I’m a Model

Lynn and I did a little photo shoot today. I liked this picture - Lynn has her ‘I’m a model and I’m bored’ look on her face 😘. The shawl looks much better when shown on a human rather than a mannequin.

This is Gamut (pattern purchased on Ravelry) that we knit in Tsubame. We used one ball each of colour 5 and 10.

A box arrived from JUL today. This is her Filigree Tree Frog Shawl Stick.

The Filigree Tree Frog has a stick that extends up to the top of the ornament, creating a space behind the body of the frog that accommodates the knitwear, making this stick particularly secure and balanced in how it sits on top of your knitted garments and accessories.  The weight balance created by this unique design means the Filigree Tree Frog remains feasible even for very light-weight knits.

The Shawl Stick is made with white brass and is beautiful. 

Our Color Play Mohair Scarf that I showed last week. I am going to make up kits and add them to the website tomorrow.

The Filigree Tree Frog looks great on this shawl as well.

We also used a JUL Shawl Cuff (Round Ring - Plum with Antique Brass) on the shawl. The colour is perfect.

I haven’t knit much on my shawl - okay I’ve knit 6 rows in the last 4 days. Hockey is on and it’s time for a few rows.

Butterfly Wing

Stephen West’s newest pattern is the Butterfly Wing Shawl.

Photos © Stephen West

This garter stitch shawl is knit with short rows that echo the wings of a butterfly. I-cord edges frame the shawl for a smooth and easy to knit project.

You can purchase the pattern on Stephen’s website.

The shawl is knit in fingering weight yarn. Stephen used a self-striping yarn. We have a few that would work. Freia. Frabjous. Crazy.

Our box from Twill & Print arrived with Progress Keepers and Enamel Pins. I just finished adding them to the website.

We received a beautiful box from Rowan today with samples for fall. It’s too early to share but I can tell you that there are two new yarns and we will be stocking them. The yarn and patterns are amazing!

We have been asked if the store is opening on Friday. At this time we are not opening the store to in store shopping. We will revisit this when the next phase arrives.

Flowers

Andrea Mowry has a new pattern. 

Pretty and polished. I designed this sweater for when I wanted to dress up a bit, finishing it off with sweet touches, like the picot collar and cuffs. Slipped stitches create an easy-to-work, unique riff on stripes. 

Evenfall is knit from the top down (meaning you can try it on as you go and add length to suit your own personal style!), beginning with the yoke. The entire sweater is knit with a slipped stitch pattern, incorporating stripes, to create a timeless style. The sleeves are separated and placed on hold while the body is finished and then returned to the needle, picking up stitches for the underarm for a totally seamless sweater body. The sleeve cuffs and collar are polished off with a picot hem, making this the sweetest sweater in your wardrobe!

Photos © Andrea Mowry

Evenfall is knit in three colours of fingering weight yarn. Biches & Buches would be a great choice.

You can purchase the pattern on Andrea’s website.

The sweater looks great with a light background and a dark background.

I finally have baskets at my store. I wasn’t fighting the crowds at Terra. I drove by last week and the lot was empty so I went in. They were out of square baskets so I picked flowers and they planted these for me.

Dad picked them up today. We had to keep him busy. Lucy is okay but was back at the vets in Mississauga for the day because her leg was swollen and she wouldn’t put weight on it. We thought that she had done something and they might have to do the operation again. X-rays were taken and all the pieces are in place. She has an infection so we will start antibiotics and hopefully she’ll be walking better soon.

My window box is going crazy!

6 Years Ago

Brian Smith has a new pattern. He used Cascade 220 Heathers - a worsted weight so your options are endless.

This triangle shawl starts with a square, then stitches are cast on after repeats, to increase the number of squares in a row. After completing the main body, stitches are picked up along the top edge/wingspan to work garter triangles. Finally a garter border is worked to finish the garment.

The pattern for Cascade Shawl 42 can be purchased on Ravelry. 

From June 2015

We moved into our house. It’s hard to believe that we’ve been here 6 years. We’re lucky to have great neighbours. 

Happy Saturday

Isabell Kraemer has a new pattern called Dingley Dell. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Photo © Isabell Kraemer

Inspired by cricket sweaters of the 90s, Dingley Dell is worked seamlessly from the top down using the contiguous set-in sleeve method (developed by Susie Myers) to shape the shoulders and sleeve caps. First increases are worked on both RS and WS rows to final shoulder width, then the sleeve caps are worked simultaneously with the V-neck shaping to sleeve separation. The body is then worked top down in rounds to the bottom ribbing. Short sleeves are worked top down in rounds. Neck finishing is worked last.

The sweater is knit in fingering weight yarn. 

New Twill & Print enamel pins are on the way to us - we should see them on Tuesday.

This fun and shiny piece of knitter flair is a great way to glam up your jacket, backpack or project bag! Hard enamel is smooth and durable, the finish is super high quality, and the plating really shines.

There are new Progress Keepers as well.

These little star shaped helpers will guide you through even the toughest pattern, or help you stay up extra late knitting on autopilot :)

There hasn’t been much knitting lately - maybe tonight. 

