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Child's Garden Maze Cardigan -- This is a garter stitch, zigzag striped, button-front child’s sweater knitted in a complicated maze-like manner.  The cast on edge begins at the bottom of the left center front edge and goes up the front, around the neckline, and down to the bottom of the right center front edge.  The pattern is in 3 sizes, expanded from the small size in two different methods:  the medium size uses the same size needles and yarn and has the stitch counts adjusted, the large size is worked exactly like the medium size but uses thicker thread and larger needles.  If desired, you can make an even smaller size by using finer yarn and smaller needles.  Button holes are worked on both edges so the cardigan can be easily suited to a girl or a boy.

DATE - December 2002, Revised January 2005

Child's Loon Cardigan - This child’s cardigan sweater has a variety of black and white patterns inspired by those of the Common Loon. The loon effect is enhanced by the sweater’s red buttons, which are the color of the adult loon’s eyes.  The color patterns are worked in a combination of intarsia and stranded color work. The bottom edging is worked in 2-color corrugated ribbing. The sweater pieces are knitted downward from the shoulders to the wrists & bottom ribbing.  If you are interested, check out the Loon Pillow with Toy which was designed to coordinate with this cardigan.

DATE - January 2005

Eyelet Ridge Shawl Variations -- This pattern includes two shapes of shawl, both worked back and forth in the same pattern stitch. One version is a V-shaped (V) shawl, the other is a triangle. The triangle shawl is worked with your choice of yarn, the V shawl is designed for just one yarn weight. There are 4 edging variations: a garter ridge bind off (add-on fringe optional); a picot bind off (add-on fringe optional); a sideways garter stitch edging with short knitted-on beaded fringe; or a ruffled ribbing. The body of either shawl is very easy to knit and grows longer on each right side row. The length of the V shawl is determined by the length of the cast on row; the triangle shawl begins at the center top back and can range in size from small enough for a doll to a shoulder-sized scarf to a huge body-swaddling shawl. The stitch pattern alternates eyelet garter ridge bands with bands of stockinette stitch.  The V shawl is made in one size, the triangular shawl can be made in any size.

DATE -- September 2003

Felted Tasseled Purse - This pointed-bottom felted (fulled) purse pattern is has several variations.  It can be large or small with a flap to fasten over the top or with a drawstring top with no flap.  The drawstring version has a pointed lace panel edging that overlays the purse and mirrors the point on the purse.  Both purses have tassels hanging from the bottom and over-the-shoulder length twisted cord straps.  NOTE – since these purses are knitted before shrinking, they are technically “fulled” and not “felted” (felted fabrics are made directly from the raw fiber without knitting, crocheting, or weaving first).

DATE - April 2006, posted here March 2007

Garden Maze Garter Stitch Pouch -- This is a drawstring pouch knitted in a combination of back-and-forth and circular garter stitch with lots of very complex increases, decreases, bind offs, and color changes. I "unvented" the technique as an evolution of Elizabeth Zimmerman’s wonderful garter stitch projects. The name "garden maze" I credit to a sister knitter (thanks, Barb!). The pouch starts with a small square at the bottom and ends with the scalloped top edge. This pouch is a good project to learn this complex technique.

DATE -- November 1998, Revised July 2001

Intarsia Heart Purse -- This drawstring shoulder purse has a diamond pattern on one side and a heart, squares, and stripes on the other. It is worked with multiple colors of yarn in a single row (intarsia knitting).  It is designed as a single long piece that is knitted back-and-forth with an eyeleted top edging worked circularly after the intarsia is completed.  It has I-cord drawstrings.  It can be felted or not. The pouch shown in the photos is the nonfelted version.

DATE -- February 2005

It's Almost A Ball -- It’s almost, but not quite, a ball. It’s really shaped like an English candy called a humbug (or so I’ve been told). But no matter what the shape is called, this is a wonderful toy for baby or a toddler, especially when it includes a rattle. And as a beanbag, it’s great for games and the small size is perfect for juggling (confirmed by juggling friends - Thanks, John & Burke!). There are several variations of the pattern – it can be small or large, it can be longer than it is wide or not, and it can also be fulled (felted) or not.

Loon Pillow with Toy - This intarsia loon pillow celebrates the Common Loon. The pillow is the blue of lakes with the loon floating in the middle. The loon’s wing forms a pocket so a stuffed baby loon toy can ride on the adult’s back just as chicks do in real life. The back of the pillow is a simple black and white horizontally-striped pattern and the edging is an optional knitted red cord to match the red eye of the adult loon (the loon chick has dark eyes).  The stuffed chick can be felted or not, as you desire.  If you click on Child's Loon Cardigan you'll find a child's cardigan designed to coordinate with this pillow.

DATE -- January 2005.

Man in a Maze Pillow & Tote  -- This is an 18-inch square sofa pillow cover or tote bag worked in three colors. The designs come from ancient, traditional Native American designs of the southwest United States.  On one side is a square version of the usually circular Man In A Maze pattern of the native peoples of southern Arizona. The triangle designs surrounding the maze and the folded lightning bolt pattern (my name for it) on the other side are taken from designs found on the soles of 900- to 1,100-year-old yucca sandals from the Ancient Puebloan peoples of the Four Corners area of the USA. The folded lightning bolt side is worked primarily in stranded color knitting.  The maze side is worked in intarsia color knitting.

