into the pines

i love pine trees— i was very lucky to grow up on a small farm with its own pine grove, where we ran over a carpet of needles through its “hallways” and built a fort that grew higher as we did ourselves.

seeing those huge shaggy pines of upstate new york state is something i look forward to whenever we travel back for a visit. they feel like watchful guardians along the highways and byways of the places i’ve wandered most of my life.

when last november, i had a chance to work with a beautiful deep green yarn dyed by rita at yarn hollow, i immediately thought of the pine tree motifs that had been earmarked in my stitch dictionaries for some time.

i picked the two that represented the feeling i wanted so much to share, of walking through quiet pines in the snow. the hem motif shows staggered tree shapes that are separated by airy openwork, giving the impression of snow patterned with footprints. i love how it translates into the triangle shawl, which i named in snowy pinewoods.

the body sections consist of an allover motif that looks like snowflakes or stars; they appear to descend on the tree shapes and settle all around. either of these fabrics could be beaded to add extra dimension and bring out the natural sparkle of the lustrous yarn blend.

the edging that runs along the sides of the shawl, scarf, and stole pieces takes the shape of pine branches. the rectangular star and pine design includes sizing for both a scarf and a stole.

over the weekend, i worked up a swatch in the same glowing yarn, but in the quirkier lime rickey colorway—i love this less traditional interpretation; i bet it would also be stunning in a silvery blue or a deep night-sky blue.

oh, and there is the snow globe tam to match. it’s quite light and silky; maybe not as warm as you’d need for deep northern winter weather, but perfect for medium and temperate climates and a beautiful way to tame hair on mild but windy days.

a view of the back and top, where the fabric is more solid. this hat, which also has several sizes, decreases in concentric circles.

shown here are the petite shawl  (above) and the scarf with large tam (below), all knit in yarn hollow superior, a blend of BFL, silk, and cashmere in colorway white pine, the custom dyed colorway for our club.

erica B has created a kit in our online shop that includes patterns for all the pieces shown (plus the stole, not seen here) and one or two skeins of yarn hollow superior in either the white pine colorway or lime rickie. you may also click here to purchase the lime rickey colorway separately (our supply of white pine is too limited to list separately).

if it’s the single pattern you’re after, click here to view more information about the snow globe tam, the star and pine scarf/stole or in snowy pinewoods. you may also view or purchase them in my ravelry pattern shop.

any of these accessories would be cushy and delicious in our breakfast blend fingering yarn or classic ghillie sock.

these patterns are also included in the 2013 fall in full color eBook, which compiles seventeen total accessory patterns from the 2013 fall color collection—that’s a lotta patterns! anyone looking for a knitalong around these designs need not look further than the ravelry clubhouse where our color clubs meet—all are welcome and appreciated.

many thanks to our friends helena and kris for modeling these designs; we always love to see them together.