Le Tissier Designs

Of Larks and Linnets and Flying Fingers

Tag: knitting

  • Why Knitting a Blanket Matters: Personal and Symbolic Value

    Why Knitting a Blanket Matters: Personal and Symbolic Value

    Why did I choose to knit a blanket this year? The simplest answer is that I need one. I am finding my new home cooler than my old one and I am not going to add to my bills by putting up the heat! But for some reason buying more yarn makes more sense! Go Figure!

    It is also a way of adding more of “me” to my home! It is a way of saying welcome, stay a while and be cozy at the same time.

    There is a lot of symbolism in a blanket. It is welcoming – what is the first thing we think of making for a new baby. Something warm, a physical representation of a hug, why a blanket of course. It fits everyone and will last a lifetime! Not only is a blanket welcoming, it offers protection from life, a cozy place to curl up in, reading or knitting in hand, and ignore the world.

    For example: my daughter was given a beautiful handmade quilt when she was born. When she was a baby she slept under it every night. When I new she was expecting I gave it to her. When her son was born my daughter used that blanket for her son and when he outgrew it and the crib she hung it on the wall above his bed. I have an Afghan that my grandmother made me over 50 years ago, and I treasure it!

    The 50 year old blanket my Grandmother made for me. It has seen the wars but it is still here and still used. Sophie, our beagle made it her blanket when she was a puppy, you can see a little of her work in spots. This is a simple crocheted piece. So simple that I have copied it a few times to make baby blankets for friends and family. It is only chain and single crochet and as you can see it can use up lots of of colours!

    I have quilts from my Aunty Evie and a gorgeous crochet coverlet that my Grandmother made. I will share some pictures when It comes out of storage! As well, I have my fathers Hudson Bay blanket, a little shrunken but still going strong. Blankets mean warmth, caring and love. And in Canada blankets have history.

    I am not saying that blankets don’t have history everywhere, but I am in Canada and I grew up with the Hudson’s Bay and the Hudson’s Bay Blanket!

    There is meaning attached to a Hudson’s Bay Blanket. There is more than 350 years of history. They were a cornerstone of trade for hundreds of years. They have been made into Voyageurs coats have covered the beds of many Canadians! They became a worldwide symbol of Canada. They were that iconic, instantly recognizable and valued highly by everyone who received one as a gift.

    1936 Catalogue Ad. Don’t you just love the style! It’s still a classic.

    Is my blanket going to be that iconic? Is yours? Highly doubtful, but will it be prized by the recipient? It certainly will, because it comes with your love knit into every square! Okay that might be a little flowery, but it is true. When you knit you are often thinking of the recipient, how much you care and how much they will love what you have created!

    Why Squares?

    For me they are a very personal choice. Squares allow me to me more creative, to try out different techniques and to play with colour. The design options are multiple. I also get bored easily. Knitting an Afghan in rows would bore me to tears. I also am a bit of a magpie, I love colour and texture! making a multiple of styles of squares will also allow me to pick and choose my squares for my blanket. Some of the squares may not make the blanket, I may relegate some of the squares to pillow covers of some type. Or maybe a great big bolster!

    Public domain photo – lots of pillows – don’t they look like fun!

    I just googled for an image of a bolster! They were so boring! So maybe a big bright bolster just jumped higher on my list!

    Blankets and afghans have purpose, they are useful. They warm up a room by simply being on a piece of furniture and they warm up a body when used! They can be stunningly beautiful or even a little raggety around the edges and that simple note of heavy use is also has a beauty of its’ own. I have always loved the William Morris quote:

    “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

    I try to keep that in mind when I look at things for my home. Now, I want a beautiful (to me), and useful blanket that I have made with my own hands on my couch. Something that I can see and use every day. I already have lots of beautiful dust collectors, mine, my mothers, and my grandmothers in my home, and blankets galore, but nothing made by me. Nothing for me to use or my daughter to keep.

    Are you knitting for yourself or for someone special? Think about it as it may help you choose your colours!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • Create a Colorful Knitted Blanket: Tips & Patterns – a year long exploration of squares

    Create a Colorful Knitted Blanket: Tips & Patterns – a year long exploration of squares

    Make-A-Blanket – January Square

    This month is set-up for the Blanket. Pick your colours, decide on the style and knit your first square. The instructions for each square will be both charted and written.

