The Goddess Knits Collection by Donna Druchunas and Heather Marano features 18 knitting patterns inspired by the goddesses of Northern Europe. The patterns—along with original artwork and stories about the goddesses—will be released in installments.

In this Knit Along, we will knit two pairs of socks -- one heading north and one heading south. Join me on Ravelry.com for a very special toe up & cuff down KAL.

Do you love lace and circular shawls? Then this ebook is for you! It’s got six pi shawl patterns for knitters of all skill levels.

A collection of colorwork patterns from Lithuania with stories about the symbols and history of the motifs used in knitting, weaving, and other folk art.

This ebook is free with the purchase of the graphic novel.

It’s the first knitting book entirely devoted to the funny, furry felines in our lives! Discover creative ways to knit up practical projects for kitties to love and cat-themed designs for owners to enjoy. Just like a cat batting at a ball of yarn, it’s the perfect playful match.

The doilies in this pattern are quite common, and the basic patterns are the same in books from all over Europe. I’ve included some small images from a Russian book I found online. I think because they are so widespread, these doily designs are a kind of universal European folk art.

Stories In Stitches™ is a new pattern line featuring ethnic traditions, history and travel tied together with knitting projects and stories.

Set of Stories In Stitches 1-6

Stories In Stitches™ is a new pattern line featuring ethnic traditions, history and travel tied together with knitting projects and stories.

What’s inside Stories In Stitches 3?

Stories In Stitches 4 is also available in a print version. To order the print version, visit my website here.

This issue of Stories In Stitches salutes the women of yesterday and today, who have had the courage to make their voices heard. They have seen a need for changes and have stepped up to take responsibility for making their world a better place.

In SIS6, We explore the history of recycling. From materials to ideas, everything old can be new again.

The patterns in this collection represent the natural cycle of growth in the mountain forests: birth and death, growth and destruction, beginning and endings, fire and ice. Nature, as Charles Darwin once said, is “red in tooth and claw.” Yet even though fires are part of nature’s cycles, we must always remember to do our best to protect our precious environment and help to avoid unecessary fires caused by human negligence or carelessness. Remember, only YOU can prevent forest fires.

My annual pi shawl KAL. This one’s fast an easy with DK weight yarn on size 5 or 6 needles! Use up that yarn stash.

Worked in the round from the bottom up with cable brim, baltic braids, traditional colorwork patterns, and a pompom. This hat is adapted from a style of mittens common in Lithuania and Latvia.

Worked in the round from the cuff up with cable cuffs, baltic braids, and traditional colorwork patterns. This style of mitten is common in Lithuania and Latvia.

This sock has unique Lithuanian-style heel and toe shaping. The colorwork patterns are popular in Lithuanian as well as in Belarus and other Northern European countries. I adapted the chart used from Belarusian Ornaments in Weaving and Embroidery (Беларускі арнамент: Ткацтва. Вышыка by М. С. Кацар, Minsk, 2009). The diamond motif is seen as the...

Casual comfort is a requirement of summer tops. Everyone has her favorite ‘toss on and go’ garment, and this could be yours this year. Whether you’re out on the boat, hiking in the woods, golfing a round at the club, or just running errands, this hooded zipper-front vest adds a carefree softness to your day.

Do not purchase pattern if you bought the Alpaca kit from us. Only if you plan to knit from stash.

These mitts are knit in the round from the cuff up. They are trimmed with a picot hem at the cuff, finger opening, and thumb opening. On the short mitts, the cuff consists only of the picot edge. On the long mitts, the cuff reaches to the elbow, or can be knit to the desired length.

Fur4Me Hat & Mitts

I love felted bags and multicolored projects, but working with two or more colors at once can be challenging when it comes to felting. Color-work areas may shrink more than solid areas, and unfortunately knitters won’t know this until a project is already knit and felted. To avoid this problem, Here I mixed stripes and entrelac, working large s...

These socks are quick and easy to make with a faux-cable ribbing pattern and DK-weight yarn. They are worked from the top down, with classic heel- and toe-shaping techniques. The ribbing keeps the leg and ankle snug, the heel stitch adds extra strength to an area that gets extra wear, and the stockinette stitch is smooth on the foot, making the...

More sizes are coming. Add to your Ravelry pattern library and you will get notified.

Pattern also includes instructions for knee socks and boot toppers, which will require extra yarn.

Saule is the goddess of the sun in Lithuanian folklore and mythology. Giving life, light, and warmth, she is one of the most powerful deities, honored and worshipped by all. This shawl represents the sun as well as the goddess, with rays extending from the center out to the border, which represents the plasma fire burning within.

