New Sara Schira Gnome MKAL coming in April

Gneddy is comfortable with comfort. She’s learned that it's best not to take life too seriously. Her hat collection isn’t large compared to most gnomes, but she prizes playful expression and seeks out hats that make her smile. Gneddy spends every moment she can outside, even when frosty moments mean cold hands.

There is a new Gnome MKAL (the Beary Cozy Gnome) from Sarah Schira starting on April 15th.

You’ll get 5 updates during April. These will tell you what to work on next. 

There will be video tutorials for all the parts I think you might want help with. I want this to be all joy, no worries.

Because Gneddy a mystery gnomes, I can't tell you much about her. The 'skills used' listed below will give you a bit of a sense of what you'll be doing. It's all just knitting, and you'll be great at it. Plus wonkiness is gnominess. 

There will be a thread on Ravelry to share pictures and ask questions for each clue, as well as a picture-free thread for people who want to ask questions without seeing anything.

Grab your copy on Ravelry or Payhip today! You'll get access to a PreKnitalong PDF you can download right away with all sorts of information, colour tips, and links. 

Emma’s has put together kits using Practically Perfect Sock minis. These kits will arrive in time for the start of the MKAL. They are online for preorder.

If you’d like to put your own colours together check out our stock of Practically Perfect Sock minis.

I think the store is in order for Lynn. I have a few price signs to make tonight. My printer in the store wouldn’t print on card stock today. 🤬 I kept trying and the paper kept jamming and I kept getting angrier and angrier. 

My main chore tonight is winding yarn. I’m taking my Happy Camp Sweater with me and have since decided that I might need another project. Just in case I don’t want to carry around the sweater or I need knitting that doesn’t require following a chart. I’m taking Dream State to make a Traveler Cowl. It is the perfect project for vacation knitting.

My colour choice is Reckless Abandon. A nice springy colour.

I will try and blog everyday but cruise life could get in the way. Have a good week and I’ll be back in the store on the 30th ready to ship orders.

Two More Sleeps

This shawl is called Yvonne MT. It has been in hiding and I brought it out to display. There are kits made up for the shawl or you can make up your own combination. 

You can purchase the pattern for Yvonne MT on Ravelry.

See our kits

See all the colours of Le Petit Lambswool to put together your own combination.

Here are some combinations on the kit page.

The sample colour

We have lots of colours for you to make your own combination.

My front table is a mess. I was here early this morning making up kits. Tomorrow I need to get everything tidied.

Lynn is going to be shocked when she gets to the store on Friday.

Malabrigo Arroyo has a new home now.

We’re having a surprise sale from now until when I return from my trip.

On the website there is a tab that says NEWSLETTER. Here is a link to it. All the items on this page are 10% off (with the code CRUISE) until I return. 

NOTE: You must enter the code CRUISE when you check out. It is not an automatic discount. We can not add the code after your order has been placed. The code will also work in the store. Please tell Lynn while she is ringing in your order.

I’m not counting down or anything. I thought the weather was supposed to be nicer today but it is cold and windy here. Good sweater weather but…..

My clothes are ready to go in the suitcase. I think I need to cull a few things out. My last big chore is winding yarn. No one wants to run out of yarn while on vacation.

I know I keep repeating this but I want to make sure everyone knows - the store will be closed on Saturday March 28th. 

Westknits Go-To Cardigan

Stephen West has a new cardigan pattern. You can purchase the pattern for the Westknits Go-To Cardigan on Ravelry.

This DK weight cardigan is super simple to knit, making it a perfect project for your first cardigan. I used one color in DK weight wool for my main color with four contrast colors. Feel free to customize the stripes and color palette to work with any types of DK weight yarn that you like. Begin with the main color and then continue with raglan increases to shape the yoke. The yoke and body are knit flat and the sleeves are knitted in the round. The ribbed button band is picked up along the front edges for crisp 2x2 ribbing. The pattern includes videos linked throughout the pattern that demonstrate how to cast on, bind off, weave in ends as you knit, and how to do the one-row buttonhole technique. Have fun knitting this cozy stockinette stitch cardigan and style it with your Westknits shawls and hats!

Photos © Stephen West

I updated a lot of kits on the website this afternoon and after dinner. This was my set up. Three iPads going. I’ll share more about that tomorrow evening because Blogger has decided that it’s not going to play nice tonight. I’m going to say goodnight and work on my knitting.

Long Sleeves or Short Sleeves?

This is the Dream Team Top - a new pattern from Tanis Lavallee. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

The Dream Team Top combines so many of my favourite things. As a designer I love working with colour. Bonus points for high impact colour achieved in the simplest way, stripes! My first sample features a lush turtleneck and generous folded over ribbed cuffs for a cozy, cold weather staple. To make it more Springtime appropriate I knit a second version in a spicy palette with a crewneck and short sleeves. Gotta love the versatility! The graphic shoulder detail where the stripes intersect at interesting angles has me hooked. This pattern feature all of my dream sweater elements and I couldn’t be happier with it.

