talvi knits.

Swamp Monster Does Socks

Remember last summer when I got bit by the dyeing bug? I love all the greens but I have two absolute favorites: ...

Echo Azure

This shawl design was conceived without a clear vision on where it would go.

On the back of Pennyflower and Boom Star, I wanted to knit another shawl that plays on contrasts, different colors, and interesting textural stitch patterns. For this shawl design, I wanted to experiment with ...

It Started with a Sketch: Torran

This time, it started with a book. The name for this design was inspired by S.K. Tremayne’s psychological thriller Ice Twins. In the novel, the main couple move to a fictional island in the Scottish Hebrides called Eilean Torran, or Thunder Island. It's a lonely and stormy place, and it put me right in the mood for designing a sweater that's great to wear at the seaside.

It Started with a Sketch: Boom Star

For this shawl, I was inspired by an article I read in the Telegraph: Spectacular collision of suns will create new star in night sky in 2022. I had the perfect color combo in my stash, Malabrigo Sock in dark grey and vivid yellow, so I set to designing a shawl inspired by dark night skies and bright stars.

The star stitch, or aster stitch, was the perfect stitch pattern to use. But I still felt the shawl needed something... more. I’ve been following Silhouette Patterns on YouTube for a while, and they use pattern slashing quite a bit to adjust and modify sewing patterns. I got to thinking... what if you used pattern slashing to shape a knitted shawl? And what’s pattern slashing in the knitting world: short rows!

My sketched shawls have four sections in them, and this is how I initially wrote the pattern. When I knit the sample, though, I realized there was enough yarn only for three sections and a wide border. Sometimes real-life limitations can interfere with your vision. :)

On Ravelry: Boom Star

Pattern: Boom Star by Susanna Winter

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Sock, one skein each in Eggplant and Ochre

Pennyflowers from Heaven

I’d wanted to try indie dyed yarns from Baerenwolle for a while, and when I spotted these two colors, I knew they were meant to be together. It’s such a perfect mint chocolate combo!

I’d also had a design idea for a flower shawl in mind for almost a year. The way in which the flowers are knitted changed a bit from the initial idea but the basic concept stayed the same.

Here’s my sketch from last fall. Pretty close to the final shawl, right?

Pennyflower is made of squishy garter stitch knit into striking color blocks. Series of flower motifs give this simple graphic shawl some visual interest -- and an engaging break in between the garter stitch sections. Starting from the upper left corner, the shawl is knit on the bias to create an asymmetric triangle. The flower motifs are knit with knit-below and elongated stitches.

This pattern is written with both metric and US terminology. Instructions are given only in written format but the pattern includes a step-by-step photo tutorial for knitting the pennyflower stitch.

Pennyflower is now available on Ravelry. And as a Valentine’s treat, the pattern is 20% off until February 17, 2017 (midnight GMT) with the coupon code VALENTINE. Happy knitting! :)

On Ravelry: Pennyflower

Pattern: Pennyflower by Susanna Winter

Yarn: BAERENWOLLE BAER Everyday Merino in After Eight (244 m/267 yd) and Truffle (356 m/389 yd)

Wild Sage Hat

Wild Sage Hat was designed to complement Wild Sage Mitts and Wild Sage Socks. I used the same yarn and the same super-simple lace pattern but wanted to add a little twist in the form of a contrasting color. The garter-stitch brim mimics the garter-stitch edging in the mitts but the accents of garter stitch are new. And to finish it off, there’s a fluffy pom pom in the contrast color on top.

This hat has been my go-to hat all winter. It’s so cushy and cozy and rustic and warm... And Tukuwool Sock comes in a variety of great colors to choose from! You can find the pattern on Ravelry: Wild Sage Hat.

I’m running a sale on the entire set! For a limited time, put all three patterns in your Ravelry cart and get the least expensive FREE using the coupon code WILDSAGETRIO. Sale ends midnight Feb 5, 2017 (GMT).

