One of my first books of baby knits came from Debbie Bliss. It was Baby Cashmerino 2 and it’s full of adorable knits for little ones. There are, of course, Baby Cashmerino books 1 and 3, and they are also chalk full of adorableness! There are dresses and vests, perfect for spring, or warmer items like sweaters. I also love the cute little animals she includes in every book, bears and bunnies being the most popular.

My personal fave, cables galore!

Each pattern is designed for, you guessed it, Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino yarn. It comes in many colors and Debbie always seems to have her pulse on modern palettes. Not just baby blues, but with a hint of grey or a dusty rose instead of cotton candy pink. I’m most struck (believe it or not) by her neutrals. I love a good steely grey, it makes baby’s skin look good and matches any wardrobe!

Reverb

My very favorite pattern is Reverb from Tanis Lavallee. It has a lovely waving stitch detail that looks oh so lovely in a tweedy yarn. With a folded over collar for a relaxed look, this sweater is right up my alley!

Bolt

Next up is Veera’s shawl, Bolt. With a healthy dose of garter stitch and an interesting construction, this shawl is an instant wardrobe classic. Bolt is adorned with Veera’s favorite stripes in some charming tweedy neutrals.

Hitch

As with every Brooklyn Tweed production the photography is amazing. Blurred simple backgrounds show off beautiful colors and and excellent stitch definition. The models seem to be having a good time, but they aren’t posed in unnatural ways. Each picture makes me think ‘if I were walking on a farm, THAT’s the sweater I would want to have on’. I just love it!

If you are looking to cast on, swing by and pick up some Harrisville Tweed. It’s the perfect rustic yarn for these springy knits.

In other news, it has been hot here in Vancouver. Aech - Oh - Tee - HOT. At least for this time of year. So with thoughts turning to summertime and easy living, we get lots of questions about what to knit with in the warmer months.

Cotton? Silk? Hemp? Rayon? Viscose? Linen? All fine, even good options, so long as you know what to expect from them. If you’re interested in learning about the properties and traits of these fibres, and how to get the best out of them, I would highly recommend getting a copy of No Sheep For You, by Amy Singer (of Knitty fame).

For now, I will say that linen (sometimes branded as flax yarn) is a really great summer yarn. It’s got some neat properties, softens up fantastically with extended wear, and knits up a lot like cotton (that is, lots of drape, a bit heavy, definitely not for a form-fitting sweater, but great for a beach cover-up).

We stock a pretty solid count of linen and linen-blend yarns. Some favourites include Rowan Creative Linen (50% linen, 50% cotton, worsted weight), Classic Elite Soft Linen (35% linen, 35% wool, 30% alpaca, Dk weight), Louet Euroflax (100% linen, sport or lace weight), and Louet Kidlin Lace (49% linen, 35% mohair, 16% nylon, lace weight)

Happy Street

I love stripes. They are bold and graphic in any size or combination. They can be modern or classic, it just depends how you arrange and color them. Small or large, vertical or horizontal, straight or curvy, there are just so many ways to do stripes! One of my favorite designers, Veera Valimaki offers several great patterns with a decidedly stripey theme. With warm weather here I’m ready to cast on for a stripey shawl!

Different Lines

Stripes offer a a great opportunity for color play as well. Mixing and matching can be so much fun. You can go with a neutral palette, a strong punch of color, or even varying shades of the same color (greeny blues anyone?). Each of these shawls are worked with some short rows and some great color choices. You can knit one in any weight, but I’m thinking sock for mine….definitely some Tosh Merino Light. Check out our selection of bold colors for the season, perfect to punch up any outfit!

Stripe Study

They kind of make me wish I were a sock knitter!

In other news, lace yarns are at an all-time high in the store, from pretty much every distributor. Now, I think I’ll save a big lace roundup for another time, but I just wanted to highlight one of our most popular patterns from last year: The Churchmouse Yarns Mohair Bias Loop.

