Today the Winter 2011-2012 Knitcircus Magazine goes online. I’m delighted to announce that one of my designs, the Sprite cowl/collar, is included.

Knitcircus is a high-quality online knitting magazine published in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. All visitors can read all articles and see lovely photos of all featured patterns of the month. The pattern collections of each issue are available for sale in PDF format, if you wish to knit a design which is featured.

Sprite grew out of my continuing love of zigzag/chevron patterns. I love diagonal lines and triangles, too! Jaala told me she would love to include one of my “signature zigzags” in her magazine. How could I say no?

I exercise by walking in my neighborhood most nights. It can get pretty windy and brisk after the sun goes down, and neckwarmers/cowls of different types are important to my comfort on those walks.

This one can be tucked in under a coat collar to block wind and increase warmth in the shoulders. I like it on top of a crewneck sweater or plain dress indoors, as well. It’s jewelry without the weight.

I knit the first version (in Cascade Lana d’Oro, a worsted-weight wool/alpaca plied yarn)  and sent it off for photographs. Instead of going on to the next project, I contemplated the structure of the piece and wondered how else it might present itself.

I had included paired eyelets for detail near the hem edge of the cowl. I wondered how much they would show if I knit with an almost-solid hand dyed yarn. Fortunately, I’d been eyeing a soft teal washable merino yarn, Malabrigo Rios, at Rae’s Yarn Boutique. It was perfect. I knit the 2nd one in just two days, and mailed it out to join the first for a photo session.

You can view this in Knitcircus on page 90, or on Ravelry here (free membership required to see some things on Ravelry). Patterns can be  purchased only with the collection on Knitcircus.

I’ll be having a bit of a contest here to win something from Knitcircus… I am waiting to get details on this offer from Jaala Spiro, the editor of the magazine. Do stay tuned to find out how to win.

Above/modeled photos today are courtesy of Knitcircus. Thanks, Jaala!