Happy Halloween

Ms. Canada Post brought in a really, really big box of Hedgehog this morning. We have three more Potlucks.

There were more boxes to unpack. The first had Nube from Malabrigo.

Spinners asked and we listened! Our ultra-soft merino is now available as unspun top, in a selection of our most beloved colorways. It is truly a joy to spin, full of fluff and loft and unmatched softness! Of course, you can also knit with the roving itself for a uniquely fluffy effect, or use it for thrums or needlefelting.  

Great for: Spinning, thrums, needle-felting, wet-felting, accessories, weaving, other arts and crafts projects.

100% merino
113 grams

Want to make Thrum Mitts (there are a lot of great patterns on Ravelry)? One Nube and one skein of worsted weight yarn (like Cascade 220) is all you need.

The last box has a new to us yarn from Cascade. We have 10 colours of Magnum.

Magnum is a 100% Peruvian Highland wool in a super bulky weight of 2 stitches per inch! Your projects will fly off the needles and you'll be done before you know it. Our Magnum is a designer favorite with the huge color palette and is ideal for sweaters, hats, scarves, home decor, and more. Let your imagination run wild!

250 grams
112m
100% Highland Peruvian Wool
10-12mm needles

The Uber Cowl is a free pattern and takes one skein.

Beth called me on my way home to tell me that we already had kids in the neighbourhood. We didn't have a few kids. I think they brought in buses of kids. It's just past 6:30 and we've had over 150 visitors. They've all been very polite and it's been fun seeing their costumes.

Now it's time to get ready for baseball. I hope the game ends a bit earlier than it did on Sunday night.

Unpacking

Ms. Canada Post dropped in this afternoon with a box from Hedgehog. There is a least one more box on the way. Hedgehog sent me the tracking numbers on Friday but they mixed them up and sent me numbers for a store in the US. I don't have the correct numbers yet so it was a giant surprise when the box appeared. This is a new Potluck. There will be another Skinny Single Potluck and two Potlucks in Sock.

We also received Film Noir for the first time. A very interesting colour.

The second box from Ms. Canada Post was two bags of Arranmore Light. Meet Ruari. The Library Vest would look amazing in this colour.

North Row (pattern purchased on Ravelry) is so beautiful. Another great garment knit in Arranmore Light.

Mr. Canpar brought a large box of Eco +. Lynda and Cathy are knitting Veronika with Eco +.

Eco+ is 100% Natural Peruvian Wool. Eco+ is the colorful version of our popular Ecological Wool® with a fabulous range of stunning solid colors. Soft and wearable, this wool lends itself to either garments or felting. With amazing, big, generous skeins, it's perfect for all sorts of garments like cardigans, pullovers and blankets.

We knit Lemongrass out of Eco +. I looked and looked and couldn't find pictures so I went outside in the wind and rain to get new ones.

Mr. FedEx came with the last box which was from Soak. We were out a few scents - now we're well stocked. I use Soak when blocking. It's also great for washing hand knits, lingerie and bathing suits.

What is it: Soak is modern laundry care. Clean up with Soak’s eco-friendly formulation. Developed to be as easy on the environment as it is on your clothes, it’s the no-rinse clean you trust and love. 

Soak is perfect for your laciest lingerie, softest sweaters, baby clothes, quilts, swimwear, workout wear and all the laundry you love. love it. wear it. soak it. 

How it works: Just Soak and squeeze. No need to rinse. Lay knits flat to dry. Wash sets (like lingerie) together. Test fabric for color-fastness.

• made with plant derived and renewable ingredients

• biodegradable, phosphate-free, dye-free, sulphate-free

• safe for hand or machine washing (including HE)

Yuzu: Clean with a peel. Pucker up and give your laundry some love with a kiss of tart citrus + crushed eucalyptus.

Celebration: Inspired by the essence of Red Tea. Sweet, delicate and absolutely delicious, this perennial favourite smells like good, clean fun.

I'm a bit tired today. I watched most of the baseball game last night. What a game. I'm finishing my post and then going to knit a few rows. I haven't touched my needles today. It'll only be a few rows though :)

Fuse Fiber Studio

Rebecca from Fuse Fiber Studio posted this picture on her Instagram page. It is one of the colours that she is dying for us. We should see her fabulous yarn arriving in the store around the middle of November. We have 174 skeins (29 colours) coming - all singles.

