Posts Tagged ‘Jane Richmond’

Rae Race

Thursday, May 17th, 2012

I realize that knitting is not a race. It’s about the process, the meditative rhythm of creating loop upon loop, the sense of history brought on by moving your hands in the same way that people have done for centuries. There is no real benefit to finishing anything first, and no need to get competitive. Of course I still can’t help but feel that I am somehow losing in the Rae race….badly.

Kynna's Rae

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

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!

Elsie

Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

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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.

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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!

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Eco Cloud

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

There is a new yarn hanging around the shop and I love it. I think about it as I drive home in the evening. I even thought about it as I fell asleep last night. I know, it’s a forming (full fledged…) obsession!

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

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)

Holl by Kirsten Johnstone (Amanda is knitting this up)

Bandana Cowl from the Purlbee

Bandana Cowl from the Purlbee

Chaleur by Julie Hoover

Chaleur by Julie Hoover

Classic Raglan by Jane Richmond

Classic Raglan by Jane Richmond

Julie and Jane Patterns

Thursday, April 12th, 2012

There are some exciting new patterns in the shop from 2 great designers, Jane Richmond (that’s right they arrived, time to choose your project for tomorrow!) and Julie Hoover. I’ve mentioned Jane a few times before (ok a lot of times, get used to it, I love her designs!) but Julie Hoover is new to me.

Encadre by Julie Hoover

Encadre by Julie Hoover

Her designs are both fresh and classic, with simple but effective looks. I’m particularly fond of Encadre, a pretty cowl knit in a 2 colours of lace weight yarn. I suppose any lace weight would do but I’m definitely thinking some SweetGeorgia Cashsilk Lace would be amazing. Perhaps some charcoal and china doll for a black/pink combo?

Tisse by Julie Hoover

Tisse by Julie Hoover

Tisse is another pretty lace weight number from Julie. It has a woven look to it that I adore. The herringbone pattern lends a wonderful texture to a simple scarf. This one might be best knit in a neutral shade, something to be worn with anything. A tip, choose a hand dyed yarn with a lot of shade variation, the more the merrier. A flat colour tends to lose the stitch pattern and the woven feel.

I hope you enjoy these new designers as much as I do!

KAL the next

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

After a successful finish to our last KAL, Tiny Owl Knits, it’s time to start another (I know, we are relentless!). Note: pics from the TOK KAL are coming shortly, there were some amazing projects finished. I’m pretty excited about the next KAL, the designer is one of my very favorites, Jane Richmond!

Georgia

Georgia

Jane is a local gal (if you call the island local, and I do) with a flair for great simple designs. Her hats are quickly becoming legend with their double thick brims and her sweater constructions are wonderfully intuitive. I love a straight forward design that shows off some beautiful yarn.

Jane

Jane

I will be casting on (OK I cheated a little and already cast on both) the Children’s Classic Raglan, and Rae. Kynna will also be working on Rae, it’s such a great use of that skein of sock yarn you have been coveting. I’m using the SweetGeorgia Silk Merino Lace for the Rae, in the newest colourway to UY Lemon Curd. The yarn will be held doubled to get the right gauge.

Rae

Rae

Patterns will be arriving at UY this weekend so cast on starts next Friday (I’ll be casting on a 3rd project I just haven’t figured out which one). As an added treat the end of the KAL will be Friday the 25th of May, when Jane herself will party down with us!

When it Rains….

Saturday, October 23rd, 2010

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Sometimes it seems that when it rains it pours and nowhere else is that as relevant as it is in Vancouver, the rainy city. In this case I am thinking more about knitting trends than actual precipitation but it works every which way today. Sometimes patterns that wouldn’t normally strike my interest are suddenly very appealing indeed: when I see them knit up in a lovely yarn.

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This week at Urban Yarns we had quite a bit of show and tell and I think my favorite is the Pasha Hat by Jane Richmond. Both Amanda and Kynna knit this lacy wonder (apparently they were separately inspired). Just like the toy craze and our somewhat failed reindeer sweater knit along both customers and staff at UY are often inspired by each other to knit up a pleasing pattern. It’s one thing to see a photo of a knitted project or to read through a pattern but you just really never know quite how something is going to turn out. This is especially true when you are making any sort of substitution but even just changing the knitter can alter the way a pattern comes out. This isn’t necessarily a problem, I think it’s a good thing really. Patterns are flexible and unique every time they are knit this way and I think that’s wonderful.

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Both Kynna and Amanda knit up a beautiful hat with really different results, just using different yarns. Amanda’s hat has a kind of vintage quality and the 70’s mustard colour while Kynna’s has sort of a wintery look in the icy blue. I quite like them both and I like them even better once I gave them a feel. Oh, they are soooooo soft! It’s like touching a cloud. Amanda’s yarn is a single skein of the Aslan Trends Royal Alpaca, a new addition to the shop. It comes in a range of lovely colours for you to try out your own colour scheme. Kynna knit hers up in Debbie Bliss Andes, a lovely silk blend with a loose spin. The hat knit up beautifully in both yarns and there are, of course, many to choose from!