Aquaforce

I've been working away on my Log Cabin squares. Six are finished and I like how the colours look different in each one. When all my squares are finished we will lay them out to make sure that squares sitting beside each other have different centres. I don't want all purple centres together and then all green centres together.

Mr. FedEx brought in a box this morning with four brand new colours of Ito.

Brian Smith has another new pattern out. I am not sure if Brian sleeps. Meet Aquaforce.

Techniques and stitches used 
Mitred squares 
Eyelets 
Picking up stitches 
Garter stitch 
Stocking stitch

This generously sized shawl starts with mitered squares, then stitches are picked up to work sideways on both sides, making a large triangle shape.

Yarn used 
Hedgehog fibres skinny singles 2 skeins shade Deep end (A) 
Hedgehog fibres twist sock 1 skein shade Magpie (B) 
Amounts used 
(A) 195 grams 
(B) 42 grams

Speaking of not sleeping - this week is the British Open from Northern Ireland. I will be up early Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday to watch. We have looked at the Thursday tee times and it looks like 4am will be when my alarm goes off. It comes on TV at 1:30 but that is way too early.

Latte

This is Latte from the Mode at Rowan Brushed Fleece book. Lynda knit this for us a few months ago and it has been in hiding until we could share pictures of the new book.

This is the smallest size and it takes 7 Brushed Fleece. The pattern calls for 9mm needles but Lynda went down to an 8mm.

Thank goodness we took pictures last week. It is going to be way too hot for Lynn to have this on later this week.

We also took pictures of Slow Curves (pattern purchased on Ravelry). Joji's patterns are very well written and very easy to follow.

Slow Curves is a crescent shawl design that alternates wedges of solid colors with wedges of ‘faded’ or mixed yarns. With the use of short rows, these sections create curves that move like a pendulum. On one side of the shawl you will see 4 definite solid sections and on the other side you will see them all blended together.  

The result is this beautiful, big, optically intriguing shawl.

I used 4 skeins of Hedgehog Skinny Singles.

Thank you Alex for blocking this for me. It is huge! Alex used the new Flexible Blocking Wires and really liked them.

Felting supplies are on the way. The needles come packaged in this cute tube so you shouldn't lose them.

There will be lots of colours. 

Undyed fleece is coming in small (1 oz) and large (1 pound) balls.

We are still catching up on TV from when we were away. Tonight is The Amazing Race Canada. I am going to work on my Log Cabin square while watching this. You have to watch - it's not a show that you can just listen to.

Perfect Blend

We have madelinetosh ASAP on sale for 20% off to make room in the store for fall Rowan. One skein of ASAP will make the Big Hat - pattern free on Ravelry.

I put together some colours of ASAP with the new pompoms.

This is Holi Party - pattern purchased on Ravelry knit in ASAP.

Alex started a new project this week. It is looking good!

She is making The Pop Blanket with Noro Ito and Cascade Eco +.

Blanket can be made any size desired. When made to the gauge suggested, the squares measure approximately 6.25” square. The sample is baby blanket size, it measures 26” x 32.5”. Of course you can knit this pattern in any yarn and gauge that you like, but note that this will change the yardage requirements. POP is a fabulous project for using up colourful scraps of leftover yarn.

Yesterday afternoon I started on Perfect Blend (the Casapinka MKAL). I'm using 2 Mini Colour Fade kits from SweetGeorgia Yarns. I still have two sections (darker teals) to knit but it doesn't take very long to knit Clue 1.

If you haven't started yet, the second clue just came out so you have lots of time to catch up.

Mark your calendar!

Navelli

This Navelli was knit by Felicia Lo of SweetGeorgia Yarns in Tough Love Sock. It is awesome!

Navelli is a relaxed lightweight summer sweater, knit in the round from the bottom up and featuring colorwork at the body hem and folded sleeves with a tiny peek of contrast color for visual and structural interest. The front and back are separated at the armholes and worked flat with short row shaping at the shoulders. Named for an ancient town in Italy, known as the land of crocuses and saffron, this sweater is the third in my “Knitaly” series of designs (following Tegna and Marettimo). 

This sweater is designed to fit with 4-15” of positive ease, depending on your preferred fit. Sample shown on is a size 4 with 13” of positive ease at the bust and 2” of positive ease at the sleeve. Please see the schematic for full fit information.

80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon 425 yards / 388 m per 4 oz / 115g skein

A perfect blend of warmth and strength to make a hardwearing sock yarn that can stand up to your affection and abuse. Tough Love Sock is our best-selling yarn and knits up beautifully into fine-gauge sweaters, small shawls, as well as socks! Spun from 80% superwash and super soft merino and 20% nylon, this 3-ply yarn is so versatile — knit it firmly for hard wearing socks, knit it loosely for drapey shawls, or knit it doubled for a great worsted weight substitute.

Do you watch Felicia's weekly vlog? Here is this week's that talks about Navelli.

Here is the main magazine from Mode at Rowan which should be in the store on August 1.

We have started to rearrange the store and will have a section in the front room dedicated to Mode at Rowan. It's just the start of moving - we will have it looking pretty when all the colours arrive.

Some days it is hard to come up with pictures and today I have so many that I've already started tomorrow and Monday's post. We're trying to get caught up on our TV shows but I'm opting for sleep. Maybe 1/2 hour more of knitting.

Back at Work

Photos ©Stephen West

Stephen West has a new shawl. The Jigshawl Puzzle pattern can be purchased on Ravelry.

Create a colorful collage using this geometric design to mix and marl your fingering weight yarns together. The pattern is written using eight skeins of yarn, but you can use scraps and leftover bits of yarn to utilize your stash. This shawl is constructed one section at a time as you knit the pieces together, so there is no sewing required. A final I-cord bind off frames the triangular shape. Use this modular design as a canvas to paint and explore marled knitting.

Every time you knit a shawl there are leftovers. Sometimes lots of leftovers. What a perfect way to use these up. The shawl is knit on 5mm needles double stranding your fingering weight yarn so it should be a quick knit.

We have new pompoms. They are gorgeous! These are attached to your hat with a snap so it is easy to remove them.

Dad and Lynn did a great job looking after the garden while I was away.

Lots of new flowers. The deer did get into my Day Lilies a bit but they left the Hostas alone.

Our trip home was uneventful but I am sad to say that I didn't knit on the plane. I fell asleep which I never do. Beth kept me running in Vegas and I was wiped out. I still am. Today's post is early because I have a feeling I will be in bed before dark tonight.

As promised here are some more pictures from the trip.

The Conservatory

Now I want Hydrangeas like these in my garden.

Now I need to finish up a few orders for fall. It is only nine weeks until the Knitters' Fair.