One more sleep

I totally forgot that tomorrow is April 1. I can cast on my Malabrigo!

I’m going to use Cirrus Gray, Piedras and Sabiduria. One of the perks to owning a yarn store is that you get to pick the best skeins. This skein of Piedras called to me the minute I opened the box. The rest of our skeins are dull with a lot less colour. One of the drawbacks of owning a yarn store is selling the yarn before you get to cast on.

If this colourway is the one you have to have, it is available on the website but only until 4pm tomorrow (April 1). If no one purchases it then I will be casting on my Temperance shawl with these skeins.

Turtlepurl is shipping us yarn next week. These are three of the new colours coming.

A big box of Knitter’s Pride needles and accessories came today including the new Mindful Blocking Mats.

Set of 9 blocking mats each measuring 12" x 12" for blocking small & large projects.

In soothing color of teal with floral prints that makes it suitable for various applications.

All mats fit together like puzzle pieces, giving the knitter various customized shape & size options.

Ideal for use with The Mindful Knit Blockers & Knitter's Pride T-Pins.

Mindful Swivel Cords are back in stock. Lynn swears by these. The cords will work with any Knitter’s Pride needle.

I’m tracking FedEx and the new Saddle Bags are supposed to arrive on Monday.

Colour is coming!

Popover

Linda emailed a picture of her new sweater. Stunning. It looks warm and cozy on this very cool March day. 

The sweater is called Seacross and you can purchase the pattern from The Fibre Co. The yarn is Lore.

Seacross is a seamless sweater knitted from the top down with a stunning five-colour yoke. The pattern includes two sets of instructions for the colourwork: one for knitters who are comfortable stranding several colours at once and one with swiss darning instructions for those who are less comfortable. Lore creates a light and lofty fabric that blooms beautifully when washed – perfect for colourwork!

Churchmouse Yarns has reworked their Flat Rib Popover in Rowan Cotton Cashmere. Wannietta knit me this vest twice (one grey and one beige) in Woolstok - it’s a great addition to your wardrobe.

Whether you wear it with denim or tailored pieces, this simple layer will have you dressed and out the door in a flash. It tapers imperceptibly to the hem for a boxy shape that doesn’t flare at the bottom. Dropped shoulders create a flattering line. The subtly textured rib pattern results in a smooth, flat finish that’s nice inside out, too.

We re-yarned this shell in Rowan Cotton Cashmere—a DK-weight blend of cotton and cashmere that seamlessly combines softness with strength. Cotton Cashmere is lightweight, creates clear stitch definition, and, once knit up in our Popover, a lovely drape. Plus, it’s palette of fresh, tonal shades is perfect for a summery top!

I have added a new section for Churchmouse patterns on the website. These are printed patterns to be mailed or picked up. If you would like to purchase a PDF of the pattern please visit the Churchmouse website.

I will continue adding patterns over the next few days.

The latest Field Guide arrived this morning. I will get the book on the website tomorrow. 

Off we go on a fascinating new journey! Our guide? Mary Jane Mucklestone, the beloved expert in stranded colorwork. Five designs to play with. With five interchangeable stitch motifs and the huge palette of Léttlopi yarn, we can play all day long. These are quick, tremendously fun designs to knit again and again.

The new Della Q bags should be online tomorrow afternoon as well. They were counting the boxes today and should be sending ours tomorrow.

 Lucy is very at home in our house. She walks in and goes right to her spot which is beside my chair at the dinner table. 

Pressed Flowers

This is the Easy Eyelet Scarf knit with tosh merino light and Shibui Silk Cloud. I originally took pictures on the mannequin but it looks so much better on Lynn.

You can purchase the pattern and download the free addendum on Churchmouse’s website.

Lynn said that the scarf is super soft. I had to make sure that she took it off before going home. 

In possibly the simplest lace pattern that exists (it’s a one-row repeat!), we’ve reinterpreted this wrap in so many yarns over the years. With the option to seam it into an easy poncho for a breezy, multi-season layer, it’s quick to knit—it’s got more holes than yarn!

We’ve knit this Easy Eyelet Wrap in a combination of Shibui Silk Cloud and Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light. Perfectly paired with the mohair fuzz of lace-weight Silk Cloud, Tosh Merino Light’s tonal washes of complementary, hand-dyed color gain a glowing halo. Together, these yarns have the soft, lightweight warmth we love season after season!

