SUNFLOWER DESIGNS

Susan Update

2012-01-27T11:39:00.002-05:00

"Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen."

-Leonardo Da Vinci

No, I am not dead, just MIA.

Fell last night & possibly broke right hand, other than that all is good. Took some personal time off recently - had pushed for over 3 years, working 60 hrs wk, putting out over 60 patterns.

I began yoga classes & cardio, knit something for me (what a concept), helped son get back on his feet by providing daycare to grandson, and learned to spin. All necessary to my mental health & continued artistic inspiration. Consider it a sabbatical.

I have continued working on Two Towers patterns through out the past 4 months - Helm’s Deep needs to be written up & proofed, Rohan is completed & waiting on final notes from tester who is finishing hers. Ringwraith is heading into test knit.

I really hope the hand isn’t broken - waiting for doc to return call w/ xray info. Typing this with left hand & index finger on right - hunt & peck...

If it is broken, may have to push back start date for Mithril KAL from Feb. 4th, but will try to get someone else to write up patterns so y’all don’t have to wait any longer. I think my tech editor can write them, possibly.

Will keep you posted. Now I am going to rest my swollen hand & hope I didn't just take myself out of commission - gulp

On the 4th Day of Christmas (or is 5th?)

2011-12-16T17:35:00.003-05:00

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

My bad - forgot to post yesterday....

Don't worry - there will still be 12 days - promise!

Today's treat is another free pattern. This time a cushy lovely light (yet full of alpaca goodness & a fast knit) cowl.

TECHNO-POP!
An easy-peasy generous wooly cowl

Size: 36 inches around by 9 inches tall
Materials: 2 skeins Blue Sky Alpacas Techno (or 240 yds. heavy worsted)
Size 10.5 (US) 24 or 32 inch circular needles (or to obtain gauge)
Gauge: 4 st = 1 inch (in pattern)

The yarn is absolutely yummy, light as air and so soft! The pattern is an easy twisted check.

Pattern available on the sidebar and on Ravelry.

Enjoy!

On the 3rd Day of Christmas

2011-12-14T15:28:00.003-05:00

On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

Today's gift is: free patterns! Yay!

First 30 people to email me their wished for pattern at susanpandorf@gmail.com will receive that pattern free!

OK - we're done now - actually gave away over 40 - ho ho ho!!!

If you want me to gift it on Ravelry, remember to include your RAV name. Otherwise I will email you the pdf to the address you send from.

Ready, set...

GO!!!

hope I'm not really sorry I did this - the email volume could be astounding - will edit post when the number is reached

On the 2nd day of Christmas...

2011-12-13T16:57:00.005-05:00

On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

Today's deal is ~~$10~~ $20 off the $60 price of the Fellowship patterns. Use the code:

2turtledoves

and a partridge in a pear tree...

I'll leave the code active through end of day Wednesday.

Gotta scoot - heading out to see the Nutcracker tonight

The Twelve Days of Christmas

2011-12-12T15:33:00.006-05:00

"On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me A partridge in a Pear Tree." -English Christmas Carol

The blog has been silent all fall, but I have been anything but inattentive. I have been working on a holiday surprise for all my loyal readers & knitters.

The twelve days in the song are the twelve days starting Christmas day, or in some traditions, the day after Christmas (December 26) (Boxing Day or St. Stephen's Day, as being the feast day of St. Stephen Protomartyr) to the day before Epiphany, or the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6, or the Twelfth Day). Twelfth Night is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "the evening of the fifth of January, preceding Twelfth Day, the eve of the Epiphany, formerly the last day of the Christmas festivities and observed as a time of merrymaking."^[3]

Although the specific origins of the chant are not known, it possibly began as a Twelfth Night "memories-and-forfeits" game, in which a leader recited a verse, each of the players repeated the verse, the leader added another verse, and so on until one of the players made a mistake, with the player who erred having to pay a penalty, such as offering up a kiss or a sweet.^[1] This is how the game is offered up in its earliest known printed version, in the children's book Mirth without Mischief (c. 1780) published in England, which 100 years later Lady Gomme, a collector of folktales and rhymes, described playing every Twelfth Day night before eating mince pies and twelfth cake.^[2]

The song apparently is older than the printed version, though it is not known how much older. Textual evidence indicates that the song was not English in origin, but French, though it is considered an English carol. Three French versions of the song are known. If the "partridge in a pear tree" of the English version is to be taken literally, then it seems as if the chant comes from France, since the red-legged (or French) partridge, which perches in trees more frequently than the native common (or grey) partridge, was not successfully introduced into England until about 1770.^[1]^[2]

The song was imported to the United States in 1910 by Emily Brown, of the Downer Teacher's College in Milwaukee, WI, who had encountered the song in an English music store sometime before. She needed the song for the school Christmas pageant, an annual extravaganza that she was known for organizing.^{[citation needed]}

I know traditionally, the 12 days begin on Christmas day, but I am jumping the gun and running the promotion before Christmas. ( I figure after Christmas I will be too tired.)

For the next twelve days, there will be a special post on the blog, with free patterns, promotions, contests, & giveaways.

So check back every day until Christmas for a little holiday cheer and fun, from me to you!

Today's special is a free pattern.

WAFFLING
A deeply textured infinity scarf

Size: 10 inches wide by 54 inches long Materials: 4 skeins Malabrigo Twist (or 600 yds. heavy worsted) Size 10 (US) needles (or to obtain gauge) Cable needle, spare needle & yarn needle for grafting Gauge: 5 st = 1 inch

You can wear it in a long loop, or wound twice around the neck for a cozier feel.

The pattern is available for free download on the sidebar or on Ravelry.

I know you were really jonesing for the partridge, but this will just have to do!

Come back tomorrow for another surprise...

Argonath Errata

2011-11-28T17:05:00.000-05:00

Written instructions in old version reversed the directions in which to work chart on RS & WS rows.

Corrected version reads: Work right to left on RS rows; left to right on WS rows.

Oops…

Housekeeping

2011-10-26T18:51:00.007-04:00

"Perhaps all artists were, in a sense, housewives: tenders of the earth household."

- Erica Jong

I am a lousy housekeeper.

No ifs, ands or buts. I would rather be creating something new, than maintaining something old.

My house is a pit, my lacework impeccable - sigh...

Which is why it has taken me this long to put my house in order.

Now that all of the patterns in the Fellowship of the Ring series (first of the Lord of the Rings Collection) are out, I have compiled them into both a comprehensive E-book of all 13 patterns (including Evenstar) for $60. This is a $12 savings over purchasing them individually.

I have also separated them into three"mini-collections" of four patterns each.

Wee Wonders $18

four small accessory patterns

Bag End, Goldberry, Rivindell, & Bombadil

Traveling Togs $22

four cabled patterns

Argonath, Dwarrowdelf, Lothlorien, & Strider

Elven Delicacies $25

four lace patterns

Evenstar, Galadriel's Mirror, Legolas, & Mithril

This way, those of you who love lace, or cables, or small projects can purchase a selection that includes only your favorites and still take advantage of a reduced price.

You can purchase here on the sidebar, or on Ravelry's website. Either way, you will download through Ravelry, so can keep the patterns in your library if you so desire.

You do NOT have to be a member of Ravelry to use their download provider.

I have also made another page that features the Fellowship Patterns.

*****

Now, anybody do windows?

Mithril At Last!

2011-10-01T13:09:00.007-04:00

A Elbereth Gilthoniel,
silivren penna miriel
o menel aglar elenath…

'O Elbereth Star-kindler,
Glittering white light slants down, sparkling like jewels
From the glorious firmament of the star-host…

MITHRIL VEST $10

Fellowship of the Ring Series
a lace vest from the needles of Susan Pandorf

Pattern is intended to be oversized for Medium through 2X, with a finished bust measurement of [42, 46, 50, 54, 58] inches. If you wish a smaller vest, I suggest you go down a needle size.

Materials: 700 yds fingering weight yarn
1000 size 8 seed beads
size 3 (US) 40 inch circular needle
9 markers

Gauge: 4 st = 1 inch (blocked out) in repeating side panel pattern
Advanced lace knitting
Charted Pattern

Vest is knit in one piece with shoulders seamed at finish. A beaded front angles down to a long pointed back. Sizing is accomplished through the repeated stitches to the side of the lace panels. This pattern has 12 charts and uses short rows for shaping.

While not for the faint of heart, this vest is an heirloom quality piece, sure to be noticed wherever you wear it.

It is also a lot of fun to knit.

Balrog Cowl

2011-09-21T13:39:00.003-04:00

Urkhas tanakhi! Urkhas tanakhi!
Kâmin takalladi! Ugrûd tashniki kurdumâ!
Urkhas urus

Boromir: What is this new devilry?
Gandalf: A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!

BALROG COWL $6

THE TWO TOWERS SERIES

A mosaic knit hooded cowl from the needles of Susan Pandorf

Size: 18 inches tall by 30 inches around
Materials: String Theory Blue Faced Sport in 3 colors
A –Java (brown) - 290 yds
B- Garnet (red) - 175 yds
C- Canyon (orange) - 175 yds
Size 3 & 5 (US) circular needles (24 or 32 inch)
cable needle & 4 markers
Gauge: 7 st = 1 inch

Intermediate Level - charted

The cowl has a nifty flared ribbed bottom that sits nicely on the shoulders, then a long stretch of mosaic knit with a center cable running up the front.

I made mine long enough to pull up over my head, with a lovely picot edging to frame the face.

The mosaic design looks like the fiery face of the demon. Mosaic knitting is much simpler than other color work, as it is worked with only one color at a time. The pattern is formed by slipping stitches.

Finally, a reason to look forward to winter!

In Dreams Errata

2011-09-14T20:40:00.003-04:00

Can you tell what I have spent my afternoon doing? Nose buried in the patterns.

sigh...

Having one errata post would look better, but I figure listing them separately will make them easier to find.

I am going to put together a master page with all the errata listings for all patterns.

Chart 7:

Row 194, st 50 s/ b purl NOT pfb.

Festivus Errata

2011-09-14T20:23:00.000-04:00

Written directions, row 21 reads:

K4, (YO, SSK) twice K2, *K2, (YO, SSK) five times, K2: rep from * to last eight stitches. End (YO, SSK) twice, K4

It should read:

Row 21: K4, (YO, SSK) twice, *K2, (YO, SSK) five times, rep from *to last ten stitches. End K2 (YO, SSK) twice, K4

Galadriel's Mirror Errata

2011-09-14T19:58:00.000-04:00

Written Directions for row 77 should read:

Row 77 (WS): k3, (k1, p1tbl) seven times, k3, p2, k1, p2, k3, (p1tbl, k1) twelve times, k2, p2, k1, p2, k3, (p1tbl, k1) seven times, p1tbl, (k1, p1tbl) seven times, k3, p2, k1, p2, k3, (p1tbl, k1) twelve times, k2, p2, k1, p2, k3, (p1tbl, k1) seven times, k3

Chart is correct

Evenstar Errata

2011-09-14T18:38:00.002-04:00

Chart 2

row 52, st 12 s/b a spiral symbol denoting k3.

Ten Years Later

2011-09-11T11:01:00.003-04:00

"The spirit of man is an inward flame; a lamp the world blows upon but never puts out."

- Margot Asquith

Most of us can vividly and painfully remember Sept. 11, 2001. Where were we? What were we doing? Who were we with when news of the devastating terrorist attacks reached us?

It was a bewildering and incredible sequence of events. Nineteen men boarded four airplanes and turned them into lethal weapons of hatred and destruction. We saw the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center crumble to dust as two planes penetrated them like spears. In an open field near Shanksville, Penn., another plane crashed, and a fourth dove into the Pentagon. In all, 2,973 people died and 24 are still listed as "missing."

The losses and the grief affected people of many faiths and ethnic origins. It cut across socio-economic and cultural differences. It impressed upon us the significance of the values of freedom and democracy we hold dear and it confronted us with the need to respond to this challenge with justice and prudence as we protected the nation's security and safety.

Much has happened in America and the world since Sept. 11, 2001. Our lives have not been the same. Getting on an airplane is no longer pleasant. Going into a public building or to a large gathering often requires that we be searched. We have become more suspicious. Thousands of Americans have died in the unfolding wars and conflicts that have engaged our nation. The world remains in a continuous nervous state of alert.

Politics and the economy have not been immune to the effects of 9/11. Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden are gone. Hosni Mubarak and Moammar Gadhafi are ousted. The Middle East is in upheaval. Peace seems elusive.

Many prayer services and memorials will take place to remember the events of 9/11 and honor the memories of those who died and the heroic efforts of many citizens 10 years ago. I offer this meditation as we observe the 10th anniversary of 9/11:

Let us remember those who died as victims of terror, each of them an image of God, a universe of hopes;
Let us recall with gratitude, the heroism and courage of the first responders;
Let us remember the compassion and altruism of ordinary citizens who turned to help both strangers and friends;
Let us bring gifts of faith, justice and mercy to all who yearn for comfort and renewal;
Let us reject prejudice and violence against those who believe differently, dress differently and speak differently;
Let us combat stereotypes and refuse to speak or accept words of hatred and acts of intolerance;
Let us build bridges of civil conversation in order to create a just and caring society for all;
Let us rekindle hope and trust and let us dream of and labor for a time of understanding, harmony and solidarity;
Let us strengthen the hands of those who defend and the hearts of those who labor for peace;
Let us renew our commitment to the values of democracy, "to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" for all.

