Today is the first day of the Beach Bucket class. The focus of the class is the Dip Stitch. A very cool technique of adding extra depth of texture and colour. So yesterday Ray took a little video of how do work the stitch.
The original sample was knit with Noro yarns. Those bright colours remind me of a tropical beach bucket. This new sample is knit with West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Tweed. More a north coast beach bucket! LOL!
There are a few other interesting techniques used in this pattern; provisional cast-on, knitted in fold, and I-cord bind-off.
The Beach Bucket pattern will be available around the 20th.
I had to swatch one more time for the Kate Davies MKAL. And I think it is a winner. Subject to change without notice off course!
This year I am trying to widen my horizon beyond knitting books and knitting everything in general. It is going to be a year of recovery after my last year of coping with everything life was throwing at me. So I will be knitting someone else’s pattern and reading a new to me author, Margery Allingham! All good things. While checking out a couple of local second hand book stores – no lucking finding any of Margery Allingham books – but I did find a beautiful book on the history of and the making of tassels! So much fun!
Knit a Dress with Me is on hiatus as I catch up with the pattern writing that I need to do! Classes, yarn and pattern samples need to be created and/or written. I am also submitting pattern ideas to a couple of yarn companies/magazines etc., as I get on with the business of paying for my yarn habit!
Tasseled Brioche for class – knit with Brooklyn Tweed Shelter
Allingham Fingerless Mitts – knit with Knitting for Olive Soft Mohair and Merino
Smitten – two versions – grey knit with Juniper Moon Santa Cruz and pink knit with Malabrigo Worsted
Rainbow Chullo – knit with Brooklyn Tweed Tones
Boho Mitts – knit with Estelle Eco Shetland Worsted
All patterns are under construction and will be coming out soon!
Yesterday we got out into the garden. Tom has been tidying up and pulling weeds for the last week or two, so I got out there are we got some planting done. Potatoes, Peas and lettuce went in. When it warms up we will add a couple of tomatoes!
I also planted a new peony and have a couple of new lavender plants and a french tarragon still to put in the ground. Hopefully this weekend.
I am now at the point where the skirt is growing, at what seems like an agonizingly slow rate. I must focus on the fact that the skirt is growing and the pattern is repeating and that is what is supposed to happen.
I switched to a 3.75mm needle about 12 rounds ago to start the slow shaping of the skirt. I will most likely drop the needle size to 3.5mm in about 40 more rounds. So between the changing the size of the needles and shaping the panels I am hoping for a lovely, gradual shaping the skirt to the waist. At that point the needle size will be 3.25mm for the bodice of the dress.
Dry blocked the skirt is 10 inches deep from the top of the 4th pattern repeat to the curve of the hem. The points are not included as length. I think that three more repeats will get me to the start of shaping panels (approx 15 inches) which will reduce the stitch count of the skirt. The reducing section will take about 45 rounds.
I work at Mad About Ewe and I get to play with the yarn. We are now carrying Brooklyn TweedShelter and Tones Light. I have been playing.
Wait there’s more! More hats, cables and hearts; double knit fingerless mittens and just so much more to do and create!
Below is “Smitten” A cabled hat with the “hugs and kisses” cable and the tree of life pattern. Classic in Grey and no bobbles, knit Juniper Moon Santa Cruz in the Palladium colourway! And Wild in with everything – cables, bobbles and hearts, knit with Malabrigo Worsted in the natural and Very Berry colourways.
Straight forward and cozy these double knit wristers are super cozy and super easy! These Cozy Wristers can be knit in any dk or sport weight wool that you might have to hand.
Because they are double knit they are also totally reversible.
I hope that your knitting adventures have been moving along with lots of colour and texture to keep your mind occupied and your hands busy!
So the Three Skein Project is almost complete – just patterns to complete for it.
So where to next?
Well, I have lots of samples that need patterns – it could be that my computer and I will become best buddies. That is very real. I completed one pattern and started two more this weekend!