Wild Sage Hat is the final installment in a set of three matching accessories. Designed to complement the fingerless mitts and socks in the set, the hat features alternating sections of lace and garter stitch. The pattern also includes instructions for making a full-lace version of the hat. The cushy garter-stitch brim will keep your ears cozy and warm. Worked in a sport-weight yarn in two colors, this hat is a quick and engaging knit.

The hat is available in two sizes: Small (55 cm / 21¾”) and Large (60 cm / 23¾”). A photo tutorial for making a fluffy pom pom that finishes the look is included in the pattern.

On Ravelry: Wild Sage Hat

Pattern: Wild Sage Hat by Susanna Winter

Yarn: Tukuwool Sock in two colors, 96 m/105 yd of H28 Ujo (MC) and 93 m/102 yd of 03 Auri (CC)

Evergrey Socks

Last fall I designed Evergrey Mitts for a lovely Finnish indie-dyed yarn, Kässäkerho Pom Pom Donegal Sock. After the mitts I had quite a bit of yarn left over, plenty to make a pair of socks. And the lace pattern I’d used in the mitts was so lovely, it deserved another pattern. Hence -- Evergrey Socks.

Evergrey Socks were designed to match Evergrey Mitts. The beautiful twisted-stitches-and-lace stitch pattern reminded me of a forest floor covered in fallen needles. The lace pattern looks intricate but is quite intuitive to execute.

The socks are knitted from the toe up in the round using either DPNs or magic loop. The pattern features my favorite gusset-and-flap heel construction that doesn’t require picking up stitches. Instructions are provided to adjust the length of the foot and leg to your measurements and preferences. Right and left socks are mirror images of each other and can be worked two-at-a-time.

The socks are available in two sizes: 56 and 70 stitches. The twisted-stitch pattern is stretchy and foot hugging, giving a comfortable fit on a wide range of foot sizes.

On Ravelry: Evergrey Socks

Pattern: Evergrey Socks by Susanna Winter

Yarn: 256 m / 280 yd of Kässäkerho Pom Pom Donegal Sock in silver gray

Highlighter Hat

I just released my latest pattern, Highlighter Hat. One day in late November, I popped in my LYS and chanced upon these three colors. The colors -- yellow-green, turquoise, and fuchsia -- reminded me immediately of highlighter pens, and I knew I wanted to design something fun and bright for the winter!

Highlighter Hat is made of fun color blocks in three contrasting colors. Alternating sections of stockinette and an easy slipped-stitch pattern make this a quick and enjoyable knit.

The hat is available in two styles: a closer-fitting beanie and a more relaxed, slouchy style.

With or without a pom pom? Why not try both: the pattern includes a photo-tutorial for making a three-color removable pom pom.

The pattern is available for download on Ravelry.

On Ravelry: Highlighter Hat

Pattern: Highlighter Hat by Susanna Winter

Yarn: Lang Yarns Novena, total 233 m (255 yd) in three colors: #165 (fuchsia, color A), #11 (yellow-green, color B), and #79 (turquoise, color C)

Needles: 3.5 mm and 4.5 mm

My test knitters have come up with some great color combinations!

Bass Ackwards

I love knitting toe-up socks and I love knitting socks toe up. Even if the pattern is written for cuff-down knitting, I’m willing to go to extreme lengths to convert it to toe-up. Sometimes the stitch pattern can be worked from either end and it look the same; sometimes it can be reversed. With this pattern, I didn’t even try. The Golden Dahlia looks pretty either way. Slightly different but very, very pretty.

On Ravelry: Golden Ailhad

Pattern: Golden Dahlia by Kirsten Kapur from the book Joy of Sox

Yarn: Kraft Hand-Dyed Bluefaced Leicester Sock in a one-of-a-kind (aka Trials and Errors) colorway

Needles: 2.5 mm

Mods: Basically just took the lace chart from Golden Dahlia and worked the socks toe-up on a custom stitch count. More information in my Ravelry project notes.

