Finished! Bermuda Shawl

Here's a finished object I am very, very happy with!  It is the Bermuda Scarf by Ilga Leja. I used 2.25 skeins of Noro Silk Garden Sock, but I think it would look equally good made with 2 skeins of Noro Taiyo Sock. I've also seen some gorgeous versions on Ravelry using 2 skeins of Schoppel Wolle Zauberball.

The pattern was a very nice  summer knit. The shawl is light and airy, so not too heavy to lug around or work on. The pattern is a low-brainer, probably suitable for an intermediate to advanced-beginner. knitter. I say that because the design is based on short rows and it might overwhelm someone in the beginner range. The pattern is long but not complex. Just about everything is written out for you. You might  want to have on hand a row counter, a pencil, and some locking stitch markers (to mark your wrapped stitches). The only hitch you might have is blocking - this thing's got quite the wingspan and I had to use 2 boxes of Knit Picks blocking pads for full coverage. That said, you might not feel like being a stickler for blocking and just stretch it out on the floor. 

As for the finished product, it's a really comfortable shape!  the Back isn't too deep, and while the sides look long, they actually wrap around your shoulders extremely comfortably.  Bermuda makes are really great shoulder wrap, and I'm looking forward to wearing it (when it isn't 30 Celsius outside). 

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Finito! Silk Moon Crescent Shawl/ette

Well this one was quick little piece of sunshine! It's the Silk Moon Crescent Shawl/ette (the pattern has 2 sizes) and it looks great!  

We used 5.5mm needles and 2 skeins of Noro Taiyo (colour 40). We didn't get to the end of the pattern, a third skein would have been required, and it's already larger than the pattern's finished size (probably because the Taiyo is blooming on the 5.5mm needles). Anyway, we worked to row 99 and cast off.  

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

Under Construction: Bermuda Scarf

I'm making progress on my Bermuda Shawl, although I had to slow down prior to the DKC Knitters Frolic (where I happened to have seen several of them in various colourways).  

I still maintain that it's a simple knit, it just requires a little attention. In addition to my trusty row counter,  I also have a pencil at the ready and do lots of checking off rows in the margins. The pattern is very straight-forward, but sometimes it says too repeat a couple of rows a bunch more times, and in order to keep track I write those out in the margins and check them off.  The pattern would definitely be a really good introduction to knitting short rows.

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

New Free Pattern - Frolic Shawl

New Pattern - Frolic Shawl

We introduced this pattern at the DKC Knitter's Frolic last weekend and now we are making it available for everyone! It's a quick & satisfying little spring knit, and only uses  2 skeins of yarn: 1 Noro Taiyo and 1 Berroco Remix. 

To see the projects go to the Ravelry Page, or download it directly from our website.

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

Bermuda Bound

Last week I started a Bermuda Scarf with Noro Silk Garden Sock. The pattern is not hard, but you need to pay attention and keep track of where you are. It also helps to have some experience with short rows.

This is my Bermuda. It is not very Caribbean looking, but that's ok by me.

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Mohair Magic

I am so pleased to report that this was a very satisfying finished object!  It is a Prism Wrap made with Noro Silk Garden and Debbie Bliss Angel (held double).  It only used 2 skeins of each yarn, and was a great use of a muted (ie. blah) Noro colourway. Plus the kid mohair adds a light, airiness which feels delicious. It also lends it a soft aura that  is snuggly and pretty, without being wintry. The pattern is a no brainer, and the size comes out just right for spring warmth. Me likey - I'm glad I thought of it!  :-)

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Project Round-Up!

I finished my Ombre Cowl! Love it, it's light, airy, and pretty. I'm soooooo into both ombres (colour gradations) and kid mohair (mohair but thin and not particularly itchy) right now. 

Over the weekend I started another prismy wrap. I'm going to keep at it until I get it right! I don't think I'll have to die trying, this one is looking great. I'm using Noro Silk Garden and Debbie Bliss Angel (holding the mohair double). This type of project makes especially good use of the more muted (dowdy) Noro colourways.

BTW, the Prism wrap is the greatest mindless knitting. Simple and effective. And it certainly moves along much faster when you use worsted weight yarn!

I finished the last prismy wrap, but am unsatisfied with my colour choices. The yarn choice worked well, the Berroco Remix can play either a lead or supporting role. 

