Crazy for Ewe

I was in Charleston, South Carolina last week. Beautiful place. Elegant hotels, lovely waterfronts, and shops that feel like they belong to another universe—the kind of shops where brides choose engraved invitations and register for fine china and embroidered linens

Sparkle is having a moment this season. 

Designers everywhere are embracing this “modern glow” in fresh, unexpected ways. Dolce & Gabbana embroidered rhinstone brooches onto black jeans, for a certain over-the top look.  Others, including Chanel, are opting for the subtler look that's much more my speed.  In this context, sparkle becomes more more wearable, elegant, and quietly luxurious.

We began our Autumn Edit with one beautiful accessory, the Churchmouse Quadrangle Wrap, a timeless piece that sets the tone for everything that follows. From there, we moved into the sweaters that form the backbone of a handmade wardrobe: first the shell, then the cardigan.

Back in March at H+H Cologne, I got my first glimpse of the new Rowan Magazine 78. The format felt so fresh and modern, I could hardly wait to see the full issue. When Rowan released the preliminary pattern for Amore, I fell in love immediately and have been working on it steadily ever since. I can't wait to show it to you, but for now, let's talk about the magazine itself, its new format, and what I think you’re going to love about it. 

The thing about myths is that they usually start with a kernel of truth. Sometimes they’re mostly true, sometimes they’re only true in certain situations, and sometimes they’re just plain outdated. But they always sound convincing—and in the knitting world, they get repeated so often they can feel like unshakable fact.

When the weather can’t quite make up its mind--cool mornings, warm afternoons, chilly evening--there’s nothing better than a shell. These sleeveless sweaters bridge the gap between summer and fall, giving you just enough coverage without being to hot or heavy. They’re the ultimate transition piece, and exactly why I chose them as the first sweater in our Autumn Edit.

I just got back from a lovely week in Massachusetts visiting my brother and sister-in-law. It was a wonderful family trip — gallery visits, fresh seafood, and of course, plenty of beach time. Just three weeks earlier, they told me, it had been hot, hot, hot. But by the end of August the mornings were crisp and dewy, and the wind off Vineyard Sound had shifted. Towels were more for wrapping up than for sunbathing on!

That’s the magic of this time of year — summer isn’t quite gone, but fall is whispering at

One of the best parts of being in a knitting community is seeing what everyone has on their needles. Inspiration is contagious, and I love to watch a project take shape, whether it's on my needles or someone else's. It's especially fun when it’s something I’ve been curious about or maybe didn’t even know I wanted to knit!  Our team at Crazy for Ewe is always working on something new (or finishing up those last 20% bits!) so I thought it would be fun to share a peek at what’s currently keeping our needles busy.

That’s exactly why I’m so excited about our newest arrival: Poema Cashmere. This yarn is the definition of luxury--80% extrafine merino (a dreamy 16 microns!) and 20% cashmere, spun in Italy into a single-ply yarn with the most stunning gradient color flow. It’s soft, squishy, and warm without feeling heavy, and the colors are pure magic. Each shade shifts seamlessly from one tone to the next, so you get an ombré effect without ever having to change yarns.

You know I love to cook--sometimes I even follow a recipe.  But not very often.  I like making up things with whatever I have on hand.  There’s something so satisfying about turning leftovers, and the odd bit of this or that, into something new.

In my kitchen, that might be folding a bit of leftover chicken and vegetables into a post pie, or stretching half a cup of pasta sauce into a risotto for another dinner. I’ve always been that way, saving the best bits of a meal because I know they still have something

Back in the day, I used to write up a simple pattern for different yarns I carried.  Those of you who have been with me for a while might remember my  "Pattern of the Month" that was featured in my printed monthly newsletters.  No photo or anything.  This was before cell phones put pro-level camera capabilities in our pocket.  Most yarn store owners did