Debbie Bliss

The Baby Cashmerino Tonals from Debbie Bliss have arrived. The colours looked great in the pictures I showed last week but they are so much better in person.

This morning I saw my sales rep for Debbie Bliss yarns and there are more new yarns coming in a few weeks.

Cotton Denim DK
100% cotton
200m on a 100 gram ball
22 stitches = 4" on 4mm needles

A pattern book is coming for the Denim DK but I have a different pattern in my head for it.

 

The Churchmouse Easy Fold Poncho will look great in the Denim DK.

Rialto Luxury Sock
75% wool
25% nylon

400m on a 100gram ball

There won't be much knitting tonight. Our good friend is visiting from England and is staying with us. He is a very particular about food so it's dinner at the Keg. YUMMY!

Quintets

I'm working on a cowl with a String Quintet kit from Lorna's Laces. The pattern is the Three Color Cashmere Cowl from Joji.

From Joji

Oh, this is a lovely little pattern to let the days go by while peacefully knitting away…
There are no complex stitches in this cowl, just putting together some stripes, texture and lace as they suit you best.
The yarn I used was a bit of a luxury, just perfect to spoil yourself with something luscious around your neck

I'm adapting the pattern because my kit has five colours. So far I like how the the colours are coming out.

The yarn is great to knit with. I was dreading knitting on 3mm needles but it isn't bad at all. The pattern called for a 40cm circular but I'm using a 60cm circular and the stitches aren't stretched.

The pattern is easy to follow - Joji writes a great pattern and I highly recommend knitting one of her designs.

I've been looking at the kits and trying to decide which colour I would like to make next.

Diana just finished this awesome cowl.
Pattern: Rainbow Cowl (purchased on Ravelry)

Worked in the round from the top edge down, this cowl features a simple eyelet “raindrops” lace pattern and an openwork “sunray” lace pattern. It is finished with a picot bind-off.

Yarn: One Lorna's Laces String Quintet Kit - the colour here is Trumpet

If you'd like to try a Mystery KAL, Romi is starting one in March.

Welcome to my fourth mystery shawl KAL! This is a triangle using two colors of light sport weight yarn, 385 yards each.

The first clue will be released digitally on March 18. The KAL will have 5 clues total, each one week apart. After the KAL is over, your mystery pattern will update to the full pattern. After the mystery KAL is finished and the pattern is released as a full pdf, the cost of the completed pattern will increase to $6.50.

See all of Romi's patterns - she designs amazing shawls.

It's knitting time. My cowl is calling my name.

Holly

When I was writing about ponchos yesterday I remembered the most beautiful poncho that Jane knit for me. It is in storage but I'm going to get it pulled out. It's perfect for spring days when you need something on but don't want a heavy sweater.

Pattern: Holly by Kaffe Fassett (Rowan Magazine #50)
Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed

This breathtaking oversized tunic has been designed by Kaffe Fassett with an autumunal leaf motif.

Thanks to all who donated to the Food Drive and thank you to my suppliers who donated. Here are the winners.

The winner of the gift basket is Kathy Z.
The winner of the Offhand Designs bag is Rebecca S.
The three store gift certificates were won by Kathleen H. Sally H and Rochelle J.

The Food Drive Committee thanks everyone as well and please remember us next February when we do this again.

Two Harbors

We have a new store sample. Thank you Lynda for knitting this so quickly.

Pattern: Two Harbors Poncho (we have copies in the store or you can purchase on Ravelry)

Easy does it. What’s not to love about this artful jacket alternative? Stitched sideways in two panels and seamed up the center, Two Harbors is fast and fun to knit, and truly flatters every figure. Knit in Extra, this light and lofty poncho will be your new absolute favorite.

Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Extra

A luxe mix of baby alpaca and fine Merino wool, Extra comes in generously sized hanks and a rich color palette, making it ideal for one and two skein projects. Light and lofty with a springy twist, it’s a versatile Aran weight that lends itself beautifully to a variety of knitting tensions and needle sizes.

55% baby alpaca
45% fine merino

150 gram skein
199m / 218 yards

Ponchos are making a come back. Wait until you see our booth at the Frolic - there will be many different styles on display.

• Your tension can be off a bit and it will still fit you
• It's easy to throw on instead of a jacket
• Great if you don't want a fitted garment
• You can dress them up or wear casual

Here is the picture from the pattern so you can see a different colour combination. The yarn is so soft.

Three brand new colours (plus colours that we are out of) will be arriving in about a week.

3524 Canyon

3525 Mist

3526 Ocean Deep

I read the coolest thing on Diamond Yarn's blog last night. Do you have a skein of yarn that you've tried to roll into a ball but instead of a ball you got one big mess?