Dennis Sasso is senior rabbi at Congregation Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis.

The Mere

2011-08-24T13:28:00.011-04:00

"Alive without breath; as cold as death; never thirsting, ever drinking clad in mail, never clinking. Drowns on dry land, thinks an island is a mountain; thinks a fountain is a puff of air. So sleek, so fair! What a joy to meet! We only wish to catch a fish, so juicy-sweet!"

-Gollum’s song

When I was designing this piece, DH opined that, " NO ONE is going to buy a pattern named 'Dead Marsh'!"

This is when sneaky designers migrate to the web domain to determine if said marsh has another name - lol...

I think the dead marshes possess a melancholy and lonely beauty. It is a vast & barren landscape, full of wispy grasses and pools of stagnant water. It glows with the light of "corpse candles" as Gollum calls them. We may be more familiar with the term, "will-o-wisp."

In working on this design, I also have had in the back of my mind the haunting and terrifying scenes as Frodo is pulled under the water by the dead warriors and that feeling of being trapped by seaweed like vines and limbs.

I wanted the beads to look like the lights and the entire piece to flow like seaweed.

How'd I do?

The design reminds me of my ill fated "Drizzle" design, the one that got away...

THE MERE
THE TWO TOWERS SERIES

An organic stole in beaded cables & lace Size: 18-24 inches wide by 64-72 inches long (smaller if left unblocked)

Materials: 1320 yds Sanguine Gryphon Gaia lace or other lace weight yarn
5000 size 8 seed beads
Size 3 (US) needles
Crochet hook for beading; tapestry needle for grafting
Gauge: not important to this piece
Intermediate level - charted & written directions

Make sure you click on the images to get a close up. This piece is subtle and, like the Mere itself, warrants closer examination.

The yarn is Sanguine Gryphon's Gaia lace; the color is Sunflower Sutra. the beads are Miyuke 8-0234

NOTE: WHILE SUNFLOWER SUTRA WAS A SEASONAL COLOR, SANGUINE GRYPHON HAS TOLD ME THEY HAVE 36 SKEINS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO USE THE EXACT YARN.

The pattern combines cables, beading and a lace. A perfect tri-fecta!

The repeats are predictable and not too long so this one goes a little quicker than some. While the bead count is high, it is a no brainer to place them. Stole is knit in one piece with the exception of the final end border, which is grafted at the end.

The bottom border is kinda funky: a bit of leaf, a bit of shibori-like 3D point.

I was going to leave mine unblocked to enhance the organic feel to it & highlight the cables...

But the blocking really shows off the subtle glow of the beading, the sheen of the yarn & the sinuous nature of the lace pattern.

I really love this one & hope you do too!

Crocus Pocus Errata

2011-08-24T10:25:00.002-04:00

Chart D

Make Row 3, Stitch 24 a k2tog and Row 5, Stitch 24 a sk2p. Cannot correct charts because used old software not on current computer.

Strong Craft

2011-08-20T14:05:00.003-04:00

History repeats itself, but the special call of an art which has passed away is never reproduced. It is as utterly gone out of the world as the song of a destroyed wild bird.
- Joseph Conrad

I'm quite sure that all true professional artists, of every description, in all walks of life, whether their craft is painting, music, sculpture, medicine or anything, have one primary concern - mankind.
- Chico Hamilton

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
- Mother Teresa

You may have seen this editorial in the Huffington Post. It has caused quite an uproar in the internet community.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peg-aloi/tough-gals-do-they-still-_b_924507.html

My response:

“I am proud to be a knitter. My grandmother won prizes; my mother ran a needlework store. My ancestors smile at me from heaven as I honor a time when women provided for their loved ones in the only ways open to them - by feeding, clothing, & comforting them.

I design knitting patterns for strong women who choose to spend their leisure time working with their hands & hearts. This is both meaningful and worthwhile. Knitting paid for my children's college tuition & puts food on our table. That is an outcome of which any suffragette would be proud.

Many are drawn in this age of hands off technology and virtual entertainment to the simpler, more tactile, & personal ways of satisfying our creative urges. Would you so malign a man who was involved with woodworking? Is he "perpetuating male stereotypes"?

Clearly the writer has not spent any time investigating the many alternative patterns for skull caps, corsets, and the like. You can be a knitter and be as "strong" or "girly" as you like. The desire to work with our hands can be satisfied in a multitude of ways: some with skulls & crossbones, & some with ethereal lace.

People who knit do so not out of some misguided desire to return to "women's" work or more repressive times. They knit because they are part of a community that values love, craftsmanship, beauty, art, and sustainability. They knit because they can. They knit because they care."

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the...

2011-08-09T13:08:00.004-04:00

The really happy person is the one who can enjoy the scenery, even when they have to take a detour.

- Sir James Jeans (1877-1946, British scientist, astronomer royal)

Someone once told me, the quality of a piece of writing may be determined by gauging the quality of what the writer edited out & left by the wayside. In other words, if you aren't tossing out good stuff, you probably haven't:

gone far enough in your exploration of the subject, or
gotten down to the bare bones of the matter.

I find this advice pertinent to the design process as well. It is all too easy to go into the design process with a set idea of how a piece is going to be constructed and what it will look like upon finishing. There is nothing wrong with following your muse, but I think we must remain open as long as possible to the option of a detour.

Our first drafts should be free and wide ranging - they should be messy, overbloated things, full of many wanderings, insights, & creative possibilities. Only then can we stand back and see what works.

Sometimes a pattern takes a totally new direction, in this process, one which you might have missed had you hewn to the straight & narrow path.

Creativity does not fly as the crows, from point A to point B. It meanders like a stream, picking up small stones of ideas along the way.

Then we sift, as the miners did, looking for the nugget of gold within the stream.

My goodness, I'm verbose this afternoon!

All of this is by way of saying, Helm's Deep took a BIG detour.

My original design concept was a grey wooly shoulder wrap, made to look like stone. But I just couldn't make it work to my satisfaction. I tried different yarns, different patterns, different construction techniques...

But none of them were working.

So I pitched the whole thing out & started over with 3 colors of yarn: Madelinetosh sock in:

Stovepipe (blue grey) for the stone walls of the keep
Golden Hickory (amber rust) for the armor of the elves, who make their stand with men
Floursack (off white) for Shadowfax & the white wizard Gandalf who turn the tide of battle with their arrival

I decided on a geometric slip stitch pattern that looked a bit like stone blocks in a wall. Then I added a cogwheel lace border - nothing too dainty. I decreased within the pattern to curve the scarf into a crescent shape.

Once I was done with that, I still wasn't happy. It just wasn't all there, you know?

So I added short rows in the Hickory to make a wide crescent shawl. I also added a little white & grey edging at the neck for symmetry's sake.

What I wound up with was my first "steampunk" pattern!

Not quite where I thought I was going, but a beautiful detour, nonetheless!

I finished the shawl while still at the lake house & needed a small project to work on while our grandson was visiting - nothing too fussy (beads are not a good mix with a 2 year old).

So I cast on the Balrog cowl.

Next thing you know, I had polished off another sample, before even getting Helm's Deep out into testing.

The cowl has a nifty flared ribbed bottom that sits nicely on the shoulders, then a long stretch of mosaic knit with a center cable running up the front.

I made it long enough to pull up over your head, and added a lovely picot edging to frame the face.

I love the way this mosaic design looks like the smiling (snarling?) fiery face of the demon.

I need test knitters for both these patterns.

Vacation plans & other projects seem to have diverted most of my usual suspects. If you are interested, please drop me an email at susanpandorf@gmail.com & I will send you all the details, such as yardage, skill sets needed, & time frame.

Will get modeled shots soon - promise.

Until then...back to the Mere...

Isengard

2011-07-12T14:33:00.006-04:00

"In the moonlight, the Ring of Isengard looked like a graveyard of unquiet dead. For the ground trembled."

-Tolkien

I am enjoying a few weeks respite at the lake in Michigan (while the men in my life keep the home fires burning) but just couldn't wait to send this pattern out to all of my loyal subscribers.

This pattern is an exclusive extra. It will retail at $8 eventually, but will not be available for separate purchase until 2012. Until then it is a little something special just for the fellowship. Yes, that's right...

THE HOBBITS ARE GOING TO ISENGARD!

Sorry - had to do it - Gollum made me.

Anyhow...

ISENGARD
THE TWO TOWERS SERIES

A twisted stitch stole from the needles of Susan Pandorf
Size: 18 inches wide by 72 inches long

Materials: 1200 yds Rowan Fine Milk Cotton in Pastille or other fingering weight yarn
size 3 (US) needles or to obtain gauge
markers
Gauge: 6 st = 1 inch, blocked
charted - intermediate level pattern

Isengard is a highly textured twisted stitch & openwork stole. It incorporates lacework into the overall design in such a way as to evoke the crenellated battlements of Orthanc, Saruman's stronghold.

Towering windows form the central theme of this long stretch of a wrap, with circular motifs that evoke the surrounding ring on which the tower sits. A winding river-like motif on the sides hints at the surrounding natural landscape that in the end contributes mightily to Saruman's defeat.

Any solid or semi-solid color fingering weight yarn will work: I did mine in Rowan Fine Milk Cotton for a summer piece, but you may choose something woolier. It would look stunning in charcoal for winter...

The stole is worked in one piece end to end - no grafting or picking up of stitches required. The pattern is complex enough to be interesting, but you should soon memorize it and no longer need to consult the chart every row. The pattern is charted.

If you are not a subscriber, it is not too late. You can subscribe here on the left hand sidebar (scroll down till you see the picture of the Two Towers - after the view cart button) or on Ravelry. The $60 subscription deal is available through the end of July.

We now return you to our previously scheduled vacation...

Westemnet Errata

2011-06-30T17:05:00.001-04:00

Is my face red...

I accidentally counted the right edge stitch in the repeats . Should cast on 56.

Yeesh...

Westemnet

2011-06-29T18:38:00.005-04:00

Bealocwealm hafað fréone frecan forth onsended
giedd sculon singan gléomenn sorgiende on Meduselde
þat heo mano arer his þruc ne deores
on meagorinc deorcas, belu

An evil death has set forth the noble warrior
A song shall sing the sorrowing minstrels in Meduseld
That noble cousin who always held me dear

Now is held in darkness, enclosed…

Eowyn's Lament

When I got this lovely ball of Isager Bomulin, it was a challenge to find a pattern that showed it off to its best advantage. The yarn is slightly bumpy, due to the wrap of the 2 strands: one linen & one cotton. The linen is natural beige; the cotton is white. So there is a slight marl to the yarn as well.

Complicated lace patterns got lost in the yarn. The yarn was too fine for cablework. Knit/purl and slip stitch patterns weren't the answer either.

Then I found this nifty little yarn-over pattern in my Barbara Walkers. It couldn't be simpler. If you can knit, purl, yarn-over, knit 2 together, & slip, slip knit, you're all set.

The pattern is slightly textural and evolves into this dainty hourglass pattern. It is open & airy & light & quick & easy peasy - everything a summer scarf should be.

In my humble opinion...

As to the name, I wanted something that played off of the casual, slightly rustic feel of the scarf.

Westemnet was the westernmost grasslands of Rohan beyond Entwash that spread until the rivers Isen, marking the western part of the land of the Mark.

The most important of Rohan’s settlements and fortifications lay to the south of the Westemnet, where the White Mountains rose up from the plain. Helm’s Deep was among these, and to the south-east was the seat of the Lords of the Mark, Edoras itself.

Emnet means “plain” in Rohirric.

WESTEMNET

The Lord of the Rings Collection

Materials:
3 balls Isager Bomulin (color: natural) or 525 yards other fingering weight yarn
size 3 (US) needles

Size: 10 by 64 inches
Gauge: not important

Written & charted directions.
Suitable for the beginning lace knitter.

Mine is coming in with 2 balls, but I have added 15% to the yardage estimate to allow for differences in knitting styles.

Hope you enjoy the free pattern as much as I did, knitting it up. Now I'm just waiting on that second ball.

Patterns on the sidebar and Ravelry - you know what to do...

Treebeard

2011-06-24T16:15:00.003-04:00

Naur vi eryn, lanc i dalaf.
Mathach vi geven?
Nostach vi 'wilith?
Mâb le i nagor,
Bâd gurth vi ngalad firiel.
Dorthach vi mar han?
Dagrathach go hain?

'The woods are burning,
the ground lies bare.
Do you feel it in the earth?
Can you smell it in the air?
The war is upon you,
Death moves in the fading light.
Are you part of this world?
Will you join their fight?'

