Stashbusting

Break out your stash of odds and ends, and bust out this marvellous marled beanie! A couple hours and some deliciously simple knitting later, you’ll be looking chic and cozy and will be hoping for a cold snap!

Snap is an easy to knit hat from Tin Can Knits (pattern purchased on Ravelry). The hat is knit with 4 strands of fingering weight yarn on 6.5mm needles. I think you can knit the hat with a strand of DK weight with 2 strands of fingering weight. 

Think about all the small balls you have of leftover fingering weight yarn from shawls. Or how about the yarn that was left after you knit a pair of socks?

Andrea Mowry posted this on Instagram this morning. It’s time to stock up on her patterns.

Photos © Andrea Mowry

This is the original hat - pattern purchased on Ravelry.

On Saturday afternoon I started having unbearable pain in my jaw and up to my ear. I saw my family doctor yesterday to have her check my ears just in case that was the issue. It wasn’t so my dentist squeezed me in this morning. I’m seeing an Endodontist at 8am on Monday morning for a root canal. From the dentist I saw Trish for a haircut and then onto the store to pack boxes. While I was there Mr. FedEx brought a box from Biches & Buches.

Very Light Pink Le Petit Lambswool is back in stock. We’ve been waiting a long time.

Yellow Mustard Le Lambswool is now in stock.

I’m on Aleve and antibiotics and the pain is a much better. They’re making me really tired so I’m going to sign off and head to bed. I will be in the store tomorrow unless something goes really wrong tonight. Thursday morning - that is a question. It will depend if we get the freezing rain that they are calling for. If it comes then I will try and get to the store after it stops. Please call the store before venturing out on Thursday morning just to make sure I’m there.

Flexi Flips

Laura Aylor has a new pattern called North Mountain. You can purchase it on Ravelry.

This raglan cardigan with lacey cables front and back and a small shawl collar is knit top-down and seamlessly. Front bands and shawl collar are knit on separately.

Laura designed the cardigan in worsted weight yarn so you have many, many options. I have knit a few of Laura’s patterns and they are well written.

Photos © Laura Aylor

Derecho is my favourite Laura Aylor pattern. Laura used tosh merino light.

A derecho is a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. One of these storms hit here in the eastern United States while I was working on my second knit of this pattern. 

A triangular shawl knit modularly in two directions to produce a pattern of interconnected stripes. Two circular needles are used to knit on one side at a time while keeping the other side’s stitches live.

My sock is growing. Andrea’s pattern (Bear Paw Socks) is well written and easy to follow. I decided to knit on Addi Flexi Flips Squared. I like knitting with double pointed needles and thought I would give the Flexi Flips a go. It was a great choice. The yarn is Malabrigo’s new Ultimate Sock and it feels good on my hands as I’m knitting with it. 

I really like knitting with the Flexi Flips. Here is Vicky Howell’s video showing you how to use them. 

Now I need to sign off and update the website. A big box of Addi needles arrived this morning.

We received Circular Ewenicorns and more will be arriving next week.

New Books

Lindsey Fowler’s knitwear collection Salt & Timber is inspired by the Pacific Northwestern coast. This visually stunning book features 15 cozy designs that are intuitive and easy to knit. The patterns – including socks, shawls, sweaters, hats, mitts, and even a blanket – offer thoughtful details, opportunities to make the most of your yarn stash and ways to customize the garments to fit your style.

We’ve made it easy! 

52 Weeks of Easy Knits includes 52 uncomplicated knitting patterns, ranging from beanies, mittens and scarves to sweaters, socks and cardigans. The designs are fun, cosy and modern, but above all, they are a pleasure to knit. 

In this clear and colourful book, there are many super-easy, quick-to-finish patterns that are perfect for beginners. The more challenging ones offer meditative projects for those with a bit more experience. All the patterns are created using basic knitting techniques, and each step of the process is explained thoroughly. The book also includes useful information about choosing the right materials and finishing your garment. 

52 Weeks of Easy Knits offers you knitting inspiration for years to come – the only difficult thing is deciding what to knit first!

The newest Laine magazine will be available on December 16th. It is available online for preorder.

Issue 16 of Laine Magazine brings you to the streets of our beloved Helsinki, the capital of Finland. We will visit a charming bookstore and an edgy record store, and sit down to have a warming cup of coffee. In short, a perfect, slow Saturday.

Winter 2023, includes:

• 148 pages
• 11 knitting patterns (both charts and written instructions provided): 5 sweaters, 2 cardigans, 2 shawls, 1 waistcoat, 1 pair of socks
• an interview with Elaine Tom – learn how she became the trusted test knitter for many designers, knitting around 40 sweaters a year!
• an article on how the Craft Museum of Finland preserves cultural heritage and inspires the crafters of today
• NEW! Jeanette Sloan Talks Fibre – a regular article on Jeanette chatting with interesting people. In this issue, she meets Lorraine Amagove Mugere, a Kenyan knitwear and crochet designer
• NEW! Five Ways by our regular writer Päivi Kankaro. In this issue, Päivi explores how you can keep your favourite knits around for longer by taking care of them the right way
• NEW! Where I Knit – a regular piece that pictures people knitting in their favourite spot, and talking about crafting in their everyday lives. In this issue, we meet a knitter in Indonesia
• seasonal recipes to inspire your winter cooking book reviews

See all the books from Laine.

I’m not sure why I picked today as the day to move things around but it was. Hedgehog Twist Sock is moving to a new home. I can’t get all the colours up - that will be Monday’s job to move things around.

I moved the top hooks down a few rows. They were way too high before and no one could reach the yarn. I will think about this over the weekend to come up with something to hang up there.

It’s time to head home. I’m going to hit Publish before I go and hopefully I will get some knitting accomplished tonight.

52 Weeks of Socks

Tanis Lavallee has a new pattern out today that you can download for free on Ravelry.

I designed this scarf to highlight a very special skein of DK weight yarn that I had been saving for a worthy project. I decided that my first brioche design was worthy indeed! This pattern is a great introduction to 2 colour brioche. You will master increases as well as right and left leaning decreases and will be ready to tackle something more ambitious on your next brioche adventure.

A cute mini hat with a fun pom-pom. Decorating options for this tiny project are endless. Create a cheerful holiday garland, hang as an ornament or add as a gift wrapping accessory. Knit an original creation by mixing and matching colors and patterns. 

Complimentary pattern is for 1 solid hat with a solid pom-pom.  

Photos are provided for additional inspiration to create your own combinations. 
1 mini hank will create one complete mini hat.

If you want to make some fun decorations, Blue Sky Fibers has patterns for their Woolstok Bundles. 

The Holiday Cheer Mini Hat pattern is free on Ravelry. 

The Holiday Cheer Mini Mitt - also free on Ravelry.

A cute mini mitt that will complement the previously released mini hat pattern. Big decorating options for this tiny project. Knit an original creation by mixing and matching colors and patterns. Happy Holidays!

We are not putting up a tree this year. Jackson’s tail doesn’t stop wagging. We would need to build a fence around the tree to keep it safe. And somehow he would still knock the decorations off. 

Mr. FedEx arrived just before I left and brought me a box of books. 52 Weeks of Socks is back in stock.

There are more books to talk about tomorrow. I need to get them priced and added to the website.