Another great Tanis Lavallee design

Tanis Lavallee released a new pattern today. You can purchase the pattern for the Ostara Cadigan on Ravelry.

I own a store bought cardigan that I have a real love/hate relationship with. I love the shape and style of it, I love that I reach for it all the time and that it goes with everything, but I hate that it pills and falls off my shoulders and I especially hate that every time I wear it someone asks me what pattern it is and I have to explain that it’s store bought. Nothing against store bought sweaters, we all have them! But the look of utter disappointment on people’s faces when I tell them that is more than I can bear. So, I did what any sane knitwear designer would do and I took the ready to wear cardigan as a jumping off point, kept the features I liked, got rid of the features I hated, and created my ultimate cozy cardigan pattern! Now I can proudly share my favourite cardigan pattern with everyone who asks.

The cardigan is knit in worsted weight yarn so you have many options.

I swatched for my DRK Everyday Cardi. I know - it’s not a very big swatch and it wasn’t blocked but I have enough here. LOL. If it comes out the wrong size it is totally my fault for being lazy!!! I’m working on the ribbing and it’s taking forever. I can’t wait to get into the stocking stitch.

I chose Arranmore Light from The Fibre Co. The colour was on the shelf but never on the website. I will reorder it because it’s perfect for the cardigan.

I just got home from work and I’m going to knit while Beth makes dinner.

Found an old sweater

You never know what you’re going to find when you open boxes after a move.

This is EOS by Marie Walllin. I knit this sweater in 2013 and have never worn it. I put it on when I took it out of the box and I thought it looked great. It was knit in Rowan All Seasons Chunky (a cotton/acrylic blend). It is too heavy for a summer sweater so it will be for the spring.

I will start wearing it soon after it has a good wash. The only problem is that white and I don’t always agree - I spill a lot.

With the Cotton Seasons collection you can indulge in the luxurious feel of the finest cotton fibres – Creative Linen and Four Seasons - perfect for creating lightweight garments that drape elegantly and keep you cool on warm days. Creative Linen adds a touch of sophistication with its subtle sheen and beautiful stitch definition, whilst Four Seasons is a versatile companion that promises comfort and style all year round. This collection of fourteen designs delivers seasonal essentials and plenty of technique.

The book is available online and in the store.

Beth is working at the island. Dad and I are sitting at the kitchen table. He was supposed to be helping me with my post but he’s too busy watching The Price is Right. We’re also having a ‘discussion’ because we need to pick paint colours. I thought I had them picked but the paint deck is beside me and now I’m waffling.

Now it’s time to knit. I might have taken some yarn to cast on the DRK Everyday Cardi.

DRK Everyday Cardi

It’s always a good day when Andrea Mowry releases a new pattern. You can purchase the pattern for the DRK Everyday Cardi on Ravelry.

If I were Mr. Rogers, this is the sweater I would reach for every time I came back inside, or left to go outside, for that matter! This is the cardigan I grab for - to get cozy, to throw on as a light jacket, or to finish an outfit comfy enough for every day and polished enough for the office or date night. I hope it becomes your cardigan-for-everyday too! 

The DRK (DreaReneeKnits) Everyday cardi is knit from the top down, beginning with the folded collar. It can be worn with either the knit or purl side facing out, with just a few simple tweaks to the directions (which are included in the pattern). The raglan “seams” from the yoke are carried all the way down to the hem of the cardigan. The body is knit flat, and the sleeves are knit in the round. The button band is worked using an applied double knit technique for a beautifully polished finish!

We have the perfect yarn. Patagonia from Juniper Moon. It is on the list of suggested yarns from Andrea. 

Photos © Andrea Mowry

I was in the store this morning shipping and then came home to work on the website. There are kits for the DRK Everyday Cardi on the website. I used Patagonia for the kits. There are more colours in the store if you’d like to choose a different colour.

This tweedy yarn is humanely grown in Argentina and spun from Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified, sustainable, non-mulesed, pesticide-free organic merino wool. It is both hearty and soft and has a lovely bloom after it is washed.

While unpacking a box this afternoon I found an article from The Ancaster News about us renovating a heritage house to become the store. This is from August 1, 1990. I totally forgot what the front of the house looked like.

The front room of the store is an addition. My dad picked the stones on the front of the house to match the original stone.

Kindness

A Simple Breath is a new pattern from Romi (Rosemary Hill) and you can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Inspired by the deeply touching poem “Kindness” by Naomi Shihab Nye, A Simple Breath will wrap you in an oversized hug of love and comfort. This is a straght-forward knit, for those times we need something soothing and just interesting enough to ooh and ahhh over. Worked with US 8 needles, it knits up fairly quickly, and the mohair halo fills in the lacy open fabric to create a floating confection of a hug.

I’ve been playing in my sewing room and I found the box of Kaffe Fassett fabric. I really need to figure out a pattern to play with some of these. 

I found a box of knitting books. This is a keeper and I’m so happy I found it.

There is a new pattern coming from Andrea Mowry tomorrow. You can get a sneak peek on Instagram.

Now it’s time for some TV and knitting.

Sunday Knitting

I’m caught up on my Temperature Blanket. It’s hard to see on the counter but my last rows were the pink. The temperatures this week are going to be a roller coaster. It will be interesting to see where my colours are going. Then the following week is supposed to be cooler. 

The barbecue is on and I’m going to make steaks for dinner. Then I need to move boxes around in the sewing room to find a part finished project to work on for the rest of the evening.

The dogs like to visit my room.

Happy Sunday Evening!