Flowers

The Pressed Flowers Pullover is worked from the top down in the round with an allover mosaic color work pattern. 

The stitch pattern is charted. If you are unfamiliar with mosiac knitting and reading charts, consider starting with the Pressed Flowers Cowl to familiarize yourself with the stitch pattern. 

The neck is shaped with short rows, the German short row method is recommended for this project. This section of the pattern could be a little spicy for some, I suggest working this short section when there are few distractions and you can take your time. 

This sweater has a relaxed, slouchy, vintage sweatshirt style fit. It is shown worn with 12-13” of positive ease- it works just was well with 2-3” of ease and anything in between. To find the right fit for you, measure a piece of clothing (like a sweater or sweatshirt) that you love. Measure from side seam to side seam at the underarm and choose the size closest to that. 

Next measure the length of the garment you love from the shoulder seam at the neck edge to the hem. To balance the amount of positive ease, the sweater shown has a somewhat cropped body- compare the total length from the shoulder to the hem and consider adding an extra round of flowers to the body before you begin the rib, if you like a little more length- Plan your yarn purchases accordingly.

Amy Christoffers just released the pattern for the Pressed Flowers sweater. The shawl was addictive so I would guess that the sweater would be a joy to knit. The sweater will definitely be on my list for fall knitting.

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry. 

Photos © Amy Christoffers

Amy suggests DK weight yarn with 4.5mm needles. There aren’t many finished projects on Ravelry yet but I think you could use Malabrigo Rios for the sweater. You could use Rios for the main colour with Dream State for the flowers. 

Mr. FedEx brought us a box from Lykke. We are well stocked on double pointed needle sets.

Made out of lightweight birch, these needles won't cause hand fatigue. A metal band in the center of each needle marks the size, so you always know which one to grab.

If you look at the top of the blog you will see LYS Day 2023. All the information you need for the day will be here. I will be updating it as more information is available.

The weather today was amazing. I could see the flowers in the garden growing. After dinner I went home with dad to get my car. It’s been in his garage all winter. I had the top down and it was glorious. And tomorrow is supposed to be better.

Reward

The new colours of Kureyon have been photographed and are available online and in the store. I need to go through the older colours and photograph them but that wasn’t a job to start today. I thought about it and then gave my head a shake.

It feels like we have been waiting forever for our Lykke Blush Double Pointed Needle Sets. Okay, it’s been a year. They are finally on the way.

Our next shipment from Atenti has reached Toronto. It is with Canada Customs now and fingers crossed the box is released soon. Since I started my post I received an email that it has cleared and we should see the shipment this week. This is the Wild Garden Hope Basket. There are a few other Hope Baskets coming including Posy.

Dad, Beth and the dogs are home. They are all very tired. Sitting on the dock fishing is very tiring.

Survivor is on and I’m going to finish Elah. I have 20 rows on my sleeve and then the ribbing. I should be blocking it this weekend.

I am going to reward myself with a new Inclinations Shawl when I am finished. It will be perfect knitting for Camp weekend. Once you get going the pattern is easy to memorize.

Photo © Andrea Mowry

My second Inclinations Cowl.

It was cold this morning. Sweater weather is here 😀. 

Tough Love

Since my earliest days of knitting, I have loved to play with stripes! This little striped pullover lets the “wrong side” shine, because sometimes wrong just feels right! Faux seams adorn the center front and back of the sweater and encase the sleeves. Metamorphic fits like a classic, with details that make it anything but ordinary! 

This sweater is knit from the top down (meaning you can try it on as you go and add length to suit your own personal style!), beginning with the collar. The beautiful reverse stockinette stripes are created by knitting the sweater inside out so you can avoid all that purling! Slipped stitch faux seams encase both the sweater and the sleeves. The sleeves are returned to the needle after finishing the body, picking up stitches for the underarm for a totally seamless sweater!

The pattern is available on Andrea’s website.

Photos © Andrea Mowry

I played a little today with colours for the Metamorphic Sweater. Andrea always gives yarn substitutions and one she suggested is Lore instead of Metamorphic/Versus. There are finished projects on Ravelry and someone used Lore.

Another yarn Andrea suggests is Crazy Zauberball. I think that it is too thin and Zauberball Starke 6 would work better. Lynn has some Lore and Crazy at home and is going to swatch to see.

I took more pictures but they aren’t online yet. The website and I had a fight today. I’m not talking to it right now but I’m sure we will make up tomorrow or maybe later tonight.