- Words by Philippa Boyens, translated into Sindarin by David Salo,

TREEBEARD $6
THE TWO TOWERS SERIES

A shoulder hugging organic lace wrap from the needles of Susan Pandorf

Size: 33 (36, 39, 42) (45, 48) inches wide by 10 inches tall

Materials: 440 (480, 520, 560) (600, 640) yds Alchemy Silken Straw in Forest Waltz or other DK weight yarn
size 4 (US) needles or to obtain gauge

Gauge: one pattern rep measures approx 1.5 inches wide & 1 inch tall, unblocked

WRITTEN & CHARTED DIRECTIONS

suitable for beginning lace knitters

This pattern is intended to be left unblocked to maximize the likeness to moss. Wrap is knit flat in one piece, twisted and seamed at back of neck.

I love this piece! It is light as a feather and stays on your shoulders effortlessly, due to the strategic decreases in the pattern. By leaving it unblocked, you maximize the elasticity of the finished piece. It really does hug your shoulders.

Any fingering weight yarn will work, but the Alchemy Silken Straw really enhances both the lightness and the textural nature of the wrap. It's a little stiff to work with in the beginning but softens up beautifully as you work and has fabulous drape & color.

Now that my photos are done, I think this one is going into heavy rotation this summer. Just the thing for cool evening breezes...

Sneak Peek Saturday, er Sunday, er Monday! Yeah! That's the Ticket!

2011-06-13T15:15:00.007-04:00

"Enthusiasm, like measles, mumps and the common cold, is highly contagious."

-Emory Ward

Lord, I sure do hope so!

I have been sick this past week with the cold that wouldn't die...

Started sniffling on Wednesday and still hacking the following Monday.

Puts a real crimp in a gal's social life, don't ya know.

But it does wonders for the WIP pile.

I holed up with a tall glass of juice, my two current projects, and a weekend long Friday Night Lights marathon, courtesy of Netflix.

And lo & behold, they are both ready to join Treebeard & the Mere in testing. YAY!

First out of the starting gate is the Mithril Vest, last pattern in the Fellowship series.

I would do a modeled shot, but have not done my hair since last Tuesday before the plague cold hit. It's not pretty folks...

All that is left is to weave in the ends & knit the I-cord for the closing tie. I have some knifty little gold "Tree of Life" pendants coming for the ends of the ties.

Going to lace the I-cord through the front edges for closure

Mithril is knit in one piece - only seaming is at the shoulders. It has optional beading on the front only.

All the glitches are knocked out of it, the sizing issues have been addressed satisfactorily and she is heading out the door to all the wonderful test knitters in a wide variety of sizes - Hallelujah!

Haven't been this excited to see something leave home since my brother-in-law got his own apartment - lol

close up of upper back lace

The other WIP is something y'all haven't seen before.

This is Isengard, a highly textured lace stole knit up in Rowan's Fine Milk Cotton, which is fingering weight.

Isengard is all about linear length, contrasted with circular motifs. The tension between the tall tower and the circle at its base.

I had to do it, folks. After all, if Tolkien had stopped with Barad Dur, it would have been the One Tower, no?

You remember when I said Two Towers subscribers would be getting a little surprise somewhere down the road?

SURPRISE!

This pattern will be emailed free of charge to all Two Towers subscribers, just as soon as my test knitters are finished with her.

The pattern will eventually become available for individual purchase for $8 at the end of the year. Till then, the pattern will be exclusive to Two Towers subscribers, as my way of thanking them for their faith in me.

Not too late to join the fun. Sign up over on the sidebar or on Ravelry...

Speaking of subscribers, Fellowship of the Ring subscribers should check their in boxes this week for a little surprise from me to you to make the wait for Mithril a little less frustrating. I have not forgotten you and I appreciate your patience.

Now, if y'all will excuse me (WOW! I need to stop watchin this Texas hoedown of a series)

I have patterns to write...

In Dreams

2011-06-07T15:56:00.004-04:00

When the cold of winter comes
Starless night will cover day
In the veiling of the sun
We will walk in bitter rain
But in dreams I still hear your name
And in dreams We will meet again
When the seas and mountains fall
And we come, to end of days
In the dark I hear a call
Calling me there I will go there
And back again

- Words and music by Fran Walsh and Howard Shore

In Dreams
(full pattern)
$9
(includes $1 donation to Doctors without Borders)

beaded half circle shawl
THE TWO TOWERS SERIES
from the needles of Susan Pandorf

Materials: 1300 – 1500 yds. Eos or other laceweight yarn

5000 size 8 seed beads (optional)
Model knit in 6 color Unique Sheep Gradiance - Abalone
size 3 (US) needles or to obtain gauge

Gauge (stockinette st - blocked): 7 st = 1 inch

Advanced Lace

Written & Charted

At Long Last...

2011-06-06T14:21:00.005-04:00

"Little by little, through patience and repeated effort, the mind will become stilled in the Self."

-Bhagavad Gita

Mithril is finally off the needles for good & blocking. Thought I had her ready for testing in May, but had to pull back a bit & add some short rows to the front to get the shape right.

Will get her out to one test knitter in each size by end of week - whew...

I know many of you are counting the days and wish it was done sooner. Me too!

All I can say is:

Something like this takes time & patience & extreme focus (which is often hard to come by in a household where a 2 year old has taken up residence.)

Mama had WB all last week, so was finally able to get in several days in a row of nothing but thinking & knitting & frogging & thinking some more.

I hope you think she is worth the effort and the wait.

I do.

Thank you for your patience with this challenging & rewarding design.

Sneak Peek Saturday

2011-05-28T13:59:00.007-04:00

"Not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance."
- Jean Petit-Senn (1792-1870, French poet)

It's been a while since we've had a sneak peek Saturday. Each week, time would roll around to the weekend and I would say to myself, "Well, I really want to get to this that or the other point before sharing my recent work."

And the weeks just seemed to fold seamlessly into one another and here it is a month later.

My bad...

It has been an abundant month at Sunflower Designs.

Before vacation, I was sort of burned out on designing, but the 10 days of rest, relaxation, reading (the 3 Rs) and NO KNITTING (gasp) worked their magic on this worn down middle aged knitter.

Well, since vacation, I have come roaring back with a vengeance.

WARNING: picture heavy post!!!

First off, some old business:

Many of you have requested modeled shots of my creations. I roped DH into taking some shots a week or two ago, so here goes...

Barad Dur

Lothlorien - front...

and back

and last, but most certainly NOT least!

In Dreams

I will be compiling the Mystery Shawl clues into one pattern next week, which all KAL participants will receive. This pattern will include all charts, written directions, & corrections. I will post more pictures then.

On to new business:

The Mere is coming along - mine is 1/3 complete and my test knitters have made good progress with their knits. As soon as I get her a little further along and vett the directions for attaching the final edging, I will write her up & get her out to your hot little hands.

REMEMBER: Barad Dur & Mere were added to the Two Towers Series AFTER the Christmas gift certificate promotion. THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE $52 GIFT CERTIFICATE.

They are part of the $15 add-on package. THEY ARE INCLUDED FOR THOSE PURCHASING THE SERIES AFTER MARCH 1 FOR $60.

Those of you forgoing the extra 3 patterns, your first pattern will be Treebeard, which I finished this morning and shot out to my test knitters.

This shoulder wrap features a twist at front and an unblocked lace pattern to evoke the look of moss on the side of the Ents in Fangorn Forest. The yarn is Alchemy's Silken Straw in Forest Waltz.

It is not too late to subscribe to the Two Towers Series. This gets you benefits such as a reduced price, wonderfully warm & witty (HAH!) missives from yours truly, automatic pattern updates, and a surprise pattern somewhere down the line (SHHHH!!!)

Sign up is on the left hand sidebar - scroll down a bit...

I also have one other new pattern in development that has nothing to do with the Lord of the Rings.

This is the Three Angels Shawl: my first dedicated pattern. It is a fundraiser for the Three Angels Children's Home in Haiti, which includes a school and a hospital. The shawl is knit with Crystal Palace's Mini-Mochi and will be edged with a lace border in alpaca that looks like angel wings.

Here is a shot of the shawl stretched out a bit to show the stitch pattern better.

These spring days are abundant indeed. Even as new life springs from the earth and our pulses quicken with the scent of fresh possibilities, we move into the summer months with hope in our hearts and joy in our own backyards.

Code Problems

2011-05-18T13:59:00.001-04:00

I think the reason many of you downloading from the blog have had difficulties with the codes may be that you are only able to use one code a day on E-junkie. The problems seem to be focused on those who are trying to download more than one clue at a time.

Let me know...

In Dreams Clue 5 Errata

2011-05-11T16:09:00.000-04:00

Written Directions for Row 173 should end with:

;rep from * 3 times

NOT

; rep from * 3 times, ending row with ssk, instead of sk2p (see notes)

Chart is correct.

Thanks for the catch, Elyss!

Barad Dur Version 3

2011-05-08T15:47:00.005-04:00

NEW VERSION OF BARAD DUR - too many errata to list - lost an email from test knitter with many corrections on it.

Just make sure you are knitting from pdf file with name BaradDur.V3.pdf

Updates have been sent to all subscribers and individual purchasers

and pay no attention to the little woman behind the curtain - she is just beating her brains out (what little is left of them)

Barad Dur

2011-05-07T14:15:00.006-04:00

Mettanna Irkat-lukhud

ma katabrikihu

Ulfat-atam ma tanakhi

uduhu bin-nât aznân tarsisi

No shaft of light Can breach it

No breath of air

Comes from it

Only an endless dark rises…

It seems only fitting that we should begin our exploration of themes from The Two Towers with a piece designed to represent one of those towers.

BARAD DUR

THE TWO TOWERS SERIES
from the needles of Susan Pandorf

Size: 54 in wide by 20 in long (at center back)
Materials: 3 balls Rowan Panama or 415 yds sport/fingering weight yarn
size 5 (US) needles or to obtain gauge
Gauge (stockinette st - blocked): 5 st = 1 inch

Intermediate level - charted & written

Barad Dur is a quick little shawlette, knit from the bottom or outside up & inward, decreasing as you go. The patterning is only on the outer edges, so once you have worked through the chart or directions for that portion, it is an easy stretch of stockinette until bind off.

Pattern’s lace motif features the Eye of Sauron.

Barad Dur never looked so good!

In Dreams Mystery Shawl

2011-05-04T14:51:00.003-04:00

I have now provided two alternate endings to the In Dreams shawl, for those who run short of yarn. Both options shorten the points of the final leaves, rounding them gently to coordinate with the rounded motifs earlier in the design.

Bead count will decrease with the decrease in rows.

The pdf file contains both charts & written directions for alternate patterning that subtracts either 4 or 6 rows from the finished shawl. I have also included revised directions for the outer edging.

These directions are available as a free download both here and on Ravelry. They will also be emailed to every member of the KAL today.

My sincere apologies & thanks for your patience.

I am also updating clue 7 with a new chart, fixing the two errata discovered over the weekend. Written directions remain the same, so you can just print the new chart if you like.

Only Love

2011-05-02T16:29:00.002-04:00

"Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him. "

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that"

_Martin Luther King, Jr.

I cannot say it better, so I will not try...

In Dreams Clue 7 errata

2011-04-30T16:50:00.002-04:00

Clue 7

Chart 9, row 236, last st: should be Inc 3

Final row of chart shows 4 blanks spaces over YOs in previous rows. All non beaded stitches (those over the YOs) should be kfb.

Written directions are correct

In Dreams Clue 5 Errata

2011-04-19T18:00:00.002-04:00

Row 169 & 170 (written directions) should read:

Row 169 (RS): k1, *(k2tog, yo) 4 times, k2, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, (cdd, yo, k2tog, k3, ssk, yo) twice, cdd, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, k2, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, k2, (yo, ssk) 4 times, k1; rep from * 3 times

Row 170 (WS): *(p1, p1b) 4 times, p22, pfb, p5, pfb, p1, pfb, p5, pfb, p22, (p1b, p1) 3 times, p1b; rep from * 3 times. p1

Chart is correct

When I made prior correction to these rows, I was unknowingly working from a corrupted source doc.

In Dreams Clue 6 errata

2011-04-18T18:51:00.002-04:00

In Dreams Clue 6

chart 8, row 194, column 13 should be purled.

chart 7, row 219: 1st st should be k2tog

written directions are correct

In Dreams Clue 5 Errata

2011-04-06T16:29:00.001-04:00

Row 170 (WS):*(p1, p1b) 4 times, p23, pfb, p5, pfb, p1, pfb, p5, pfb, p23, (p1b, p1) 3 times, p1b; rep from * 3 times. p1

Chart is correct

In Dreams Clue 5 Errata

2011-04-05T11:03:00.001-04:00

In Dreams Clue 5

Row 169 (written directions) should read as follows:

Row 169 (RS): k1, *(k2tog, yo) 4 times, k2, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k6 yo, (cdd, yo, k2tog, k3, ssk, yo) twice, cdd, yo, k6, yo, ssk, k2, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, k2, (yo, ssk) 4 times, k1; rep from * 3 times

Chart is correct

Lothlorien Errata

2011-03-30T12:34:00.003-04:00

The numbering on chart 2 begins on the wrong number. It should begin with row 105, not 125.

