Graphic Chevrons

Stephen West has a new pattern. This beautiful shawl is knit with two colours of fingering weight yarn.

Enjoy lots of graphic chevrons with this two-color brioche shawl design. The pattern begins at the corner with one chevron motif. Then, more chevrons are achieved one a time with an I-cord cast on technique to expand the shape. You can customize the size easily by binding off early or continue to knit more pattern repeat for a big shlanket (shawl/blanket).

You can purchase the pattern for the Briochevron Shawl on Stephen’s website. 

Photos © Stephen West

Check out Stephen's video for Brioche Knitting. This is a tutorial where he has you cast on 15 stitches and practice. Work along with him and then you will have a great grasp of the technique. 

There are 2 parts to the video depending on how you knit.

00:57 Continental Style (with yarn in left hand) Cast on with MC. 11:10 English Style (with yarn right hand) Cast on with MC.

I have been writing a newsletter for the past 4 days. I wanted to add tips for Brioche knitting in the newsletter and was having a hard time writing it so that it makes sense. Then I found Stephen’s video today. I’m going to abandon my notes - Stephen gives you all the information you need in the video.

Here is the shawl in another colour.

Pom Poms arrived today.

When a pattern says 'embellish with pom' try one of these extra large racoon poms.

Each pom includes a snap.  Colour may vary slightly.  Span measures approximately 15 cm.

These are 3 new colours. Cream, Lilac and Violet. It might seem like the wrong time of year for Pom Poms but we have been asked for them so I placed the order. Now you can be ready for the cold weather. ❄️❄️☃️ We know it will be coming!

What a great hockey game last night! Hopefully they can keep it up.

New Books

 The newest Field Guide from Modern Daily Knitting should be arriving tomorrow.

With Field Guide No. 18: Beginnings, we celebrate the idea of a new start, that joy that comes when trying something for the first time.

We have had the best time working with Karida Collins on this idea of newness, and especially the idea that sometimes, the simplest projects are the most delightful.

These projects require nothing more than knit, purl, decrease, increase, and yarnover. There’s a simple cable in there, too, and that’s as fancy as it gets. But look at what amazing effects can come from these most basic of stitches.

Knitting is forever new—each project has its own moment when we decide we’re going to jump in. Have a look at these six ideas—there’s endless fun to be had here.

We will have all the Field Guides in stock when the box arrives.

Strands of Joy from Laine Magazine should be in the box as well.

Strands of Joy features 20 versatile colourwork patterns, including sweaters and cardigans as well as an elegant dress, a warming hat and a kid's pullover. The patterns are worked seamlessly from top down. Cast on a mindless two-colour project or let your mind find peace in more complicated knits that require you to stay focused. 

Anna Johanna is a knitwear designer from Muurame, Central Finland. She is known for her often-romantic knits with much love for details, textures and colours. Since 2020, this former statistician has been designing full-time. Strands of Joy (Finnish title Onnensäikeitä) is her debut book.

I had a dentist appointment this morning and didn’t get to the store until noon. As I was pulling in the big brown truck followed me up the driveway. We received a small shipment of Lykke needles.

5” Interchangeable in Indigo.

3.5” Interchangeable Blush in the Magenta Basketweave case.

Crochet Hooks in the Grey Denim Case.

A lofty Fisherman’s Rib tank knit flat in two pieces from the bottom up, joined at the shoulders and seamed along the sides. This top is an appropriate project for the brioche-curious knitter and will be a delight to wear during the warm weather months.

Blue Sky Fibers has a new pattern called the Shoreham Tank. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry or from Blue Sky on their website.

SIZES:

WOMEN’S XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL)
TO FIT BUST SIZE 28-30 (32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46) (48-50, 52-54, 56-58, 60-62)”

 

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:

Chest: 17 (18½, 20, 22¼, 23¾) (25¾, 28, 30¼, 32¼)”

Length: 21½ (22, 22½, 23½, 23½) (24½, 25, 26, 26½)”

 YARN:

Organic Cotton (Worsted) (100% Certified Organic Cotton; 100g/150 yds): 3 (3, 4, 4, 4) (5, 5, 6, 6) hanks

 

NEEDLES:

SIZE 8 (5mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge

SIZE 10 (6mm) needles

See all our colours of Organic Cotton (Worsted).

