Butterflies are like flying flowers, and I love them. A few weeks ago, I saw one of the little orange butterflies that flutters about in our backyard all summer long. This one was struggling along the sidewalk, and it looked like it had a hurt wing. It was getting cold out, so I let it crawl onto my hand and brought it into my studio while my 10-year-old son brought in some of the lantana we know they drink from. I didn’t see the butterfly for awhile and assumed it had died, but then a couple days later I saw it flying about my studio. It was warmer outside by then, so I let it climb up on my hand again and took it back outside to the lantana flowers, careful not to touch its wings. I hope it lived a happy little butterfly life from then on.
Meanwhile, I got to thinking about my butterfly colorways and how best to use them. One really lovely pattern to use with the butterfly colorways is my Metamorphosis Shawl. I designed each of the butterfly colorways after a particular species of these beautiful “flying flowers.”
Here are the four butterfly colorways I have in stock right now:
From left to right they are:
- Quino Checkerspot (a splashed and speckled colorway)
- Indian Jezebel (an assigned pooling colorway)
- Monarch (a tonal colorway)
- Colorado Hairstreak (an assigned pooling colorway)
Aren’t the names hilarious? You can see all four colorways right here.
The Metamorphosis Shawl uses 4 skeins altogether–two assigned pooling skeins and two semi-solid or splashed and speckled colorways. You could choose two of the colorways above, or you could be adventurous and use one skein of each of the four.
Of all the shawls I have knit, I wear the Metamorphosis Shawl the most. The triangular crescent shape just lays so nicely, and it is big enough to be worn a variety of ways without needing anything to hold it in place.
If you love the idea of an assigned pooling project but want a somewhat smaller project, you could consider the Knitting by the Pool Ponchette which uses one skein of an assigned-pooling colorway and one semi-solid or splashed and speckled colorway.
Smaller still? The Long Way Round is a simple triangular scarf design that uses just a single skein of an assigned pooling colorway in any weight you choose.
Free Pattern
If any one of these sounds like the perfect way to spend your knitting time in the coming weeks, I’d like to make it a little easier. When you order the yarn for any of these, I’ll include the pattern to go with it even if you order the yarn from the dyed to order section of my shop. Just put the pattern in your cart along with the yarn, and you’ll get the pattern for free! This is good through Monday at midnight.
–
Other Patterns
If you would like a more challenging assigned pooling pattern to knit, consider one of Dawn Barker’s amazing assigned pooling patterns on her website here. My friend Debbi Bowanko also has some beautiful assigned pooling patterns on her Ravelry store right here. Debbi’s Buds and Blooms and Pools of Color patterns use colorways from my shop.
If you would like to crochet an assigned pooling project, here are a few patterns to consider on Ravelry.
–
Some Good News
Last week I mentioned my worries about Buttery Soft DK coming from my wholesaler in time for this month’s club colorways. I’m happy to report that I got the yarn on Monday and it up. I’ll be packaging and shipping the rest of the club colorways (yarn and art batts) this coming Monday.
Tomorrow I’ll start dyeing up the Beautiful Universe colorway that many of you preordered. Thank you very much for your orders!
I hope you enjoy these weeks of anticipation, and that you find some quiet time to pursue the fiber arts and the stress relief they bring! See you next week.