Woolercoaster

F.O. A Sparkly Ranunculus by Midori Hirose

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 11:22:00 +0000

Pattern: Ranunculus

Designer: Midori Hirose

Colourway: Sapphire

Yarn: Sweet Georgia Yarns CashLuxe Spark: 80% Merino, 10% Cashmere Goat 10% Stellina (2 skeins)

Colourway: Sapphire

Yarn: Sweet Georgia Yarns Silk Fog: 76% Silk 24% Mohair (3 skeins)

Colourway: Sapphire

Needles: 6.0 mm

Ravelry: see notes here

Added Notes:

1. Last year I ordered the Sweet Georgia Advent Calendar. In the calendar were a variety of mini skeins, including CashLuxe Spark and Silk Fog. I enjoyed knitting with these yarns (read more about it here) and fell in love with the Sapphire colourway. I knew that I had to knit a sweater with these yarns.

I made a bunch of elves with the Advent calendar skeins (sapphire on the left).

I knit Ranunculus by combining one strand of CashLuxe Spark and one strand of Silk Fog. The resulting sweater far surpassed my expectations. I have knit with many yarns over the years, and I have to say that this combination is one of my absolute favourites. The combination of silk, mohair, merino, cashmere and stellina in the yarns creates an incredibly soft sweater with a slight halo. The silk gives it a sheen and the stellina gives it a sparkle. Although the sparkle is a bit toned down by the Silk Fog, there is still a pleasing amount of sparkle in this sweater. I just love it...once I put the sweater on, I didn't want to take it off. I wish you could try it on to see how great it feels.
2. This is the second time I knit Ranunculus. A top down sweater knit on 6mm needles knits very quickly, and there is just enough lace at the top to add interest. Another reason I like this pattern so much is that it can be knit in a variety of yarns and weights. For example, my first version of this sweater was a short sleeve version knit in a DK weight yarn (see blog post here). The designer has also provided options with the neckline and sleeve length. It is an easy pattern to modify.

Ranunculus knit in Camilla Fiber Co. CFC Flax DK

3. I really liked Melissa's version (from Espace Tricot) and I followed her modifications. I knit the body to 10" then worked 3" of twisted rib. For the sleeves I knit straight for 11" then worked 2" of twisted rib. The only difference was I knit the smaller neck. When I blocked the sweater I just lay the sweater out and pinned only the ribbing. This sweater grew just the right amount and the sleeves are the perfect length for me.

4. I found that I preferred the sweater worn with a camisole. I did not have a store bought cami in sapphire. However, I did have 100% rayon fabric in the exact colour and the Ogden Cami pattern by True Bias. Have I mentioned that I am working on developing my sewing skills? This was the perfect opportunity to sew this popular pattern. As I am new to sewing I found working with the slippery rayon was a bit challenging. I am really pleased with the result and I love how it feels next to the skin. I will definitely be making more versions of this pattern. I have a long way to go with my sewing skills but as long as you don't look too closely it will do. : )

Ogden Cami by True Bias

Is this my last Ranunculus? I don't think so. I have big plans...stay tuned.

Visiting Loop London & Shell Cottage Socks

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 11:38:00 +0000

On a recent trip to London I had the pleasure of visiting Loop London, a yarn store located a short walk from the Angel Tube Station. Although I visited right after the store opened for the day, it was already quite busy, with locals, as well as many tourists like me.

I don't know what other knitters do, but I have learned to prepare myself before visiting a yarn shop on my travels. I research what unique items the yarn shop carries that aren't available at home. I find that having a list helps me focus when I enter one of these stores, as every coherent thought seems to leave my mind as I immerse myself in all the delights the store has to offer. The list helps me to chose my yarn thoughtfully.

Loop is a cosy, two floored store with yarns from around the world. Fingering and lace weight yarn are located on the main floor, while heavier weight yarns and an awesome collection of books and patterns, are found upstairs.

The main floor:

Yaku Blanket

Snail Yarn

Jamieson's of Shetland

Upstairs:

An amazing selection of books and patterns

Ito Sensai Mohair + Silk

La Bien Aimée

Harlequin Blanket

To be honest I had planned to buy a sweater's quantity of yarn from Loop. But when I converted the cost of six skeins of yarn to Canadian dollars I changed my mind. However, I did not go home empty handed:

I bought a few skeins of La Bien Aimée which I already have planned projects for.

La Bien Aimée Merino DK
Colour: Doe

La Bien Aimée Mohair Silk
Colour: Vespa

La Bien Aimée Merino Single
Colour: Peerie Voe

On the long flight from Canada to London I worked monogamously on my Shell Cottage Socks by Helen Stewart, and finally finished them shortly after I have returned home. I really admire people who knit lace socks at a quick pace. Everytime I cast on a pair it takes me quite a while to finish. I knit these socks in Hedgehog Fibres Sock in the colourway Jelly. The pattern is well written using the percentage system that Helen Stewart is famous for. The lace pattern is easy to knit, but it took me a lot longer to finish them than I originally thought. This is my first time using Hedgehog Fibres Sock and I was not too impressed. Maybe it was the particular skein I had, but I found the yarn split very easily, and I needed to knit with very pointy needles to help compensate for that. The finished socks are so pretty and I know I will enjoy wearing them. However, I think my next pair of socks will be a plain vanilla pattern.

Shell Cottage Socks

Lastly, I want to share with you the cutest sheep cup I found in Marks and Spencers.

Of course I couldn't leave London without it! If you are planning a trip to London don't miss out on Loop London. It's worth the visit.

F.O. Winston Pullover #3 by Jane Richmond

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 00:30:00 +0000

Pattern: Winston Pullover

Designer: Jane Richmond

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Solids (80% Acrylic, 20% Wool)

Colourway: Wheat and Charcoal

Yarn: Rowan Big Wool (100% Merino)

Colourway: Pine Needle

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ecological Wool (100% Wool)

Colourway: Beige

Yarn: Estelle Yarns Gladstone Chunky (50% Merino, 50% Acrylic)

Colourway: 421

Needles: 12mm & 8mm

Size: 38

Ravelry: see further notes

Added Notes:

1. Last winter I made two Winston Pullovers, one for me (read about it here),

and one for my daughter:

Mine got quite a bit of wear ...it's such a perfect sweater to throw on during those chilly days. I love it so much that I thought it would be great to knit a cropped version. I had leftover yarn from the two Winston pullovers taking up space in my stash. Also, I had picked up three skeins of Rowan Big Wool on sale in my favourite colour green and was ready to get it on the needles.

2. Modifications: Using my original Winston Pullover as a guide, I counted the number of rows I would need to knit in order to get my desired length. The magic number for me was 11 rows for each of the five coloured stripes. My sweater hits my waist, making it the perfect length to work well with skirts and high waisted pants. The body measures 12 inches from the underarm.

4. I needed yarn for the fourth stripe as I didn't have any super bulky yarn in my stash that would work. After a few false starts I combined two strands of Cascade Yarns Ecological Wool with one strand of Estelle Yarns Gladstone Chunky, in order to equal the thickness of the other yarns I used. There are flecks of black, green, brown and a bit of blue in the Gladstone Chunky. I am still wondering if I should have gone with a different colour for that stripe. However, the feeling of using up deep stash is very satisfying. Luckily all the yarns in this sweater, although from different companies, played well together and created a consistent gauge.

5. I am not a fan of acrylic yarns but there is something about the Lion Brand Wool-Ease that I quite like. It feels warm and cozy to wear and the price is so reasonable. If you have never tried this yarn before it's worth a look.

6. I am a huge fan of Jane Richmond and I love every one of her patterns that I have knit. You would think that a super bulky sweater may not be the most flattering, but Jane seems to know how to design a sweater that looks great on everyone. I am eagerly waiting the release of a man's sweater that she is currently designing and keeps hinting about on Instagram.

