It’s Growing

Zaneknits has a new pattern that you can purchase on Ravelry.

Dunia Sweater is an all-over colourwork sweater worked seamlessly top down in DK weight, so it knits up relatively quickly. The set-in sleeve gives you a clean shoulder line even with the generous positive ease, and you can try the sweater on as you go and adjust the length to suit you.

It’s worked in one main colour and multiple contrast colours. Some of them are quite neutral, some are bold and unexpected. Together they create a sweater that feels alive and a little unpredictable. You could knit it in just two colours for a more minimal look, but where’s the fun in that.

The floats are short, so the knitting is relaxed and intuitive. There are portions that ask for your focus and portions where you can just settle in and enjoy the rhythm. It’s a great balance making it a satisfying knit from start to finish.

Dunia is the Arabic word for the world. I see it as colourful, diverse, and full of contrasts. Sometimes it demands your full attention and sometimes it just lets you breathe. This sweater is a bit like that.

I threw my sweater over my friend so you can see how far I am.

The neck looks huge - I might have to add a few extra rows of ribbing to bring it in a bit tighter. That’s a tomorrow problem.

I thought I was further on the front. I still have 7 rows before I get to start the colourwork.

It was a bit of a lazy day. Last night dad and stayed up very late watching the football game. I couldn’t drag myself away. Now we’re watching hockey and baseball. More knitting time.

Antipodes

Anitpodes won the ‘not finished’ lottery and I pulled it out Thursday evening. I sat at the kitchen counter because I was picking up stitches for the left front and it’s easier on a solid surface. Last night I was able to finish the left front. This morning I picked up the stitches for the right front. I wanted to keep going but if I did the first row I wouldn’t stop and then the store wouldn’t be open today. I hope to finish the right front after work and maybe join the two fronts tonight. 

Lynn is almost finished hers. She’s on the bottom ribbing and then blocking. I set a deadline of October 1st and she’s going to make it!!!

I also soaked my Tally Tee last night. It was wrapped in towels overnight and now it’s lying out on towels.

Arne & Carlos are back – with 65 brand-new festive decorations to knit, inspired by the magic of a Norwegian winter!

Best-selling and globally beloved knitters Arne & Carlos have created 65 charming new knitted designs so that you can bring a touch of a Scandinavian winter into your own home this festive season. Each of the seasonal balls is adorned with stylish, colorful motifs to make your tree sparkle with festive cheer. 

65 New Christmas Balls to Knit features:

• Advice on selecting tools and materials, including yarns, fillings and additional sparkly embellishments
• Photographic step-by-step advice on all the key techniques required, including casting on, increasing, decreasing, working stranded colourwork and making a hanging loop
• The basic pattern to get you started, which is the
   basis of all 65 knitted balls
• Themed collections for the 65 decorations, such as Let It Snow, featuring fir trees and snowflakes; Flora and Fauna, including holly and reindeer; and Traditional, which harks back to ski jumper design motifs and red, white and green colorways. Each of the patterns is explained by a chart; there are no complicated instructions to follow; so once you’ve mastered the basic pattern you can create any of the designs simply and easily
• 7 delicious Christmas cookie recipes inspired by the designs, for a true taste of a Scandinavian Christmas.

Enjoy the festive magic, God Jul*, and happy knitting!

(*Merry Christmas)

The book is available in the store and online.

I’m early to make sure there is a post today. I’m worried I’ll get home and start knitting and then tomorrow morning I’ll yell at myself because I forgot to hit publish.

Question of the Day

Would you rather?

-Be able to read minds

OR 

-see 10 minutes into the future

Lack of Sleep

Lynn brought in her Antipodes today. It’s growing and I’m jealous. She has joined the front and back and is working in the round.

Here are some colour combinations for Laura Dobratz’s Tally Tee. I used Practically Perfect Sock for these

Jackie O

Dusk til Dawn

After Dark

Set Sail

April 2026

Love & Leche

Denim

Mom Jeans

Whisper

We had a great dinner last night. Our friends left and we took the dogs out to do their business before bed. Fred got sprayed by a skunk in our yard. 🤬 

It took some time to get him cleaned up and the house cleaned up. Most of the smell is gone. There wasn’t much sleep for anyone and we’re all dragging today

Question of the Day

Would you rather

• Never know where you are going?
• OR
• Never know when you are leaving?

Botanic Scarfle

Stephen West has a new pattern.

You can purchase the pattern for the Botanic Scarflet on Ravelry.

This beginner friendly small shawl begins at the wingtip with an I cord Tab Cast On. Increases along one edge gradually shape the fabric as you work stripes and slip stitches. Only one color is worked at a time as you stripe each color for two rows each. Once you reach the center mid-point of the shawl, decreases shape the triangle toward the other wingtip. This shawl shape is very relaxing to knit and easy to customize by simply knitting more repeats for a longer size or work fewer pattern repeats for a shorter length. Color changing yarns like Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy create the beautiful shifting tones in the garter ridges.

I have knit the Botanic Shawl and would highly recommend the pattern. 

