Today I will show Booklet #266, Jasper™. Our fine merino wool roving yarn is fiber dyed and then spun by blending and joining colors to create engineered transitions, allowing the yarn to knit a lovely striping effect. We named this beautiful yarn Jasper™ after one of my favorite stones, picture jasper.

This booklet contains pattern instructions to knit eight pieces that showcase the brilliant striping effect of Jasper.

Joplin, our cover sweater, is truly unique in that it looks fabulous on the tallest and thinnest of us as well as the shortest and curviest. Everyone who tries on this elegant but easy coat falls instantly in love. It is number one on my list of things to make for myself. Josepha is an easy cowl neck pullover with cap sleeves that looks great layered over long sleeves for an exercise in balancing proportions. Joyella is a fascinating pullover constructed of conjoined hexagons. Reminiscent of Japanese shibori hand dyeing, the lovely striping highlights the hexagonal format. Bexy is a hexagonal beret that's a pixie-like interpretation of the graduation mortar board hat. The splendid striping effect creates a unique pattern when seen from above.

Beads is an envelope bag that will protect your favorite pieces of jewelry while traveling. Knit in simple stockinette with a garter flap, it closes with a loop and a dyed tagua nut button. Jilda, our extra long scarf is reminiscent of cut paper craft from my childhood. It's knit in garter and bound off and cast on again, creating a lattice-like effect. Johanna is knit in Peruvia™ with a generous band of Berroco Jasper®. It can be worn many ways. We've shown it here worn right side up and buttoned two ways, but we also like it upside down and buttoned at the hip for those who would venture outside the box. Jamaica is simply a V-neck pullover of exaggerated proportions. Our oversized and cropped piece leaves plenty of room for underlayers.

This week's free patterns are Really, an easy vest knit in Monet™ and Wright, a drape neck sleeveless pullover knit in Glacé™.

Margot from cyberspace wrote: "I love Norah Gaughan's designs, but I am intimidated by how amazing they look. I am a decent knitter. I like to knit cable patterns and I have been knitting for quite a while. I guess what I need is for someone to teach me how to knit a hexagon. I wish I had someone who could help me."

Margot, go ahead and try. Norah's instructions are always easy to follow. She designs with the knitter in mind and makes things that look difficult but are really rather easy. For example, try knitting the Brea Bag. Norah knit the partial hexagon on straight needles thinking that many knitters would prefer to knit back and forth and just sew a short seam rather than have to learn to manipulate double pointed needles. Norah encourages you to start with a smaller pattern like Brea Bag.You will learn so much and you will be ready to tackle your next Norah Gaughan design.
 

All the best,

Margery Winter Creative Director