Milo & Maize – pattern release!

My 40th Lost City Knits pattern in 10 years is now available!

Milo & Maize is a yoke pullover knit from the bottom up. Its simple pattern of plants dancing around the neck was inspired by rows and rows – miles and miles – of grains dancing in a gentle breeze as we drove through the Midwest. The sight of those crops is mesmerizing and soothing. 

The greatest portion of this sweater is knit in plain stockinette with a single color. Miles and miles, as knitters might say, just like those crops. With a garter stitch hem, cuffs, and neckline, the classic construction offers the knitter a good bit of (nearly) mindless knitting, holding off on the fancy work for the very last.

The pattern includes ten sizes. The samples were knit in Jamieson & Smith jumper weight Shetland wool which makes it a light, breathable garment, especially when worn with several inches of positive ease as seen on our model, Emma.

Whether or not you’ve driven through the American Midwest where crops such as sorghum (milo) and maize (corn) are abundant, most of us can find beauty in the rhythmic patterns of crops in a planted field. This sweater is an homage to that beauty.

M&M Kit – Denise’s Shades

M&M Kit – Kathy’s Shades

We’re offering the Milo & Maize pattern free between August 7-21, 2020 with the purchase of a M&M kit (in Denise’s Shades or Kathy’s Shades available on our website (kits are sized to fit up to a size 38″. for larger sizes buy additional yarn), or a M&M make-your-own kit. I’ve added a handy table below with the amount of balls for each shade you need for each of the ten sizes the pattern includes. MC means main color, CC1 means the first coordinating color and so forth. If you are making your own kit, purchase the yarn and add a note in the comments alerting us that it’s for Milo & Maize. In both situations we’ll include a Ravelry download Coupon Code for your pattern.

We understand some people get a bit nervous picking out colors for a sweater. I’ve put together a few ideas below and include the shades I pulled in the caption of each photo. Of course, if you want to see the yarn in person, you can purchase Jamieson & Smith Shade Cards. We only have a few on hand but they are an invaluable tool for anyone who loves colorwork. 

If you’d like to purchase Milo & Maize on Ravelry, you can do that here.

Denise’s Shades MC – FC55, CC1 – 32, CC2 – 1281, CC3 – FC45

MC – 54, CC1 – 95, CC2 – FC6mix, CC3 – 101

MC – 203, CC1 – 142, CC2 – 132, CC3 – FC34

Kathy’s Shades MC -FC39, CC1 – 125, CC2 – FC7, CC3 – 1281

MC – FC47, CC1 – 121, CC2 – 23, CC3 – 66

MC – 2, CC1 – 122, CC2 – FC38, CC3 – 32

MC – FC24, CC1 – 123, CC2 -1282, CC3 – FC6

MC – 125, CC1 – 142, CC2 – FC34, CC3 – 75

MC 1283, CC1 – 203, CC2 – FC64, CC3 – FC52