Thursday, July 4, 2013

Portsmouth promotional yarn coupon!~!

Here's a different view of my latest design, the Portsmouth NH scarf:



(Don't tell anyone, but that's Lake Michigan pretending to be the Atlantic Ocean in this photo.)

The scarf is knit from two skeins of Traveller, a yarn sold by Verdant Gryphon, which I think might be my favorite yarn ever. So I'm thrilled that VG is excited about this pattern -- and they're offering a promotion on yarn for it!  Get $5 off any two skeins of Traveller through the long weekend (ending at Midnight EDT on Sunday July 7).  Use the coupon code 'Portsmouth' when you check out.  Happy knitting!

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

New pattern! Portsmouth, NH scarf and shawl.

I have a new pattern out!  Two, actually:  the Portsmouth, NH scarf and the Portsmouth, NH shawl.  I'm kind of in love with both of them -- thank goodness that it's 60 degrees here in Chicago (in July!) and I can wear the shawl everywhere.



You can see that they're very similar patterns, knit in different weights of yarn (for a rather different effect).  The idea that inspired this design was to break down the false dichotomy between scarves and shawls.  Why should't scarves have interesting (ie, non-rectangular) shapes and fun details?  Why shouldn't shawls be as easy to wear as scarves?

So, what's with the name?  Portsmouth NH is a city on the eastern seaboard of the US that I (almost) lived in for a year.  (Technically, I live in Durham, NH.  Durham is kind of boring, though, so I spent a lot of time in Portsmouth).  It's a marvelously funky place, combining historic New England charm, NH individualism, and that international feel lots of port towns have.  It's also pretty cold in the winter.