This pattern uses one of Dorothy Reade’s charts that I found in her unpublished papers. It can be used as a single motif such as in this bag, or as a tile to sew together into larger items such as a bedspread.

This pattern uses two of Dorothy Reade’s charts. You can see her original versions in the exerpt of 25 Original Knitting Designs included in your package. My updated versions are included in this pattern. The only change I made is to change the chart for circular knitting, which means you knit even rounds instead of purling wrong-side rows. It ...

As much as I enjoy the challenge of working with complext stitches and fine yarn, sometimes there’s nothing a nice as a simple project and taking my time to enjoy the feel of the yarn and needles in my hands. The same goes for lace patterns: sometimes I like a design that twists and turns and has different maneuvers on every row and sometimes I...

Join us in the forums for the Knit Along on Ravelry March 14th, 2022.

This hat is knit in the round from the bottom up. Get cozy with a textured hat this winter season. The lace motif is worked in stockinette stitch with garter ridges, and bordered by a garter-stitch brim to create an easy circular accessory. The lace pattern slants to the right automatically as you knit, creating a complex looking design that is...

Mittens

These mittens are made with knit and purl patterns common on Dutch fisherman’s sweater; the twisted-cord drawstring with pom-poms would have been tied around the neck of the sweater. I saw similar patterns and pom-poms on a baby sweater in the Zaanse Museum in the Netherlands. But the image of mittens stuck in my mind as soon as I saw that litt...

This design is worked with beads strung onto the yarn and knitted as you go. Here is an overview of the technique:

Hat

Donna got chickens! Of course, being a knitting designer and indie dyer, I started having ideas about projects inspired by my feisty hens.

This shawl is worked lengthwise, end to end. The scarf can be made into a hooded scarf by sewing a short seam at the center after the knitting is complete.

This shawl is inspired by the sand dunes, waves, and amber of the Curonian Spit on the coast of Lithuania.

This infinity scarf is knit in the round, then folded in half so it has a lining and is double thick. You can begin with a long tail cast on, and bind off at the end, joining the two ends with a whip stitch seam, or you can begin with a provisional CO and join the live stitches at the end to the CO edge with 3 needle bind off. The scarf can be ...

This shawl is inspired by traditional Scottish Hap Shawls, but it is knit using different techniques. “Hap” is the Scottish word for shawl, and this design with an undulating lace border and simple garter stitch in the center, is a basic every-day shawl.

A Pi Shawl is worked from the center out. Simple circle geometry allows the shawl to grow and retain it’s round shape at the same time. Basically, when the diameter of a circle doubles, so does the circumference.

Everything spirals forward. Everything that seems new has been incrementally build on something before it. Everything that one person imagines, figures out, invents, or discovers, has undoubtedly already been thought—or will eventually be thought—by someone else. And yet. And yet, what we each create is unique.

Note: This may seem too big, but remember there is a lot of fleece inside making them fit snugly!

TWO PATTERNS INCLUDED. One easy, one intermediate skill.

Knitting roots can come from so many places. Montse Stanley, a knitting historian and author who was born in Spain, was driven to learn about knitting when she found out how little was known about the knitting in her country. Recalling the many lace doilies she saw as a child, she had no idea where the designs came from. She asked some knitters...

Cuff Down Socks with your choice of heel and toe techniques. Knit to fit using your measurements and gauge.

Toe Up Socks with your choice of heel and toe techniques. Knit to fit using your measurements and gauge.

These mitts are worked modularly. The back of the hand is worked first in a fun elongated-stitch cable pattern, then stitches are picked up on the sides of this piece and worked in garter stitch. The two edges are joined with Russian grafting, leaving a place open for the thumb.

This is the first pattern in the Vermont Yarn Club 2020 theme of Inspiration. The cowl uses Cat Bordhi’s moebius cast on. A video link is included in the PDF.

What could be more wonderful than a cuddly, cozy shawl? The knitting is pure pleasure for those wanting a challenge, and the finished shawl will keep you warm in even the coldest weather. If you venture out into the weather, you can wear it over your coat for an extra layer of protection from the elements. If you’re a homebody like me, you can ...

These mittens are knit from the cuff up with ribbing and a slip-stitch pattern that creates textured butterflies on the hands.

Note: This is a larger variation of the Montgomery Mountains scarf.

Easy, cozy, warm. What more could you want in a shawl? I designed this on a whim when I was at a knitting retreat in the mountains of Vermont and bought some hand-spun yarn at a nearby wool co-op. I wanted to cast on immediately and make something I could remember without finding a fancy stitch pattern or following a chart. I only had one skein...

