Archive for the ‘Advent’ Category

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For The Discerning Knitter – Advent Day 5

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012

Today, dear knitters (and people buying for dear knitters, hint hint), I propose the gift of luxury.

Most people immediately go to cashmere for luxury, and we certainly have plenty. If you want 100%, there is Jade Sapphire 2-ply laceweight, Jade Sapphire scarf kits (for him and her), Gourmet Crafter DK cashmere, and the Devin’s Toque/Cashmere cloche kits from Handmaiden. There are also lots of blends: Handmaiden Cashbah sock kits, Gourmet Crafter cashmere sock, Madelinetosh Pashmina and Pashmina worsted, Sweet Georgia Cash Silk Lace, Filatura di Crosa Superior, and even Debbie Bliss has some low-content blends.

But there are more divine fibres out there than just cashmere. Possum is soft, warm, and pill-resistant. We carry several possum blend yarns from Zealana, including my very favourite, the possum, caashmere and silk Zealana Air – some of the most indulgent yarn I’ve seen. We also have a small stash of Qiviuk (musk ox), yak, and bison down yarns.

There’s no reason we all can’t have a bit of luxury…

And today’s inspiration is not knitting specific, but a fun design tool. THIS colour palette generator lets you link to a picture and have a custom colour palette outputted. Lots of fun to play with!

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For The Sake of Coziness – Advent Day 3

Monday, December 3rd, 2012

A really quick a simple one today. I know this may come across as a heretical to some of you, but hear me out: pre-knit gloves, hats and socks…

Lothlorian Fingerless Gloves

Last year we brought in a small shipment of Lothlorian gloves. They were such a huge hit that this year we added hats and socks, too. Available in several adult and children’s sizes, these things are the epitome of coziness. With a fibre content of 40% New Zealand brushtail possum, 50%  merino wool and 10% nylon, they are crazy warm, super soft, pill-resistant and they don’t shed! Find all the Lothlorian products in our store HERE.

Today’s inspiration is a project that brings in just the right amount of glitz and glitter for the holiday season. Sachiko Uemura’s Jeweled Cowl is worked in your favourite laceweight yarn on 5mm needles, so it goes pretty quick. Either pick a subtle or contrasting bead for two different looks. This is the only pattern that I have knit three times (for three different people). I’ve used Sweet Georgia MerinoSilk Lace, Rowan Fine Lace, and Zitron Filisilk. The possibilities are endless! (and glamorous).

Little Ray of Sunshine

Jewelled Cowl

A Very Trendy Cowl

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For the avid knitter

Sunday, December 2nd, 2012

It’s Christmas time! Hoorah! I choose this year to embrace the chaos and while I originally had zero holiday knitting to be done I find myself on December 2nd with plans to knit 8 hats (4 are done, don’t look so concerned) a sweater for Jonesie (it’s just a Gramps, worsted, it’ll be done in no time), and maybe another baby sweater, and I’ve got a few designs in the works as usual. You know, just a bit of light Christmas knitting right? My own craziness aside here is something you will definitely want to add to your Christmas wish list:

crw_2536

It’s a swift. And better yet it’s a swift and ball winder. Even better than that? 10% off if you get both, and really what good is one without the other? These lovely tools help you take your skein or hank and turn it into a pretty little cake of yarn. You can pull from the inside or outside of this cake (I recommend the outside but there is much debate on the subject) and the best part is: you don’t need to drag a non-knitter into your scheme of winding a sweater’s worth of yarn while they stand in front of you with their arms held ‘just so’.

crw_2565

I, like  Michael, share a love of a large cowl. My fave free pattern of the day is the fluted cowl from the purlbee. Warm and cuddly, perfect for those icy nights!

fluted_cowl-600-3

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For The Non-Knitter: Advent Day 1

Saturday, December 1st, 2012

So the masterminds over at Urban Yarns have decided to offer a daily dose of knitting on the blog all through December – think of it as a yarny advent calendar. Alex and I have teamed up and will alternate days so you can get a sneak peak into our wool-addled minds going into the holidays.

I would like to kick it off with something that isn’t knitting at all! If you haven’t seen them before, we have these utterly (dare I say devastatingly?) adorable needle felting kits. They each include all the directions, supplies and tools you need to make a couple wee furry friends. They range in difficulty, and are perfect for the crafty, non-knitter (or knitter who just wants a break – the needle felting is very cathartic).

Swoop the kits HERE or in store. My favourite is the penguin. Probably. It’s so hard to pick!

As a bonus I’d like to share a pattern or project for inspiration each day.

My fingers are just itching to cast on for the Purl Bee Big Herringbone Cowl (Ravelry link). I think it would have to be in the Misti Alpaca Best of Nature Worsted (5 skeins).

Photo courtesy of Purl Bee

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