Thursday, August 31, 2023

Rowan Magazine 74

Tomorrow is the big day. Rowan Magazine #74 launches. This issue is amazing.

In Rowan Magazine 74 we are shining a spotlight on two yarns – the first being a firm favourite that has been in the Rowan range for nearly a quarter of a century, Felted Tweed, and new kid on the block, Fine Tweed Haze.

Felted Tweed My Way celebrates this very special yarn whilst championing the individuality of the Rowan design team. This is a yarn which is as fantastic for bold and brilliant colour work as for a classic one colour sweater. Lisa Richardson, Martin Storey, Kaffe Fassett, Quail Studio, Georgia Farrell, Chloe Thurlow, Vibe Ulrik, Erika Knight and ARNE & CARLOS do Felted Tweed their way, resulting in a wonderfully eclectic mix of designs and styles which is synonymous with Rowan. 

In Fine Tweed Haze we explore our new yarn which is a lightweight version of much-loved Tweed Haze. With a modern tweed look, punctuated with flecks of contrasting colours, it is as perfect for one-colour designs as it is for Fair Isle and slip stitch.

Designers Martin Storey, Lisa Richardson, Georgia Farrell, Chloe Thurlow and Quail Studio have created a classic collection of versatile garments and accessories, whilst exploring interesting stitch work and techniques, including top down and in the round.

Here are the garments in the brand new yarn - Fine Tweed Haze.













37% Alpaca, 37% Wool, 13% Polyamide, 9% Cotton, 4% Acrylic

21 stitches and 29 rows = 4” on 4mm needle

215m (235 yards) in a 50gram ball

The yarn will be on the website tomorrow morning.  

Mr. UPS brought in two boxes from Madelinetosh this morning. I started making more Alpine Bloom Hat kits. These are on the website. I will try and make more tomorrow. Most of my day was spent unpacking and then packing boxes to get Rowan 74 out to everyone who preordered.



Now it’s knitting time. My brain needs to slow down before bed.

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Geogradient

I channeled my inner Stephen West today.
I started making kits for Stephen West’s MKAL. I will continue adding kits over the next few days.

Welcome to the 14th Westknits Mystery Shawl Knit Along (MKAL)! We are going to have so much fun knitting an out of this world shawl design. This year’s shawl will be a geometric explosion of color using a gradient of four colors. Join me as I guide you through the mesmerizing stitches of this year’s mystery shawl with video tutorials throughout October. Get ready to blast off as we cast on Thursday, October 5!
You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry and the first clue will be delivered to your Ravelry Inbox on October 5th.

For the first set I used Emma’s Practically Perfect Sock.







For the next set I used SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock.



I finished another Alpine Bloom last night. I was able to get three hats out of one skein of Madelinetosh Woolcycle. 

The Amazing Race Canada from last night is waiting for us. First I need to wind a skein of Woolcycle. I’m going to make another hat. It’s a great way to show off different colours of Dyed in the Wool.

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Today is Tuesday

Kate Atherley has a new pattern. This is the Cabbagetown Winter Set. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Pattern uses three skeins of yarn: one dark solid/semi-solid, one light solid/semi-solid, one variegated.

This set of hat and mitts is a quick knit for a knitter experienced with stranded colorwork; and is also an excellent introductory project for those just starting out with the technique. 

They’re worked in the round, and offer sizes for the whole family; the mitten project assumes you have a little experience making mittens. The color pattern is charted.

It’s been a long wait but we finally have an order of Addi needles and Zauberball coming. Fingers crossed it will be here early next week. Our supplier has changed and the new supplier has everything figured out for shipping to Canada. Not all needles are coming but another order has been placed.

Here are the new colours that will be in the shipment. 
Crazy
Starke 6
Edition 3

There are more new colours coming in September.
The decreases have started. I might be able to finish it tonight.
Beth left this note at my iPad. All day I’ve thought it was Wednesday. I’m planning grocery shopping for the cottage. Making note of everyone’s appointments. Thinking about the boxes that are being delivered and the orders I need to send out. Everything has been based on today being Wednesday. I think I need to sit and relax for the rest of the evening.

Monday, August 28, 2023

Hat #3

I started my next Alpine Bloom Hat last night. It’s an experiment to see if I can get three hats out of one skein of Madelinetosh Woolcycle. I think I’m going to make it.

The main colour is Dubrovnik and the contrast is Dyed in the Wool The Meadows. These flowers really show up. 

I received a notification from UPS that our shipment from Madelinetosh should be arriving on Thursday.
These are the new colours of Woolcycle that are coming. We will also have a restock of the colours we originally ordered. I will make more hat kits once the box is unpacked.

Speaking of Mr. UPS, he stopped by today with a box from Spincycle. We have more colours of Plump that I’ll get online tomorrow.

Tara sent a few more pictures. I can’t wait to see it on Saturday afternoon.
Once I finish my work tomorrow I need to go shopping for hardware for the vanity. It came with stainless and brass. I need to find some in black.

Now back to the hat. I want to see what colour comes next.

Sunday, August 27, 2023

Tropical


The pattern calls for a Theme Pack from Emma’s in Practically Perfect Sock. We have those in stock. For the sample we used a Theme Pack in Super Silky. Super Silky is 80% Superwash Merino and 20% Silk. The drape is amazing. These kits will be arriving on Wednesday and I’ve already added them to the website.


You can also make your own combination with 10 Practically Perfect Smalls (lots are coming in the order).

From Emma’s Mom, Laura, who designed the shawl.

I live in the subtropics where we enjoy year round sunshine and hot sticky summers. I often find myself in a dilemma, do I dress for the weather outside or the weather inside? Outside the sun is blazing and inside the air is frigid, almost freezing! Enter Tropical Dilemma, the perfect take everywhere 

This gorgeous shawl is knit from the top down, beginning with a garter tab cast on. As you add increases to the spine and edges a triangular shape is formed. The simple repeat of knits and purl rows are memorizable and meditative, making this the perfect lazy day, knit night or Netflix project! Grab a kit of colorful yarn or use up bits from your beautiful stash, this shawl is all about letting the yarn do the heavy lifting so you can relax and enjoy!


I added a JUL Round Ring Leather Cuff.



The bathroom is almost finished. Tara called this morning about the grout on the floor. I bought black but they were afraid that it would bleed into the tiles so we went with grey.

Tara and Chris called us on Saturday that they needed until tomorrow to finish so we didn’t go up this weekend. It should all be done tomorrow except for the shower door. They need to come home so Chris will make a trip up in a week or so to finish.