Hi friends!

It’s hard to believe it’s already August! I’m fresh off a busy, amazing weekend at Flock Fiber Festival in Seattle, and I want to thank everyone who stopped by my Designer Table, came to one of my Camp Short Row class sessions, or just said hello while wandering the marketplace. The energy there never fails to recharge my creative batteries!

If you happened to be there too and saw me around, you might have noticed what I was wearing on Saturday . . .

I’m thrilled to introduce Vest Behavior, just published in PURL Magazine’s inaugural Cast On issue. 🎉 I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!

Vests have earned a permanent spot in my wardrobe over the last couple of years, and I wanted this one specifically to be playful but refined enough for any occasion.

In celebration of the issue’s theme, the pattern starts with a picot cast on that transitions into a mini mock cable rib, and it features textured, beaded stripes.

One of my favorite moments while designing this vest was realizing how the beads completely changed the fabric’s character, adding just enough shimmer and tactile interest without slowing down the knitting or detracting from other details. If beads aren’t your thing, though, you can simply purl the stitches for a similar textural effect!

You’ll only need 2–3 skeins of Miss Babs Yowza for any of the sizes ranging from 31” to 67.25” / 77.5 to 168 cm, and the vest can be knit with or without waist shaping so there’s plenty of room to customize the fit to your body.

How to get it

The digital issue went live on August 1, so if you want to grab a copy now, you can do so at purlmagazine.com or plytogether.com.

For those who prefer print, copies will be shipping after August 10, and you’ll also be able to find them at local yarn shops.

In the meantime—now that we’re on the other side of Flock!—I’ll be working on finishing up some new YouTube videos about the picot cast on and beading techniques. I’d love to hear if you’ll be adding this vest to your wardrobe and can’t wait to see your version come off the needles.

The vest is yet to bead . . . ✨

P.S. You can also favorite and queue Vest Behavior on Ravelry!

Are you much of a traveler? Or how good have you been at being a tourist in the area you call home?

Up until a year or so ago, I would have answered "no" and "not very." Like for so many people, the daily grind of everyday life and full-time jobs have kept my husband and I very busy for the last couple decades, and we realized something had to give. We were missing out on so much while I was sitting at a desk and he was working in construction five days a week!

Of course, quitting our day jobs to become world travelers was not an option, but we decided to make it a goal to explore more of our own backyard—the beautiful Pacific Northwest we've both called home since our childhoods but have only scratched the surface of! To further that goal, we started a list of all the places within driving distance that we would like to visit, and I recently told him that I'd really love to see Mount Rainier up close sometime.

You see, on clear days in western Washington State, it's always a treat when Mount Rainier "comes out to play." Even at a distance, it looms majestic and stunning. The mountains have always filled me with awe.

My husband happened to be working at a job with an incredible view of Mount Rainier, so he took this photo especially for today's announcement! 😍

So when Lisa of Indie Untangled—all of that unbeknown to her—asked me if I'd like to be the speaker/teacher at this year's Mount Rainier Retreat, I was thrilled! Three days filled with knitting and nature?! Sign me up!

If the last three words just popped into your head too, this is your invitation to join us at the gateway to Mount Rainier National Park on August 4–7, 2025, for what is sure to be a magical time filled with beauty, creativity, and camaraderie. And if you were already planning to go to Flock Fiber Festival in Seattle on August 8–10, why not make an epic trip of it?!

On the first evening of the retreat, I’ll give a talk that will focus on knitting to our full potential and how to overcome limiting beliefs and self-doubt as a crafter. The next day, I’ll teach a class all about short rows in the context of sweater construction and fit. Attendees will learn a few different short row methods; why and how short rows should be used in various parts of a garment; how to plan and incorporate short rows into garments; and how this knowledge can translate into other types of knitwear.

Our peaceful, wooded setting will be the Wellspring Spa & Woodland Retreat, which features charming rustic cabins, outdoor hot tubs, saunas, and access to wilderness trails. In between classes and chef-prepared meals, there will be opportunities to relax, connect with fellow makers, and explore some of the beauty the PNW has to offer.

I am so excited to teach and get to know more knitters in this setting. Find more details and reserve your spot here, and please let me know if I'll be meeting you in the mountains! 🏔