quick + purly: 5 cowls

Spring spring springspring SPRING! Now that the weather is improving, I'm starting to look for portable projects that I can work on outside. Cowls (a.k.a. circular scarves) seem like a great option:

• worked in the round = less likely to lose a DPN
• one skein of yarn = squeeze it into a bag
• repetitive pattern = easy to remember

Circular scarves continue to be part of the uniform for so many people, at least here in NYC. They add a touch of flair to your outfit and make temperature fluctuations (inside and out) more bearable.

1. Appia by Hilary Smith Callis $5 USD 
   
2. loggia by Asa Tricosa €4 
   
3. Dandelion Days by Chrissy Prange $4 USD 
   
4. Jemma Cowl by Carolyn Kern $4 USD 
   
5. Apollo and Daphne Cowl by Katie Carmack $4 USD 
   

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - I just want to share the love!

Do you have a favorite cowl I missed? There are so many pretties! Oftentimes I wear a wide-triangle shawl bandit-style around my neck, but the cowl has one significant advantage: no ends to wrestle with.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

quick + purly: 5 pullovers

Are you still in the mood for lace but looking for something a little quicker? Perhaps a worsted weight pullover with a smidge of lace would fit the bill.

1. Levina by Laura Chau $7 CAD 

   

   pretty and flattering use of Ostrich Plumes

2. Indian ocean pullover by Ayako Monier $6.50 USD 

   

   streamlined use of lace

3. Tracery by Norah Gaughan $6 USD 

   

   simple lace produces an intriguing sweater

4. Peabody by Leila Raabe $6 USD 

   

   just the right amount of interesting lace

5. Mailin by Isabell Kraemer €5.30 EUR

   

   simple lace for a cozy knit

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - I just want to share the love!

Once a week I share five patterns that have caught my eye. If there is a category you'd like me to explore, let me know in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen

quick + purly: 5 triangle shawls

Spring! Spring. Come on, Spring. What better way to keep warm than a pretty triangle shawl? We are finally getting to those days where it is heavenly in the sunshine, but it can still be chilly in the shade. And for that I love a little shawl, preferably lacy. In an attempt to narrow things down, the focus is on top-down, lace triangle shawls using just one skein of fingering weight yarn. I waded through eight pages of gorgeousness this week to find some treasures for you. Enjoy!

1. Mercury in Retrogade by Deborah Frank $6 USD 

   

   We Virgos need this shawl to protect us
   when Mercury goes retrograde

   
   
2. Woodland Spring Shawl by Christina Wall $4 USD 

   

   Love the story of Christina's motif choices

   
   
3. Vestland Shawl by Anne-Lise Maigaard k4.50.00 SEK (approx. $5.94 USD) 

   

   Spectacular and unusual lace motifs

   
   
4. Sunray Shawl by Henna Markkanen $4 USD 

   

   Reversible and a perfect combo of geometric and organic motifs

   
   
5. East Gable Shawl by Judy Marples $6 USD 

   

   There is something beautifully verdant about this lace

I have designed a number of triangle shawls, and my Springtime favorite is Upon the Spanish Main $7USD

Love this lace motif

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - I just want to share the love!

I hope Spring is springing where you are. Do you have a favorite triangle shawl I missed? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

quick + purly: 5 lacy pullovers

In hoping for Spring (snow showers this weekend in NYC?! sigh), I thought lighter (sport or fingering weight), lacy pullovers would be fun to explore. Plus, I've got a lace pullover in tech edit/testing now, so it's on my brain.

What's on your to-knit list for Spring?

1. Baltoro Sweater by Marie Grace Smith $6 USD 

   

   Super-flattering, love the button detail

2. Carpino by Carol Feller $8 USD 

   

   Low-key and lovely - a real wardrobe staple

3. Lena by Deb Hoss $6 USD 

   

   Lovely in a casual context, but this would dress up beautifully

4. Princesa Preciosa by Vera Sanon $6 USD 

   

   This is just perfect for Spring

5. Princess Fiona by Amy Miller $6 USD 

   

   Love the fit and asymmetrical lace

There were only two pages of results in my Ravelry search, so I'm going to put on my designing cap, since I find these types of pullovers quick to knit (with the right pattern) and incredibly versatile to wear. Ooh, one more: my Wavelette $7 USD

I wear mine all. the. time.

