Showing posts with label my designs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label my designs. Show all posts

March 12, 2017

EYF FOMO, #festivalathome and fairisle loveliness...

The whole knitting world seems to have been abuzz with Edinburgh Yarn Festival Fever this week, whilst those of us unable to attend have been living EYF vicariously via Instagram. It looked amazing (it always does!) with the cream of purveyors of all things woolly in attendance it really is one of those events that I aspire to attend although I suspect I would do so much damage to the bank balance I would never be allowed out on my own again! One day...

That said, although I wasn't there in person, my latest design Midwinter Shawl, produced in collaboration with Eden Cottage Yarns, was there soaking up the atmos and hopefully enticing a few people. Victoria at ECY was selling bundles of yarn needed (Whitfell baby alpaca in dk and chunky) along with a digital download code for the pattern from Ravelry.
Whilst it was battling with some stunning new designs from established designers and festival favourites for attention, I noticed a little spike in activity on my Ravelry shop over the weekend which suggests that knitters' interest was piqued enough to want to see more. It's a start.



For those of us stuck at home there was the #festivalathome organised by Louise Tilbrook of  The Everyday Knitter facebook group. Some members really got into the festival spirit at home with lots of new cast ons and a few yarny purchases from the comfort of the sofa (hoorah for no queues!). I joined in by finally casting on a beautiful pair of fairisle wrist warmers that I bought as a kit as a treat for my birthday back in January. Designed by the lovely  @lucylocketland (go follow her on Instagram if you don't already!), the kit comes with a printed pattern - including a black and white chart you can colour in with your own chosen colours! - all the yarn you need to complete the project and a cute little stitch marker. There are loads of different colourways available but I fell in love with those nature inspired colours of green and gold. It's a really lovely pattern and I had forgotten how much I enjoy knitting with jumperweight Jamieson and Smith Shetland wool (The last project I knit in J&S was this fab Bonny top in laceweight). Lucy has just released another kit for a fairisle hot water bottle cover which looks just amazing and may well be going on my wish list! I do hope she continues to design more fairisle loveliness for us.


After an enforced knitting break over the past few weeks (due to a trapped nerve in my shoulder made worse by rubbish posture whilst sat in old saggy sofa, knitting) this week I was able to get my knitting mojo properly back up and running and started work on a new design that has been simmering on the back burner for sometime.  I am working with the luscious lustrous Tamar by Blacker Yarns which is just an incredibly beautiful yarn to knit with. It has a softness that feels luxurious but a bite that suggests a hard wearing yarn that will only get better with wear. And the colours make me swoon!
Not wanting to give too much away yet but this design uses three colours and there is lace, stripes and lots of lovely garter squish...



So that was my week. I hope yours was good too and as full of yarny goodness!

With love x

October 13, 2016

New Pattern Release :: Tracks in the Snow

Brrrrr it's been getting mighty chilly overnight here in the Forest of Dean - no frost yet but morning schoolrun temperatures have been around 5°C, add in that wind chill (oh the joy of hilltop living) and I think I have been perfectly justified in piling on ALL the woollies!!

a big woolly hug..
We are really hoping for some snow this year as it's been a bit sparse the last couple of winters - some good, deep, crunchy snow to stomp around in and build snowpeople with. Not so keen on snowball fights but the boys love them!

When the temperatures drop and the world is blanketed in snow and ice what you basically need is a big woolly hug to keep you warm whilst you play in all that wonderful white stuff (or fight your way through the chaos to get to work/school - I know snow isn't always welcome!) and that's where the inspiration for my new pattern comes from.

Tracks in the Snow is knitted in super bulky wool yarn - I used Drops Polaris for my sample but Wool and the Gang's Crazy Sexy Wool or we are knitters The Wool would both work fabulously well - and uses 15mm needles (I use beautiful sustainable birch wood needles by Brittany - they are simply wonderful to knit with and, although a US company, they are widely available online in the UK).


Thanks to yarn and needle size it's a super fast knit. The pattern is easy to memorise and the scarf requires minimal finishing (a quick light steam blocking with your iron on the reverse of the work is all it needs) so you could knit your scarf in an evening - perfect if the weather report mentions an unexpected chill!
 


Bulky wool is perfect for textured stitches - I think this lovely skyp stitch looks beautiful against the stocking stitch background!


slipped stitches at each edge give a lovely neat finish


The chunky fringe adds a touch of luxury


Tracks in the Snow is available to buy from Ravelry now 

 

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