Ananas is what Maria Sibylla Merian would have called a pineapple. I have found instructions for pineapple bags in several 19th century knitting books and have used them, along with photos of bags made in the same time period, to create a pattern for today’s knitters.

This scarf or cowl is knit in a straight line from end to end. It begins with a few rows of ribbing with buttonholes, continues with a cable and lace butterfly pattern, and then the second half is knit all in ribbing making this a fun but quick and relatively easy knit.

These slippers are made from the toe up in modular knitting. You can work them all in one color or change colors for each square.

This neck wrap is knit from the top down, beginning with a garter tab cast-on. It features Estonian gathered stitches and a Japanese butterfly motif, as well as beads to add a little sparkle and pizzaz.

This is free on Knitty but you can get a tidy PDF from my Ravelry store if you prefer.

This cowl is knit from the bottom up, beginning with a provisional cast on. The edge is bound off with an attached i-cord and then stitches are picked up and a border is worked in short rows to create an undulating wavy pattern. The border is repeated on the bottom edge.


Also knowns as creeping phlox, the moss pink plant is a “ low, evergreen mat covered in early spring with blue, purple, pink, or white massed blooms.” The small flowers and the texture remind me of moss stitch so I used this hand-dyed yarn to create a winter garden.

Sometimes I am not sure what season it is. This is almost always the case in April and May in Vermont. Our flowers don’t bloom until the end of May and while we may get showers in April, we may also get snow. Even so, at this time of year, I am ready for the warmer weather and for cooler fabrics. This piece is the perfect transition from Winter...

This reversible hat.

UPDATE: Now available in Danish!

This is the pattern for my 2019 Annual Pi Shawl KAL and an early preview of my Arctic Lace Collection which will be published as an ebook in 2020.

This tunic is my knitted version of one of Frida Kahlo’s traditional Tehuantepec-style Mexican tops, which could traditionally be as short as a cropped t-shirt or as long as a dress. The sweater is made in a modular style. The front and back are the same. First a center panel is knit, then stitches are picked up on the side of the panel and wor...

This cowl is knit in a lace pattern that reminds me of the patterning on a grass basket made by a Yup’ik artisan in Tununak, Alaska. The bottom portion looks like flowers growing in a spring field, and the top portion is a simple eyelets and garter ridges that is reminiscent of the woven basket pattern.

This cowl is knit in a lace pattern that reminds me of the patterning on a grass basket made by a Yup’ik artisan in Tununak, Alaska. The bottom portion looks like flowers growing in a spring field, and the top portion is a simple mesh that is reminiscent of the woven basket pattern. Each section is separated by a few rounds of garter stitch, an...

Just because these mittens are adorable doesn’t mean they aren’t hard workers! With a honeycomb cable stitch design that creates a thick, cushioned fabric, these cozy snow-ready mittens are cute enough for the average snow day, but serious enough for snowshoeing adventures.

This doily is an octagon, worked with 8 repeats of the same chart around. It is blocked to a circle and starched so it is stiff and can be used as an ornament for a Christmas tree or window decoration. Beads can be added to the border for some sparkle.

I saw many pairs of mittens in patterns similar to this in a craft market in Vilnius over ten years ago, and I had to recreate them. I bought a couple of pairs from the vendor and discovered that they were knit with two strands of yarn held together. The yarn felt like a popular brand of wool yarn made in Lithuania and carried in many shops aro...

A couple of years ago, I took a colorwork knitting class with Canadian designer Sylvia Olsen, author of Knitting Stories: Personal Essays and Seven Coast Salish-inspired Knitting Patterns and Working with Wool: A Coast Salish Legacy and the Cowichan Sweater. In the class, I learned that the style of knitting used to make Cowichan sweaters – inc...

This pattern is FREE ON KNITTY.COM. Or you can purchase a PDF from my Ravelry store. Thank you.

I love making swatches but sometimes I feel like I could be making something “real” instead of just knitting pieces to rip out or toss in a box. This pillow will give you a chance to try out some different pattern stitches and display them in your home.

These child-size mittens were made in the 1970s by Mrs. Downs, my kindergarten school nurse, who later became Aunt Phebe, a close family friend. Although they were made over 40 years ago, they still belong in my life today. (The spoon was carved by Mr. Downs, aka Uncle Nel.)