We’ve resized our Easy Eyelet Wrap with a free adaptation to make sure we took full advantage of both Tosh Merino Light and Silk Cloud’s yardage. We kept the scarf narrow to gain a lavish length! And with the extra yardage of Tosh Merino Light, we added an abundance of fringe.

Diana finished our store sample of the Temperance Shawl. I took quick pictures before I left the store yesterday.

The shawl is big and beautiful.

Beth’s scarf is growing. She really likes knitting with Dyed in the Wool. Maybe too much. 

My secret project. Pressed Flowers - I’ll show coloured pictures on April 9. The first repeat of the pattern is a bit fiddly but after that it becomes intuitive.

Dad had his first vaccination yesterday and has had no complaints so far. He said the process was quick and easy. His next shot should be in July. Beth and I are patiently waiting for ours.

Saddlebag

I came home from work early to update the website - we received boxes this morning. The updates are on hold for a few minutes.

Della Q sent an email that the Maker’s Canvas Saddlebag is arriving in the US on Monday. My order is in and we should see the bags just after Easter.

Rugged yet refined, the color-blocked waxed canvas and genuine leather bag will marble with age as it patinas and scars in a beautiful fashion. Coming in five classic colors, each has been carefully selected to complement all seasons, rendering them timeless pieces and wearable year-round. Handcrafted from water-repellent waxed natural canvas, these bags are durable, functional, and long-lasting.

I will add these to the website on Monday once it is confirmed that they are on the way. I want to make sure that I receive all the bags that we ordered.
 

MAKER'S SADDLEBAG DETAILS:

•   Designed for Makers - Sturdy Waxed Canvas and Leather Exterior- Lots of Pockets
•   Outfitted with antique bronze hardware
•   Two separate compartments for storage
•   Hidden back zip compartment for important items and documents
•   Adjustable detachable strap
•   Multiple interior pockets for your electronics
•   A yarn feeder and yarn cutter
•   Pattern holder sleeve

Each bag is packaged in a bio-degradable protective bag. 

Dimensions: 12" wide x 12" tall

Regia sock yarn came in the boxes. Kaffe Fassett in the top picture and Arne & Carlos in the bottom picture. One ball will make a pair of socks.

We have been waiting a long time for Rowan Felted Tweed and a few colours came back into stock. Colour 177 Clay and 211 Black are available again.

I finished the knitting on my secret project. I will show coloured pictures on the 9th when we can start selling the yarn. The pattern is Andrea Mowry’s Moonwhistle - you can purchase the pattern on Andrea’s website.

Combine squishy garter, beautiful colors and simple slipped stitches and you’ve got yourself a super lush shawl that is so fun to knit! During the colder months of the year, I always crave simple, heavier shawls to knit and to wear. This shawl kept me feeling cozy from cast on to that first wrap around my shoulders!

The shawl was fun to knit - super mindless knitting. And now that it is finished I have started a new secret project. When I am a bit further I will show black and white pictures.

Wellerman

Caitlin Hunter (Boyland Knitworks) has a fabulous new pattern.

Photos © Caitlin Hunter

Inspired by the spindly evergreen trees and mossy paths around my home in the Pacific Northwest, Wellerman is a super cozy shawl perfect for wrapping yourself up in when the weather turns chilly. 

This elongated triangle shaped shawl is knit from the bottom up, which I love because the rows get shorter as you go! Wellerman is shown here in 2 sizes, large and medium, which are achieved simply by using different yarn weights and needle sizes. The large size is massive for maximum coziness, and the medium is a more modest size that is great for daily layering.

I was inspired by the sea shanty, Wellerman, that went viral on TikTok this past winter. It made me think of irish fisherman sweaters, and capturing that look in a shawl!

You can purchase the pattern for Wellerman on Caitlin’s website or on Ravelry.

Lynn has been running through the store picking yarns for the shawl. The larger version (shown in off white) is knit in worsted weight.

Here is her basket that includes

• Kathmandu Aran in Peridot and Beige
• Woolstock in 1303 Highland Fleece
• Madelinetosh Vintage in Sugar Coat
• Harrisville Highland in Foliage and White
• Cascade 220 Heathers in 8011

The dark grey version is smaller and is knit in sport weight. We were thinking Patagonia Organic Merino, Arranmore Light or Rowan Felted Tweed. Caitlin suggests a 3.5mm needle for the sport weight version. In my opinion that might be too small of a needle. Please swatch. 

There is green appearing in the garden.