TNNA

This sums it up:

Posing at the Lorna's Laces booth with my new "friends." That foxy redhead behind me is an actual new friend, the lovely Amanda from LL!

Fresh Valley Pattern Goodness!

My oh my, more new patterns?! Welcome my newest contributions to the Valley Yarns pattern line: the Bricklayer Set and the Chandelier Shawl! (Photos thanks to Webs.) Warm yourself with the Bricklayer Set from Valley Yarns. This easy color work set is worked using slipped stitches and only one color per row. Sideways garter stitch bands are a fun change from ribbing and add an extra layer of construction intrigue!

This accessory set works up super fast and (I think) is also super fun. I swapped the colors between the mitts and the hat for that extra special dose of ~why the hell not~ but you could of course match them. And think of how beautiful it would be with a color changing or hand dyed yarn for the background color, like Noro Silk Garden or Madelinetosh anything!

The Chandelier Shawl from Valley Yarns is a sweeping, cozy, cable-and-lace shawl for chilly days.

So this is one of those samples that I wish I could keep. It's gorgeous and SO WARM! But I don't have the time or inclination to re-knit a worsted weight shawl for myself, even if it is on the speedy side compared to a fingering weight shawl. Sheffield has a really nice halo because of the angora content, though I think this would look equally good in a mohair blend, or maybe even something shiny to jazz it up!

Publishing with other people is always kind of a wild card, you never know how they are going to style it and when they are going to release the patterns. Case in point--if I were self-publishing these two, I would have spaced them out and not piggybacked onto the Brooklyn Bridge Mitts release. The upside though is that Webs always does a great job with the photography and location for Valley Yarns pattern shoots and this is no exception. Always a pleasure to see your designs being showcased beautifully!

Brooklyn Bridge Mitts

Thaaaat's right: new pattern time! All photos in this post by the amazing Topham Photo. Introducing the Brooklyn Bridge Mitts!

Show off your Brooklyn pride and warm your hands with the Brooklyn Bridge Mitts, no matter what 'hood you call home! These mitts feature traveling cables that mimic the arches of the Brooklyn Bridge, set on a reverse stockinette stitch background that transitions to stockinette after the cables are completed. A thumb gusset provides a comfortable fit and you can opt for individual finger holes or a completely fingerless treatment. With two lengths and two sizes to choose from, plus cute buttoned cuffs, you'll be whipping up a perfect-for-you pair of mitts in no time!

The blue sample is Malabrigo Silky Merino and the pinkish grey variegated sample is Malabrigo Arroyo. I love how the pattern looks totally different but still works in the different bases. Single ply, plied, variegated, solid, semi-solid--it's all good! And you've probably figured out by now that I'm OBSESSED with cute buttons so gotta have any excuse to work those in. The ones on the blue sample actually have tiny pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge which is what kickstarted the whole idea!

I asked my BFF Kerry to help me model, which is how I wound up with awesome high school senior portrait-esque shots like this:

Nothing like a great pair of mitts to win your friends over and provide you with a barrel of laughs when sitting on a dock at 8am on a rainy day, amirite? These babies are MAGIC!

Head on over to Ravelry if you want to snag a copy. Big thanks to the lovely folks at Malabrigo, who sent me the yarn as part of their Malabrigo Quickies program.