I’ve been dying to knit something with Rico Creative Galaxy Chunky ever since we started stocking it, then at Christmas I was given a copy of the book Entrelac by by Rosemary Drysdale and I saw the perfect opportunity to try out the yarn and learn a new technique at the same time.

The result is this cowl, which I absolutely adore!  I think that variegated yarns work well with the entrelac technique and the little sparkles from the sequins are a lovely touch.

We’ve got so many new pattern books to tell you about from Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Sublime and more… The first of which is Rowan Studio 26.

The eight patterns in Studio 26 are designed by Rowan designer Julia Frank and are inspired by the trend for tweed and relaxed, easy to wear, slouchy designs.

Sublime’s new yarn for Spring 2012 is Egyptian Cotton DK.  It has a beautiful sheen and is an exceptionally soft and smooth double knitting yarn which creates hand knits with incredibly clear stitch definition.

I loved how the pretty the balls looked on the shelf, so I had to take a photo to show you!  These are all 12 shades available.

The book to go with the yarn is called The Naturally Sublime Egyptian Cotton DK Book (661) and features 20 designs for babies, children and adults using Sublime Egyptian Cotton DK.

For women, there are chic little waistcoats, stripey nautical-inspired knits and the simply stunning Pointelle with an exquisite lace back. For boys there is an easy gansey style sweater and matching slouchy hat emblazoned with a skull and crossbones motif and for girls, there are trendy little cropped cardies to wear with beach dresses and Bermudas. There’s the simplest sailor gansey in the smartest deep red for men.

Finally, there is an exquisite lace christening gown, ballerina cardie and Tutu shoes for baby girls and the most adorable little sailor suits for baby boys – outstanding little vintage styles for your tiny treasures.

Have a look on our shop website for pictures of the designs in the book.

I recently finished knitting this lace scarf using Louisa Harding’s Simonetta yarn.  Simonetta is a pretty mohair yarn with a touch of glitter. The metallic yarn is twisted with the mohair causing the glitter to run intermittently throughout the length of the yarn.  The pattern is called the Cosimo scarf and is free to download as a PDF here.

The instructions give the yarn requirements to knit the scarf in either Louisa Harding’s Simonetta, Grace Hand Beaded or Nerissa.  I was tempted to do it in Grace Hand Beaded, but thought that the Simonetta would make the scarf feel more floaty and delicate and it only took 1 ball.

The lace pattern is a 16 row repeat and although I had to concentrate on counting rows at first, I found that once I got into it, the pattern became quite easy.

Why not chose your favourite shade of Simonetta and have a go yourself!

Alternatively, browse the Simonetta pattern book by Louisa Harding on our website which features no less than 14 knitting patterns for tops, scarves, shawls, a hat and even a skirt!

Just before Christmas, we started stocking some Adriafil yarns, one of which is called Knitcol.  Knitcol is a self-striping DK yarn. It’s 100% merino wool and being a standard DK yarn, you could use it for so many things, but we think it works best with simple stocking stitch items, which will allow the stripes of the yarn to stand out.

I was dying to try it out myself, so I knitted this little baby hat, using Knitcol.  The pattern is from Sirdar pattern 1242 that includes instructions for 4 different types of baby hat.  Isn’t it cute?

Interweave’s Spring issue of Knitscene arrived this morning from America.

Here are some of the 23 patterns in this issue – something for everyone I think!

Plus you can learn to work duplicate stitch embroidery and about the colorful world of Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark as well as the difference between kettle dyed and space dyed yarns—and the other basic dye styles of your favorite sock yarns.

Pick up your copy from our shop now.

Have you tried Debbie Bliss’ yarn called Angel yet?  It’s just like Rowan’s Kidsilk Haze, although a very slight difference in the percentage of fibres and there is 10m less on a ball of Angel. However with so much on one ball anyway, it doesn’t make much difference!

I knitted this shrug using a lovely shade of Angel from the pattern book Angel by Debbie Bliss.  It’s basically 2 sleeves and a ribbed band. Pretty quick to do.

My Mum also knitted this short cardigan, from the same pattern book, using Debbie Bliss Party Angel yarn.  It’s Angel yarn with a touch of sparkle! I wore this cardi a few times of the Christmas season. It was great for parties.

I found the cardi to be a good fit and I will wear it often but one thing Mum did say when she picked up around the edge for the ribbed band, she needed to pick up more stitches than the pattern said, because it was pulling in otherwise.

I came across this knitting project idea this week, to knit a sky scarf.  The idea is that every day you knit a row in a colour, that matches the sky outside.  At the end of the year you will have a record of the weather… in your scarf!  A cool idea I thought!

http://www.leafcutterdesigns.com/projects/conceptknit.html#skyscarf

Hello and Happy New Year!  I hope that you had a lovely Christmas.

The new year brings with it lots of new yarns, pattern books and fabrics, the first of which is Rowan Magazine 51. It is due out on 15th January but you can pre-order your copy now which will be despatched as soon as it arrives at the shop.

Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 51 sees key shapes which reflect a new confidence emerging within the wearer.  The designs have been created for ease of movement and casual freedom giving a relaxed, summery vibe.  The fun element is injected with a return to the retro resort styles where pattern and colour explode.  The season is mainly understated, where nothing is outrageous.  Rowan is promoting two stories Artisan and Riviera to reflect these trends.  Essentials is the showcase for the key shapes of the season but translated into more simplified, easy to wear styles that will compliment the season’s essential looks.

(click to enlarge the pictures below)

The Rowan yarns used are Pima Cotton DK, Cotton Glace, Savannah, Revive, Handknit Cotton, Panama, Kidsilk Haze, Siena 4 Ply, Wool Cotton, Fine Lace, All Seasons Cotton, Denim

Kim Hargreaves needs little introduction to seasoned knitters. Her flair for femininity and elegance has earned her worldwide fame as a knitwear designer.

In this book, Vintage Designs to Knit by Kim Hargreaves, Rowan have chosen to revisit 25 of her truly great designs in their favorite classic yarns: wools, mohairs and cottons, so there is something to knit all year round. There are smart little sweaters, soft cardigans, tailored jackets and cute tops, with beaded, textured, plain and lacy stitches, plus a few accessories.

Visit our shop website to pick up your copy, just in time for Christmas!