Just click on any of the "Purchase the Collection" links in the magazine.

Can't tell you how thrilling it is to see my designs professionally photographed. These photos are courtesy of KnitCircus.

Exothermic is a reversible, zippered vest, with color blocks at the waist and upper chest. It is worked in Cascade 220 Eco + wool, a bulky weight, 100% wool. It is knit in one piece; the shoulders are worked together using 3-needle bind off so there is very little finishing.

The zipper is actually very easy to install because there is a little placket knit onto the front edge the zipper is sandwiched in and then stitched up, Very neat and reversible!

I hope you give it a try. I think it will also look adorable in a kid's version. Going to have to get to work on that!

That Lying Swatch

2011-11-16T20:45:00.001-05:00

Last night I cast on for the cuff of the Thankful sweater sleeve. Faithfully cast on 72 stitches based on my trusty gauge swatch and proceeded to get lost in 1x1 ribbing OK that's another lie - I don't know anyone who gets lost in ribbing. Most just slog through it hoping to get to the other side before the desire to stab oneself with the needles becomes overwhelming. I digress.

Anyway, 1 inch into the cuff and it's looking a wee bit large. More like two arms could fit in there. How did that happen. Still not sure, only I just knew that ribbing swatch I posted about a while ago was just too stinken' small.

Ripped and cast on 48, and it's looking much better.

Amy Detjen said that "swatch" was Scandinavian for "lying bastard." (actually I think she credited someone else, but I can't remember who now. Funny but oh so true.

Tomorrow is the big Exothermic Vest reveal in Knitcircus Magazine, Issue #16 - check back in the morning - there will be photos!

Calliope Brioche Socks

2011-11-15T20:26:00.001-05:00

Check out Calliope Socks - just released in the Twist Collective Winter 2011 edition. The red and purple pair are my first published sample knit. I loved knitting these up - a great pattern and a fantastic design by Sharon Fuller. The pattern has some great techniques including a stretchy and decorative cast on I had never worked before, a method for working cable crosses in brioche that is smooth on the non-public side, and very clever heel and toe construction. And the decreases on the foot are so flattering!

I think we need a knit along for these socks - I need to work up the calf length version now!

And take a moment to peruse Twist Collective - beautiful photography and layout.

Just Full of Surprises

2011-11-14T17:54:00.001-05:00

As many of you probably know by now, the Winter 2011 edition of Twist Collective will be released tonight (at midnight I think). Twitter and Ravelry were burning up with the news today.  I think it's why I got this message on twitter today - with the caption "Twitter is overcapacity"    Not really sure a whale being hoisted up by some birds really puts Twitter in the best light. Hmmm...

But I digress. The part Squeeee! is that I think my knitting is going to be a very tiny bit of this next issue of Twist.   Somebody pinch me. I had the privilege of knitting up one of the samples - here's a hint, it's brioche - earlier this summer. And I've had to sit on the secret since then.   No posting pictures anywhere or putting up projects on Ravelry, or even blogging.   Yikes, that is hard.

This was my first foray into official sample knitting, and I have to say, I loved it - in no small part due to the fact that I was working with a lovely, professional, and extremely talented designer.  Her contribution to this edition is a fabulous design.

As soon as the cat is out of the bag, I'll post again with a photo and more about Sharon's pattern - I hope you love it as much as I do.