Newsletter January 22, 2021: Herringbone Stitch + Headband = Herringband!

Herringband

Introducing Herringband, pattern No. 9 in the 20in20 collection! This quick headband only uses 24 yards for the body and 10 yards for the trim, so grab your scraps and knit one up in an evening!

I love throwing my hair up into a messy bun and wrapping a headband around it to hide the frizzes and keep the fly aways out of my face. I had a bunch of adorable little mini balls of Scheepjes Stone Washed XL leftover from a kit that were just begging to become headbands! Though any heavy worsted weight yarn will work, this pattern is ideal for any yarn with very little stretch like cotton or linen.

The herringbone stitch pattern on the body looks much more complicated than it is, and is super fun to knit! It results in a unique fabric and it looks great in solid, speckled and variegated yarns. Also, don't be afraid to have fun with the contrast color ties and edging. I wasn't totally sure about the neon green with the light gray at first, and it turned out to be my favorite of the two samples!

---

Current WIP

I knit a single color version of this hat design and when I finished it I was very "meh" about it. The other day I had an "Aha!" moment when I realized it needs to be two colors! Now I am sooooo happy with it, and it will be published in the 20in20 ebook once I finish. I don't have a name for it yet, so hit me up if anyone has any ideas!

---

Where am I now?

We've spent the last few weeks in Port Orange/Daytona Beach Florida! It's been a nice change from the cold weather, and we are continuing south to Everglades National Park next week!

Thanks for sticking around, and until next time, I'll see you on the road! ~Rachel

Newsletter January 15th: New Pattern - Cabled Slipper Socks

Hey everybody!

Welcome to a new year and my first design release of 2021! I took a small hiatus from designing for the last few months, but I'm back, and super excited to complete the 20in20 collection. Obviously all the patterns weren't released in 2020, but rest assured they are still coming! For now, check out the Cabled Slipper Socks!

Cabled Slipper Socks

Wood and tile flooring can be cold on bare feet, no matter the season. Personally, I prefer socks over slippers, because I like something that fits tight on my foot. However, sometimes socks are not warm enough. The Cabled Slipper Socks are knit with worsted weight yarn creating the perfect combination of the warmth of slippers with the fit of socks to chase the chill away!

One unique feature of these slippers is the reverse stockinette bottom. The purl bumps on the outside make them a little less slippery, and the stockinette on the inside is soft and cozy on your feet!

The Yarn

I created this pattern for non-superwash wool, which I know seems crazy, so bear with me here.  Wool is a super breathable fiber, but, let’s be honest, your feet may still sweat a little! In this case, it’s a good thing because a small amount of moisture will cause the slippers to felt a little on the inside and really shape to your foot! The trade-off is that they must be hand washed, so if you prefer not to have that hassle, super wash wool will work as well! Just make sure and check your gauge as every yarn can be a little different!

I used Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted and the blend of wool and mohair is perfectly warm and cozy. Lamb's Pride Worsted is a wonderful single ply yarn that comes in a variety of lovely heathered colors. I always have a few skeins of it stashed away for projects just like this!

Don’t you just love an oversized pom pom? One large contrast color pom fixed to the front of the Cabled Slipper Socks really turns them into a statement accessory. Or, try making a couple small ones and attaching them to the heel. For a more unisex look, you can skip the pom pom and ties completely!

Rōdster Adventures

On a personal note, one of the things that distracted me from designing last year is the decision my husband and I made to move out of our home and into an RV! We have always been nomads at heart, and at the beginning of 2020, before the pandemic, we began making plans to purchase an RV and hit the road. Because of the pandemic, it took a little longer than expected to fully prepare for living on the road full time, but by September we had hit the road! If you have any interest in following along with our adventures, check us out on Youtube and Instagram! You might even catch a sneak peek or two of future designs!

Current WIP (Work in Progress)

I've been working on finalizing this headband pattern! It holds my frizzy hair back, and I can pull it down over my ears when it is cold out. Once the pattern is finished, I might have to make one in every color!

See ya next time and happy knitting!

Rachel Unraveled

Newsletter May 28th: New Pattern - Marsali & Quick Video

Hey everybody!

I'm SO excited to release the Marsali Mitts pattern, the 7th design in the 20in20 Collection. These fingerless mitts match the Drums of Autumn shawl, and they have been a loooooong time coming. There is a very long story behind these mitts, so read on for a tragic tale of lost mitts and lost yarn (or just click the photo to get to the kitty gritty details, lol!)...

Marsali Mitts

When the Drums of Autumn MKAL (shawl pictured above) ended, I had enough leftover yarn to make a pair of fingerless mitts. I quickly whipped up a matching pair, and I finished them on a trip to St. Louis! And, just in time too, because an unexpected blizzard caused me to wear them everyday - I didn't have any other mitts! Well, the knitting gods were against me that trip, and I lost them somewhere along the way. I was devastated of course, and my hands were freezing the rest of the trip! But, I figured, it's ok, I'll whip up another pair, and this time add beads! When I got home though, I couldn't find the yarn anywhere - we had recently moved, and it was gone.  The lost mitts and lost yarn just crushed my desire to finish the pattern, so I gave up.

A few months ago, while digging through my stash, the Drums of Autumnyarn turned up! I was so excited, I immediately cast on Marsaliagain. I mean I had pretty much written the entire pattern already, so they were quick and easy! Then I finished a second pair in leftovers from the Ripple Effect shawl! 

Knit a Hat Start to Finish - The Quick Version

I know super long videos aren't for everyone, so I created a stripped down short version of the Knit a Hat Start to Finish video with no tips and tricks and lots of the boring around and around bits cut out. It's the perfect quick bite if you are short on time! Check it out on Instagram here, or YouTube above!

Current WIP (Work in Progress)

I'm working on a summer weight cowl/shoulder cozy! And, it happened to match my breakfast smoothie, so I figured it was the perfect time to leak a picture. If all goes well, this will be in the 20in20 Collection sometime in the next couple months!