Late spring in southern Westchester is doing its best to skip straight to summer. In the quiet after morning minyan, I'm often outside with coffee and some yarn. I'm holding onto these cooler, low-humidity moments.

May has been full. Some of it is visible. Some of it is still in progress, all of it feels right.

what's been happening

I spent part of last week at h+h americas in Chicago — my first trade show since 2019. It was both familiar and strange in the way returning places always is. I came home with a notebook full of notes and sketches, a sweater quantity and then some of yarn (with more on order), and more ideas than I have immediate hours to work on.

My laundry was shipped home while the yarn had a spot in my carry on. I know how to prioritise and I will make the best of my days (and likely nights).

I wrote about the show, and about what's been taking root in the Thursday afternoon group, over at the blog: what grows slowly (11 May 2026).

pattern updates in progress: start with chai & ayrton

start with chai is a knit hair ribbon designed for sock-weight scraps and minis — about 18g gets you something finished and wearable. A portion of every sale goes to Chai Lifeline.

I've wanted to add a second size since before the pattern was released. The new size is wider and a bit shorter, and still designed specifically to work with a mini skein. I started this sample on the flight to Chicago; it's been my project for the past week and I finished the knitting. Now to work up all the edits.

I'm also reworking Ayrton, can you believe it's been out for over a decade? It'll also receive expanded sizing (from what I'm calling tween to 62 in (157 cm) chest). In addition to the sample in Anzula's Croquet DK (50% Superwash Merino, 50% Tussah Silk) it is also going to be offered in Anzula's slightly lighter weight Cricket DK (80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon), and the sample is going to be bright.

Neither update is released yet — but when they are, if you already own the pattern, you'll receive the update automatically by email. If edits continue as I expect, the revised start with chai should be out before the June newsletter arrives in your inbox.

something new is in the works (more than something)

There's a new accessory, likely a shawl but maybe a large loose poncho type item worked up with two delicious colours. I haven't done more yet than decided I love these two together, one is a dusty rose and one reminds me more of my lilac. This will be designed for Anzula's new-to-me fingering-weight yarn, Sonnet (65% Superwash Merino, 20% Bamboo, 15% Silk).

And, I am designing a sweater.

I know. This surprised me too.

I've been sitting on the idea for a few years. The right yarn found me at the Anzula booth at h+h. Lucero is a sparkly DK (80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Sparkling Stellina), and suddenly it stopped being hypothetical. My work teaching over the past few years has changed my perspective on this sort of pattern, and I want to create something you can actually wear, and want to. The questions my students ask most, about reading a pattern, about when to trust your instincts, about fit and pesky row gauge, all these questions will shape how I write it.

It's early in the process. There's yarn and a sketch. More soon, after I swatch.

recent posts

• what grows slowly (11 May 2026) — A return to h+h americas after six years away, what's taking root in the Thursday afternoon group, and a new sweater that went from hypothetical to inevitable somewhere in the Anzula booth.

• together we repair (28 April 2026) — On tikkun as a weekday practice: the dropped stitch, the project pulled from the bottom of a bag, and what happens when a group holds space for both the knitting and the week it came from.

• after a break (13 April 2026) — The small moment of uncertainty before picking a project back up, and the rhythm that didn't quite leave. On returning to a creative practice after time away, chosen or not.

thursday afternoons

We meet weekly in southern Westchester. Bring what you're working on -- knitting, crochet, needlepoint, bring the work of your hands and fiber. I offer hands-on help with knitting and crochet; for other fiber arts, we can figure it out together.

thursday mornings

I work with my synagogue sisterhood knitting and crocheting blankets for children undergoing medical treatment. They're distributed throughout southern Westchester. If you'd like to join us, in person, with your own group, or by working on your own, please reach out. I'd love to grow the program.

a few other things

Individual instruction is nearly full through Q2 — if you've been thinking about working with me one-on-one, now is a good time to reach out. I have a growing selection of tools and notions in the shop; if there's something specific you'd like me to stock, let me know.

Thank you for reading. Please reply and let's chat about what you're working on or what you'd like to create.