Last night I learned a new cast on. The 2x2 Tubular Cast On taught by Andrea Mowry.

There has been talk on Twitter for the last few days about using different cast ons. I’m not that person but I should be. Andrea uses the 2x2 Tubular Cast On for many of her sweaters and hats. If I’m going to knit Metamorphic then I better learn the technique. 

Andrea’s video is very good. I think I will try it on scrap yarn to master it and then start the sweater.

The website and I came to an understanding and I was able to update our SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock. A big box came this morning.

80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon 425 yards / 388 m per 4 oz / 115g skein 

A perfect blend of warmth and strength to make a hardwearing sock yarn that can stand up to your affection and abuse. Tough Love Sock is our best-selling yarn and knits up beautifully into fine-gauge sweaters, small shawls, as well as socks! Spun from 80% superwash and super soft merino and 20% nylon, this 3-ply yarn is so versatile — knit it firmly for hard wearing socks, knit it loosely for drapey shawls, or knit it doubled for a great worsted weight substitute. Suggested gauge for sock knitting: US 0-1 (2-2.25mm) | 8 sts/1″

I have used Tough Love Sock for many shawls and the yarn is very nice to work with. I don’t knit socks but if I did I would definitely use Tough Love Sock.

If you are thinking about Tweedy now is the time.

It’s time to say goodnight. I have a few more things to update on the website. Lykke Blush tips arrived today.

Working from Home

Beth and the dogs went to work this morning. We didn't have much snow in our neighbourhood but she said that the roads weren't great. I decided to work from home. I'm going between a newsletter and my post.

Knitting Barber Cords are coming tomorrow. The website has been updated.

Lykke ball winders and swifts are on the way to us. Maybe tomorrow but probably Monday. These are only available for store pick up. If you want one shipped please contact us and we will figure out the shipping costs. Please note that these are heavy = more shipping costs. We can not give free shipping if a ball winder or swift is in your order.

We will also have individual Lykke Blush tips and cords - both 3.5" and 5" tips. I have them on the website and when the box arrives I will update the inventory.

Mindy Sleeves from Lantern Moon have arrived.

Special tool case with 5 narrow sleeves for storing a variety of tools. A fabric flap at top and a magnetic dot closure keeps all contents in place.

Open Dimension : 4.5”h x 4.5”w

These slip nicely into your knitting bag and are great for holding cable needles, sewing needles, repair hook... 

Photos © Stephen West

Painting Squares is another pattern in Stephen’s new book.

This geometric design features a self-striping yarn as the main color with a solid contrast color. Slip stitch squares form an easy to knit check pattern. The edges are framed with I-cord and the cast on/bind off technique creates the jagged edge.  

You can easily customize the length of this fabric by binding off early or continue to work the pattern repeat for a longer size.

Stephen used Zauberball Crazy with a fairly solid fingering weight yarn. I say fairly solid because it can have a bit of variation but you don’t want a crazy handdyed yarn with 15 colours in it - you won’t see the stripes from the other yarn.

The pattern can be purchased on Stephen’s website.

I knew we had the Olympics starting soon but didn’t realize that soon was this week. This will be the first time I don’t have an ‘Olympic project’. I don’t want to start anything because there is a new Andrea Mowry pattern coming next week that I want to start. I am going to use the Olympics as a time to finish projects. It will be a race to see how many I can cast off. There are quite a few that are very close.

I wrote this post earlier today and then sat down to knit. I pulled out my Inclinations Shawl that was almost finished. I knit 6 rows and cast off.

Beth claims that this doesn't count because the Opening Ceremonies hasn't happened at the Olympics. I claim that it does count because events were on TV last night.

Now I'm onto project #2.

Blush

We received a restock of Sirdar Cotton DK today.

A fabulous cotton double knitting yarn for hand knit and crochet projects. The yarn is made using mercerised cotton to create a subtle sheen and incredible stitch definition so it’s the perfect yarn for lace knitting, cables and crochet work. With a wide range of flattering inspired by summer holidays, you'll find the perfect shade for any sunny project. Cotton DK is a classic double knitting yarn that will knit to all Sirdar’s DK designs and is machine washable.

If you are looking for summer patterns, we have some for the Cotton DK available online. There is a chart with the number of balls you need on each pattern page. 

You can purchase patterns on Ravelry as well.

We also had a small restock of Lykke needles. Blush double pointed needles have arrived. These are in the Fuchsia Denim Effect Case. The Basketweave Case will be coming later this spring.

There hasn’t been much knitting on my cowl. Maybe a few rows tonight.