    I am working with Cascade 220 wool. So my basic gauge is 20 sts in 4inches worked with a 4.5mm US #7 needle. After knitting my first square I think that these (my) squares will be about 10 inches wide, approx. 22.5 cm. My current plan is to make 20 squares and lay them out in blanket form and attach them together (no plan for this yet).

    There are two styles of blanket options that I have considered. I will lay them both out for you so that you can think about it as you knit your first square. Within these two styles there are other considerations. Do you want your blanket to be a solid colour? Or do you want lots of colour? Do you want your squares to be random or laid out in a quilt style of pattern. I bet you can guess which way I am going! Yup, lots of colour and random squares!

    Blanket 1 – knit in strips, biggest advantage, less seams and less to connect. This blanket could be knit in 1 colour, or in strips of colours with a different colour connecting them. The strips could still consist of squares that change colour with each pattern, or each strip could be knit in one pattern that repeats up each strip. How you put your Blanket Squares together is all up to you.

    I do like the stripes and diamonds on this Jester! His motley costume hits all the fun notes.

    Blanket 2 – knit in squares, no advantage, more seams, more connections! But I like the look better. This blanket was my original idea, Lots of patterns and many differing colours; it has been pointed out to me that I am sometimes alone in my love of the motley. But how could that be – there are so many examples of it all around us!

    My sloth’s intarsia coat was a fun example of a motley coat.

    I did a little sketching with Samsung Note and AI. These are the possibilities my sketches suggested.

    This month the Square is a Diagonal Rib pattern. It is totally reversable. And I am really liking that feature. This may be the square that I knit the most. It could act almost like a back drop for the other squares. We will see what tickles my fancy as the year progresses. This square took me approx. 36 grs yarn to knit. With that information I am figuring that I will need at least 7 skeins of the Cascade plus more for the finishing.

    Notes on working with the Squares. I will try to provide both written and charted patterns for each square. When working with charts every square represents 1 st or if the square is grey the absence of a stitch. That square can be regarded as a space to be ignored on that row.

    • Read all flat chart odd rows – 1, 3, 5 etc from right to left and all flat chart even rows – 2, 4, 6 etc from left to right.
    • Read every round from a circular chart from right to left.
    January SquareDownload

    Also included in this months download is the Starfish pattern. I am going to knit a few of these to sprinkle randomly over my blanket. These Starfish will each take about 6 grs of yarn. I can see quite a few colourful starfish on my blanket.

    Blanket Sea StarDownload

    I hope that you will share your pictures and progress with me! I am trying to decide the best way. A group on Facebook and/or a thread on Ravelry. Have you got any other suggestions?

    I am having a lot of fun knitting up Sea Stars, this month’s add on! But I think that next month’s add on will be just as much fun! Now what could they be?

    Hint – what is the famous day in February that is celebrated with “?”‘s and flowers!

    Happy New Year!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • A Walk in the Sunshine

    A Walk in the Sunshine

    Wednesday in Nanaimo was gorgeous. The sun was shining, the skies were clear and it wasn’t even looking like rain. Rain which had been pretty continuous before Wednesday and again after Wednesday was nowhere in sight. This morning the skies were dark grey and the rain was pounding down and, at times the rain was a little chunky with bits of snow!

    So, in this wonderous sunny break my husband and I went for a walk around Buttertubs Marsh and it was beautiful!

    We saw basking Painted Turtles, a Grey Heron, well camouflaged by the marsh itself, loads of duck, mostly heard and not fully seen and and the Marsh itself, beautiful in tones of golden brown, deep brown and green with sharp notes of red Hawthorn Berries and soft notes of downy bullrushes. There is something percolating in my brain. There might be a pattern here.

    Do you walk in your local parks? What are your favourites? I hope that you get a chance to walk in the sunshine yourself. It is a wonderful way to relax, enjoy your surroundings and be inspired.

