August 2021

Baby Jackson from this week in 2021. I went back through pictures for tonight’s post and found these. He was so small. 

This is Stephen West’s Botanic Shawl that I finished this week in 2021. I used 3 skeins of Le Petit Lambswool with 4 skeins of Dyed in the Wool. My shawl is huge and you can definitely make it smaller.

This triangular shawl is knit sideways starting with a tiny corner increasing to the border. Stripes and slipped stitches decorate the linear lines of the fabric. One solid yarn combined with one self-striping yarn produce an exciting project that’s easy to knit and fascinating to watch the colors unfold. This pattern is a great beginner shawl project with simple stitches. You can stop early for a smaller shawl or knit more repeats for a larger shawl.

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry

I threw a few new combinations together before going home.

Thank you to everyone who purchased online and visited the store during our sale. The last boxes are going out tomorrow. Now a bit of knitting. Beth and dad are watching a movie so I’m going to join them if I can get Boscoe out of my chair.

Joji Locatelli

Joji Locatelli is having a pattern sale in preparation for her fall KAL.

Here is a link to Joji’s Ravelry page for more information.

It has been a long day which means a short post. I was in the grocery store at 8:30 this morning and then in the store by 9:30. I packed boxes until 5pm. Thank you to everyone who purchased over the weekend and today. I like coming home really, really tired.

All our Addi CraSy Snake double pointed needles sold today. We are expecting another shipment soon. It could be the end of the week or the beginning of next week. I will update the website as soon as they arrive.

Now it’s time to knit. 

Just a reminder

The store will be closed from Tuesday August 26th until Monday August 31st.

• You can still order online during this time.

• Orders placed by noon on Monday August 25th will ship before I close.

• Any orders placed while we are closed will be shipped and available for pick up the first week of September.

• I will be checking emails during this time if you have any questions.

Scrappy Wrappy

It’s always a great day when Stephen West releases a new pattern. There are so many pictures to share.

This is Scrappy Wrappy and you can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Gather a colorful collection of fingering weight yarns and lace weight mohair silk to knit this large brioche wrap. Change colors in each section for a striking collage of two-color brioche and reverse stockinette stitch stripes. The chevron motifs gradually increase in size to form an expansive asymmetrical shape framed with I-cord edges. You can customize the size by knitting the wrap as long as you want. Dive into your stash and have fun knitting this scraptastic brioche beauty! 

Photos © Stephen West

Take a look at the front of the website - I’ve added some new products.

Tonight I’m dividing for my sleeves. The family is home and they are watching a movie. I’m sitting at the kitchen island so I can lay everything out and make sure I have my stitches correct. I don’t want to get to the end of the row and realize that I didn’t count correctly and need to rip out and start again.

Cosmic Connections

Thank you to everyone who visited and shopped online yesterday and today. We’ve had a great few days celebrating our birthday with more days to go.

It’s almost time for Lisa K. Ross’s MKAL.

“Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.” – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam 

Are you ready to take your knitting experience out of this world?! We are headed over the moon with this mystery knit that was designed to be unlike anything you’ve found on Earth! This opulent wrap takes inspiration from stars, galaxies, outer space, and everything else the universe has to offer. The knitalong fun will take place on Ravelry and Instagram. Click here to share your colors, ask your questions, and connect with other knitters all over the world. It’s time to reach for the stars! 

What to expect:

• unique construction
• lace
• bias knitting
• cables
• slipped stitches
• color changes

All techniques with charts will also include written instructions. I’ve created tutorial videos to guide you through any new techniques. There will NOT be any stranded colorwork or brioche. This design is intended for intermediate knitters, but my patterns and tutorials are designed to guide adventurous beginner skills to the next level. The best part of a KAL… there will be lots of helpful knitters to keep you from getting lost in space! 

Finished dimensions:
??? (See my previous MKAL wraps to get an idea of the general size and shape it could be: Garden Variety, Just Beachy, Mountain Musings, Secret Forest, and Wings of Wonder)

Here are the important dates you'll need for this MKAL:
September 3 - 1st clue released 
September 10 - 2nd clue released 
September 17 - 3rd clue released 
September 24 - 4th clue released 
October 1 - 5th clue released 
October 8 - 6th clue released 

October 22 - final day of MKAL; post finished object photos in the Ravelry group 

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry. 

Use code LIFTOFF to pre-order this pattern for 50% OFF through August 18 (EDT)! Join the Cosmic Connections MKAL in my Ravelry group!

