This pattern collection, inspired by the Sonoran Desert Flora, is a collaboration with Grandma’s Spinning Wheel’s 2022 Mystery Yarn Prescription Subscription.

A special collection to work in any weight of yarn, showcasing the beauty of handpainted as well as solid colors in this pattern.

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This crescent shaped shawl with alternating garter ridges and lace sections takes its inspiration from the Zebra Longwing Butterfly, aka Zebra Heliconian or Heliconius Charithonia. It is a medium sized butterfly, characterized by distinctive, bold black and white stripes on its elongated wings. Found through parts of the Southern US, (from Ariz...

This top-down, triangular shawl incorporates squishy garter sections interspersed with rows of eyelets and finished off with a lace section that reminds me of a picture I recently found on my Pinterest feed of Thyme-Moss under a light microscope. GEMMA: Botany. … a cell or cluster of (moss) cells …

The idea for this pattern came to mind while my son was working on a rock climb in Ten Sleep, Wyoming. The name of the climb is “Skwish Mitten” and I thought it fitting to name my new pattern after it. It’s a simple, yet fun intro to mosaic knitting.

Celebrating LYS Day (Local Yarn Store Day) with this special cowl designed for Grandma’s Spinning Wheel and their new in-house exclusive yarn line Twisted Desert Dames.

Depression —

Inspired by Sonoran Desert flowers, the first pattern in this installment is the Arizona State flower: the Saguaro Blossom.

The first pattern in the 2022 Mystery Prescription Subscription Yarn by Grandma’s Spinning Wheel and SR Pepper Fiber Studio. Go here to sign up for your yarn subscription.

In collaboration with SR Pepper Fiber Studio and Grandma’s Spinning Wheel’s Mystery Prescription Subscription, this third design and the yarn color is inspired by the pink-winged moth Lithophane leeae, a beautiful new species discovered in 2009 in the Chiricahua Mountains of S Arizona.

Playing with 2 colors of yarn, this triangular shawl is knit on the bias, using simple eyelet and garter rows broken up with a slipped stitch mosaic pattern which creates little picture frames.

In collaboration with Grandma’s Spinning Wheel and SR Pepper Studios, this cowl (and the yarn color) is inspired by the stunning Sonoran Blue Butterfly.

In collaboration with Grandma’s Spinning Wheel and SR Pepper Studios, this shawl (and the yarn color) is inspired by the stunning Sonoran Blue Butterfly.

Over the last couple of years during our travels through various Western States, my son and I had been researching and wanting to check out New Mexico. However, with one thing or another, our roads always took us to other destinations. Last fall, though, we finally got the chance to explore the Taos/Santa Fe area a little bit. I took this meand...

When I found the “Friendship” stitch pattern by Naomi Parkhurst, I knew I had found the perfect way to honor the many special friends I have found over the last few years through my nomadic lifestyle, connecting with other designers and especially finding kindred spirits on social media.

I love deep, dark forests of the Pacific Northwest, with their thick undergrowth of moss and ferns. Inspired by these thick nature “carpets” I designed this shawl, featuring interesting texture and a fun “fern” lace edge.

Springtime in the Rockies can be very chilly indeed, so when we returned earlier than usual to our summer home to shelter in place during the pandemic, I knew I needed another pair of mitts to keep my hands warm. Opting for a quick crochet project and working a series of simple stitches, these fun mitts came about. Instead of seaming, I decided...

This is the companion hat, inspired by the cowl and fingerless mitts I designed for my sister-in-law after she gave me 3 colors of yarn to make her something with.

The Valley of Fire shawl is a top-down, crescent shaped shawl with a center lace panel that flows down and out along the shawl’s bottom edge. You’ll finish by knitting each individual flame tip separately.

Note: this is the entry for the knit part of the dual knit/crochet Interplay Pattern. When purchasing, you will receive the full combined pattern.

Ravelry’s new site redesign has been causing serious problems for some users, me included (migraines, seizures, vision issues, etc). To this day, Ravelry had responded poorly and refuses to acknowledge or address these issues, other than saying that people are lying.

Pairing a variegated or speckled yarn with a solid for this pattern, let them work together to create a unique and cozy pattern. Starting from the outside, you create 2 shallow triangles which then are connected with a diamond shape & finished off with some short-rows, creating a beautiful, unique shape which stays well on your shoulders, d...

Ravelry’s new site redesign has been causing serious problems for some users, me included (migraines, seizures, vision issues, etc). To this day, Ravelry had responded poorly and refuses to acknowledge or address these issues, other than saying that people are lying.

The matching Yankee Hill cowl can be found here.

The matching Yankee Hill Mitts can be found here.

Ravelry’s new site redesign has been causing serious problems for some users, me included (migraines, seizures, vision issues, etc). To this day, Ravelry had responded poorly and refuses to acknowledge or address these issues, other than saying that people are lying.