Photos © Stephen West

I have a few more rows and then my back section is finished. I said I was taking it away with me and Beth asked if I was nuts. It’s going to take up so much room. Yup. I’m nuts and it’s coming. I hope to put a dent in the knitting. I’m also taking my Shift in Torzal for when I want something small that fits in my purse.

I was in the store today sending out boxes - there are going to be happy yarn people this week. All orders placed by Thursday at noon will ship before I go. 

It might be time to take another look at the website. In the stop right hand corner it says August Sale. These yarns, needles and accessories will be on sale while I’m away. All orders placed will be shipped when I get home.

Antipodes

I’m going to show you Lynn’s sweater first because she has knit much further than I have.

Lynn is using Kathmandu Fingering (01 Slate Grey) with Dyed in the Wool (The Family Jewels). She has finished the back portion to the point where Andrea says to stop. Now she has one front finished and has picked up the stitches for the second front. 

Here is mine. The stitches are picked up. It took some time last night - I was tired and shouldn’t have started but they are picked up and I’ve knit a few rows. There were some bad words said - my dad kept saying “what is going on over there?” 

I’m also using Kathmandu Fingering (21 Rapini) with Dyed in the Wool (Wild Horses). Now that the stitches are picked up I can get going!!!

This was my set up last night. It was easier to sit at the kitchen counter and I could lay the shoulder piece out to pick up.

Lynn was with me today and unpacked a huge order of Addi needles. The website has been updated. We also received Crazy Zauberball, Zauberball Starke 6 and Edition 3. The website has been updated for these as well.

Today’s question of the day

• Sock, sock, shoe, shoe 

OR

• Sock, shoe, sock shoe

Now time to get knitting!! Have a great evening.

One of a Kind Nightshift Kits in Dream State

I was on a mission today and put together kits for Andrea Mowry’s Nightshift (pattern purchased on Ravelry) using Spincycle Dream State.

These kits are One of a Kind. If you are interested in a sold out kit let me know and I will try and put together something close.

I have knit many Nightshift kits in Dream State and they are all beautiful.

Nightshift Photos © Andrea Mowry

As I was writing my post I kept coming up with more combinations. 

I spent time with the skeins putting them in the best order for the shawl. The actual skeins are marked A-F (A is the far left on the picture). You can use the colours in whatever order you want - this is just a suggestion.

I wasn’t lying when I said I couldn’t stop.

The saddle is finished on my Antipodes. Not great pictures but it’s hard to photograph. Once I get the back stitches picked up I will be able to show you better.

Dad has been bugging Beth for days to cut the grass. It’s been so hot that Beth has said no but tonight they’re doing the backyard. Beth will have to wrestle the lawn mower away from dad and get him to rest. He is going to be exhausted when he’s done but it’s great exercise.

Now it’s time to pick up stitches.

Busy few days

My car was back at the dealership today so I sat in an office at the construction company to do work. They are just down the road from each other and the dealership didn’t have a loaner vehicle for me. Then there was a bit of knitting.

Yesterday was a crazy busy day. Up early, have breakfast, shower, get ready and out of the house before 8am. I was at the passport office at 8:13. I know the time because Beth and I were texting. The office opened at 8:30 and I was on my way out at 8:45. My passport expires in January so it had to be renewed now. Then I went to the store and packed lots of boxes. Thank you to everyone who ordered over the weekend. The boxes were packed in my truck and delivered to UPS and the post office. Grocery shopping then a trip to Denningers. I got home just as the family was pulling in from the cottage. I had a short nap then started on dinner. 

This morning started busy with a trip to the doctor with my dad. He’s good but as he gets older there are small things that the doctor needs to keep track of. Then back to the dealership. My truck was supposed to be finished in 2 hours but they ran into problems. I picked it up after 4 hours but it has to go back in. 👿

Boscoe in his favourite office chair.

He laid beside me while I knit.

The back of my sweater. I am finished the back neck shaping and have started down the shoulder.

Lynn was coming to unpack boxes tomorrow but now we’re waiting until Thursday. It’s going to be super hot again. She isn’t going to be happy because more boxes are coming tomorrow and then more again on Thursday.

Stay cool tonight. I hope you’re inside playing with yarn.

The Cast On

This happened last night. 

I cast on Antipodes. I chose a colour that no one has ordered and I’m in love. The background colour will be back in stock later this week - I’ve already ordered it. The contrast is Wild Horses. It’s going to be bright.

I cast on with the needles that the pattern suggested but I am knitting too loose. This afternoon I started again and the tension is still a touch loose but much better.

Why are there two needles? You start with a provisional cast on. Andrea has you do a really cool version where you cast on to a second needle so when it’s time to use the stitches they are ready to go. No picking out waste yarn. I used a 100cm (40”) needle for the cast on and the saddle shoulder is being knit on a 60cm (24”) needle. Because of the different lengths it is easy to figure out which needle to use.

 

Here is Andrea's video which is very easy to follow. Grab two circular needles, scrap yarn and give it a try.

Now a few more rows before bed. It’s going to be a busy week.