    This week I also saw the windup of the Winter session of Classes at Mad About Ewe. Last Saturday I taught the second workshop with the feather stitch. This is the Feather Slouch.

    The right hand hat was knit with Mecha in the Piedras and Rosalinda. The left hand hat was knit with two shades of Highland Alpaca Chunky.

    I also finished up the Top-Down Yoke Intensive. I have to do a little more work on the pattern to make it Ravelry ready. I will let you know when that happens. The pattern is called Ocean Legend.

    Ocean Legend was knit with 3 shades of Eco Scandinavian Chunky. A couple of years ago I designed a hat, Legend.  I loved the pattern on the hat and always wanted to turn it into a sweater yoke and so Ocean Legend came to be created.

    I have got a tentative plan for Winter/Spring Classes and have already started knitting some samples. And if you haven’t heard I am planning a blanket for next year. A square a month club, free from my blog. All you need to do in subscribe below.

    Have a Great Day and Happy Knitting.

    Lynette

  • Are You Feeling Lucky?

    Are You Feeling Lucky?

    Are you Superstitious? I am, just a little. Most of my superstitions center around numbers. For example, my lucky number is 13. Many good things have happened for me when that number is involved. And a Friday the 13th is the best.

    I am participating in the MarlyBird 24 Days of Quickies which is 24 days of free patterns, each day a new knit and a new crochet pattern! My pattern Lucky Sevens will be available for free on Dec 15 from early morning to early morning Dec 16. I really wanted Dec 13 but it was already taken. So I went for the 15th, seven days after my birthday. This is new for me and with all those lucky sevens I am hoping that it will be a lucky for me as well!

    UPDATE: Well Lucky Sevens is no longer free but the link will take you to other free patterns from the Marly Bird site. I hope you “get lucky”!

    The number “seven” is a lucky number in many cultures and religions, and is especially significant in most Western Cultures. For example: seven days of the week, seven wonders of the world and Lucky Number Seven. So here is another lucky seven, the Lucky Sevens Beanie or Toque.

    This hat has the number seven in abundance.  Each cable is 7sts, a very traditional way of making the cables, not much seen nowadays.    There are seven twists on the beanie style hat and seven full cables on the toque style hat.  The cables are short, making them rounder than tall cables.  They are sometimes called “Coin” cables. Gold coins are a treasure in any culture and the colour red is a power colour. Symbolism abounds in these hats.

    These lucky “Coin” cables are mirrored and move up the body of this beanie or toque styled hat.  The cables are worked into the crown and then are evenly decreased as part of the crown, creating a flower finish.

    This pattern is easy to memorize, as the cable pattern repeats both around and up the hat, making it a a quick and easy knit. The recommended sport weight yarns are not too heavy, but the cable pattern keeps it warm. Make your Lucky Seven a beanie (gold hat) as shown or add one more Cable Chart repeat (8 rounds) for a more toque (red hat) like finish.

    The gold beanie was knit with Ulysse by de rerum natura in the colourway. The red toque was knit with Estelle yarns in their Eco Tweed DK. The sizes are small/medium adult or medium/large adult and either hat can be knit as a beanie (short) or as a toque (8 rounds longer),

    Materials: 50 grs 185m sport weight yarn will make either sizes, 3.5mm US #4 40cm 16inches circ and dpn’s, cable needle, markers and the regular notions.

    Lucky Sevens is available from my Etsy Shop or Ravelry.

    Happy Knitting!

    Lynette

    I hope that you are feeling very “LUCKY”!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • Thinking About Christmas Rituals

    Thinking About Christmas Rituals

    Right now I am behind and I will never catch up to my normal Christmas rituals! You know the traditional foods we like to make, or the items we like to create. This is because we (my husband and I) have downsized this year and everything we normally bring out at Christmas is at the back of the storage locker!

    This is not a bad thing, in fact, the downsize will lead to a better living environment – smaller, easier to care for home that will be ultimately cozier! But the changes and renovations have been delayed by a few months and most of our Christmas Stuff is in storage. So this Christmas has a few challenges. Maybe we need to rethink our Christmas Rituals. We knew that some things would change, we would be letting go of some things when we eventually emptied the locker. So I guess we are getting a bit of an early start!

