A potter friend of mine had a request. “Can you make something super-warm, for when I fire up the kiln in winter? But also breathes, so I don’t pass out?” Thrilled with the result, we christened the pattern Viola, after her massive wood-burning kiln.

Although I’ve sat through Leo’s movie several times, I’ve seen approximately 27%. I’m too busy knitting, and it’s one of those films for which you Must. Pay. Attention. The only thing I do remember is the scene where the bad(?) guy realizes he’s being tricked because they swapped a poly-blend for wool, and I’m all, “I feel you, my dude.” This w...

I know feathers are supposed to be gross and covered in feces and mites, but I’m fascinated with them. I love the fluffy ones that make sleeping comfy. I love the iridescent ones that grow on the backend of my jerk-face rooster. I love the ones used in sacred practices and art. This cowl, with its belled bottom and feather motif, makes me so ha...

Although I’ve sat through Leo’s movie several times, I’ve seen approximately 27%. I’m too busy knitting, and it’s one of those films for which you Must. Pay. Attention.

So, I’m a mood reader. Don’t give me Humans when I want Vampires. Don’t give me Romance when I want Prescriptive Non-Fiction. Don’t give me tragedy, if I want comedy. Straight up, don’t give me tragedy. Happy Endings Only. Knitting patterns are similar. Sometimes you want a million complicated stitches going in a million complicated directions....

This strange little pattern came to me in a dream. Well, a nightmare, really. I kept dropping stitches, and they kept unravelling and unravelling and the sweater kept getting wider and wider, and DUDE, I need to CHILL. The construction of this cowl is unique in that, instead of changing the stitch count to adjust the fit and circumference, stra...

Let it never be said that cables and lace don’t have a prominent place in my dark and shady heart. Sometimes, however, you just want something a little more simple.

It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that kids ruin everything. Love sleeping in on weekends? Too bad. Enjoy disposable income? That’s a hard ‘no’. Desperately to pee in private? Welcome to parenthood. Not all is lost, however. Disney, et al. have stepped up their movie game. No longer must we slog through endless hours of whiny, bald child...

My Nan claimed that a weed is only a weed if you don’t want it in your garden. According to that logic, Our Lady’s Thistles were considered flowers in her yard. I don’t know if they reminded her of her homeland, or if she just didn’t want to deal, but the purple stabby ‘flowers’ were a permanent fixture. While I have warm fuzzy memories of Nan ...

There’s something magical about watching chickens explore your yard. There’s no rhyme or reason to their wandering, just a scratch here and a peck there. Husband calls it Chick TV. This cowl, with its belled bottom and haphazard lace, is a nod to my absolute favourite show.

You know how the majority of your musical tastes are established by your 14th birthday? (Alanis! Where’re you and your Jagged Little Pill?) Well, I think the same might be said for celebrity crushes. This wrap is an homage to my not-a-girl-not-yet-a-woman crush. I will never not pray for a Brendanaissance. I don’t care if he hasn’t put out anyt...

Why aren’t more cowls knit with a belled bottom? A must, in my opinion.

This cowl, with it’s belled bottom and subtle lacework, is your ultimate cold-weather accessory.

This pattern is the reworking of my Tongues of Fire shawl into a cowl.

Regardless of your shape or size, this cowl will fit. It’s stretchy enough to allow for ample shoulder room but elastic enough to snug up to your neck. Cozy.

This bell shaped cowl is a marriage between cables and lace.

This cowl was designed as a follow-up to my shawl pattern of the same name.

A bit of an experiment with cables and lace, this cowl is the bastard offspring of my soon-to-be-published Ajram Shawl.

This stocking is based on my soon-to-be-published pattern: Vivianne - a child’s cabled dress.

While knit in a sport yarn, this pattern could be easily modified to use any yarn weight. Increase or decrease pattern repeats (18 stitches in each) as needed.

There’s nothing quite as Canadian as Maple Syrup. Except hockey…and beer…and Tim Hortons.

Bottoms up!

Bottoms up!

Bottoms up!

Bottoms up!

This lacy cowl adds a touch of elegance to your winter wardrobe.

Back when I was a child, the National Gallery of Canada caused a huge stir when they spent nigh 2 million dollars on a piece called Voice of Fire. This painting was eighteen feet tall, nine feet across, and sported a total of three stripes. Not exactly Starry Night. To quote my mother, “A toddler could have painted that!” A toddler could never ...