Connect with yourself through knitting
Knitting is more than a craft; it’s a journey of self-exploration.
As we immerse in the rhythmic motion of the needles, we create space for reflection and discovery, both within ourselves and in our craft.
The repetitive actions of our hands and the soothing nature of knitting allow our minds to quiet down, making room for new insights and ideas to emerge.
In our busy lives, it’s so easy to neglect creative projects. But when we prioritise self-care and creativity, we carve out a sacred space to connect with ourselves.
With each stitch, we embark on an exploration of our inner landscape. As we engage with the tactile sensations of the yarn and the rhythmic dance of the needles, we find a rhythm that resonates with our own unique energy. In this state of flow, we release the constraints of daily life and tap into our creative fire.
Knitting provides an opportunity to express ourselves authentically. We can experiment with colours, textures and patterns that speak to us without judgment or expectations. We discover new aspects of our creativity when we follow our intuition and inspirations. The knitting process becomes a mirror, reflecting our thoughts, emotions and experiences, allowing us to express them through our craft.
Making mistakes and unravelling stitches remind us that imperfection is part of the process. We learn to embrace setbacks as valuable lessons, fostering resilience and adaptability. Each project becomes a metaphor for personal growth, with moments of triumph and lessons learned.
Ultimately, knitting is a journey to self-discovery, self-expression and self-nurturing. It’s an invitation to connect with ourselves, to honour our creativity, and to cultivate a deeper understanding of who we are. As we unravel the threads of our being through the stitches we create, we know that knitting is not just about creating tangible items—it’s a journey that brings us closer to ourselves.
As you pick up your needles, allow yourself to be present in each stitch, embracing the insights and inspirations that arise. Through knitting, you’ll discover not only the beauty of your craft but also the beauty within yourself.
Slow down with Underwater shawl
The last few weeks of the year always feel like a race to the finish line. I wanted to design a deliciously simple shawl to ground us during this busy time.
Underwater is a minimal and cosy triangle shawl with diagonally moving eyelet bands on stockinette stitch.
It’s soothing and comforting to knit. Perfect for slowing down with your knitting and a good audiobook.
You work this shawl with three colours of sport-weight yarn.
I used De Rerum Natura Ulysse (100% merino; 185 m / 202 yds per 50 g) in colours Quartz, Poivre et Sel and Granit.
But Underwater would look great in a single colour, too. You’ll need about 629 m / 688 yds of sport-weight yarn in total.
Don’t like purling? You could also work this shawl in garter stitch.
Ready to cast on? See the Underwater pattern here.
Soothe your soul with the new Tranquil scarf
Tranquil is now live!
I have been eagerly waiting to share this new wrap with you. It’s one of my all-time favourites.
There’s so much to love about big shawls, but sometimes all you want is a barely-there piece that doesn’t weigh you down.
This lovely little wrap feels like a hug from a cloud.
You work Tranquil on the bias with increases on one edge and decreases on the other, creating a chic parallelogram shape with tapered ends.
The all-over diamond lace is relaxing yet entertaining to knit. With no purling!
You can easily adjust Tranquil to different sizes and yarn amounts to make it your own. The pattern includes instructions on modifying both the width and length.
Ready to cast on? See the Tranquil pattern here.
Sneak peek: Knit yourself calm with Tranquil
I’ve been counting down the days to share my new design, Tranquil, with you.
And in two days, Tranquil finally goes live!
I’m so excited about this one, and I hope you’ll love it too.
Tranquil is a bias rectangle wrap with all-over diamond lace on garter stitch.
This weightless little piece feels like a hug from a cloud.
I used 390 m / 427 yds (only 65 g) of Isager Spinni, a lace-weight single-ply 100% wool yarn.
You can use any lace to fingering weight yarn you want.
(Or any yarn weight. Just remember to go up in needle size if you’re going heavier.)
The pattern includes instructions on modifying the width and length, so you can make yours as big or petite as you want.
When Tranquil goes live, I’ll send a 20% discount code for the pattern to my e-letter subscribers. If you haven’t signed up for my free e-letters, do that here.