7. If I haven't convinced you yet to knit this sweater here is my last point. Super bulky yarn knits up super fast. You could easily knit this sweater in a week. What are you waiting for? Look in your stash...you might have exactly what you need and don't be scared to combine yarns. Just knit a sample swatch and experiment with your yarn. Happy knitting!

F.O. Ranunculus by Midori Hirose

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 01:16:00 +0000

Pattern: Ranunculus

Ranunculus

Designer: Midori Hirose (website: Knit Cafe Midori)

Yarn: Camellia Fiber Co. CFC Flax DK (50% Alpaca 25% Linen 25% Silk) 270yards (2 skeins)

Camellia Fiber Co. CFC Flax DK

Colourway: Cenote

Needles: 6.00 mm

Ravelry: see notes

Added Notes:

1. I have had Ranunculus in my queue for some time but I couldn't figure out what yarn I wanted knit it with. I finally spotted, deep in my stash, three skeins of Camellia Fiber Co. CFC Flax DK that I thought might work well. I got gauge on 6mm needles and I loved the fabric it created. This yarn consists of such an interesting combination of fibers, creating a fabric that is airy and drapey, with a beautiful halo, and so soft against the skin. Surprisingly this pattern uses up very little yarn and I ended up only using two of my skeins. If Camellia Fiber Co. yarn is new to you check out their website here. The yarn is absolutely gorgeous and hand dyed in small batches.

2. This pattern was fun and so quick to knit, taking me only about a week. The pattern was well written and easy to follow, and I can see why many people have made more than one version. This is definitely not a beginner pattern as there are a number of techniques used that are not beginner friendly, such as German short rows, as well as lace stitches. However, the pattern is so well written that an adventurous beginner could figure it all out, using the video links in the pattern to assist with the tricky bits.

3. I knit the short sleeved version of Ranunculus. The only modification I made to the pattern was to add length. I knit my sweater 10 inches from the underarm with a twisted rib of 3 inches. After blocking the length only increased by one inch and I was super happy with the fit. The original pattern comes in one size but there is also an added modified pattern for larger bust sizes 38 to 48". There is also a long sleeved version.

4. Is there another Ranunculus in my future...absolutely! It is one of those patterns where you have instant gratification as it is so fun and quick. I definitely want to knit it again, experimenting with a different yarn. There are so many beautiful versions on Ravelry I definitely recommend you have a look for inspiration.

Stephen & Penelope Yarn Shop: Amsterdam

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sun, 26 May 2019 01:46:00 +0000

I have dreamed about going to Amsterdam for so many years and my wish finally came true. I was so happy to visit this amazing city. First on my list was a visit to the Keukenhof Gardens to see the tulips. I was not disappointed as the beauty of this place far surpassed what I had imagined.

Second on my Amsterdam list was a visit to Stephen & Penelope, a cozy yarn store situated in the heart of the city, owned partly by the infamous designer Stephen West. This store had an impressive variety of brightly coloured yarn from Europe and North America. Of course I wore my orange Lumpy Space shawl designed by Stephen West which I had knit for this trip.

Even though Stephen West was not in the store I enjoyed every minute of my visit, admiring the many gorgeous skeins of yarn. Here are a few of my favourite photos:

West Wool: Tandem

Stephen & Penelope St. Magnus DK Orkney Angora

La Bien Aimeé: Westknits Goes to Paris

Fru Valborg

Qing Fibre

Garn Stories

Bilum

A huge wall of Hedgehog Yarn

Lingarn Yarn

I really enjoyed seeing all the Stephen West design samples. Here are a few of my favourites:

Mohairino Medley: this shawl is definitely going into my queue

It was very hard to just pick a few skeins to take home as there were just so many lovely choices. I picked some skeins that would be hard to find in Canada. This is what ended up coming home with me:

Walk Collection Kid Mohair Lace

Undercover Otter: Otter Pup

Qing Fibre Melted Baby Suri

Walk Collection Kid Mohair Lace

I am looking forward to knitting with these skeins as whatever I knit will always remind me of this special place. Amsterdam was truly a wonderful city and I enjoyed every minute of my holiday there. Now what should I knit with this yarn?

F.O. Miromesnil by Cléonis

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sat, 18 May 2019 01:32:00 +0000

Pattern: Miromesnil

Designer: Cléonis

Yarn: Shibui Silk Cloud (60%% Mohair, 40% silk) 2 skeins

Colourway: Shore

Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Pink Label Lace Weight (100% Merino) 2 skeins

Colourway: OOAK (it was super close to the colourway Midnight)

Needles: 4.5mm and 5mm
Size: M1

Ravelry: see notes

Added Notes:
1. This is the second time I have made Miromensil, and once again I enjoyed every minute of knitting it. I dug deep in my stash for the two skeins of TFA Pink Label Lace Weight yarn, pairing two strands of the lace weight yarn with one strand of Shibui Silk Cloud. I am a big fan of both yarns and the combination is heavenly. Silk Cloud is super soft, feels so luxurious, and is not itchy at all. The skeins of lace weight contained 914 m which was was not enough yarn for long sleeves. I decided to make a short sleeve version and it's perfect for spring weather.

Love the halo

2. The designer gives you many options to choose from when knitting this top down sweater. Here is the first Miromesnil I made with a front pleat and long sleeves.

Miromesnil #1

This time I chose to make the the cropped version and knit until the body was 12.5 inches, finishing with a flat ribbing for 12 rounds. I feel like you really get your money's worth because of how many pattern options the designer gives you.

As you can tell I am super pleased with this sweater and I know it will get a lot of wear. I am currently knitting another sweater paired with Shibui Silk Cloud. I can't seem to get enough of this yarn. Anyone else obsessed with Shibui Silk Cloud?

F.O. Lumpy Space by Stephen West

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 11:04:00 +0000

Pattern: Lumpy Space

Designer: Stephen West

Yarn: Anzula Sebastian (70% merino 30% Sea Cell)

Colourway: Cantaloupe

Anzuala Sebastian

Yarn: Fiber Optic Yarns Foot Notes Paintbox Gradient (80% merino 20% nylon)
Colourway: Neon

Fiber Optic Yarns

Yarn: Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles (100% Merino)
Colourway: Poppy

Hedgehog Fibres

Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Red Label Cash Silk Single (75% merino, 15% cashmere, 10% silk)

Colourway: Papaya

Needles: 3.75mm

Ravelry: my notes

Added Notes:

1. Okay I get it now. After knitting several of Stephen West's patterns I can understand why he is such a popular designer. The patterns are fun to knit and keep you motivated to knit quickly, as you want to sees what's happening next. Stephen's patterns are easy to follow and always teach you a few new things.

2. Over the last couple years I have tried to find a pattern to showcase the Fiber Optics vibrant gradient kit that I had bought at Rhinebeck several years ago. I tried a few other patterns with this yarn but had no luck finding the right match. However, once I decided on Lumpy Space for my Fiber Optic yarn everything seemed to work. I used the reds and orange skeins from the gradient kit and made a fade in Section One and Two. I used a speckled Hedgehog Fibres yarn that worked will with the Anzula Sebastian yarn.

I found some leftover Tanis Fiber Arts Red label that I had used on this gorgeous hat by Joji Locatelli called Vitsippa. It was the perfect combination of pink and orange for the picot edge. I love it when everything comes together like that.

Section 1: Fiber Optics Yarn alternated with Hedgehog Fibres

Section 2: Fiber Optics Yarn

Section 3: Hedgehog Fibres alternated with Anzula Sebastian

Picot Edging: Tanis Fiber Arts Red Label

3. This shawl is knitted in different sections as you can see above. I completed Section One with no problems. Section Two was challenging for me. I knit the first part of the diamond shape with no problem. Then I had to join the second part of Section One and that's where the trouble started. The sections kept getting twisted. After a few failed attempts I decided to leave that second half of Section Two and complete Section Three and the picot edging. Once that was done it was quite simple to complete the second half of Section Two. The pattern is very well written with lots of photos to help knitters.

I am so pleased with how the shawl turned out and will be bringing it on my holiday to Amsterdam. I will be there during the national holiday called King's Day where everyone wears orange so I think this shawl will be perfect to wear. I am hoping to visit Stephen & Penelope on my visit and I will be sure to share my pictures here on my blog and over on my Instagram account. So stay tuned! Don't forget to check out Stephen West's gorgeous collection of patterns and make sure to sign up for his newsletter so that you can get the latest news and special discounts.

F.O. Stronachlachar by Kate Davies

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 19:29:00 +0000

Isn't it just lovely when you get a project off the needles that has been languishing for some time? I am so happy to have finished Stronachlachar by Kate Davies, a pattern found in the West Highland Way collection. This is one of those projects where I think I found the perfect match between pattern and yarn, and I am so happy with how it turned out. Spring is still quite cool where I live, so there is still plenty of time to wear it before the weather gets too warm.

Pattern: Stronachlachar

Stronachlachar by Kate Davies

Designer: Kate Davies

Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners Bluefaed Leicester DK (100% Bluefaced Leicester 223 meters): 4 skeins

Colourway: 2 Natural Light Brown

Needles: 3.5mm (ribbing) & 3.75mm (body)

Ravelry: see notes

After Blocking

Added Notes:

1. Blocking is my favourite part of the knitting process. Check out the difference:

Before Blocking

Once blocked the cables opened up and the yarn bloomed. If you are new to blocking, all I did was soak the sweater in some water and wool wash. Then I gently squeezed out the excess water with a towel, and laid it to out to dry, making sure the measurements given in the pattern matched the third size I had chosen. I used a few blocking pins along the ribbing, and by the next day it looked like this:

Blocking magic

2. One reason this sweater took longer to complete is because I made a mistake mid-body when I switched my needles to a pointier set. Instead of the required 3.75mm needles, I started using 4mm needles and proceeded to knit many inches. Once I noticed my mistake I tried knitting a few rows with 3.75mm needles to see if it was noticeable, and it definitely was. I ripped out the inches I had knit and started over. Thank goodness I made that choice as I would have run out of yarn with the bigger needles, and the sweater would have been too big. It doesn't matter how long you have been knitting... you still make dumb errors!

3. I bought this yarn on a family trip to Scotland at Ginger Twist studio in Edinburgh five years ago (read about my visit here). Every time I looked at this yarn it brought back a lot of good memories and so I was super pleased to find a pattern that worked well it. The fact that the designer of this vest is Scottish is a bonus.

A very simple cable

4. This pattern, like all Kate Davies patterns, is well written. The sweater is knit in the round from the bottom up and is then divided at the underarms. I like the way the sleeves are easily constructed. This pattern is the perfect introduction to sweater knitting with cables. The repetitive pattern is quite simple and the end result, I think, is gorgeous. Perfect for beginners.

F.O. Vertices Unite by Stephen West

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 00:06:00 +0000

Spring weather is still a distant dream here in the Toronto area, so I decided to cast on a pattern that I knew would help me chase away my winter blues. Vertices Unite, designed in 2014, by Stephen West is a popular pattern, and has been in my queue since it was published. I felt it was time that I made one for myself. I dug deep into my stash and chose some speckled skeins I had been saving. The combination of knitting a Stephen West pattern with beautiful coloured yarn, had the desired effect of putting me into a great mood.

There are currently 2526 Vertices Unite pattern pages on Ravelry. The popularity of this pattern is well deserved. The pattern is easily modified to create any size shawl you desire. It can be knit with a variety of colours or with just one colour and still look awesome. This makes it a great stashbuster. The shawl is one of those shapes that is easy to style. Here's my version:

Pattern: Vertices Unite

Vertices Unite

Designer: Stephen West

Yarn:

Section 1: Hedgehog Fibres Sock (90 % Merino 10% nylon) Bubble
Section 2: Tanis Fiber Arts Blue Label (80% Merino 20% nylon) Lemongrass &
Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (100% Fingering) Robin's Egg

Bubble (top) and Bounce (bottom)

Section 3: Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles (100% Merino) Boombox

Boombox

Section 4: Flock Fibre Studio Take A Hike Sock (80% Merino 20% Nylon) Feeling Lucky

Section 5: Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles: Bounce
Section 6: Ancient Yarns Socknado Twister (80% Merino 20% nylon) I Met Stephen West and I Liked It (this was a sample given out at Knit City 2017)

Border: Madelinetosh Tosh Sock (100% Merino) Button Jar Blue

Needles: 3.5mm

Ravelry: my notes

Added Notes:

1. I wanted to knit a medium sized shawl and so I knit Section One to 76 stitches. Once that decision is made the rest of the pattern is easy to modify.

2. Stephen West striped three of the six sections. I only striped Section 2.

3. Section One and Section Three used the most yarn. Some Project Pages list specific weights used of each yarn if you are interested in that information.

4. I thought the I-cord bind-off border really made the shawl look great. It is very time consuming to do but so worth the effort. The border used up 13 grams of yarn.

5. If you are interested, Stephen West has come out with two different versions of this popular shawl. There is Textures Unite, a shawl knit in fingering weight yarn exploring different stitches for each section, and recently he published the Vertices Unite Baby Blanket knit in DK weight yarn

Vertices Unite

Let me assure you that while I am waiting for spring to happen around here, I will be wearing this shawl often. It's amazing how knitting a great pattern with some gorgeous yarn can change someone's mood. Now I will return to finishing up some projects on the needles before I cast on anymore spring projects.

Happy knitting and stay warm

Sweet Georgia Yarns Advent Calendar 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Tue, 25 Dec 2018 23:41:00 +0000

I was lucky enough to buy one of the Sweet Georgia Yarns Advent Calendar this year. It contained 24 boxes, most of which contained mini skeins of yarn such as Sweet Georgia's CashLuxe Spark, Tough Love Sock and Silk Mist. It also came with a shawl pattern, but instead I decided to knit some Jolly Wee Elves with this gorgeous yarn.

Advent Box

Pattern: Jolly Wee Elf

Designer: Churchmouse Yarns and Teas

Yarn: Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock (80% Merino, 20% Nylon)
Sweet Georgia Silk Mist (60% Mohair, 40% Silk)
Sweet Georgia CashLuxe Spark (80% Merino, 10% Stellina, 10% Cashmere)
Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (100% Merino) in Antler for face
Rowan Kidsilk Haze (70% mohair 30% silk) #665 Hibiscus (for one of the scarves)

Clearwater in CashLuxe Spark

Whitewater in Silk Mist

Needles: 2.5mm

Ravelry: see notes here

Added Notes:
1. I started a new tradition last year and decided that every Christmas season I would knit a few elves to add to my collection. I don't know what it is about these tiny elves, but I just love knitting them. It takes me about two hours for each elf, and to me it is worth the time. I thought the Advent skeins would be perfect for the Jolly Wee Elf pattern.

I used these elves to decorate my table at Christmas time:

2. This was the first year I have ordered a yarn Advent Calendar, and I found it a great way to explore different yarn bases and colourways. It was also fun to open a surprise each day during such a busy month. After working with each skein I know I would love to order a sweater's quantity of the colourway Hudson, and to knit a shawl with the colourway Sapphire in CashLuxe Spark.

3. Next year I would like to try and knit some bigger elves using different weight yarn. This pattern is perfect for using up leftover yarns and the possible colour combinations are endless. What's next up on my needles? I have two other patterns that I would like to try. One is the newly published Gnome pattern by Susan B. Anderson. It is offered at half price until December 31st if you are interested. The other is Scintillation by Hunter Hammerson, a beautiful star pattern that looks like a lot of fun. What are your knitting plans to close up the year?

.

F.O. Winston Pullover by Jane Richmond

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 10:53:00 +0000

I have always been a huge fan of Jane Richmond and her beautiful patterns. I was so excited to have the opportunity to test knit a sweater for her, and was super happy with the result. Let me fill you in on the details, and I guarantee that you will want to knit one for yourself!

Pattern: Winston Pullover

Winston Pullover

Designer: Jane Richmond

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Solids (80% Acrylic 20% Wool)

Colourway: Wheat (4.6 skeins)

Needles: 12mm for the body, 8mm for the ribbing

Ravelry: see notes here

Added Notes:
1. This sweater has a top down construction knit in super bulky yarn. I had never knit a sweater in this weight before, and I finished it in five days. Five days!!!! It can take me four to six weeks to complete a fingering weight sweater, so to me this short time frame is astounding.  It is a super simple sweater that any beginner could easily complete.

2. Now for the yarn. It is a combination of 80% Acrylic and 20% Wool. I bought it from Michaels Craft Store and the whole sweater cost under $50. I admit that I am a yarn snob and have never knit a sweater with yarn bought from Michaels, or yarn that contains acrylic, so I was so interested to see what my thoughts were after the knit was complete. And I have to tell you my thoughts are super positive...I was pleasantly surprised. The yarn was easy to work with on 12mm needles. I have worn this sweater quite a bit outside on cool days and it kept me warm. I posed for the photo on a day that was -16 degrees Celcius (3 degrees Fahrenheit) and I was not cold at all. I have also worn it around the house and it is so cozy that I didn't want to take it off. The yarn comes in many different colours and for the price I am considering making another one. (Jane is currently knitting this pattern in seed stitch...I might try that). The sweater doesn't feel too heavy to wear either. And you can pop it in the washer and drier without a worry. I think having the 20% wool content is what makes the garment feel so great.

3. I was worried that making a super bulky sweater would make me look bigger than I am. But here, too, I was pleasantly surprised. Jane created a design that is super cozy but somehow doesn't look super bulky on. She worked her magic with the design so that sweater is shaped to compliment the person wearing it. You can read more about this sweater over on Jane's blog.

4. I would like to add how happy I am to see that Jane is back to designing after her nasty fall, and resulting concussion earlier this year. I always look forward to seeing and knitting her new designs, and hopefully she will publish more in 2019. She has such a beautiful library of patterns that you can wear over and over again. Plus many of her patterns are knit in yarn that is budget friendly which is a bonus.  I have personally knit eight of her patterns. Three of my favourites are the Clarke Pullover (I have knit three versions of this sweater), Grace and the Entwine Scarf. I wear these sweaters quite a bit.

Clarke Pullover

Entwine Scarf

Grace

Have I convinced you yet to knit this pattern? I am thinking of knitting another version in Rowan Big Wool (100% merino) which I would think would work beautifully with this pattern. I have three skeins of this yarn in the colourway Pine Needle (077) and I am on the hunt for three more. I am finding it hard to locate so if anyone knows where I can get this colourway please let me know. If you are considering this sweater Jane Richmond is offering 20% off this pattern through to December 31st. So what are you waiting for?

Happy knitting!

F.O. Miromesnil by Cléonis

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 01:08:00 +0000

Pattern: Miromesnil

Designer: Cléonis

Yarn: Shibui Silk Cloud (ivory) 60% silk 40% mohair 3.25 skeins
Colourway: Ivory

The perfect combination:
Shibui Silk Cloud & Debbie Bliss Fine Donegal

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Fine Donegal (bronze)
95% wool 5% cashmere 3.5 skeins
Colourway: Bronze

Debbie Bliss Fine Donegal

Needles: 4.5mm & 5mm

Ravelry: see notes

Added Notes:

1. After seeing Melissa, of Espace Tricot, wear her Miromesnil, I knew without a doubt, that I had to knit one of my own. Although the pattern calls for a worsted weight yarn, I followed Melissa's lead and used a lace and fingering weight yarn together and was able to get gauge with 5mm needles. I had some Shibui Silk Cloud in Ivory stored safely in my stash already, and was able to pick up Debbie Bliss Fine Donegal, when I recently had the opportunity to visit Espace Tricot in Montreal. As soon as I got home from Montreal I eagerly cast on. Have you ever knit something that is a joy from the first stitch to the last? Miromesnil was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable projects I have knit in a long time. I felt like the pattern and yarn were a perfect match. I enjoyed each stitch and I was sad to see it come to an end. Shibui Silk Cloud, a silk and mohair mix, is a dream to knit with and definitely worth the splurge. When combined with Debbie Bliss Fine Donegal it creates the most beautiful fabric with the perfect halo.

Check out the halo

The sweater is light weight and incredibly soft, and once you put it on you don't want to take off.

2. Miromesnil is a simple top down sweater pattern, that when knit with the perfect yarn, creates a gorgeous statement piece. This is the first pattern I knit by Cléonis and I was impressed. There are many options to choose from within the pattern which I appreciate. For example, you can make the sweater long or short, fitted or oversized, pleated at the front/back with fitted or bishop sleeves, which can either be long or 3/4 in length. The hem can have a flat or tighter finishing rib. You really get your money's worth with so many options. I chose to knit a mid-length sweater with a subtle pleat in the front with a 3/4 bishop sleeve. I knit a flat 1/1 ribbing for the hem and it lays beautifully. I knit an 11" sleeve and the body was 12" underarm preblocking. I love the fit of this sweater and I will definitely knit another version.

3. I chose to knit a medium sized sweater with large sleeves. I can't remember my reasoning for that combination, and if I had to knit the sleeves again I would knit a medium. I might rip them back a bit as I wanted 3/4 sleeves and after blocking they are slightly too long. It is my first time knitting bishop sleeves and I really like them.

4. Hopefully I have convinced you to have a second look at this pattern...I promise you won't be sorry. If you make one, be sure to tag me on Instagram... you can find me at woolercoaster...I would love to see your version.

F.O. Sweet Clover Shawl MKAL by Alicia Plummer

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 13:42:00 +0000

This summer Alicia Plummer hosted a Mystery Knit Along called the Sweet Clover Shawl MKAL. The pattern was for a worsted weight shawl, and would use two skeins of the main colour, and one skein of two different contrast colours. Beyond that no other information was given. I dug deep in my stash and found two variegated skeins of Riverside Studio Superwash whose colour I absolutely loved. The added bonus was they contained 10% cashmere making the skeins super soft. With Alicia Plummer as the designer I confidently signed up, knowing that I was guaranteed to like the finished product. The KAL clues were given out every two weeks and the slow pace was perfect for summer knitting. As predicted I loved the finished shawl.

Pattern: Sweet Clover Shawl MKAL

Designer: Alicia Plummer

Yarn: Riverside Studio Superwash (80% merino 10% nylon 10% cashmere) 183m 1.5 skeins
Colourway: OOAK

Riverside Studio Superwash

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage

Colourway: one skein each of Fig & Moss (100% Merino) 183 metres (I used all of the Fig and about 90% of the Moss colourway)

Fig

Moss

Needles: 4.5mm

Ravelry: see my notes

Sweet Clover Shawl

Added Notes:

1. Although it may be hard to see in the photos the lace opened up beautifully after blocking. The measurements of the finished shawl are 74 x 33 inches, a very generous size that I am super pleased with.