There is a secret society in our midst and apparently very few of us are even remotely aware of it.  Imagine a place where you can mail in or drop off your tangled, tousled bowl-of-spaghetti-like yarn, and magically it appears one day in your mailbox neatly-wound into a plump cake, ready for knitting

Read about this awesome group...

Food Drive

I forgot to add this in today's post. We are accepting donations of cans and/or cash until noon tomorrow (Saturday, February 20) for the Ancaster Community Food Drive. Please help out. The local food banks are in desperate need.

The food drive serves all of the major Food Serving Agencies in the city such as: Neighbour to Neighbour; Greater Hamilton Food Share, Mission Services of Hamilton, Good Shepherd Centre, The Salvation Army, St. Matthew’s House, Wesley Urban Ministries and Ancaster Community Services.

We will be collecting food and cash. One food item will give you one entry. What will that entry get you? The first name drawn will win a wonderful gift basket of yarn and accessories donated by our suppliers. The second name drawn will win a beautiful Offhand Design bag (the price tag on the bag is $235). The next three names drawn will win $50 gift certificates to the store. Cash is also welcome. We will give you 10 tickets for a $10 donation and 25 tickets for a $20 donation.

We will mail the prizes anywhere in Canada if you don't live in town.

We're in the store for another hour tonight or you can call the store first thing in the morning if you'd like to donate cash.

The most needed food items are

• hot cereals of any kind
• canned meats and fish
• peanut butter
• meat soups
• canned or powder milk
• baby food and formula (needs to have at least 8 weeks until expiry left on it)
• canned fruits and vegetables
• canned pasta
• dry pasta
• pasta sauce
• toiletries

Thanks to all who have donated in the past and I hope that you can help us out again.

If you aren't able to help out right now, please remember your local food banks and donate to them when you are able.

Spring Scarf

I finished my scarf and Lynn sewed the ends in for me so that I could get a picture.

Pattern: Naushon (available in the Classic Elite book Along the Shore which we have in the store or on Ravelry)
Yarn: Classic Elite Santorini - 3 ball. I used 2154 Dream, a new colour for spring.

It ended up as a scarf because it was too long to be a cowl. I think that 2 repeats less would have worked. I put it on the mannequin to show how a cowl would look and I like it. Maybe I'll have to do another one :)

This is one of the scarves that I knit last spring. I used 2188 Chameleon. The pattern is easy to memorize and the yarn is addictive. Colours. Textures. It's hard to put the scarf down because you want to see how the next colour comes out.

And another one from last spring in colour 2189.

I told you it was addictive.

Cozy Throw

Churchmouse Yarns took their Picot Edge Mohair Throw and Afghan pattern (available in the store and on Ravelry) and re knit it in Rowan's Brushed Fleece.

This is the kind of luxurious throw that beckons you to the sofa. The Churchmouse pattern calls for lots of garter stitch so it's a fine choice for beginners and a soothing activity for seasoned knitters.

We chose to knit this with a plain edge to showcase the warmth and lightness of Rowan’s Brushed Fleece but you can always add the bobbly picot edge shown on the pattern. Quick to knit, this throw is fluffy and insulating, but not overly warm or heavy. The lightly marled colors remind us of English moors and woodlands.

You'll need 8 skeins of Brushed Fleece to make the smaller throw size, or 10 skeins to make the afghan size shown.

This looks like something that would be great to curl up in while watching TV.

I'm not sure if I have introduced you to Huck. When we got home from dinner the fridge was open and a drink was on the counter. This is how I found Huck. Not the best day for introductions.

Ravelry did a spotlight on monkey patterns - Chinese New Year was recently celebrated and it is the Year of the Monkey. I asked Beth to bring Huck home so that I could get pictures.

Pattern: Monkey Jacobus (purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: Classic Elite Liberty Wool

Jacobus is the cutest monkey on Ravelry. Jacobus is knit round in one piece, without any seams. The pattern is very extensive, featuring 40 pictures of the various stages in knitting and row by row instructions.

The pattern is available both in english and in dutch, when you buy the pattern you have access to both the file in dutch and in english.

You can knit Jacobus in whatever yarn you want, both monkeys on the second picture are from the same pattern.

For the smallest one I used 30 grams of fingering weight sock yarn for the main color and 10 grams for the face, hands and feet, knit with needles 1,5mm (000). It measures 20cm (8 “).

Using DK/worsted yarn, you need 50 grams MC and about 20 grams CC, use needles 3 or 4 (3mm or 3,5mm). Your Jacobus will measure 35cm/14”.

For a large monkey, use aran or bulky, about 75 grams MC and 25 grams CC, needles 4mm-5mm, 6-8, and Jacobus measures 50 cm, 20”.

