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Learn more details by clicking on a PICTURE or PATTERN NAME below

Basic Socks in Fine Yarn -- This classic albeit basic sock design is worked from the top of the cuff down to the toe. The cuff is worked in a knit 1, purl 1 ribbing, the heel is worked in heel stitch, and the foot is stockinette stitch with a wedge toe.  Sizes include a child’s medium (for a child about 5-6 years old), child’s large/woman’s small, woman’s medium, woman’s large, man’s small, man’s medium, and man’s large.

DATE - January 2005

Beginner Knit Projects -- If you’re just learning to knit, here are some projects that you can easily do – a hat/neck gaiter, slippers, a stuffed toy, and a buttoned pouch. Two require specific weights of yarn (the hat-gaiter and the slippers), but the other two can be made in any size yarn (bunny and pouch).

DATE - September 2003.  These patterns were originally designed for Alpacas Magazine (projected publication is late 2003 or early 2004)

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Buttoned I-Cord Pouch -- This is a tiny pouch with a flap and button – good for a few coins or small pieces of jewelry. This pouch was designed as a project to help you experience the versatility of I-cord. I-cord is also called idiot cord (because it’s so easy to make) and the "unattached" version looks the same as the spool knitting you may have learned as a child.

DATE -- 1990, Revised July 2001

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

Entrelac Square-To-Round Pouch -- This small drawstring pouch is worked in entrelac knitting (also called basket weave knitting) and has a zigzag shaped top edged with I-cord. I call this pattern "square to round" for two reasons. First, because you knit a square bottom, but the bag becomes circular as you work the sides. Also, because this method of "square to round" looks rather like the construction method of the same name commonly used in the basketry which this knitting so closely resembles. It is an entrelac pattern of somewhat unusual construction because there are no triangles to work and only a 3-stitch seam worked at the very end.

DATE -- September 2002

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

Glamour Pouch -- This is a small, round, drawstring bag. Make one for your pearls or as an evening bag - or use as a gift container! The bag has a square base made in reversible knitting and stockinette sides decorated with bands of purl and slip stitches. This is a quick project; I can usually make one in about four hours.

DATE -- May 1992, 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.

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

"Rag Bag" Tote Bag -- This is a large tote bag knitted of fabric strips. It is worked in stockinette stitch with 2 padded I-cord shoulder straps. It is large enough to hold a grocery bag or a plethora of miscellaneous knitting paraphernalia and/or beach gear.

DATE -- March 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

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

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.

Tiny Pouch Variations -- This pattern includes mix-and-match variations for small pouches suitable for wearing around your neck or over your shoulder, hanging on a wall, tucking in your handbag or suitcase to hold a small treasure, or using as a small gift container. They are all worked from the top down. The two pouch-top variations are a drawstring closure or a button closure. The three bottom variations are a rounded bottom, a pointed bottom, or an envelope-style bottom. You can mix and match the top closures and bottom shapings, because all are based on the same stitch count.  

DATE -- May 2001