Now, the red sample that we have is done out of the incredibly decadent Superior from Filatura di Crosa, but I have seen plenty of stunning ones done out of any laceweight yarn (mohair or otherwise). My favourite so far was out of some undyed bison that someone had got a hold of up north - stunning.

Goldfish is knit from the top down, sleeves and button bands are knit last. It has a cute little bubble detail at the bottom. I decided to throw caution to the wind and put a LOT of buttons on it because they are so darn cute! I just leave them buttoned and pull it over her head, she doesn’t mind much. For Goldfish you will need 2 colors of sport or dk weight yarn, something bright and vibrant for Spring!

If you haven’t tried fair isle knitting yet, it’s time to learn! There are so many multi-colored wonderful patterns out there and so many great color combinations to choose from! If you are intimidated just give us a call and Amanda will set you straight, she’s a whiz with colorwork!

First, this is a chart.

And so is this.

Charts can be used for colourwork, lace, cables, even knit and purl patterns (and presumably any other types of patterns I have overlooked).

When it comes to reading charts, it varies between working flat and working in the round. When working flat, the right side rows will be read from right to left, and the wrong side rows will be read from left to right, and should be numbered appropriately. (Please note, that as in all things, not every design or pattern is created equal - I am generally referring to best practices, you will of course come across some that are… not as clear)

And for charts worked in the round, each row is read from right to left, and again, should be numbered properly.

Now, there is all sorts of other notation on these charts. Some include indications about where to repeat motifs (usually lines in bold outlining part of the chart), some include stitch counts (usually along the bottom), but all well-designed charts should, without exception, include a legend.

Now, here’s the thing that does irk me about charts. There is an almost worrying lack of consistency and standardization amongst designers as to what each symbol represents. That is why legends are essential. Most designers or design houses do have a reasonable degree of internal consistency, but without exception, you should always, ALWAYS read the legend.

Want to learn what some of the symbols mean and how to get the most out of charts? Well… sorry, but you’re going to have to take my class! Or at least just get yourself a pattern and dive in - there’s really nothing to be afraid of!

1) I finished (finally, after like…. 6 months) the China Blue 2 crewel kit that I’ve been working on. I use finished in the most generous sense of the word, as I still need to press and mount it. But the embroidery is done, and it was a lot of fun! We’ve still got a number of assorted Wool & Hoop kits in store.

2) This really cool triangular shawl/scarf! The pattern is Metalouse, by the ever-captivating Stephen West. This particular sample was knit with 2 balls of Noro Aya, and 2 balls of Schoppel-Wolle Cashmere Queen. It is just indulgently soft and luxurious.

3) Finally, we have a few Babette’s Blanket kits left. At $299.95, the kits include all the yarn, and the pattern (everything needed except the hook), more than enough to recreate this fun and colourful blanket for yourself. (And on a side note, I would highly recommend both the story and film, if you haven’t seen them already.)

Pont Neuf by Emily Wessel

First up is Pont Neuf, designed by Emily Wessel, my better half at Tin Can Knits. This cardigan is knit seamlessly from the top down with the lace panel picked up and knit last. Pont Neuf is feminine while still utilitarian, and it has a bit of romance to it. The rosebud lace pattern makes me want to wear this sweater while taking a walk on the Sea Wall or through the woods. Probably holding hands, you get the picture!

Galliera by Iris Wildsmith

Galliera is a pretty slouchy beret. I love this design, it has a soft and cozy look with a vintage feel. A bit of lace and a bit of texture makes for a beautiful hat that will look good through the ages.

Wavelettes by Janine Le Cras

Wavelettes is a great big swath of textured lace pattern to wrap yourself up in. As the weather turns cool in the spring evenings this item is a great wardrobe addition. It can be worn as a large scarf or a shoulder wrap depending on your mood. Something like this also makes for good vacation knitting if you have a road trip or plane ride in your future!

You can peruse all of the patterns in the latest issue as well as articles on swatching and fixing your mistakes here.