Wild Sage Socks

My latest pattern is out! Wild Sage Socks were designed to match my Wild Sage Mitts fingerless-mitt pattern. These socks are knitted from the toe up in an easily memorizable lace pattern. The pattern includes two sizes for sport- or DK-weight sock yarn, or you can knit the socks in fingering-weight yarn using the larger size instructions.

Indie Design Gift-A-Long has started! I'm participating first time as a designer this year. During November 22 to 30, save 25% off any of my paid patterns with the coupon code "giftalong2016" (valid until November 30, 2016, midnight EST). See my Gift-A-Long bundle on Ravelry.

And don't forget to join the Indie GAL group on Ravelry. There will be hundreds of prizes, beautiful projects, access to your fave Indie Designers, and heaps of friendly, giftie chatter.

Indie Design Gift-a-long 2016 is coming!

Indie Design Gift-a-long 2016 is coming! This year I'm participating first time as designer -- very exciting!

The Indie Design Gift-A-Long is a 6 week long KAL/CAL of holiday gifts made from patterns designed by a rather extensive list of independent designers. From November 22, 2016 at 8:00 pm US EST to December 31, 2016 at midnight US EST there will be fun games, contests, and 8 KAL/CALs that will help you get your holiday knitting done with companionship and fun!

The whole thing kicks off with a massive nine-day sale! From November 2, 2016 at 8:00 pm US EST to November 30th at 11:59pm US EST, tons of indie designers will be discounting between 5-20 of their patterns 25% for this event. Use the coupon code giftalong2016. You can find the list of participating designers in the Ravelry group.

Rustwing

Rustwing has been released! This is an easy shawl knit in the bias in garter stitch and stripes with a garter-lace border done in a contrasting color.

There are two sizes in the pattern. The small size uses 3.25 mm (US 3) needles and lace-weight yarn approx. 300, 275, and 130 m (or 330, 300, and 145 yd).

The large size is done in fingering-weight yarn on 4.00 mm (US 6) needles. It requires approx. 400, 390, and 145 m (or 440, 425, and 160 yd) of yarn.

Rustwing shawl pattern will be released in just a couple of days, Thursday November 10th. My test knitters have knitted up some amazing color combinations.

Rustwing is worked in garter stitch in three colors, two for the striped body and one for the knitted-on garter lace border. And the entire shawl is knitted without any purl stitches.

I got slightly obsessed with these socks: cast on Thursday, cast off Sunday morning. And I'm looking for test knitters RIGHT NOW!

Evergrey Mitts

I just released my latest pattern, Evergrey Mitts, on Ravelry! This is a fingerless-mitts pattern in fingering-weight sock yarn. The cuffs are worked using a lace-and-twisted-stitch rib that reminded me of a forest floor covered with fallen needles. The back of the hand is adorned with a cabled spruce motif encased in a medallion of twisted stitches.

Yarn for this pattern was generously provided by Kässäkerho Pom Pom.

Materials

Yarn

Kässäkerho Pom Pom Donegal Sock (85% merino, 15% dye-resistant nylon, 400 m/100 g), 1 skein in silver gray

or approx. 200 m / 220 yd of fingering-weight sock yarn

Look for a round, high-twist yarn with good stitch definition. This makes the cables and twisted stitches pop.

Needles

2.25 mm / US 1 DPNs or circular needle(s) for working small circumferences in the round (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Notions

Two stitch markers

Two cable needles

Stitch holder (e.g., a piece of scrap yarn or safety pin)

Darning needle

Gauge

30 sts × 42 rnds = 10 cm / 4” in reverse stockinette

28 sts × 42 rnds = 10 cm / 4” in Fallen Needles Rib

Finished Size

Finished hand circumference: 16.5 cm / 6½”

Finished length: 22.5 cm / 8¾”

Cuff: 10 cm / 4”

Techniques Used

Pattern uses the following techniques: working small circumferences in the round on double-pointed needles or in magic loop, casting on in the middle of a round, picking up stitches, twisted stitches, and working advanced cables.

Ability to work lace and cables from a chart is recommended but written instructions are also provided for the stitch patterns.

Some cables require the use of two cable needles; cabling without a cable needle will speed up your knitting.