Ice Cable Freebies

Those Brits sure do like their ice cables (if you didn't know what an ice cable was before, you sure will now). I know you are fed up with woolly outerwear by this pooint in the season, but the socks, hat, hot water bottle cozy, and purse are still appropriate. Actually, the hot water bottle cover looks like an easy project, except for the fancy-shmantzy cables.

Ice Cable Socks  &  Ice Cable Hat                          

 
Ice Cable Bag   &   Ice Cable Hottie



Ice Cable Mitts  &   Ice Cable Scarf

birch - finally free!

finally! rowan has set one of their most popular shawl patterns, Birch, free!

new designer on the block

ooooo, oooo, oooo!  i just got an email from rowan, they have a new line of yarns & designs by Amy Butler! i love amy butler's sewing designs, i even bought one, despite the fact that i don't really sew.

cotton cardie capades

I need to replace the little cardie I wore all last summer, so I cast on a little top-down cardie in Mission Falls 1824 Cotton (773 Coastal). Unfortunately it isn't working out as I intended. The yarn has a completely different consistency that last year's cardie (ceramic) which was all drape. I probably should have used 5mm or even 5.5mm needles to make it fall a bit looser, but I've already done so much that I figure I might as well finish it up and let it be what it has become (the que-sera approach).  I don't know if I'll be into it once I finish, but I always figure that I might use it further down the line - you never know! Regardless, the colourway is knitting up really pretty. :-)

cotton cardie capades

I need to replace the little cardie I wore all last summer, so I cast on a little top-down cardie in Mission Falls 1824 Cotton(773 Coastal). Unfortunately it isn't working out as I intended. The yarn has a completely different consistency that last year's cardie (ceramic) which was all drape. I probably should have used 5mm or even 5.5mm needles to make it fall a bit looser, but I've already done so much that I figure I might as well finish it up and let it be what it has become (the que-sera approach).  I don't know if I'll be into it once I finish, but I always figure that I might use it further down the line - you never know! Regardless, the colourway is knitting up really pretty. :-)

imogen in progress

This is our Imogen shawl collar cardie kit in progess - you are looking at the back, which is all bunched up on the needles and is actually not a shrug. the yarn is surprisingly soft and spongy. I wish I had one done for spring, I need something cozy for March, April & early May.

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.

Erin Go Bragh!

found a cute shamrock freebie - although trhe green milkshakes from mcdonalds is still my favourite way to celebrate my tenuous irish roots (my great uncle, who was adopted, is 1/2 irish).  i think it would be so cute as a pin. regrettablly, i do not own a bejeweller  :-(

I found some Freebies!

I found a stash of Freebies!

Susie Hoodie from More Big Girl Knits

Bouquet Socks from Toe Up Socks for Everybody by Wendy D. Johnson


Buggy Mitts from Morehouse Merino Knits (it's an assortment of cute bugs)


Wee Mitts from Vintage Knits for Modern Babies