Linen Stitch

Churchmouse Yarns has a new pattern called the Linen Stitch Scarf & Loop.

We delight in the texture and color-blending brilliance of linen stitch. Worked in the round, this beloved stitch becomes just a little easier! For this Linen Stitch Scarf & Loop, we simply work the same two stitches over and over, always working on the right side of the fabric. We can choose to get a little adventurous —using a spot of stockinette stitch as a guideline, or ‘steek’, we cut a longer loop into a fringed scarf! Of course, we can also choose to knit a stylish loop. Our pattern walks through both the scarf and loop, along with instructions for two different edgings and for three-color or two-color versions. Plenty of options to mix things up! 

We chose to knit versions of the Linen Stitch Scarf & Loop in two wonderful, hand-dyed fingering-weight yarns—Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light and Manos Alegría. We love to see how this stitch’s woven texture ‘pixelates’ and blends the stunning colorways!

You can purchase the pattern on their website. 

The scarf is knit with 3 colours of Tosh Merino Light. Any fingering weight yarn will work.

The loop is knit with 2 skeins of Alegria - again you can use any fingering weight.

I was writing and started thinking about combinations. 

Tosh Merino Light

-Mars in Retrograde

-Cactus Flower

-Vintage Sari

-Annabel Lee

-Patagonia

-Night in Chile

If I have time I’ll do more tomorrow.

Brian Smith has a new one skein pattern out called the One Skein Crescent. You can purchase it on Ravelry. He used one skein of Hedgehog Sock - what a great gift.

Dad and Beth made Christmas cookies tonight. They weren’t pleased with the taste so Beth is going to try a new recipe tomorrow. If anyone has a good shortbread recipe please email me. Beth would be thankful!

Ball Winders and Swifts

My Christmas planter is at the door. Beth went to Terra yesterday and bought mine and dad’s.

Lykke ball winders and swifts arrived this morning. I bundled the ball winder and swift and offered the set for a bit of a discount.

I put together a few more combinations for Zig this afternoon.

We have a big Addi order coming next week including Ewenicorns. 

These brand new needles feature standard tips, a spiraling texture, slick turbo finish, smooth joins, and a pliable SOS cable. They're magical; nothing else like them! Add Ewenicorn Turbo circulars to your needle collection and add more joy to your knitting experience.

Beth is becoming impatient because it’s time for Survivor. My tea is made and it’s time to knit socks. 

Scrappy Mittens

Stephen West has a new mitten pattern.

Collect a colorful pile of DK and worsted weight yarns to knit these cozy winter mittens. Select a main color to frame the painterly contrast color pops for the bold brick motif. You can customize the length of the cuff and hand by simply working more pattern repeats as you knit in the round. These beginner friendly mittens are ideal for your first colorwork project because you only work with one color at a time. Simple stripes in garter stitch and stockinette stitch are accented with slip stitches to create the colorful bricks. Enjoy stash busting or collect some new yarn to knit these special mittens for yourself or a loved one.

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Photos © Stephen West

We have a new yarn coming from Malabrigo next week.

Noventa is made of 100% Superwash Merino wool and comes with our particular singly ply twist. This provides the yarn with a slightly irregular texture which, along with a hand-dyed technique, produce a very complete product. The palette is quite bright and traslucid due to our dyeing techniques and the superwash process.

Noventa has been added to the website so it’s ready when the yarn arrives.

I was up early and worked from home. 

- website updates

    -Noventa

    -Andrea Mowry’s Zig

-started this post

-worked on a newsletter

Then I did some errands. I ran out and did a bit of Christmas shopping which is very early for me 😀. Dinner is in the oven and I’m back to writing.

The new Della Q bags should be arriving next week. 🤞 

The Maker’s Satchel is online for preorder.

Rucksacks are online as well.

This is the Rucksack with Cubbies inside. The Cubbies are sold separately.

Dad and Lucy just left and it’s time to sign off. The newsletter isn’t finished so I’m going to work on it for a few minutes before getting back to my sock. I’m at the heel shaping.

I’m knitting socks

Biches & Buches shared pictures on Instagram of Andrea Mowry’s new pattern. The pattern is being released sometime tomorrow. The sweater is knit in Le Lambswool and we have the colours (and many others) in stock. I will put together kits when the pattern is available.

Photos © Andrea Mowry

Biches & Buches put a few different colour combinations together. 

Soft Dark Grey, Beige, Yellow Mustard

Soft Green, Red Brown, Light Gold

Soft Green Grey, Light Peach, Soft Blue Green

I cast on my socks yesterday morning and spent the day watching football and knitting. I was always afraid of making toe up socks because of the cast on. Watch the video that Andrea made and you will be cast on in a few minutes and ready to knit. Knitting with two strands of fingering weight make the socks go much faster which I like!!

I should have reversed the colours. I didn’t realize that the speckled skein was so dark - it should have been the toes, then there would be 4 rows of pink/purple before the ribbing starts.

Jackson loves his toys. They are everywhere. We pick them up and put them in the toy box and before you know it they are everywhere again.

I’m early tonight. After shipping boxes and putting away stock I went grocery shopping and came home to work. While carrot cake muffins are in the oven I finished my post. After hitting Publish I’m going to start on a newsletter. It should go out later this week.

Squish Me

Beth brought me lunch this afternoon and was wearing her Squish Me Cap. The pattern can be purchased on Ravelry. Of all the hats Beth has knit, this pattern is her favourite.

A slouchy hat in four sizes (XS/S/M/L) with a welted pattern that expands and contracts to give the piece luscious, cozy volume. The deep knit/purl texture gives body and definition to soft, luxury yarn blends, encouraging the hat to collapse into soft folds. Easy to work stitches and a simple, one-piece circular construction make this a great option for last minute gift knitting—one that travels well and is suitable for any age or gender.

She has made the hat many times but this is the one she wears the most. She loves knitting in hand dyed yarns. This yarn is discontinued but you have many, many options of fun yarn.

Beth walked around the store and thought that Malabrigo Rios needed to be tidied. 

She traded lunch for a skein of Rios in Liquidamber. She is going to use it for another Squish Me Cap. She has knit the hat in both DK and worsted weight yarns. Both work well.

Dad and Lucy just left and Beth has decided that I am going to finish her Flicker & Flame hat so she can start her new hat. Any minute she is going to ask me help her find needles. Someday I will get my needles in order 🤣. Maybe someone will give me a Della Q needle case for Christmas and put my needles all away. Beth are you listening?

Scrambling

Andrea Mowry has another pattern coming out next week. There should be more pictures coming on Instagram over the next few days. A customer test knit this pattern and she brought in the almost finished sweater to show us. I think everyone will like it. The sweater is knit in a yarn from Biches & Buches. We have the yarn in stock in a great selection of colours including the colours that Andrea used.

Photo © Andrea Mowry

It’s a mad scramble to get products here in time for Christmas.

Lykke Ball Winders and Swifts will be here next week. We’ve been waiting a long time for them. These are only available for in store pick up. They come in large boxes and the shipping costs are a lot more than our regular shipping.

Today I have been rushing to get orders in.

We are almost out of Cocoknits Super-Absorbent Towels but more should be here by the middle of next week.

Circular Ewenicorn needles and other Addi needles should be here by the end of next week.

Knitter’s Pride Sock Blockers are coming next week. We will have medium and large sizes. 

No I haven’t started my socks yet. But when I get them knit I need blockers so I ordered some for the store.

I have been knitting on Trinigan. The pattern is great if you want to knit a few rows before bed. No thinking is involved. My cup of tea has been poured and I’m going to move to the knitting chair for a few more rows.

Jackson was in no hurry to go to work today.