Frogsong and Budding Blossoms

Greetings, readers! How is April treating you? Here the month started with a literal bang when Mr. M's car was struck by another vehicle as he drove to work on April 1st. Though no one was hurt, he is - to quote Anne of Green Gables - "well in body although considerable rumpled up in spirit" as a result. We're still waiting for word from the insurance company as to the fate of his car.

The weather has been typically rollercoaster-like. We've gone from freezing one week to balmy 70-degree days the next, and back again, with occasional snow and ice to liven things up. Just now, the nights are frosty and the days are cool-to-middling, with cold, gusty winds tipping the balance towards cool. But spring is advancing by leaps and bounds; neighbourhood trees are bursting into bloom, and I picked the first small bouquet of violets this week:

The darling little doily is a cherished gift from 
Kay at Georgia Girl with an English Heart

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Here are some photos from my April walks and rides.

Early in the month, the loons come back to the local lake:

Red-twig dogwood seems to shine its brightest at this time of year:

Pollarded willows begin to look hazy with leaf: 

And the air is full of frogsong. From marsh and pool come the whistle and trill and occasional growl of a joyful amphibian chorus:

By mid-month, honeysuckle leaves have sprouted:

Tallulah gladly sniffs the breezes blowing across a nearby lake:

And we revel in spring-blue skies and the slow greening of the landscape:

The yearly miracle of fuzzy catkins never loses its thrill:

Deep-blue scilla dot shady streambanks:

And Iris waits with eternal patience while I snap photos on the bank below:

Now, as we enter the fourth week of April, wild serviceberry is in bud, hinting at the flowers to come:

And the first marsh marigolds are opening: 

It's an exciting time of year.

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In crochet news, I'm working on a new shawl pattern (here under the watchful eyes of the Gnomes of the Gnorth):

And preparing a tutorial for an upcoming free dishcloth pattern:

The days are just packed.

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What's blooming where you live?

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Early Rides and a New Pattern

Hello readers! Last time I posted, we were gearing up for Christmas, and now - so swiftly does time fly when one is having fun - spring has sprung. (And then, of course, it changed its mind and retreated. No surprises there.)

In January we had a bit of this, though not nearly as much as we needed:

February surprised us all with balmy weather and the very early return of robins, Canada geese, and sandhill cranes. And this:

A February bike commute!

Hello, river trail:

Nice to see you floating over my shoulder, February moon:

And if that weren't treat enough, a week later this happened:

Another February bike commute - in shorts. I still can't quite believe it. Passing drivers were doubtless shielding their eyes from the glare of my legs, and I'm sure I heard Tallulah the Turtle mutter something about needing sunglasses, but no matter. It was glorious.

Unusually mild weather continued, leading to more rides in early March:

Now, alas, we're back to clouds and cold weather, with snow and spitting rain, but we press on undaunted. Spring has shown its mettle, and warmth and sunshine will return soon. Meanwhile, I solace myself with fresh chives and tarragon from the doorstep planter, for they too came back early this year.

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In other news, I've just published a new pattern! Meet the Squirreltail shawl:

Note: Pattern links will take you to my Ravelry store; you don't need to be a Ravelry member to buy a pattern there. If you're not comfortable using Ravelry, and you live in the US, you can contact me via email, or use the contact form at right, to request a pattern purchase through Paypal Goods and Services.

Squirreltail is a triangular shawl featuring modular sections worked Log-Cabin-style in varying stitch patterns, outlined with a striking embellishment technique that loops tall stitches together for a beautifully textural result. The braided-look embellishment rows, together with a rich edging of treble fans, evoke the wild grass for which the pattern is named. Squirreltail is suitable for solids, tonals, or long gradients. Choose a fingering or sportweight yarn.

The pattern is a doozy (and a good part of the reason I haven't blogged since December): 19 pages long, with charts and written instructions for two sizes, plus illustrations, link to a videotutorial, and extensive tips for customizing your shawl size.

The small (gradient) version was worked in Hobbii Azalea, a stranded sport weight cotton/acrylic yarn, color 07 Berry Rose. The shawl used about 862 yards, and measures 52" at the top edge x 25 1/2" at deepest point after blocking. This yarn was soft and pleasant to work with, though a bit splitty (as are all stranded yarns), and the finished shawl is drapey and comfortable. I've enjoyed wearing this version.

The large (grey) version was worked in Cascade Yarns Heritage Sock, a fingering weight superwash merino wool/nylon blend in color 5742 Silver Grey, a lovely tonal. Heritage Sock is a nicely springy yarn, and gives good stitch definition. The finished sample used about 1251 yards, and measures 68" x 31" after blocking. This shawl is so warm and cuddly, and I look forward to wearing it next winter.

I blocked both shawls by spritzing them with water to dampen, letting them sit for a little while so the moisture could permeate the yarn, then gently stretching them out on blocking mats to open the lace, using blocking wires and pins to keep them in shape as they dried. Both yarns blocked beautifully.

You can find the Squirreltail pattern here in my Ravelry store. Readers of this blog can enjoy 40% off the pattern through April 2, 2024, with code WILDGRASS at checkout.

Speaking of wild grass, here is the one that inspired this pattern's name:

Squirreltail (Elymus elymoides),
a wild rye. Photo copyright
My-Lan Le, used under
Creative Commons License CC-BY

Now that this pattern is off my plate, I hope to blog more often!

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Northern Hemisphere readers, was your winter unusually mild? Did spring arrive early where you live?

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