Granny Squares

Tanis Lavallee has a new sweater pattern that combines knitting and crochet.

I have had the idea for this sweater in my mind (and in my heart!) for years but I was too daunted by the unknowns of combining crochet with knitting to tackle it. Well, now that I’ve done it, I don’t know what I was afraid of! These sister crafts were meant to work together and I am beyond thrilled with the results. This sweater combines just the right amount of unique challenges with easy, mindless stockinette stitch. I’m in my Granny era and I love it!

Tanis used a DK weight yarn for the crocheted granny squares and a worsted weight yarn for the knit portion. You can use as many or few colours as you’d like for the crochet. Don’t forget that you can double fingering weight (sock yarn) and that makes DK. Cascade 220 Superwash Merino would work great for the knit part. 

You can purchase the pattern for Fleetwood on Ravelry.

One of my favourite shawls to wear is Andrea Mowry’s Birds of a Feather (pattern purchased on Ravelry).

The shawl is knit with 2 skeins of HHF Skinny Singles and 1 skeins of HHF Kidsilk Lace. There are still great colours available in the discontinued colours.

Photos © Andrea Mowry

Laine Issue 19 arrived today.

 

Our stunning winter issue is here! Laine 19 — called Kaolinite — celebrates the meditative nature of crafts. The beautiful, serene photos were taken in a ceramics studio, and the patterns offer a relaxing break from the everyday.

Issue 19, Winter 2024, includes:

• 148 pages
• 11 knitting patterns (both charts and written instructions provided): 4 sweaters, 1 cardigan, 2 vests, 1 skirt, 1 shawl, 1 hat, 1 pair of socks.
• An interview with the Japanese artist Tomomi Mimura, who uses basic darning stitches to embroider charming animal characters.
• An article about the American sheep shearer Pony Jacobson, and why this age-old craft is vital both for sheep’s health and the textile industry.
• Jeanette Sloan’s Fibre Talk: A regular article on Jeanette chatting with interesting people. In this issue, she meets Sari Monroy, a fibre artist and writer who draws on her Mayan Kaqchikel heritage.
• Five Ways by our regular writer Päivi Kankaro, who explores what kind of skills knitters should practise to increase their brain health.
• Where I Knit: a regular piece that pictures people knitting in their favourite spot. In this issue, we meet Atia, who knits in her beautiful London living room.
• Seasonal recipes to inspire your winter cooking.
• Book reviews.

Designers featured in this issue: Alexandra Atepaeva, Jennifer Brou, Maxim Cyr, Ronja Hakalehto, Helga Isager, Pauliina Leisti, Agata Mackiewicz, Yukie Onodera, Marie Régnier, Jacqueline van Dillen and Veera Välimäki

The Cocoknits Project Wallets arrived this morning. This is to give some context to the size. The Tim’s cup is XLarge and the water bottle is 500mL. It isn’t huge which is good because it will easily fit in your knitting bag. I need to fill mine up for the trip. 

I’ve decided to take some Spincycle Dream State with me on my trip and knit another Traveler Cowl. I wore mine today and love it. It isn’t too heavy but it keeps your neck warm. I love to wear shawls but sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to put it on to look good. You don’t have that issue with the cowl. Throw it over your head and it looks great.

We had some great news today. My dad visited with his Oncologist and his numbers are dropping. The doctor was pleased and we are even happier. He goes back in 6 months for another check up. What a relief!!

59 & 60

Mr. FedEx stopped by this afternoon with the new colours of Noro Ito.

This is #59

This is #60.

Susan Ashcroft used one ball of Ito to make the Noro Fan Scarf (pattern free on Ravelry).

We also received some 9” circular needles from Lykke in 2.25mm, 2.5mm and 2.75mm.

I’m still deciding what to take to knit while I’m away. I have lots of partial projects but garments are too big to take

• Tessellated Vest - pick up stitches on armhole and neck
• Trinigan - pick up for sleeves and then do neckband
• The Throwback - finish one sleeve and then do the front bands before steeking

Then there are some shawls

• DRK Everyday Cowl - I’ll finish that in a day so I’ll need to have another project
• Pelargonium Shawl from HH - that would require taking lots of mini skeins
• Attune Shawl - brioche isn’t plane knitting
• Stephen West MKAL - not plane knitting
• Log Cabin Afghan - I’m at the putting together stage - definitely too big of a project to take with me

As you can see it’s a conundrum and I’ll have to start something new 😀. This also shows that I have a few more than a few projects to finish.

Dear Diary

Alex used two skeins of Dyed in the Wool (Dear Diary) to knit Palmistry (pattern purchased on Ravelry). Alex used the fingering weight pattern. The designer also has a DK, Worsted and Chunky version.

Palmistry is the art of reading the future using the lines of the hand. The lifeline is the most important line in palm reading, and it is the star of these mittens. The thumb gusset is easy to work and creates a clean ridge along your lifeline. If you are looking for a mitten adventure, I predict you will find what you seek in the Palmistry mittens. The Palmistry pattern includes instructions for fingerless or full mittens. This pattern looks great in solids and speckles, but is particularly fun in self-striping yarn.

I’m flying to Vegas on Saturday night. The store will be closed on Wednesday and we’ll be open again on Thursday morning at 11am.

I need to figure out my travel knitting. 

Today was busy between a dentist appointment (in Smithville) and a hair appointment (in downtown Hamilton). Dad and Fred were here for dinner and now it’s time for a bit of knitting. Or a rest. I visited my doctor yesterday and I have a sinus infection. Between the infection and a headache due to the weather today I need to put my feet up.

Tree of Life

Freia Fibers has a new shawl pattern called the Tree of Life Shawl that you can purchase on Ravelry.