2. If you are looking for a relaxing knit that works well with any colour of worsted weight yarn, you should definitely check out this pattern.

Now if only the cooler weather would arrive! I can hardly wait to wear this shawl.

F.O. Scrappy Clarke Pullover

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 23:45:00 +0000

I have been spending some time lately going through my cupboards trying to organize and purge. I came across the first garment I knit in hand dyed yarn six years ago, called the Honeytree Vest. Yarn and pattern are both by Tanis Fiber Arts. When I knit this vest I was very inspired by Tanis' original colour choices, and still to this day love the colour combination. However, the vest was not something I wore, and I decided that this yarn was too special not to repurpose.

Front of Honeytree Vest

Back of Honeytree Vest

I ripped out the vest and ended up with a lot of very curly yarn.

Pre-soaking

I soaked the yarn for a long time and then hung it out to dry. I ended up with a lot of mini balls in the various colours.

After soaking and hanging the yarn to dry

I decided to knit a short sleeve Clarke Pullover. I have knit two versions of this pattern previously (see here and here) as it is a foolproof pattern, that is easily adaptable.

And so today I proudly present my finished sweater:

Clarke Pullover

Pattern: Clarke Pullover

Designer: Jane Richmond

Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Green Label Aran Weight (100% merino)

Colourway: Various quantities of Midnight, Mallard, Sand, Lemongrass, Olive, Chestnut, and Buttercup

Needles: 4.5mm

Ravelry: see notes

Added Notes:
1. My goal was to stick to the original colours, using up as much of the scrappy bits, supplemented by some partial skeins that I had in my stash. I had no specific striping pattern in mind, I just added different coloured stripes as I knit.

2. With this many stripes comes a ton of ends to sew in. But sewing ends in doesn't bother me. It took me about two hours to sew them all in.

3. The only modifications I made to the pattern was to knit shorter sleeves, and of course, to add my random stripes of colour.

4. As always I am super impressed with Tanis Fiber Arts yarn. The colours are beautifully dyed and the quality of the yarn is excellent. If you haven't knit with this yarn before I highly recommend it.

I have to admit that I am super happy that I decided to knit this sweater. Since the yarn was aran weight, the sweater knit up very quickly, and now I have a new fall sweater to wear in my cupboard.

This sweater was a break from my many works in progress. I will report on those items soon. I am trying very hard not to cast on anything else. However, there seems to be a tempting number of new patterns that have been published recently. It's a fun time of year to be a knitter! Don't you agree?

F.O. Timely by Libby Jonson

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 13:09:00 +0000

Primrose Yarn Adelaide

Hello everyone! I hope you are all enjoying your summer. I have been quiet here on the blog, but let me assure you, I have been busy knitting away.

My latest finished object is my Timely Cardigan. At first I started knitting the shawl Assana with these two yarns, but although I loved the colour combination, I lost interest in knitting the pattern.

Primrose Yarns Adelaide & Hazel Knits Entice

First attempt: Assana

I didn't want to waste this yarn, and so I looked at my very long Ravelry queue, and decided on the Timely cardigan. It is a well written pattern and I am very happy with the result.

Pattern: Timely

Designer: Libby Jonson

Yarn: Primrose Yarn Co. Adelaide (100% Merino)
Colourway: In Between the Lines (2 skeins)

First skein of "In Between the Lines

Second skein of "In Between the Lines"

Yarn: Hazel Knits Entice MCN (70% Merino 20% Cashmere 10% Nylon)
Colourway: White Winged Dove (2 skeins)

Yarn: Madelinetosh Merino Light (100% Merino)
Colourway: Antler (1 skein)
Needles: 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5mm

Ravelry: See my notes here.

Added Notes:

1. Have you ever knit a cardigan with a single ply before? I have learnt over the years that single ply is not the best for cardigan knitting, as it pills a lot quicker than plied yarn. However, I think pairing the single ply yarn (Primrose Yarn) with the plied yarn (Hazel Knits) will hopefully result in a cardigan that doesn't pill as much.

2. There was a colour variation between skeins of both the Primrose Yarn, and to a slight extent, the Hazel Knits. As a result I decided to alternate the four skeins for each row. I am not going to lie...it was a pain. Often the yarns would get tangled and with a single ply the yarn sticks more and needed to be pulled apart. However, I kept telling myself that it would be worth it.

3. This is the first cardigan that I knit that I did not swatch for. Since it is a top down cardigan I knew I could try it on as I went, and luckily it worked out well. I modified a few things...I decided I wanted a longer cardigan, so I knit about ten extra striped rows in the body, and I knit one less inch of the ribbing. Also, I made full length sleeves as that is my preferred sleeve. I also did the ribbing on the hem with Madelinetosh Merino Light in Antler, as I did not think I had enough of the Hazel Knits to complete the cardigan. Surprisingly, I used almost the whole skein.

4. Knitting a fingering cardigan is a commitment. It takes way longer to knit than any other weighted cardigan. However, it is the most wearable of all the yarn weights as far as I am concerned. I am super pleased it is done and love the result. But I definitely need a break from fingering weight sweaters for a while.

If you like the look of the Timely Cardigan but don't want to invest the time knitting a fingering weight cardigan I heard that a DK version of the pattern will be released sometime around November. How exciting! It is the perfect stashbuster.

Happy knitting!

F.O. Old Romance by Joji Locatelli

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:15:00 +0000

Pattern: Old Romance

Old Romance

Designer: Joji Locatelli

Yarn: Sweet Fiber Yarns Cashmerino 20 (70% merino, 20% cashmere 10% nylon)

Colourway: Verve

Sweet Fiber Yarns Cashmerino 20

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (100% merino)

Colourway: Cathedral

Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light

Needles: 3.5mm and 3.0mm

Ravelry: my notes

Added Notes:

1. I enjoyed the unique construction of knitting Japan Sleeves by Joji Locatelli three years ago, and I decided I wanted to repeat the fun, and knit the cardigan version of the pattern. I finally got around to it, and started the lace inserts on January 1, 2018. I don't usually take four months to complete a sweater, but this is one of those patterns that I would pick up and add a few rows now and again, while I worked on other projects. The first step for this pattern is to knit the lace for the sleeves and this took me quite a bit of time. After construction of the lace strips Joji has you cleverly join both to create the sleeves.

Construction of the sleeves

However, that's where the fun ended for me. After the sleeves were constructed the remainder of the sweater is knit in stockinette and I felt that it went on forever. My only modification was to knit the body two inches shorter than suggested in the pattern. With blocking the cardigan grew a couple inches so the length ended up perfect for me.

2. I was lucky to get Sweet Fiber's Verve colourway during one of the shop updates. I first spotted this colourway on a trip to Victoria to the Beehive Wool Shop and saw a shop sample of Viajante by Martina Behm knit in this gorgeous shade of purple. Unfortunately, it is no longer listed as one of the colourways that Sweet Fiber dyes.

3. I usually stay away from variegated yarn when knitting lace but I am pleased with the result. However, I find that the Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light pills quite a bit and my lace inserts are no exception. I have knit a few sweaters with this yarn and they all pill. And for that reason, I have learned that I prefer to knit sweaters with plied yarn, not single ply.

4. The boredom I experienced while knitting the body was forgotten when I tried on the sweater. This is an open cardigan that will be perfect to slip on top of whatever I am wearing. The cashmere content in the Sweet Fiber Yarns makes a super soft fabric and since it is a fingering weight it will be worn year round. My conclusion is that it was definitely worth it!

