Everyone loves a free pattern

This is called the Byberry Scarf and the pattern is free on Ravelry. The scarf is knit with a full skein of Fino from Manos del Uruguay along with a Fino Mini Skein Kit.

We were busy unpacking boxes today. Do you need a pom pom? We have lots!!

These cute project bags arrived today.

Store your yarn in these handy project bags to keep them neat, tidy and tangle free. (Pack of 2 - one purple and one red) 

Features: zipper closure, grommet for yarn pull through, holds 150-200 grams of yarn, loop handle

The box arrived from Meadowcroft Dyeworks and the new colours of Rockshelter Sock are fabulous. Alex made up a Find Your Fade kit in these beautiful colours.

Einstein on the Beach
Gifting
Chris Craft
Blacksmithing
Black Opal
Tridacna
Aqua Velva

Then I started to play

Raku Glaze
Old Lace
Stainless
Hippy Chick
Spring Violets
Claude Monet
Speers Bridge

Jazz Singer
Gelert & Llewelyn
Pit Fired Vessel
Steel Phantom
Pinstriped PJs
Gelert & Llewelyn (dyed on a different day and a totally different colour)
North of Wales

It was time to head home so I stopped playing. I have a feeling there will be more combinations tomorrow.

Speckle & Pop!

Last night I brought out Find Your Fade. 20 rows and then I'm onto the last colour. I really want this finished for TNNA.

Alex finished her latest Stephen West shawl. It is fabulous.

Pattern: Speckle & Pop! (purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: Long Dog Bounce Sock for the main colours with mini skeins and left over fingering weight for the contrast.

The fingering weight version uses three main colors combined with five color pops for a speckletacular shawl. Fade the main colors from light to dark in the first short row section while adding contrasting eyelet stripes. Slipped stitches mix the main colors together along the edge of the shawl followed by giant yarn over holes. Choose between two-color brioche or garter stitch for the final chevron border. Decorate the edging with a contrast color I-cord bind off.

Alex is wearing her Piece of Silver Sweater. It fits her so well - so well that she's making it again.

The National Parks Collection from Fleece Artist has sold very well. We are almost out of Festival Sock but I received good news yesterday. Another shipment is on the way and we should see it by the end of the week. We will have three skeins of each National Park.

We have customers in every day looking for yarn to knit a baby blanket. These cute kits will be here in February.

These kits are going to go fast. The price is $27.50. (That isn't a mistake - I couldn't believe the price either.) Reserve yours today to make sure that you get the kit you want.

Kinda Magic

We have a new sock yarn coming in February. It looks very cool. Why am I showing this so early? It is for experienced sock knitters. You might want to get a pair of socks on the needles now so you're ready when the yarn arrives.

REGIA is pleased to announce a brand-new release, one that will make the perfect gift to discover in a stocking this year... A collection of unique leopard print self-patterning socks! - it's magic!

Why it is for experienced sock knitters only:

• Tension is super important in this pattern. - A small difference in tension could throw off the design!

• No one person knits exactly the same way, so for the KINDA MAGIC SOCK YARN knitters might need a few chances to get the tension spot on. - So experiment until you’ve got it.

• Once the knitter has figured out the correct tension, she can show off her socks knitting know-how by concentrating on becoming the ultimate knitting master.

•  
• • As a knitter new to socks knitting, you might want to get used to socks knitting techniques with one of our REGIA effects, where tension is not so important to receive the desired design.
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How to knit the KINDA MAGIC SOCKS:

• This design only works with a cast on of 60 stitches.

• The 80g ball is for socks in sizes 36 to 41.

• This sock is worked from the cuff down, working as a tube, then one will add the heel in at the end.

• The heel and toe are worked in the same way, making things a little easier.
 

• To help the knitter further, the beginning of the yarn is marked with EASY START on the ball band.

• And to help getting the correct tension, a small stripe section in stocking stitch is added. It is important that the stripe should be exactly 1 round of knitting, if it is longer than 1 round, the knitter should go up a needle size. If it is shorter than 1 round, you should go down a needle size.

• Once in the main section, the knitter will see the leopard print spots appear as she works. If the leopard print design is leaning to the left, she is knitting too tightly, if they are leaning to the right she is knitting too loosely.

I didn't make it to church Sunday morning but Beth did and came home talking about a restaurant in Hamilton called 541. 

Dad and Beth went for lunch today. The food is not expensive and they both enjoyed their meal. When paying you can donate money which is put towards buttons. These buttons can be used by those who don't have money to pay for a meal. Here is a great article from The Globe and Mail which explains the restaurant and the buttons.

Beth said that the restaurant is very nice. It's an old bank building. You can also donate hats and scarves. They are hanging for those in need to take.

Here is the link to their website. If you live in the Hamilton area, please check it out.

Spring

We're only a month away from the Spring Rowan Collection. Winter has just started and I'm so looking forward to warm weather.