How often do we wish to comfort someone who experienced loss or distress? I love making large shawls to gift as a “hug” for comfort. In need of such a comfort shawl, I designed this pattern.

Shellrock pass is located deep in the Pasayten Wilderness. A couple of autumns ago, we camped in the basin below it for an entire week, summiting the peaks around it. The day we crossed over Shellrock pass, it snowed several inches overnight, leaving the trail slippery, the rocks icy, and the golden larch trees covered in a white blanket. It wa...

In Memory of my beloved sister, Janina, who left this earthly realm on August 31, 2009.

This mitt pattern is a companion pattern to the Glass Ripples Shawl. Intended to be worked in any weight yarn and good for hand-painted or variegated colorways.

That smell when the first rain drops touch scorched earth is one of my favorite scents in nature. What better way to catch that scent than by wrapping yourself up in a cozy shawl?

When I designed and knit this hat, we were spending a couple of weeks rock climbing by Scheelite creek. Scheelite is one of the major ores of tungsten and the biggest source of tungsten in the US. Scheelite is quite soft and therefore not normally used in jewelry.

These mitts are inspired by my Scheelite hat, which I designed while spending a couple of spring weeks in the Eastern Sierras, rock climbing by Scheelite creek. Scheelite is one of the major ores of tungsten and the biggest source of tungsten in the US. Scheelite is quite soft and therefore not normally used in jewelry.

Petite little cables surround the cuff, followed by a smooth palm and garter ridges that break up the stockinette back of the mittens.

Hand-dyed yarn has a special pull to it when seen and held at the store, but once home, I often find myself unsure what to work up with it, as an intricate pattern would get lost in the color variations, and while we all love garter stitch shawls sometimes something a little bit more challenging is needed.

“Owl’s Clover” is a species of plant in the same family as Indian Paintbrush (my favorite wildflower), commonly found in the desert areas of California, Arizona and New Mexico.

Every spring we head to the Utah Hills and the Arizona Strip to climb the beautiful lines of the limestone cliffs here.

Ravelry’s new site redesign has been causing serious problems for some users, me included (migraines, seizures, vision issues, etc). To this day, Ravelry had responded poorly and refuses to acknowledge or address these issues, other than saying that people are lying.

This dashing sweater vest will make your little boy feel stylish, while keeping his core warm and his movement and play unhindered.

A delicate looking dress, with garter top and lace skirt that will leave your little one feeling like a fairy dancing in the leaves. Button neck opening makes it easy to slip dress on over the heads of squirmy babies.

Most of us remember that one adult in our life, who helped shape us. The one we looked up to, spent hours with and whom we learned a lot from. Sometimes we didn’t even realize how much this person meant to us until much later in life.

Don’t know what to do with that gorgeous, multi-colored hank of yarn you purchase because the colors were just so stunning but now you are at a loss as to what project to make with it? Find a contrasting or complimentary solid colored hank and work up this fun project.

Osceola Peak is located in the Pasayten Wilderness, 13 miles from the nearest road. In the fall of ‘16 we spent a week camped in the valley below, climbing peaks during the day, including Osceola Peak and warming up around a campfire in the evening, while a gentle early winter snow fell around us.

09.2019 pattern updated

Ravelry’s new site redesign has been causing serious problems for some users, me included (migraines, seizures, vision issues, etc). To this day, Ravelry had responded poorly and refuses to acknowledge or address these issues, other than saying that people are lying.

A 2 color striped crescent shawl, featuring short row and eyelet accents.

Ravelry’s new site redesign has been causing serious problems for some users, me included (migraines, seizures, vision issues, etc). To this day, Ravelry had responded poorly and refuses to acknowledge or address these issues, other than saying that people are lying.

A twisted rib brim worked into an interesting lace repeat that shows beautifully with the solstice luna merino cashmere yarn.

A reversible shawl, worked top-down and from the center out, alternating between garter and eyelet sections and finished with a sideways worked lace edge.

3 colors of yarn create this stunning fingerless mitt. The palms are worked in linen stitch, the thumbs are shaped with short rows, the backs have a small intarsia pattern and finished off with a 3 needle bind off.

Babies love texture and this blanket is full of it. Knit it up in a vibrant color and a nice superwash yarn (for ease of care for mom) and you have a keepsake.

A fun introduction to slip stitch knitting.

The sideways worked, folded up brim of this hat is what makes knitting it fun. Once you get the hang of working the body stitches at the same time you’re knitting the brim, it will fly off your needles.

This pattern is perfect for that single hank of kettle dyed or hand spun yarn you’re not sure what to do with.

It’s all about texture in this chunky, cozy cowl. Easily adaptable for different yarn weights and lengths, this works up quickly and has enough change to hold your attention.

A simple beginners lace pattern, yet stunning results.

Pattern was originally published in the fall 2015 special edition of Interweave “Jane Austen Knits”.

This fun & quirky hat with a twisted rib brim knits up in no time.