New beginnings and almost finisheds

When we lived in Milan, we knew winter would be more or less finished by the end of February. The warmth would return, by mid-March the magnolia would be in bloom. In the south of Sweden, however? Not so much. We're well into March now and I've just woken up to snow outside the window again. 

I don't want to whinge, because, d'uh. We moved to Sweden. Of course Spring was going to take longer to spring here and of course we were going to catch all sorts of new-to-us viruses. But still, I am a little desperate for more sunlight and colour, and so very glad we've seen the back of February. I'm clinging on to the sight of all these little yellow flowers that I don't know the name of, and a few timid snowdrops, and dreaming...

Because doesn't Spring make you dream of new starts? Much more so than the beginning of a new year, when my only resolution of any sort is usually to continue hibernation, continue eating, continue politely declining opportunities to excercise. I don't do New Year's resolutions.

I do, however, do Spring Resolutions. Spring cleaning, Spring walks, Spring decorating. A good thing, then, that at the end of the dreaded F-month my new VAT registration came through. I am now officially self-employed in Sweden. It took a wee while and a fair amount of bureaucratic cajoling, but it's sorted, I'm here. And that, dear friends, means new beginnings on an entirely different scale: Emmy + LIEN as a design brand. Something I have been wanted to do for the best part of a year is now a posibility. Hurrah!

That brings me on to what I almost have ready for you:

Lavender Skies 

This will be a 3-in-1 pattern for a skinny scarf, a slightly wider fringed scarf, and a cowl that is a little wider still. It's the perfect mid-season accessory and I cannot wait to release it! If the health-gods cooperate I hope to have it ready by the end of the month. There will be a free tutorial on the Woven Shell, the main stitch for this pattern, so look out for that too. 

Pretty In Peach - a sweater dress

Another pattern I have been saying I will release in multiple sizes for aaaages (the 18M size is available as a sample pattern here), but there's a good reason for my snail-like pace: I want to improve the instructions, to help you be sure you're buying a pattern you can execute. I've also been sent a few organic cotton samples to play with, which will ensure I can recommend a yarn that will look and feel just perfect. It's almost finished. Ish.

The Bretonbone Top

Finally, a sneaky peek at a new top worked in the herringbone stitch. I've become completely obsessed with both this stitch (although doing an entire jumper in it may just cure me of that) and the idea that it ought to be possible to create stylish, wearable knitwear - in the most general sense - with crochet. I just need to figure out the construction of the cap sleeves, and we're good to go. 

So that's what I'll be up this month. Here's to March, to Spring (soon) and all sorts of colourful new beginnings.