F.O. Hamble by Isabell Kraemer

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Tue, 01 May 2018 10:10:00 +0000

Pattern: Hamble

Hamble

Designer: Isabell Kraemer

Yarn:
Rosy Green Wool Cheeky Merino Joy (100% Merino)
Colourway: Edelweiss (1 skein)

O-Wool O-Wash Sport (100% Merino)
Colourway: Cuckoo Flower (2.5 skeins)

Pigeonroof Studios Silky High Twist Sock (80% Merino, 20% Silk)
Colourway: Railroad Stake (held double)

Needles: 3.5mm

Ravelry: my notes

Added Notes:

1. Designer Isabell Kramer is popular for a reason. Her patterns are well written, fun to knit, and produce a garment that fits well. When Hamble was published I happily cast on, knowing that this sweater would get a lot of wear. I have to admit that I am delighted with the finished result. The hardest part about this pattern was knitting the neckline. There are increases on both the purl and knit sides, and the increases I made on the purl side were creating holes in the fabric. I found a great tutorial that demonstrated how to do this properly. Once the neckline was created the pattern was straight forward.

2. I played around with different colours for the contrasting coloured stripe before I picked the Pigeonroof Yarn. For example, I loved how these two skeins looked together, until I started to knit the stripe and realized that there was not enough contrast between the two.

Old Rusted Chair Sock Yarn: Colourway Spring Forward

I tried several yarn combinations until I found the fingering skein of Pigeonroof High Twist Sock. I have been holding onto this skein for sometime as the yarn is gorgeous, much too beautiful to knit into socks. As this is a fingering weight skein I doubled it, and it worked perfectly with the sport weight yarn.

Much better!

3. The Yarn: This was my first time using Rosy Green Wool and the experience made me want to knit a whole sweater's worth. It is the softest merino I have ever felt. It's one of those yarns that you want to keep squishing as you knit with it. O-Wool, a yarn I bought at Rhinebeck a couple years ago, is a lovely yarn too, and was a good match with the Rosy Green Wool. Look at the variety of colours that are available.

O-Wool Sport

O-Wool is certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard. You can read more about what that means on the O-Wool website. If you are lucky enough to go the Maryland (this coming weekend) or Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool festival you can see O-Wool in person. If you want to try either yarn the owner of O-Wool sells both yarns online. Trust me when I say both yarns are worth buying.

4. I was halfway through my second sleeve when disaster happened. I spilled the remains of a Tim Horton's coffee on my sweater and the coffee seemed to hit every inch of my sweater, especially the cream upper body. Luckily I was just entering my house when it happened and I was able to submerge it immediately in water, so thankfully no lasting damage was done!

I love the feeling of getting a sweater off the needles. Since this is a sport weight sweater I still will get a lot of wear out of it before summer. Instead of focusing on the two remaining sweateres I have on the needles I promptly cast on another one. I have so many projects on the needles at the moment. But I am enjoying every one of them. More on that later....

As a side note I have been quiet on my blog recently as life has been extremely busy. I hope to get back to a regular schedule soon, so thanks for sticking with me.

Happy knitting!

WIPs: Hamble, Stronachlachar, and Old Romance

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 18:43:00 +0000

Every now and then I go through my large Ravelry queue, and try to reduce the number of patterns in it. I find this quite challenging as there are so many amazing patterns which have stood the test of time. Of course, I am also tempted by new designs that crop up daily, and so my queue just grows and grows. Does anyone else have this problem? Recently I seem to be obsessed with knitting sweaters. Instead of casting on just one sweater, I have cast on three! Two are newly published, and the third has been in my queue for a long time. And the best thing...all are knit from stash yarn.

1. Hamble: I am a long time fan of Isabell Kraemer and have found that her patterns fit me well, and tend to get worn quite a bit (see Aibrean, Mailin, and Seashore). I could not resist Hamble, Isabell Kraemer's newest pattern knit in Rosy Green Wool Cheeky Merino Joy, a sport weight yarn. I had the perfect yarn in my stash. On my trip to Nashville in the fall, I picked up three different coloured skeins of Rosy Green Wool from Haus of Yarn, to knit a shawl. Only one skein was needed for the top of the Hamble body so I used one of the colourways I had called Edelweiss. In my stash I also had some O-Wool O-Wash Sport yarn. These two yarns work perfectly together. Although I love both yarns, I found that Rosy Wool is one of those yarns that I kept squishing as I knit. Rosy Green Wool definitely lives up to the hype. (I found out that O-Wool carries Rosy Green Wool if you are interested in trying a skein). Here's my progress so far:

Rosy Green Wool Cheeky Merino Joy in Edelweiss
O-Wash O-Wool Sport in Cuckoo Flower

Pigeonroof Yarns Silky High Twist Sock in Railroad Stake

2. Another new pattern that I cast on as soon as it was published is Stronachlar, part of the West Highland Way collection, by Kate Davies. If you haven't had the chance to look at this collection of patterns I highly recommend it. I had the perfect yarn in my stash for this pattern, about 900m of a DK weight wool called West Yorkshire Spinners Blue Faced Leicester DK. I love the look of the simple cables and, if I can finish Stronachlachar soon, it will be the perfect spring sweater to throw on top of a blouse.

West Yorkshire Spinners Bue Faced Leicester DK

3. Since the beginning of the year I have been slowly working on Old Romance, a fingering weight cardigan, by Joji Locatelli that was published four years ago. The pattern starts with two identical lace strips that become part of the sleeves. I decided to knit both lace inserts at the same time. Each day I slowly added a few rows until I knit the 27.5" required and then the fun began. This cardigan has a similar construction to Joji's Japan Sleeves, as the lace panels are knit first, and once done provide the foundation for the sleeves. The interesting construction keeps me entertained, but as it is a fingering weight sweater it will take me some time to complete. See my Ravelry notes here.

The pattern begins by knitting two lace panels
knit in Madelinetosh Light in the colourway Cathedral

The next step is to join the pieces and create the two arms and neck
Sweet Fiber Yarns Cashmerino 20 in colourway Verve

If only there were more hours in a day! The trouble with knitting three sweaters at the same time is that it never looks like I have made much progress. However I will remain hopeful that I will have three new sweaters to wear this spring. Wish me luck!

Woolercoaster's Wonderful World of Wool: March 17-23

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 21:16:00 +0000

It was another busy week in the knitting world. Here's a few highlights that caught my attention this week:

Hot Patterns:
Andrea Mowry does it again with this gorgeous cowl called The Shift, knit in Spincycle Yarns Dyed in the Wool, a lovely sport weight yarn.

A stand-out pattern for me this week is Line of Shapes by Suvi Simola, a gorgeous lace sweater knit in 100% merino sport weight.

©Suvi Simola

Free Patterns:
Don't forget to get your free copy of the newly released pattern from Shetland Wool Week called Merrie Dancers Toorie, a pattern by Elizabeth Johnston. Check out the Instagram feed for this hat at #merriedancerstoorie to see the many colour combinations knit already.

Merrie Dancers Toorie

Knitty Spring + Summer 2018 has just been released with 12 free patterns just in time for your spring knitting. One beautiful lace shawl from this publication is Arashi by Ema Marinescu.

©Ema Marinescu

How about these Thriambus socks by Rich Ensor?

Knit Along:
Helen Stewart has a new mystery knitalong called the Impressionishts MKAL on sale starting March 23. You will need three colours of fingering weight yarn to create a mystery wrap.

YouTube Videos:
Edinburgh Festival:
I was so envious of all those people that attended the Edinburgh Yarn Festival last weekend. The next best thing to going is to watch some podcasts of fellow knitters who had the good fortune of going.
Haul videos: Periscoping Sisters, The Corner of Craft, Yarngasm, and Fiber Tales.
Inside the Festival: Grace O'Neill has one video for each day of the festival,
and Skeindeer Knits also shares some of the sights and sounds of the festival.
Also check out Kristyglassknits YouTube channel for several videos about the Festival.

