I'm working on the Nightshift

 This Season the Durham Knitting Guild is having a Knit Along using the pattern Nightshift by Andrea Mowry. Over 5,000 other knitters have made or are making it on Ravelry. That's a strong recommendation, I'd say. I found though that I wasn't able to purchase multiple copies through Ravelry, so it was super helpful that getting in touch with Andrea and paying for everyones copy worked. I had the copies done behind the desk at Staples on nice heavy paper. I feel we all deserve a kntting treat these days.

We liked it because it offers lots of different and possibly new techniques for the members plus it is stash friendly. It's asymetrical, cycles through main and conrast colours, uses slip stitch, rolled edges and i-cord.

This is my first goofy little swatch. To be clear, it is not a tension swatch. People who know me, (as a knitter) know I am pretty keen on the large tension swatch. I confess it took a while for the pattern to penetrate the cranial cement. It became clear to me I needed to stay focused, make a quiet hour to give it the quality of attention it deserved. Most often I'd forget to bring the wool forward before slipping the edge 3 stitches as well as sometimes  to  the inforgetting the increase at the beginning of the row. It had me grrr-ing a bit after the 5th time I ripped it out. The "Rain in Spain Stays Mainly on the Plain" moment was that much more impactful when it finally arrived.

Making a list really helped me. I'm confident that once I have repeated it successfully a few times I might even be able to take part in a conversation or listen to the radio, while knitting this.

I am using the vintage yarn, Florica from my stash. It's a lightweight wool DK and serendipitously I have 6 colours. The label recommended a 3.5mm, but my practice swatch showed me it would be better to go up a full needle size, because of the "pinched" effect of the slipped stitches.

I do enjoy setting up for a project. Clothespins are just the right neutral for organizing colour.

This is my working legend for colour. I fold a trimmed strip of graph paper in thirds and use a large hole punch, then write in the letters from the pattern. I'm starting out with a pair of straight needles because of the small amount of stitches and the frequent turns. I'll switch to my trusty 60 cm circulars when I have about 100 stitches.

 

Ready, Steady keep the Katcha Katcha clicking...

I'm really looking forward to seeing what other knitters in the group make. I think oddments of sock yarn would be perfect for this pattern. You could switch up the colours on various rows, depending on the amounts you have. When I complete this one, I'm going to give it a go. I'll try a 3.5 mm needle for the finer yarn.

Summertime in the Fall

We are stocking Major  in more colours this season, a lovely, chunky, soft tweed/long colour repeat man made yarn.

So many wonderful yarns in the world, it is a welcome challenge to stay with a project from start to finish within a short period of time, and Kim did it. 

Hooray for Kim!

She is also working on the 3 colour cashmere cowl by Jojiknits,,

as well as touques for gifting in Drops Nepal aran weight.

Our Christmas knitting includes using one ball of Major for the Summertime Shawl and are we delighted with the results, both the knitting experience and the final garment.

One could drape it over the shoulders and add a cute broach, warding off a slight chill in the air.

Cuddle it artfully around the neck with a warmer top or jacket, very sweet!

Drops Big Delight is another great option

yarn over and over and over

I have been steadily working away at the free  Warmth Stole shawl pattern from Universal Yarns over the summer. 

Although Verdi is not currently active in the Drops line up, we still have many beautiful colours in stock. FYI it has 1225 meters or 1139 yards, enough to make 2 generously sized projects.

The stitch pattern itself is an organic type, it reminds me of branching leaves. I confess however, in all my years of knitting, this is the first time I have worked a pattern with yarnovers on both sides, knit and purl, every row. Plus the usual yarnover, preceded or followed by a decrease is not the way this pattern flows. Good exercise for the little grey cells!

Both Verdi and Revolutions are beautiful soft, mohair type yarns, so the pattern repeat (pre-blocking) nested within the softness, takes a bit of determined gazing to discern. I also added lovely bright green Clover stitch markers between the 10 stitch repeats. There was a small error in my downloaded copy of the pattern on Row 4. The last k2 of the repeat part of the text should be eliminated. I did let the knit guild and company know and hope it has been fixed.

Keeping track of the pattern rows has been challenging, mixed with summer time. I vowed to knit one full repeat per (week)day in order to complete the project. It helped the required discipline to listen to a thrilling podcast series called "You Must Remember This" about old (my) Hollywood history.

However, as the poet Burns says "the best laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft agley", so as life happens, I get called away during the repeat, somehow the magnetic line keeper shifts, and it takes time to get back on track.

The fluffiness of the yarn, mixed with the yarnovers, needs increased focus.

I am so pleased that I have finally found a better and simple way to figure it out.

Start a row, then work the first repeat after the border, then, a distinctive part of on of the next repeats, for example in row 9

Row 9: K2, *k3, yo, k4, ssk, k1; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.

In this case I stopped at the second repeat after the *k3, yo, k4, and since every row of this pattern is unique, I can more easily tell where to pick up after I left off.

For your info, maybe you have already guessed, we are fans of Clover tools and accessories and keep them in stock.

Cuddle me or the mohair?

Mohair is one of my most favourite fibres, I have a colour exactly right for Drops pattern 122-16.