PS - did not forget about sneak peek Saturday - just worked on nothing but In Dreams last week, so couldn't show you pics...

Together

2011-03-23T10:45:00.004-04:00

"There is nothing more important in life than human beings, nothing sweeter than the human touch."

-Lee Aheater

In light of the severity of the plight of the Japanese people, I am raising the percentage of sales donated to the relief effort to 20% and continuing the promotion through the end of the month.

Thank you to all who have purchased patterns the past week. Your generosity is inspiring.

The free pattern give-away also continues: one each day.

Together we stand...

Home

2011-03-15T11:46:00.003-04:00

When I think of home
I think of a place where there's love overflowing
I wish I was home
I wish I was back there with the things I been knowing

Wind that makes the tall trees bend into leaning
Suddenly the snowflakes that fall have a meaning
Sprinklin' the scene, makes it all clean

Maybe there's a chance for me to go back there
Now that I have some direction
It would sure be nice to be back home
Where there's love and affection
And just maybe I can convince time to slow up
Giving me enough time in my life to grow up
Time be my friend, let me start again

Suddenly my world has changed it's face
But I still know where I'm going
I have had my mind spun around in space
And yet I've watched it growing

If you're list'ning God
Please don't make it hard to know
If we should believe in the things that we see
Tell us, should we run away
Should we try and stay
Or would it be better just to let things be?

Living here, in this brand new world
Might be a fantasy
But it taught me to love
So it's real, real to me

And I've learned
That we must look inside our hearts
To find a world full of love
Like yours
Like me

Like home...

- The Wiz

This song has been running through my head for over 24 hours now. I don't believe in coincidence. I believe in "way opening".

I am so fortunate to have a loving home in which to ply my craft. It is filled with good things like my cat, my laptop, my grandson, my husband, my inspiration, and, through the miracle of the internet, my friends.

I have food to eat, clean water to drink, a soft pillow on which to lay my head at night. A peaceful & quiet space in which to work on the things I love.

In Japan, many are without even the most basic of needs.

Through the good graces of my In Dreams knitters (that means YOU) I was able to send off another check to Doctors Without Borders yesterday. It feels a little like spitting into the wind, but if we all do our part, we CAN make a difference.

I will donate 10% of all sales this next week to the Japanese relief effort. I call on others within the knitting & crafting community to do likewise. We are so fortunate. We have so much.

I will also be giving away a free pattern to one customer each day, randomly selected.

And one lucky person will get the entire Lord of the Rings Collection (all 3 years) for free.

I encourage you to give to the charity of your choice, whether that be the Red Cross, Knitters (Drs) Without Borders, Save the Children, or another.

Several organizations are helping victims of the Japanese quake. Here's how you can help:

Using your cell phone, you can text-message donations of $10 to the Red Cross. Text the letters REDCROSS to 90999 to make the $10 donation, or visit the organization's website.
The International Medical Corps is putting together relief teams, as well as supplies. The organization is in "contact with partners in Japan and other affected countries to assess needs and coordinate our activities,” said Nancy Aossey, IMC president, on its website. You can donate here. Or, you can text MED to 80888 to donate $10 to emergency relief efforts.
Save the Children is accepting donations for its Children's Emergency Fund. "We are extremely concerned for the welfare of children and their families who have been affected by the disaster. We stand ready to meet the needs of children who are always the most vulnerable in a disaster,' said Eiichi Sadamatsu of the organization in a statement. You can also text “JAPAN” or “TSUNAMI” to 20222 to donate $10.
GlobalGiving, based in Washington, D.C., is providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Text JAPAN to 50555 to donate $10.
The Salvation Army, which has had a presence in Japan since 1895. In Tokyo, the Salvation Army "opened its main building to help shelter commuters who were unable to reach home. They served hot drinks and packed meals," said a spokesperson. You can text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to make a $10 donation to the Salvation Army’s relief efforts.
Mercy Corps is "accepting donations to help survivors of Japan's earthquake and tsunami through our longstanding partner, Peace Winds Japan." Donations will go to meeting the "immediate and longer-term needs of the survivors," a spokesperson said. You can text “MERCY” to 25383 to donate $10.
World Vision, with a staff of 75 in Japan, focuses its relief efforts on children. Visit the website to donate, or call 1-888-56-CHILD (1-888-562-4453). You can text “4JAPAN” or “4TSUNAMI” to 20222 to donate $10.
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a humanitarian assistance organization that also helped in Haiti and in countries affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami. The relief group "worked in Japan before the American entrance into World War II when the organization helped support Jewish refugees — including renowned religious leaders and yeshiva scholars — in Kobe, Japan who fled Hitler’s Europe. Today, several thousand Jews live and work in Japan." Phone: (212) 687-6200.
Adventist Development and Relief Agency can be reached at (800) 424-2372, or text the word SUPPORT to 85944 to make a donation.
The mGive Foundation, which helps with mobile donations, said these groups are also accepting text-based donations: Convoy of Hope, text TSUNAMI to 50555 to donate $10; World Relief Corp. of National Association of Evangelicals, text WAVE to 50555 to donate $10. "When prompted, mobile donors should reply with YES to confirm a one-time gift," the foundation says. "The $10 one-time donation will appear on the donor’s next mobile bill. All donations are tax deductible and receipts may be printed" from the mGive site. "Message and data rates may apply."
Facebook has a Disaster Relief page with lots of good information about organizations that are offering aid, and that you can help, in turn.
Habitat for Humanity; donations accepted at website, or phone donations can be made by calling 1-800-HABITAT.
The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is raising funds to help children in Japan. Donations accepted at website, or by calling 1-800-367-5437.
AmeriCares has dispatched a disaster relief expert to the region to assess the health care needs and is prepared to send medicines, medical supplies and humanitarian aid as necessary. Phone number for donations: 203-658-9500.
International Rescue Committee, based in New York; Phone donations to: 1-877-733-8433. The organization is "dispatching IRC relief experts from our Thailand program to Japan to see how we can assist Japanese authorities in responding to the earthquake/tsunami disaster. We recognize Japan’s significant emergency response expertise, but will offer direct technical assistance and other emergency support."
Microsoft has a Disaster Response Effort underway. "We are taking a number of steps, including ensuring the safety of our employees and their families and proactively offering customers, partners and local response agencies technical support to help ensure business continuity," the company said. (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal.)

The world indeed changed this week. It falls to us to look inside our hearts...

To show the people of Japan a world of love...

Like ours...

Like home...

Sneak Peek Saturday

2011-03-12T14:02:00.006-05:00

"Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind."
-Samuel Johnson

"Curiosity is the key to creativity."
- Akio Morita

All too often these busy days, I get so caught up in the thrill of the ongoing design process, that I neglect to invite others into the studio and share what I am working on until the time comes to bring a pattern to market.

A great deal of my inspiration comes from the two words, "what if?"

What if I used a different yarn?
What if I went up to a much larger needle?
What if I turned this pattern sideways?
What if I combined cables with lace?

A healthy curiosity is indispensable in my line of work. And I am sorry I have not been better at satisfying yours.

So I am instituting (instigating?) aw crud...starting a new feature: Sneak Peek Saturday

(otherwise known as : what the hell has Susan been doing all this week?)

Both of these patterns are part of the new Two Towers series. And both are heading into test knit this coming week as the earliest releases.

Barad Dur shawlette in Rowan Panama (DK weight linen cotton blend) A quick little knit for when you're in the mood for something less fiddly

and the Mere beaded wrap in Sanguine Gryphon Gaia lace (will include directions for scarf & stole) for when you want something less structured

Other than that, I have been knitting on In Dreams (6th clue) and completed charting this week for the final clue (#7)

And I am about to head back into the final work on the Mithril Vest ( last remaining pattern in the Fellowship series) so I can get it out to testers the following week.

(these are old pics - am now up well past the division for the armholes - about mid-back)

Well, that's about it for me these days. Hope all is well with you and yours. Enjoy...

Lothlorien

2011-03-11T12:35:00.004-05:00

"That is the fairest of all the dwellings of my people. There are no trees like the trees of that land. For in the autumn their leaves fall not, but turn to gold. Not till the spring and the new green opens do they fall, and then the boughs are laden with yellow flowers; and the floor of the wood is golden, and golden is the roof, and its pillars are of silver, for the bark of the trees is smooth and grey."
- Legolas

This forest, originally known by its Silvan names Laurelindórinan (Land of the Valley of Singing Gold) and Lórinand (Golden Valley), was renamed Lothlórien (Lórien of the Blossom) in memory of the Lórien the Ñoldor left behind; but the name was often shortened to Lórien ("Land of Gold", although it carried within it also the meaning of "dream"). Galadriel's magic, later revealed as the power of her Ring, enriched the land and made it a magic forest into which evil cannot enter. The only way that Lothlórien could have been conquered by the armies of Mordor is if Sauron had come there himself, for against his power the elves could not triumph. Other names given to the land include the Rohirric name Dwimordene (from dwimor "phantom", an allusion to the perceived magic of the Elves), and the Westron name The Golden Wood.

LOTHLORIEN CAPE
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING COLLECTION

Size: 21 inches long; 92 inches around at bottom edge
Materials: 1250 yds Unique Sheep Wild Thing
(color: Naturewalk Gradience) or other DK weight yarn
size 6 (US) needles or to obtain gauge
cable needle
Gauge (in pattern): 4.5 st = 1 inch
charted pattern - advanced intermediate

This stunning cabled cape’s design flows organically from the trees of the Golden wood at the bottom of the cape into an intricate twisted stitch pattern, sure to grace the wearer.

Eight twisted stitch panels are separated by a repeating cable motif.

Pattern includes directions for a frog closure and color blending with Gradience yarns.

In Dreams Clue 3 Errata

2011-03-05T15:03:00.000-05:00

Orange line on chart should be row 104, not 102. Written directions are correct.

My testers may not be using gradience or didn't catch it because of the size of the chart. That being said, it really doesn't matter one way or the other , apart from the disagreement between written & chart.

The math I did based on Unique Sheep's website to determine skein changeover placement, came out at row 103, which is a right side row. As all changes are on wrong side rows, I had a choice between 102 or 104, so both are fine.

I forgot to change on mine until row 108 & decided it wasn't worth frogging back. Shawl looks beautiful & I had more than enough yarn to complete each section.

NO ONE NEEDS TO CHANGE OR FROG ANYTHING!

I have however corrected the chart, and if you wish you may download the new version.

Nature Lover

2011-03-03T15:59:00.005-05:00

Who can explain the secret pathos of Nature's loveliness? It is a touch of melancholy inherited from our mother Eve. It is an unconscious memory of the lost Paradise. It is the sense that even if we should find another Eden, we would not be fit to enjoy it perfectly nor stay in it forever.

-Henry Van Dyke

I have been searching these last 2 days, for the right combination of yarn & pattern, to evoke the melancholy and lonely beauty of the dead marshes in The Two Towers. It is a vast & barren landscape, full of wispy grasses and pools of stagnant water. It glows with the light of "corpse candles" as Gollum calls them. We may be more familiar with the term, "will-o-wisp."

In working on this design, I also have had in the back of my mind the haunting and terrifying scenes as Frodo is pulled under the water by the dead warriors and that feeling of being trapped by seaweed like vines and limbs.

I wanted the beads to look like the lights and the entire piece to flow.

Today, I got there. I am in love. It is just right. When complete, it will be understated , simple, yet elegant. The design reminds me of my ill fated "Drizzle" design, the one that got away...

Make sure you click on the image to get a close up. This piece is subtle and, like the Mere itself, warrants closer examination.

The yarn is Sanguine Gryphon's Gaia lace; the color is Sunflower Sutra. the beads are Miyuke 8-0234

With a name like that, I just HAD to try it, right?

The pattern combines cables, beading and a little lace. I am going to leave mine unblocked to enhance the organic feel to it. I love the way the fabric ripples and twines, as is.

*****

In Fellowship news, Lothlorien is through testing. I am having a tech glitch with one of the cable symbols used in the charts. As soon as I can get that taken care of, I will send it out.

And now I should probably find something pithy or philosophical to write, some anecdote or observation to make myself sound all wise.

But I have itchy fingers and they are ready to cast on. I think I will go knit.

Two Towers

2011-03-01T18:50:00.019-05:00

PRICING CLARIFICATION
$60 subscription does NOT include In Dreams
$52 Christmas gift certificate DID include In Dreams

If you purchased the $52 gift certificate and now purchase the $15 add on you will pay $67 for all 12 patterns in the series.

If you purchased In Dreams for $9 and now wish to subscribe you will pay a total of $69 - $2 more than those who bought the gift certificate.

