Jackalope Jane

On the northeastern coast of the USA, we get these storms called Nor’Easters. They’re cyclones that can bring hurricane-force winds, heavy rain, and/or blizzard conditions. Megan-Anne actually went into labor with Mabel the Merciless during one, and we had to cut a path through four feet of snow to the SUV (and then dig it out) to get her to the hospital. But sometimes, like this past weekend, the snow melts away the very next day while nearly one million people are still left without power. Those high-force winds mean business, and they’re business is bowling trees into power lines.

What I’m getting at is that it’s a good time to be a knitter on the East coast right now. First of all, we have enough handmade cowls, shawls, socks, mitts, and blankets to stay warm and cozy without a heater. Secondly, when everyone else is groaning because the power turned off their TV or cut in the middle of their video games, we keep on knitting and are quietly thankful that we had the forethought to download a new audiobook onto our tablets.

Knitting isn’t just a stress reducing hobby that produces beautiful garments and accessories, it’s a post-apocalyptic life skill.

Needless to say, after we had to shut down the dye studio and Megan-Anne brought her family over to my house for an extended slumber party while we waited for their power to come back on, we got a ridiculous amount of knitting done. So much so, that I’m pretty sure we spent a month in a pocket dimension and not just a long weekend in my apartment. We have some awesome cryptids on deck to join Hunting Sasquatch and Jackalope Jane. Just like good ol’ Bigfoot, the third installment in the Lattes & Llamas Cryptid Knit series will be done as a mystery knit along.

But before we can start talking about the Nessie Expedition Socks, we have to officially release Jackalope Jane.

Jackalope Jane is a thick, squishy, and super fun cowl, which got a ton of wear this past week, is knit in a combination of brioche and double knitting. It was made with Crossroads Yarn in ‘Rogue’ and ‘Hep Alien’ for its debut at Vogue Knitting Live. We had planned to release it just after the show, but after chatting with a few people, Megan-Anne decided to make some language changes in the pattern to make it more accessible to knitters that are newer to double knitting and/or brioche. While we were at VK Live, we got the distinct impression that while they had done one, the other terrified them. So Megan-Anne wanted to make it easier for the brioche knitter trying out double knitting, or the double knitter trying out some brioche. Now that the test knit is done and the pattern had been updated, here is the official second installment in the Lattes & Llamas Cryptid Knit series, the Jackalope Jane Cowl!

Two things are better than one. Peanut butter and jelly; chocolate and a second chocolate; bunnies and antelopes; brioche and double knitting. This list could go on for pages. But I was advised that it would be a better use of space to talk about the pattern instead of an unending list of mashups. I love the combination of squishy brioche with thick, warm, double knitting. The Jackalope Jane Cowl is the best of all worlds. Two regal Jackalopes stand at attention, surrounded by a southwestern color work design. Soft, luxurious brioche bands begin and end the cowl. This pattern is best worked with two sharply contrasting colors in a worsted or Aran weight. We recommend Lattes & Llamas Crossroads Yarn and Fandom Yarn for the Jackalope Jane. The sample is knit in Rogue (green) and Hep Alien (orange).

You can download the Jackalope Jane pattern by clicking the buy now button below. This pattern is 15% off now through March 12th to celebrate its official debut. No coupon code required! The discount will apply automatically at check out. After March 12th, this pattern will resume the normal price of $6.

A PDF will be emailed to you by Ravelry. You don’t need to be a Ravelry member to purchase the pattern, but if you are, the PDF will show up in your library. If you are a member of Ravelry, you can view the Jackalope Jane Cowl here.

~Jac
When the apocalypse comes, knitters will reign supreme.