Finally, we're working on a new project for the store, a little hoodie pattern called Arshile knit with Berroco Remix.  We've decreased our needle size, but it doesn't have anything to do with the pattern, Liane's tension on straight metal needles (they are her very favourite) is a bit looser than the suggested tension.  So far so good, I think it'll make a really cute year-round kid sweater.  

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Prism in Progress

This one is a store project. It is a Prism Wrap (it's really a shawl, free pattern on Ravelry) made with worsted weight yarns: Noro Taiyo and Berroco Remix as a contrast colour. When i chose the colours I was sure the teal blue would make a great contrast with this interesting shade of Noro, but now I don't know. I think the cream or even the oatmeal colour might have worked better. Otherwise, it is working up really nice, and I think 2 skeins of each yarn will make it a really nice sized shawl. 

Everyone poo-poos this colourway of the Noro, but I think it has potential, I just have to figure out how to bring it out. Perhaps the purple needs to be omitted? 

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

Prism Shawl

Finito! Here's the Prism Shawl I made with Noro Silk Garden Sock. It only took one skein of each colour, so two balls, and knitted up fairly quickly, considering it's a sock yarn.  I'm not sure, but I think the off-white colourway (269) is discontinued, so if you want to make this it's a good idea to pick up a skein before they all disappear. I  think we have 4 or 5 left at the store. 


My only caveat about the pattern is that what they call a 'M1' increase is actually a backwards loop cast on. They give you a link in the pattern, I advise following it to confirm the technique. 

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Projects in Progress Update

I didn't think I'd get a chance to blog today, but so far it's pretty quiet, so it'll be a stealth post today!  Above is my Prism Shawl I'm making with Noro Silk Garden Sock.  It looks amazing and it's stupidly easy. The only caveat is that in the pattern they tell you to use an "M1" increase, which they give you a web address for instructions. The caveat is that it is not actually an "M1" increase they want you to do - if you follow the link you'll see that they want you to make a backwards loop cast on!  Otherwise, easy peasy. 

I don't know if I've shown you this one yet. This is a Moderne Log Cabin Baby Blanket we're making for the store with Cascade 220 Superwash.  Another easy peasy project!

A always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

A Prism Pour Moi

I finished my Crochet Log Cabin Blanket (on display in store until I need it at home) and found myself missing the Noro Silk Garden Sock. It must be the influence of Aunt Tallulah, because I cast on a kerchief shaped shawl named Prism (I initially saw the Silk Kerchief, but the pattern is no longer available). I'm using colour 269 as the base colour shade and 322 as the contast. So far, soooooo good!

I don't know if the project is actually for me, it's more about keeping my hands singing. 

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Happy Belated Mother's Day

Oh, the things you can do with a crochet hook and some string!  For Mother's Day I made a wrap for my mom with Noro Silk Garden (colour 84, one of my faves), a 5mm crochet hook, and a Simple Crochet Ripple Baby Blanket pattern (start with a chain 58).  I used 8 skeins of yarn, but for each I cut out one shade from the colourway (black, it just didn't work the way I wanted) - so lets estimate about 755m were used (the finished wrap weighs 376g). 

It relaxed quite a bit after blocking. I washed it in Eucalan, gave it a tug widthwise, and hung it on a laundry rack to dry. When i finished crocheting it was a bit tight, but now it has a really lovely drape. If you don't want as much drape, try washing in Soak instead of Eucalan.

For a more spring/summery version, try using Noro Taiyo (4 skeins). They don't make the Noro in the same  fiery colourway, but they have some great options:

• 20: "Stylin' Autumn" - brown, black, teal, grey, green, wheat, rust
• 30: "Girlie Fantasy" - pinks, purples, fuchisa, teal, wheat, navy
• 24: "Autumn in Paris" - yellows, greens, magenta, cream, rust, wine
• 1: "Neutral in Pink" - pink, black, brown, grey, cream
• 31: "Double Rainbow" - yellow, moss green, pink, fuchsia, magenta, sky blue, apple green, orange, cream, grey, royal blue
• 23: "Starry Night" - blues, greens, brown, touch of mauve
• 29: "Fiesty Fire" - pinks, oranges, peach, fuchsia, violet, brown, black