And if you’re a Woolenberry Patreon member, you will find a 40% discount for the pattern on Patreon and in your inbox as soon as Tranquil goes live. You can also use your monthly free download code for Tranquil.
I can’t wait to share Tranquil with you!
New rectangle shawl with simple lace: Flourish
Flourish is the second pattern in this year’s shawl club
Flourish is a light, ethereal rectangle shawl with simple lace and garter stitch.
The diagonally shifting stitch patterns add movement and interest to the shawl.
Both ends have delicate fishnet lace with narrow garter stitch stripes. The centre of the shawl has eyelets sprinkled along the garter stitch.
And there’s not a single purl stitch!
You work Flourish on the bias with increases on one edge and decreases on the other, creating a fun parallelogram shape with tapered ends.
This is quite a large shawl, even though it weighs only 95 grams!
But if you want to make yours smaller or even bigger, I’ve included instructions on adjusting the width and length.
I used one skein of Fyberspates Gleem Lace (55% BFL wool, 45% silk; 800 m / 874 yds per 100 g) in colour Copper Tones.
It’s yet another deep dive from my stash. This yarn has been sitting and simmering there for a long time, waiting for the right project.
Perhaps you also have a perfect match for Flourish already in your stash?
You’ll need about 760 m / 830 yds of lace weight yarn.
The stitch definition is not essential for this project, so you can choose any yarn you want.
If the idea of knitting with lace weight yarn makes your skin crawl, you can substitute it for a heavier weight yarn.
Fingering weight yarn will still create a lightweight summer shawl, while with DK to worsted, you’ll get a warm and cosy wrap for autumn evenings and crisp snow days.
Flourish is only available to members of the 2022 Shawl Club.
If you haven’t joined us yet, it’s not too late!
By joining now, you get instant access to First Blooms and Flourish patterns.
The remaining 2022 Shawl Club patterns will be out in September and December.
Ready to cast on? Join the 2022 Shawl Club here!
P.S. Share your progress on Instagram with #woolenberry and create a project page on Ravelry. I love seeing your knits!
How and why to use lace charts
We knitters have strong opinions about charts vs written instructions.
Some only use written instructions, and some swear by charts. For many of us, the sweet spot is a combination of written and charted instructions.
A quick look at the lace chart will help you visualise the pattern even if written instructions are your jam and charts make your head hurt.
All my patterns published after September 2018 include both written and charted instructions, so you can pick what works best for you. I’ve also updated several of my older patterns to include charts, and I’m slowly working through the rest.
Why charts
Charts help you visualise the pattern. For complex designs, it can be challenging to see what the knitting should look like from the text alone. Seeing the chart can help you read your knitting.
If the pattern is repetitive, it can also help you memorise it faster, making your knitting experience more meditative and relaxing.
Even if you’re following the written instructions, a glance at the chart will help you visualise the overall look of the lace pattern.
How to read charts
You always read charts from the bottom up. If you’re knitting flat, you read the right side rows from right to left and the wrong side rows from left to right. And you read all rows from right to left if you’re knitting in the round.
A pattern repeat is usually marked in a box. You work the stitches in the repeat until you have as many stitches left as there are stitches after the box on the chart row.
A chart always comes with a chart key which explains what all the symbols in the chart mean.
Bonus tip
I recommend you mark where you are in the chart. You can use a suitable function in your pdf reader or app for pdfs. If you’re knitting from a printed pattern, you can use post-it notes or washi tape. Then you can easily pick up where you left off if you need to put your knitting down in the middle of the chart.
Still not convinced? No worries, you can keep on knitting all my patterns following only the written instructions.
Pattern favourite: Spring Bloom shawl
Spring Bloom is a large yet lightweight shawl with delicate lace.
Grounding garter stitch is interspersed with contrasting colour lace and eyelet stripes.
Spring Bloom would look fantastic in single-ply merino yarns like Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, Malabrigo Mechita or La Bien Aimée Merino Singles.
Or you could choose a yarn with some silk to get even more drape and luxurious sheen. The Uncommon Thread Silky Merino or Julie Asselin Fino would be perfect.
