LYS Day

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Blood Donor

I had my shawl at the store today and took outside pictures. The colours show up so much better in natural light.
Boscoe is a blood donor. Every 3 months he goes to the vets and he’s always so good. This is his picture from yesterday.

In June of 2016 Beth and I went to Washington DC for TNNA to purchase yarns for the fall. On our way back we stopped to watch a practice round for the US Open. This is Oakmont where they are playing today. It was sweltering that day. Beth left me sitting while she walked around.


Golf is finished for the day and now it’s time for hockey. 

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Marled Magic Blanket

Stephen West has a new pattern coming tomorrow.

This pattern launches Thursday 12 June 2025 at 16:00 Amsterdam time! Make sure you’re signed up to the Westknits newsletter at www.westknits.com to get special introductory pattern discounts and sneak peeks of new knit alongs and designs 

Knit the marled blanket of your dreams with this geometric modular pattern! The large rectangular shape is knitted one section at a time as you pick up stitches and attach your current section to the previously knitted sections. Always hold two strands of fingering weight yarn together to get the DK weight gauge. Instructions include marling recommendations for each section. Sometimes you can hold two colors together throughout an entire section and for other sections you can create fading marl effects by frequently changing colors throughout the section. This blanket is a big stash buster, using all kinds of fingering weight fibers together. Combine sock yarns with single ply merino yarns. Include some silk for shiny accents or add mohair and brushed suri alpaca for fluffy moments. The geometric shapes feature various stitches like garter stitch, mesh eyelets, seed stitch, and a couple brioche sections too. The generous dimensions of this blanket are ideal for a large bedspread or cuddles on the couch. Gather a big pile of yarns and knit marled memories that are sure to last a lifetime!

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry. 

Photos © Stephen West




Yesterday I talked about Zanete Knits new pattern called the Celestia Top. Zanete made a great video discussing the pattern. 

  • Choosing yarn
  • Tension
  • Sizing
  • Finishing
  • Modifications


I think I need to knit this sweater. I haven’t tried Ladderback Jacquard and it’s time to learn this technique. If I’m going to run a yarn shop I should know all knitting techniques. Now I’ve almost got myself talked into casting on.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Celestia Top

Zanete Knits has a new pattern and I’m in love.

Meet the Celestia Top – where ancient tradition meets a bold, modern vibe. This seamless, top-down yoke design is all about making a statement while staying totally wearable. With short sleeves, double-layered hems, and a never-ending colourwork motif, Celestia is the perfect summer knit for anyone who loves colour and doesn’t want the fun to stop.

The motif itself is inspired by my Latvian roots—a sun symbol connected by a web of intricate branches. It’s got a meditative rhythm to knit, and the larger blocks of solid colour provide that unique visual impact.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try using colour-changing yarn for that magical effect. And if you’re into clever techniques, this is the perfect project for practicing the ladderback jacquard to handle those long floats.

You can purchase the pattern for the Celesita Top on Ravelry. 

Zanete Knits used a sport weight yarn with Dyed in the Wool. You can use Zauberball Starke 6 or Edition 3 in place of Dyed in the Wool.







I’m fading away. 
I wasn’t too sure of the colours when the fade was finished but now that I’m into the second set of colours I really like how the colours are playing together.

It’s almost bed time for me. We were up way too late last night watching hockey and baseball. 

Sunday, June 08, 2025

Revisiting What the Fade?!

I pulled out my What the Fade?! today. When I put it away and started working on other projects I was doing the fading section. That is finished and I’m into the second brioche pattern repeat.

I’m using Hedgehog Skinny Singles for my shawl like Andrea used for hers. If you want to have fun with Brioche this is a great pattern. Andrea explains everything well and there are tutorials. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.


The powder room has been painted and I started putting it back together. It was one of my chores today along with laundry, dishes and started to clear out the great room which will be painted this week.
Another chore was making muffins. I leave treats for the painters every day. 

Now it’s bedtime because the painters will be here by 7:30. 

Saturday, June 07, 2025

Sundial Tee

This week I shared a stash busting top from Wool & Pine. Yesterday they introduced a brand new stash busting top.

The pattern for the Sundial Tee can be purchased on Ravelry.

Stash meet summer. Sundial Tee takes the bold, rhythmic colorplay of our Sundial Wrap and reimagines it as a easy, stash-friendly top with mosaic-knit stripes and clean, tailored finishing. This is a design built for sock yarns, handspun, advents, or whatever you have hanging around—and it makes every bit of it look intentional.