For a lighter version, try using 4 skeins of Noro Silk Garden Sock  (or when it arrives, Noro Taiyo Sock), and a 3.5mm hook, and more sts (like a number from the actual pattern):

• 269: "Au natural" - cream, beige, grey
• 241: "Purple Fantasy" - purples, olives, browns
• 313: "North by Northwest" - spruce, azure, rust, yellow, black, brown
• 322: "Lake Tahoe" - greens, black, bronze, turquoise, white
• 264: "Spring Cleaning" - turquoise, blue, apple green, purple,  aqua, pink, brown, dark blue

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

New Pattern - Leaf Lace Shawlette

You've been asking for it and finally our Leaf Lace Shawlette pattern is live!  It only takes 1 skein of Casecade Eco+ Heathers, which is a very cost effective project at $20.50 a skein. Check it out on Ravelry, or come on over and try it on at the store! The pattern only costs $5.75 - that's only 38 cents per leaf!

Size

S/M (M/L)

Depth: Both sizes are 11”/25cm from neck to bottom edge

Length Neck Edge: approx 30(34)”

Length Bottom Edge: approx 78(88)”

Materials

1 skein Cascade Eco+, colour 2452, approx 350 (420)m of chunky weight yarn

6.0mm-24” circular needles

Small cable hook

7.5mm-29” circular needle (optional, for cast off)

Gauge

16 sts & 21 rows = 4”/10cm in stocking stitch

Notes

• Shawlette is worked back and forth on circular needles
• There is no chart for this pattern, as the details are too complicated. All the instructions are written.

Simple Spring Shawlette Pattern is Now Available

The pattern for the Simple Spring Shawlette (the one I made in Noro Furin) is now available for FREE through Ravelry.

This pattern is a quick and simple little project to whip up for the season or to take on vacation. It is knit from the top down, centre out, and features an eyelet border.  If you've never done the M1L or M1R increase please don't be daunted, it is very easy and I've included a link to easy to understand explanations, illustrated and on video.

Size
S(M, L, XL)  (sizes should follow general commercial garment sizes, for example, your T-shirt or sweater size)
Approx Neck length: 21(23.5, 26, 28.5) cm or 8.25(9.25, 10.25, 11.25) inches
Bottom edge length is variable and depends on your knitting tension, how much yarn you use and how many times you increase.  The length of my sample in size small is 220cm (88 inches).

Materials
3 (4, 5, 6) skeins Noro Furin, colour 4 (aran weight yarn, 50g/110 metres: cotton, silk, wool, rayon & nylon)
5.5mm/36" circular needles
8 (10, 12, 14) Stitch Markers

Gauge
14 sts & 21 rows = 4"/10cm in stocking stitch

Shawlette in Noro Furin

Last week I took the new Noro Furin for a test-drive on a shawlette. Thus, I present a photo-essay: Furin a la Shawlette.


Photo 1: Starting Out
So far the yarn feels nice, it knits well, it looks nice. the only problem is figuring out what to make. A shawlette seemed like a good option for spring. March is so sneaky, spring always starts with a happy, sunny week, and then it transitions into it's true nature: overcast, rainy, and chilly. It must have read "The Rules".


Photo 2: Mid-Way
The Furin gets a Thumbs Up! It's knitting really easily and pleasurably! It's so light and comfortable for a cotton, a real dream. plus it's purty! when it's knitted you don't see the binding thread (it was one of my quiet concerns, those binders can be fugly). Additionally, it knits up with these little nubs of binder every once in a while (the little green & pink spots in the picture). i know what you are thinking, "ewwww ... tacky 80's yarn"- but please suspend judgement and believe me. the nubbins look really cool and give the finished textile a little extra somethin' without looking like a 'feature'.


Photo 3: Over-exposed Closeup
Here's a closeup of the final product.The surface texture a casual kind of aesthetic.


Photo 4: Finito!
All done! It only took about 1 week. My hands have been speeding up but I didn't knock myself out to get this done.


Photo 5: Au Natural
The pattern was improvised, I'll type it up and make it available on Ravelry.


Photo 6: Daisy Duke
Tee-hee! Get it? It's tied like Daisy Duke's shirt, albeit with substantially less boobage.