I Can See

We’re getting new lights. I was here at 8am to meet the electrician. That might have been a bit early for me 😢. 

We can see in the fingering weight room again. The lights behind the cash desk are working now as well.

I was able to pack mail orders and then unpack a box of Addi Turbo needles and Zauberball. The website has been updated and I started on a newsletter. 

I did a large Cascade order and found out that there are new colours of Cascade 220 Superwash Merino. These are ordered but I don’t know if they are in stock. It will be a surprise when the boxes arrive.

Brand new colours of Noro Ito should be arriving before the end of the month.

There is something brand new coming from Rowan next week. 

The 6am alarm is now kicking my butt. I need to be up earlyish tomorrow to clean up the mess in the store. Baskets are everywhere and displays need to be put back together. I might have a few rows left in me before bed. Knitting with a yarn that changes colour isn’t always a good thing. Just one more row to see what colour comes next.

Geometric Design

Dee O’Keefe has a new pattern. Meet Glenmont - you can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Glenmont is a top-down triangular shawl that was designed to showcase the fascinating interplay of form and texture that can be created using only simple garter and stockinette stitches. The resulting geometric design, which features an intriguing, stylized basketweave border, is bold yet sophisticated. 

Worked in worsted weight with just a few basic stitches, Glenmont is easy enough for adventuresome beginners (who will appreciate the detailed instructions and helpful video links), as well as experienced knitters looking for a relaxing project. 

If you’ve ever noticed that your stitches differ in size when transitioning between knit and purl stitches with ribbing, cable or knit/purl stitch patterns, the pattern instructions include some fantastic solutions that will improve your knitting tension dramatically. Video links and detailed explanations explain why this happens and how to fix it. I think you’ll be very pleased with results! 

The Glenmont pattern includes both charts and full written out instructions for those of you who prefer not to use charts. 

While dimensions and yardage are provided for worsted weight, Glenmont could effectively be worked in other yarn weights, although sport weight or heavier is recommended. Solid, tonal or heathered yarn that provides good stitch definition is recommended for best results.

The pattern size referenced above was chosen because I find it to be just the right size to wear as a versatile accessory with a sweater or jacket. But if you prefer to knit up a larger (or smaller) Glenmont, it’s very easy to do so by working more (or fewer) rows of the beginning garter stitch section.

Photos © Dee O’Keefe

The shawl is knit in worsted weight yarn. You have many, many options. Here is a link to our selection. The shawl can be knit in 3 skeins of Cascade 220 or Malabrigo Rios.

My car went in for a check up today and I knit at the dealership while I was waiting. The pattern is perfect mindless knitting. 
 

It’s a Hat Day

We had a lot of customers in yesterday who were purchasing yarn for hats. It got me thinking about some of the hats that we have knit over the years. I’m sorry for the small font. I cut and pasted from old blog posts and it won’t let me make the writing larger.

This is Flicker & Flame from Andrea Mowry. You can purchase the pattern on her website. I used Woolstok and Dream State (the worsted weight version of the hat).

Hats for the whole family in two different yarn weights! These fun colorwork beanies can also double as your swatch for the Spark Cardi or Sparky Pullover! These hats are knit from the bottom up, with the colorwork motifs being read from a chart.

It was so cold out that Beth was wearing it around the house. Even for a lay down on the couch. The hat needs to be blocked but I don’t need to stretch it - it is the perfect size. 

Beth loves knitting hats and wanted to try out Dream State. After looking on Ravelry she chose the Basic Norwegian Star Hat (pattern free on Ravelry). The hat took one skein of Woolstok and about 1/2 skein of Dream State.

Beth’s Valanar (pattern purchased on Ravelry) with one skein of tosh vintage.

Beth knit the 21 Color Slouch from Blue Sky Fibers.

We haven’t knit this set up but I love the cable pattern in the hat and scarf. Fair Winds Beanie and Scarf (purchase the pattern on Ravelry) in Woolstok from Blue Sky Fibers.

This nautical blessing describes that happy confluence of good fortune and the good sense to go with the flow. The simple braid pattern on the scarf has cable twists on alternating sides for complete reversibility. The cables on the cap converge neatly at the crest. Both promise smooth sailing!

Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok is strong and sturdy and gently plied. Shows off pattern and texture in crisp relief, making it an ideal yarn for these warm cabled accessories. Surprisingly soft, lofty and light - you can almost feel the lanolin in this select 100% Peruvian Fine Highland Wool. A wonderfully expansive palette of twenty-one colors inspired by the craggy, unspoiled terrain of Peru.