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - just want to spread the love!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen

quick + purly: 5 mittens

While Spring is about to ... spring, many of us still have some chilly weather to get through, so how about some pretty pretty mittens? If you're lucky enough not to need hand-warming any more this season, knitting one of these patterns would give you a nice portable project and have you ready for next Winter. Win win!

1. How Cold Is It? (adult language alert) by Drunk Girl Designs $5.50 USD
2. La Joie du Printemps by Heather Desserud $5.50 USD 
3. Chawton Mittens by Anne Blayney (originally published in Jane Austen Knits) $4.50 CAD 
4. All You Need Is Love by Freshisle Fibers (love how they are reversed) $3.99 
5. Midwinter Rose Mittens by Marit Trudvang $5.50 USD 

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - just want to spread the love!

Today I chose five adult, stranded, fingering-weight mitten patterns, because I had to narrow it down somehow! Even still, there were eight pages of beautiful patterns. Clearly, more than one quick + purly mitten exploration is needed :)

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

quick + purly: 5 skirts

Skirts. I love the idea and think they would knit up super-fast. I mean, no sleeve island, right? There is the notion that skirts bag out and are unflattering. These are not those. I think thoughtful yarn choice and careful swatching are critical for success, but I might just be up for that.

Have you knit a skirt? I'd love to hear how it went and if you enjoy wearing yours.

1. "She's Electric" Aztec Pattern Bodycon Skirt by Lauren Riker $5 USD 
   
2. Swirl Skirt by AnneLena Mattison $7 USD 
   
3. Bold Move by Lorilee Beltman $6.50 USD 
   
4. Flouncy Skirt by Cindy Craig $5 USD 
   
5. Take-Two Skirt by Ann Budd $6.50 USD 
   

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - just want to spread the love!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

quick + purly: 5 stoles

Though snow is still part of the picture here, I want something lighter. Don't you? How about some stoles (rectangular shawls), but not the usual lacy ones. I lovelovelove lacy lace, but I'm not quite ready for it full-on. Plus, if you whip one of these out right away, you can wear it as a cozy scarf now and through the Spring/Summer. Here are five patterns that stand out for me right now.

1. Mithrandir by Amy van de Laar $5 USD 
   
2. Ginkgo Stole by yellowcosmo $4 USD 
   
3. Nuvem by Martina Behm €3.80 EUR 
   
4. Oblagon by LondonLeo $6 USD 
   
5. Ruched Scarf and Wrap by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas $5 USD 
   

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - just want to spread the love!

Want to do your own browsing? There are five pages of lovely, lace-weight, rectangular shawls. Let me know what caught your eye.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

P.S. My not-so-lacy stole is in pattern testing right now. Sign up for my newsletter to find out when it's released.

quick + purly: 5 cardigans

A new feature for you, my friends: quick + purly posts.

Once a week I will share five patterns that have caught my eye. If there is a category you'd like me to explore for you, let me know.

This week, since we still have ... more winter to go, I found some lovely aran-weight cardigans for women. Cozy, quick-to-knit, with special details, and (the way this winter is going) wearable for a bit longer. 

1. Sweet Oak Hooded Cardigan by Megan Goodacre $5CAD
   
2. Winter Weeds Cardigan by Katya Gorbacheva $7USD 
   
3. Long Way Home by Julia Trice $7USD 
   
4. alpenglühen by Isabell Kraemer 5.30EUR 
   
5. Carillon Cardigan by Allison L $6.50AUD 
   

And just to toot my own tiny horn, since it showed up on page 3/6 of my search:
Sailor's Valentine by Kathleen Dames $7USD

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - just want to spread the love!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen