Kynna's Rae

When we decided on a Jane Richmond KAL I wanted to do an Oatmeal pullover. I am expanding at the wrong rate to be attempting a sweater of any kind for myself right now so I had to put that one aside. In an attempt to do something more impressive this KAL than last (I knit a tiny little cushion for Tiny Owl Knits) I cast on for a Classic Children’s Raglan (which only needs one more sleeve!) and a Rae. It seems that the Rae was the popular way to go! Off the top of my head I can think of Kynna, Kim, and Ashley who are also working their way through Rae scarves. Quickly. More quickly than I am.

Kim's Rae

Kynna is almost done (or maybe she’s even done now!) and Kim was well on her way last time I checked in. It’s possible that Ashley is somewhere behind me but not likely. I’m only half way. Well almost half way. I’ve got 8 days. It’s gonna be close!

There is something so sweet about a hand knit baby blanket. In the winter it will keep baby warm and in the summer it’s the perfect thing to throw down in the grass in the shade. In my experience babies love all things textured so knitting is the perfect platform.

Winter warm blankets offer almost endless fiber possibilities but with a summer baby on the way I felt I needed something a little lighter and a little cooler. Then I thought again! Why not go with something a little thicker? That way it will be a perfect little play blanket!

I went with Brooklyn Tweed’s Wool Leaves baby blanket. The pretty lacy leaf shape is the same motif as the Shetland Triangle Shawl, one of my very favorite shawls. Instead of using Cascade Eco, I doubled up some Spud and Chloe Sweater in the lovely neutral colourway, Chocolate Milk. I have to be honest, I may have been entirely swayed to knit this blanket because of the yarn’s cute colour name.

Jan and Amanda have been busting their butts for the last….well let’s just say website revamps are a process and they have been working hard! Our new website is up and running for all the online shoppers out there! While I am lucky enough to have UY close at hand there are those who have to wait until they go on vacation to get here. No need to wait, just fire up your desktop or pop open the laptop and there you are.

Having an easy to navigate website is also perfect for the late night Ravelry surfer. The one who has picked a project but needs to know if we have the yarn they are looking for (we probably do) RIGHT NOW. I know this feeling. It’s almost as good as casting on. We are adding new inventory to the site regularly so check back regularly.

Check out our new website here and enjoy our free shipping promo on orders over $100 in Canada and the US.

Hunter recently had the chance to model a most adorable dress for Kynna, the Elsie Sundress by Jane Richmond! Kynna hummed and hawed about the yarn for ages. She knew she wanted a cotton and she knew she needed a DK weight yarn(double knitting or 22 stitches per 4 inches). She perused the shop but in the end the colours she loved were in the Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton.

I love the watermelon-esque colour combo and the little button details on the back. Hunter looked so cute, I think she needs one of her own!

Some of you may know my lovely design partner, Emily Wessel. Emily once counted herself amongst the crew at Urban Yarns, helping knitters choose their yarn and patterns, teaching, and designing. That’s where our paths first crossed many (actually just a few) years ago. Since then she has moved twice and but has now settled in Edinburgh Scotland. This hasn’t stopped our designing duo and Emily still has her passion for lace!

Emily is launching a new pattern collection in September 2012, Handmade in the UK. This collection will feature 9 lace patterns including garments, accessories, and (my fave) shawls! All patterns will be available individually and as a compilation. If you want to keep up with her progress, and the progress we are making on our newest joint project, you can check out our blog here.

We are currently running a very exciting contest as well! If you like the designs we create, perhaps you would like to work WITH us, on a collaborative design project; starting with the sketch and the yarn (you pick the colour) and progressing through the stages of development to a finished piece of lace!

What do I WIN?

• Enough lace yarn to complete a lace shawl or similar piece
• Dyed into a colour chosen by you by our master dyer Alexa Ludeman of Gourmet Crafter yarn!
• Emily will get a skein of the same yarn, and we’ll work together to create a unique new design.  How will it work?
  1. Before we get the yarn dyed, we’ll talk about colour and what you want to achieve; what shape, what size, what kind of a lace pattern, etc.
     
  2. Then you will choose the colour, and when the yarn arrives we can start making swatches with the stitch patterns that you’re interested in using for the shawl.
     
  3. Once you’ve chosen a stitch pattern or two that work well, I will help you to combine them, and make charts for your pattern!We’ll both knit the shawl, and I will write up the pattern.
     
  4. In the end, if we think the finished design is lovely enough, we can decide together what to do with it; we could make it available as a free download, or sell it with the proceeds going to a charity of your choice.

Does this sound interesting?  When you sign up for our email updates you can enter in the draw!

When I saw the Big Snowy Owl on the Purlbee I had to have it. I debated between the bunny and the owl but the owl just spoke to me with his big adorable eyes. I picked out some colours in the Blue Sky Alpaca Bulky and away I went (I used Silver Mink for the main colour, and Frost, Polar Bear, and Grey Wolf as the contrast colours).

There is really nothing more adorable than a little baby and a giant stuffie.  When I was stuffing the owl Hunter had to hand me each little piece of polyf-fill so that part took forever but the actual owl knit up in a flash. When it was finished Hunter would drag the owl across the room, carry it in front of her (with no ability to see what’s ahead of her), and throw it with her Uncles.

The owl was so cute when Kynna saw it in the window at the shop she had to make one of her very own. She added some great mods too (I’m not jealous, really….). Her eyes are crocheted instead of knit but my very favorite parts are the wings! They are 1/2 granny squares crocheted in some pretty colours of Spud and Chloe Sweater. So CUTE!!

mmmmm....Eco Cloud.......

Eco Cloud hangs near the front desk and I get to walk by it all day long. Occasionally I get to pick it up and give it a squeeze. I think about all the pretty things I might make with it. Eco Cloud is an 18 stitch gauge yarn and it is SO soft and squishy. It is undyed Alpaca in three natural shades (cream, grey, and a pretty grey/brown) and it is like buttah. Here are some things I might knit with it (and one thing Amanda is already knitting with it).

Holl by Kirsten Johnstone (Amanda is knitting this up)

Bandana Cowl from the Purlbee

Chaleur by Julie Hoover

Classic Raglan by Jane Richmond

Elfreide

Spruce Forest

Rosebud

Sweetgrass

All of the Brooklyn Tweed patterns are in either worsted weight or sock weight so there are tons of yarns that will work. The most reliable substitutions as far as fibre content and feel are the Rowan Tweed Fine (subbing in for Loft) and the Harrisville Highland subbing in for the Shelter. There are lots of other choices of course so come on in and we’ll give you a tour of the shop!

The new Twist Collective is out! It is chock full of summer knits to get on your needles. First up (of my own personal faves) is Giardina. This lovely shawl is done in the ever popular SweetGeorgia Merino Silk Lace. I (somewhat) recently finished the Rock Island shawl in this yarn and very recently started my Rae in it too (yarn held doubled). It is a luxurious yarn with both sheen and bounce.

Sylvatica

Next up is a summery top with a leafy panel and vintage button details, Sylvatica. This top is done up in Filatura Di Crosa Zarina. A washable sport weight yarn that comes in a ton of colours.

Giardina

Lastly I feel a sudden urge to cast on a pair of socks. Kamala is a toe to cuff sock pattern, any sock yarn will do! Just pick your favorite sock yarn, your favorite way of knitting socks (double points? 2 circulars? magic loop?) and cast on.

Kamala

Well, it took me long enough but here are the final projects from our Tiny Owl Knits KAL!

Some Cloudy Day - Kynna

These are Kynna’s Some Cloudy Day legwarmers. Pear tree yarn is so soft and yummy!

Repunzel- Marianela

Marianela knit up this Repunzel in Twinkle Soft Chunky from Classic Elite, skipping the Repunzel hair….

Catching Butterflies - Iona

Iona’s Catching Butterflies gloves were done in Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk. She also finished some adorable kitty mittens, that’s dedication!

Ships and Seaside - Ashley

Ashley’s Ships and Seaside is sumptuous. Knit up in Aslan Trends Royal Alpaca it’s hard not to want one hanging around MY neck!

Well done everybody, looking forward to the Jane Richmond party!