Dorothy Reade believed that charts should give knitters an idea of what a knitted stitch would look like when it was completed. She was only partially successful in achieving her goal. Today chart symbols are even clearer, and with a bit of practice most knitters can learn to knit lace, cables, and other texture patterns quickly by following ch...

Images of flowers are especially prevalent in Lithuanian knitting, as well as in weaving and in the embroidery decorating women’s blouses and aprons. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, designs of flowers planted in pots became popular motifs on hope chests, window shutters, and spinning-wheel distaffs. Today, lilies, tulips, and other...

Did you ever have a “spring coat”? I did, every year when I was a little girl. I alway think spring it here in March, but my mom always reminded me that we needed to wear a coat well into May on most years. Grandma bought my sister and me spring coats just for this purpose. We wore them to church on Easter and then for the rest of the season. T...

A Half Pi Shawl

If you need a cowl that is as fun to knit as it is to wear, you’re in the right place. This design includes rolled edges, Bavarian twisted- traveling stitches, and embroidered embellishments. Inspired by traditional sweaters and socks from Bavaria and Tyrol in Germany and Austria, this design is updated with a modern style and colors. It’s a an...

If you need a hat that is as fun to knit as it is to wear, you’re in the right place. This design includes twisted ribbing, Bavarian twisted- traveling stitches, an i-cord topper, and embroidered embellishments. Inspired by traditional sweaters and socks in Bavaria and Tyrol in Germany and Austria, this design is updated with a modern style and...

These mittens are based on traditional Lithuanian designs that I’ve seen in museums, private collections, and markets in Lithuania. They’re a quick knit in worsted weight yarn, and there are video tutorials in the PDF, plus extra tutorial PDFs from a past KAL.

A simple garter stitch rug is a perfect project for beginners – or anyone needing a quick gift – because you can knit one up over a weekend. This rug is made using just the knit stitch and a double strand of heavy yarn on jumbo needles.

Folk singing groups began performing in Soviet Lithuania in 1968, but it is probably not a coincidence that knitters and weavers started to reproduce traditional costumes for performances in 1986, just two years after Mikhail Gorbachev came into power and one year after Glasnost and Perestroika were initiated. Even with the increased amount of ...

Love cats? Love lace? Love mystery KALs? Then this project is for you! Using motifs designed and inspired by the work of Dorothy Reade, I’ve created a fun pi shawl for my annual summer mystery KAL.

This scarf is my introduction to Orenburg lace from Russia. The techniques used are a combination of a traditional Orenburg lace border with an updated center motif designed by Dorothy Reade, a fiber artist, spinner, knitter, designer, and teacher who lived in Oregon.

This shawl was inspired by my trip to Glacier Bay several years ago. I found this wonderful yarn at a shop in Juneau, and after seeing the glacier, I knew exactly what to do with it. Every time I wear it, I remember my trip.

When I was a girl, we got spring coats from our grandmother every year. And we had to wear them off and on into May. I’m always ready for spring too early. So these mittens with baby birds beaks peeking out of the nest remind me that spring is coming, even though the view outside my office window is still white with snow.

Available for pre-order. Full pattern will be released March 15th.

I love snow. It’s one of the reasons I live in Vermont near the Canadian border. Winter should be white, not brown. And here in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and in Quebec, our neighbor to the north, we have plenty of snow to keep things bright. One snowflake may be delicate and fragile, but when you get enough of them, you change the whole ...

Family history is one of my obsessions, and I also am a lover of science. When these two passions collided with politics, this hat was the result. In memory of my immigrant ancestors who passed on their DNA to me, I give you “DNA on my Mind,” a hat to celebrate that immigrants make America great and to remind us all that science is reality.

This is an advanced project that includes several different types of colorwork including fair isle, intarsia in the round, baltic braids, and corrugated ribbing. The PDF includes a tutorial on intarsia in the round as well as links to many videos of the special techniques used in the pattern.

I am addicted to designing and knitting pi shawls. This one alternates between very lacy honeycomb mesh and geometric patterns on a solid stockinette stitch background. All of the openwork is made with double yarn-overs for an extra airy feel. In fingering-weight alpaca yarn, this shawl is warm and cozy, even with so much lace.

These cozy socks are made from the top down on 48, 54 or 60 sts. So they’re quick to knit but the simple cable and ribbing pattern gives them a nice stretchy fit and keeps the knitting from being boring. The toe is done in a traditional, simple technique from Lithuania that does not require Kitchener stitch.

This is a new version of my Spanish Dancing socks with a mid-calf length added to the pattern and a video tutorial for the Bulgarian Cast On technique.

