Category Archives: designing

Twoolen

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Today I posted my first sweater pattern for sale on Ravelry. I started designing this is April 2025. It took about 3 and a half weeks to knit, then I wrote the pattern. It went to my editor, then back to me—then back to the editor and so forth. Finally it was ready for the test knitters. I found the test knitters on the Stranded Knitting group on facebook. The timeline for them was 14 weeks or so. That process was very helpful to me. So here we are in October 2025 and it’s ready!

Twoolen uses two strands of wool yarn at a time to create a sweater with Fair Isle style. Knit in the round, this drop shoulder sweater uses steeks to form the armholes and shape the neck. Worked bottom-up, the sweater starts with a generous colorwork ribbing that matches the cuffs of the sleeves. Follow the colorwork charts and a beautiful pattern with 6 colors will be revealed. Finish off with a smaller colorwork ribbing for the neck.

Each size has it’s own chart for the sleeves so it’s easy to keep track of your decreases while working the colorwork pattern.

Sizing
Choose size according to the largest measurement around your chest. There should be 6-10 in/ 15-25 cm of positive ease.
Chest circumference of finished sweater:
Size 1 34.75 in/ 88.5 cm
Size 2 39.75 in/ 101 cm
Size 3 44.75 in/ 113.5 cm
Size 4 49.75 in/ 126.5 cm
Size 5 54.5 in/ 138.5
Size 6 59.5 in/ 151 cm
Size 7 64.5 in/ 164 cm
Size 8 69.5 in/ 176.5 cm

Materials
Knit Picks Palette 231 yds/50 grams, fingering weight 100% wool
Light 1/cream Cream (MC) 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) balls
Dark 1/rust Autumn Heather 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) balls
Light 2/tan Coriander Heather 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) balls
Dark 2/dark blue Abyss Heather 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) balls
Light 3/light gray Finnley Heather 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) balls
Dark 3/brown Grizzly Heather 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2) balls

Substitutions: Always use 100% wool in fingering weight. Superwash yarn is not advised due to the steeking sections. For alternative colors, choose 3 light colors and 3 dark colors to achieve the desired contrast.

For more information and photos from the test knitters, see my Ravelry page. To purchase this sweater pattern click on the link in the right hand column of this website.

Big News

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I’ve dropped a few hints that I’ve been designing a sweater and working with an editor. My plan was to publish the sweater pattern this fall and I’m on track. I’ve had 5 test knitters working on the sweater over the summer and I will put that pattern out on Oct. 11th. It will be for purchase on Ravelry.

But that is not all I’ve been working on. Since I’m making the jump to having an edited pattern in which I charge money for I figured I’ll go all in and publish several patterns in that fashion. The sweater feels like such a big deal I thought I should start with something I’m familiar with– accessories!

I designed and wrote the pattern for the Darrington Set while in Darrington, Washington this summer. I had brought a bag a yarn and was going through the colors when I became inspired by this palette.

Although there are 8 colors involved in these colorwork accessories, you can make all 3 items with only 1 ball of each color. The pattern for the Darrington Set will be for purchase on Ravelry in a few days.

The sweater that will come out in a few weeks is called Twoolen. It’s an all over colorwork sweater that comes in 8 sizes. I’ll leave you with this little sneak-peak 🙂

17 years of blogging

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It was August 2008 when I got the idea to start a blog. I opened up the page to create a blogspot account and it asked what I wanted to name my blog. I gave it ZERO thought and the words Fleece Love and Happiness popped into my head. Knitters on-line tended to use puns—okay, I like puns. I didn’t plan to stick with it, I was just seeing if I could figure out how to get a free blog at the time. (Ah, remember when blogs were free.)

In the old days I wrote about spinning, carding, and dyeing wool. There was a time that I blogged about weaving. I always knitted and blogged about that too. All those old post are still out there on the internet. I ended up losing that account, changing my last name, changing my email address, but I kept my knitter “handle”. I moved over to wordpress—and here I am. Still Fleece Love and Happiness after all these years.

To celebrate the anniversary of my blog, I decided to put out a free pattern. A gift to you! Sleeping Bear Hat was designed and knitted this summer while we were traveling. I made it with 3 different color schemes and decided to put them all in the written pattern. I’m assuming people will use their own scraps of fingering weight yarn if they want to make this hat. The colors I chose are just a jumping off point. There’s so many color combinations that would look good with this pattern.

Sleeping Bear Hats are fun to knit to the very end!

Here’s the FREE KNITTING PATTERN for Sleeping Bear Hat. Happy Knitting!

Sleeping BearDownload

A Little Warmer

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Back in 2023 I wrote a knitting pattern called A Little Warmer Mitts and posted it to Ravelry. It holds the record for my least popular knitting pattern that I have published with a total of ZERO people knitting it. I thought I’d take it down so my “portfolio” of knitting patterns looked good. It turns out once you post on Ravelry it’s there forever. That was news to me!

My next idea was to knit a new pair with more interesting colors and post new photos. I chose these natural colors: dark dray, medium tan, tan, and cream.

This was also a chance for me to update the pattern. I’ve been writing patterns for a few years now and I’m getting more skilled at it as I go. I’m going to slowly go back through my old patters and update them. I’ve already updated Golden Hour Mittens and it feels better having something out there that I’m proud of. Here’s the new and improved free knitting pattern for A Little Warmer Mitts. Happy Knitting!

A Little Warmer Mitts, updatedDownload

Lit Mitts

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When I write a pattern I search the name I’ve chosen to see if anyone else has used it. I’d been calling these little mitts “Lit Mitts” since I started working on them. When I did a name check I came up with my own pattern Star Lit Mitts! Oh, right, I forgot about that! I decided to stick with “Lit Mitts” anyway.

