Changes

Sarah made it to the colours on her Throwback. Now I am inspired to get working on mine. I cast on last night and could make it to the colours tonight.

I went with chocolate brown for the base of the sweater. There is something about the cardigan that reminds me of a 70s basement with dark panelling and orange couches. After I wrote this I Googled '70s basement'. Take a look at the pictures. My colours are perfect. Sarah's are too 😉

We have a new Namaste bag coming. Fingers crossed it will arrive around December 20.

Our Knitter's Foldover Bag was mindfully designed to add a little bit of peace (and knitting) into a long weekend. With plenty of room for your cardigan, your latest reading book or planner, and several knitting projects, the Foldover is ideal for those who want to carry all their everyday belongings. Crafted from vegan leather and including knitting specific features like our Lotus Yarn Feeder (turns your handbag into a yarn bowl), a key leash (doubles as a tape-measure), and a decorative tassel (equipped with an emergency stitch marker), the Namaste Knitter's Foldover Bag is designed to help you find Knitting Nirvana wherever you are.

KNITTER'S FOLDOVER BAG DETAILS:

• Designed Specifically for Knitters - Sturdy Vegan Leather - Lots of Pockets - BPA & PVC-Free
• Comfortably fits the Namaste Small, Medium, Large, or X-Large Oh Snap Pouch (not included)
• 2 invisible magnets keep the top secure
• 1 interior zipper-wallet pocket, 1 pocket divider with 7 snaps (a built in Oh Snap project pouch!), 3 pen pockets, 1 phone pocket, and 1 notions pocket
• 1 large back exterior pocket with magnet closure, 1 large front zippered exterior pocket, 1 large front 2-section magnetic pocket for your phone and wallet
• Includes adjustable crossbody strap

KNITTING FEATURES: All Namaste bags come with an eco-friendly dust bag, a darning needle, a mini Knitter's Dot Journal (for keeping track of rows, pattern notes, etc.), an 8 inch tape measure/key leash, our patent pending Lotus Yarn Feeder, and a removable tassel with a Lotus Stitch Marker.

It's under three weeks to Christmas and we're looking at making a few changes in the store. Maybe not the best time???

First is the website. A few people have had problems with the current site so it's time to move and update/upgrade it. There will be a redesign. I've been playing with a trial version and working with Korey to get the new site running ASAP. He says it will be up by Christmas and then we will keep adding until it is finished by the middle of January.

If you are trying to do an order online before the new site is up and running and are having problems please call in or email the order.

Second is the store. We are having a new table made for the front room. Well, maybe bigger than a table. More like a kitchen island. It will be counter height - that way I can work standing which I prefer to do. We have talked about this for months and have been waiting for our cabinet guy who is really, really busy. I can't wait anymore so dad has a few ideas.

Third is also the store. We are going to rearrange yarns on the front wall where you walk in. Right now there are boxes but that is going to change - I'm keeping it a secret until it is finalized.

We have yarn sitting in Canada Customs. There are 2 boxes coming from Ireland that we are waiting to be accepted by Canada Post. And there should be another box leaving the UK soon. We need room so I have decided it's time to say goodbye to tosh sock. I will be putting tosh sock on sale tomorrow at 10am - both in the store and online. 30% off - now is the time to stock up. No code is needed. The website will automatically apply the discount.

Dad and Lucy just left so it's time for a few rows of knitting.

Soaking

We have a new sample. The Lacey Daze Shawl (pattern purchased on Ravelry).

Relax and take it easy while you knit this colorful cotton blend shawl with a repetitive, classic, lace stitch pattern. Asymmetrical shawl starts with just a few stitches, adding in additional pattern repeats as it grows. The soft, muted tones of Noro Kumo contrast with the bolder colors of Noro Mirai creating a color landscape of rolling hills and valleys.

I was very quick taking pictures. It was cold and the snow was blowing.

We have lots of colours in both Noro Kumo and Mirai.