Take a look at your stash - I'm sure you have something that would make a great Monkey Jacobus.

Baby Cashmerino Tonals

I was doing an order for some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Baby and found out that the yarn is coming in tonal colours. We should have the yarn in the store early next week.

 

Baby Tea Leaves (pattern purchased on Ravelry) would look really cute knit in the Tonals - 3 balls will make the cardigan - you might get away with 2 for the smallest size.
From the designer, Melissa LaBarre

finally, after many requests, a baby and toddler version of my tea leaves cardigan. i guess all i needed was my own baby to motivate me. :)
pattern come with directions for 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, and 18-24 months. 

sweater has 3/4 length sleeves; which i’ve found to be perfect for keeping the sleeves clean with a messy eater.

Half a ball will make you the Stay-On Baby Booties (we have copies of the pattern in the store or you can purchase on Ravelry)

Karen Alfke adapted these cuties from a Swedish bootie pattern her mother used when the kids were tiny. The ribbed cuff and tie help them stay on even the most active of little feet. The pattern is written for your choice of three gauges, so you can use just about any yarn you like!

Little ties slipped through a row of eyelets keep these booties on, even during a good kick! We like the simplicity of twisted cord or crocheted chain ties but you can embellish them with beautiful ribbons to bump up the “awwww” factor at baby showers.

I did a bit of digging and found out that there will be a pattern book as well. The book isn't in Canada yet but should be soon.

Survivor started tonight. Some of the people on the brains team think very highly of themselves. It is going to be an interesting season.

Crazy

Zauberball Crazy arrived this morning. This is colour 1511.

Zauberball has been kicked up a notch, as two strands of the main ply have been dyed individually and then twisted together for a crazy combination! The end result is a self-striping multi-colored pattern, with a bold variegated design!

This yarn will work great for shawls, scarves, socks and sweaters. 

• 75% Superwash Wool - 25% Nylon
• 459 yards per 100 gram ball
• 2-3 mm (approx. US 0-2) needles
• Approx. 7.5 sts per inch

1699

1702

 2099

 2248

 2250

I worked on paperwork this morning and sent in our registration for the Woodstock Fleece Festival. This is a show that we don't want to miss and in my opinion, you don't want to miss it either.

The Woodstock Fleece Festival is an annual event that invites fibre artists and others to join together in an atmosphere of appreciation, learning and camaraderie.
The show will incorporate workshops and demonstrations from top instructors.  Exhibition booths will be selling everything from raw fibre to quality finished goods.  It is also a great place to have lunch!   

Saturday October 15
9-4:30
Woodstock Fairgrounds

Visit the Fleece Festival website for more information...

The knitting is finished on my scarf in Santorini and I am still deciding if it will stay a scarf or be joined for an infinity scarf. That will be tomorrow's decision. Tonight I will be going back to Mighty Miters.

Scarf or cowl?

Today was Family Day in Ontario so the store was closed. Most of my day was spent knitting and watching many episodes of NCIS. The scarf could be finished tonight. I had a thought this afternoon that I might join the ends and make it a cowl. We'll see when I get a bit further.

The Valentine's Dinner on Saturday night went very well. We raised a lot of money to be sent to Honduras. The bad thing - I was so tired when I got home. Six and half hours in the store and then 5 and half hours at the dinner. Yesterday was spent napping and knitting. I thought about writing a blog post but I couldn't make myself sit at the computer.

Now it's back to knitting. I'm trying to get samples finished for the Knitters Frolic. I have a bad habit of waiting until the last minute so this year I'm trying something new - start early and finish early. 

Is it spring yet?

I needed a bit of spring so I started Naushon in a new colour of Santorini from Classic Elite. I thought that I was being smart going outside for a picture. WRONG. It is really sunny so I was getting a shadow. But it was so cold that I couldn't stay out there trying to get a better picture. The chair inside will have to do for today.

Pattern: Naushon (in the Classic Elite book Along the Shores or the pattern can be purchased individually on Ravelry)
Yarn: 3 balls of Santorini
Needles: 4.5mm

 

 

I couldn't find my great cello bags this week so I brought a roll of cello from home to package up the awesome prize for The Food Drive. My cello wasn't wide enough to accommodate the full bags of yarn - there is a lot of yarn. We have one pretty package and then two large plastic bags filled.

There is still time to donate. Please help out if you can.

These three bags (with more to be added) are for the first ticket drawn.

The second ticket drawn will win the awesome Offhand Design bag.

And there is more. The next three names will each win a $50 gift certificate to the store.

My dad always told me that if you don't have anything good to say then don't say anything at all. I'm going to use his advice and not talk about last night's The Amazing Race. I'm also going to keep quiet in case you have it taped and haven't watched. All I'm going to say is that I might not make it through the season.