The Alizeh Cozy
Twist Collective January 2018

I have a confession to make; I have never knit a shawl.  I’ve always wanted a shawl; I love the portable snuggliness that they provide.  I was just never really sure that I was a shawl person. They always look so elegant, both the shawls and the wearers.  I am of a practical style that will tromp through woods, grocery store and then off to do errands without bothering with a wardrobe change.  Alizeh was my personal journey for a shawl like object.  I like scarves and wraps, but one is too narrow and the other is a bit too big.  So I dove into creating the perfect over the shoulders cozy that would work for me and that hopefully other people would like too!  Alizeh is more generous than a scarf.  Just wide enough to cover the shoulders which is just what I was looking for.  I wear it inside for a cozy evening knitting and outside to keep the chill at bay.  Wrap around or drape it, pin it or toss it over your head, it works!  Alizeh has some shaping borrowed from a shawl silhouette, but no short rows.  It also features a generous amount of my favorite thing.  Cables!  Cable patterns will stop me mid-sentence and snap my head around.  I have even been known to subtly stalk people wearing them, just to see if I know the pattern or can figure it out.  Alizeh is a favorite go-to piece for me now and that’s how Alizeh came to be…..for me!

 

This is why I love winter!!  I get to keep warm.  I'm sitting at my computer with woolly socks, a scarf and fingerless gloves.  Being able to wrap yourself in your creations is such a joy.  The last couple of weeks have brought designs of necessity.  My swarthy sea Captain hubby needed a new hat.  No problem!  I decided to introduce him to the wonderful world of luxury fiber.  Merino is always lovely, but you have to step out, even just once....into the world of silk and cashmere.   So I used Madelinetosh Pashmina.  It's a most delightful yarn made from 75% Merino, 15% Silk and 10% Cashmere.  So soft!  The yarn also has the most subtle sheen that combined with the hand dyed color make textured knits extraordinary.  I'm thinking that my sailor has been converted.....in fact, now he has two hats the same.  This very hat is the pattern that I have released today!  It's the "Seaforth Reversible Cap"  Yes, you read that right...it's fully reversible.  So you get two different textures on one hat.  Also it has the added advantage of looking great no matter which way you haul it out of your pocket and pop it on your head :D  The pattern is available in my Ravelry Store: 

 
I am so delighted to have my design “Anaphora”  included in  Twist Collective Winter 2014.  The “Anaphora” Infinity Scarf is one of my favorites.  It’s like a fairy tale to me; it has a story….albeit brief …but still a story.  It’s a briar rose bush growing over an arbor gate and I can totally visualize what the actual scene would look like.  That peaceful mood carried me all the way through the project.  I love a good story, especially if it turns out to be pretty to wear!

I had fun with the construction of “Anaphora”.  The centre panel is worked flat and grafted at the ends.  Then the sides are picked up and knit “in the round”.  Somehow those details made the project fly by and seem less complicated.  Combine that with my “I’m in a rose garden” vibe, and it was a very satisfying project. 



















Infinity scarves are probably the most versatile weather accessory that I’ve come to know and love.   They have inspired a total loyalty and I even wear them around the house to fend off the chill.  Now that I’m older I seem to make my own seasons, exclusive to me and regardless of the current environmental conditions.  Actually, it seems to be only two seasons; I’m way too hot and I’m way too cold.  I suppose that has a lot to do with why I love Infinity Scarves.  They slip on and off with one hand and no fuss.  They do not dangle in your cooking, or ignite when you reach in the oven.  Also, I love that they are not always migrating off to one side.  Having symmetry issues, everything must balance! (I straighten crooked pictures wherever I go) Wearing regular scarves is very time consuming when so much effort is spent adjusting and re-adjusting so that the scarf hangs evenly. An Infinity Scarf just settles on your shoulders and behaves or doubles up and behaves even better!

As a project, Infinity Scarves are very agreeable, the gauge is not written in stone.  The pattern does not demand an uncompromising set of measurements. This is a huge advantage if you want to get creative with your yarn. Here's a picture of the exact same pattern worked in a DK instead of Fingering!  The finished measurements are quite different and it is important to swatch and figure the yardage you'll need.  I use this handy yarn calculator from The Knitting Fiend.

The "Rumplestiltskin Wrap" in Enchanted Knits 2014 was originally done with twisted stitches.  Not just through the back loop, but crossed without using a cable needle.  I find it so much quicker when you're just crossing two...or even three.  Here's a quick video on how I do twisted stitches!