Alex has a new hat. She used one strand of HH Sock with one strand of Rowan Alpaca Classic. The Alpaca Classic makes the hat very soft. Then she finished it off with a pompom.

The hat is called Coastline Trio (purchased on Ravelry).

Alex also knit this adorable little sweater. Christmas in July (pattern purchased on Ravelry). The body is Hedgehog Skinny Singles. The contrast colours are leftovers from the many shawls that Alex has knit.

The Christmas In July pullover pattern is sized from baby all the way through to adult for your never ending knitting pleasure! The gauge and the chart for the adult version have been tweaked from the child’s pattern, but the results are just as stunning. The colour possibilities are truly endless and I can’t wait to see what combinations you come up with for yours!

Nightshift is cast off and ready to be soaked.

Pineapple Soak is the scent of the day.

Casting Off

I made it to 185 stitches - a few rows short of the 191 that the pattern calls for. The cast off has begun.

I weighed my balls before I started and will weigh them when done to know just how much the cast off takes.

Before cast off
#4 - 12 grams
#12 - 13 grams

Andrea Mowry has a new shawl pattern that came out today. (Pictures of the shawl are ©Andrea Mowry)

Garter and brioche will always be my go-to ingredients for creating my favorite shawls to knit and wear! This shawl works up gorgeously in either Sport or DK weight yarn and using 3 to 4 colors for a deliciously squishy shawl to wrap up in! I always chat with my brioche students about how, as tactile knitters, we love to squish things! Nothing is more plump for squishing and wrapping up in then brioche and garter! 

Meet Plumpy (pattern purchased on Ravelry)

Alex played with tosh dk and came up with a few combinations.

Nightbloom
Berlin
Star Scatter
Simply Greige

Clematis
Danger Will Robinson
Conference Call

Poe
Mockingjay
Killing Me Softly

Save the date. We hope to see you there.

My shawl is finished. I weighed the yarn and here is what was left
#4 - 9 grams
#12 - 10 grams

If you are knitting the shawl I suggest making sure you have 4 grams of each colour for the I-Cord bind off.

I'll get pictures tomorrow and then it will be blocked. I can't wait to see it after it has relaxed in Soak.

Potlucks

Churchmouse Yarns and Teas has updated their Pressed Rib Cap & Muffler. You need to purchase the original pattern (in the store or on Ravelry) and then you can download the free addendum here.

We fell in love with a handsome muffler in a favorite designer’s shop. On closer inspection we discovered that it was simply K2/P2 ribbing. What, we wondered, made this scarf so special? It was the finishing. The ribbing was pressed flat which gave the fabric a soft, elegant hand. We’ve added a companion watch-cap with a nice 4-part decrease that’s a little more finished, a little more refined.

This set would look great in Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Heathers or the new Cascade 220 Superwash Merino. Another yarn option is Woolstok from Blue Sky Fibers.

Mr. Canada Post delivered our Hedgehog box this morning. The colours have been added to the website. Meet our 4 new Potluck colours. They are stunning!

Sock 1770

Skinny Singles 1780

1790

1800

Nightshift is almost finished. I am so close.

I just increased to 181 stitches and the pattern asks you to increase to 191. That is 20 more rows. I don't think I have enough yarn for that many rows. I might have yarn for 4-6 more. Andrea asks for an I-Cord bind off. That is going to eat up yarn and I'm pretty sure that I don't want to play yarn chicken with this.

Beth and I made a trip to Costco tonight. Now I need to rest. We spent way more than we had planned - they do it to us every time 😀

Melanie Berg

Melanie Berg designs amazing patterns. This is True Colors (pattern purchased on Ravelry).

During December she has an Advent Calendar. Every day she offers a different pattern for a discount. The discount starts early in the morning - by the time I blog about it the discount is almost finished. There are two ways to find out which pattern is on sale

Follow Melanie on Instagram
Follow Melanie on Facebook

Check first thing in the morning so you don't miss out on her amazing patterns. It's the time to stock up. You won't be disappointed - her patterns are very well written.