Well the classes are coming up;
I am thinking and doing a Double Knitting Class – lovely little cozy cuffs or wristers. They are totally reversible and quite easy to knit. There is no shaping so the only technique to learn is basic double knitting.
And the other class will be some kind of specialized colourwork – entrelac maybe or intarsia in the round.
Do you want see a beading class? A finishing class? A cable class? Our options are so wide and varied – sometimes it is hard to choose.
Now is the time to make a suggestion!
I have started to plan a Spring KAL for the store and I am looking for ideas. It would start in the Spring – after Easter. A shawl, a vest, some kind of relaxed garment I think.
I am starting another sweater style garment for myself – have I finished the last one – well no – but you know – this yarn is calling. I blame it all on Darlene. She just finished a lovely scarf in the same yarn! And another shawl. I really like the way the shape is building up. There is never an end to inspiration!
So how is your knitting year starting? Are you happy with your choices or looking to scrap it all and start anew? Are finishing one before you start another? Darlene has to finish two items before she starts a new project! We both wonder how long that will last! LOL!
It has been a stressful few months these last few weeks and I have been knitting up a storm – or at least starting up a multitude of projects and even finishing a few.
I started the Three Skein Project last year and finished it up just last week. What to do with left over yarn when you want to knit just one three colour hat!
What could We make with just 3 skeins of yarn? As a designer and yarn shop employee I am always taking home yarn, a real hardship, right?! Well, sometimes it does leave me with a problem, what to do with the excess yarn. Because, you know, I couldn’t just make a plain hat in just one colour so you could handle the yarn, see how it knits and how good it looks. Oh no, I had to make a hat with striped ribbing and a tri-coloured pompom. So, what to do with the leftovers – I usually label the yarn and pop it in a bin, but I really liked the yarn. So, the Three Skein project was born. And is the Sports Edition because of all of the stipes. I think that it makes the knits look sporty!
The yarn is Haynes Creek Heather Aran by Gathering Yarn, an Aran weight 100% non-superwash wool. You could use any worsted to aran weight yarn in the pattern. These skeins added up to 600 yds in total. I ended up with 6 inches leftover of the marled yarn, and then 10 grs each of the red and white yarns leftover, approx. 20 yds each. There are 5 projects;
The Classic toque – a little slouchy, starting with a striped rib and topped with a great pompom.
The Court beanie – just covers the ears and shaped with classic cables and twisted sts, and I love the striped rib.
The Round mittens – again with the stripped ribbing and simple shaping with an afterthought thumb.
The Slalom cowl – look at those zig-zags and again with the stripes. An easy repetitive lace pattern in the round.
The Drive-in mitts – short, striped, mitts that cover the palm and back of the hand but leave the fingers and thumb free for driving, painting, typing, anything where touch is really useful.
What’s with the Stripes?! Stripes are a great way to monitor your yarn usage. It allows us to gauge what we have left and judge what we can use it for, and just how far we can push our results.
I am quite pleased with mine.
The first two patterns are now up on Ravelry. The rest will follow over the next few weeks.
Yesterday was my fathers Celebration of Life. A few weeks before that my father passed. Life had suddenly changed, and I have been struggling with what to do with my hands, how to focus on the mundane when a big part of my life was suddenly gone. My Knitting mojo too was gone.
A week or so ago I started this blog post. I think it still works.
If you are a knitter (read your favourite craft here) you have most likely made something for someone you love. It is what we do. What can be more personal than a gift made with special someone in mind. Loving thoughts go into every stitch, every small detail and every minute that you spend knitting that gift. Some gifts last longer than others. Some gifts are made better by time.
Three weeks ago I lost my father. He was ninety. He passed away peacefully in his sleep after four weeks in the hospital. He had lived a good life and had few regrets. We will miss him. We do miss him.
He had lived with us for the last 6 years of his life and was very much a part of our daily lives. The last 6 months of his life were pretty much lost to dementia as he struggled to find the words to communicate and the everyday actions to look after himself that a few months before had been there. He was stubborn and believed that he did not need the help we wanted to give him.
