Leonarda Shawl by Laura Chau

The two skeins of Squishy you have stashed are now spoken for - Laura Chau has released a luscious new stole pattern. Called Leonarda, the pattern includes three sizes - two triangular scarf/shawls, and a rectangular stole/infinity scarf. The stole shown here was knit in Squishy in Charcoal.

© Laura Chau

Depending on your color choice, this could be alternately fun or elegant, perfect for staying warm after sundown at an outdoor wedding or picnic.

The body of the shawl is knit in an elongated garter stitch pattern, and the detailing along the edge in a unique drop stitch twist pattern. The short sides of the stole can be sewn together to make an infinity scarf.

© Laura Chau

The pattern for Leonarda is available here. To find the Squishy for your Leonarda, visit our website to find a local or online Anzula retailer. If Squishy is not available at your LYS, you can place a special order through any store that carries Anzula. 

Ziggurat by Susan Andrews

There is no question, chevron patterns are really popular right now for clothes, accessories, and projects for the home.

© Meridith Shepherd

Ziggurat by Susan Andrews incorporates that pattern into a classic home dec staple - the pillow. The beautiful texture and the subtle color shifts lent to the pillow by the hand-dyed nature of the yarn make this a pillow that won't go out of style. 

The finished size of the pillow is 20" x 20" (50 cm x 50 cm) and does require a pillow form. The pillow takes three skeins of Cricket; the sample here was knit in Pesto.

© Meridith Shepherd

Susan chose Cricket primarily for the color. She also says that "the round plumpness of the yarn and the firmness of the way it is plied give the traveling cables just the right definition. A perfect choice yarn for any cable project. And then that bit of cashmere is sure a plus for any great knitted piece that will be near the skin." It's also a plus that Cricket is washable. 

© Meridith Shepherd

The Architectural Eye Candy set of patterns was designed as part of a project at The Studio in Kansas City to develop new home decor ideas. Susan says "it includes three patterns that all were inspired by an architectural element but were done in eye popping colors to refresh your look in your home." 

If you can't get to The Studio, you can also get the ebook on Ravelry.

Visit our website to find a local or online Anzula retailer. If Cricket is not available at your LYS, you can place a special order through any store that carries Anzula. 

Continuing the Little Cable Knee Highs

So now you've knit the length of the foot and are ready to start the gusset of your sock. (Not there yet? See the first post explaining our Little Cable Knee High knitalong, get the pattern from the Purl Bee, and cast on!)

Kim's Slate sock is looking comfy already!

The gusset is made with simple yarnover increases. Don't forget to knit the yarnovers through the back loop as with the toe. You're increasing the number of stitches around your sock in preparation to start the heel.

Sylvia is just starting to turn the heel on her Chiva sock. 

Once you've finished the gusset you are ready to turn the heel. Turning the heel means creating the small half-circle of stitches that makes the bottom of the sock extend to cover the heel and meet the heel flap. You turn the heel by using short rows. The Purl Bee offers a great tutorial here that takes the mystery out of this shaping technique, or check out the video at New Stitch a Day, and just wrap and turn! If this is your first time using short rows, you'll be excited to learn that you need not be intimidated, and as you use them you'll find that mastering them opens up a world of new pattern options!

Turning the heel creates the little wedge of stitches that is just under the heel flap, seen here on Charlie's Petunia sock.

One of the things that may seem strange if you haven't done this before is that you aren't knitting all the way across Needle 2 and Needle 3. Some stitches are left unknit on each side. As you follow the pattern, those stitches will be picked up. Also, during the process of turning the heel and knitting the heel flap, you are working only on Needle 2 and Needle 3. The stitches on Needle 1 will just wait until you are finished with the heel.

Up next - the leg, the cable, and the cuff. Rebecca's already finished one of her Coco socks!

No matter what stage you're in, come join the conversation on Ravelry - we've been talking about color choices, calf increases, needle sizes, and more. As you can see from the pictures, we are all in different places in the project so come join us!