The point was not to offer a substantially better deal for those who purchased the gift certificate, but rather to provide a "one click" option for those knitters who wanted to put the series on their Christmas list.

I am very sorry for any confusion this has caused.

"War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend."

-Faramir in the Two Towers

Well, we are well on our way with the In Dreams KAL. Third clue comes out on Friday. We have over 650 lovely knitters participating in this Knit-a-long.

In Dreams

(beaded semi-circular mystery shawl in Unique Sheep Eos - Abalone Gradience) $9

!!PRICED SEPARATELY!!

MAY JOIN AT ANY TIME - full pattern available in June

Lothlorien is due any day now, Kalkette is finishing her neckband today. Then I will write it up & get it out to all of the Fellowship subscribers later this week, or early next.

And my Mithril vest is nearing completion & heading into testing this week. It has been a real challenge, but well worth the wait. I am so pleased with how it has turned our Barring disaster, I should get it into your hot little hands in April.

Those two patterns will complete the first year of the Lord of the Rings Collection: The Fellowship of the Ring series.

And you know what that means...

I get to lie down and call, "UNCLE"?

No silly...it means it is time to continue on our way with the next series of patterns.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS COLLECTION
The Two Towers
$60

11 patterns - $76 if purchased separately

Helm's Deep

(shoulder warmer in Rowan Lima - Argentina) $6

Emyn Muil

( cabled lace kerchief in MadelineTosh Lace - Composition Book Grey ) $8

Ringwraith

(lace stole in Blue Moon Geisha) $8

Raven Clan- Corvid?

or Spirits - Jengu?

You decide...

Tree Beard

(lace smoke ring in Alchemy's Silken Straw - Forest Waltz) $6

Balrog

(mosaic cowl in String Theory Caper Sock - Java, Canyon, Garnet & Oban)$6

Edoras

(red, green & gold fair isle cape in Knit Picks Palette - mixed reds & greens) $8

Eowyn

(twisted stitch. lace up gauntlets in Woolen Rabbit Harmony sock - Scottish Heather) $6

Elven Woods

(lace ruana, based on the leaf brooch & cloaks in Unique Sheep Verve - Mirkwood Gradience) $8

The following three new patterns were not included in my $52 Xmas gift certificate, as I had not yet added them to the series, but

they are included in the $60 Twin Towers subscription price.

Those who purchased the gift certificate may purchase these 3 patterns individually as they come out or may choose to add them on in advance at a discounted package price of $15

Barad Dur

(triangular shawlette in Rowan Panama - Tulip ) $6

features lace border with the eye of Sauron centered between the U shape prongs of the tower

following picture is a WIP - not blocked yet, but almost finished...

Mere

(beaded lace stole in Sanguine Gryphon Gaia lace - Sunflower Sutra) $8

panels of sinuous lace, divided by beaded sections, representing the will-o-wisps (lights) or "candles of corpses" as Gollum calls them

Eleventy Seven

(Fireworks lace scarf in Enchanted Knoll Farm's Black Magic Woman handspun) $6

All patterns will be available for download through Ravelry and here on the blog. Subscribers benefits include:

My endlessly entertaining (HAH!) personal messages by email full of tips & suggestions along with your download code. Unsolicited personal advice costs extra...
Personal email notification of all errata or other pattern related comments & questions
a savings of $16
no need to check the blog or Ravelry for pattern releases; be the first to know

I do not have a firm schedule for the patterns, beyond a commitment to the first coming out May 1st and the others following every 4-8 weeks. Some will obviously take longer than others.

I want to be flexible - if a pattern is ready to release in four weeks, I don't want to hold it until a certain date. Conversely, if a pattern takes eight weeks to complete, I don't want to be pushed into release before it is truly ready. I hope you will understand my reluctance to place firm dates upon the series. Creativity is hard to structure.

I can promise you we will be done by the end of April 2012 and then we will move on to the final installment - The Return of the King.

It has been a year filled with challenges, friendship, and some great knitting. I hope those who subscribed last year, have enjoyed the Fellowship patterns. I know I had a lot of fun dreaming them up.

I hope you will join our merry band of LotR lunatics as we venture onto the plains of Rohan and continue our heroic journey.

Forth Eorlingas!

In Dreams Clue 2 Errata

2011-02-22T16:18:00.003-05:00

Written directions Row 93, should read:

k2tog, yo, k1, (yo, ssk) 8 times, yo, sk2p, yo, (k2 tog, yo) 8 times,k1, yo, sk2p; rep from 3 times,ending last rep w/ ssk (see chart notes)

Chart is correct

Argonath Errata

2011-02-20T18:48:00.001-05:00

Charts 2 & 6

erroneous purl symbols (k on WS), directly above the crossing cables. These stitches should be purled on wrong side. New charts sent to FotR subscribers & Ravelry purchasers. Corrected version now available for download

If you purchased here on the blog & want the new version, email me at susanpandorf@gmail.com & I'll shoot one out to you...

Argonath Errata

2011-02-17T11:25:00.003-05:00

Key Corrections

Twist 4 left (T4l) instructions should read:

k through back loop the 2 stitches in front (as opposed to just knit), continuing the line of ktbls as you cross to the left.

Twist 4 right (T4r) instructions should also read:

k through back loop the 2 stitches in front (as opposed to just knit), continuing the line of ktbls as you cross to the right.

Argonath

2011-02-09T14:37:00.005-05:00

Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien.
Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!

Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come.
In this place I will abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world

The Argonath, also known as The Gates of Argonath or The Pillars of the Kings, is a monument comprising two enormous pillars, carved in the likenesses of Isildur and Anárion, standing upon either side of the River Anduin.

Each of the two figures was shown wearing a crown and a helm, with an axe in its right hand and its left hand raised in a gesture of defiance to the enemies of Gondor.

ARGONATH
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING COLLECTION
$8

Size: 20 in wide by 70 in long
Materials: 7 skeins String Theory Merino DK
(color: Labradorite) or 1960 yards DK weight yarn
size 5 (US) needles or to obtain gauge
Gauge (in pattern): 6 st = 1 inch
charted pattern - advanced

This deeply textured capacious wrap is just the thing to wrap up in for long voyages. Will keep the chill from your bones, Now if it only repelled orcs…

Fringed Stole features winding cable patterns to evoke the river Anduin, framed by strong columnar patterns with diagonal lines just like the up-stretched arms of the Argonath statues/gates. The dense cables make this piece look like it has also been carved in stone.

This one has charted directions - much easier to visualize the cables on charts.

If enough people want them, I will write up written directions for each individual chart, but knitters will still have to put them together in proper order. To write out individual row by row directions would be prohibitively long, due to motifs having different row repeats.

Thank you for your patience in waiting so long for this eagerly anticipated pattern. I hope you find her worth the wait...

Let;s Try This Again, Shall We?

2011-02-06T13:36:00.003-05:00

The clue I uploaded last night was the wrong file - apparently when I saved after correcting errata, it added the file, rather than replacing it. I was so exhausted by last night, I did not notice.

Good thing I am much better with lace than I am with computers.

I have replaced the file with the right one.I promise things will be better next time around...

Thank you for your patience with a stressed out flibbertigibbet

In Dreams Clue 1 Errata

2011-02-05T22:29:00.001-05:00

In Dreams Clue 1:

Stitch notes for yarn overs should read:

On the yarnovers between repeats in rows 17, 21, 25 & 29 (marked in blue), I worked one yo rather than two btw reps 1 & 2, 2 & 3, and 3 & 4. Then on the return rows (18,22,26,30) I purled & knit into each of those single stitches. This results in a smaller opening than doing a double yarnover. On the outer edges of the main body (before rep1 & after rep 4) just purl as noted.

Notations at end of rows to see notes should be on rows 17, 21, 25, & 29

Chart is correct

Chart 2

Row 16, column 18 should be a beaded purl stitch.

Written directions should read as follows:
Row 16 (WS): “p1b, p1, p1b, p13, p1b, p1, p1b; rep from * 3 times

If anyone wants to download another copy with these changes , use the same code & do so

Ice Ice Baby

2011-02-01T13:09:00.002-05:00

Ice ice baby vanilla
Ice ice baby (oh-oh) vanilla
Ice ice baby vanilla
Ice ice baby vanilla ice
Yo man let's get out of here
Word to your mother
Ice ice baby too cold
Ice ice baby too cold too cold
Ice ice baby

-Vanilla Ice

Just a word of warning - we are in the crosshairs for a major ice storm here in central Indiana tonight & tomorrow: "Potentially catastrophic with widespread long term power outages possible"

I will do my very best to stick to my schedule, but if the power goes, I am without internet options and you will all have to wait.

Life is what happens while we're making other plans...sigh...gulp...

I Love to Tell the Story

2011-01-29T11:59:00.004-05:00

"In the tale, in the telling, we are all one blood. Take the tale in your teeth, then, and bite till the blood runs, hoping it's not poison; and we will all come to the end together, and even to the beginning: living, as we do, in the middle."

Ursula K. LeGuin

When I was young, my mother read Uncle Wiggly stories to me. He was an old gentleman rabbit with many friends & great adventures. And each story ended with something like this:

"And now boys & girls, if you are good, tomorrow we will hear the story of Uncle Wiggly and the "whatever...".

Inevitably, this left me wanting, "Just one more, Mommy. Please?" The writer knew how to whet the appetite of young children and keep them coming back for more.

A little later in my life, the Indiana Jones movies came out and revisited the format of the serial movies of old with their cliff hangers and potboilers. You always wanted to know what happened next.

Today, we eagerly await the next installment of the Harry Potter series, or the Hunger Games, or Twilight. Before that it was Star Wars.

Or my favorite: Lord of the Rings.

There is something in us that loves a good yarn, that keeps us turning the next page, reading well past our bedtimes, lining up for midnight shows at the cinema. We chafe at the bit, we drool over spoilers, we want - no - NEED to know how it turns out.

Why?

Maybe because our lives are such a mystery to us. We don't know what comes next. We plan, we ponder, but ultimately God laughs. Our lives are not our own. Call it fate if you aren't religious.

All I know is on most of the momentous days of my life, I didn't see them coming.

I will admit to falling prey to several exciting narratives recently. I have been burning the midnight oil most nights, working on my designs.

While I knit I have been watching Dexter on DVD. What has impressed me most is how well crafted the plot lines are. Nothing is wasted. Every episode ends with a little cliff hanger of its own and each season finale neatly gathers in all the little loose ends & ties them up in one thrilling package. That is very good writing.

After I have toddled off to bed, I have unwound from the day's stimulating work with a murder mystery: "What the Night Knows" by Dean Koontz. It too is a page turner, with a surprise around every new development. When you are reading till 2:00 in the morning, you know it's good.

But the narrative that has totally held me in thrall this month is the evolving design of In Dreams ( the mystery shawl that kicks off with the first clue on Friday)

I decided months ago that I wanted the design for this piece to feature large motifs, rather than repeating small ones. I wanted it to unfold, rather than repeat. I wanted the increases to flow from within the pattern rather than adding one stitch at the end of each row.

I am now moving into the final section of design elements and it has been a great challenge. If I increase too much in one area the shawl begins to ruffle or forms a point rather than a semicircle. If I increase too little, the stitches pull.

Putting all the pieces of the story together has been a greatly stimulating endeavor to me. I cannot wait to get back to it each day. There have been many changes and false starts. But I have learned so much and enjoyed the process so tremendously. It has been a page turner.

I only hope you enjoy knitting it as much as I have enjoyed designing it.

The downside of this fascination, is the languishing of Argonath & Mithril. And my lack of responsiveness the past 3 weeks. I have been on retreat these past few weeks as I worked my brain around and around the unique problems of this design, looking always to making her the very best I have to offer.

Crafting a well coordinated pattern is much like telling a story. All of the pieces must fit together neatly and arrive together at the end. Each element must contribute to the enjoyment of the whole experience and the well honed beauty of the finished product.

Today, with clue 4 completed, I have forced myself to put In Dreams down and use the day to set up the database for In Dreams clue dispersal (Hurry up, Friday!) and catch up on my huge backlog of correspondence, here on the blog, in my home email account, and on Ravelry.

After those housekeeping tasks are completed, I will devote my time to the completion of Argonath (finally!) and get the pattern out into your in-boxes by week's end.

In Dreams is calling to me. Soon, it says...soon... but not yet...

sigh...

Crochet Hook Beading

2011-01-16T14:03:00.003-05:00

"Baubles, bangles,
Hear how they jing, jing-a-ling-a,
Baubles, bangles,
Bright, shiny beads."

- Kismet

New to this technique, used extensively throughout In Dreams?

Couldn't say it better than Knitty did in this article

In Dreams Update!

2011-01-16T10:55:00.005-05:00

"He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it."

-Douglas Adams

!!ALL THE NEWS THAT'S FIT TO PRINT!!

