Shlanket

Alex stopped in this afternoon with her knitting. She is knitting Stephen West’s Quadrangle Spires. It is amazing!!!

I am so jealous - I want to knit the shawl but I haven’t had time.

The pattern calls for 6 colours of Dyed in the Wool but Alex is using 3 - Midsommar, Big Sky and Love Spell. Her main colour is Practically Perfect Sock in Barbie Girl. These colours are so Alex - that girl loves pink!

Stephen West has a new scrappy pattern. This is called the Block by Block Shlanket. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Gather a colorful pile of leftover yarns and knit this fun garter stitch shlanket (shawl + blanket)! Begin in the center with a sequence of square shapes, then knit each block one section at a time. The fabric is knit seamlessly by picking up sts from the previous sections. The rows are easy to memorize as you enjoy customizing the blocks with colorful leftovers from your shawl and sweater projects. You can knit a fingering weight version or a DK weight version to utilize all of your collectible yarn bits. The pattern includes video links to help you cast on and weave in ends as you knit!

Photos © Stephen West

This is Beth’s desk at work. Jackson was lying here this morning when Fred decided he needed to be there. Jackson was not pleased.

Sylvie and Fred

Isabell Kraemer has a new pattern called Sylvie P. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

From Isabel.

today marks year 1 after the back surgery
and I thought I’d like to celebrate this milestone with a promotion: use code happy1st at check out to get ALL self published patterns 50% off (code is valid until Friday, July 28th, midnight Berlin time) … enjoy!

Isabel writes an amazing pattern. I knit Elah and it was one of the best written patterns I have ever followed. It is also the best fitting garment that I have ever knit. Isabel understands sizing.

Here are Isabell’s patterns on Ravelry.

Back to the new pattern. I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss the discount!

Sylvie P is worked seamlessly from the top down.  

Both the back and the front are worked in Stockinette stitch in a sportive stripe pattern, with an additional “faux” seam that runs down at the center of the back. Knitting starts with the cast-on of the shoulders for the back. 
Once the short row shaped shoulder slope is done, the back is worked flat to underarm. Shoulder stitches are picked up to work the fronts to the same length. 
At underarm both fronts and back are joined to work the body in one piece top down back and forth to the bottom hem. 
Then the button bands and shawl collar are worked.

You can make this a fun Cardover/Pulligan (= a pullover that looks like a cardigan ;)) by sewing the buttons through both layers of the button bands or work buttonholes to make it a “real” cardigan.

Last the sleeve stitches are picked up around the arm openings to work the sleeves in Stockinette stitch top down in rounds to the cuffs. 

modifications/adjustments 
The body and the sleeves can be lengthened or shortened by working more or less rows/rounds before starting the ribbing. Size can be adjusted by working widthwise from the size you need/want for your bust/chest, and lengthwise from the size you need/want for your upper arms. Upper arm circumference is determined by the armhole length plus underarm stitches - work more or less rows for both fronts and back (follow instructions for a smaller/bigger size) to adjust armhole length.

Pockets could be added to your liking. The pattern doesn’t include instructions for pockets, but provides a link to a great tutorial.

Be aware that the amount of yarn needed will change with each alteration.

Beth and I made the executive decision that dad couldn’t be without a dog. He needs a little friend to walk around the neighbourhood. It gets him out and he loves chatting with the neighbours. We did a lot of research last week and talked to a lot of breeders.

When I was dog sitting yesterday dad and Beth picked up Fred. We made it a name that is easy for my dad. 

When we told dad he was a bit worried that it might be too soon. We assured him that Lucy would be okay with it. She has a great life with mom now and she wants dad to be happy too.

He is part Collie and part Golden Retriever. We didn’t want another big dog. It took a toll on dad trying to help Lucy get up for the past year.

I met Fred this morning. He is very cute and likes to snuggle.

So far Fred likes the truck. 

He met Boscoe and Jackson this morning at the office. Boscoe isn’t too sure and Jackson isn’t bright enough to think that a new puppy is a bad thing. Beth is golfing today so I looked after the dogs this afternoon. Dad and Fred came for dinner. Boscoe still isn’t too sure but it’s the first day.

I finished Washed Out this afternoon. It needs a good blocking but here it is so far.

Now a bit of paperwork and then knitting.

Slip Stitch

Hedgehog Fibres has a new pattern called Born Slippy. It is a free pattern.

Beginner friendly slip stitch scarf that lets your yarn shine. Combine Hedgehog Fibres Tweedy colourway of choice with a variegated or speckled Merino DK colourway that you love and watch the multi-coloured blips emerge. 

Size: 190cm x 37cm (75 inches x 15 inches) 

Yarn: 
Colour A: 2 skeins of Hedgehog Fibres Tweedy (230m/100g). Colourway pictured: Connemara. 
Colour B: 1 skein of Hedgehog Fibres Merino DK (200m/100g). Colourway pictured: Oyster

I’m casting off. There is a long way to go but you can see how pretty the picot edge is. Today I was at home with the dogs and I should have been doing work but I knit instead. Tomorrow morning I’ll be in the store to ship boxes. 

Washed Out

I changed projects today and picked up Joji’s Washed Out. I am on row 27 of the lace border and was so happy because there are 32 rows and then I’m finished. Not so fast. I have to repeat rows 1-16 again. 

Here is Sandra’s Alpine Bloom so far. It is stunning!

I have finished the pattern section and now working on the body.

I absolutely love the colour of the Himalayan Salt (Practically Perfect Sock), and the Zauberball Privy Council is the perfect amount of colour.  

I was trying to go for a soft pink feel and didn't want a high contrast.  It complements the pink better than I thought it would.

The dogs are home and they are tired. They’ve slept most of the day. The cottage tires them out.

Now back to the knitting.

2014

Cari and Mary were in yesterday and we were talking about the patterns in our Ravelry library. We purchase patterns and then we purchase new patterns and forget about the older ones. Itineris is one of those patterns. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry. The pattern calls for two colours of fingering weight yarn. For most fingering weights you will need two skeins of the main colour and one of the contrast.

Itineris (Latin for voyage) is a modern triangular wrap with a unique construction. The shawl is made up of three sections: a large triangle, a rectangular extension, and a smaller triangle to finish. The knitting will take you different routes while a graphic stripe sequence forms intersecting pathways along the side. Knit all in Garter Stitch with patterns and shaping that are easy to memorize, Itineris is a fun knit that results in a striking finished piece.

We did a KAL for Itineris in 2014. Here is a link to see the beautiful shawls.

This is my Itineris. The shawl was a fun, easy knit. The shape of the shawl will let you make it bigger or smaller.

Here is today’s colourway for Alpine Bloom. The Dyed in the Wool skeins are Absolute Zero but there are different than most of our Absolute Zero skeins. Most of our skeins are much darker. The kits will be made with these skeins - I can only make 2 kits so don’t wait too long.

I received an invoice from Emma’s Yarns for shipping so I should have more yarn by the end of the week (fingers crossed). Out of stock Alpine Bloom kits will be available and I will make new colourways as well.

Storm

Dad, Beth and I would like to thank everyone for their comments, texts and emails about Lucy. They meant a lot to us.

A customer was in today and was looking for an easy shawl that didn’t take a lot of yarn. This is Joji’s Storm Shawl that is knit with one 100gram skein of fingering weight yarn. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Storm uses just one skein of precious fingering weight yarn. It features dramatic dropped stitches and short rows that give this pattern a de-constructed look while also giving you a bigger shawl with the same yardage.

 Check out our fingering weight yarns.

Photos © Joji Locatelli

My garden was very happy with the rain that we got last night. I complained in the past about the deer that ate my garden. Now I’m worried about those deer. They haven’t visited all summer.

The garden at my house is happy as well.

For some reason I woke up at 5:30 this morning. I got up and watched The Open (golf) and knit. I’m paying for it now. It’s going to be an early night.

Song of the Moon

Zanete Knits has a new pattern. You can purchase the pattern for Song of the Moon on Ravelry.

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Latvian folklore with this captivating sweater pattern. Inspired by the mesmerising beauty of the Moon, adorned with the celestial symbol of renewal and growth, it is aptly named “Song of the Moon”. 

Embark on a journey to a time when singing was woven into the fabric of everyday life for Latvians. Every task, from sunrise to sunset, was accompanied by a melodious chorus. Just imagine, even the Moon would have been a magnificent singer, captivating farmers and all who revered its celestial presence. 

Experience the magic of tradition as the cycle of life comes alive in this delightful design. Explore the cosmic connection between the Moon’s strength and the flourishing of all living things.  

Discover the melody of Latvian culture, woven with threads of history and folklore, in this extraordinary sweater pattern.

The sweater is knit in fingering weight yarn. I’m sure many of you have stash yarn for the colourwork. 😀

We said goodbye to Lucy on Sunday afternoon. She took a turn last Monday at the cottage and quickly went downhill. It wasn’t something we wanted to do but it was the best for her. She wasn’t going to get any better and she was in pain at the end. There were lots of tears but we’ve all come to terms with it. She is in heaven with mom and they are enjoying their time together. She was a great dog!

We spent a lot of time at dad’s last week. You might have noticed that my posts were short. When we got home I didn’t feel like writing. 

Dad, Beth and the dogs went to the cottage this morning. Dad needed some time away. Boscoe is keeping his grampy company.

The Jays are on and I’m going to watch for a bit. There has been some knitting this past week. I’ve knit 5” past the armholes on Alpine Bloom. I think I’m going to add extra length - Caitlin designs short sweaters and I like mine a bit (okay more than a bit) longer.