Happy Monday

For spring (coming in February) we have two different fade packs of yarn coming from Rowan.

The first fade pack is Felted Tweed. We will have more pictures but this is all I could get for now. You need two packs to make this wrap. One pack will make a scarf. Lynda is making the wrap for me right now and it is amazing!!

There are six colours of Felted Tweed in the pack and there will be three different combinations available.

The second pack is six colours of Rowan Kidsilk Haze. There will be three combinations available in these kits. I like the scarf that Rowan knit but I see this pack in another scarf.

Churchmouse's Color Play Mohair scarf takes 4 balls. This isn't a really long scarf - imagine it with 6 balls.

The Claremont Cabled Hat is another new pattern from Blue Sky Fibers. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry and it takes two skeins of Woolstok.

This hat is a beautiful blend of cables and stockinette with just the right amount of slouch. Knit with two hanks of Woolstok, this warm and stylish hat is a great weekend project. 

Introducing a new colors of Woolstok (Worsted) with this pattern: 

Lilac Bloom No. 1325

Yarnuary
Day 20 - a goal you have

This stumps me. I have achieved so many things with my knitting and because of my knitting. I don't have a goal other to keep knitting.

Sunday

Cape Bay by Martin Storey features the yarn Softyak DK. This is another book coming from Rowan for spring.

Softyak DK transcends the seasons thanks to its blend of cotton, yak and nylon. It has a stunningly soft handle and is static resistant and anti-microbial, which means the fabric stays fresher for longer. The chainette construction makes it surprisingly light for a cotton rich double-knitting yarn and it's available in 19 colours, ranging from muted tones to rich jewel shades.

You can look at a Rowan book and know which designs are from Martin Storey. His cable work is amazing.

Yarnuary
Day 19 - your favourite fiber

Wool. Hands down. End of story. I'm not picky. If it comes from sheep I like it.

Finishing Projects

Here are some of the pretty garments from Rowan 67. The magazine should be in the store at the beginning of February.

Yarnuary
Day 18 - something you struggle with

Finishing projects is the first thing that jumped into my mind. I love to start things but I'm not the best at completing them. You've seen many items cast on. A colour calls my name or there is a new pattern on Ravelry. I just had to try that new yarn.

My Comfort Fade Cardi from October 2018.

Fading Point from July 2018. It is so close to being done.

Stephen West's Marled Magic Shawl from November 2017.

Maybe this will shame me into finishing items when I get home.

MODE at Rowan

The Spring Mode at Rowan magazine will be arriving in February.

MODE brings quality and timeless design to the forefront and provides you with stylish hand knitwear through this season and beyond.

The colour palette for spring is beautiful.

Yarnuary
Day 17 - knitting in your family

My mom taught me to knit when I was young but the knitting genes really come from my dad's side of the family. When my Oma and Opa packed up the six kids and moved from Holland to Canada they were only allowed to bring a limited number of suitcases. They were on one of the very first flights from Holland to Canada. My dad still talks about the fact that one suitcase was full of wool - Scheepjes. His other story is about getting hand knit underwear every year for Christmas. Scratchy, itchy wool underwear. His aunt made them for him and his siblings. This aunt owned a yarn shop in Holland. That was over 70 years ago. It looks like I was destined to have a store.

Heading to TNNA

I'm on my way to TNNA. Okay, TNNA is in Phoenix and I'm stopping in Vegas first. I'll be in Vegas for a few days and then on Saturday morning I fly to Phoenix. I don't know how much writing time there will be. I've written a post for every day with lots of pretty knitting pictures. If I have time to sit and write then there will be days with two posts.

Knox Mountain Knit Co. knit their Jade Bay Shawl (pattern purchased on Ravelry) in worsted weight. The original version was knit in fingering weight. I really like the look of this shawl in the heavier weight yarn.

Tucked into the shores of Kalamalka Lake, Jade Bay is one of the lake’s many great beaches. Named for the Okanagan chief that occupied it’s shores, Kalamalka Lake is one of only a handful of ‘marl lakes’ that display the reaction of limestone deposits to temperature change. In summer these deposits crystallize, giving the lake its blue-green hue. 

Jade Bay is a top down, triangle shawl consisting of squishy garter stitch and a simple lace border. Designed for your favorite solid colour, two complimentary colours, or a main colour and a mini kit.

I think know that I want Jade Bay knit in this new colour of Woolstok.

Blue Sky Fibers has designed a new scarf for Woolstok called Ramsey Ribbed Scarf. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

This warm scarf is a great next step beginner project. A simple 10 row repeat of rib and garter provides beautiful texture in any color your choose. 

Introducing new colors of Woolstok (Worsted) with this pattern: 

Northern Lights No. 1322 and Morning Frost No. 1324

Yarnuary
Day 16 - your first finished item

I had been knitting for years but it wasn't until I was 15 that I actually knit a sweater. Patons book 440 using Patons Shetland Chunky.

I turned my back on him for two minutes and this is where he went. He loves Lucy's spot.

It looks like we will be seeing snow on Saturday. Cathy and Sarah are working and will be driving in from Kitchener. If the weather is bad they will be staying at home and the store will be closed. Please call the store before heading out on Saturday if the weather looks bad.

Woolstok

I can finally share the new colours of Woolstok with you. They should be arriving within the next two weeks. I know Linda who owns Blue Sky Fibers and begged her to add new colours. Thank you Linda - these are gorgeous.

1321 Loon Lake

A two-ply yarn from the highest quality Peruvian Highland sheep. Extremely soft and rich in character with excellent stitch definition.

1322 Northern Lights

1323 Ember Glow

1324 Morning Frost

1325 Lilac Bloom

1326 Mossy Green

Photos ©Jenn Steingass

Jenn Steingass' Silverlining (pattern purchased on Ravelry) is perfect for Woolstok. Add in Dream State for the yoke and have a knockout sweater.

Silverlining is worked from the top down, seamlessly and in the round. Simple geometric shapes on the yoke create a mirror image and the motif sequences are rhythmic and meditative as you work. With top down construction, an easy yoke chart requiring just 2 colors per row, and with worsted or DK weight yarn that knits up quickly, I consider this to be one of my easiest yoke sweater patterns that’s both approachable for colorwork beginners and fun for the experienced.

Lynn is wearing our store sample of Tensho (pattern purchased on Ravelry) and Sarah is wearing her sweater. Both are knit with Woolstok and Dream State. Yes, we really like Woolstok in the store. It is a great yarn that doesn't break the bank.

The sweater is knit from the bottom up in the round, and the body and sleeves joined at the underarm. A few raglan-style decreases are made before beginning the circular yoke color work, which incorporates more decreases. Short rows are worked just before the colorwork for a better fit around the neckline. The sleeves can be knitted using the magic loop method, or using dpn.

We all used Woolstok for our Throwbacks.

Yarnuary
Day 15 - your best memory

This picture is from close to 30 years ago. I had a booth at the Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival in Toronto. Our booth was all Rowan yarns and many of our samples were Kaffe Fassett designs. Kaffe and Brandon came by the booth and took a picture with me. Wow. What a thrill.

Cathy and Sarah are working in the store on Saturday. Right now the forecast is for snow. Lots of snow. They are driving in from Kitchener - if the weather is bad they won't be coming and the store will be closed. If the weather is bad on Saturday please call the store before heading out.