Knitted in two colours, you can play with different combinations and choose colours that complement or contrast each other.
Go as bright and bold or as soft and muted as you want, or take your cues from the seasons around you.
I used Eden Cottage Yarns Tempo 4ply (75% wool, 25% nylon; 400 m / 437 yds per 100 g) in colours Coppice and Silver Birch.
You’ve seen me use Eden Cottage Yarns in many of my shawls. It’s one of my absolute favourite yarn brands, the colours that Victoria creates are so beautiful!
What’s your favourite yarn brand?
See the Spring Bloom pattern here.
New one skein wonder Solar is here
Solar is a fun and quick to knit one skein wonder. You work this crescent-shaped shawl alternating garter stitch with stockinette ridges and beautiful yet simple lace. Picot bind-off adds delicate detail to the border.
I used one skein of Zen Yarn Garden Serenity 20 (70% merino wool, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon; 366 m / 400 yds per 100 g) in colour Bumble Bee.
The yarn was a gift from a Ravelry friend, and it’s been sitting in my stash for a long, long time.
I’ve seen so many knitters use this yarn for my shawl patterns over the years, and I can’t believe I didn’t cast on with it sooner. I guess it was waiting for this pattern!
I bet you also have a perfect skein already in your stash.
Solid and semi-solid yarns work best for this shawl, but the choice is yours.
You’ll need about 355 m / 388 yds of similar fingering weight yarn.
I also included instructions for making the shawl bigger if you want to turn it into a two skein project or have a skein with more yardage.
Ready to cast on? See the Solar pattern here!
P.S. When you’ve picked your yarn, share your project on Instagram with #woolenberry. I love seeing your knits!
Knitspiration: Spring Street shawl
Looking for a fun, easy knit that looks gorgeous? I’ve got a perfect project for you.
Spring Street is a beautiful bottom-up triangle shawl with an allover lace pattern of interlocked leaves.
And it’s knitted entirely on garter stitch, so there’s no purling.
The lace may look complicated, but it’s actually easy and relaxing to knit. I promise!
You’ll learn the pattern repeat by heart after you’ve completed it a few times.
Sit back, relax and watch the leaves emerge one by one.
I used 2 skeins of North Light Fibers Spring Street (100% Falkland Islands merino; 283 m / 310 yds per 70 g skein), in colour Sand.
You’ll need about 542 m / 592 yds of fingering or light fingering weight yarn. Solid and semi-solid colours will work best for this shawl.
You can also easily make your Spring Street as big or petite as you want. Simply keep on working the pattern repeat until you run out of yarn or reach the size you love.
Ready to cast on? See Spring Street pattern here
Do you like surprises? The 2022 Shawl Club is now open
Welcome to the 7th year of the Woolenberry Shawl Club!
The 2022 Shawl Club includes 4 shawl patterns, released one by one in May, June, September and December.
All these patterns are exclusive to the Shawl Club until next year. So if you’re a shawl knitter who loves surprises, you’ll want to join.
The first pattern in this year’s Shawl Club is First Blooms.
First Blooms shawl is a light and airy one skein wonder for fingering weight yarn. The allover eyelet pattern is fun and easy to knit. And there’s no purling!
The lace is worked on the right side only, and the pattern is easy to memorise after the first few rows. The picot bind off adds a delicate detail to the border.
You work this asymmetric triangle shawl diagonally from one tip to the opposite edge. The size is easy to modify, simply work the pattern repeat until you reach your desired size.
I knitted mine with one skein of Eden Cottage Yarns Hayton 4ply (80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 350 m / 380 yds per 100 g), in colour Ice.
You’ll need about 330 m / 361 yds of similar fingering weight yarn.
You can join the 2022 Shawl Club by purchasing the collection here. The price includes all 4 shawl patterns and it’s a one-time purchase.
By joining now, you receive First Blooms immediately as you purchase. Then, as a 2022 Shawl Club member, I’ll surprise you with three more shawl patterns during the year. You get the remaining 3 Shawl Club patterns in your inbox (and Ravelry library) as soon as they go live.
I hope you join us!