In Dreams Mystery Shawl will be a full sized, half round shawl, inspired by Galadriel's crown from Lord of the Rings. Shawl is constructed in one piece, from center top out, with increases within the pattern, rather than on certain rows (like a Pi Shawl) or along the edges (like a triangular)

In Dreams will take 1260 yards of laceweight, and require an intermediate level of skill; no expertise required, just patience. Written & charted directions. Wrong side rows are, with a few exceptions, purled.

I am doing mine in Unique Sheep Eos in Abalone Gradience. I will include directions for working with the gradience (ie: when to change colors) The border is knit into last rows of the shawl, rather than knit around ( as Evenstar was) so no need to save your last skein for the border.

There will be optional beading on the wrong side of the entire shawl, so get your beads now. You wil be using them on the first clue. Bead count is 5000 - size 8/0 seed beads - this estimate includes extra so you have wiggle (or jeez, did I just dump those on the floor?) room. BEADING IS OPTIONAL.

If you decide to omit the beads, a plain purl stitch can be substituted.The shawl will be perfectly lovely whatever you decide.

You will also need a 32 inch size 3 US circular needles (or to obtain gauge), approx. 10 stitch markers (if you use them) and a small crochet hook for beading

Sign ups run through Friday February 4th.

Cost is $9, $1 of which is donated to Doctors Without Borders for relief in Haiti. You can sign up here on Rav or on the sidebar of my blog

I have released a swatch to be used for both determining gauge & practicing your lace knitting skills. Swatch directions are available here and on Rav. as a free pattern download.

First clue will come out on February 4th at 6:00 PM EST.

Subsequent clues will come out every other Friday through May7th, for a total of seven clues. This year, clues will be distributed as direct downloads, both here and in the Ravelry pattern store. You will receive download codes in emails from AWeber, my email provider.

If you keep up, by Memorial Day you will have a stunning shawl, perfect for any and all summer events. The entire pattern will be available for purchase in June.

In Dreams

2010-12-15T11:09:00.003-05:00

When the cold of Winter comes
Starless night will cover day
In the veiling of the sun
We will walk in bitter rain

But in dreams
I still hear your name
And in dreams
We will meet again

When the seas and mountains fall
And we come, to end of days
In the dark I hear a call
Calling me there
I will go there
And back again

Sign ups open today for the In Dreams Mystery Shawl KAL from Sunflower Designs. Button over there on the sidebar or on Ravelry...

As last year, $1 from each purchase goes directly to Knitters without Borders.I was going to wait until January, but the need for aid in Haiti is so pressing, with the Cholera epidemic, that I am hoping, with YOUR help, to send a nice fat donation to Knitters without Borders for Christmas.

Sign ups will run through Friday February 4th. Cost is $9. First clue will come out that day. Subsequent clues will come out every other Friday throughout February and March.

The In Dreams Mystery KAL concludes our journey through the Fellowship of the Ring and serves as a bridge into the themes & incredible art of the Two Towers. The shawl will be triangular this time, so a bit of an easier knit than Evenstar, if only in sheer volume of stitches. The design is a secret of course, but I can tell you it will be based on the design of Galadriel’s crown.

Shawl will take 1200 yards of laceweight, and require an advanced intermediate level of skill; no expertise required, just patience. Written & charted directions.

I am doing mine in Unique Sheep Eos in Gradience color Abalone. Yummy stuff!

This time around, clues will be distributed through my download provider & also through Ravelry for those who wish to download them there. More specific information, along with a swatch will be forthcoming in January, as we get further into our adventure...

Until (in dreams) we meet again...

Perseverence

2010-12-09T15:56:00.008-05:00

"Men perish because they cannot join the beginning with the end."

-Alcmaeon

We are coming to the end of the 0ne year and the beginning of the next, so the above quote seems particularly apt this time of year.

I was actually looking for a quote on persistence.

I have spent the last two days immersed in Herbert Niebling's wonderful designs, along with those of other German lace doily & tablecloth knitters. Yes, I know most of them are not available in English, but they are charted and they are such masterpieces, I wanted to learn from them.

With the aid of an on line translator and a lot of patience, I am swatching and learning oh so much. the charts look nothing like the final piece. They are complex, visually exciting, and intimidating.

When I saw this motif in a set of curtains, I knew I had to adapt it for Mithril.

This is the yarn I am using for my model: Filature Di Crosa Giolello: a lovely laceweight mohair with a gold filament. You can also get it in silver if you prefer.

Originally repeated as an edging, I split it in half and subdivided it. By flipping it diagonally, I designed a really special closure panel for the vest. Beading will be concentrated in this area.

I added to the lace openwork to curve upward into a neckline & added a placket that curves around the front and top. This might seem easy, but figuring out where to add the stitches to achieve this result took twelve hours & three different swatches in some stash yarn I had. (I didn't want to waste any more of the real yarn in experimenting)

You can really see the diagonal nature of the motif in this yarn. The diagonal line will continue in stockinette for the front opening & round its way to the back.

Now that this part is done, I am moving on to designing a complementary design for the back, either at the hem or yoke (haven't decided yet- weigh in through the comments if you have an opinion)

This is the final design for the Fellowship of the Ring Series. Even as I am finishing this final design, I am firmly ensconced in initial design work for the next leg of our journey.

The Two Towers

Mystery KAL
In Dreams
triangular shawl based on Galadriel's Crown
in Unique Sheep Gradience

$9

(one dollar of each purchase goes to Knitters Without Borders)

February 2011 - Sign ups open December 15th

Series
$45
Coming April 2011 - Sign ups open March 1st

eight patterns, cost $56, if purchased separately

Helm's Deep (shoulder warmer in Rowan Lima)
Emyn Muil ( cabled lace kerchief in MadelineTosh Lace)

Ringwraith (lace stole in Blue Moon Geisha)

Tree Beard (lace smoke ring in Filatura's Giollelo)
Balrog (mosaic cowl in String Theory Caper Sock)

Rohan (fair isle cape in Knit Picks Pallete)

Eowyn (twisted stitch. lace up gauntlets in Woolen Rabbit sock )

Elven Woods (lace ruana in Unique Sheep Gradience)

Sign ups for the Mystery Shawl KAL open on December 15th. And though sign ups for the series won't open until March 1st, I am offering through Christmas, at the request of some of my knitters...

Sunflower Designs gift certificate
good for the entire Two Towers series
$52
includes In Dreams Mystery KAL

Purchasers will receive a gift certificate in the form of a pdf, which can be printed out for wrapping & placing under the tree.

So, those of you who wish to put an entire year's worth of happy knitting on your Christmas list, can now do so. Button is on the sidebar, and I will try to get something up on RAV in the next few days.

And now I had better skedaddle; time's a wastin' & I need to get Mithril & In Dreams out to my test knitters.

Later gators...

Clarity

2010-12-06T12:18:00.003-05:00

Knowledge, without common sense, says Lee, is folly; without method, it is waste; without kindness, it is fanaticism; without religion, it is death. But with common sense, it is wisdom with method, it is power; with clarity, it is beneficence; with religion, it is virtue, and life, and peace.

-Austin Farrar

Apparently, my software is a Reader's Digest sort of condensed version. Incomplete directions in the Galadriel's Mirror key for bobbles & wrapped stitches could use a little clarification.

Bobbles are 5 stitch bobbles. K5 in stitch by either:

k,p,k,p,k or...
k front & back twice, k1

Turn & knit 5 back on wrong side
Turn & knit 5 on right side
Turn & k2tog, k1, k2tog
Turn & sk2p

Wrapped stitches are knit either before or after wrapping (both ways work)

Sorry for the confusion - new version of old software...

Galadriel's Mirror

2010-12-05T11:42:00.008-05:00

An sí Tintallë Varda Oiolossëo
ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortanë
ar ilyë tier undulávë lumbulë;
ar sindanóriello caita mornië

For now the Kindler, Varda, the Queen of the Stars, from Mount Everwhite has uplifted her hands like clouds, and all paths are drowned deep in shadow; and out of a grey country darkness lies

Well, this one has been a long time coming, hasn't she? I just hope she was worth the wait!

This pattern is not included in the Fellowship of the Ring subscription as I found the right pattern after putting the collection up for sale. Subscribers will get a $2 discount code, just as they did with Rivindell & Goldberry.

GALADRIEL’S MIRROR $8

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING COLLECTION
from the needles of Susan Pandorf

Size: 70 inches wide at top; 32 inches long at center
Materials: 3 skeins String Theory Blue Stocking
(color: Alexandrite) or 1260 yds fingering weight yarn
size 4 (US) circular needles or to obtain gauge
medium crochet hook (for edging)
Gauge (blocked): 6 st = 1 inch
charted pattern - experienced level

A symmetrical (mirrored) smocked pattern composed of twisted stitches and bobbles is reminiscent of Elvish runes. This central pattern opens up into an intricate section of diamonds & leaves, before the lacy border repeats the runic pattern in openwork. this border increases in number of stitches, giving the shawl its lovely ruffled lower edge.

The pattern is charted, due to its complexity, but written directions will be available upon request. Caveat emptor: they go on for many pages

I recommend using a fingering weight yarn rather than laceweight, as this will best show off the textured nature of the stitch pattern. It also provides a little extra warmth for the chill winter winds we all know are coming.

I used String Theory's Bluestocking - a lovely BFL blend in Alexandrite. I love how the other colors shimmer within the blue just like visions under the surface of Galadriel's mirror. This pattern is best suited to a shaded solid yarn. Another good option would be Dream in Color. They have many wonderful blue options. Just try to stay away from anything too variegated as you want the pattern to shine through.

I hope you enjoy the pattern. I have wanted to do a pattern based upon this concept form the very beginning of the conception of the series. It is such a beautiful, mystical scene, yet one that holds such power as well. We do not always see what we want, when we gaze into our futures. We often see challenges, as Frodo did.

What will you see, when gazing into Galadriel's mirror?

May the blessings to come and the promise of future joys outweigh the challenges and sorrows sure to be there as well...

Simple Gift

2010-12-03T17:54:00.004-05:00

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.

Sometimes we get so caught up in all the hustle & bustle of the holidays, that we forget to breathe. We have alist a mile long of gifts to buy & parties to attend, & cookies to bake. And don't even get me started on the subject of Christmas knitting!

We forget to stop & smell the poinsettias...

I had a lovely retreat over the Thanksgiving holiday, spending a few quiet days in our cottage in the north woods of Michigan with my husband and parents. No kids. No grandkids. No pets. No crowds of shoppers. Just us and some much needed breathing space.

So what did I do with all this leisure time? I played aggravation, watched old movies, and knit on something mindless. Something easy. Something...simple.

SIMPLE GIFT

Materials:
3 skeins Malabrigo Worsted (model in Pearl)
Or equivalent yardage other worsted weight yarn
size 9 (US) needles Gauge: not important

DIRECTIONS

Using size 9 needles, cast on 57 st (or any multiple of 4 plus 1 st).

Rows 1, 3 & 5: p2, k1, * p3, k1; rep from * to last 2 st, p2
Rows 2 & 4: k2 tog, yo, p1, *yo, sk2p, yo. P1; rep from * to last 2 st, yo, skp
Row 6: k2, p1, *k3, p1; rep from * to last 2 st, k2

Repeat these six rows until desired length, ending last repeat with row 4. Bind off loosely.

Finishing

Weave in ends. Soak & Block to desired dimensions. (Mine is 18 by 78 inches) Cut 12 inch lengths of yarn & knot 4 strands in each hole at end of scarf.

And it's reversible!

This may well be one of my favorite FOs - quick, easy, softer than soft, warm enough to guard against the bleak mid winter, stylish enough to toss on for a nice accent to my winter cardigans.

Sometimes what we need is right in front of us. Just keep it simple...

All I Want for Christmas

2010-12-02T11:30:00.007-05:00

Every body stops
And stares at me
These two teeth are
Gone as you can see
I don't know just who
To blame for this catastrophe!
But my one wish on Christmas Eve
Is as plain as it can be!

All I want for Christmas
Is my two front teeth,
My two front teeth,
See my two front teeth!

Gee, if I could only
Have my two front teeth,
Then I could wish you
"Merry Christmas"

Things were so quiet around here in the last month, that I have actually gotten emails asking if I was alright. Everything seemed to be "in development."

But now, everything is ready! And I will be rolling things out on a regular basis. It is tempting to throw it all out there today in a big gush, but first things first...

Thanks to the generous hearts of Fellowship knitters, I can now offer Legolas as a stand alone pattern for individual purchase.

This little kerchief has a lot of fans & they have been clamoring for the pattern to become available to those who missed out on the series subscription. I polled the Fellowship to make sure no one would be offended if I did this, and to a knitter, they all said, "Not at all - the more the merrier!"

I love knitters...

LEGOLAS $8

SIZE:
main portion measures 18” deep by 34”wide, with 18” tails
MATERIALS:
250 - 275 yards (229 - 251 m) DK weight yarn
Sanguine Gryphon Dance (Sword Dance) used for sample
Size 6 (US) needles
Gauge: 4 stitches = 1 inch in lace pattern (blocked out)

Tomorrow brings another free pattern; I did mine in MMMMMMMMMMMMalabrigo. Here is a sneak peek.

