Archive for 2011
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
I have been all consumed with moving this past couple of weeks and now that the dust has settled I realize what I missed the most: knit night!
There is nothing better on a Friday night than packing up my latest project (or five) and heading out to knit night. I leave the little one behind for some daddy-daughter time and take a few hours to just be with friends and knitting. If you haven’t been to an Urban Yarns knit night yet, come and give it a try. There are certainly regulars but I promise we won’t bite, new faces really are welcome!
It’s always great to chat, complain, and of course: discuss the knitting! I can always run a knitterly idea by the group and get at least 10 answers to my issue or conundrum. I always request many opinions on colour choices and occasionally for some technique selections as well. Someone will always have an answer to any knitting problem I may have. It really runs the gamut from a knitters anonymous to a ladies tea.
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Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
One of the most popular designers of the moment has to be Veera Valimaki of Rain Knitwear Designs. Her shawls and sweaters are simple but always with an element of interest that keeps knitters coming back for more.
Stripe Study Shawl
I recently finished a Study Stripe Shawl and it was a lot of fun to knit. Short row shaping seems to be the element of choice these days and it made my shawl asymmetrical, which it definitely the element of interest in an otherwise garter stitch garment. A similar look is the Different Lines shawl. Both are done with 2 colours of sock or sport weight yarn, a little conversational knitting.
Different LInes
I quite enjoy her sweater patterns with their fabulous details. Veera’s photographs and sample colours are so inspirational you can really just picture yourself in such a striking sweater! Tumeric has to be the best named of her sweaters. I could just eat this one!
If you are looking for some instant funky gratification the Happy Solitude Cowl is the one for you. It’s done in Garnstudio’s Eskimo (a super bulky yarn) so it will knit up in a flash as the weather is taking a rather crisp turn around here!
Tags: Bulky, Cowl, Rain Knitwear, shawl, Sweater
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Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
I know what I’m getting everyone for Christmas this year! Bandana Cowls! A nice big gauge, one of these knits up in an evening. Perfect to whip up a store for the holidays.
www.purlbee.com
I came across this pattern on one of my favorite blogs, the Purlbee (so many great tips and free patterns). It takes just a little over 100 yards, looks great and can be done in yarns weights from aran to chunky. It’s a great stash buster but of course, I only used some stash on the first 2, after that it had to be Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes! My mother has kindly requested one in a cream and another friend said oatmeal was the only colour for her, so it seems that neutrals are in for this one.
The pattern is simple with short row shaping so if you were looking for a small project as an opportunity to learn a new technique, the time has arrived.
Tags: Cowl, Purlbee
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Thursday, October 27th, 2011
One of my favorite things about working for Urban Yarns has to be getting to know the lovely and talented people who work there. Ann is certainly no exception and I’m so happy to share her new knitwear design company Caribou Knits.
Ann has been diligently working for some months now creating her company and working on her first designs. I cannot wait to cast on for a Brae Cowl of my very own. Elegant houndstooth combined with the practicality of a cowl, and a fantastic colour combo too!
There are also 2 comfy looking vests from Caribou Knits, Samara and Kettle Valley. Both stylish and effortless looking, they remind me (unsurprisingly) of Ann. She always looks like she just threw something on and it looks fabulous. Samara is knit in Rowan Big Wool and Kettle Valley is done in Berocco Blackstone Tweed. I’m particularly pleased to see that all of Ann’s patterns come in a wide range of sizes, come one come all!
Tags: Ann, Caribou Knits, Cowl, Vest
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Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
Michael has been at the shop for a few months now and we are proud to announce his very first pattern: Fulton!
This lovely little hat caught my eye last Friday because it has 2 things I love right now, cables and Madelinetosh DK. Michael knit this little wonder up in a great fall colourway too, Terrarium. The cable detail adds a little extra something to this toque and it has that ‘fresh off the slopes’ look about it. I’m picturing a blustery fall day with me in my North Winds Hat and my hubby in a Fulton….
The hat is of a rare breed, it works for guys and gals alike. It’s not always simple to find a toque pattern that the male of the species will happily wear but I think Michael has done it (and who would know better really?). One skein of Tosh DK is all it takes so cast on for a Fulton hat today!
The patter is available here on Ravelry.
Tags: Hat, Madelinetosh, Michael, Toque
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Friday, October 21st, 2011
After another fun and successful KAL I have to share one of the most stunning sweaters I think I’ve ever seen! Marianela knit the Vine Yoke Cardigan by Ysolda Teague in Madelinetosh DK (colourway is Cousteau) and it came out absolutely perfect. The vine pattern in the yoke is such a pretty detail to a sideways knit garter pattern.
