Most projects for me are about the journey. It’s about watching stitch by stitch, loop by loop, as a pattern or fabric begins to form and create a new and glorious garment. This was not that project. This project was about results! The journey wasn’t great but I just can’t argue with the amazing results. I have a warm, cozy, hug around the neck that both looks and feels amazing. I didn’t always feel this way about this cowl though…..

It started out pretty well. My Big Herringbone Cowl had all the makings of a great new piece of knitwear to add to my wardrobe. I used one of my favorite indulgences, Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand-dyes, and the pattern is from one of my favorite websites for fashionable patterns, The Purlbee. I started the cowl on my first camping trip of the season last summer and vacation knitting always makes me happy. What could go wrong?

Well, the stitch looks amazing, but it’s a bit of a pain. Hard to rip back (something I tend to do a lot of) and there is a tricky little bit when you change rounds. Nothing I couldn’t conquer but not the most fun. The other problem I had didn’t appear until I was finished. The cowl came out too small. When doubled around the neck my finished cowl felt like it was trying to cover my whole head, instead of just keeping my neck warm. I had to put the cowl in a time out for a bit and concentrate on something else. When I finally pulled it out of it’s hiding place last week I brought it to the ladies at UY and asked for their advice. Should I rip it out and start over? Should I rip it out and re-purpose the yarn for something else? No, they answered confidently. It’s alpaca, it’ll grow, just give it a block and see what happens.

So I did. That’s all it needed. Just a little water and Soak and I have an amazing new cowl that I absolutely love! The journey was worth it, try one for yourself!

Well it’s been quite a while since we started the Tiny Owl Knits KAL and it’s time to set a party date! Have your knits ready to roll on the last Friday in March, March 30th 6-9. There will be tea and cookies and many pretty knits to look at.

Kynna and Ann have been working away on their legwarmers. They are the Some Cloudy Day legwarmers and Kynna is knitting them up in Berocco Ultra Alpaca and Ann is working with the Rowan Felted Tweed for hers.

Amanda must have the most ambitious crazy knit of them all though with her O My Bear sweater! It’s possible that someone will arrive at the party with a finished Beekeepers Quilt, but until then I say Amanda is the maddest knitter of them all. This sweater is a combination of detailed intarsia/fair isle, textures, and a lovely fit to boot. Well done darling!

So bring your fantastic knits Friday March 30th!

There was once a time when we had Madelinetosh Pashmina in the shop. That time was glorious, but rather brief. Why you might ask? Because Pashmina is such a beautiful yarn we couldn’t keep it on the shelves! It seemed to fly out the door and soon we were left with none. Not one lonely skein. After some waiting (it felt like a lot of waiting, I’m so pleased that Pashmina is back.

Why is Pashmina so great you ask? The combination of Merino, Silk, and Cashmere is a good start. A generous 360 yards per skein doesn’t hurt. And the colour is the clincher. Pashmina is a sport/dk weight yarn it has those magical colours that only Madelinetosh seems to be able to create. Subtle variegation makes for a most stunning depth of shade in all the Tosh yarns and Pashmina is no exception. It’s time to cast on a spring cardigan!

There is a lovely new combination lurking in the shop: Brooklyn Tweed’s Levenwick and New England Highland’s Harrisville yarns. Anina succumbed to this combo, in spite of a few projects waiting in the wings for some attention. The Harrisville, to me, is a real knitter’s yarns. It seems scratchy at first but it has the wonderful lightness of a wooly wool. You can feel the air that is trapped among the sheepy fibers, ready to keep you toasty warm for many winters.

Michael went crazy for the Harrisville when it when it first came through the doors, whipping up a hat right quick. It’s so nice to be able to feel the yarn after it’s first wash. The yarn softens and plumps with a little wetting and drying. The great thing about such a knitter’s wool is the softening it gets with washing and wear, making it seem like an heirloom right off the needles.

In need of a lovely little gift for those you love on the 14th? Something small that says ‘I’m thinking of you’? Heartfelt rings are a perfect fit. A little knitting, a little soap and hot water, that’s it that’s all!

Heartfelt Rings are a free pattern from Tiny Owl Knits, one of our faves. We are all currently knitting away for the Tiny Owl Knits KAL and some Heartfelt Rings would be a lovely addition. The yarn is a  sock weight (about 28 stitches per 4 inches), but make sure you are NOT using a superwash yarn, it won’t felt!

Since I’ve been back in the shop it seems that people are knitting one thing: the Jenny Wrap by Amanda Kaffka. I haven’t gone one day without someone exclaiming ‘Where is this pattern and what yarn do I need?!’. It’s quickly becoming a phenomenon.

There are at least 2 reasons I think people are so enthused about Jenny. The first is the number of yarn combinations available and the gauge flexibility. The original Jenny was knit with a chunky alpaca held together with a strand of mohair. Why am I being rather vague about the gauge? It isn’t really crucial. Something kinda chunky with something kinda thin works. Something medium held together with something else medium works. Something medium with 2 thin yarns works. It’s anything goes! The fabric of the Jenny wrap is a little on the looser side so if your yarn combo is a little thicker or a little thinner, the wrap will just be a little denser or a little more open. Find a combo that works out to a chunky weight in the end, that’s all there is to it.

There is also a lot of flexibility in the yarn type. Originally it was knit up in an Alpaca and a Mohair, but the current model in the shop has sequins. People have knit it in merino, silk, mohair, acrylic, sparkles, you name it! The Jenny wrap is also versatile in it’s wear. Around the neck, over a coat, around the shoulders, dress it up or dress it down. Make yourself one of these gorgeous wardrobe pieces in your personal combination!

There seem to be two different camps on Valentines day. There are those cynical individuals (sometimes, but not always, single) who can’t understand why people would celebrate such a hallmark holiday, and there are those who are all to excited to show everyone they know how much they adore them. Do you fit under the ‘hearts all around’ camp or the Valentines equivalent of a bah humbug?

If you are feeling festive and want to show it with knitwear, there are many many options. A quick Ravelry search for ‘heart’ turns up over 11,000 matches! I’ve knit these crazy couple’s mittens for a February 14th past, but I think a lovely pair of subtly heart themed fair isle mittens might fit the bill this year.

Freja by Emmy Petersson is a free pattern from the ever popular Knitty. These lovely mittens take just 175 yards of each colour in a fingering weight yarn (sock weight/28 stitches per 4 inches) and 2.5mm needles.