Saturday, I will post Galadriel's Mirror (finally! this pattern has been in development purgatory for months)

Sunday, I will open sign ups for the next mystery KAL: In Dreams, and put a button on the sidebar for purchase of gift certificates with a discounted price for the Two Towers series.

Anything else you want for Christmas? Just let me know.

Back to the workshop...

Thanks Giving

2010-11-24T12:30:00.005-05:00

It is time for my annual thanks-giving post. As I update this poem, I am ever mindful of God's many blessings. Of which, y'all are definitely among the best that I have seen this past year.

I encourage you to take a moment, amidst all the turkey stuffing and family loving and football playing that surrounds this day, to reflect and say a prayer, if you are comfortable with that.

If you are not, simply bow your head in humility and murmur a word of thanks to whatever power you may acknowledge.

And may you all experience the very best a thankful heart can bring.

For geese who fly on feathered wing
For all the songs I’ve yet to sing
For all the words I’ve not yet writ
For all the yarns I’ve yet to knit
I’m thankful...

For shortening sun that slants o’er field
Of fallow corn,for generous yield
For harvest and for hungry need
That all may come to you and feed
I’m thankful...

For chocolate hot and snowflakes cold
For playful youth and wisdom old
For peace to come on winter days
For time to ponder and amaze
I’m thankful...

For all the beauty of your world
For birds and bees; for leaves unfurled
For rocks and trees and lakes and rain
For sunlit skies and waves of grain
I'm thankful...

For peace and plenty in troubling times
For my family's safety and peace of mind
though times are tough and jobs are few
we still have love and much to do
I'm thankful...

For family both near and far
For boats and planes and trains and cars
That bring our loved ones closer yet
For telephones if that’s all we get
I’m thankful...

For horsey rides and peek-a-boo
For jammy hands and faces too
As on my grandson Conner, I
Gaze with ever joyful eye
I'm thankful...

For passed exams & graduation
For happy times & exultation
For blessings all
Both large & small
I'm thankful...

For dreams that build and ties that bind
Unexpected blessings there to find
For room to grow and space to roam
For branching out and coming home
I'm thankful...

For Afterglow and dreams thereof
For soil beneath and sky above
For lakeside blues and freshening breeze
Blow through our lives, our hearts, our trees!
I'm thankful...

For stuffing and for pumpkin pie
For abundant love that never dies
For faith that triumphs o'er the grave
For strength to bear, to bend, to brave
I’m thankful...

For friends who comment, friends who care
For foes who question, challenge, dare
Friend or foe I know that they
Rely on you to find their way
I’m thankful...

For inspiration in all its glory
Sometimes elusive, often hoary
Yet always there for me to find
Provided I can calm my mind
I'm thankful...

For possibilities anew
Ravelry, Evenstar, and Fellowship too
For woolly dreams and lovely lace
For sun to which I turn my face
I'm thankful...

For all the power of thy word
Power spoken – Power heard
Power given to reach out
To share my faith; to share my doubt
I’m thankful...

For all my vice and virtue too
That all may bring me close to you
My sins seem great yet small in space
Compared to thy abundant grace
I’m thankful...

For all the times I felt your care
And all the times you hovered there
Oft unseen but heartfelt – yes!
(Especially when I’ve made a mess)
I’m thankful...

As oft I do - no perfection found
My sins are many, perceptions bound
By earthly fashion, earthly fears
Earthly passion, earthly tears
I’m thankful...

For prayer – whichever way preferred
For shouting silence and quiet word
For Quakers, Catholics, Episcopalians too
For all who hear and all who do
I’m thankful...

For rocks to stand on, steady ground
Haven sought and sanctuary found
For all the many times that we
Are fallen, faithless, redeemed, free
I’m thankful...

And at the last I pray that we
Remembered as pilgrims be
Always bound to distant place
Always bound to know thy grace
I’m thankful...

Thank You Notes

2010-11-17T12:03:00.004-05:00

"It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart."

-Author Unknown

We are heading into thanksgiving week. And I will soon be heading north to spend it with my father & step-mother in Michigan. It will be the first time we have had thanksgiving together in 20 some years. Now THAT is something to be thankful for.

When I was a kid, my mom made me write thank you notes. (Didn't everybody's?) And I hated it. I know...I'm a bad person.

I was very appreciative and grateful for what I received. That was not the problem.

It just felt so stilted and formulaic, as I wrote the feelings down on paper. Even today, I much prefer a phone call or, best of all, an in-person hug.

So sometimes I forget to thank the people without whom I would not be here, doing what I do. I am thankful every cotton pickin' day, that all of you are part of my life.

my wonderful test knitters, especially Tami, who just completed testing Galadriel's Mirror: a quite complex set of written directions. They donate their precious knitting time to ferret out all the little whoopsies in my pattern directions
my fabulous proofreader Elizabeth, who picks the finished product apart and finds all the typos, except ~~fro~~ for (see what I mean?) when I misread her corrections - sigh...
my family, who eats out a lot more than they should because Mom/Grandma has been ~~playing~~ working
my friends, who listen to my flights of fancy & pretend that knitting is the most fascinating topic in the world
the independent dyers who provide me with so much beautiful inspiration, especially Laura & Kelly of Unique Sheep
the retailers who carry my patterns and allow me the privilege of teaching in their shops
the moderators of the KALs on Rav - the best peeps ever
my buddies on plurk who share my joys & sorrows, never judging, always helpful & quick with a hug or an encouraging word when needed.
Casey & Jess, because without the wonderful public forum that is Ravelry, I doubt I would be in business
Al Gore, for inventing the Internet (snork!)
the knitters who buy my patterns. without you, there would be no Sunflower Designs

And most of all, my wonderful husband, who critiques my designs, tweaks my computer, listens to my kvetching, cuts me slack when the dishes aren't done, and loves me always.

I love my job. It is a blessing.

And I could NOT do it alone.

Thank you...

Time Warp

2010-11-15T14:01:00.004-05:00

It's just a jump to the left
And then a step to the right
With your hands on your hips
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
that really drives you insane,
Let's do the Time Warp again!

- Rocky Horror Picture Show

Again I must apologize for being an indifferent blogger. I have also been a sporadic plurker and a casual Ravelry ignorer - embarrassed look - sheesh!

But it is really not my fault, you see...

I have been ambushed by a time warp.

I returned from North Carolina at the end of September, rested, ready to begin my fall knitting projects, eager to get Argonath out, and with an additional skein of yarn I had Unique Sheep dye for Lothlorien.

And I realized that, while Argonath only needs one repeat and the end panel test knit (piece of cake) Lothlorien was going to require knitting the entire kit & caboodle. Cuz just the kit without the caboodle wouldn't test all of the pattern. besides, who wants a kit without a caboodle. It just wouldn't be proper...

So I cast on for Lothlorien and along the way, she morphed from a stole to a shawl to her final form as a cape.

TA-DA!

I finished her up last week and she is into the test knitting process. Now I can time warp back to Argonath, which is the next release in the Fellowship Series. Argonath heads into testing this week, but, because of its repetitive nature, will be out in a couple weeks.

My test knitter for Galadriel's Mirror was also caught in a time warp, as work demands, home renovation, & illness set her back on her heels temporarily. But I remain hopeful, GM will see market by the end of the month.

Another thing adding to the time warp factor, is the fast approaching holidays with their attendant knitting. I try to get a few free patterns out in November as my gift to y'all. Things that aren't too complicated or knit in a looser gauge so you can make gifts.

Today, in the spirit of this post, because it jumps to the left, & looks like the warp of a woven object, I present...

TIME WARP

This little 4 st, 4 row slip stitch pattern has become my favorite discovery this autumn. The yarn is Berroco Jasper in Mohica Blue, a very affordable and widely available self striping single ply worsted. It gives a closely knit fabric that feels and looks woven. No need to block. No curling. No fancy stitches, beyond knitting, purling, & slipping. Just perfection.

I was going to make a cowl with 2 skeins, but loved it so much I went back and purchased 12 more skeins for a large wrap. I think it looks like the colors of the sea & shore (I call it my "Surf N Turf - giggle)

I am letting the yarn do all the work, not even bothering to match up the skeins' differing start places on the color run.

I'm making mine 24 inches wide by 72 inches long - that takes 14 skeins. If you want, you can easily make it shorter or narrower. Just think in multiples of 4 plus 2 for the stitch count and multiples of 4 for the rows.

The pattern results in the slipped stitches migrating to the left on a diagonal line. So easy & cool.

It's just a jump to the left...

So... here are the directions:

Using size 11 needles, cast on 126 st (or any multiple of 4 plus 2 st).

Row 1: *k2, slip 2 w/ yarn in front; rep from * to last 2 st, k2
Row 2: p1, *slip 2 w/ yarn in back, p2; rep from * to last st, p1
Row 3: *slip 2 w/ yarn in front, k2; rep from * to last 2 st, slip 2 w/ yarn in front
Row 4: p3, *slip 2 w/ yarn in back, p2; rep from * to last 3 st, slip 2 w/ yarn in back, p1

Repeat these four rows until desired length & bind off.

That's all there is to it - easy, huh?

If you want to make a cowl, simply join after cast on & work in the round. In this case, your 2nd & 4th rows will be:

Row 2: k3, slip 2 w/ yarn in front; rep from * to last st, k1
Row 4: k1, *slip 2 w/ yarn in front, k2; rep from * to last 3 st, k3

Make a scarf, make a cowl, make place mats or a table runner. Whatever you make, you won;t be disappointed.

Let's do the Time Warp again....

and again...

and again...

and again...

You know you want to...

Saturday Stash Sale

2010-10-23T13:53:00.018-04:00

SHIPPING TO US ONLY

Email me at susanpandorf@comcast.net and tell me which one(s) you want. If there are more than one balls/skeins in the lot, don't forget to specify quantity. If no quantity is listed, I will assume you want the entire lot.

I will invoice you through PayPal and ship them out to your hot little hands by the end of the week.Yarn will be shipped first class mail in a padded envelope if the total weight is 13 oz. or less. If yarn weighs more than that, I will ship in flat rate priority mail box for $10.35 or $13.95. By next week you should be happy knitting!

All yarn colors are true (on my monitor- can't account for yours.) We are a non smoking household, but I do have a cat. Most yarn has been behind closed doors, so cat contact has been minimal.

Please give my yarn and books a loving home and a productive future.

Ready?

Here we go again...

LACE

1) Sanguine Gryphon Sappho I- $15
merino single ply - 850 yds.
SOLD

SOCK

2) 2 skeins Koigu - P866 (multi) & 1180 (solid) - $6 each
merino - hand wash - 175 yds. each
SOLD

3) 2 balls Noro Kureyon Sock - 188(upper right) & 242 (lower left) - $12 each
wool/nylon - hand wash - 462 yds. each
SOLD

4) 2 skeins Malabrigo Sock - Indiecita - $12 each
superwash merino wool - 440 yards each
SOLD

5) 3 skeins Wollmeise Twin - (l. to r.) Spice Market, Rhubarber, & Blau Tinte - $30 each
superwash merino/nylon - 510 yds. each
SOLD

6) String Theory Caper Sock partials (clockwise from top) Melon, Cobalt, Blue Hill - $20 for the lot
yarn used for Bombadil Hat - almost full skeins of Melon & Cobalt, half skein of Blue Hill
superwash merino/cashmere - machine wash - 175 - 200 yds. Blue Hill, at least 375 yds. others
SOLD

7) String Theory Caper Sock - Labradorite - $12
superwash merino/cashmere - machine wash - 400 yds.
SOLD

8) JoJoland Ballad - 533 Brown & Melody Superwash - color #MS26 - $3 each
superwash wool - 220 yds. each
SOLD

9) 2 skeins O-Wool Fingering - Ivory - $12
hand wash - 396 yds. total
SOLD

FINGERING / 4-PLY

10)

11) 12 balls Rowan Cotton Glace - Dijon - $4 each or $40 for the lot
machine wash - 145 yds each
SOLD

12) 7 balls Rowan Lurex Shimmer (disc.) - Copper - $3 each
rayon/polyester - hand wash/dry clean - 103 yds. each

SPORT

13) Handmaiden Silk Twist - 1 skein Straw -$15
wool/silk - hand wash - 437 yds. each
SOLD

14) 2 skeins Handmaiden Sea Silk - Autumn & Fruit Punch - $20 each
silk/secell - hand wash -437 yds. each
SOLD

15) 1 skein Blue Sky Alpaca Sport - natural dark gray - $5
alpaca - hand wash - 110 yds.
SOLD

16) 3 skeins Blue Sky Silk Alpaca - Garnet - $20 for the lot
hand wash - 438 yds. total
SOLD

17) 20 balls Trendsetter Binario (disc.) - Hawaiian Punch - $3 each or $50 for the lot
polyamide - hand wash - 82 yds. each

DK WEIGHT

18) 7 balls Stacy Charles Samba - Khaki multi - $5 each or $30 for the lot
cotton/rayon/acrylic/nylon - hand wash - 107 yds. each