Worked flat from the top down with short row shoulder and neckline shaping, Sundial Tee offers a polished fit and a playful spirit.

Pair it with the wrap or let it shine solo—either way, it’s stashbusting in style.

Stripe Smart You only need around 6–13 grams of fingering-weight yarn per color, per stripe—ideal for scraps, minis, handspun, or even that tiny leftover skein you couldn’t bear to toss. Approx per-stripe yardage by size:
6 (7, 8, 8, 9, 9)(10, 10, 11, 12, 12, 13) grams per 36-row interlocking stripe


Construction Overview

Sundial Tee is worked flat (all knits, no purls) and top-down in two pieces, beginning with a provisional cast on and short row shaping at the shoulders for a contoured fit. The back is worked in mosaic stripes, ending with a clean 2x2 ribbed hem. Stitches for the front are picked up and shaped to match. Once front and back are complete, sides are joined to the underarm using mattress stitch.

Neckline and sleeves are picked up and worked in the round with simple ribbing for a polished, wearable finish.


Why You’ll Love It

  • Mosaic knitting made easy: One color per row, slipped stitches, no floats to catch.
  • No Purls: Enough said.
  • Stash-friendly: Use scraps, minis, advents, handspun—anything fingering weight.
  • Tailored construction: Flat-knit shaping and clean seams give a beautiful silhouette.




Today was the annual Heritage Days parade. The larger floats were lined up on Wilson Street in front of the store. It took almost an hour for the parade to get past the start because there were some many floats. The streets were lined with people. 

This is the float from Bennett’s Apples. We grew up next to the farm and I remember this tractor when Papa Bennett drove it around the farm. It has been restored and looks awesome.











Dad, Beth and the dogs are enjoying the weather at the cottage. Lots of fishing and lots of napping.

I want to say that I am catching up on sleep while they’re away but the darn hockey game went into overtime last night. Hopefully I’ll get to bed a bit earlier tonight.

Thursday, June 05, 2025

Let’s go fishing!

This is the Sea Glass Tee from Wool & Pine. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Looking for an epic stashbuster project? Sea Glass Tee is a top-down, seamless tee that’s perfect for using up your fingering weight scraps, minis, and stash yarn! With its easy-to-wear, relaxed silhouette and short sleeves, it’s the ideal project for knitters of all skill levels. Plus, it features a super fun 1x1 colorwork pattern that offers endless opportunities to get creative with your stash. 

The best part? There are absolutely NO ENDS TO WEAVE IN (thanks to a video tutorial included with the pattern) and your tee is totally REVERSIBLE! 

As you follow along with the included video tutorials, you’ll discover that Sea Glass is all about embracing the pursuit of art over perfection. So unleash your third eye, dive into your stash, and explore the depths of your innate creativity! We can’t wait to see your unique beauty and personality expressed in your color choices and their infinite combinations.

Bust that Stash! Sea Glass is knit using fingering weight stash yarn, leftovers, and mini skeins. Have fun playing with color and building a palette that expresses your personality. Embrace the random beauty of your stash and let it shine through in your finished piece!

To ensure that you get the perfect fit, the pattern includes a “Custom Fit” video tutorial and tips for choosing the right size. You’ll also find 7 video tutorials with tips for creating your One-of-a-kind Sea Glass Tee, as well as tips for stashbusting and building color palettes.

Ready to get started? Download the Sea Glass Tee Pattern Today and Dive into your Stash! 

SIZING: Full sizing information, a schematic, and a “Knitting the Perfect Size” video tutorial are included and available on our website at woolandpine.com.

I think we all have a stash of fingering weight yarn. You’ve knit a 4 or 5 colour shawl and have lots of leftovers. If you are sock knitter you definitely have bits hiding in a bag or box. You might have skeins that you purchased because they were so pretty but now you don’t know what to use them for. This sweater is a perfect way to use them up.



Alex was in and helped me today. She brought in my blocked Traveler Shawl. It is raining here today so I’ll get outside pictures tomorrow. It is amazing how blocking makes a garment look so much better.

All the furniture has been moved out of dad’s room and the front entry and is living in the main room.

Prepping dad’s room for paint.

Dad, Beth and the dogs are at the cottage until Monday. Things will look different when they get back.
Beth sent this picture from the cottage. She was on the front porch doing a Zoom call. Jackson was sitting with her. Fred was running around. Boscoe was waiting on the boat to go fishing.