Setting an Intention

I started a second pair of Couplets back in June as a gift for the Couplet model, my sister Jackie. During the summer, I was in no rush to finish them—after all, there aren't too many days in summer when you want to wear wool socks.

But today? We had our first snow! I need to get these off the needles. I'm determined to finish by Thanksgiving. I fully intend to show up at her house on Thanksgiving with the pair in hand. Blocked. Ends woven in.

I'm not allowing myself to cast on anything else (other than design projects) until they are done. That's my intention. I hereby state it publicly. I shall stick to it!

Have you set any knitting intentions for this fall or the holiday season? I wish you all the best with them!

(By the way, Couplet is part of the Indie Holiday Gift-A-Long sale. It's 25% off on Ravelry with the coupon code giftalong2014 through November 21.)

Couplet Roundup #2

Lots of beautiful socks are being knit in the Couplet KAL on Ravelry. Some lightning-fast knitters have already finished, some have started the second sock, and others are just casting on.

One of the first to finish was mstephanie2. She chose a beautiful rose colorway of Trekking XXL:

Pinks and reds seem to be a popular color for Couplet. Kathy (kattyradie) is using a colorway called Raspberry Rose from Grant Creek Yarns:

Nadia (tricoteuse007) is knitting her Couplets in a pink color with the delightful name Land of Happy, from Three Irish Girls:

Blacks and browns are popular, too. Kristina (nordling) is using Periwinkle Sheep Watercolors in black. She worked an Eye of Partridge heel because she finds it more comfortable:

Meredith is making the "without lace" version of Couplet for her husband. The socks are truly a "couples" project, since he dyed the yarn in a workshop they took at Neighborhood Fiber Co. in Baltimore! (She has a very pretty knitting companion, don't you think?)

Maybe socks and dogs go together? Brenda (Brennee) is knitting her Couplets in a colorway called Army Girl from Pagewood Farm.

A summery green called Arugula from Jill Draper Makes Stuff has clearly made Beth (pbtajr) happy. I love her joyful "sock in the air" photo:

Come on over and join us! There are prizes (free patterns, yarn, and more) and it's also a great way to pick up some new sock knitting skills—Couplet knitters are sharing tips on favorite cast-ons, how to fix mistakes, make modifications, etc. 

The Couplet KAL continues through August 6. You can find the pattern in my Ravelry, Etsy, and Craftsy pattern stores.

Couplet Roundup #1

The Couplet KAL in the Blue Peninsula Ravelry group doesn't officially start until Sunday, but some eager knitters (me included) have already cast on and are making terrific progress. So I thought I'd share a few of their projects. It's exciting to see how the pattern looks in a wide range of colors and yarns.

Noebell is using Forbidden Woolery Greed yarn in the Watermelon colorway (above) for her Couplets. She's knitting them with two circulars rather than dpns. 

Maryzona's luscious purple Couplets (below) are knit in a colorway with the intriguing name of Marie's Royal Purple. It's from See Jayne Knit Yarns, an Etsy shop that offers hand-dyed yarn as well roving, jewelry, and stitch markers. I'm beginning to suspect this KAL might get my wallet into trouble—so many tempting yarns!

Many of us are using the yarn I knit the Couplet sample with—Periwinkle Sheep's Watercolors. Jenny (MissouriTrouble) is making hers with a rich blue colorway called Ominous (above) and I'm knitting a second pair, a gift for the model, in Chai (below).

Are you up for some sock knitting this month? You can join the KAL anytime between now and August 6, but the last day to purchase the pattern at the sale price of $4.00 is Sunday, July 6. It's available in my Ravelry, Etsy, and Craftsy pattern stores.

Every Friday, from July 11 through August 1, I'll be giving away a free pattern. Other KAL prizes include a hand-embroidered Couplet lavender-chamomile sachet, a skein of BFL fingering weight that I dyed using madder and cochineal, and a skein of Periwinkle Sheep Watercolors in Gold Rush. Find all the details here.

If you're on Instagram and want to see Couplets there, the hashtag is #coupletsocks. 

Happy knitting, and happy Fourth of July, to those of you in the U.S. Enjoy the long weekend—and stay cool!

(gratuitous Snickers pic, just because)

New Pattern: Couplet Socks

Now available in my Ravelry, Etsy, and Craftsy pattern stores: Couplet, a sock pattern that aims to please both those who like their socks plain and simple and those who like a touch of lace. 

Pattern: Couplet, by Bonnie Sennott

Yarn: Periwinkle Sheep Watercolors in the Gold Rush colorway

Needles: US 1/2.25mm dpns

The pattern offers instructions for two sizes—medium and large—and for two options (with lace and without lace). So you can, if you like, make a matching set for you and your partner. Or make both versions for yourself—why not?

Pairing a simple lace stitch with an equally simple arrangement of knits and purls, Couplet is engaging to knit but not complicated—making it an ideal summer travel project. And it knits up quickly, too.

If you're up for some sock knitting this summer, come on over to the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group for our Couplet KAL, which starts July 6. It's the first KAL we've had, and I'm really exited about it! From now until then, the pattern is on sale in all my pattern stores for just $4 (after July 6, it will be $5.50).

This photo will give you an idea of how the "without lace" option would look:

And here's the beginning of a "without lace" pair (knit in the Periwinkle Sheep Watercolors Chai colorway):

Producing this Blue Peninsula pattern was a family affair: my talented sister Jenny edited, and Jackie modeled, bringing lots of shoe options to our early morning photo shoot—as well as a cheerful sense of humor. Love you both, Jenny and Jackie!

Things do get a little giddy at the end of a shoot. It's always a great feeling when it's done and rain isn't going to ruin it after all!

Thank you very much for reading.