Note: the instructions in the Symbols in Stithches ebook are recipes. The example shown is only one variation of what you can make.

Please note: This KAL is currently in the process. Finished pattern will be available after KAL is completed.

It might be summer now, but I’m almost always thinking about Lithuania, so why not knit a hat with Lithuanian motifs on the crown? Then Lithuania can always be on my mind. This slouchy hat begins with a deep ribbed brim that is folded in half to keep the wind off your ears. The body of the hat is colorwork which also adds an extra layer of warm...

This pattern was originally published in My Knitting Book by Miss Lambert in 1843. The original pattern is on page 2 so you can see how I’ve updated the instructions for modern knitters. I also added a chart to help you see how the pattern repeat works. Would you have interpreted all of the instructions the same way I did? Mine came out to be a...

I don’t know about you, but my husband rarely wants anything that I knit. After two sweaters languished in the bureau drawer and a pair of gloves was worn to shreds in less than a month, I wasn’t too keen on knitting for him any more. But when he saw the sample of this hat and tried it on, he immediately said, “I want this hat.” Alas, the sampl...

Last year I took a colorwork knitting class with Canadian designer Sylvia Olsen, author of Knitting Stories: Personal Essays and Seven Coast Salish-inspired Knitting Patterns and Working with Wool: A Coast Salish Legacy and the Cowichan Sweater. I learned that this style of knitting is the only 100% North American knitting tradition. I designed...

This checker pattern reminds me of the yellow taxi cabs in New York City but the natural colors of the wool bring this design into the countryside for a quick knit that is the best of all worlds.

The ribs and cables in this hat and scarf remind me of the dirt roads here in Northern Vermont. In winter, they’re covered with ice and snow. In spring they’re muddy and rutted. In summer and fall, they’re clean and smooth and often in better shape than many of our paved roads. But at any time of year, dirt roads are part of life in Vermont. Ev...

What you need in Vermont is a good pair of warm, wooly mittens. Wool is not only warm and cozy, it’s also great for making your hands feel dry even if they’re not. Did you know that wool can hold up to 30% of its weight in water and not even feel wet?

This hat reminds me of the amber jewelry on sale in almost every shop in the tourist district of Vilnius, Lithuania. It is oh so hard to walk down the street and not buy amber jewelry at every turn! The hat is made with a traditional Lithuanian colorwork motif and colors that remind me not only of the amber stones, but also of the snowy streets...

This scarf goes on forever and ever, just like the winter doldrums. Fortunately, with this chunky yarn and easy pattern stitches, it’s quick to knit and once you get something done, you’ll find yourself back in the land of the living, energized to cast on for something new!

This simple sock pattern is one I use all the time to make soft and cozy socks for myself as well as rough and sturdy work socks for my husband. You can change the size by using smaller or larger needles and thinner or thicker yarn. You can change the style by using a different ribbing pattern for the leg. After you make a few pairs, you’ll mem...

The columns of ribbing that separate the individual motifs on this tam remind me of the legs of a starfish. They are made out of twisted knit stitches that are worked straight up from the brim of the hat to the last few rounds of the crown shaping. Between these columns are charted patterns of Bavarian Twisted Traveling Stitch patterns that wer...

These mitts are made with Bavarian Twisted Traveling stitches that curve like a scenic road through the countryside. They are incredibly stretchy and cozy.

This pattern combines the texture of Bavarian twisted traveling stitches with the color of the Baltic Sea in Madeline Tosh’s merino sock yarn. The curving shapes of the traveling stitches remind me of the gentle waves on the shore of the Baltic Sea on a calm summer day. I used my favorite easy heel and toe techniques on these socks so you can u...

Note: This hat is knit at a tighter gauge than the suggested gauge on the ball band of recommended yarn

Traditional-fit toe-up Turkish stockings are fun to knit, fun to wear, and certain to keep your feet toasty!

This hat is inspired by a recent retreat I attended in Juneau, Alaska. At the Seaside Yarns Mermaid Retreat, I taught techniques from Lithuanian knitting and Japanese knitting books, and both are included in this pattern with links to YouTube videos. This is a quick knit in worsted-weight making it perfect for a quick gift or a weekend project ...

These “Summer Lilies” mittens are worked from the cuff up with a knit-in fringe on the cuff and a fun two-color pattern on the hand. The thumb opening is made by knitting with scrap yarn which is removed later to form a hole where the thumb is added. The finger tips are shaped on an angle and come to a point.

