Bear Claws

You might be familiar with Xandy Peters Fox Paws pattern. She just introduced Bear Claws that was knit with Rowan Felted Tweed. You can see more pictures and purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Bear Claws was designed to celebrate the 10th birthday of the stacked stitch technique and the Fox Paws pattern. This engaging striped colorwork project features a large scale flame stitch motif. The pattern is relatively simple, using only a few rows of shaping in combination with color to create a distinct claw motif.  

The wavy colorwork in Bear Claws is created using stacked increases and decreases. There are no loops on the wrong side and the wrap is very stretchy and drapey. The fabric is light and airy, not dense like stranded colorwork and mosaic knitting. If you’re new to stacked stitches, check out my playlist on YouTube.](http://shorturl.at/iSX08).) You’ll have an easier time with these stitches if you’ve tried increases, decreases and slipped stitches.  

This pattern can be recolored in many ways, the coloring page available to anyone who wants to download it. You can use any number of colors you like, as long as they have good contrast. I recommend picking a Main Color that is not too bright or flashy in comparison to the others.  

Written instructions are included in the pattern alongside a visual guide called a “stitch map.”  It’s not the same as a traditional chart and is meant to be used with the written pattern. The rapidly fluctuating stitch count of the stacked stitches doesn’t fit nicely into a square grid. Instead, the map uses symbols and lines that bend and flow as the rows do, as they would in a crochet chart. The primary use of the stitch map is to show how each row relates to the last and to help you find mistakes and get back on track. 

I worked from home this morning. I needed to finish a newsletter and get all my signs ready for the store. When you come in on Thursday there will be bright signs showing what is on sale and the sale price. I’ve been checking my list two and three times to make sure I didn’t forget anything. I’ve also added to what we are putting on sale. Keep checking back because by tomorrow evening you never know what will be on the website. Then I did some errands before having my hair cut. Then more errands. 

The newsletter is finished and will be going out around 7pm tonight. 

Tomorrow morning I need to run my Expedition in to have the windshield replaced. I got a stone chip on one of my trips to the cottage and it has spread. The truck went in last Wednesday and when they took the new windshield out of the box it was the wrong size. We’re going to try again tomorrow.

Now a bit more work before dinner. It’s pasta night.