DATE -- September 2002 -- The pillow version of this pattern originally appeared in Alpaca Magazine’s Summer 2002 issue.

Mosaic Drawstring Pouch -- This is a small, two-color, envelope-bottomed drawstring pouch worked in mosaic stitch and with a bobbled top edge. Mosaic stitch is a multicolor slip-stitch technique primarily used for geometrical designs. It is worked using only one color per row and is often worked in garter stitch, as this pouch is. The project is worked back and forth from the top down, with the drawstring eyelet edging picked up and added last. This is a good project for learning how to do this intriguing color and texture technique.

DATE -- July 2001

• If you already own this pattern, click on -- Correction

Peruvian Pouch -- This is a small, round drawstring bag in stockinette and garter stitch with a patterned band in your choice of three Peruvian textile borders.  Make a small one for your pearls or a large one for an evening bag - or use as a gift container!  The size of the basic pouch varies depending on the yarn and needles you choose.

DATE -- November 2000 -- This pouch was originally designed for Alpacas Magazine, and appeared in its Winter 2000 issue (published January 2001).

• If you already own this pattern, click on -- Corrections

Ribbon Heart Afghan -- This is a square afghan that works well as a baby blanket or lap robe. It is worked in garter stitch from the center out. Because of the way color changes work in garter stitch, the stripes on the back don’t look exactly the same as the front. A few parts are worked back and forth (knit every row), but the rest is worked circularly (alternating knit and purl rows). 

DATE -- February 2001 -- This pattern was originally designed for Alpacas Magazine for its Summer 2001 issue

• If you already own this pattern, click on -- Tips

Ruffled Mitts -- These are ladylike, wrist length, fingerless mittens with ruffled cuffs. They are made of luxury yarn and can be worn for dressy occasions, including weddings, tea parties, and "dress up". They can also be worn simply to keep your hands warm while you’re knitting, reading, or working on the computer. They are worked from the top edge down, ending with the ruffled cuff that can be edged with knitted-in beads if you like. If you make them longer and without ruffles, they are sporty versions that even a man with cold hands might enjoy wearing.

DATE -- July 2001-- This pattern was originally designed for Alpacas Magazine for its Winter 2001 issue (approximately December 2001)

Sam the Ram  -- Sam is a dark-faced, dark-legged, standing-on-four-legs, stuffed sheep about 13.5 inches long by 13 inches tall, with horns, Aran-patterned (i.e., cables) cream-colored "fleece", and  ribbing-cuffed legs.  He was inspired by a drawing on a note card of a sheep wearing an Aran-patterned sweater.  In my version, the Aran patterning is clearly the fleece, and not a separate sweater.

DATE -- July 1993, Revised September 1994

Shrunken Hot Pad  -- This garter stitch hot pad is worked back and forth diagonally from one corner.  It looks the same on both sides if you work it in one color.  It is the best hot pad that I’ve ever used – the garter stitch pattern makes it thick, and the fulling (felting/shrinking) makes it even denser and more heat insulating.  It’s a variation of the diagonal washcloth pattern that I learned years ago, and it’s easy and quick to make for your kitchen or for gifts.  

DATE -- January 2001 -- This pattern was originally designed for Alpacas Magazine for its Spring 2001 issue

Spiral Ribbed No Heel Socks -- This pattern is my version of a traditional pattern. These are heavy, tall socks designed for winter wear in hiking or ski boots or ice skates. The spiral rib makes them fit quite well even without heel shaping, and the sock may wear better than a heeled sock because your heel isn’t in the same place every time you put it on.  These are socks that you can make for anyone, by using just an estimated size - and they always fit! The photograph shows both the largest and smallest socks.

DATE -- May 1992, Revised July 2001

Squares & Stripes Socks - This sock design is worked from the top of the cuff down to the toe. It is worked in two colors with the cuff worked in an unusual garter stitch technique that I call garden maze garter stitch. Sizes include child, women's & men's.  The child’s size has two sets of squares and stripes on the cuff, the women’s sizes have 3 sets, and the men’s sizes have 4 sets. Although the garter stitch cuff looks larger around than the sock foot, it fits well.

DATE - January 2005

String Shopping Bag -- This pattern makes a large drawstring string-type shopping bag. It folds up small, but stretches out into a large size suitable for carrying all your shopping purchases (it’s particularly great for carrying home your yarn purchase for your next knitting project!).

DATE --  February 1992, Revised July 2001

Sue the Ewe -- Sue is a dark-faced, dark-legged, standing-on-four-legs, stuffed sheep about 13.5 inches long by 13 inches tall, with small horns, mistake-stitch-rib-patterned cream-colored "fleece", a cable down the back midline, ribbing-cuffed legs with ruffled edging, and a separate lace shawl.  She is designed to be a friend to Sam the Ram, my previous sheep design. 

DATE -- February 1998 

• If you already own this pattern, click on -- Corrections

Teddy Bear Puppets  -- This is a set of 2 teddy bear puppets: a boy in a sweatshirt and blue jeans with pockets, and a girl in dress with a hair bow. The facial features and star on the sweatshirt are embroidered with duplicate stitch.  They are sized to fit an adult hand.

DATE - September 2003.  This puppet was originally designed for Alpacas Magazine and appeared in its Spring 2003 issue.