This pattern is much harder to explain than it is to knit. The main motif is an Estonian leaf that is repeated on the shawl in small, medium, and large sizes. The leaves are placed in such a way that the half-circle shawl emerges naturally with no additional shaping until the neckline.

This hat is worked from the brim up with my favorite Estonian lace stitch. The brim is double thick with an eyelet turning ridge that creates a decorative picot edge. An optional lining can be added after the main knitting is complete.

The brim of this hat is started with a provisional cast on and worked sideways as a long strip of garter stitch. The ends are joined with three-needle bind off and then stitches are picked up along one edge to knit the body of the hat. Decreases shape the crown, and the remaining stitches are worked as a long cord to which a tassel is attached ...

This cowl is worked in a form of modular knitting. The first section is worked lengthwise in checker stitch. The second is worked perpendicularly to the first in garter stitch, joined every other row with a decrease. Stitches are picked up along the edge of the garter stitch section for the third section, which is worked in checker stitch. Then...

These mitts are knit from the cuff up with increases worked in purl for the thumb gore. The background is all purls and the pattern stitch is an easy faux cable eyelet pattern that doesn’t require a cable needle. An optional large eyelet made just before binding off adds a finger opening for the middle finger to help hold the mitts in place and...

This hood is made with an easy faux-cable rib pattern combined with a slip-stitch pattern that adds texture to the background and adds interest to the fabric. The shaping is worked with decreases that create a shape similar to a giant sock heel. A drawstring around the front edge makes the size adjustable.

This hat is worked from the bottom up with a simple faux cable needle that I learned from a Japanese pattern book. It’s so much fun to knit that it’s become one of my favorite stitches and I often use it instead of plain ribbing to add an extra bit of flair to an otherwise simple pattern.

These mittens are inspired by a pair knit in the town of Telšiai, Lithuania and photographed in Antanas Tamošaitis’s book, Sodžiaus menas, kn. 5: Mezgimo-nerimo raštai (Village Arts, no. 5: Charted Knitting Patterns, Kaunas, Lithuania: Žemes Ukio Rumu leidykla, 1933). I changed the design to have the popular pointed tip shaping that I feel is a...

If you love sunflowers and the amazing Sunflower paintings of Vincent van Gogh as much as I do, you can’t help but want to reproduce the gorgeous colors, shapes, and textures in your knitting. This is a rectangular version of my For the Love of Vincent pi-shawl design. It uses the outer leaves and border patterns from the circular shawl in a de...

As much as I enjoy the challenge of complicated stitches and intricate patterns, sometimes there’s nothing a nice as working on a simple project and taking my time to enjoy the feel of the yarn and needles in my hands. The same goes for lace patterns: sometimes I like a design that twists and turns and has different maneuvers on every row and s...

The first time I saw traditional Lithuanian knitted socks was on a photo of dancers wearing reproductions of the National Costume. The women’s socks were knit in a wheat lace pattern made out of white yarn, and you could only see the pattern when they lifted the hem of their long skirts. The originals were knee socks, but I wanted to create a p...

Starting with a ribbed cuff and Honeycomb Stitch on the leg, Hornet’s Honey socks also have a garter-stitch short row heel and garter stitch toe.

The colorwork pattern on these mittens, documented by Antanas Tamošaitis, knit in neutral colors reminds me of the rustic fences used in the Lithuanian country- side, and of the beautiful wooden fences at the traditional houses in the Open Air Museum of Lithuania in Rumšiškės. I love the way the vertical and diagonal lines interact with each ot...

Handwoven fabrics, knitted socks and gloves, natural dyes, handspun yarns, dec- orative carpets, colorful wall-hangings, lithographs, and paintings: these comprise the legacy of Anatstazija and Antanas Tamošaitis. Sometimes called the matriarch and patriarch of Lithuanian textiles or champions of the cause of Lithuanian folk art, the couple spe...

The KAL is over and now the full pattern is available.

These socks are made with true entrelac on the cuffs. Although this is not a technique that’s traditionally recognized as a special Lithuanian technique, I have seen it on more than a few pairs of mittens in museum collections, as well as in vintage knitting books published in Lithuania and Russia.

This sweater is inspired by one I bought at a shop in Vilnius, Lithuania. Every time I wear it, I’m asked, “Did you knit that?” and I have to answer, “No.” Now I’ve finally made one! And I’m planning to make at least one or two more with different lace motifs. This is my favorite style top to wear for travel and teaching. It works over a sleev...

I designed this scarf for my sister-in-law, Bessy, who dreams of Florida, warm weather, and summer days, but I took the photos in the backyard of my 1877 farmhouse in Vermont during winter! Bessy found the yarn on the internet and posted a photo of it on her Facebook timeline, so I ordered a skein and put it in my stash.