19) 1 skein Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light - Blueberry Mix - $3
alpaca/wool - hand wash - 144 yds.
SOLD

20 ) 5 skeins Manos Silk Blend - Stellar - $6 each or $25 for the lot
silk/wool - hand wash - 150 yds. each

SOLD

21) 1 skein Shibui Baby Alpaca DK - Wasabi - $10
255 yds.
SOLD

22) 1 skein Manos Silk Blend - Briar - $5
silk/wool - hand wash - 150 yds.
SOLD

23) 2 skeins Noro Yuzen - (l. to r.) Col 11 & 16 - $5 each
silk/wool/mohair - hand wash - 120 yds. each
SOLD

24) 2 skeins Handmaiden Swiss Mountain Mulberry Tussah - Sangria - $20 each
silk - hand wash - 200 m. each
SOLD

WORSTED

25) 1 skein Berroco Ultra Alpaca - Marsh Mix - $4
hand wash - 215 yds.
SOLD

26) 8 balls Stacy Charles Cancun - 02 gold, amber, green mix - $6 each or $40 for the lot
polyester/rayon/nylon/cotton/component - hand wash - 93 yds. each
SOLD

27) 1 skein Schaefer Miss Priss - Julia Child - $8
wool - hand wash - 280 yds.
SOLD

28) 2 skeins Artyarns Ensemble - 164 - $25 each
silk/cashmere - dry clean - 256 yds. each
SOLD

29) Tanis Fiber Arts Aran - 2 Shadow (light) 2 Stormy (dark) - $10 each
superwash merino - 215 yds. each
SOLD

30) 4 skeins Araucania Milodon - color 10 - $8 each
wool - hand wash - 202 yds. each
SOLD

31) 11 balls Adriennne Vittadini Vittoria - Ivory - $50
wool ribbon - hand wash - 1090 yds. total

32) 12 balls Berroco Cotton 100 (disc.) - yellow - $3 each or $30 for the lot
machine wash - 84 yds. each

33) 6 balls Rowan All Seasons Cotton - 195 Dusty Rose - $25
cotton/acrylic - machine wash - 600 yds.

34) 10 balls Rowan All Seasons Cotton - 191 Ecru - $40
cotton/acrylic - machine wash - 1000 yds.
SOLD

CHUNKY

35) Blue Heron Rayon Boucle - Spring - $3
hand wash - 212 yds.
SOLD

36) 15 balls Jaeger Chamonix (disc.) - 902 Ice Blue - $8 each or $80 for the lot
angora/wool/nylon - hand wash - 119 yds. each
SOLD

Everything Old is New Again

2010-10-20T15:40:00.003-04:00

When trumpets were mellow
And ev'ry gal only had one fellow
No need to remember when
'Cause ev'ry thing old is new again

-from the Boy from Oz

We've had a long overdue "makeover" here at Sunflower Designs/a few stitches short. I was in the mood for something a little more sophisticated - cleaner.

The sunflower picture was taken by a new (but already dear) friend I met while teaching on retreat last month. Take a bow, Trish!

You will notice a new feature at the top of the sidebar: a separate page just for the Lord of the Rings Collection. In the next few days, you will see more pages for errata, shawls, scarves, the Garden Variety Collection, cowls, mitts/gloves, etc...

Unfortunately, the buttons to purchase the patterns remain on the sidebar for now, but I am thinking about putting the older patterns into alphabetical order for ease in ordering. Will see what blogger will let me (or my everlovin computer nerd dh) do to make navigation easier for you.

Leave a comment and let me know if you like the new look or have any suggestions to make it better.

I know that nature begins new things in the spring: flowers, trees, lambs...but I always feel like autumn is the time for new endeavors. Must have had that drummed into me during my school years, when fall meant new pencils, new teachers, & new things to learn.

I have been learning new things as well. I made my first appearance as a guest speaker in July for the Indianapolis Knitting Guild and my teaching debut in North Carolina last month at the Unique Sheep retreat. I have another class coming up in Michigan next month and am investigating additional teaching opportunities. So email me if you would like me to come to your LYS...

Now it is time to get back to something old: Lothlorien (which has morphed from a stole to a cape - sneaky little sucker) and Argonath (which is entering test knit later this week). Galadriel's Mirror is inches away from completion - soon...

Who says, "You can't teach an old knitter, new tricks"?

Bag End Errata

2010-10-08T09:08:00.003-04:00

Bag End, page 4 should read:

cast on 99 as elsewhere in pattern

There & Back Again, in finishing instructions should say:

Break off yarn D and add in yarn B. Knit to end of row. Cast on 4 st using the backwards loop method. Pick up and knit 63 st. down side edge of square. Turn & knit back. Bind off.

Bag End

2010-10-07T20:29:00.009-04:00

Roads go ever ever on,

Over rock and under tree,

By caves where never sun has shone,

By streams that never find the sea;

Over snow by winter sown,

And through the merry flowers of June,

Over grass and over stone,

And under mountains in the moon.

- Tolkien

BAG END
A FELTED MUSHROOM BAG FOR EXCELLENT HOBBITS

Materials:
Unique Sheep Anna’s Yarn
250 yds each: Amber Ale, Fire Thorn, Stout, Golden Ale, Lager
Or equivalent yardage other DK weight yarn
size 8 (US) needles
Gauge: not important

You get a bonus pattern with your Bag End mushroom bag. I have included a second pattern: some fun accessories I designed for the Unique Sheep Retreat. They are a good way to try out the mosaic knitting on a smaller scale, before tackling the large tote.

THERE & BACK AGAIN
FELTED MOSAIC KNITS FOR EXCELLENT HOBBITS

Materials:
100 g Unique Sheep
Green Sheep Sport (or other sport weight yarn) in four contrasting colors
size 6 (US) needles
Gauge: not important for these pieces

Mosaic knitting is a two-color technique. You begin EVERY Right-side row from a NEW color.

Work first right-side row and wrong-side row with color A.
Drop Color A and pick up Color B. Work two rows with Color B.
Drop Color B and pick up Color A. Work two rows with Color A - and so on.

The pattern occurs from the slipped stitches within the pattern. Looks hard, but it's not!

Pattern pieces for all three projects are knit in one main piece and folded to form the finished object. Both patterns include directions for assembly and felting as well as guidelines for color experimentation.

Check over at Unique Sheep for kits; they have kits for the smaller projects as well as the mushroom bag

Remember This?

2010-10-06T12:49:00.006-04:00

Haul out the holly;
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again.
Fill up the stocking,
I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now.
For we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute,
Candles in the window,
Carols at the spinet.
Yes, we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute.
It hasn't snowed a single flurry,
But Santa, dear, we're in a hurry;
So climb down the chimney;
Put up the brightest string of lights I've ever seen.
Slice up the fruitcake;
It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough.
For I've grown a little leaner,
Grown a little colder,
Grown a little sadder,
Grown a little older,
And I need a little angel
Sitting on my shoulder,
Need a little Christmas now.

- Jerry Herman

Note: this contest announcement originally ran last December, before 2010 got hijacked by the juggernaut that is Lord of the Rings. Today I am happy to announce that:

it's on!
the game is afoot
go for it
I'm sheepishly acknowledging my own procrastination (oops!)
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE PATTERN IS AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUAL PURCHASE OVER THERE>>>ON THE RIGHT>>> (also on Ravelry & thru Knitty Noddy, my partner for the Garden Variety Collection)

A couple changes worth noting:

deadline for entry is now December 25th (natch!)
Entry photos will be posted on the blog as they come in, with a separate page for all of them.
Winner will be decided by reader vote, instead of judging
Prize is a full set of Two Towers patterns, including the "In Dreams" mystery shawl KAL that will kick off the next leg of our journey in January.
You don't have to finish the scarf, just finish enough of one side that you can get a decent picture.

I think it will be lots of fun to see what everybody can do with this pattern. You can find the RAV KAL here.

How do YOU decorate for the holidays? Traditional? Avant Garde? (sp?) Red & Green bursting out everywhere? Tastefully understated?

Well, now's your chance to shine! One of my readers had a great idea!

I'm going to run a contest next December for the best "decorated" Spruce scarf.

I'm going to set up a KAL on Ravelry for the contest where we can all share ideas and links for beads & charms & such.

But you can't win if you don't play - Spruce is only available through December 25th

I love December - too much fun!

SPRUCE

Size:
16 in wide by 60 in long

Materials:
1300 yds. seasilk or other fingering weight yarn
1500 size 8 seed beads
110 star or other accent beads/charms
size 4 needles
crochet hook for beading

Gauge :
5 st = 1 inch (blocked)

Charted Design
Intermediate level

On your mark...Get set...GO!

what are you doing still here reading? I said GO! NOW! TIME'S A-WASTING...lol

OH YES! ONE OTHER THING : AM ALSO MAKING ENTIRE 2009 SERIES AVAILABLE FOR LAST TIME THRU END OF OCTOBER - STILL AVAILABLE INDIVIDUALLY AND ALSO UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH - ALL 5 PATTERNS (PAMPAS, DELPHIMIUM, ROSE, CHRYSANTHEMUM & SPRUCE) FOR $30 - SPECIAL DEAL AVAILABLE HERE ON THE BLOG OR THRU KNITTY NODDY

Last Call

2010-09-15T11:26:00.012-04:00

It's quarter to three,
There's no one in the place 'cept you and me
So set em up Joe
I got a little story I think you oughtta know
We're drinking my friend
To the end of a brief episode
So make it one for my baby
And one more for the road

-Harold Arlen & Johnny Mercer

After a few false starts, Argonath, a deeply cabled woolen wrap to keep you warm when those winter winds start howling (and you know they will!) is headed into test knit next week. I am really enjoying knitting this one - so much that I didn;t mind pulling her back when the idea came to me for the yummy cabled & fringed end piece.

And it's getting bigger...

I mistakenly identified the yarn as String Theory Caper Dk - in fact it is their merino dk. Oops!

Many new Fellowship patterns are close to release:

This is the Bag End felted "mushroom" bag, but you may choose to fill it with your latest project. The bag is mosaic stitched, which means no pesky stranding, just one color at a time. And I have used a Japanese folding technique, so you knit the body of the bag in one piece! Lots of fun...

Unique Sheep will be selling kits for the bag.

And Galadriel's Mirror is nearing completion of its test knit. This pattern will include directions for doubling the pattern for a beautiful tablecloth or square shawl. I used String Theory's Bluestocking in Alexandrite for this design. It takes 3 skeins for the triangular, 6 for the square. They are dyeing their little hearts out, in preparation for her release.

Look for both of these patterns at the end of the month. Galadriel's Mirror is a separate purchase, but I will give a $2 discount to subscribers, as I did with Goldberry & Rivindell.

Argonath tops out at a generous 22 inches wide, so it's plenty snuggly. Look for an October release date: following Bag End & Galadriel's Mirror. Argonath & Bag End are included in the $45 subscription, which many of you have already purchased.

Speaking of which, now that we are halfway through the series, I am closing subscription sign ups at the end of this week.

Soooo... if you want to take advantage of the discounted prices, do it soon. Subscribers get the additional pattern for Legolas kerchief and a $2 discount on other FotR patterns, such as Galadriel's Mirror, which were added to the series at a later time.

Last call...

SUNFLOWER DESIGNS

Susan Update

On the 4th Day of Christmas (or is 5th?)

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the 3rd Day of Christmas

On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the 2nd day of Christmas...

On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Argonath Errata

Housekeeping

Mithril At Last!

Balrog Cowl

In Dreams Errata

Festivus Errata

Galadriel's Mirror Errata

Evenstar Errata

Ten Years Later

The Mere

Crocus Pocus Errata

Strong Craft

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the...

Isengard

Westemnet Errata

Westemnet

Treebeard

Sneak Peek Saturday, er Sunday, er Monday! Yeah! That's the Ticket!

In Dreams

At Long Last...

Sneak Peek Saturday

Code Problems

In Dreams Clue 5 Errata

Barad Dur Version 3

Barad Dur

In Dreams Mystery Shawl

Only Love

In Dreams Clue 7 errata

In Dreams Clue 5 Errata

In Dreams Clue 6 errata

In Dreams Clue 5 Errata

In Dreams Clue 5 Errata

Lothlorien Errata

Together

Home

Sneak Peek Saturday

Lothlorien

In Dreams Clue 3 Errata

Nature Lover

Two Towers

In Dreams Clue 2 Errata

Argonath Errata

Argonath Errata

Argonath

Let;s Try This Again, Shall We?

In Dreams Clue 1 Errata

Ice Ice Baby

I Love to Tell the Story

Crochet Hook Beading

In Dreams Update!

In Dreams

Perseverence

Clarity

Galadriel's Mirror

Simple Gift

All I Want for Christmas

Thanks Giving

Thank You Notes

Time Warp

Saturday Stash Sale

Everything Old is New Again

Bag End Errata

Bag End

Remember This?

Last Call

On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.