I think it’s time to invest in a longer circular needle.

Happy Birthday Dad

 Churchmouse Yarns knit up their Boxy Lace Tee in Rowan’s Creative Linen.

We like the juxtaposition of a modern, boxy shape and feminine lace motifs knit on a slightly grand scale. With shaped shoulders, a gently dipping neckline, and options for two different lengths, this lacy top is so easy to pop on, and feels both comfy and really pretty.

We knit this adorable tee with Rowan Creative Linen, a versatile yarn that combines the cool, dry hand of linen with the soft loft of cotton. At a light worsted-weight, Creative Linen has a slightly rustic texture and nice heft. It drapes softly and provides proud stitch definition—perfect for a year ’round sweater like our Boxy Lace Tee.

You can purchase the pattern on Churchmouse’s website.

Four skeins are needed for the first two sizes and five skeins for the next two sizes.

With a crisp look but a soft feel, Creative Linen is a winner for spring and summer knits. Great stitch definition means that lace or texture patterns really shine in this yarn, which comes in a fresh colour palette of brights and tonals. With a mixture of 50% linen and 50% cotton, Creative Linen will wear and wash beautifully, making it an essential choice for warmer days.

I cut and pasted from Rowan’s website and it has thrown off my font. I thought about fixing it but it isn’t a day to be messing with the blog.

Mr. FedEx came this afternoon with two boxes from Biches & Buches. I will get the yarn online tomorrow.

We have two new colours of Le Cashmere & Lambswool. Dark Blue Turquoise and Grey Brown.

This is a brand new colour of Le Petit Lambswool - meet Soft Blue Black.

I’m early today because it’s dad’s birthday. He and Lucy are on the way over for dinner and presents. It’s not easy to buy for someone who turned 79. New shirt. New socks. Sweets.

Playing with Colour

Lynda just finished a sample for the store. It is beautiful. 

We used ProLana Kid Seta Color to make Churchmouse’s Color Play Mohair Wrap. There are 4 colours in the shawl - 2 balls each. We used 180, 182, 183 and 185.

I didn’t think to unwrap the shawl when I was out back. Then it was time to go so I took a quick picture at the door.

Made with a double strand of a favorite lace-weight mohair and silk blend, you'll have fun playing with color, mixing with ombré shading, or crossing the color wheel for graphic punch. For the scarf, we mixed four solid colors—two at a time—to create shaded color blocking. For the wrap, we played with four softly self-striping colorways—sometimes with themselves, sometimes with each other—so no two pieces will ever be alike. You'll just have to make another one.

I knit 5 versions of the shawl when the pattern first came out. It is a fun knit. You are holding two strands together throughout. You start with so many rows of AA, then AB, BB.... No two shawls will look the same.

Mr. Canada Post brought a box of Addi needles this morning. The Squared interchangeable sets are back in stock.

The Ancaster Farmers Market is back. It is in the lot beside us every Wednesday until October. Here is a link to their website. You can order online for curbside pick up if you don’t want to walk around. I picked up fresh strawberries at 3 before heading home. Wow. They were amazing! Dad and Beth have already told me that I’m going back next Wednesday.

Not much knitting

Beth and I have talked a lot about a pizza oven. It was out of our head when I received an email from Crate and Barrel and they were selling the Ooni Pizza Ovens. We looked at each other and I placed the order. I even had a gift card from Cathy that went towards the oven. Thanks Cathy!! I’ve been holding onto it for the perfect purchase. The oven finally arrived yesterday. 

Until the deck is finished we are going to use it on a table. Unfortunately we didn’t read up on the oven. We needed a fire starter. Last night we tried newspaper but it don’t work. Today I bought some in Ancaster. Beth and I lit the oven because you are supposed to run it once before actually cooking in it. 

It was a good idea. Until it was lit and Beth had to run an errand. I sat outside with Boscoe until the flames dyed down. Just in case.

I grabbed my knitting and my iPad and sat outside for an hour. 

We have the vent hood but need the BBQ. Now we are going to have our contractor come so we can jig the configuration for the pizza oven. 

I can’t tell you how it cooks but I can tell you that it is very light. We packed it up and put it in the garage last night. The legs fold up and the pipes easily come out.

We were going to make pizza tonight but it is way too windy here. My guess is 3 tries before we get a pizza that is edible. It’s a good thing I bought lots of dough.

From June 1, 2017. My shed was painted.

Our friends own a painting company that does a lot of work with the construction company. I emailed Andrea the colours I wanted. She called Beth and commented that my colour choices might not be very good. Could Beth talk to me and have me change them? That didn’t happen and I think the shed looks great. Andrea came by when the guys were done and took lots of pictures admitting that maybe I knew what I was doing.

No, there isn’t much knitting to talk about today. Maybe tomorrow. We are waiting on orders from Biches & Buches, Addi needles, Knitters Pride needles and Pompoms. There is a box on the way with the beautiful Racoon poms. We will have white, ecru, natural and black along with some new colours.

Now a few rows before bed. I’m exhausted tonight. The hockey game last night tired me out. Thankfully I’m not a Leaf fan. I don’t think I could deal with that every year.