The sweaters are knit in DK weight yarn so you can use wool or cotton depending on the season you are knitting for. 

Lynn’s sweater is growing. She has divided for the sleeves and has relaxing knitting now.

The dining room table is covered with things I need to pack for my cruise. Medications - there are a lot of these. There are my prescriptions and then anything else I might need. Aspirin. Stomach medications. Polysporin. Icy Spray. I could open a small pharmacy. Sunscreen. Aloe. Knitting. Chocolate for my room attendant. All the important things. Tomorrow I will start bringing down clothes. 4 more sleeps!!! 

Now a bit of knitting. I was in the store most of the day making more kits. I’ll go again in the morning to try and get the kits finished. Then off to have my hair cut. After that I need to write a newsletter. 

Have a good evening. I hope you are having fun playing with yarn.

Happy Camp #2

Here is Happy Camp #2. No I didn’t sew the ends in on #1 today. I was having too much fun knitting. I’ll do it over the next few days.

I was tired when I got home last night. It was a busy day in the store. Thank you to everyone who visited. I also spent time moving around garments. I’m trying to make sure every garment has an information sign. My printer is tired. Price signs should be on everything. There are going to be kits for many of the finished garments.

Tomorrow morning I’ll be in the store packing orders and delivering them to the UPS store and Canada Post. Then I have a few errands to run to make sure I’m ready to go away. When I get home I have orders to place. We’re short of knitting needles again. 

Beth made dinner so I’m in charge of desert. We’re having Dairy Queen tonight. Then a bit of knitting before bed.

Cloudbreak Tee

Wool & Pine has a new pattern. You can purchase the pattern for the Cloudbreak Tee on Ravelry.

Cloudbreak Tee is 30% off through March 16th — no code needed, discount applies at checkout.

Cloudbreak is the tee you’ve been looking for. DK weight, seamless, cropped just right, stockinette through the body and then a flirty, lacy scalloped hem that’s super fun and easy to knit. It goes with everything. You’ll wear it constantly.

Short and long sleeve options included. Easy construction, lace instructions provided in both written and charted format. Simple to customize.

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Design Details

The fit is the thing. Cloudbreak uses a contiguous seamless construction that gives you a gorgeous set-in-sleeve shape, with no seaming that fits so beautifully through the shoulder and sleeve. The neckline is shaped front and back for a clean, flattering scoop that sits perfectly.

The body is worked in easy stockinette to the small of the waist, where the lace begins. That placement creates Cloudbreak’s flattering silhouette and gives the scalloped hem its soft movement and charm.

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Pattern Highlights

• Easy Seamless contiguous construction for a set-in-sleeve fit with no seaming
• Scoop neckline for a comfy fit
• Lace hem worked in the round with both chart and written instructions
• Short and long sleeve options included
• DK weight knits up quickly and wears beautifully

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Construction Overview

Cloudbreak Tee is worked seamlessly from the top down. The yoke begins flat with shoulder shaping and a gentle scoop neckline, using a contiguous method that creates set-in-sleeve style shaping without any seaming.

Once the yoke is complete, stitches are split for the sleeves and the body is joined to work in the round. The body is worked in stockinette down to the hem, where a lace motif creates the scalloped edge. Both chart and written instructions are provided for the lace section.

Sleeves are picked up and worked in the round. Short and long sleeve instructions are both included. The neckline is finished by picking up stitches and working a 1x1 ribbed collar.

What yarns would I suggest?

• Rowan Cotton Cashmere 
• Rowan Linen Creative Linen
• Mode at Rowan Cotton DK

I think this would be a great summer top knit in a cotton or cotton blend.

I called Lynn this morning and suggested that she stay home because it was going to snow. She told me I was crazy - we weren’t going to get much snow. She arrived at the store and the parking lot was black. It isn’t now. We’ve had crazy snow here and it’s still snowing.

Beth send this from work.

Lynn has been running around putting yarn away. I’ve been making up kits, updating the website and making price signs. The store is looking better. 

I’m very early today. I wrote while eating lunch and now I can knit tonight. My short rows are finished and I can start the colourwork.

Symphonie Shawl

Diana stopped by this afternoon with a new store sample. The shawl is beautiful. 

This is the Symphonie Shawl from Sweet Georgia. Kits are available in the store and online.

The shawl used almost all the yarn which makes Diana and I happy. Neither of us likes having too much left over.

I took a few quick pictures when I got home. Lynn is in the store with me tomorrow and I’ll get pictures on her.

The store looks like a bomb went off. There is a lot to do tomorrow.

I’m onto the short row shaping on my Happy Camp sweater. I think that I will do the ends of my first sweater on Sunday. It’s not a job to do when I’m tired.