Melissa Burke

Patterns available as Ravelry Downloads

Knitting: Scarf
Cinnamon Swirl is deep winter warm thanks to its volumuous trio of squooshy, soft cables. An icord edging seamlessly blends with the cables while keeping a tidy selvedge. Generous, customizable length to wrap, drape or tuck inside your coat.
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
Worked in Super Bulky yarn, Rifle Peak is swiftly knit and ready to wear in a few short hours. It features a simple half-drop allover cable pattern that results in an interesting, undulating textural pattern that couples well with the many tonal or solid hues available today in these heavier weight yarns.
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
Rosedale Park is a snuggly, quick knit. It features a simple knit/purl design that diminishes to an attractive crown leaving the pompom truly a matter of personal preference!
Knitting: Scarf
Companion scarf to the popular Celtic Roots Headband, the Celtic Roots Scarf continues with the Saxon Braid motif, this time in a half-drop pattern which produces a tangle of cables on a generously sized and warm scarf!
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
The Flint Hill Hat is quick to knit and deep winter warm. It features a simple cable and slip stitch design that diminishes to an attractive crown. An Alternating/Italian cast-on creates the professional finish of a tubular cast-on without the multiple rounds required to work it.
Knitting: Headband
Named for that time of year when the sun sits close to the horizon and casts a particular glow portending that winter is imminent, Auburn Skies features a wide, densely patterned, mirrored cable joined at the crown by a trio of chain links and a tapered chain link nape. Auburn Skies is the perfect transition piece for when those chilly winds be...
Knitting: Fingerless Gloves
Companion mitts to the Lochmoor Headband, Lochmoor Mitts feature an extended cuff to keep cold breezes at bay. An attractive, four plait cable travels the length of the mitts and right into the cuff, blending seamlessly with the 2/1 ribbing, while the palms are simple stockinette for comfort. Mitt/thumb lengths are easily modified for more cove...
Knitting: Headband
Lochmoor is full of eye-catching cable work. The details draw you in and you find yourself following the cables as they intersect and diverge. Wider across the crown and down past the ears, the headband then tapers to an intricate 4 plait braid across the nape.
Knitting: Animal Toy
Why knit tiny hens? Because they are so cute! These little gals are quick to work up with inexpensive yarn or leftover stash and make great gifts for young and old alike. Think pocket pal for a young child, decoration, ornament, or even a cat toy. (Naturally, please don’t use beads for eyes if you intend to gift to a small child or animal as a ...
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
Don’t spend late winter indoors looking out. Knit up Fair Lane and go adventuring! Fair Lane features a wide fold up brim to keep your ears two-layer cozy, while an intriguing allover cable pattern resolves to a rapidly decreased crown giving the hat just the right amount of pooch. Finally, a large pom has then been added just for a bit of whim...
Knitting: Throw
Named for my daughter, Anna, who is the world traveller in our Irish family, Celtic Traveller features an attractive pairing of two popular cable stitch patterns nestled closely together in a half-drop style. The proximity of the patterns to one another create a composition of work that looks both intricate and visually appealing.
Knitting: Headband
The cable used in the Stoney Creek Headband reminds me of water rippling over the rocks that dapple the bottom of a shallow creek bed, hence the name, Stoney Creek. Stoney Creek features a wide, chevron-like cable that reverses direction at the center. The cable then neatly diminishes to a single rope cable at the nape of the neck, allowing the...
Knitting: Headband
Celtic Roots is a cable lover’s delight! This headband features a wide Saxon cable over the forehead and down to the ears where the cabling then attractively diminishes to a single cable at the nape allowing the headband to be worn with a variety of hairstyles, both up and down.
Knitting: Headband
And both that morning equally lay
Knitting: Headband
When the sap starts running and the days start getting noticeably longer, it’s time to get out and enjoy late winter--in a warm, cozy headband, of course!.
Knitting: Headband
This stitch pattern reminds me of pine cones dusted with freshly fallen snow, hence my choice of pattern name! Snowy Pines is a portable knitting project that will keep your interest as there is patterning on both sides of the work. It is well worth the effort, however, as a lovely and versatile headband will result.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
This pattern is featured in the inaugural issue of Common Threads magazine, Issue 001: Abundance! Check it out at Hudson Valley Textile Project. I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of this collaborative effort!
Knitting: Scarf
With warm spring breezes melting the remaining ice and snow, water begins to flow at gravity’s insistence, from the hills and outcroppings to the streams below.
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
A quick knit in toasty, warm aran weight yarn, Autumn Flora features a twisted ribbing that diminishes into pointed arches that, in turn, trail into the body of the hat before transforming into the stems of large, oval leaves.
Knitting: Fingerless Gloves
Sweetly simple, elegant and classic in style, Midwinter Stroll Mitts feature a twisted rib cuff with a trio of cables inset within the cuff. This textured pattern extends up the entire back of each mitt.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
Inspired by the flower for which it was named, the Tulip Lea Shawl features asymmetric shaping accentuated by a wide border of tulip blossoms nestled between a pair of diminutive cables. The body of the shawl is an easy, columnar lace pattern bringing to mind row upon row of parrot tulip blossoms swaying in the breeze. Worked in a fingering wei...