Puddle from Garnstudio is my choice for the border. We have other brands of boucle, and they are lovely, but this particular one has large, luxuirious loops that require intentional focus to cast on and knit with. Great candidate for practicing mindful knitting.

There is a dove grey Puddle as well, quite suitable for this french navy mohair

It took only a few pleasant evenings to make this item, once my friend and super star kniter Geri helped me decode the pattern. To quote Geri:

Cast on 96 stitches.

Knit garter stitch for 4 rounds. Then insert markers every 24 sts.

at 4" of length, decrease 1 st on the right side of each marker (92 sts).

Then every 2 inches, decrease one stitch at the marker alternating decreases on the left of the marker with decreases on the right of the marker for a total of 6 decreases. (88, 84, 80, 76, 72 sts). 

With the decreases alternating on the right or left of the markers, it will prevent a vertical line of decreases. 

Then knit another inch to 15" of length before binding off.

In summary:

Cast on 96 sts, Knit 4"

Decrease on right side of sm to 92 sts. Knit 2" (6" length total)

Decrease on left side of sm to 88 sts. Knit 2" to 8" of length. Decrease on right side of sm to 84 sts.

Knit 2" to length of 10". Decrease on left side of sm to 80 sts.

Knit 2" to length of 12". Decrease on right side of sm to 76 sts. 

Knit 2" to length of 14".  Decrease on left side of sm to 72 sts.

Knit 1" to total length of 15". Bind off.

I think the purpose is to decrease in a more random way, as opposed to creating vertical decrease lines down the garment, which would have distracted from the texture and shape.

After the casting off and tidying up the ends, time for that finishing touch.

Brushing the stocking stitch to improve the nap makes for super cuddly, especially when there is a lovely, toasty young woman inside.

Retreat 2014

Lovely weekend, knitting, munching on the great food, strolling and cycling in perfect weather.

Sharion had great notes and directions for us. Yarn Pooling this year

Gorgeous flowers for inspiration from her garden, 3 pots in all

Plenty of time for personal projects, especially those that want focus, as in double knitting

I had a go at the river stitch in shetland wool, grows quickly and lots of counting.

Wonder of wonders the shetland hap got started. Hmm the cone of wool isn't getting smaller, though the garter stitch mates well with such excellent company.

Especially this sugar maple tree, with the two tone leaves.

The beach at Fairhaven is sunset friendly, good bye summer, hello sweater weather.

lovely linen

Our beautiful Punta handpainted linen in on sale and Kim knit this scarf from the summer issue of Vogue Knitting magazine. From the look of this pile, one could never guess much of the fabric structure of the piece, though I find that to be the case with all unblocked knitting.

The thing about linen, more so that any other fiber, is how well it holds a yarn over. The soft green and blue colours look so sophisticated to me.

I set it up the scarf with my blocking wires, though of course you can go the low tech way by basting the work right sides together and using a pin every inch or so. I would use a stiff thread for the basting too, because linen has a much stonger character than soft wool.

Bonus, you can merrily apply a generous amount of steam because linen is not shy about heat. Look at this! an cool butterfly shaped lace pattern emerges and stays open to enjoy!

The work could also be lined with a sheerish sage coloured silk to enhance the patten even more.

Enjoy the summer!

Hap-iness at last

We began to stock lovely, fine Einband Lopi a couple of years ago, so I began an Evelyn Clark triangular shawl. To me, this yarn is similar to shetland wool, just sticky enough to hold it's own with lace and fairisle, washing and blocking beautifully.

The project went on holiday with me, because I am not the most practised lace knitter and the peace and quiet on the beach in the morning is perfect for yarn overs. Somehow though, it was not the project for me. So, with regret I put it aside. Has that ever happened to you? I do have a stunning Lehe shawl made for me in shetland wool by Geri of Not Just About Knitting

Now I have found a wonderful Jared Flood pattern for a Hap shawl at the Greenwood Quiltery in Guelph called Quill. It is just what I like... a full garter stitch square with an easy lace border. Time for another holiday on the beach, including yarn overs!

Mr. Flood's blog is very interesting, but I must say the Brooklyn Tweed online magazine is stunning. It helped me remember how much I love tweed yarns and cables under my fingers.

Colour Your Own

We have a pattern we believe you will find very useful for enjoying your stash of yarn. It is a blanket or poncho design we have named  "Colour Your Own".

One of the most helpful aspects of this pattern is the list for yarn amounts including yardage. You can look through your own collection, come to understand what you have and absolutely augment it with new yarns. Kim, who created the pattern loves to mix tone and texture. We are happy to assist you with the process, whether you purchase the material from us or not. It is a great opportunity for a colour and texture conversation, rather like making a new acquaintance. This is especially true if you bring in your project during and after to share the joy.

I like the "no ends to sew in" because the tails are in fact, the fringe! We hope to post the pattern for free on Ravelry, but in the meantime, email us and we will send a PDF.

I just want to add, like all sideways knits, you cannot cast on or cast off too loosely. Byron actually fashioned a cast off stick for me out of a 19mm dowel. My customary practice is to leave 4 times the width of the piece for casting off, in these cases however I allow 12 times the width though sometimes it can seem like this is almost half a ball of yarn.

The final thing I have to say about this design is it is perfect for one of my favorite yarns, namely mohair. Light, fluffy and luxurious