Open on Mondays

Guthrie isn't quite dry so I worked on Log Cabin squares today. Number ten is finished and number eleven is half way done. I wasn't going to blog today but decided to write for a few minutes before bed. Beth and I had a very good day with our Fantasy Football team. We won our match and we will have the most points of any team in our league.

Dad and Lucy are having a good time in Myrtle Beach. There was a lot of rain but no damage. Now they have visitors for the next week. Dad says they need a bigger couch. They have a huge sectional but four adults and a dog (who is as big as an adult) means there isn't much room left over.

Tomorrow we start packing for the Knitters' Fair. Don't worry - there will be lots of yarn in the store if you can't make it to Kitchener.

We used Donegal Cottage Tweed Sock for Espe and the yarn and sample will be on display at the show.

Here are a few accessories that are coming

More Shawl Cuffs from Knox Mountain should be arriving on Tuesday or Wednesday. Some will come to the show and the rest will be with Cathy in the store.

It's just 6 more sleeps until the Knitters' Fair. Here are a few tips for those coming to the show.

- trust me, there is lots of yarn. If you don't like lines or crowds, wait until noon to come. There will still be lots for you to see. If booths sell out of something, most are more than willing to ship it to you after the show
- bring lunch with you. Then you don't have to stand in line.
- wear something that you have knit. It's always fun to see completed projects.
- if you see something you like, mark down the booth you saw it in. I can't tell you how many times we get frantic people at the end of the day because they forgot where they saw something
- go through your Ravelry library and make notes of yarn that you are interested in. If there is a certain pattern, print that pattern and bring it with you. Also bring information on the yarn. What it's made of. Tension. Yardage. That will make it easier for me and other booths to help you substitute. When you come in the store I can do it on the computer but we have limited Internet access at the show.
- please have patience.
- the Fair isn't just for knitters. It is put on by a knitting guild - hence the name. Crocheters please come to the show. There is lots of fabulous yarns that you and your hooks will have fun working with.

Don't forget that our Fall/Winter hours have started and the store is open again on Mondays.

Now it's bedtime. 

Log Cabin

Nine squares done and eleven to go. So far every square is different which makes me happy. When all the squares are finished I will lay them out like this and do some arranging to make sure that the squares that are touching each other will have different centres.

I'm following The Paint Box Log Cabin pattern from Ravelry using Noro Ito on 5.5mm needles.

My Guthrie is almost dry. I should be able to start the ribbing tomorrow afternoon. Then there are a lot of ends to sew in.

I received an email this morning that our yarn will be leaving France on Monday morning. I hope the Big Brown plane and then the Big Brown truck cooperate in getting the yarn here fast.

Lynn and I packed kits for Latte today that will be coming to the Knitters' Fair. I love Rowan Brushed Fleece and might need to make this cardigan. Or maybe Wannietta or Lynda need to make it for me 😘

Knit this drop shoulder cardigan which was designed by Quail Studio. It features a wide button band and is knitted in stocking stitch. It uses Brushed Fleece, a lovely blend of 65% wool, 30% alpaca and 5% polyamide. 

Now it's time to put my feet up and knit.

Time for a new project

Guthrie has been soaked in Soak and is lying out to dry. I went back to my Log Cabin Afghan while I decide on my next project.

Do you follow Spincycle Yarns on Instagram? Rachel posted this awesome sweater a few weeks ago and I like her modifications. I love her knitting rule even more. Truly something to live by. Rachel was the one who got me looking at Biches & Buches.

Joji's new pattern, the Farm Twist Jacket (pattern purchased on Ravelry) is gorgeous. I love cables.

Photos ©Joji Locatelli

This is my ode to cables, boxy sweaters, cropped jackets and women of all ages and sizes and shapes. 

This pattern took a lot of work. Both to knit and to design. In my mind, I wanted to have a cable running down the shoulder with a lot of cascading stitches, slowly transforming into vines and bobbles and branches… 

But as I was knitting my own sample I realized that when grading this pattern to my usual size range I’d have to treat each shoulder and each size differently. I had always pictured this as an all-over cabled jacket, so I would need more cables and different arrangements for the larger sizes. Therefore each size would require different instructions, since the whole body is knit in one piece. 

To be honest, writing it probably took longer than knitting it… But it was absolutely worth it. 

This is another one of my patterns that I present you with pride and joy. I hope you will like it!

I can picture this cardigan in Arranmore Light from The Fibre Co.

Tweed and cables. What a great combination.

I stayed up way too late last night watching a very bad football game. It's bed time now. No knitting tonight which makes me sad but no sleep makes me grumpy so sleep wins.

Biches & Buches

I made a quick decision today and we have a new yarn on the way. Fingers crossed it will be here by the end of next week.

Le Petit Lambswool from Biches & Buches. 18 beautiful colours.

it is a pure lambswool from a family-owned fiber mill in scotland. the wool is rustic and soft at the same time, in 33 different shades, the thread is thin and sturdy, the wool is fully scoured, the bands are handwritten by caroline. a beautiful quality, presented in a way that feels like home.

technical info: 50g - 4ply - 248meters / 270yards – fingering / light worsted weight. 

tension/gauge : 23/24 sts to 10 cm/4”

needle size 3mm / US2.5 / UK11 - 3.5mm / US4 / UK9.5.

what is lambswool ? it is actually the first shearing of a sheep, considered high-grade of wool.