    Challenge one, my yarn for Christmas Baubles is in storage as are most of the decorations and lights. I really don’t need to make new baubles every year – I just enjoy them.

    Challenge two, my current oven is problematical. It bakes, but not evenly. The upper element does not work. So things like homemade shortbread or tarts are not really doable, not easily at any rate. I have found workarounds for roasting and reheating foods but not for baking or any cooking anything that requires an accurate oven temperature!

    So we have bought a few things, just enough to feel Christmassy, I bought a tree, small, not real (that was difficult), and a few ornaments. Not too much – very low key. My brother is cooking the Turkey this year. I have cooked the bird for the last 30+ years, not so sure about this! That might be the hardest thing not to do! Maybe this will lead to new traditions next year! But maybe not!

    What are your rituals? What do you really need to have to feel like your are celebrating Christmas? Is it the tree? Or the food? Or the friends and family? Do you need all of the above? I think I do. There is just something about Christmas! I would love to hear about your must have rituals.

    I am not knitting a lot for Christmas this year. Just a few small gifts. Mittens for Logan, maybe a few hats for friends. I am still constantly knitting, but I am mostly trying to get ahead on next years Classes at Mad About Ewe! So many plans are coming together!

    Thrumming, Twined Knitting, Socks on Circs (2 socks at a time) and all of the regular classes. I am also contemplating a couple of other options…. more to follow.

    Maybe a good basic glove – with cuff options, like beads or cables?

    As I continue to dream up ideas, what would you like to see?

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • Make-A-Long a Blanket

    Make-A-Long a Blanket

    2026 is going to be the Year of Making a Blanket.  I need a new blanket for my new living room with my new couch and my new carpet! Every month I am going to make a new square or two. Do you need a new blanket or Afghan? Do you want to join me? This will be free. With a Blog post every month with a new square. You will need to subscribe to get the emails regularly! Post it where ever you knit with the hashtags #newblanket and #letissierdesigns. I would love to see your progress.

    I am going to be working the squares in Cascade 220 wool. I just started my first one! You can choose any worsted weight yarn you like. Or a fingering weight yarn, or any yarn. These are just going to be some squares. Some will be simple, others maybe not, it sort of depends on the other designs I will be working on, I may be trying out some different stitches. Sort of pre-swatching!

    Most of these squares will be based on the blanket I did 11 years ago with The Buffalo Wool Co. I am going to remake the squares in the cascade 220, the originals were done in the Tracks Sock. These will be quite a bit bigger!

    Look for some purple Sea Stars here and there! It is going to be called the Sea Star Blanket! Or maybe the West Coast Blanket!

    I have already started my first square. This is the informal or soft start of the project. I will be adding it formally to Ravelry next month!

    • – Knit one square a month – there will be a lap blanket at the end of the project.
    • – Knit two squares a month – there will be a full size Afghan blanket at the end of the project.
    • – Knit three or more squares a month – there will be a large bed sized blanket at the end of the project.

    So pick out a yarn, and the appropriate needle size.

    Fingering 3.25mm US #3 – Double Knit 4.0mm US #6 – Worsted Weight 4.5mm US #7

    Diagonal Rib Square for January (Shush! I am starting early, so can you!)

    Cast-on 56 sts

    • Row 1 – *(K2, P2); repeat from * to the end of the row.
    • Row 2 – *(K2, P2); repeat from * to the end of the row.
    • Row 3 – K1, *(P2, K2); repeat from *. end the last repeat with K1.
    • Row 4 – P1, *(K2, P2); repeat from *, end the last repeat with P1.
    • Row 5 – *(P2, K2); repeat from * to the end of the row.
    • Row 6 – *(P2, K2); repeat from * to the end of the row.
    • Row 7 – P1, *(K2, P2); repeat from *, end the last repeat P1.
    • Row 8 – K1, *(P2, K2); repeat from *, end the last repeat K1.

