First squishy mail in Maine

Two and Four Color Brioche, A Designer’s Tale

Lindsay LewchukAnnouncements, Multicolored (2026 theme), Pattern Related Leave a Comment

Before moving from NC I had a dream to design an intro to brioche set of shawls – one featuring two colors and the other, four colors.  In my knitting brain I’d decided on all the details from the short rows to the shape and started working on the two-color version.  I finished it shortly after moving to Maine and the four color version became part of my first yarn purchase delivery from Five Wise Owls in my new home. Shortly thereafter reality set in.  As I started to knit the four color version following the original pattern, I realized something wasn’t going quiet right.  My stitch count grew faster than it did on the original.  My rows completed the …

Multicolored, 2026 theme

Hello 2026

Lindsay LewchukAnnouncements, Luxury in Lace (2025 theme), Multicolored (2026 theme), Pattern Related, Q&A Leave a Comment

2026 is off to a slippery start here in Maine with weeks of ice, including several days of being “iced-in”. As the world froze outside, creativity spurred inside! But first, a quick recap of 2025 and “Luxury in Lace”: And now a sneak peek of what is in store for 2026, Multicolored: Multicolored will bring designs featuring two or more colors to your knitting needles! You all know me too well to simply assume it’s designs using the same yarn in two (or more) colors. Yes, that will happen, but other designs utilize different yarn weights in different colors. And at least one design features a fun way to add color to an otherwise solid knit. A multi-designer collection will …

original 2011 design

Time Travel

Lindsay LewchukAnnouncements, Luxury in Lace (2025 theme), Pattern Related Leave a Comment

April 28, 2025, was the first hot day of the season in Maine and unfortunately my computer overheated and work hard drive fried.  It contained all my designer files as well as Barnabas Notes & Barnabas Notes Travels card designs, freelancing (photo editing, schematics, and such), and the book I wrote (shh it’s a 2025 Christmas surprise) from 2011 onwards. The Good News Cameradad found an old external hard drive back up which restored up 2019 and then he was able to patch together old computer parts and slowly retrieved 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 before the patch job died.  All my available patterns on Ravelry, Payhip, Lovecrafts, KnitCompanion, and Amazon are stored on Ravelry, Payhip, Lovecrafts, KnitCompanion, and …

Hurricane Helene Donation Thank You

Hurricane Helene Relief

Lindsay LewchukAnnouncements, eco world, KNIT knitworthy 'n intriguing techniques (2024 theme), Pattern Related Leave a Comment

Last week I wrote and invited you all to join in the #keepWNCwarm event with me.  But I also wanted to do something from the designer end of things to say “thank you” to each one of you who decided to support the area I lived in for a quarter of a century!  If you’ve donated, please use the code pray4westernnc on Ravelry or Payhip to download your choice of either Downtown Burnsville, Wednesday with Wendy, or Winter Chic. I picked each of these because they are all cold weather projects, but more than that – they all have a particular tie to my own home. Downtown Burnsville – Burnsville, NC was home to “my” LYS… on the long drive …

meanwhile in maine collage with NC and excel

Excel to the Rescue

Lindsay LewchukAnnouncements, eco world, KNIT knitworthy 'n intriguing techniques (2024 theme), Meanwhile in Maine, Pattern Related 2 Comments

I freely admit this is not where I wanted to be at this point of the year with this design, but it’s where I find myself.  A lot of my work happens in the “little grey cells” sorting out things before I ever approach the computer or knitting needles.  And well, they can be temperamental.  So after Turning Points came out and I had a week off, I opened up the Meanwhile in Maine design ready to dive into the schematics and get it off to TE.  Then it happened… on the first line block of schematic numbers. Wait, that’s not right?!? How do I have 2” and 4” positive ease on the last 2 sizes?????  What WAS I thinking …

Ana cotton bamboo

Tester Appreciation

Lindsay LewchukAnnouncements, KNIT knitworthy 'n intriguing techniques (2024 theme), Pattern Related Leave a Comment

This much beauty deserves a post! Check out the gorgeous pieces from Turning Points from the groups of testers / review knitters who got to knit it first: Melissa knit 3 of the designs Panoramic Spire ~ check out her incredible handspun yarn, too! Curious Climber ~ word has it her son snatched it up for a gaming clock as soon as it was off the needles ;-). Valley View ~ more stunning handspun! I love how she switched up the color blocking for even more drama. Ana Peacock Ridge ~ such crisp stitch detail in Ana’s work! Debbi Peacock Ridge ~ Debbi’s looks perfect for transitioning from summer to fall! Elis Curious Climber – I love how the color …

fawn close up

Catching Up

Lindsay LewchukKNIT knitworthy 'n intriguing techniques (2024 theme), Q&A Leave a Comment

A few weeks back I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Antionette of Hookin & Stitchin Island Style (https://www.youtube.com/@HOOKINSTITCHINISLANDSTYLE).  The premiere is today!  If you’re available, join the chat at 1pm EST!  Antionette and I will both be on to answer your questions. Looking forward to seeing you!  If you missed the premiere, don’t worry, the link will remain live for replay. Happy knitting! The deer pic for the blog is because Antionette lives on Deer Island ;-).

Meanwhile in Maine collage hawk and schematic

Schematics and Settling In

Lindsay LewchukAnnouncements, KNIT knitworthy 'n intriguing techniques (2024 theme), Meanwhile in Maine, Pattern Related, Q&A, Yarn Leave a Comment

Drilling down the math and crafting the schematics.  This cocoon style sweater posed some schematic design decisions.  Do I show it open or closed.  With sleeves, with 1 sleeve, or as a vest?  And how to show that huge fold over collar?? A trend lately has been to use letters on the schematics and keep the numbers in a table.  I explored this method a few years back, but after some input from industry professionals, kept the standard numbers on the sketch method.  I’m not sure how I’ll place the numbers yet.  Which do you prefer? Meanwhile in Maine Update It is with great joy and excitement that I share this cross-post blog with you.  As 26th anniversary of the …

Meanwhile in Maine collage blocking sweater and kitchen cabinets installed

Blocking and Packing

Lindsay LewchukAnnouncements, KNIT knitworthy 'n intriguing techniques (2024 theme), Meanwhile in Maine, Pattern Related 2 Comments

Check it out (!) – the Meanwhile in Maine sweater is on the blocking board!!!!!!  Of course, the design is staying hidden, but this is a major step after the completed sample literally lived on my desk for months while prototype 2 was underway and the pattern got an overhaul from cast on to bind off. In the end, I went for the “hard” math / grading in order to have the neckline finish below the underarm joins.  After weeks in excel working on each size individually for a superb fit, I frogged prototype 2 back to double check the pattern before proceeding. Though prototype 2 has a different slope on the short rows, here, too, I returned to the original …

Applied I-cord tutorial; pattern style rs

Stitch in Focus: Applied I-cord

Lindsay LewchukAnnouncements, KNIT knitworthy 'n intriguing techniques (2024 theme), Pattern Related, Q&A, Stitch in Focus 3 Comments

Burnsville Shawl (in Downtown Burnsville) includes yarn overs to make applying the I-cord edge easier and neater.  But it also creates a bit more fabric that needs to be hidden inside the I-cord.  As a result, the pattern gives a specific method for working an applied I-cord, which is a bit different than normal.  Let’s zoom in for a closer look! (For a video tutorial of the pattern method, check out the IG reel here.) Check out these 2 applied I-cord methods. The first is a standard K2, s1, pick up and knit 1, psso, s3b The second is the method used in the first release of 2024, Burnsville Shawl. s1, (pick up and knit through the shawl yo, psos, …