Wherever I Wander is the first in a series of three shawls inspired by the excitement and satisfaction that comes from giving in to wanderlust and exploring new locales, whether they are far-flung or nearer by, as well as the feeling of contentment that is felt when coming home again.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that quotes with the word “peach” in them usually have something to do with how good — or sweet — life is. What could be better than eating a fresh, juicy peach, after all? OK, maybe knitting a great pair of socks that are as satisfying to wear as they are to knit.

Once upon a brief time, I lived in a small rural town in an old house on Walnut Street. As the name might suggest, the road was lined on both sides with towering black walnut trees. We didn’t live in that house for very long, but our time there was happy and I think back on those tall, beautiful trees with fondness.

There is something inherently romantic in the imagery of an early morning fog that slowly rolls over the countryside and then just as slowly dissipates, or evanesces, as the day wakes up and gets under way. Evanesce is a crescent-shaped shawl that echoes this dissipation in the seven panels that make it up. They gradually decrease in width as t...

I love the symbolism of an arrow, especially when used to signify a direction of travel or force. When I’m making plans or setting goals, I envision embarking on my decided course of action and with any luck, flying straight towards my goal. I imagine myself to be a sharp arrow that, once launched, moves unwaveringly towards its target.

If you’ve ever attended a knitting retreat, participated in a knit-along, or just knit with a small group of friends, then you likely know the spiritual warmth the act of knitting brings. The camaraderie and commiseration that come from friendships formed through knitting are like no other. People who were complete strangers in the beginning fo...

Roughlock Falls Shawl was inspired by a family trip to the Black Hills in western South Dakota. The shawl has a fine balance of ruggedness and femininity, qualities that I imagine were essential in a pioneer woman of the Gold Rush era. The timeless top-down triangle shape is knit to a generous size in sport weight yarn to ward off the chill.

It’s no secret that we are proud of our corn here in the Midwest. Farmers cut mazes into fields for daring visitors to meander through. Some farmers follow a pattern plotted on a grid; others use sophisticated GPS technology to cut the paths. Regardless of the method, the result is a puzzling network of trails that eventually lead to the finish...

Have you ever had one of those days (or weeks) when nothing seems to go your way? When it rains, it pours, right? Sometimes, though, we need a good rain shower to help us appreciate the light that follows. The Downpour Socks will cheer you with a combination of stockinette to show off the yarn and a deluge of garter and slipped stitches down ea...

I have a deep and abiding love of variegated sock yarns but sometimes struggle to find the best way to highlight the yarn without obscuring the pattern. I find that, in those cases, it’s best to just get out of the way and let the glorious yarn do its thing in a simple stitch pattern.

In today’s busy and crazy world, sometimes it’s hard to know if you’re coming or going or which direction is up. With the Directional Socks, you don’t have to decide! From one angle, the arrows point down to your toes. But shift your perspective a little, and they’ll appear to aim up towards the cuff.

Frondescence was inspired by that wonderful time each spring when the trees unfurl their leaves to announce that spring is on its way. The body of this crescent-shaped shawl features a lacy leaf motif that is echoed in the knitted-on edging.

This hat features 4 panels of alternating eyelets separated by stockinette panels that taper to a point at the crown. Any way the wind blows-north, south, east or west-this hat will keep you warm and looking good while doing so.

To alight is to settle down in a delicate or gentle manner, and is a perfect way to describe sitting down to enjoy a bit of knitting. There is just something so wonderfully satisfying and calming about settling into a cozy spot to enjoy the sense of peace that knitting so often brings.

Inspired by that signature chevron-striped shirt we all know and love, Good Grief! is a child’s pullover sweater that showcases a textured chevron-patterned front while its back is knit in a wide rib to allow for additional stretch when needed - perfect for growing peanuts. It is knit bottom-up in a raglan construction with a crew neck. Good Gr...

There is something soothing—and oddly hypnotic—in observing the ripples that expand across a body of water when an object is dropped into it. The Ripple Ribbed Socks play on this effect with simple two-stitch cables that undulate down the leg and foot while panels of stockinette evoke the calmness of the water before and after the ripples have ...

A circuitous route takes longer to travel than a more direct path, but arguably tends to be more interesting a journey.

In the American Midwest, the line between suburb and prairie can sometimes blur. There is a comfortable sort of dichotomy in having every modern convenience available while still having wide open spaces close at hand. It’s a wonderful thing, appreciating that contrast while straddling the line.

Hellebores are beautiful and unique flowers. Sometimes called winter roses, they are prized by gardeners for their late winter or early spring bloom periods, well before other plants awaken. Some even bloom when still covered with snow.

Slipped-stitch patterns are terrific for adding a bit of texture and pop to variegated yarns. This pattern takes traditional slipped stitches and turns them inside out - literally! - creating a fun, faux woven effect that is paired with ribbing for a great fitting sock.

I love self-striping sock yarn, but sometimes want a little bit more ‘oomph’ than a plain sock provides. Swirls add just the right amount of ‘oomph’, while still keeping the sock simple and quick-to-knit.

In grammar, a conjunction is a word that joins together sentences. In this cowl, a conjunction is a series of slipped stitches that connects bands of reverse stockinette together, resulting in a warm and cozy neckwarmer.

This pattern is my solution to the variegated yarn conundrum - that one where a gorgeous skein of yarn refuses to knit well in a pattern, but the thought of yet another totally stockinette sock is too monotonous to bear.