The placement of the shaping (increases) is dictated by the random number generator you will use while working this shawl. No two shawls will ever be the same, but they will all be equally beautiful and engaging to knit. This is a great project to practice your brioche stitches, working only one color at a time in a reversible design.

This looks like fun. I don’t have the colours in stock that Tina used but we do have many colours that would make an amazing shawl. 

We are going to have two brand new colours of Noro Ito later this week. #60 is above and #59 is below. I can’t wait for #60. I think I will be using it for a Nightshift.

The first armhole ribbing is ready to be cast off. I was hoping to finish before the end of the month but that isn’t going to happen. It will be a March finished project.

I was in the store early this morning packing boxes. I couldn’t wait for Mr. UPS so I took them all to the UPS store. The garbage bags are full of boxes. There are going to be some happy fiber folks tomorrow when the Big Brown Truck pulls up.

Now to cast off my ribbing and watch TOC on the Food Network. The Voice blind auditions start tonight as well. I think that this is the best part of the show.

Happy Saturday

This is the Striation Valley Shawl from Stephen West (pattern purchased on Ravelry).

Enjoy relaxing rows of wavy stripes and chevrons with this luscious top-down shawl pattern. Four colors of fingering weight wool and one color of lace weight mohair silk are striped together throughout fabric. The mohair silk yarn adds a delicate and fluid drape to the fabric. I used Punk Rock Unicorn’s Soul base for the four wool colors and their Moe base for the fluffy mohair halo. Increases and decreases form the mountainous peaks and valleys in the shawl. Each section features a variation of the yarn over placements to create large yarn overs in some sections and little eyelets in others. There are so many fun color options to try with this beautiful shawl shape. Choose one color family with light, medium, and dark tones for a harmonious effect or select any five contrasting colors for a vivid and energetic Striation Valley Shawl.

Photos © Stephen West

When I showed the Traveler Cowl the other day I gave the wrong colour number. The cowl is knit with Starke 6 in the colour 2248.

It was crazy day today. Thanks to everyone who visited. I’m writing early because we are having a family dinner tonight. Aunts and Uncles are coming and we are having lasagna (that dad, Beth and I made last night). We’ll have lots of laughs. Even though it’s a small group the house will be very loud!

Cocoknits Project Wallet

We have confirmation that the Cocoknits Project Wallets are on the way.

From Cocoknits

When traveling, Julie wanted something that kept her tools organized, was lightweight and durable, roomy but compact, and gave her quick access to whatever she was looking for. Her answer is the Project Wallet. This standing accordion pouch is ideal for organizing all of the tools and needles needed for any knit or crochet project - whether traveling or at home. It's small enough to throw into your project bag, but big enough to fit everything you'll need. With 11 pockets and 3 removable tabbed folders, it expands to hold all the tools and notions for your current project. The top flap extends over the pockets and is secured with a waxed cotton cord that winds around an all-natural corozo button. It stands upright on a flat surface when expanded for easy access. Made of the same washable kraft paper fabric as many of our popular products; it is easy to clean and eco-friendly.

Contents featured in pockets are not included.

Made of sturdy washable paper

Dimensions:

• 5.5" / 14 cm tall x 5.5 / 14 cm wide x 1/2" / 1 cm deep (when flat) / 5" / 12.5 cm deep (when expanded)

11 pockets

• 5 large, 2 medium, & 4 small

Top flap extends over the pockets to close, secured with a waxed cotton cord

Eco-friendly corozo button

• plant based, sustainable material made from the seeds of the tagua palm tree
• plastic-free and biodegradable

Stands upright when expanded

Includes 3 removable tab folders.

These are online for preorder. 

Ambah O’Brien has a new shawl pattern that you can purchase on Ravelry. Meet the Florescence Shawl.

Knit up this special shawl and keep this for yourself or gift it to a dear friend. Worked from the bottom up, featuring a floral motif with geometric styling inspired by Art Deco design motifs. Use solid colour yarns or add extra love with gradient or colour change yarns for either C1 or C2 and create an heirloom piece to enjoy for years to come. Choose between the fingering weight or larger DK weight options for this statement project. The mosaic pattern is more prominent with highly contrasting colours. 

NOTE: The colour work instructions are charted only for this pattern. 

DIMENSIONS
Fingering DK weight 
Top Edge: 72 95“/180 237.5 cm 
Depth: 22.5 28”/56 70 cm 
Measurements taken after blocking. 

YARN
Fingering DK weight 
C1: 400 495 yd/366 453 m 
C2: 430 546 yd/394 500 m

For the fingering weight version Ambah used a Yarn Bomb from Freia with a solid coloured fingering weight yarn.

Your yarn selection is unlimited for the DK version.

Today was really long so I’m going to say goodnight and head to bed. I need to be awake for a busy Saturday in the store.

Moving Around

Diana dropped by yesterday afternoon with the Travelers Cowl that she knit for the store. She followed the measurements and the size is perfect. I was afraid that Lynn was going to take it home.

Pattern: Traveler Cowl (pattern purchased on Ravelry)

Yarn: Starke 6 - one ball of colour 2248 with enough left over that Diana didn’t have to worry about running out.

Needles: 3.75mm

Lynn also put on the Traveler Cowl that I knit with Dream State.

Lynn and I did a thing today. We moved around lots of yarn. Kureyon has a new home. This was the start.

Ito has moved.

The Shift no longer lives at the front door.

The Cooma Cowl moved in beside The Shift.

These are some of the HH skeins that are going on sale tonight. We made a small display at the door and the rest is in the front room.

Rowan Big Wool and Brushed Fleece relocated.

The Kureyon wall is finished. The colors are in numerical order which makes it easier to find colours.

Of course we made a big mess. Tomorrow Alex and I will try to get things back in order.