news – Cowtown Knits

Introducing Norfolk Boot Toppers

October 12, 20163 Comments

It’s time for another new pattern. This is the first in a 3-pattern accessory set with a British theme, named after British places and using British yarn. (The boot toppers are named after the county of Norfolk as that’s where we were spending the weekend when I first started knitting them.) To celebrate UK Wool Week, I’m offering this first Great British Accessory Set pattern for 50% off until October 16, 2016.

The pattern is knit in Erika Knight Vintage Wool, a 100% British wool which is great for colourwork. It’s a pleasure to knit with, and comes in lots of lovely colours.

I know that some people are intimidated by colourwork, but you’ve got nothing to fear here. The pattern is done entirely with stripes and slipped stitches – you never work more than one colour per round. It’s a project that looks a lot harder than it actually is, so you’re bound to impress when you give these as a gift! The pattern also has photo tutorials for optional tubular cast-on and bind-off, as well as Kitchener stitch for the optional tubular bind-off, so it’s a great one for learning a new trick or two.

You can find the pattern on my Ravelry designer page here. Or just click the “buy now” button below to go directly to the Ravelry checkout.

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the next two patterns in the Great British Accessory Set!

Lambton Panes Kits, And How to Get Them

July 11, 2016Leave a comment

There’s something new and exciting coming soon! I’ve been working on a collaboration with Lola from Third Vault Yarns to bring you a pattern that’s going to knock your socks off. But first, a bit of backstory.

Lola and I go to the same southwest London knit night, hosted by the lovely Rachel and Allison from Yarn in the City. I’ve been attending this weekly get together as much as possible since moving, as it’s been a great way for me to meet like-minded people in the new city/country/continent. I’ve gotten to know Lola and admire her mad yarn-dyeing skills over this time.

Recently, Lola mentioned that she was going to have a stand at the upcoming Fibre East in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. We started discussing working together to come up with some new patterns and colourways to package into kits to sell at the show. After brainstorming, we came up with the idea of a shawl using two skeins of Third Vault Yarns Companion 4ply, one in a gradient and one in a complimentary neutral shade. I left that knit night with some of that buttery-soft yarn and started swatching, and Lola went to the dye pots and got to dyeing.

What we’ve come up with is the Lambton Panes shawl. It features traveling, slipped stitches over a background of garter stitch stripes, creating a diamond lattice effect.

The sample is knit with one skein of Blue Steel as the neutral stripes and traveling stitches, and one skein of Cowtown, a custom gradient using my brand colours, for contrast stripes. I’m so excited that Lola created such a cool colourway using the shades of salmon, wheat, and aqua from my brand.

So, where are we going with this? Lola has been dyeing yarns in some gorgeous gradients and semi-solids. She’s made up some of the Cowtown gradient as well as The Poisoned Apple (left) and Hawkeye (right). I’ve seen them in person and I must say, they’re even more gorgeous in real life.

I’ve been working through the editing, testing, and printing process. I’ve already had one tester finish and it’s so pretty!

So here are the important details. The pattern will be released to the general public on Friday, July 29^th, for digital download either through Ravelry, LoveKnitting.com, or here on my website. If you’re lucky enough to be attending Fibre East, you can get your hands on a kit (one gradient, one neutral, 8 stitch markers, and a print copy of the pattern) in person on July 30^th or 31^st, while supplies last. Or, you can visit Third Vault Yarns starting Wednesday, July 13^th, and pre-order your kit for delivery after Fibre East.

That’s all the details for now. Stayed tuned here for more news on another collaboration to be unveiled at Fibre East.

Introducing the Fundy Tides Collection

March 20, 2015Leave a comment

Along with the release of Ribbon Weed, I’ve also published the first installment of the Fundy Tides Collection.

This collection features cable patterns that remind me of the shapes of the sea weeds and you’ll find variations of them on each of the pieces. The Ribbon Weed throw has large cables knit in super-bulky yarn for a dramatic effect. The cables on the Sea Oak pillow are more understated, while the Dulse pillow is a celebration of cables.

All of these patterns will be available individually or together as part of an e-book. The patterns will be priced at $5 USD each.

The e-book will ultimately be priced at $10.50 USD, a savings of $4.50 over buying the patterns individually.

But the book will be available at a lower price while it is not yet full. Each time a pattern is added, the price will go up. The introductory price, available when it only contains the throw pattern, will be $6. Once the 2nd pattern is added, the price will go up to $8. When the final pattern is added the price will be the full $10.50.

Each time a new pattern is released, the e-book will be updated with the new pattern. Customers who have already purchased the book will receive an email notifying them that the book has been updated.

So, my advice is to get it while it’s hot! Click the Buy Now button below while the book is available for the lowest price.

Introducing Ribbon Weed

March 20, 20154 Comments

Not only have I chosen my favourite set of names from the naming contest, I’m ready to announce the publication of the first pattern from the collection.

Without further ado, let me introduce you to Ribbon Weed, a super-bulky cabled throw.

You will be able to whip up this cabled throw in no time! The Cascade Magnum produces a luxurious and stylish fabric that is super cozy to snuggle under.

The throw features large double-seed-stitch-filled cables nestled in reverse stockinette stitch and a garter stitch border.

The pattern is available for purchase individually or as part of the Fundy Tides Collection, which will also include two pillow patterns. You can find more information about the collection here.

Once again, thanks go out to Eleanor Dixon for technical editing. And this time a huge thank you goes out to my mom, Pat Bostwick, for test knitting, proof reading, and coming up with the great names for the collection.

Introducing The Heavenly Pullover

January 3, 2015Leave a comment

Here comes the last pattern from the Powder Day collection: The Heavenly Pullover. Heavenly is a top-down, seamless pullover with set-in sleeves. It features a central cable pattern reminiscent of skiers making figure-eight tracks in fresh powder. There are also skiers making side-by-side tracks down from the shoulders. The figure-eight cable also runs down both sleeves while the back is entirely reverse stockinette stitch. The pattern is available on Ravelry and will soon be available on Loveknitting.com for EU customers. Until midnight on January 11th (my birthday), the pattern and the ebook will be available for 36% off. Thanks go again to Eleanor Dixon for technical editing as well as to my great testers. And a huge thank you to Jodi for being such a great model! I had so much fun with this collection, I’m kinda sad to be done. But! I’ve decided I like working in collections so you should expect to see more from me in the future.