LYS Day

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Night Lights

Deidre just finished Night Lights for the store. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

I am happy with how the colours played out.

Estelle Superwash Merino - 325

Edition 3 - 2298

I sent extra yarn so Deidre could make sure it was a good size. The great thing about the shawl is you can make it as large or as small as you wish. When you get halfway through your yarn you start the decreases.

Deidre used a 4mm needle and increased to 127 stitches. She had very little yarn left over.


The colourwork is almost finished. Isabell suggested to start with a provisional cast on. When the sweater is finished you put the stitches back on a needle and cast off. This way you can make sure that the neck opening is as tight or loose as you like. You can also add ribbing around the neck if you choose.

The family is off to the cottage in the morning. I’ll have a few quiet days at home. They’re coming home Sunday night or Monday morning to beat the traffic so I won’t be joining them. Tuesday dad and Beth are off to Peterborough early for a job meeting. Beth tried to postpone it but couldn’t. Maybe I’ll get to go with them next weekend.

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Surprise Sock Along

Welcome to the third annual Westknits Surprise Sock Along! It’s a mystery knit along for your feet! We are going to knit a new pair of socks this summer with surprising new details and design elements. The first clue launches Tuesday, July 29. The Westknits Surprise Sock Along is all about learning fun new techniques with detailed video tutorials as we knit a part of the sock each week for four total weeks of sock clues (instructions). 

At the end of the Sock Along you will have a beautiful pair of finished Delectable Collectible Socks. You will need 5 mini skeins of fingering weight sock yarn in contrasting colors, some knitting needles, and a few stitch markers. I’m going to guide you through every step of the way as we experience an inspiring month of sock knitting together. Thanks for joining me on this surprise sock adventure!

Photos © Stephen West
Here is the link to Ravelry to join the fun.

Not everyone likes a surprise. The first clue came out yesterday and many knitters have posted pictures of their progress on Ravelry. Here is a link to the pictures.

We should see two brand new colours of Dyed in the Wool next week. Bitter Pill


Field Day

My air conditioning was fixed late this afternoon. Thank goodness. It was 83 in my store today so I didn’t do any work. I quietly sat at the front table. Tomorrow I can start unpacking some boxes.
-Spincycle from last week
-Emma’s including the August Crazy Beautiful Colour
-Addi Turbo needles

I mentioned that I was writing out each row. I find it much easier to glance at than the chart. 

Now a few rows before bed.

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Happy and Sad

My knitting is growing.

I’m having a hard time reading the chart which is telling me it’s time to have my eyes checked. I am writing out every row - thankfully there are only 14 stitches in the repeat so it doesn’t take long.

It’s been a crazy few days here. The air conditioning in the store died on Friday. Wow it’s hot in the store. I couldn’t get the HVAC company in yesterday because I was running around for our dinner party. Today we had another commitment so hopefully they can come tomorrow.

Today’s commitment was both sad and happy. We had the funeral for my Great Uncle Bert who was loving referred to as Uncle Bert. Uncle Bert was in his 100th year and he lead an amazing life. It was always a joy spending time with him. He had so many stories and we all loved having dinner at Swiss Chalet together. It was sad because losing a loved one is hard but it was happy because he was ready to go. He’s with his wife who passed years ago and he’s with my mom. Mom and him were very close.

The dogs were tired when they got home from the cottage yesterday afternoon.

Now back to my knitting. Top Gun is on. 
This photo is from January of 2014. We were at TNNA in San Diego and our friend Thomas (from the UK) had read about the bar in San Diego where they filmed the piano scene from Top Gun. We had lunch there and Thomas was happy to get photos.

Monday, July 28, 2025

Giardino

Of course I cast on the sweater.

I’ve had lots of time to knit. Here is the yoke of Giardino (pattern purchased on Ravelry) through row 25. 

Isabell’s pattern is well written and easy to follow. She does something interesting at the end of the row in the colourwork and I really like it.

Dyed in the Wool Pick Your Poison

The main body is Le Petit Lambswool in the colour Dark Burgundy Grey.

