Mirage Scarf- Winner!

Congratulations, April (bunpeal on Ravelry), who has won a copy of the Mirage Scarf pattern AND one gorgeous skein of McClellan Fingering yarn. I'll be contacting you today to get your details to send you the yarn.

Remember to keep reading the blog! You never know when I might have another giveaway. (Hmm, I am dangerously close to hitting 20,000 views... might have to have a giveaway soon!)

Happy knitting!!

My Fair Maiden- Winner!

Congratulations to "amchart." You have one a copy of the My Fair Maiden pattern AND one skein of Canopy Fingering yarn! I will contact you to get your detail so that I can send you your loot!

Remember to keep checking back with the blog for new patterns and more giveaways. There is one going on right now!

Happy Knitting!

Mirage Scarf

Who is ready for another pattern and yarn giveaway? 

The Mirage Scarf was first published by Three Irish Girls for their Eunice's Choice yarn club in June. It is a light and airy design perfect for summer or those first cool fall days. 

This scarf is worked flat with fingering weight yarn and larger needles, which creates a drapey, lightweight overall effect. It features an all-over zig-zag mesh lace pattern with an interesting twist on either end of the scarf: both ends are semi-circular.   

There are many many mesh scarf patterns out there. This simple rounded edge adds a little unique touch to make this scarf worth knitting.

The Mirage Scarf works well with any semisolid or variegated colorways. The yarn featured in this pattern is Three Irish Girls' McClellan Fingering. One of my all-time favorite yarns. It consists of 60% merino, 30% bamboo and 10% nylon.... a beautiful combination of softness (from the merino), drape (from the bamboo) and strength (from the nylon). I love knitting with this yarn for accessories. It feels wonderful on the fingers and needles. 

Here is your chance to win a copy of the pattern AND one beautiful skein of this yarn in the Arabian Nights colorway. Bonus! You only need one skein too! 

The colorway is Arabian Nights.

You may enter TWO times, IF you also go to the Ravelry pattern link here and "favorite" my pattern. Post in the comment with your favorite Three Irish Girls colorway is for one chance and then post a second comment saying you favorited my pattern to increase your chances of winning the yarn and pattern. Don't forget to share either your email address or Ravelry name so I can contact you with the good news! You have until next Tuesday to comment. On Wednesday I will select a winner at random and let you know who the lucky winner is.

My Fair Maiden

Please say hello to My Fair Maiden.

I'm not going to lie. I am exceedingly proud of this design. In fact, I just love it. There was much squealing with glee when I first tried it on my daughter, Emma.

Last summer, my daughter became obsessed with the Disney film Brave and insisted on watching it nearly every single day. The magic of Merida's story led to her interest in reading stories, such as The Princess and the Pea, Rumplestiltskin, Rapunzel, and other fairy tales on a nightly basis. My Fair Maiden is an ode to the damsels in fairy tales and maidens like Merida (from Brave). 

This garment is a sleeveless tunic and was designed with two purposes in mind: to be worn in costume play with a full tulle skirt and princess hat like a hennin, or to be worn in every day wear like over a slim fitting shirt with a denim skirt and print tights. 

It features characteristics of medieval dress, such as a high wide neckline, a slim fit in the body, and a slightly lower waistline. Beneath the waist is a short skirt with inverted box pleats.

A knit ribbon (worked at a looser gauge to reduce bulk and weight but add extra drape) is tied in a bow on the back and rests on the pleats. The ribbon is knit with a contrasting color in stockinette stitch and is worked horizontally at a looser gauge to create a more “ribbon-like” effect.

She is reading the funniest book in this picture, "The Worst Princess."

My Fair Maiden was designed with one inch of positive ease at the chest - it is slim fitting after all!

 This design was knit with the most heavenly yarn, Fibre Company's Canopy Fingering. It is a delicious blend of alpaca, merino and bamboo, which creates a beautiful drape when knitted into fabric - perfect for those pleats and ribbon!

Since, as you well know by now, I have children with significantly larger than average heads, I needed the accommodate that in the design. So, there are two options for the shoulder: seamed or hidden knitted tabs with sew-on snaps. Emma is wearing one with the hidden tabs/snaps.

That sweet girl of mine happened to go through a growth spurt between the time I began working on the tunic and the time I finished. So if I were to make it again for her, I would add an inch or two in length to the body. Otherwise, I could not have been happier with the final result.

Now, here is your chance to win some loot! Comment below and share what your favorite fairy tale was as a child. You have one week to enter. Next Friday (August 22) I will select a winner at random to receive a copy of the My Fair Maiden pattern AND 1 skein of Canopy Fingering yarn in the Crocus colorway! You may enter TWO times, IF you also go to the Ravelry pattern link here and "favorite" my pattern. Be sure to post in the comment with your favorite fairy tale for one chance and then post a second comment saying you favorited my pattern to increase your chances of winning the yarn and pattern.