Kynna’s most recent shawl has to be one of my favorite knits of hers of all time. The colour and pattern combination is amazing and the finished product is gorgeous! It’s the perfect time to start a ‘back to school’ or a ‘back to whatever’ project and I think Shattered Sun might be just the thing!

The pattern is Shattered Sun by Felicia from SweetGeorgia. The pattern calls for a lace weight but it’s a shawl so really any weight of yarn and needles to match will do. Kynna went with a sock yarn for her shawl and it came out a pretty perfect size! Some SweetGeorgia Cashsilk Lace, or perhaps some Merino Silk Lace would both be great choices for this shawl. Cashsilk has that cashmere appeal to it but Merino Silk lace has a silky sheen…..is there a bad choice here?!

As my second book goes to print and my second baby takes forever to get here all I have to do now is wait. Waiting is not my finest hour so of course, I knit. I knit and think about what everyone says about second babies: you just don’t take as many pictures of them. I’m beginning to think this must be true because I already take fewer pictures of Hunter than when she was REALLY little and lately all the pictures of her are blurry, not because I can’t take a picture but she’s a mover and shaker and I love that about her.

This got me thinking about baby #2’s knitted wardrobe. It is a little sad really! He has a pair of booties and 1 sweater. Although I plotted many other knits, I haven’t actually managed to cast on for any of them! I’m pretty sure Hunter had several sweaters, a blanket, many many hats, three pairs of booties, and a couple of pairs of legwarmers by this time! So today I cast on for a second sweater but I’m really hoping babe gets here before I’m done!

I’m working with a new yarn in the shop, Madelinetosh Tosh Sport. We have a gorgeous rainbow of colours, which I was immediately drawn to and I picked up some Grasshopper, Cousteau, and Chamomile to make something a little crazy, a little bright, and a little Fair Isle. It’s machine washable but I have to admit I still hand wash all my knits. It’s a great habit to get into and it’s really not that bad!

I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve written these words: there is something new from Blue Sky! It’s like music to my ears! The latest and greatest is their new yarn Metallico. A sumptuous blend of mulberry silk and alpaca (of course). It is oh so soft and has a pretty sheen to it.

Metallico comes in lovely sophisticated pallette of natural shades of creams, greys, and tans. There are also pattern to go with this new yarn and here are a few to check out!

Etched Rio Shawl

Girl in World Pullover

Smock Top

I’m coming down to the wire (hopefully) and while there is still probably time to knit another sweater, I’m probably not going to. So I look to the humble but helpful bootie. Some people definitely look down upon the lowly booty but I think it’s a crowd pleaser at showers, quick to knit, and I say useful! Hunter practically lived 24/7 in the Zimmerman booties I made her (I thought the Madelinetosh Poprocks Pink might identify her as a girl for a change but no dice).

Without further adieu here are some cute little patterns on my list:

Closeknit’s Striped Baby Booties by Sarah Owens

Bittie Booties by Natalie Larson- I love the idea of embellishing these little cuties in a million ways!

and of course, Cable me Softly by me!

I have been knitting a long time. 13 years or so now. I have designed garments, dyed yarn, knit many many patterns of varying difficulty, and still: there are things I can’t quite seem to learn! I thought I might list a few of them here in the hopes that you can avoid the same mistakes.

1. Knitting takes time: This may seem obvious but I still feel the need to ignore this fact every so often. I think to myself ‘why that will knit up instantly!’, or ‘I’ll have that done in no time!’. Let me tell you, it will not knit up instantly and it will not be done in no time. I’m quick (not Anina quick but pretty quick) but knitting takes time!

2. I’m finished: I am not finished. There is blocking to be done, buttons to be sewn on, occasionally seams to be sewn up, and always ends to weave in. This is not finished, this isn’t really even almost finished. Something to learn: your not finished until you are REALLY finished. And finishing work takes time too.

3. I should make a few more of these, it’ll be fun!: this kind of obsessive re-knitting is not as fun as I think it will be when I set out with a grand notion of knitting many of something. The end result can certainly be worth my while and I do like knitting something in many different yarns/fibers/colors just to see what will happen but it’s never been as fun as I think it will be.

4. I can have that done by x: I probably can’t. Even if I could have something done by the allocated date and time, I will probably leave it to the last and well…..see problem 1.

Of course I love knitting, don’t get me wrong, it’s just so much more fun if it’s well planned!

That’s right Madelinetosh Vintage is back in stock! I’m not only excited to see some of my old favorites (I used Grove and Twig to make my Gramps sweater and Copper Penny for my favorite baby blanket: Waffles) but there are some bright and fun new kids on the block too: Tomato and Chamomile.

We have been begging Anina and Jan for bright pops of yellow all summer and they have obliged but nothing tops the sunny disposition of Chamomile. It’s so vibrant, any child would be lucky to have a garment made in this washable hand dye, or perhaps your own wardrobe needs something bright and cheerful?

A few skeins of Tomato have already made their way home with me, the only question is what shall I do? Is there another baby blanket on the horizon? Do I need some accessories in this orangey-red that makes everyone smile? Pairing it with some dark grey Graphite would also be stunning….oh the possibilities!

What in the world, you might be wondering, is a yarn tasting? It sounds like it might not be that good…but of course yarn tastings are as delicious as any other tasting!

This is a chance to taste/sample/try out a new and fabulous fiber or colour, who wouldn’t love that? And of course, it’s especially nice when paired with a little wine. Urban Yarns is hosting a Fleece Artist and Handmaiden Fine Yarns yarn and wine tasting on July 26th. Tickets are $10, which can be put towards any Fleece artist or Handmaiden purchase.

Give us a call or drop by to get your tickets and we will see you Thursday!