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
Inspired by the splendid apple orchards of Upstate, New York, the Heirloom Cultivar Shawl is an asymmetric shawl featuring an apple tree branch inner border along one side paired with a wide basket weave border along both sides. A plain stockinette body allows attention to remain focused on these lovely border stitches. Worked in a sport weight...
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
Summer brings with it lush greens, breathtaking vistas and the sounds of all the creatures that are happy for the return of warm days. Thoreau’s Pond is named for such places; where we can reflect and take in the beauty of nature.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
Named as an homage to spring, the Rainfall Shawlette is worked sideways and features an integral fringed border created from hundreds of tendrils, reminiscent of streaming rain on windowpanes. A rope cable border mimics the twist of each tiny tendril, while the body portion is simple garter stitch for a relaxing knit. My sample was knit using t...
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
Inspired by the last, lingering flowers before heavy snowfalls arrive, the Frosted Primrose Hat features a gracefully curving stitch pattern paired with an accelerated decrease at the crown that creates shaping reminiscent of a single primrose in bloom.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
Inspired by the fiery colors of autumn, the Burning Leaves Shawl features a striking chevron pattern stitch that adorns the nape of the neck, then travels down a central panel to recur as an attractive border along the bottom edge. A versatile knit, Burning Leaves may be worked in three sizes – Small, Medium or Large. The Medium size is pictured.
Knitting: Cowl, Scarf
Inspired by an antique cider press, the Cider Press Scarf and Cowl feature a “flowing cider” center cable, “wooden screw” side cables and a “screening” border. Work Cider Press in a glorious, full length, or the more tailored buttoned cowl…or both!
Knitting: Scarf
The Garden Steps Asymmetrical Scarf is inspired by the hidden grottos, rusted wrought iron and damp, moss covered stones that inhabit the shady corners of all secret gardens, both imaginary and real.
Knitting: Boot Cuffs / Toppers
Step up your cold weather style with Entangled Boot Cuffs. With their longer length, Entangled Boot Cuffs work well with a variety of boots - from ankle to knee-high. Wear these versatile boot cuffs four ways: Cables up, cables cuffed over, ribbing up, or ribbing cuffed over. One pair of cuffs – four different looks!
Knitting: Beret, Tam
With a lace pattern inspired by the pine cones that adorn the boughs of our graceful evergreen trees, the Hemlock Ridge Beret will keep you warm and cozy on any midwinter stroll through a piney woods.
Knitting: Fingerless Gloves
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
Knitting: Beret, Tam
Inspired by the lovely, textural ice patterns found on a winter pond and knit in a bulky weight yarn, Frostbitten will keep you cozy and in style this winter, whether you’re chasing vampires or simply chasing away the cold!
Knitting: Cowl
Hold onto the sweetness of summer through the colder months with the Loganberry Cowl. Knit in a sumptuous worsted weight yarn, the Loganberry Cowl features a delicate miniature leaf pattern bordered in a delightfully bumpy seed stitch reminiscent of the berries for which it is named. Kerchief shaping yields added warmth at the neckline.
Knitting: Beanie, Toque, Beret, Tam
The Honeybee Cap and Beret are abuzz with a swarm of delightful little slip-stitch bees. Ascending from a mock honeycomb border atop a twisted rib brim, the bees take flight into a tight spiral at the crown of each hat. This pattern includes instructions for BOTH hats.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
The Artifact Shawlette is inspired by the ancient ruins, fossils and relics that record our history and the passage of time. A spider web lace edging reflects how our past and future are intertwined, while both Egyptian and Celtic influences are evident in the “woven” borders and central scroll motif.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
Wrap yourself in this sweet little pair of shawlettes. The Flame Shawlette features an allover diamond lace pattern, while the Flicker Shawlette has areas of the diamond lace pattern selectively removed creating an asymmetrical design twist on an otherwise traditional pattern. A generous 66” (168cm) wingspan means these versatile shawlettes can...
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
The Shale Beach Shawl features an elegantly simple allover chevron design, making it the perfect canvas for highlighting many of the beautiful tonal and hand-dyed yarns currently on the market.
Knitting: Beret, Tam
The Falling Leaves beret/slouch hat knitting pattern evokes the essence of the season for which it was named with a border of leaves swirling one into another around its perimeter. This lovely leaf stitch pattern is a modification of Barbara Walker’s timeless ‘Fern Lace’ pattern. Additional details include a twisted rib edge and a twelve-point ...
Knitting: Fingerless Gloves
Pine Woods fingerless gloves are sturdy, practical and easy to knit. A shaped thumb gusset means that these gloves are made to fit the hand naturally and comfortably, while the twisted rib cuffs keep you cozy and the gloves securely in place.
Knitting: Fingerless Gloves
Isabel fingerless gloves feature a delicate lace pattern that looks complicated, but is deceptively simple to execute. A shaped thumb gusset means that these gloves are made to fit the hand naturally and comfortably.
Knitting: Beret, Tam
La Parisienne is a truly feminine beret knit from worsted weight yarn. It features a well-­defined twisted ribbing and simple stockinette stitch body adorned by a 9-point spiral decrease. La Parisienne is quick to knit and can be completed in an evening or two.