LYS Day 2024

Lynn finished her Traveler Cowl. She used one ball of Noro Akari with 4mm needles. It is soft and squishy. Perfect for spring.

Lynn put on my Flora Daze shawl. I really enjoyed knitting it and can’t wait for December to knit it again. There were times along the way that I questioned the colours but when you see the finished shawl they look amazing together. Don’t second guess Emma - she knows what she’s doing.

Alex stopped by this afternoon with her current project. She is making the Tesselated Cardigan using Practically Perfect Sock, Dyed in the Wool and Emma’s Suri Silk. Alex has been in a bit of knitting slump so it’s great to see her knitting again.

SAVE THE DATE

LYS Day is Saturday April 27th. We are going to hold an outdoor sale in the morning (weather permitting). You thought you had fun at previous outdoor sales? You don’t want to miss this one. 

After the outdoor sale the store will be open. I haven’t heard yet but I’m hoping that Casapinka does another shawl pattern for LYS Day. If she does we’ll have kits.

We could run some in store specials. You never know - maybe there will be draws for prizes. 

We will have more details about LYS Day in April but for now save the date.

Casapinka designs a shawl that uses 2 skeins of fingering weight yarn. We are sent coupon codes for LYS weekend. If you purchase the yarn for the shawl we give you the code for a free pattern. This was the 2023 shawl.

Here are a few more LYS Day shawls.

There is some action in the garden. 

Fred wanted to help dad make muffins. 

Now it’s time to knit!!

WIP Wednesday

Mr. UPS brought a huge box of Malabrigo this morning.

Opening a box from Malabrigo is never boring. The bags of yarn are very colourful.

This is a new colour of Rasta.

Zanete Knits is hosting a Mystery Yoke-along. You can read more about it and purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Joining a Mystery Knitalong is like embarking on a thrilling knitting adventure! Over a few weeks, you receive a series of pattern clues that gradually unveil the final design. With each clue, anticipation and excitement grow as the project takes shape. 

The project will be a top-down round yoke sweater with deep running (past the sleeve separation) Latvian-inspired colourwork featuring geometric shapes.

It uses a Sport weight yarn, and high contrast is strongly recommended as the colourwork is quite intricate. 

Select a solid, neutral main colour and a vibrant contrasting colour that can change throughout. It’s essential to ensure a consistent contrast between the main colour and the colour-changing yarn. Avoid sections with minimal contrast, which may give the yoke an erased appearance. By doing so, you’ll achieve a captivating and visually appealing result.

The pattern asks for sport weight but the tension is 28 stitches to 4” on 2.75mm needles. I would use fingering weight for the body with Dyed in the Wool for the contrast. Biches & Buches Le Petit Lambswool would be my choice. This is only my opinion but I think that sport weight on that size needle would make a very stiff sweater. I think a swatch needs to be knit and blocked to see if you like how the yarn looks and feels.

Here is my Flora Daze (Advent) Shawl. I’m about to start colour 25. This will be the last picture until it’s blocked. I will confess that there were times when I was knitting the shawl that I questioned Emma’s colour choices. Now that it’s almost finished I love how everything came together. I will be knitting with another Smalliday Set next December and I will probably do this pattern again. Maybe I’ll use the fingering kit next time.

Boscoe went to school today and had fun playing with the other dogs. Thankfully he goes back to the office and Beth could wash his feet before bringing him home.

Merry Christmas

I hope you and your family had a great Christmas Day. It was very relaxing at my house. We didn’t host which meant lots of knitting time (while watching football) yesterday and today.

I have no clue why my mannequin is on an angle - I haven’t been drinking. I made it to day 19. The shawl didn’t get finished today but I’ll make it for New Years.

There were times that I questioned the colours but as I near the end I love how the colours are playing out.

Don’t forget about our Boxing Week Sale. I think I’ll be in the store tomorrow afternoon packing orders.

Now back to my shawl. I should make it to day 20 and I could get to 21 tonight.

Day 11

Billowing Braid Socks is Stephen West’s newest pattern. You can purchase it on Ravelry.

Make some cozy house socks with DK weight yarn! These cabled socks are knit top-down with a broken rib stitch and a plump cabled braid. Choose between four sizes and enjoy the relaxing rounds of textured stitches. The DK weight gauge produces a quick to knit project that’s perfect for gift giving or a fun weekend project for yourself.

Photos © Stephen West

I’m about to start Day 12. The surprise of the next colour is killing me. I really want to open each package but Beth won’t let me.

Mr. UPS came this afternoon to drop off a box of Spincycle. This is Starflower.

Holy Toledo

Bruised Ego

I need to run. The Amazing Race is taping and Beth is not so gently telling me to hurry.

Double Shot

Day 5 has been started.

Day 4 is finished.

The next week is going to be amazing in the store. Lots of shipments are arriving.

In the next few days we will be receiving 4 new colours of Noro Kureyon. 

The four new colours of Zauberball Crazy are on the way to us. My guess is that we will see them at the beginning of next week.

I talked with Della Q today and the Hat Boxes should be arriving at their warehouse in the next few days. We might have them before Christmas. Might. The Hook & Needle Cases and Midi Backpacks won’t be arriving until the new year.

This morning I had my flu shot and my next COVID shot. I was feeling yucky this afternoon so I had a nice long nap. I’m feeling better now so it’s time to knit.

Advent Knitting

#GivingTuesday

Thank you to everyone who donated. We collected $500 in cash and gift cards which will be divided between Ancaster Community Services and CityKidz. We also collected 115 hats and mitts. Dad will be taking those to Good Shepherd next week. 

The winners have been contacted and were very excited. Again, thank you to everyone who donated.

There was a knitting marathon last night and this afternoon. Beth and I have started 24 from the beginning. We watched the first season when it first came out (in 2001) but never watched the rest. We needed some binge watching TV and 24 was Beth’s suggestion. I was able to knit a lot last night because it was almost 1am when we stopped. Today we watched football but there could be a few more episodes of 24 before bed.

This is the first three days of my Emma’s Smalliday DK kit. I have the fingering kit as well but haven’t started it. I’m using the Flora Days pattern (purchased on Ravelry). This is the second attempt with the kit. I had the first three days knit using another pattern. The colours weren’t faded and I didn’t like the colour blocks. This is making me much happier.

This is my Hedgehog kit. I’m using the Hedgehog pattern Pelargonium which is free on Ravelry and love how the colours are working.

Fred is good but he had little boy surgery on Tuesday. He has to wear the cone for another week so Beth and I have been taking turns going to dads for dinner. Our dogs don’t like the cone but Fred is being very good about wearing it.