Not to mention she managed to make it fit like it was knit just for her (which I suppose it was but still, a feat to be accomplished). Ashley is also working her way through a Vine Yoke Cardigan and we can’t wait to see it on you!
PS. I don’t know why but I ALWAYS want to type yolk, instead of yoke. It’s an involuntary compulsion.
Tags: Cardigan, KAL, Vine Yoke Cardigan, Ysolda Teague
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Monday, October 17th, 2011
Since I’m heading to a couple of baby showers in the coming weeks I was particularly keen on some of the Yarn Harlot’s blog posts about baby knits. I’m always a big Yarn Harlot fan and if you haven’t checked out her blog, I do recommend. It’s a knitting humour blog, if I had to pick a category, but it’s often about so much more (but pretty much always funny). She was knitting up a storm for a friend and I immediately wanted to make and adorable little Puerperium sweater just like hers!
I called this one Peanut Butter Cup for obvious reasons. The colour of this lovely Tosh DK is called Glazed Pecan but I really just thought about peanut butter the whole time I was knitting. The greatest thing about this teeny tiny sweater is that I knit it up in just 2 evenings! It took only 1 ball of the Tosh DK (a washable yarn, just in case) and it’s probably the most adorable thing I’ve ever knit.
This version is the free newborn edition (which you can find here on Ravelry) but I would recommend the Beyond Pueperium pattern (here) as well, I’m working on a worsted weight version for Hunter in some funky green….I’m thinking skull and crossbone buttons just to make it a little edgier.
Tags: Baby, Beyond Puerperium, Puerperium, Sweater, Yarn Harlot
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Sunday, October 16th, 2011
I’m just so excited about the new book I thought I would share one of my favorite patterns: the Gramps sweater. This little number is modeled after many a grandfatherly sweater, but is meant for wee babes. We think it’s hilarious how babies sometimes look like old geezers- so we created this shawl-collared grandpa sweater for your grouchy little old man! Suit him or her up and no matter how grumpy, your child will be stylish. Hunter keeps her little pipe and her reading glasses in her pockets and she has little elbow pads to cover up the years of wear on her new cardigan.
The sweater is knit in an 18 stitch gauge yarn (so it’s nice and quick) and knit from the top down (my current favorite sweater construction). The shawl collar, pockets, and patches are added after. Gramps is available in sizes from 0-4 years old, no grown ups allowed!
We think it’s hilarious how babies sometimes look like old geezers – so we created this shawl-collared grandpa sweater for your grouchy little old man! Suit him or her up and no matter how grumpy, your child will be stylish.
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Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
This week has led me to believe that winter is in fact, right around the corner. It’s a sad fact for walking in the park but quite a pleasant thought for the prolific knitter. It’s time to pull out the winter woolies (or whatever your preferred fiber might be) and bundle up. This year I’m pretty pleased with Hunter’s winter wardrobe. She is able to parade around town in warm sweaters and hats that have been knit by myself as well as some pretty knits from friends. I did notice an important lack in my own knitterly wardrobe though: the knitted toque.
I recently got some bangs (don’t ask, curly hair + lazy at styling + bangs = bad scene) so I’ll be adorning my head with hats this winter. Not having a job (unless you include running after an 8 month old yelling “please don’t put your finger in the electrical socket!” a job) means I don’t even really have to worry about hat hair, whose going to make me take it off?
With this gap identified I will be casting on for Felicia Lo of SweetGeorgia’s latest hat pattern (in her Superwash Worsted, Riptide if you care to know) North Wind Hat. It’s done in a worsted weight but you could double a sock yarn for the same effect. You will need some 5mm needles and one skein of the Superwash Worsted, so cast on and enjoy!
Tags: Superwash Worsted, SweetGeorgia, Toque
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Friday, October 7th, 2011
Anina just finished up another pretty project from Stephen West: Clockwork.
A lovely Stephen West knit has to have a great colour combination. I’ve seen some beautiful SW shawls done in a monochrome fashion, a soft grey with a smokey charcoal, or a burgundy and a red. But what I go for is some serious contrast. Something bright with something a little more toned down. Black and hot pink anyone? Alright, my current neon craziness aside…. 2 skeins of sock yarn is all you need so go nuts and express yourself!
Anina knit her clockwork out of Handmaiden Mini Maiden, a yarn I’ve worked in and enjoyed many times before. Come on in and check it out!
Tags: Handmaiden, mini maiden, shawl, Stephen West
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