I'm happy to share Alana Dako's new skinny scarf pattern, Life Cycle available soon in her book, Botanical Knits 2.  I test knit this for her, then loved making it so much I promptly made two more.  The pattern is fun and addictive and makes a long skinny scarf that is fun to wear.  In case you think it's difficult, it's not.  It has both written and charted instructions and consists of a few simple stitches like yarnovers and knit-two-togethers and a few more.  Each stitch is explained well.  This would be a good beginner project if you wanted to advance your knitting skills.  It's fun to see the leaves "grow".  I knit this on the airplane sitting next to a middle aged man who had to occasionally check and marvel at my progress.  It's funny when you knit in public, people think you are some kind of curiosity!

The first one is knit in Rowan's new silk and linen yarn, the light worsted weight Silkystones.  I used two colors, Glade, below left, and Cavern on the right.  This was my first time knitting with Silkystones and think it's a wonderful transition spring and fall yarn.  Very easy to knit and has an earthy quality with a lot of texture and interest and is lovely against bare skin.  I was surprised how much "give" this yarn has.  Very easy to maneuver the stitches and it wet blocked very well.  To achieve the dual tone look, I knit with one color until I ran out, then added the other.



The last one to share is Alana's color choice and is the sample for the book.  Also knit in Spincycle's Dyed in the Wool in a color, "end of summer", especially dyed for Alana for this scarf.  It's a beautiful blend of fall colors and makes the leaves pop.  The scarf above was knit using every bit of the 200 yards in the skein, and the sample below was knit using 300 yards.  We liked it better long and sassy.  This sample below I sadly had to send back, but was fun being a test knitter and work with Alana.

Alana Dakos newest coat, Bare Branches knit in Rowan Felted Tweed Aran.

Little gathers below the reverse stockinette bodice.

Behind the hood is a little surprise.

The bare branches in stockinette relief against reverse stockinette bodice.

I'm so excited to share this lovely lovely lovely coat with you!  I was commissioned to make this sample ages ago for Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting.  I had to send it back, (sniff) but before I did I took some modeled pics to share.  It's not a perfect fit for me, and when I make it again for me, and I WILL, I will make it a size smaller.  It's gorgeous, isn't it?  And it was so fun to knit!  Lovely little details with the bare branches in relief and little gathers below the bust.  With all the Rowan I've knit over the years I hadn't knit with Felted Tweed Aran before this.  It's every bit as lovely as Felted Tweed DK.  Soft and tweedy and whole wheaty, I cannot imagine this coat knit in anything but this.  I'm so excited this pattern is finally published.  It's part of Alana's Botanical Knits 2.  I knit a few other samples for the book and will be sharing those soon.  I met Alana at Stitches West a few years ago and she is truly  a d o r a b l e.  You can view all the new patterns of her new book here.  Look for Botanical Knits 2 available to purchase as an ebook or to pre-order in print beginning 10:00 PST, March 3.


Below is a little tute on how to make a folded hem, a technique you will need for this coat.   It makes a very fine finished hem.

You should make this.  xoxo Kristen

How to make a neat folded hem:  1) With a smaller needle, pick up stitches along cast on edge.

2) Fold the work together with wrong sides facing. 3) Knit the picked up cast on stitches together with your knit row. (I had to knit the CO stitches through the back loop.