Beanie is knit in the round; scarf is knit flat. Instructions for both are given in text format, with charts for following cable patterns.

You'll need 2 skeins for the hat and 6 skeins for the scarf (8 skeins for a set).

I made it to the colour on my Trinigan. 

It’s time for Yellowstone. The first episode of Season 5 was released today. More knitting time!!

Bear Paw Socks

Andrea Mowry has a new sock pattern. 

At the top of the request list the past few years has been a DK weight version of my most popular sock pattern - DRK Everyday Socks. I decided to jazz them up by marling yarns, but this pattern works equally as well with 2 strands of fingering weight held together, or sub in a single strand of DK! These socks are knit from the toe up and sized for the whole family!

You can purchase the pattern for the Bear Paw Socks on Ravelry.

Photos © Andrea Mowry

Mr. FedEx brought a huge box from Blue Sky Fibres and we have a few kits for the Monticello Wrap.

This oversize wrap incorporates a variety of textures from ribbing, stockinette, garter, and lace, with pops of color at each end.

Mr. Canada Post delivered a box of Addi needles this morning. I brought in some 50cm (20”) which are great for making adult hats. Sometimes a 40cm (16”) is too short and 60cm (24”) is too long. 

Now Top Chef Canada and some knitting.

Something pretty is coming soon

Antique Flora is a new pattern coming from Wool & Pine. 

Preorder Antique Flora & SAVE 15% now thru release day 

Antique Flora Pre-order includes: a digital pattern prep pack with a special colorwork swatch chart and fade guide, exclusive video tutorials with all the pattern info you need so you can plan your color palette before release day. 

Preorders automatically receive the full pattern on release day, November 22 

The classic pullover takes a marled spin. Antique Flora is designed with a cozy, mock-turtleneck (or crewneck) collar and a seamless top-down yoke featuring a vintage damask-inspired faded marled colorwork motif which extends past the sleeve split into the body of the sweater. Pattern includes precise fade instructions so you can easily knit the custom fade of your dreams! 

What is marling? The unique effect when two yarns are mixed together is known as marling. In this case, we are marling two strands of sock yarn together to create a custom gradient/fade for the contrast color in the stranded colorwork yoke. Video tutorials and fade guide are included to inspire & inform. 

Antique Flora’s unique damask-inspired colorwork motif also extends onto the long sleeves, concluding just before the elbow, sleeves and sweater body are finished with optional shaping, classic stockinette and 3x1 ribbed cuffs & hem.  

Antique Flora is knit with DK-weight yarn for the MC and two strands of fingering weight yarn marled together to create a gentle 5-color fade for the CC, however, you can easily use fewer (or more) CC colors depending on your stash.

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry or on the Wool & Pine website. 

Photos © Wool & Pine

Take a look at some of the finished sweaters on Ravelry. They are amazing.
 

Wool & Pine has a video on their website explaining how the colours are faded in the colourwork. This will help you when you are choosing colours. Here is the link to their page and the video is about half way down the page. There is a big heading that says Custom Fade Video. Click on the picture just below that.

What a great way to go through some stash of fingering weight yarn. Did you know that if you are using stash yarn then it doesn’t count as a project started? I can always justify casting on something new 😘

Christmas Stockings

Laura Tabbut has amazing new Christmas Stocking patterns. These are knit with Woolstok and a Woolstok bundle. 

Click here to see all of Laura’s patterns on Ravelry.

There is a shipment of Woolstok making it’s way to us and we could see it on Friday.

Mr. UPS brought in some big boxes from Rowan to restock Brushed Fleece and Baby Cashsoft Merino. The website has been updated. I’m trying to get everything finished in the store so I can sit and knit and watch Survivor tonight.

This coat is called Promise and you can find the pattern in Kim Hargreaves’ new book Adore. It is knit in Brushed Fleece.

This vest pattern is called Clipper and is knit out of Brushed Fleece. You can purchase the individual pattern on Ravelry or we have the book Easy Fleece Style in the store.

A perfect choice for warming winter knits, Brushed Fleece has a gentle halo and soft marl colour effect that combines beautifully with its palette of soft neutrals and richer shades. Due to its chunky finish Brushed Fleece is quick to knit, but it's very much a lightweight yarn that's easy to wear and super cosy thanks to its blend of alpaca, wool and polyamide.

My trip home was uneventful. I was at the airport early because that’s how I roll. The security lines were small and I was through early. There is a great spot to sit with a tea and watch the planes taking off and landing.

We landed on time and there was no one in the customs hall. No one. It took about 2 minutes to get through. I flew carry on so there was no waiting for luggage. I was home and in bed by 9:30 and had a great night sleep.