Drachenfels is another one of Melanie's beautiful patterns.

Miller's Daughter is knit with three colours of lace weight yarn. Gorgeous.

One of my favourite shawls to wear is Quicksilver.

It's that time of year when you want a really easy knit. Maybe for a gift. Maybe for yourself. The GAP-tastic Cowl (pattern free on Ravelry) fits the bill.

The GAP-tastic cowl is an easy knit you’ll want to make again and again! This fun cowl is a great beginner project for new knitters who want to practice knitting and purling, and it’s a fantastic mindless knit for experienced knitters. Either way, the GAP-tastic is a classic accessory that you’ll wear all of the time. It makes a great gift, too.

I used 3 skeins of tosh home for mine. With it getting dark so early I need to think about my blog posts earlier so that I can get pictures outside.

Deb sent an email today to tell me that Andrea Mowry has put out a call for test knitters for her next sweater. Take a look at the sweater - it is beautiful.

I've been tracking parcels and we'll be waiting a bit to receive them. I'll post the minute they arrive - I can't wait to see all the amazing colours.
-GarnStories has been sitting in customs for 2 weeks
-LITLG left Ireland last week but hasn't been accepted by Canada Post yet
-Hedgehog Fibers cleared customs on Friday and is sitting in Mississauga

I'd like to say that Nightshift will be finished tonight but I don't think so. I have some paperwork to do and then I need to start collecting the Christmas decorations from the basement. We are hosting friends on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I want the house to look festive.

Grab some mini skeins

I'm almost finished. I might have enough yarn for one more section. The great thing about this pattern is that I can cast off when I'm almost out of yarn - no one will know if the last section is completely finished.

It doesn't matter what your favourite colour is, it's in the shawl.

The pattern is very easy - almost mindless but the colour changes keep you interested. Andrea writes a great pattern that is easy to follow.

Ambah O'Brien has a new pattern. The Adventurer Cowl. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Grab some mini skeins of yarn and whip up this fun project, a fun addition to your cool weather wardrobe and a perfect gift for someone special. Designed to use minis from Advent kits or those gorgeous yarn sets gathered over the year, the Adventurer Cowl is also perfect to use up those teeny balls left over from your favourite projects. Fade it, work your colours in a more random order or choose a main colour with some colour pops thrown in along the way! Choose between a long or short loop and enjoy a knitting adventure! 

The pattern includes both written and charted instructions for the lace. 

Suitable for an advanced beginner, the project begins with a provisional cast on, is worked flat, on the bias then a 3 needle bind off joins the ends together.

The short cowl takes 320m (348 yards) and the long cowl takes 630m (688 yards). This is a great pattern for the mini skein kit you have sitting in your stash. 

I have bags of leftover fingering weight yarn that I should sort out. They would work great for this pattern.

What a beautiful day. I barbecued pork chops for dinner. Without a winter coat on. Now it's time for more knitting. Maybe two more nights and Nightshift should be finished.

What the Fade?!

Andrea visited today wearing her What the Fade?! It is beautiful. Andrea is not afraid of colour and does a great job putting together wild and amazing combinations. Now I want to make this.

Quadruple your fading fun!! This shawl starts off with back to back fades thanks to beautiful, bouncy two color brioche! We then end with an epic band of all 6 colors faded together with some relaxing garter stitch! To celebrate this amazing fade, we’ll finish it off with faded tassels, and then wrap it around and wear it all year long! Included in the pattern are links to helpful video tutorials!

©Andrea Mowry

The tassels are a great addition to the shawl.

©Andrea Mowry

©Andrea Mowry

I think I might have a small Andrea Mowry problem. 😉 I have ten of her patterns in my Ravelry library. And she has a new one coming out next week.

Lucy came for a visit tonight. She was lying at the top of the stairs but couldn't see anything. From this vantage point she could look out the front window and see what was happening in the neighbourhood. She's a bit of a nosy dog.

We had guests for dinner tonight and they've just left. I think I might have an hour of knitting in me before I fall asleep.