I made it to ninety making my own decisions and I will keep on doing so.
He lived a good life and believed in himself the whole of it.
Love you Dad.
We have been cleaning up his space, a suite in the basement, opening drawers, going into the closets and sorting the stuff of dads life that he brought when he moved into the house.
On a hanger in the back of the closet I found a wool sweater that I had knit for him over 35 years ago. It brought both memories and tears. I didn’t know he still had it. I had not seen him wear it in a long time. He found it too warm. He had never worn it while in the suite.. But he kept it. It was dirty, but intact – no moths.
When I knit it for him, so long ago – it was quite the job – I had not knit many sweaters yet, certainly not designed any from scratch in this way.
He was very specific about what he wanted. I think that he was recreating something he had had once. It had to be wool, and not to heavy – no problem – I preferred wool. It had to be red, but just the right shade of red. I went back and forth to the yarn store a few times to find the right “red”! And it had to be wool! It had to be a cardigan, plainly knit – no patterning. (those who know me would know how hard that one detail would be for me) And it had to be wool. Then it had to have pockets and it had to have a V-neck. And it had to be wool. And it had to have silver toned buttons! And it had to be wool. Once I found THE wool, as it had to be wool – not too heavy and just the right shade of red, we struck a bargain.
I would knit him a Red Wool cardigan with silver toned buttons, pockets and V-neck and it would be plain knit. Except for the button bands and pocket tops, they would have a small pattern. Something that said it was hand-knit just for him by me. And so the bargain was made.
So I took measurements and went away to knit him his sweater. About 6 months later I gave him his sweater. He was thrilled and put it on right away! It fit! And took it off right away – it was too hot! This was in June! So it was a success, knit with a great deal of love.
Thirty-five years later I found it in the back of his closet.
I knew he loved it and I knew he wore it – the food on the sweater said so! But I didn’t know he still had it! That was a gift!
From me to him and then from him to me.
So I washed it – soaked it in Eucalan for a number of hours and then rolled it in a towel and reblocked it. So it is now my sweater, a true grandfather sweater!
I needed to start knitting again. My hands were restless. I had a couple of sweaters on the go for myself, but they weren’t holding me. So I did one of my favourite things. I picked some yarn and found a new stitch to play with and knit a hat, instant gratification and maybe a new pattern. I am going to knit another version and see if it works again.
The yarn is Mecha by Malabrigo. It is a gorgeous hand dyed Chunky Merino. I chose the Piedras colourway for the background and the Rosalinda colourway for the “feathers”. I think that I will call the pattern Feathers if it works.
Cats in the Cradle – baby blanket or shawl with coordinating beanies.
Funky Brimmed Hat with Bad-dana Cowl – Hat modelled by Glorious Gertrude
Caahh…shmere with beads swatch – lusious lace tank in the future.
Cashmere beaded Fingerless Mitts – The Bee’s Knees!
Cable Cool Balaklava and Mitts
Cable Cool vest.
For fun times in the future – beautiful handmade glass buttons.
Ada made the beautiful buttons – Ada Babys Beads on Facebook – and I made her this hat with her favourite hearts! I finished the hat with one of her buttons.
Well, I got the first box from the Beyond Merino Club (hosted by The Small Bird Workshop and Sweet Paprika. It contained 2 hanks of gorgeous, soft Corriedale sheeps wool from the Falkland Islands, one a natural grey and the other a beautiful deep Lagoon blue. Sweet Paprika did the dyeing. I made a half hap shawl. I finished it with I-cord edging and a couple of big, fat tassels. It will be part of the Happiness Hap pattern – coming soon!
We are planning the next session of classes for Mad About Ewe Fine Yarns. I am planning to teach Mosaic Knitting. The first sample is done – a funky little Cloche – finished with a little tassel. I do love tassels. It is knit with Fleece Artist BFL DK and some Drops Kid-Silk.