This hat is made from a mitten chart I found in Magnificent Mittens by Anna Zilboorg. You can make a hat out of any mitten pattern.

A few years ago, I was at a knitting conference with a friend who was knitting the “Fly’s Body” lace edging that is used in the border of this capelet. She had discovered the stitch pattern on a small notepad that was tucked inside a Victorian knitting book she purchased at a used bookstore in England. A woman named Miss Money had recorded seve...

1 skein each of 5 colors. I selected green, gold, orange, rust, and brown to emulate the colors of the trees the northern Vermont forests surrounding my home.

This warm and cozy hat features a lacy brim, baltic braid trim, and a geometric Lithuanian design that represents the sun. In winter, there is not much sunshine and thoughts of long, warm summer days are important to keep up morale during the cold dark months. The hat is knit on larger needles than the matching mittens, making it softer and str...

These gorgeous mittens feature a lacy cuff, baltic braid trim, and a geometric Lithuanian design that represents the sun. In winter, there is not much sunshine and thoughts of long, warm summer days are important to keep up morale during the cold dark months. The oak is also knowns as the sun tree, the tree of the Goddess Saulė who lives in a c...

The geometric motif on these mittens is actually a weaving pattern that has been used by Lithuanian weavers for centuries, perhaps even for millennia.

Flowers are everywhere in Lithuania! In fields and gardens, sold in the streets and in shops, decorating tables in restaurants. Floral motifs are popular in knitting, too. This “Blossom” design is usually seen as a star or sun or snowflake on mittens from Scandinavia but in Lithuania it is recognized as a flower and often knit with green leaves...

These mittens are worked from the cuff up with simple ribbing on the cuff and an easy two-color pattern on the hand. The thumb opening is made by knitting with scrap yarn which is removed later to form a hole where the thumb is added. The finger tips are shaped on an angle and come to a point.

What could be more elegant than diamonds and circles? This shawl features several diamond motifs charted by Dorothy Reade in the 1960s for a book she was working on. The unpublished manuscript was given to me by her daughter, when I was working on research for my own book, Successful Lace Knitting: Celebrating the Work of Dorothy Reade. Dorothy...

This is one of 13 patterns also featured in the new Arctic Lace Armchair Travel eCourse. Get all 13 patterns, plus dozens of lessons, essays, tips, and photos, all for only $50!

The earliest sweaters were knitted in the round, on multiple double-pointed needles, producing seamless garments that were custom made to fit the wearer. Sweaters made with multiple colors, such as Norwegian pullovers, were usually knit as plain tubes and cut open to create neck and armhole openings, while others made with single-color texture ...

You can wear these gorgeous fingerless gloves for warmth or as handmade jewelry. The beads add a sparkle against the matte finish of the wool yarn. To make your beads look like raindrops on a spring day, use clear beads or beads that match the color of your yarn closely. For a more dramatic look, choose beads that contrast starkly.

I’d forgotten what the first blush of spring looks like in New England. For the first time since I moved away from the Northeast in 1982, I’m being reminded by the greens and pinks and mauves and purples and yellows of spring. The pale colors mimic fall but on a much more muted scale. The music of spring is quiet and light, a flute and guitar d...

This hood reminds me of my dreams of the cold winters in Belarus, where my friends Irina and Olga live. We met in Vilnius a few years ago when we were all studying Lithuanian and we hit it off and have stayed in touch off and on, getting together when I visit Eastern Europe and chatting online once in a while between trips. I’ve never gotten to...

This pillow sham is a reproduction of the antique piece that Annelis gave to me on my first visit to Geneva. I loved the motif and border so much that I had to figure out how to recreate it. I chose a finer yarn to make a soft fabric that would drape nicely on the curved shape of the pillow.

As much as I enjoy the challenge of complicated stitches and intricate patterns, sometimes there’s nothing as nice as working on a simple project and taking my time to enjoy the feel of the yarn and needles in my hands. The same goes for lace patterns: sometimes I like a design that twists and turns and has different maneuvers on every row and ...

Braided rugs made from old rags represent frugality and parsimony, but their flamboyant colors speak of a love for beauty. This rug, made of alternating garter and stockinette stitch strips shaped with short rows, gives you the chance to bring this classic beauty into your own home.

I have friends in high places. Perhaps that’s an exaggeration but I have met both Cat Bordhi and Barbara Walker in person. More importantly, however, I have access to both of their creative minds through their books. In this project, I’ve combined a stitch pattern from Barbara Walker’s Second Treasury and Cat Bordhi’s moebius cast on, with my o...

