Painting Shawls

Stephen West has new patterns coming out tomorrow. I ‘borrowed’ these pictures from Instagram. You will be able to purchase the patterns individually or as an ebook on Ravelry or Stephen’s website.

Photos © Stephen West

Stephen West's newest book is almost here, Painting Shawls contains 13 knitting patterns to paint with yarn. The shawl patterns featured in the book are a mixture of new and existing Westknits shawl patterns. They all feature a main colour with contrast colour pops, so you can customise the colours for your own wearable work of art.

I can’t wait for this pattern. Freia Minikins might work great mixed with Madelinetosh Merino Light.

We hope to get copies of the books but it won’t be until summer. It is too expensive to have them shipped from Europe - we need to wait until they are printed in the US.

We are expecting snow on Wednesday and Thursday. If it comes we won’t be in the store for pick up on Thursday. Please call ahead of coming to make sure we made it in. If the answering machine picks up then we’re at home digging out.

We have a date for reopening. Wednesday February 16th. Our hours will be Wednesday - Saturday from 11am-4pm.

The Freia Wall. We need to do a bit of tweeking and find a few colours that are missing but I think it’s very pretty.

I’m behind on my Temperature blanket but will try and catch up tonight. Now I’m just one day behind. It has been very dark because it’s been so cold but the next few days are going to be warmer so I’ll be working with lighter colours. 

Football Sunday

It’s half time of the football game so this is going to be quick. 

I worked on Velvet Mirror this afternoon until I reached the halfway point. Now the chart changes and the main colour becomes the contrast and the contrast becomes the main. The pattern calls for two skeins of Dyed in the Wool. I’ve decided to join the second ball now. No two balls are alike - even when we try to match skeins they will be different. This way each half is from it’s own ball.

The second half just started. 

Here are some dog pictures. Lucy is doing really good but has been having some problems with the leg that had the latest ACL surgery. They are doing surgery on Tuesday to take the metal plate out.

Jackson and Boscoe love their toys. The toys are put in the toy box in the morning and by dinner they are all over the house.

My cowl yesterday. Boscoe is lying on the pouf at my feet.

It’s the second half of the football game and time for the second half of the Velvet Mirror Cowl.

Happy Friday

We received a beautiful box of Shawl Pins from JUL this morning. All the shawl pins and shawl sticks are online.

We also received two boxes from Freia Fibres. 

Lynn starting moving the Yarn Bombs and Shawl Balls to make it easier to see the colours. When I left the Yarn Bombs were up. I can’t wait to see the Shawl Balls up in the morning. Next week we will be rearranging Minikins in the front room so that they hang as well.

Harvest and Metropolis grabbed me when I opened the box. The first thing I thought of was Romi’s Leaves in a Stream. Kits are available online. 

You can purchase the pattern on Romi’s website.

This is our store sample that has been thrown over a sweater in the front room. The colours are Pt. Reyes and Autumn Rose.

This is Romi’s original shawl knit in Cloud and Coral Reef.

I wanted to show a project made with Minikins and Lynn suggested the Harlow Hat. Alex knit the hat for the store and did an awesome job. The colours turned out amazing. The stitch pattern is Brioche which makes the hat totally reversible.

Pattern: Harlow Hat - you can purchase the pattern on Andrea’s website.
Yarn: 2 Freia Minikins - 1 Dirty Hippie and 1 Squid Ink

Alex knit the medium and made one change. She did the length one inch SHORTER before starting the decreases for the top. If you knit the full length you will run out of yarn.

From Andrea

When I cast on this hat, my intention was to design my ideal, go-to hat pattern. A perfect jumping off point for beginner briochers to try on their newly acquired skills - this hat is great for any gender or age, and the color possibilities are infinite! We all need a dependable hat pattern right?? This is the pattern I know I can depend on for stash busting, wardrobe enhancing, or a quick gift for someone I love!

Stay warm. It’s so cold the dogs don’t want to go outside.

Blush

We received a restock of Sirdar Cotton DK today.

A fabulous cotton double knitting yarn for hand knit and crochet projects. The yarn is made using mercerised cotton to create a subtle sheen and incredible stitch definition so it’s the perfect yarn for lace knitting, cables and crochet work. With a wide range of flattering inspired by summer holidays, you'll find the perfect shade for any sunny project. Cotton DK is a classic double knitting yarn that will knit to all Sirdar’s DK designs and is machine washable.

If you are looking for summer patterns, we have some for the Cotton DK available online. There is a chart with the number of balls you need on each pattern page. 

You can purchase patterns on Ravelry as well.

We also had a small restock of Lykke needles. Blush double pointed needles have arrived. These are in the Fuchsia Denim Effect Case. The Basketweave Case will be coming later this spring.

There hasn’t been much knitting on my cowl. Maybe a few rows tonight.

Norwood

Cheryl just finished a beautiful sweater and sent pictures.

Thought I’d share with you my Norwood sweater by Jennifer Steinglass. 

It’s made with Buches and Biches yarn that I got from you. It took 4 skeins grey and 1 gold. The yarn was very nice to work with although it has a very “sheepy” smell. A bit of a bath in Soak took care of that. The sweater is like a cloud. 

Thanks for sharing Cheryl. 

If you have a finished project with our yarn and would like to share, please email me pictures. I love sharing your work.

I talked with Biches & Buches today and there are new colours coming very soon. HURRY!!!

My Temperature Blanket is up to date. The darker the teal the colder the day.

Another new colour coming soon.

I took this from Freia’s website. The balls look so pretty. We have a big shipment on the way to us. I can’t wait.

I worked from home today. I was supposed to be writing a newsletter but I fell into the website rabbit hole. I started adding kits and it took longer than it should have. The newsletter still isn’t finished. Tomorrow morning. It’s almost time for The Amazing Race.

Teaser

Joji has a new sweater called Marble Mount.

Marble Mount is a circular yoke sweater with lace details falling down from the neckline. It is designed to be close-fitting, but you can go up a size if you prefer a looser fit. Absolutely no finishing is required.

You can purchase the pattern 

- on Ravelry

- on Joji’s website

The sweater is knit in fingering weight so you have lots of options. Someone on Ravelry knit the sweater out of Le Cashmere & Lambswool. Le Petit Lambswool would work as well.

Photos © Joji Locatelli

Kathy finished her Painting Waves and it is awesome. She used the Cabochon Freia Minikin Palette Pack with a dark fingering weight yarn for the lines. Maybe someone will take a picture of her wearing it so that I can show it.

The box of Zauberball is unpacked. The colours for our Crazy Scarf are restocked. 

Lynn is having fun unpacking the Madelinetosh order. Now I need to get the website updated (it’s mostly finished - just a few new colours of tosh merino light to add tomorrow).

Andrea Mowry sent out a newsletter today about a KAL for her Everyday Socks. You can find the information in her Ravelry group.

Photo © Andrea Mowry

At the bottom of the email she added this.

Curious about the sweater I wore in the Mint Velvet Cowl photo shoot? It's a new design using Spincycle Yarns Dyed in the Wool and Metamorphic and it is coming out super soon! Stay tuned!

I shared these a few weeks ago. These are colour suggestions from Spincycle for the new sweater. Versus and Dyed in the Wool. We have all the yarn in stock and will be making kits the minute the pattern is available.

Here is a little teaser. There are new colours coming from Hedgehog at the end of February/beginning of March.

I pulled some skeins of Neveruary out of the box and made a new kit for Pressed Flowers. I purposely picked 3 skeins that were different.

I fell a bit behind on my Temperature Blanket. I have a few days to catch up on so it’s time to knit.