Photo © Clotheshorse Magazine

It’s still winter, so nothing beats being cozy and toasty warm, hanging out at home.

The Details

Pattern: Fireside
Designer: Jennifer Dassau
Size: 30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44)”
Needles: Size 10 (6mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Techno, shown in Fame #1970
Pattern available in Clotheshorse, Winter 2012/2013

Photo © Clotheshorse Magazine

Whipping up a warm and lovely handknit is a perk of long winters.

The Details

Pattern: Whipped Cream Cowl
Designer: Heather Dixon
Size: One, 22″ x 8″
Needles: Size 15 (10mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky, shown in Polar Bear #1004
Pattern available in Clotheshorse, Winter 2012/2013

Photo © Clotheshorse Magazine

But soon spring will come, with sunny days and cool breezes. Perfect bucket hat weather!

The Details

Pattern: Frosted Hat
Designer: Heather Dixon
Size: One, 21½” x 11″
Needles: Size 10 (6mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Techno, shown in Fame #1970
Pattern available in Clotheshorse, Winter 2012/2013

Photo © Clotheshorse Magazine

The best part of the coming season? Springy colors!

The Details

Pattern: Ansel
Designer: Mari Chiba
Size: 30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44)”
Needles: Size 7 (4.5mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight, shown in Citron #536 and Capri #539
Pattern available in Clotheshorse, Winter 2012/2013

Photo © Alana Dakos/NNK Press 2013

Inspiration. Where does it come from? While it’s certainly different for everyone, the beauties of nature seem to be the most universally inspiring. With all the colors, textures, patterns, and beauty found in nature, it is entirely fitting that many designers try to translate these occurrences into knit and crochet patterns.

Alana Dakos’ love of nature shines in her newest collection, Botanical Knits, which is a literal translation of leaves into knitwear. Through her thoughtful execution in which knitted fabric mimics nature, the leaves seem to spring forth from the garments, as though ready to sway in any gentle breeze that may pass by…

Dakos even uses decreasing techniques to portray the cyclical nature of life in Forest Floor, a slouchy hat featuring Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino. With delicate leaf shapes growing seamlessly out of the ribbing and decreasing gently into nothing, we are reminded of how life unrfurls, grows, and withers. Forest Floor is my weekend plan, now to pick a color!

The Details

Pattern: Forest Floor
Designer: Alana Dakos
Size: 20-22″ head
Needles: Size 5 (3.75mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Size 7 (4.5mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino, shown in Harvest #415
Pattern available in Botanical Knits: Twelve Designs Inspired by Trees and Foliage

Photo © Vogue Knitting

Burberry, Marc Jacobs, Kenzo… animal prints are still strutting the catwalks.

This cardigan, with its large-scale print, pushes animal into abstract, fiercely fashionable into cozy.

The Details

Pattern: #18 Safari Jacket
Designer: Brandon Mably
Size: One Size with finished bust of 50″
Needles: Size 7 (4.5mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Size 9 (5.5mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes, shown in Butterscotch #2022, Black #2006, Rusty Orange #2010, Charcoal #2025, Cranberry #2012, Mulberry #2024
Pattern available in Vogue Knitting Winter 2012/2013

Photo © The Purl Bee

I adore handmade ornaments. In particular any ornament that can withstand falling off of the tree (thanks to my two darling cats). The Snowflower Ornaments from the Purl Bee fit the bill: handmade, unbreakable, and lovely! One hank of Blue Sky Alpacas Metalico makes about 9 ornaments! That’s one for me, my Mom, my Grandma, my cousin, my Aunt, three girlfriends, and my neighbor! I love crocheting holiday cheer!

The Details

Pattern: Snowflower Ornaments
Designer: Purl Soho
Size: 3″ diameter
Hook: Size D (3.25mm) hook, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Metalico, shown in Opal #1610
Pattern available on the Purl Bee

Photo © Interweave

Perusing the latest editions of knitting magazines is one of my favorite ways to unwind. To make myself all cozy after a day at work and take a look at all the lovely designs on each page is entertaining and inspiring. Every now and then a design really grabs me, makes me exclaim aloud, and has me dashing for my stash rather than staying under the cozy afghan. Kyoko Nakayoshi had not one, but two exclamation-inducing designs in Knitscene Winter 2012. These designs, Merging Ripples Shawl and the Sideways Shawls patterns, are variations on a theme, one symmetric and the other asymmetric.

The Details

Pattern: Merging Ripples Shawl
Designer: Kyoko Nakayoshi
Size: 45″ wide and 21½” tall
Needles: Size 3 (3.25mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 4 (3.5mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Melange, shown in Salsa #806 and Pomegranate #813
Pattern available in Knitscene, Winter 2012

Photo © Interweave

I especially enjoy the asymmetric balance of the Sideways Ripples Shawl. Probably because my life is frequently a bit off-kilter.

Looking forward to heathery Cornflower in an eye-catching combination with Cinnamon.

I was inspired by oxidized metals to put Cornflower #800 and Cinnamon #804 together. As fellow BSA coworkers passed by my desk, I heard many “Ohhh… ahhh!’ and my favorite, “Wow! What is this going to be for?”

It’s safe to say this shawl is going to look awesome, and I’m itching to cast-on!

The Details

Pattern: Sideways Ripples Shawl
Designer: Kyoko Nakayoshi
Size: 45″ wide and 21½” tall
Needles: Size 3 (3.25mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 4 (3.5mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Melange, shown in Dijon #807 and Licorice #803
Pattern available in Knitscene, Winter 2012