    Repeat the 8 row pattern 9 times.  Cast-off evenly.  It should be close to 11-12 inches square! I don’t know the size yet! But I will add it here as soon as I finish the block! LOL!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • Here’s a Little More Merry for your Season

    Here’s a Little More Merry for your Season

    Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Happy Hanukah, Blessings, or however your culture may celebrate or note the passing of the Winter Solstice.  I have noted that most of the celebrations involve gifts.  So here is my gift to you.  For the month of December and until Midnight of Jan 1, 2026, the Arrow Slouch will be available for free on Ravelry.

    A beautiful yarn and a simple repeating lace pattern combine to make this soft slouch.  The Arrow pattern repeats up the hat to the crown shaping. This creates soft points and folds as the stitches decrease to the optional I-cord Finish. The pattern repeat is small enough to offer a multiple of sizes so you can pick the head circumference and depth that best suits you.  The size shown is a X-large on a medium head.

    The Arrow Lace pattern grows from a knit3, purl3 ribbing that is deep enough to offer a nice contrast to the lace pattern.

    Pattern is both written and charted.

    The yarn shown is WOOLFOLK TYND! It is a gorgeously soft merino and just begs to be knit into something soft and Oh so touchable! Just like the Arrow Slouch!

    Knit Happy

    Lynette

    Does your tea need a Seasonal Cozy? Cozy Bells is waiting for you to knit.

  • Feather Mittens

    Feather Mittens

    My Feather Mittens Class went well yesterday. Well enough that I released the pattern on Etsy and Ravelry this morning! You may have noticed the Video blog I released earlier today!

    And I have already started on some new things! Right now I seem to be attracted to all shades of Green. It is Winter here so the predominant colours are shades of Green and Grey. We (I) am always influenced by the colours around me.

    Tomorrow I will be releasing by Christmas Pattern so look for the blog post and links in the morning. It will be free for the month of December until Midnight January 1st. It is green too!

    I am thinking of working with these two colours. I took this photo yesterday, in a planter in the courtyard outside of the store. Now that is a vivid contrast! Maybe Gloves? On a side note, does anyone know the name of this beauty?

    I hope that your day is going well! With lots of knitting and tea!

    Lynette

  • Feather Stitch Video

    Feather Stitch Video

    Jen and I talking about how to do the feather stitch on her mitts.
  • A Time of Giving

    A Time of Giving

    It’s time. Knitters warm your needles.

    There are many reasons’ for why we knit so crazily at this time of year. For me and perhaps to you, It is simply that this season of the year, what ever and how ever you celebrate always seems to involve gifting and sharing what we have and like you I like to create gifts for those I love and for those in need.

    Hurry Up HatDownload

    I always try to knit a few quick hats for the unhoused. I give them to a charity to distribute or simply place them where I have seen people congregate. This year things seem more dire than usual and I know that while I can’t make any substantive difference to their lives, I can offer some time to create a few hats. Above is my “go” to pattern. It is a very quick to knit and because of the ribbing will fit almost any head. It is free on Ravelry. But I thought I would make it easy and just put it in my post. Take a bulky weight yarn and knit it single, take 2 chunky weight yarns and knit them together on some 8mm needles. I have just finished my first hat.

    Have you ever noticed that your to do list is greater than your time available? How many times have you given gifts on the needle or even just a picture and a promise? I am particularly guilty of the gifts on the needles. And while I am not sure if I will do as much personal knitting this year, I am sure that I won’t be able to resist creating a few little things….

    One of the things I have been working and thinking on are next years classes at Mad About Ewe. Which techniques I want to teach and how to best present them as good learning opportunities for my students.

    Maybe a unique take on a yoked sweater?
    Or, how about some Cables and Garter St?
    Though I am fond of simple stitchery on top of our knitting! So many possibilities!

    I am also working on getting my patterns on Etsy. This is a bit of a process and takes a little time. I am also working on my Gosadi Site. I think it is looking pretty good. I still have a long way to go. It is in the testing stage for makers so if you are interested you can look at joining yourself and have your say in helping us create a great working space.

    My first gift given for Christmas will be for you! For the last 10 or so years I have released a new pattern on Ravelry as a thank-you for the support thoughout the years. Next Monday, Dec 1, my Christmas pattern will be available here and on Ravelry. It will be free for the month of December. Keep your eyes peeled!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette