So I figured it was about time for my once a month, “I’m still alive” post. I’ll never know how the time manages to get away from me, but so it is. Hurricane Dolly has blessed us with a much needed rainy day so the girls and I are having a Harry Potter marathon today and I had the perfect excuse to sit down and write a post.

We’ve been staying busy and summer is flying by as usual. I finished and seamed my Weasley sweater and tossed it into the wash (hoo boy I love the washable yarns) so it’s even softer than you can possibly imagine. Of course it sheds a great deal after it’s first bath, but considering how soft it is a little initial shedding isn’t likely to put me off this lovely stuff. The earthy brown looks grey next to my cocoa colored chaise, but regardless I love the sweater. Of course Ladybug wants one too, so sometime soon I imagine I’ll be casting on for the next one in Gryffindor crimson and gold. I think Cupcake will be ready for hers in another year or two as well.

I’ve also started the next pair of socks in my queue. I found this shocking pink yarn on Etsy called pinky swear and knew at once that the girls needed matching socks. So sisterly y’know?

I am such a sucker for the names of sock yarn. Of course I look at colors first, but I will totally buy a yarn in not my fave colors if the name inspires me. I must be a nut that way, but it’s probably my fave thing about sock yarns.

The socks I find are the perfect in-between-projects project. They were intended for Christmas, but the girls both discovered the yarn and are positively itching to get their hands on the socks so I doubt they’ll ever make it to the wrapping stage. Eager little tootsies, no?

Also I wanted to mention that you can see a preview of the first issue of Knotions Magazine which will premiere on August 4th, and you’ll be able to find one of my designs in its pages. Terra is the first of four in a series based on the classic elements Earth, Air, Water and Fire. You’ll be able to get the first design free from Knotions and each new design will be released with the upcoming season and will be available here in my shop and through my retailers. RAVEL IT!

…and on that note I’ve cast on for the next design in the series which will be available this winter. It is using Rowan’s Kidsilk Night which I find utterly beautiful.

Last but not least, I’m really excited about my latest design and wanted to give you all a preview. Curvy is a figure hugging top worked in a repeating cable rib. The cables are elongated so as not to add any extra bulk to your frame (good for us fluffy gals). It is knit entirely in the round from the bottom up and would be great for a beginning knitter’s first sweater or cabling attempt. The yarn used in the project is Zen Yarn Garden’s Gemilicious Worsted which was a joy to knit with. The color was gorgeous and saturated but never bled or stained my hands or needles which gives it 4 stars in my opinion, and the semi solid nature of the colors really made the cables stand out. RAVEL IT!

I’m also hoping to get some feedbackfrom you all. My goal has always been to offer a wide range of sizes, but for this pattern I will be going a step further. I wanted to explore offering the same wide range of sizes, but with more steps in between so Curvy is sized in eighteen different sizes ranging from 28-62 inches (bust measurement) and is easily customized to give you a perfect fit. I really look forward to your opinions about the sizing as it is something I’d like to offer in future patterns. Curvy should be in the store in the next couple of weeks and Roxanne will be offering Curvy pattern kits exclusively at Zen Yarn Garden.