Want to see the (no longer a mystery) wraps from the previous years? Use code WRAPITUP for 25% OFF each of my previous MKAL wraps. Click here to see them all!

Emma’s has put kits together. These are available online for preorder. They will arrive at the end of August. We will do our best to get them to you for the September 3rd cast on but we could be a day or two late depending on where you live.

Each includes two skeins of the main color in Practically Perfect Sock and one Practically Perfect Half in each of the seven coordinating colors.

The family is having a good time at the cottage. I had a nice nap after work and now I’m going to sit and knit for a bit.

Cinnabar

I put together kits for Andrea Mowry’s Cinnabar. The shawl is knit with Spincycle Versus (now discontinued but I had stock) and Dyed in the Wool. All the kits are one of a kind and you will receive the skeins that are pictured. 

Garter and brioche will always be my go-to ingredients for creating my favorite shawls to knit and wear! This shawl plays with two-color Garter and Brioche with the increases offset to create an asymmetrical shawl that wants to be wrapped right around you! This shawl turns up the volume on texture by using DK weight yarn in one color and Sport weight yarn in the other color! 

DETAILS
This shawl is knit top down with asymmetrical shaping and encased in a garter stitch border. One half of the shawl is 2 color brioche and the other half is 2 color garter stitch.

Cinnabar was my first real brioche project. I was afraid but Andrea writes a great pattern.

Kits are available online and in the store.

The kits are marked down and if you order during our Birthday sale you will receive an extra discount.

SURPRISE

It’s our 38th birthday and we are having a surprise sale. I woke up early this morning and couldn’t get back to sleep. When I looked at my calendar I realized it was a special day so I put the wheels in motion to have a surprise party. Two newsletters have been written. The discounts are set up online. The website has been updated so that the sale information will show up on every page. It’s been a busy morning.

• The sale will start at noon on Thursday August 14th and run until 8pm on Tuesday August 19th.

• 15% off everything in the store and online. The discount is automatic - you don’t need to put in any codes.

• The discount will be applied to regular priced and sale items that are online and in the store.

• No points will be earned during the sale.

• Please don’t use your points during the sale - this will cancel the automatic discount. Save them to use at a later date.

Thank you for celebrating with us.

CraSy

Addi CraSy-Snake Lace double pointed needles should be arriving next week

Secure hold for loose stitches. The ergonomic shape fits comfortably in the hand - ideal for longer knitting sessions.

Whether you want to knit elegant socks or fine cable patterns. With the wavy needles addiSnake, knitting has never been so pleasant! The structure ensures that stitches stay securely on the needle - without losing any stitches. Beginners and loose knitters in particular benefit from the control. An innovative development with CraSy - Sylvie Rasch.

• The wavy shape ensures a firm grip
• The needles do not slip out of the stitches – even with a particularly loose stitch pattern
• Fine lace tips are perfect for demanding knitting techniques
• Solid metal needles are robust and durable

Of course, Made in Germany.

For the perfect grip

The uniquely shaped needles of the addiCraSySnake Double-pointed needles surprise with a particularly secure hold in the hand. The wavy shape of the needles guarantees that the snakes won't slip out of your knitting - even if you are knitting particularly loosely.

The wave shape is also easy to grip and hold, as the waves give the fingers a secure support to hold the needles in the hand. This makes the Double-pointed needles particularly interesting for beginners who are switching to double-pointed needles for the first time and for people with handicaps that make gripping difficult.

An innovative shape with added value

Wavy needles can only be used for cable patterns? Not at all! The wavy shape not only holds cable stitches but also the stitches of Double-pointed needles. Who hasn't had the experience of Double-pointed needles slipping out unintentionally and disappearing into the crack of the couch? This won't happen with the 15 cm long addiCraSySnake. Due to their special shape, these needles neither roll away nor slip out of the stitches.

It takes some getting used to at first, but after trying it out for the first time it's simply brilliant!

Fine lace tips for easy piercing and knitting

The fine lace tips enable easy knitting of fine patterns and multiple insertions in stitches. This makes it particularly easy to knit increases and detailed intricate patterns.

The solid aluminium tips are also particularly dimensionally stable and robust. This keeps the knitting needles in perfect shape. Thanks to their anodised surface, they glide wonderfully through the stitches 

I will get these online when they arrive. I can’t wait to try them. 

The family is off to the cottage tomorrow. Beth’s plan is to come home on Sunday so I’ll have a few days by myself. I hope to get back to my knitting. It has been sitting beside my chair for a few days because I’ve had other things that needed to be done.