I am very excited to announce that because of help from a wonderful knitting designer, Nicky Jensen, the Accessible Patterns Index is a reality!

http://accessiblepatternsindex.com

We are building it now, but you can already find links to 65 designers who have written patterns to be accessible for the blind and print challenged. What does that mean? 

Large font, a minimum of 22 - 24 point; sans serif font. All black text, no italics, and best of all - all of the directions are fully written out. If there is a chart, the pattern must be able to be made without reference to the chart. In addition, many of the patterns have been specially written for screen readers. They have fewer abbreviations and have been tested for clarity. We have about 600 knitting, crochet and loom knitting patterns that we will be adding individually. We are also indexing books from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Bookshare, and other sources in press braille, digital braille and digital audio. These books have not been specially formatted in the way the patterns are, but are transcriptions of the original print books.

The index relies on donations to pay for the host site, so if you like the idea please consider making a small donation .

If you are interested in learning to write accessible patterns, all proceeds from sales of my course on Writing Accessible Patterns for the Blind and Print Challenged support the index. The course includes a 45 minute recording of a live class, course materials and checklists, and a free pattern review.

 

Little Scarves, Too: Go Fly A Kite!

 

I am very happy to announce a new pattern collection, Little Scarves, Too: Go Fly a Kite!

This is something of a sequel to my earlier collection Little Scarves: Baktus and Karius for the Loom. In this new collection you will find 8 unique patterns in a pennant or kite shape. Each pattern is entirely flexible. You may choose the loom, the gauge, the yarn that you want to use. The pattern has a little table that tells you how many pegs to cast on and how many repeats to work based on the size loom that you choose. 

A little scarf may be made on a large hat loom. Here are the options (peg counts) for each gauge:

¾ inch: 40, 41 or 42 pegs
5/8 inch: 48, 50, 51 or 54 pegs
½ inch: 60 or 66 pegs
3/8 inch small: 72, 80 or 82 pegs
3/8 inch fine: 90 pegs

Contents
1. How to use these patterns
Choosing a loom
Using the list of row repeats
How much yarn you will need
Sample sizes
Making a cowl sized scarf
Making a shawl
Blocking your scarf
2. Stitch guide
3. Patterns
Flying Above
High Flyer
Not Really Stormy
On a Wing
One Rainbow
Simply Clear Sailing
Ruffled Clear Sailing
Winter Sky Love
4. Acknowledgements

Two full digital volumes are included. The 104 page low vision and screen reader accessible version is written in all black, 24 point Arial font. It has no italics and the directions are fully written out. In addition, special charts and chart keys have been created of the row repeats in an enlarged version for low vision users. The patterns do not rely on the charts and may be made without referring to them. The 54 page small print version is written in 12 point font and has reduced sized charts and schematics.

You can purchase the pattern e-book in my etsy shop: 

Little Scarves, Too $12.00 US

Here are photos to give you some ideas of the possibilities for these patterns. You have size options, for a scarf, smaller cowl sized scarf, or keep on knitting to make a shawl.

One Rainbow, a drop stitch scarf shown here in a variegated yarn of pink, teal, and yellow

Ruffled Clear Sailing, in the smaller cowl size, show here in an orange, mint and cream variegated yarn

Flying Above, shown here in the smaller cowl size in peach and 

soft yellow yarns. This scarf has options for color blocking 

that you can design

High Flyer has rows of Shetland inspired lace, shown here in a soft yellow tonal sock yarn paired with a soft yellow mohair lace.

Winter Sky Love has a wonderful textured lace, show here in a gradient yarn of sea glass blues, yellow and cream

Simply Clear Sailing is a very easy garter stitch scarf, shown here in a fun variegated yarn in purple, blue and peach, with 

yarn tassels on the corners

Not Really Stormy uses a tuck stitch that creates a two sided scarf. The photo here shows it in two colors, navy and cream, but only one color at a time is used making it a very easy knit 

that only looks complicated. 

On a Wing is another scarf with a different pattern on each side. It is made with a simple slip stitch that looks terrific in two colors, as shown here in pink and soft green, or in a solid.

Little Scarves, Too: Go Fly a Kite!

I hope you enjoy this new pattern collection!

Renee