Tutorial of the Week:
If you go to 25:57 in the Fruity Knitting Podcast Episode 45 you will see an excellent tutorial on Weaving in Ends as you knit. I found this video very helpful for knitting projects that have a lot of colour changes (e.g. stripes). I wish I had watched it much sooner!

Travel Ideas:

I absolutely love travelling and I am always on the look-out for new places to visit, especially when knitting can be involved. A Knitter's Weekend: Northampton, Massachusetts by Gale Zucker on the Mason-Dixon blog reveals all the knit and fabric worthy places to visit in Northampton (let's not forget the pie shop that's mentioned).

And finally, have you been keeping up with the voting on Mason-Dixon's March Mayhem? Round 3 opens today with 16 patterns advancing. Don't miss out on the fun.

Have a great weekend and happy knitting.

Woolercoaster's Wonderful World of Wool March 3-9

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:20:00 +0000

As we near the end of winter, here are a few knitting related news items that might help you fight those winter blahs:

1. The patterns nominated in the Mason Dixon March Mayhem 2108 were announced this week. The categories this year are: Neck and Shoulders, Sweaters, Yokes, and Mini Skeins. Under each category are 16 patterns with links provided. Everyone is welcome to vote on their favourites starting March 15th. By the end of the month there is a final Champion pattern. If you did not join in on the fun last year, you should definitely check it out. It's a great way to discover patterns that you might have missed in 2017. I can guarantee that you will add some of these patterns to your queue.

2. Stephanie Earp, a consultant at the yarn store Espace Tricot, has published a gorgeous new sweater called Galore. This sweater is knit top down and colours are changed every two rows. Isn't it stunning? I also love the fact that it is knit in DK weight and is a great stashbuster. The colours Stephanie chose are gorgeous, but this sweater would look wonderful in many different colour combinations. You can get 30% off Galore until March 23rd with coupon code MADTOSH. I am looking forward to seeing what Stephanie designs next.

Galore

3. Another beautiful new pattern that caught my attention is Hamble by Isabell Kraemer knit up in Rosy Green Wool Cheeky Merino Joy, a sport weight yarn. I picked up three skeins of this yarn when I visited Haus of Yarn in Nashville. It is incredibly soft, and I regret not buying a few more skeins to make a sweater. This would have been a lovely one to knit with this yarn. Isabell's patterns are always easy to follow and look great on.

4. Have you seen the new Party of Five Mini Skein Sets by Sweet Georgia Yarns including Candy Shop, Salt Water Taffy and Fairytale. So pretty.

5. Newsletter subscribers received the sad news that Knit Purl in Portland is closing. This yarn store was high on my list of yarn stores I wanted to visit. The good news for knitters is that they have a sale for 25% off everything. Don't miss out.

6. Hannah Fettig's first Mystery KAL for a worsted weight, set-in sleeve cardigan has just begun. There's still plenty of time to join the fun, and if mysteries are not your thing, the full pattern will be released to all at the end of the month.

7. The last thing I wanted to mention was Karen Templer's Log Cabin Log-along has finished. She announced the winners on her Fringe Association Blog here and if you haven't checked out her Instagram feed for the Logalong, it's definitely worth a look. #fringeandfriendslogalong

It's great to be back sharing what has caught my attention in the knitting world. Please visit my blog at the end of each week to check out what's new.

Happy knitting everyone!

F.O. Burr by Véronik Avery

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 00:14:00 +0000

Pattern: Burr from Brooklyn Tweed Fall 2012

Designer: Véronik Avery

Yarn: Green Mountain Spinnery Mewesic (100% wool, DK weight)
Colourway: Purple Haze

Green Mountain Spinnery Mewesic

Purple Haze

Needles: 4.0mm

Ravelry: my notes

Added Notes:

1. It feels so good to finish a project that has been a work in progress for some time. I started Burr in August 2017. I knit the back and then got distracted by other knitting projects. Fast forward to February when I decided to join the Ravellenic Games 2018 Knit Along.

The Ravellenic Games' purpose was to challenge Ravelry members to finish a project during the 2018 Winter Olympics. I picked the category of WIPs and challenged myself to finish my Burr cardigan by the end of Closing Ceremonies. It was not easy to reach my goal, but thankfully I finished it on the last day. I find that setting goals is super motivating for me in all areas of my life, I really should do it more often.

Back

2. The Burr Cardigan is seamed. Once all the pieces are knit, the fronts are seamed to the back, and then the ribbing for the collar and the button band is completed. Although there are many advantages of a seamed cardigan, the hard part is not being able to try it on as you go. This pattern was written with an intended ease of 4-5 inches which is what I think I achieved. However, I think I would have preferred less ease if I had to do it all over.

Preblocking

3. Veronik Avery's pattern is well written ad easy to follow. I appreciate how she added a lot of pretty details. For example, look at the detail around the collar:

There was only one direction that confused me, and after searching the forums for an answer with no success, I emailed Brooklyn Tweed my question. I was so impressed when I received a helpful reply so promptly. In my experience I have found Brooklyn Tweed patterns to be high quality, from the detailed way the pattern is written to the support available through the Brooklyn Tweed website.

4. Modifications were few. Many knitters had warned that the sleeves came out rather tight so I spaced my increases closer together (every six rows). I probably could have done increases eight rows apart and that would have worked too. I knit the shortest length of sleeves, but after blocking the sleeves were too long on me. I could have knit them an inch shorter. What I like about this pattern is how versatile the cardigan is. You can dress it up or wear it with jeans and it looks great.

5. I really enjoyed knitting with Green Mountain Spinnery Mewesic Yarn, a gorgeous tweedy yarn. The flecks of colour found in this yarn added an extra depth to the cardigan. Mewesic is available in many gorgeous colours and I would highly recommend it to you. This pattern originally called for Brooklyn Tweed Loft held double, but I was able to get gauge with the yarn I used and I am pleased with how it knit up.

What does a knitter do once she gets a cardigan off the needles....cast on for two more of course. More on that later...xo

F.O. Log Cabin Tea Cozy by Woolercoaster!

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 21:34:00 +0000

Karen Templer''s Fringe and Friends Log Cabin Make-along introduced me to the log cabin technique of knitting. Karen took this technique and created her own design called Log Cabin Mitts. This inspired me to create something that I have wanted to knit for a long time.

One of the simple pleasures I enjoy is drinking a pot of tea and knitting. I slowly drink my way through the pot, however, I find my tea gets cold too quickly. I have been looking for a tea cozy pattern to fit my teapot, and keep my tea warm longer. When I learned how to knit a log cabin square I thought it would be the perfect technique to create my own tea cozy.

After playing around with different yarn, needle sizes, and combinations I came up with my own version. Let me introduce you to my Log Cabin Tea Cozy:

I have never created my own pattern before, and I have to admit that I am very happy with the way it turned out.

Here is my first attempt on 5.0mm needles:

First Attempt

I knew that I wanted to use a 100% wool to keep the heat in. I chose two colourways of Cestari Traditional Yarn (colourways: Natural White and Light Gray/Medium Gray Tweed) and Quince & Co. Osprey yarn (colourway: Shell). Both yarns are aran weight and create a nice thick fabric. I used three colours for each square. However, the tea cozy was too big as it was knit on too loose a gauge. To keep the heat in a much tighter gauge was essential.

When creating my second version I played around with different needle sizes and colour combinations, until I came up with a much tighter knit fabric. Here are the details:

Pattern: Log Cabin Tea Pot Cozy

Designer: Me! Plus I used Karen Templer's directions on how to make a Log Cabin square found in her Log Cabin Mitts pattern.