I spent the day working on Veronika. The third ball is almost finished. I tried to get pictures but it doesn't work on the mannequin that I have at home. She is much smaller than I am. I will put it on a different mannequin at work tomorrow for pictures.

Accessories

Our good friend Kate Atherley's newest book, Knit Mitts, has arrived.

Why settle for boring store bought mittens and cold fingers, when you could knit the warmest, best fitting pair yourself? With Knit Mitts as your guide, you'll have the comprehensive information you need to create snug, warm, and practical mittens and gloves--right in the palm of your hand. 

Inside, knitting expert Kate Atherley offers solutions to common problem areas: stretchy cast-ons for cuffs, fixes for thumb gaps, tricks for working the tiny circumference of glove fingers. She also addresses yarn choices and knitting techniques for easy care and maximum warmth. Through basic mitten and glove recipes, Kate explains how to measure a hand, assess your yarn selection and gauge, and ultimately customize patterns—including the 10 gorgeous ones inside--to make the best fitting mitts for you and your loved ones. Because the very best mitts are knit to fit!

I haven't had time to flip through it but I know Kate and it will be an amazing reference book.

We received a shipment of pompoms this week and more will be coming next week. We knit The Big Hat (pattern free on Ravelry) with one skein of tosh ASAP and added a large pompom. We also have smaller pompoms.

This soft and fluffy pompom is made of beautiful faux fur, but looks like the real thing! The perfect addition to the top of any hat. Available in a gorgeous range of colours. 67% Acrylic, 33% Polyester.

I've been working like crazy on Veronika and just finished the second ball. The collar is now at it's full width and the increasing has stopped.

When you start working on it the construction seems different and you start to think that there is no way it will work. Trust the pattern. The further you get the more sense it makes.

Yes, that is a box of Rice Krispies in the picture. The kids from St. Thomas More will be coming around on Tuesday evening to collect food for the Neighbour 2 Neighbour Centre. Beth has bags of food lined up at the front door.

I took the pictures in different parts of the house. The lighting really changes the colour. The picture on the mannequin is the true colour. I wanted to lay the sweater out on the dining room table to show the interesting shape it is taking.

The little strip at the top of the picture is the start of the back. When the cardigan is finished, that will be folded down to create the armhole.

Now it's back to baseball and knitting. Can you say obsessed? I feel guilty when I go to sleep - I should be working on Veronika.

Bamboo Bloom

We have new yarn. Bamboo Bloom and Bamboo Bloom Handpaint from Universal Yarns.

Pattern: The Hanasaku Cowl (the pattern is free in the store with yarn purchase or it can be purchased on Ravelry)

The cowl is worked in the round in striped linen stitch. You are working 2 rows of Bamboo Bloom and then 2 rows of a worsted weight yarn. The possibilities are endless.

If you want to use the Bamboo Bloom for a mindless cowl, here is the pattern for you.

Pattern: The Simple Rules Cowl (pattern free on Ravelry)
Yarn: one skein Bamboo Bloom
Needles: 6mm, 40cm circular

We have 3 solid colours 

A loosely spun burst of wool is blended with bamboo's beautiful sheen for a fascinating texture. Elegance made easy!

The yarn is
44% wool
48% rayon from bamboo
8% acrylic

And 4 Handpaints

Thick and thin, matte and shiny, Bamboo Bloom is a versatile yarn that makes even the simplest garment pop.

Veronika is moving along. I joined the second ball this afternoon. My blog post has been done for hours but I wasn't posting until I got to the back cast on.

My tip for the day - attach a locking stitch marker to your sweater just in case you need one in an emergency. (Mine is lime and it is just about the bottom ribbing.) I have a stitch marker to divide the collar ribbing and the body of the cardigan. What if you are knitting in the car and you lose that stitch marker? You have a back up with the locking stitch marker. What if you are knitting at night and then see that you dropped a stitch a few rows back? You can put your locking stitch marker on that stitch to make sure it doesn't drop any further. When you are more alert the next day you can fix it.

Hopefully you never need it but it's there just in case.

