A belated mystery catch-up

Back in early summer fans of the designer Stephen West were excited to hear him announce that he’d be running a ‘Mystery Knit-a-long’ through the month of August. Although I’ve long been a fan and have several of his patterns in my Ravelry queue I’ve never actually knit one so this seemed the perfect opportunity. It seems lots of knitters agreed and before long there were over 2000 (yes, you read that right!) projects up and running on Ravelry, eagerly awaiting the next instalment of the pattern.

If you’ve never participated in a KAL before I can highly recommend it! The beauty of Ravelry (well one of the many beauties!) is that it’s easy to form a quick mini-community to provide cameraderie and support for project of this nature.

I have to admit that after keeping track with the first 3 clues (emailed each Friday through August) I fell behind for the last – I think my gold wedding stole ended up taking priority! – but a couple of weeks after the KAL was officially over I wove in my ends and declared my ‘Earth & Sky’ shawl a success!

I knit the medium size, perfect for a slightly Autumnal trip to a local beach… my colour choice coordinating perfectly with the nuclear reactor in the background! Yes, that’s Sizewell B, one of our local ‘landmarks’. We don’t visit the beach nearby very often – too spoilt for ‘unspoilt’ choice with Southwold, Walberswick, Dunwich and Aldeburgh also nearby – but we do occasionally take a stroll here and partake of a toasty and a pot of tea and the little beach cafe. It’s a strange other-worldy type place with the power station perched behind and the recent news that it will be added to is cause for debate for sure…

Pattern: West Knits ‘Earth & Sky’

Yarn: Manos del Uruguay ‘Serena’ in Azure, Emporer & Tezpi

All Ravelled here

Mystery Shawl

Now, it’s no secret that I have an ever-expanding collection of scarves, shawls, cowls and other neck adornments (well, a lady can never have too many scarves…) so I was very excited to stumble across a fabulous Shawl KAL (knit-a-long) running this August.

If you’ve not taken part in a KAL before I can highly recommend it! Patterns are divided into chunks that are released weekly and it’s a fun game of show-and-tell as mystery projects emerge in a multitude of amazing yarns! Not knowing quite what you’re making (aside from the obvious ‘sock’ or ‘shawl’) just adds to the interest. Hunt Ravelry for ‘KAL’ patterns to get more of an idea about this addictive communal knitting process…

Stephen West is a fabulous designer of all things neck-related, if you haven’t come across him before please do check out his amazing designs. Even so, I’ve somehow managed not to knit any of his patterns thus far! To rectify this sorry situation I shall shortly be casting on for the Mystery Shawl KAL. With these…

Azure/Tezpi/Emperor

It’s Manos Serena, which I’ve been dying to knit with ever sice it arrived this Spring. Local customers from my Tuesday night ‘Stitch & Sip’ have been suitably wowed by its drape and general knitterly behaviour so i am sure I won’t be disappointed…

I just need to turn those beautiful skeins into something more manageable (the ball winder and swift will be in action tomorrow!) and then I will be off. Watch this space for weekly updates!

More clearance goodies!

We’ve just added all these amazing yarns to our clearance sale! We’re still re-jigging the range and making space for new woolly loveliness so grab a bargain while stocks last… Rowan Pure wool 4ply, Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, Rowan Renew, Manos Wool Clasica, Rowan Cocoon & more all with up to 30% off!

Perfect knitting weather…

Well… the weather has been perfect this week and we’re obviously still knitting!

Aside from casting on for a chunky tweed cardigan for Chris (the first ever!) of which you’ll hear more later this week, my thoughts are turning to lighter weight, airy knits. Lace knitting will be perfect for whiling away the hours I intend to spend sipping cold ginger beer in the dappled shade of the birch tree in our garden (well, a girl can dream can’t she!) Obviously the children will be playing delightful, harmonious games (quietly) while I do this and not demanding endless drinks, snacks and falling out over what to play and whose turn it is to be Yoda (!) while simultaneously falling off bikes, out of trees and into patches of stinging nettles!

Because some of you might actually be living my dream we’ve got a fabulous offer on our favourite lace weight yarns and the needles to match… Until the end of April (Saturday 30th) lace yarns from Fyberspates, Natural Dye Studio, Austermann, Rowan, Noro & Manos del Uruguay are all 15% off. There’s also 15% off Addi Lace Circular needles, the perfect tools for delicate projects in luxurious yarns…

Manos del Uruguay ‘clasica’ baby blanket

One of the nicest things about selling yarn for a living is seeing all of the wonderful things that those innocuous little balls/cakes/skeins get transformed into. The rise and rise of Ravelry has certainly made that easier for us solitary on-line businesses to catch up with our knitters’ progress but there’s no substitute for the ‘real thing’ and I am lucky to have a wonderful group of local patrons via my Tuesday night ‘Stitch & Sip’ who work their magic with the yarn I peddle and then bring the finished objects back to show me!

Like this…

Several skeins of Manos Del Uruguay Clasica in the gorgeous ‘Hercules’ shade transformed into a wonderful baby blanket – set to become a family heirloom for sure!

A tactile garter stitch border with a soft, snuggly centre panel, complete with teddy sporting complimentary silk ribbon!

Thanks for loaning it to us to photograph Liz! (Now I just need to come up with a better technique for photographing blankets, hmmm…)

It’s also given us the opportunity to test out a fab new feature in the shop. If you’re in need of inspiration for the yarn you’re viewing we’ll be offering wonderful glimpses of the potential as we come across them! Just click the ‘inspration’ link…

Mmmm… the sun is shining!

After a long cold Winter and Spring full of woolly hats and mittens, of cold noses and frozen toes the sun is finally with us! Throwing off the woollies for a couple of months, the pleasure of bare feet in long grass and freezing sea water – I love summer! The only dilemma is what to knit!! Nothing too heavy to carry to picnics and beach trips, nothing that has no prospect of being rapturously worn the moment it’s off the needles… So, we move to lightweight yarns and airy wraps and shawls, cotton vests and cardigans.

Top of my list of new yarn to get to grips with this sunny season is the brand new Manos Lace. A mix of baby Alpaca, Silk & Cashmere this is truly luxurious and although the fibres are certainly woolly they’re fine and light and airy.

Just a selection of the beautiful shades available.

If you’ve not tackled lace knitting before then don’t be put off by the resemblance to embroidery floss! Lots of patterns abound that require just one skein of this wonderful yarn and remember, it’s just knit and purl

I’m thinking this, or maybe one of these to start with?