I am so excited to tell you about the new shawl pattern by Deborah Bowanko! Debbi and I have collaborated on several projects, including last year’s Advent calendar kits. Though we have never met in person, I consider her a good friend, and we visit over email frequently. Debbi is a moderator for the Never Enough Lace group on Ravelry, and they do frequent KALs (knit-alongs) with prizes at the end. Last year she made her first assigned pooling pattern for Never Enough Lace called Pools of Color, and she used one of my assigned pooling colorways for it.

Lots of knitters in the group asked for another assigned pooling pattern, and Debbi really outdid herself with this beautiful shawl pattern!

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She combined an assigned pooling colorway with a semi-solid colorway. The assigned pooling colorway has floret and bauble stitches while the semi-solid colorway has a combination of different lace stitches and the option of beads as well.

The pattern calls for two skeins of a sock-weight assigned pooling colorway and one matching semi-solid colorway. The Knit-Along begins in the Never Enough Lace group on Ravelry on September 1st. You can learn more right here.

Meanwhile, one of the things that is most exciting about being a part of this is that it is an international event. Linda of Wolhobby is the dyer for Europe, Alix of Yarn with Alix is the dyer for Australia and New Zealand, and I’m the dyer for the US and Canada. We have all been preparing for this and getting know each other in the last few months, and they are all delightful, and that certainly includes Brigit who moderates the Never Enough Lace group along with Debbi.

Just yesterday, Linda of Wolhobby interviewed Debbi on her Youtube channel. You can see that interview right here:

You can learn about the Knit-Along on Ravelry right here, and you can get Deborah Bowanko’s Buds and Blooms pattern right here. Use the coupon code BB0901 for an introductory discount on her pattern. Since it is a KAL, you won’t get the full pattern just yet. Instead, you’ll get a placeholder with all the info about the yarn you’ll need, the unique stitches, and the timeline. A few days before the KAL starts on September 1st, the pattern will automatically update to the full pattern.

If you are in Europe, you can order the yarn for Buds and Blooms pattern from Linda of Wolhobby right here. If you are in Australia, you can get the yarn from Alix of Yarn with Alix right here. If you are in the US or Canada, you can order it from yours truly right here.

Here are the five sets I put together to go with Debbi’s Buds and Blooms pattern.

I hope you enjoy the KAL and Debbi’s wonderful new pattern so much!

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A Switch from Lavender to Lemon Felt Balls

If you have been around for awhile, you have probably noticed that I offer small felt balls with lavender essential oil as an optional gift with your order. Lavender is one of a few essential oils that moths don’t like, and so it’s great to put the little felt balls with your yarn or finished projects to keep the moths away.

Over the years, however, I have had a few customers tell me that they have a serious allergy to lavender, and even though I only include the gift upon request, I have found myself concerned about that. What if a package with lavender essential oil sits next to a box for someone with an allergy to it while waiting to take them to the post office? Is that enough to cause difficulties for someone with an allergy?

Because of that, I decided to switch from lavender to lemon essential oil when I updated the website. Based on a bit of research, lemon seems to be a very rare allergy. It has a fresh clean smell, and, like lavender, moths don’t like it! I hope you enjoy it–and that the moths distinctly do not! I put a new note on the cart page of my website as a reminder to ask for one in the note to seller if you would like one. Just like the lavender felt balls, I only include them upon request.

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Fresh from the Dye Pots

This week I finished packaging up the club colorways and got those on their way. I also dyed up Annunciation Blue and Eggplant. Then I asked my son Joseph to dye a fresh batch of his new Caribbean Sunset colorway. I also dyed two of the butterfly colorways, making it so that once again all five butterfly colorways are available to choose from.

Here is a closeup of Annunciation Blue on Stained Glass Sock:

Here is Eggplant on Sparkly Merino Sock:

Here are all five of the current butterfly colorways on Stained Glass Sock:

Last but not least is Caribbean Sunset dyed by Joseph. Here it is on Sock Perfection for the first time:

Caribbean Sunset is dyed in thirds. One third is the sunset over the ocean with all the fuchsia and purple and orange of a gorgeous sunset. One third is the ocean itself with the blues and greens. The final third is the reflection of the sunset on the ocean with the colors of both.

Here is a sample swatch to give you an idea of how it works up:

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Show and Tell

Last week I had mentioned my plans to do a Show and Tell newsletter this week. However, I decided to put that off a week to focus on Debbi’s new pattern instead. That means there is still time to email me a photo or two of your WIP or FO.

I’m offering a thank-you coupon to anyone who sends in a project so everyone gets to enjoy seeing what you’ve made and gets inspiration for their next project. I’d love to see photos of your knit and crocheted projects as well as weaving, felting, and handspun yarn. If you are new at this, all the better because you will inspire someone else who is just starting to explore the wonderful world of fiber arts.

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I think that’s everything. Have a great weekend.