I ordered this colour to do a sweater for myself. The ladies at Spincycle use this yarn with Dyed in the Wool and have inspired me. Take a look at all the awesome projects on Ravelry using Le Petit Lambswool. For some reason the formatting of my post has gone a bit crazy but I don't have time to fix it. I need to knit 😘

Did you know that we are the only store in Canada that sells Namaste knitting bags? We will be bringing some to the Fair.

We won't be wearing our Throwbacks at the show but they will be on display and we will have kits.

I have four more rows on my sleeve cuff and then I'm blocking. My Guthrie should be soaking in Soak tonight. Which scent this time?

Unleash: Infused with apple and pomegranate. Unleash your creative juices with a sweet and spicy scent you'd follow anywhere.

This is a limited edition re-release and we have it in stock. Unleash first debuted 10 years ago.

It's the opening night of the NFL season - fall is here.

Knitters' Fair

The big question - What are we taking to the Knitters' Fair? I'm not going to show everything at once. This way I have pretty pictures for the next week and a half. And I keep changing my mind daily. The list hasn't been finalized.

We will have two different samples of Navelli in the booth. One knit in Mrs. Crosby Satchel and the other knit in Donegal Cottage Tweed Sock. Navelli is designed by Caitlin Hunter (you might know her as Boyland Knitworks) and you can purchase the pattern on Ravelry. This is Caitlin's version. Our samples are totally different.

Navelli is a relaxed lightweight summer sweater, knit in the round from the bottom up and featuring colorwork at the body hem and folded sleeves with a tiny peek of contrast color for visual and structural interest. The front and back are separated at the armholes and worked flat with short row shaping at the shoulders. Named for an ancient town in Italy, known as the land of crocuses and saffron, this sweater is the third in my “Knitaly” series of designs (following Tegna and Marettimo). 

This sweater is designed to fit with 4-15” of positive ease, depending on your preferred fit. Sample shown on is a size 4 with 13” of positive ease at the bust and 2” of positive ease at the sleeve. Please see the schematic for full fit information.

The new stitch markers were well received and the Sheep Locking Stitch Markers are sold out. Don't worry - more are leaving BC tomorrow and we should have them in time for the Fair. If you aren't coming to the Fair, Cathy will have them in the store as well.

Here is the show layout. I can't make this any bigger but you can go to the Knitters' Fair website to see a version that is easier to read. We are in our regular spot - booths 14-16.

I haven't talked about The Amazing Race Canada but last night's episode was epic. I won't say anymore in case you haven't watched yet. From good TV to bad - Big Brother is on soon and I need to sit and knit. I made it to the ribbing on my second sleeve. Once that is finished I'm going to block it and then do the ribbing on the body. I want to make sure it is long enough.

Sheep

New stitch markers arrived this morning. They are so cute. Lynn has already claimed a box of the sheep.

I've purchased my pattern for the latest Westknits KAL.

The first clue will be coming on October 4 so I have a bit of time to choose my colours. Here are a few notes from Stephen.

I picked out some colours in LITLG Fine Sock - Shield and Baroque

Gorse and Oxidized

Hedgehog Sock Purr with Hue Loco Phyllis Sock Beach Glass

Donegal Cottage Tweed Sock Bell Heather with Montbretia

We are going to draw for the prizes in our Joji KAL on Thursday afternoon. I want to make sure that everyone has had time to email me their pictures or has posted them on Ravelry.

I'm very early today. Tonight is our fantasy football draft. I hope it goes quick so that I can get a few rows of knitting in. I have ten pattern rows left on my sleeve and then I can start the ribbing.

Storm Shawl

Diana finished Joji's Storm Shawl (pattern purchased on Ravelry) for us to take to the Knitters' Fair.

It’s been a while since I last published a One Skein Wonder pattern. They’re always a favorite.  

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. 

We used one skein of LITLG Singles in the colour Soulskin.

Dad and Lucy arrived in Myrtle Beach on Friday evening. They had some rain today and are ready for lots of rain over the next few days. The houses along the beach have a mandatory evacuation but we are okay where our houses are. We are on the other side of the Intercoastal Waterway which is a long way from the beach.

Just a reminder that our Fall/Winter hours start tomorrow.
Monday - Friday 10-5:30
Saturday 10-4

Now back to Guthrie. I am almost to the ribbing on the second sleeve.

Everyone loves a free pattern

We knit Sandscape for the store last summer. The shawl is super easy and the bonus is that you are knitting with 5mm needles.

The pattern is free on Ravelry until September 3.

You need five colours of fingering weight yarn. We have kits from Autumn & Indigo with five skeins of singles that fade beautifully. You won't use the full kit for the shawl - there will be lots of yarn left over to make a different shawl like Free Your Fade.

Friday morning Mr. Canada Post brought in our new Churchmouse patterns. This is the Big & Bigger Basketweave Wrap. If you can't make it to the store to purchase the pattern you can buy it on Ravelry.

We wanted a piece with lots of squishy texture and glorious, lavish proportions—one we could fling grandly over our shoulder or wrap up in indoors or out. Then we scaled it down a little, both in size and gauge. But you can knit either size in either gauge so your yarn choices are vast! 

You can knit it in an aran weight yarn (like the blue wrap) or in dk weight (like the orange scarf).

My sleeve is growing. I'm on a roll but I need to put it down and head to bed. When you can't follow the chart anymore then you're too tired to knit.