Classic

Ms. Canada Post dropped off a box from Lynda today. I am in love. I need this. Unfortunately I had it knit in a size to hang in the store and not a size to fit me. Maybe that will be her next project :)

Pattern: Library Vest - we have copies in the store or you can purchase on Ravelry
Sample Size - finished bust 43". Long length

With simple styling that lends itself to the classroom, workplace or weekend, this vest is so classic, so quintessential, it could become your uniform. The jumper length has a certain schoolgirl chic. The abridged, hip-length version is a flattering layer without the bulk of a sweater. Either way, it’s a nice little primer of techniques you’ll use again and again.

Yarn: Arranmore Light - 4 skeins

The yarn is a blend of wool, cashmere and silk. Make sure you feel it the next time you are in the store.

The cowl with the vest is the Ombre Cowl Hood (pattern free on Ravelry). It is knit with 3 balls of Kidsilk Haze from Rowan. You are knitting two strands at once on 5mm needles. Quick and easy.

We had fun playing with different colour combinations.

Linda stopped by today to show off her Dotted Rays - Speckled Fade. Stunning. I should have put it on over the vest. It will look amazing with browns or greys.

Alex knit the shawl for me in purple. Now I think I want it in more neutral colours. We will have a lot of fingering weight yarns coming in November - Hedgehog, Long Dog Yarn, Fuse Fiber. Maybe Uschitita and Primrose (if not November then December).

Now back to Veronika. The first ball is almost knit and I need to wind more.

Veronika

I've been eyeing Veronika for a few days and decided today that it is going to be Lynda's next project.  The yarn is boxed and will be off to her this afternoon. She is just finishing a vest and I should have it later this week.

Pattern: Veronika (purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: Worsted weight. The store sample will be in Eco + from Cascade. It was used a few times on Ravelry and looks great.

With a cozy, oversized shawl collar and textured ridge stitch body, Veronika will shine knit up in your favourite worsted weight wool. Whether paired with a tank, top or dress, Veronika is effortless and stylish. It’s sure to be a cardigan you’ll reach for over and over again. Knit in one piece, the unique construction of this roomy cardi makes it a quick and fun knit!

I emailed the designer, Shannon Cook, to ask if I could use her photos for the blog. Take a look at all her amazing designs...

Hi there! I’m Shannon of Very Shannon - a Canadian knitwear design company that focuses on modern, mindful and relaxing knits. 

I am continually inspired to create designs that are easy to wear, rich in texture, and that allow makers to have fun and feel confident in both my patterns and their skills. 

I hope that my designs find their way onto your needles and into your gorgeous handmade wardrobes and that they encourage you to slow down, take a breath and sink into the rewarding process of slow fashion. 

Be mindful, relax and make. 

These photos are from Shannon's Ravelry page and are copyright K Good Photography.

Then I came up with the idea that Lynn, Sarah, Wannietta and I should knit up Veronika to wear at the Knitters' Frolic in April. We've had 'uniforms' before and it's fun for us to be matching in the booth.

Of course I cast mine on. I'm using Arranmore from The Fibre Co. It is an aran weight so a bit thicker than what the pattern calls for but I'm okay with that. Now I'm on a mission. Beth and I are flying to Vegas on December 1 and I want to have this finished to wear at night when we're out walking. It can be very cold on a December evening.

Please join us and knit this awesome cardigan.

Doreen stopped by this morning to show off her new shawl. And if your shawl is this pretty then you should show it off.

Pattern: Kiah by Ambah O'Brien (pattern purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: 2 skeins of tosh merino light

Pick your favourite luxurious yarn and make every day more beautiful with Kiah shawl. Kiah grew out of a collaboration with local Australian yarn dyer Oyster Yarns. Simple garter stitch sets off a spectacular central lace panel that grows with the shawl, resulting in a large, airy piece perfect for warm weather wearing. The pattern is worked top-down in a symmetrical crescent shape and is lovely in any colour that strikes your fancy, from pale, go-with-anything neutrals to deep, saturated jewel tones. Choose one special skein from your stash and knit up the versatile small size, or pick two skeins for the generous large.

Now I'm back to my knitting. Baseball is on and Survivor was taped.