I have a bit more knitting time tonight. Tomorrow is a busy day. Packing orders and then getting ready for a family dinner. Nothing fancy - just a BBQ but I have errands to run to get ready. I think we’re expecting 10-12 people. Thankfully the house is clean. The ladies who clean for us came after dad and Beth left for the cottage. There is no dog hair on the floors. The family will be home late afternoon so there won’t be time to get things messed up.

Happy Sunday! I’m moving back to my knitting chair.

Friday, July 25, 2025

Casting on?

I might need to cast this on tonight.

Isabell Kraemer has a new pattern. I’ve knit one of Isabell’s patterns and love the fit. You can purchase the pattern for Giardino on Ravelry.

Giardino is worked seamlessly from the top down. First some short rows are worked back and forth to create a higher back neck and then the yoke is worked in the round with beautiful floral/ornamental colorwork to sleeve separation. Some last short rows are worked to finish the yoke shaping right before sleeve stitches are placed on hold. The body is then worked in rounds down to the colorwork and hem. Sleeves are worked top down to the cuffs last. No finishing required.

The sweater is knit in fingering weight yarn. I think I will use Le Petit Lambswool for the body and Dyed in the Wool for the colourwork. Mr. UPS is bringing a box from Spincycle this afternoon with Ghost Ranch and Pick Your Poison. After I see the new skeins I will decide my colours. 


Dad, Beth and the dogs are at the cottage. The dogs were in the water within 2 minutes of the boat docking. 

Pick Your Poison - a very different version from anything I’ve seen before.

Ghost Ranch which is our best selling colour of Dyed in the Wool.

I have yarn and needles. Have a great evening!

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Coming Tomorrow

Tanis Lavallee has a new pattern coming out tomorrow. You can purchase the pattern (tomorrow) on Ravelry.

The Tahari Tank is my perfect, fitted summer tank. The straps are wide enough to wear whatever you like underneath. The neck is high enough to feel both sporty and chic. It’s exactly the piece I’ve been searching for!

The tank is knit in fingering weight yarn so you have many, many options. 




Beth is golfing with our friend Lisa at Lisa’s course. The theme is Canadian. Lisa takes it to the next level. Here they are in their ‘outfits’ and their golf cart. 

They won for best costume/golf cart. I told Beth that it’s a look. Not sure if it’s a good one but they are definitely Canadian.

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Colorwork

Diana was in today with a finished project. Actually 2 projects. This is the Colorwork Cap from Churchmouse Yarns. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry. 

The hat is knit with 4 balls of Rowan Felted Tweed. 

A delicious taste of stranded colorwork, this cute cap is fun and engaging, and still simple enough for first time stranders! We’ve created a four-color motif, which—as is traditional—uses only two colors per row. Then, we came up with three different color palettes and six different charts (two charts for each palette). And then threw in one more ‘plain’ chart, so that you can make up your own colorway! 

This Colorwork Cap shines in a finer DK-weight, warm and woolly yarn with a great color palette. So we picked perennial favorite Rowan Felted Tweed!

Diana knit 2 hats from the 4 balls and there is definitely enough to knit at least one more. 

Dad and I were baking while Beth was grocery shopping. We made 2 loaves of banana bread and then 24 banana bread muffins. Now it’s time to hang pictures. We are having people for dinner on Monday and the walls are bare.

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

New Kits

Dad and Beth were on the road early this morning. I was on dog duty. I brought home a big basket of yarn to take pictures and get new kits online. There are different colours combinations for the Attune Shawl.

This is a brand new (to us) colour of Patagonia called Seaweed.



What the Fade?! I would definitely make this shawl again,

There are new combinations for Autumn Alpine.


The above combinations are on the website. I made a few more but Shopify is acting up so the combinations below will be online tomorrow.


We are expecting fun boxes tomorrow. New colours of Le Petit Silk & Mohair and new colours of Malabrigo Rios.

The Jays are on and it’s time to knit!


Monday, July 21, 2025

What the Fade?!

I finished last night.

Dad was very concerned about all the ends hanging. I told him not to worry - Alex will look after them.

When I was finished I went back to my Temperature Blanket. That is going to be my knitting tonight while we watch the Jays.

I’m on dog duty tomorrow so I’ll get a skein of yarn wound and get back to Night Lights.