These flowers were delivered today from our friends at the Ancaster Animal Hospital. They are so beautiful. More on my spring theme. I want flowers in the garden.

KW Knitters' Fair

Match & Move is growing. I'm on the second to last colour.

Mark your calendar for the 2018 Kitchener-Waterloo Knitters' Fair. Saturday September 8.

We bring the yarn crawl to you. 2018 marks the 26th Kitchener-Waterloo Knitters' Fair. This annual one-day event is held by knitters for knitters, on the Second Saturday in September. We welcome vendors who offer a wide variety of yarn. Several vendors also offer knitting accessories, spinning fibre, and tools for a variety of fibre arts. 

As we approach the day of the Fair, we will announce our Speaker, the Vendor List, and provide a vendor map to help you plan your yarn-tasting route. 

Location Note: For the 2018 Fair we'll be back in the Twin Pads area of the Aud. We're excited to have our old space back, and look forward to enjoying the updated space which underwent significant renovations in Autumn 2017.  

Find us online: 

www.kwknittersguild.ca/fair/ 

www.instagram.com/kwknittersguild

http://twitter.com/kwknittersguild 

www.ravelry.com/groups/kw-knitters-guild 

Lucy came for a visit this afternoon. It has been way too cold for my dad to take her to the dog park. She had fun running through the snow drifts. Roko can walk on top of them but Lucy fell through. She was very tired when we took her back to dad.

Shopping

I did a bit of retail therapy this morning.

There were new colours of Rockshelter Sock on the Meadowcroft Dyeworks website. We should see them in about a week and a half.

159 Twilight's Reverie

172 Pinstriped PJs

44 Raku Glaze

160 Unrequited Love

94 Cinnamon Fern

They also had some Find Your Fade kits that I ordered. I couldn't help myself with this one. The colours are amazing.

Our Silk Traveler is 70% superwash merino and 30% mulberry silk.  This yarn is made using the same superwash merino fiber that our Rockshelter yarns are, paired with the addition of silk for the most luxurious feel during knitting and wear that you can imagine.  Silk Traveler glistens.  It reminds me of the way freshly fallen snow looks under a bright, morning sun, when the surface looks like it’s littered with diamonds.

Silk Traveler is a fingering weight yarn and will make an amazing Find Your Fade. I might will have a hard time giving this one up.

I have a passion for quilting. I don't have a lot of time with my sewing machine but I have a good collection of Tula Pink fabric.

There is a new quilting guild in Ancaster called the Ancaster Modern Quilt Guild. I didn't know anything about it. They had a workshop in town this weekend. Stephanie and Jill came over at break and suggested that I look up the guild. Check them out on Facebook for more information.

Someone decided that she wanted to be a yarn store dog today. It took a lot of coaxing to get her up and out the door with dad.

Mini Skeins

Lynn finished her 3 Color Cashmere Cowl. This is a great project for a mini skein kit.

Pattern: 3 Color Cashmere Cowl (purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: One Fino Mini Skein kit in Augusta

Elegant and refined, Fino combines the softness of merino wool with the lustre of silk in a lightweight yarn that’s perfect for heirloom accessories or luxurious garments. Fino features a new dye process that yields complex, subtle, tonal colors.

There haven't been Lucy pictures for a while. She's getting lazier. Every hour she has about five minutes where she has lots of energy and then she hops on the couch or the bed for a nap.

I'm signing off now for a few days. Tomorrow is visitation for my mom and her Celebration of Life is on Friday. We're doing okay and spending a lot of time together. My dad might get sick of us soon :)

Coming Soon

I borrowed this picture from Hedgehog Fibres. Urchin, Dijon and Cereal. What a great combination.

I received notice from them today that our shipment should be on the way very soon. Here are some new colours that I can't wait to work with.

Piggy Bank is a bright and cheerful multi, both variegated and speckled.

Iris is lavender with strokes of rust, teal and rich purple.

I wanted bright pictures for today's post. It is so cold out. And the wind is crazy. Our power has already been out once for about 15 minutes.

Meet Flying Fringe, a free pattern from Hedgehog Fibres.

Easy rectangular scarf in garter stitch knitted on the bias. You will be holding two strands of fingering weight yarn together for a marled effect. To create a similar looking marl only change one strand at a time. You won’t have to worry about weaving in the ends, they will become part of the fringe.

One more colour that I can't wait to have on my needles.

Parklife is a complex green with pinks, yellows and so much more.

Hello 2018

I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Years Eve. I spent some time knitting.

Match & Move is growing. I have three more sections. It's perfect knitting for right now. You don't need to count stitches. You don't need to read a pattern.

College football is on the TV right now. Dad and Beth have a small wager so there are many phone calls going back and forth. Sometimes Beth won't answer the phone so I have to which is cutting into the knitting time. We're in OT so I need to go and pay attention. And get back to my knitting. I want to take this shawl to Vegas with me.