It’s time to sign off and get my knitting ready for the start of the hockey game. Go Knights Go!

Our shirts are ready.

A Few Choice Words

Janice emailed me pictures of her finished Butterfly Shawl. It is stunning!!! Thanks for sharing Janice.

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

I put together some more kits yesterday. I don’t have the exact colours that Janice used but the kit with 3012 and SG Velvet Elvis is close. The purple contrast might be a bit brighter. The 3012 Uneek Fingering is the colour that Janice used.

On this day

From June 13, 2018 - My Fading Point. I knit this with 5 colours of HH Sock. 

Fading Point is constructed from both ends towards the centre, and then both pieces are connected with triangles to achieve a seamless rectangle. 

The pattern is completely different than its predecesor: It has sections where you blend 2 colors together and then sections with lace. The instructions are WRITTEN AND CHARTED.

The pattern can be purchased on Joji’s website.

I went to Joji’s website to get the link for Fading Point and came across this shawl - I don’t remember it. The lace pattern is gorgeous.

Photos © Joji Locatelli

You can purchase the pattern for the Cosmopolitan Wrap on Joji’s site.

This wrap is worked in two identical halves, joined in the centre.  
The diamond shaped lace in the ends gives this pattern a very sophisticated look, and the DK weight yarn used for it makes it warm and cozy. This is a wrap suitable for any occasion!

The shawl is knit in DK weight yarn so you have many options. For a slightly lighter shawl you could use a sport weight yarn.

Yesterday I was bragging about how well my Brioche was going. Yup. Way too soon. I dropped a stitch last night. It took about 1/2 hour to get it picked up. Something is still slightly messed up but you wouldn’t know unless I told you. There were some bad words and I was close to tears. Boy was I frustrated! 

I wrote my post early today so that I can spend some time knitting this afternoon. Maybe if I’m a bit more alert there won’t be anymore problems. 

Work of Art

Svetlana Gordon has a beautiful new pattern. Her shawls are a work of art. This is Baktus Scarf Lupine Vibes. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Photos © Svetlana Gordon

Attention! This project contains many work turns. 
This scarf is seamless and is knitted from two skeins of Laines du Nord Poema Yarn. In order for you to have enough of two skeins, it is important to observe Gauge (you can use knitting needles 2.75 or 2.5). If the gauge of your work is other, you may to need more yarn and I recommend taking two skeins of each color. In this case it is possible to use the yarn’s leftovers to make a hat. 
Besides indicated yarn that the sample was knit with, this motif can also be worked with any other yarn.

Svetlana used two different colours of a self-striping fingering weight yarn.

I’ve put marks on the picture so you can see how the colours work. The orange X is one colour and the purple O is the other colour.

I put together some colours combinations using Frabjous Fibers Blossoms.

Just a word about Blossoms - when we receive the yarn it comes with 2 balls wound in one direction and 2 balls wound in the other direction. You can start from the inside or outside - it just depends on what colour you want to start with.

Baptisia 

Hydrangea

Baptisia and Hydrangea

Lady Slipper and Chrysanthemum

Baptisia and Stonecrop

Chrysanthemum and Sage

The first balls are almost finished. I’m enjoying Brioche knitting more than I thought I would. When I first looked at an Andrea Mowry brioche pattern I set it aside thinking that it looked confusing. When you get knitting it isn’t. It becomes very intuitive. This is one reason that I suggest you don’t read ahead in a pattern. 

Boscoe loves to take his toys outside. The more toys the better.

The weather today was awesome. I would love it to be like this until September. It wasn’t too hot and there was no humidity. A nice gentle rain overnight for the garden and it would be the perfect day.