I thought it would be fun to incorporate Latvian Braids—plus it’s a good use of colorful scrap yarns. I chose Hollyberry and Fuchsia for the accent braids but any bright colors for this trim would work.

Most of the mitten and mitts that I’ve designed lately have the same pattern on the palms and backs of hand. I like the idea that there is no left or right. Here’ the FREE pattern for Lit Mitts for you to enjoy. If you want to share this pattern, please link to this webpage instead of posting the pdf.

Lit MittsDownload

Flower Field Legwarmers

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Flower Field Legwarmers were fun to design and knit but it took forever to get the pattern in order. The problem was the photographs. I’ve given up and have decided to present it all as I have it now— even with my not-so-great photos. I do not like modeling. I don’t mind putting on some mittens and taking a few photos but modleing legs is another thing all together.

I took photos with 3 different kinds of shoes/boots to show how one could wear these. Wearing them with my rubber boots if my favorite for sure.

Here I am with my slippers and sleeping shirt! Woah… lots of leg showing.

Enough about modeling! Let me tell you something about the actual leg warmers. I designed them with a 7-stitch stripe up the back, kind of the way socks are designed. There’s lots of color changes in this pattern and I’m hoping people will use those 7 stitches to weave in the color changes as they go. Sometime people post photos on social media of their stranded color work with dozens of tails that need to be woven in. At that point it’s too late for anyone to suggest to weave in as you go. But let me say now, before you begin this project—weave in your color changes as you go! I designed this pattern specifically so you can do that on the back of the legwarmer.

Here’s the free pattern for Flower Field Legwarmers. If you want to share this pattern please link to this website. Enjoy!

Flower Field LegwarmersDownload

Favorite Mittens

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I spend a lot of time thinking about color. I shuffle my yarns around to see what looks good together. Then I get on my computer and work it out in a grid pattern. I use Stitchmastery software which gets the job done but I can’t say I love it. It’s doesn’t save my colors which is unfortunate. I mostly use Knit Picks Palette line and my old on-line program had those colors all imported. Sadly I can not use an on-line product like Stitchfiddle due to the time I spend in places without internet. So Stichmastery it is.

Here’s a photo that includes my first attempt at this mitten. I got pretty far before deciding to chuck it. Regarding the half-finished mitten on the left: I love these colors together, but I didn’t like the lack of contrast with the blue and dark brown. With the second attempt I made the flower section very high contrast with light and dark gray (basically black and white).

I think Favorite Mittens would look good with lots of different color combinations. You could use the colors I’ve worked out or pick some of your own. Below is the free pattern. If you want to share this pattern with anyone, please send them to this website.

Favorite MittensDownload

Boreas Mittens

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Man Mittens! This time David was my model and I was the photographer. I designed these mitten and made them for someone as a gift last month. Now I’m just getting around to writing the pattern.

Boreas Mittens are knitted by following several charts. First you knit the cuff, working through the ribbing section. Then you follow 2 more charts for the mitten body and the thumb gusset. After you finish the mitten body you work the thumb in pattern.

This is a FREE PATTERN. Enjoy! If you want to share this pattern with someone, please send them to this website. Gracias!

Boreas MittensDownload

Indiola, Oregon

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In July this year we were traveling in Oregon and I took my husband to Indiola. This is a place up the road from Mapleton on Lake Creek. We were just passer-byes being that I don’t know anyone who lives there anymore. It is were my grandmother lived and it is were my mother grew up. I spent many of my childhood days playing in the river there and running wild. Since I was knitting these mittens on that trip I named them “Indiola Mittens”. My mother passed away this fall so I’m a little sad posting this tribute to her childhood home. The actual house she lived in is gone now, but the air smelled the same and the river still runs.

Near the river is a plaque dedicating the boat landing to my grandparents. May their spirit live on and on!

Now, on to the knitting. The color of the year for me was Coriander Heather (a Knit Picks color that’s basically oatmeal). Here’s just a sample of the knitting I did this year and it’s clear I had a theme going on.

Here we have Floretta Mittens, Indiola Mittens, Blyn Hat, and a baby sweater (no pattern). I simply could not stop knitting flowers!

The other thing I was obsessed with this year is what I call “fancy thumbs”. I love designing mittens with complicated thumbs. Yes, it’s a bit fussy to knit in the round with 20 stitches but I just love how it turns out.

Here’s the Free Knitting Pattern for Indiola Mittens. If you make them I’d love to see a photo. Please post on Ravelry or send me a message. Happy New Year!

Indiola MittensDownload

All-Star Mittens

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This week I’m presenting the free knitting pattern for All-Star Mittens. These wool mittens are knitted on Size 2 needles with fingering weight yarn. There’s a chart for the corrugated ribbing cuff then you follow 2 charts for the mitten body and the thumb. The front and the back of the mitten are the same. This is a pattern that I designed and knitted while traveling this summer. They are part of my cold weather back-stock of patterns that I plan to put out over the fall months

I though it would be fun to share something I’ve been keeping in a box for years. Let me first say that I am not a keeper of things and it’s very unusual for me to hold on to something for years. I’ve made lots of knitted items that were worn out, donated, or given away—never to be seen again. That’s why it’s so incredible that I kept the very first pair of mittens that I designed and knitted!

Centering the stars was just too difficult I guess! These mittens are so funny to me because I know I didn’t think ahead on how to place the color-work part. I actually wore them the winter I made them but I don’t remember how long ago that was.

Fast forward a few decades— I know how to design with the motif centered now! Here’s the pattern for All-Star Mittens. Enjoy! If you want to share this pattern, share the link to this website, not the pdf please.

All-Star MittensDownload