For myself – I am working on a sweater. I just started it last night. And like most sweaters for myself it will most likely get stalled along the way! You never know! I might surprise myself! LOL!
It is pretty. Some soft mohair from Fleece Artist and a just a few little beads for show!
Be well and knit Happy!
I am trying to stay mellow and keep with the flow that comes with knitting. I hope that works for you too!
Yesterday Elise and I got together for a quick little photo shoot at Woodstream Park. We had a lot of fun. It was a beautiful morning and the trees and surrounding foliage was so full of colour. Gorgeous backdrop for the knitting!
This is a pattern that I am working on for Cindy and Roy of Gathering Yarn. The yarn is a superwash merino aran called Bingo – a lovely yarn to work with.
The rest of the items are a few hats and accessories that will be showing up in the next few weeks!
Last Fall I was approached by Susan Gibbs of Juniper Moon Farm Yarns to designs a collection of hats and accessories for this Winter 22/23 Season. So began an epic knitting journey. I created 16 patterns, many with coordinating accessories to be released this fall.
I don’t think that I have ever created so many patterns in such a short period of time. The yarns made it easy and the support was great. I hope that you see something that you like.
Many of them will be in your local yarn stores if they carry Juniper Moon. Some are already up on Ravelry with the rest to follow as Juniper Moon has time to put them up. I have linked up the patterns that are on Ravelry, just click on them and you will be wisked away to the pattern. The patterns currently on Ravelry include Cherry, Dimity, Dubloons, Helm, Smoosh and Arabesque and Cricket.
When new yarns come in my brain sets off all sorts of ideas of what to do and when to do it and what should come first! I pull out my stitch libraries and pore over the options trying to find the perfect stitch to show off the new yarn that has captured my imagination.
Star tweed is a stitch pattern from Barbara Walker’s first stitch library, and it is an easy, repeating, 2 colour slip stitch pattern. Knit in a very bulky wool the tweed is a bold statement that can show off any two colours beautifully! Can you see it in two shades of grey? Or maybe a bold black and white?
Boldly Star Tweed
Why Not a Headband
Warm Cowl
Big Bold Mittens
Package Deal
I am featuring this stitch in my new pattern Boldly Star Tweed. Star Tweed is a basic Winter Set, Hat, Mittens and Cowl. The Cowl is small which also makes it a great headband. The complete set can be made from 2 skeins of Estelle’s new yarn – Eco Scandinavian Bulky. Making it quick to knit and economical. I used a range of needle sizes – 6.5mm and 8.0mm for the mittens and 8.0mm and 10mm for the hat and cowl. The Eco Scandinavian Bulky worked up fabulously on any of the needle sizes I tried.
Eco Scandinavian Bulky is a thick and squishy, super bulky yarn made from 100% organic Scandinavian Wool and is GOTS certified. Its single ply construction has great stitch definition, feels soft next to the skin, and let’s you knit or crochet beautiful projects super quickly!
Hand wash cool, lay flat to dry.
The Eco Scandinavian Bulky lives up to its’s name. It is soft, bulky, with a slightly uneven texture that works up quickly. The yardage is very generous – it seems to go on forever! I just kept on knitting and there is still some left over!
Boldly Star Tweed will be available on Ravelry in a couple of weeks.
How to work the star tweed stitch.
Star tweed is a slip stitch and wrap style pattern. it is worked over 4 sts. Stitches are made and moved (dropped over) on every other row. The rows in-between the working rows are knit plain. Note – the first 2 sts of every working row will be slipped forward or back so that the pattern is offset. See pattern for full details.
slip the first st, find the yarn that runs between the slipped st and the next st on the left-hand needlemake a new st by knitting into the space below the running yarn.pull the yarn through to form a st., slip the next st.knit the next st and then lift the first slipped stitch over the next 3 sts.drop the lifted stitch onto the knitting.knit the 4th st, repeat from
What do you think? Ready to give it a try? I will post again when the pattern goes live with a code to allow you to purchase the pattern at reduced price!