Yarn: Cestari Traditional Collection (100 % wool)
Colourway: Light Gray/Medium Gray Tweed & Natural Medium Gray (for the top)

Cestari Traditional Yarn

Yarn: Quince & Co. Osprey (100% wool)
Colourway: Pomegranate

Quince & Co. Osprey

Needles: 4.0mm

Ravelry: see my notes

Added Notes:

1. In my second attempt I tried to achieve a more modern look by keeping the center square as the pop of colour. Then I used the same tweedy colour for the remaining portions of the log cabin square. The choice of a tweedy yarn was helpful as it hid any imperfections when I seamed the squares together. I used Very Pink knits tutorial on Learn How to Knit a Log Cabin Blanket to learn how to seam the squares together neatly. Go to 28:07 for the part of the video on seaming.

Seaming the squares together

2. After joining the squares I picked up stitches and created a top for the tea cozy by knitting in the round. I finished off with an i-cord. The result is a tea cozy that slips on my tea pot easily.

Knitting in the round

Decreasing stitches

Finished with an i-cord

Next Steps: I would like to reknit this tea cozy again playing with the colours in the squares. There are so many fun variations that could be created.

So thank you Karen Templer for introducing me to the Log Cabin technique and inspiring me to create my first design.

I am off to make a pot of tea and get out my knitting. Hope you're having a good weekend.

p.s. I have a large La Creuset teapot

F.O. Log Cabin Mitts by Karen Templer

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 23:48:00 +0000

When Karen Templer of Fringe Association announced that she, together with Mason-Dixon Knitting, were jointly hosting a knitalong based on the Log Cabin method of knitting, it caught my attention. She challenged the participants to create anything they wanted using this knitting method. I have never knit a log cabin construction before, and I was intrigued to see what people would create with such an open-ended challenge. Many gorgeous projects have been created since the Logalong began on January 1st. My absolute favourite project is here (by The Perwinkle Sheep).

However, I was content to stand by and watch my Instagram feed until Karen Templer finished designing her Log Cabin Mitts and generously shared the pattern for free! As soon as I saw her mitts, I knew I had to join in the fun, and knit my own pair.

Ta-dah!

Pattern: Log Cabin Mitts

Designer: Karen Templer

Left to Right: Hektos, Shelter, WATERshed

Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Shelter 100% Targhee Columbia
Colourway: Plume

Yarn: Harrisville Designs WATERshed (100% wool)
Colourway: Slate

Yarn: Julie Asselin Hektos (75% merino, 15% cashmere, 10% silk)
Colourway: Plume

Needles: 4.0mm

Ravelry: my notes

Added Notes:
I can't express to you how much I enjoyed knitting these mitts. From choosing my yarn, to gaining a clear understanding of how a log cabin construction is knit, I was thoroughly entertained. Karen's pattern was very easy to follow, and pictures were provided in case of any confusion. I was also impressed with the unique way in which Karen turned the square into a well fitting mitt. Here are a few photos to help illustrate the steps.

First Seven Patches

Nine Patches (before blocking)

After blocking all the ends are sewn in

With right sides facing the wrist stitches are joined

The thumb gusset is knit

This is the perfect pattern to use up worsted weight scraps and the colour combinations are endless. Since this was my first time knitting a Log Cabin pattern I followed the colour order suggested by Karen. The only difference with my mitts was that my square blocked out to 7.5 inches, instead of the suggested 7 inches. However, I am very happy with the fit.

Front view

Rear View

After completing my mitts I fully confess that I am hooked on knitting log cabins. The number of possibilities are endless, and these mitts are a good way of showcasing that.

If you would like to check out what people are creating you can follow along on Instagram with the hashtag #fringeandfriendslogalong

You still have time to join in, as the Logalong doesn't end until the end of February. I think I am going to challenge myself to create my own pattern using the log cabin...I will report back soon!

F.O. Boneyard Shawl by Stephen West

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 01:20:00 +0000

Pattern: Boneyard Shawl (free pattern)

Boneyard Shawl

Designer: Stephen West

Yarn: The Blue Brick Niagara MCN (70% merino, 15% cashmere, 15%nylon): discontinued 500yards (457 metres)

Colourway: Iceberg

Needles: 4.0mm

In progress

Glacier colourway

Ravelry: my notes

Added Notes:

This is such a basic pattern I almost feel silly blogging about it. However, I am choosing to write this blog to draw your attention to how beautiful the Blue Brick yarn is. The reason I chose to knit such a simple pattern is because this yarn is so pretty, I only needed a very basic pattern to showcase it. I love the passion and work of Shireen Nadir and her husband Tito of The Blue Brick, two Canadian hand dyers. Each yarn they produce is based on a photo that this talented couple has taken, often from nature. The Blue Brick's specialty is handpainted, ombre and gradient yarn, as well as tonals. Check out all the beautiful colourways available here. I knit the Starshower by Hilary Smith Callis knit in The Blue Brick Killarney Sock in the gorgeous Labradorite colourway. Have a look:

Killarney Sock: Labradorite colourway

Starshower in progress

I had the pleasure of meeting Shireen at the Frogpond Organic Winery Art Show in Niagara-on-the-Lake last summer.

Wearing my Starshower knit in The Blue Brick Killarney sock

I have been a long time fan of Shireen and have admired her many skills (including knitwear designer, photograper, and jewellery designer to name a few). If you read The Blue Brick's blog or follow them on Instagram, you would have seen many pictures of their two gorgeous dogs. I was so touched when I read the adoption story of their dog Sammy last year. I encourage you to check it out.

It's true that owning your own business has its challenges, but Shireen and Tito had an exceptionally hard year last year, as described on their blog. Hopefully 2018 is better for them. I look forward to seeing The Blue Brick grow their business, and create new colourways and products. So much talent!

F.O. Clarke #2 by Jane Richmond

noreply@blogger.com (Christine) — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 13:05:00 +0000

Pattern: Clarke Pullover

Designer: Jane Richmond

Yarn: Julie Asselin Hektos (75% merino, 15% cashmere, 10% silk)
Colourway: Brume: 7skeins (two colours in one skein)
Romance: 1 skein (for ribbing on cuffs, hem and neckline)

Julie Asselin Hektos

Colourway: Brume

Colourway: Romance

Needles: 4.0mm & 4.5mm

Ravelry: my notes

Clarke Pullover

Added Notes:
When I visited the Julie Asselin both at Knit City, my eyes were instantly drawn to the Brume colourway. Somehow I missed the fact that I was purchasing two separate colourways, that were joined together, to look like one skein. When I got home and opened the skeins, I saw to my surprise, two colourways. Luckily, I didn't mind at all, as these two colourways were gorgeous. However, I had to rethink my choice of pattern for this yarn.

Surprise! Two colourways!

I immediately thought of the Clarke Pullover. Of the many sweaters I have knit, the Clarke Pullover is one of my most frequently worn. I knew that it would work well with two colourways, producing a much more subtle stripe than the original one I knit. Also, the cashmere and silk content would produce a very different fabric. (You can read about that sweater here).

Clarke Pullover #1

I cast on Clarke for a second time. The original pattern calls for ten rows of the main colour and four of the contrasting colour. Having only bought seven skeins I knew I would not have enough of the main colour. Instead, I knit ten rows of the main colour, followed by six rows of the contrast colour. That turned out to be a good decision, as I only had a tiny amount left of the main colour when it was finished. I used a third colour (Romance) for the hem, neckband, and ribbing on the sleeves. I am very happy with the result, and I can see myself wearing this sweater quite a bit. The yarn was a dream to knit with and creates a luxurious fabric, one that I can't wait to wear.

This is my first F.O. of 2018. Have I convinced you to knit the Clarke Pullover yet? It is an easy knit and it produces a sweater that you will wear again and again. It works well with any worsted weight yarn in stripes or a solid colour. What are you waiting for?

Happy Knitting!