New: Video Tutorials and all KnitCompanion functionality available in my App!

New: Video Tutorials and all KnitCompanion functionality available in my App!

This small pineapple purse is my updated pattern for small bags called reticules that were popular in the Victorian era. I have found instructions in several 19th century knitting books and have used them, along with photos of bags made in the same time period, to create a pattern with instructions, materials, and tools that are more comfortabl...

These socks, made with qiviut-blend sock yarn from Arctic Qiviut are the softest, warmest things that have ever touched my feet. With temperatures not rising above freezing for the last week here in Vermont, I was very tempted to start wearing them before I took photos or wove in the ends!

This triangle shawl is inspired by the rabbit tracks I found in the snow every winter at my home in Colorado. Every time I see those tracks in the snow, I think of winter-white bun- nies with long floppy ears and fluffy tails hopping across fields in the wilds of Alaska. Both the Snowshoe Hare and the Alaskan Hare turn from gray or brown to pur...

This is one of 13 patterns also featured in the new Arctic Lace Armchair Travel eCourse. Get all 13 patterns, plus dozens of lessons, essays, tips, and photos, all for only $50!

This fun pattern is worked with only one color in a row. The “dip stitch” is made by working into a stitch several rows below, which makes it appear as though two colors were used in the same row. These socks are worked toe up with a short row toe and heel flap with a gusset.

This scarf pattern is one of five patterns available exclusively in the LaceKnits 2012 eMag from Interweave. This eMag is only available for your iPad tablet.

Just when you think you know everything about traditional sock knitting, another little-known tradition shows up to expand your boundaries. Donna Druchunas looked for information on the knitting of her Lithuanian forebears for years, and finally visited the country to learn what she could. What she learned turned out to be a lot!

Just when you think you know everything about traditional sock knitting, another little-known tradition shows up to expand your boundaries. Donna Druchunas looked for information on the knitting of her Lithuanian forebears for years, and finally visited the country to learn what she could. What she learned turned out to be a lot!

Just when you think you know everything about traditional sock knitting, another little-known tradition shows up to expand your boundaries. Donna Druchunas looked for information on the knitting of her Lithuanian forebears for years, and finally visited the country to learn what she could. What she learned turned out to be a lot!

Length along straight side edge: 16”

This is one of 13 patterns also featured in the new Arctic Lace Armchair Travel eCourse. Get all 13 patterns, plus dozens of lessons, essays, tips, and photos, all for only $50!

This scarf was inspired by the beaded wrist warmers from Greenland, where I saw a similar oak leaf pattern. When I was in Vilnius last year and the colors started to change for autumn, I couldn’t resist incorporating this design into a toasty scarf to keep me warm as I explored the city streets. In the center of the Old Town, a park with the re...

This beautiful shawl is made from one large skein of wool and one large skein of mohair. The shawl is soft and cuddly and would be a wonderful gift for any woman who has suffered from a recent crisis or loss. The lace pattern is easy to memorize and works up quickly on size 11 (8mm) needles.

I love super-stretchy socks but sometimes plain ribbing is too boring. This stitch is ribbing with increase and decreases arranged to make an undulating line of knit stitches that surrounds little cocoons of purls. It’s fun to work and a great choice for gift knitting. These socks are worked cuff down with a French heel and a round toe that doe...

These socks are worked with a fascinating pattern I found in Barbara Walker’s second treasury. The design is worked with only 1 color per round, and the pattern is created by making elongated stitches and slipping other stitches. I chose light and dark solid colors with a variegated middle tone to create what I think looks like the false flames...

Based on a traditional Belarusian motif these wrist warmers have a crocheted edging.

1 or 2 balls of two main colours required depending upon size, plus small amounts of two accent colours.

An unusual feature of this sock is the stair-step heel flap. A gusset and a spiral toe are also used.

New: Video Tutorials and all KnitCompanion functionality available in my App!

Design your own textured cap.

Design your own textured sweater.

Design your own textured sweater.

This easy scarf and headband will give you practice making cables. It’s perfect for anyone needing a bit of warmth.

Welcome guests to your home with this eco-chic knit and purl door mat. The hemp fiber is as strong as rope and shows the checker-board stitch pattern beautifully. Because it’s grown without herbicides or pesticides, this is also an environmentally friendly project.

Rug is pictured on the front of the book.

Inspired by elaborate circular rugs knit by Shaker Sisters in the early 1900’s.