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One of the two cast-ons used in part 1 of the Neck & Neck! MKAL is the Chinese Waitress Cast-on. This is a lovely technique that produces a reversible edge that looks almost like a 2 stitch i-cord.
In the video below I show how to do this cast on and it has been added to my tutorial webpage.
This is how the finished cast-on looks from the front:
Front view (right side) of Chinese Waitress Cast-on
And the back:
Back view (wrong side) of Chinese Waitress Cast-on
Happy knitting,
Sarah x
Neck & Neck! MKAL logo
This week has been very exciting as I have finally been able to share a project that I am working on with my good friend and fellow designer Ann Kingstone - our 2017 MKAL! Neck and Neck! is a cowl pattern that will be sent to you weekly in three sections. The unique thing about this MKAL though is that each week you will get a choice of patterns - one designed by myself and the other by Ann. This gives 8 different beautiful and coordinated options to what the final pattern might look like! Last year we did the same format with the On The Other Hand fingerless mittens and it was so much fun, and the combinations looked so good, we thought we would do it again.
The MKAL will start with part one of the designs on the 3rd of February. Part two will be released on the 10th of February and part three on the 17th of February 2016. The final full pattern will be revealed on the 24th of February with winners chosen and prizes(!) announced for those who have posted pictures of their completed cowl in our Ravelry group forum page. You will automatically receive an email with the pattern update on these dates to download the next section.
We will be supporting you throughout the MKAL with online video tutorials and advice on our blogs, Periscope, Twitter, Intstagram and Facebook groups. We would also love you to join us in our Ravelry group where we will have forum threads for each update, spoiler threads and a finished cowl thread as well as chat and prize giveaways. We love seeing your colour and yarn choices and sharing with you the fun of a MKAL.
The pattern can be purchased here:
For this MKAL you will need DK weight yarn. Yarn amounts will vary depending on which options you take but two coordinating but contrasting colours of 100g each will make sure you have enough no matter which options you make.
Baa Ram Ewe Dovestone DK in shades Goathland (purple) and Bramley Baths (green)
For my sample I have used one of my favourite yarns that was kindly donated by Baa Ram Ewe - Dovestone DK in shades Bramley Baths and Goathland. These yarns look beautiful together and the purple is darker than the green so work well for colourwork.... that may have been a hint! Dovestone DK has a gorgeous range of shades and it is lovely to work with too.
During the MKAL I will be joining in by knitting Ann's version of the pattern so I have been stash raiding this morning and coming up with options so I could show yarns and fibre content that would work. Firstly I would recommend using wool, alpaca, wool-blends or acrylic rather than cotton based yarns as this will work better in the colourwork section. The two colours also need to be different tonal shades. When working with white and black yarn, it is easy to see the different tone - black being much darker than white. For colours it can be difficult with the naked eye so I use the filter function on my phone camera and in my photo software to convert a picture of the yarns together and converting to a black and white photo. This shows that Goathland is darker than Bramley Baths so will work together well. If the shades are too similar tonally then colourwork may not show up well.
Dovestone DK Goathland and Bramley Baths as a black and white image
So what yarns will I knit my second sample in? Well I have a fair amount of DK stash so I have been having a sort through and have come up with these options:
1) Sublime extra fine merino wool dk
Sublime extra fine merino wool dk
Any two of these shades would work well and I have used Sublime merino before for colourwork and the smoothly spun yarn shows patterns well.
2) A combination of Sublime extra fine merino wool dk with either madelinetosh tosh sport or Alpaca fibre studio baby alpaca yarn with 20% bamboo
A combination of Sublime extra fine merino wool dk with either madelinetosh tosh sport or Alpaca fibre studio baby alpaca yarn with 20% bamboo
I love the dark pink or dark blue against the white for a really clear contrast. The Alpaca yarn was given to me as a gift and I have not been sure what to knit with it as it is so lovely, but there is only 150 yards. It would be lovely and soft in this pattern. The sport weight Madelinetosh is very lovely and has clear stitch definition and would work fine if I can get gauge (as would worsted weight yarn). The cowl gauge and finished dimensions are given in the preliminary into that you get on purchasing the pattern so you can try out yarns before you commit to the knitting.
3) Woolyknits DK classics with colour splash
Woolyknits DK colour splash
I have had a few people as about using variegated yarns for this project. Whilst I think it would work best with two solid (or handdyed) yarns, it would look ok to combine a variegated with a solid as shown above. The important thing would be to make sure none of the colours in the variegated yarn are similar or have the same tone to the solid yarn so a clear contrast is seen between them. I'm quite liking the above combination.
4) Finally Longridge farm DK yarn
Long Ridge Farm DK
I love these two colours together but again not found the right project for them. This could be it! The fibre is 70% CVM/Romeldale, 20% alpaca and 10% Bombyx silk so very soft.
So lots of choices. Now I am just waiting rather impatiently for the release of the first clue so I can cast on something new and fun. Will you join us?
Happy knitting,
Sarah x
Last weekend I ended up on a surprise road trip to the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching show.
My yarn show survival kit
I packed my yarn show survival kit and we headed off. Now I have to confess I was an annoying customer. I am one of those people who spend the majority of the day just looking and planning. I did not go with any type of list of things I wanted and I had not looked at the list of exhibitors as I did not know I was going until the last minute. No plan meant everything was going to be an impulse buy... and I was trying to be good...
Obviously I failed at the being good part. An hour before the show shut (yes it was last minute) I suddenly decided I wanted to buy everything I had seen and had to rush around to get it before everyone packed up. (Note to vendors: Please don't pack up 15 mins before the show shuts, it may be quietening down but those last minute customers can spend a lot - and to be honest, I think it is a bit rude when the show is still open. I know shows are tiring, I have worked at a lot of shows and do empathise, but it just does not look good.)
Jamieson's wall of colour
Despite being called the Knitting and Stitching show there is not a lot of yarn around. The show is geared far more to sewers than knitters but there is lots to see and get inspiration from. I love the Jamieson's wall of Shetland colour that is present, it has given me inspiration for a hat for my sister (she is complaining that I don't knit enough for her).
In the end I treated myself to some gorgeous rainbow yarn from The Knitting Goddess. I think with everything that is going on (see this post) I need a bit of bright cheery rainbows right now. I also bought a book I have been after for a while by Liz Lovick on Shetland Lace. Everything else was sewing related. There were lots of cute fat quarters around and in the end I went for ones with polar bears in hats, owls, rockets, bunnies and fairy toadstools. I also got a pattern for some pyjama trousers as I have been wanting to make myself more lounge pants and some jersey fabric that has a girl hugging a sloth. This came from a stall selling cute fabric and children's patterns but why should kids get all the cute stuff? My new year's resolution is to definitely get the sewing machine out and start using this mountain of fabric I am collecting.
The best bit of the show was the giant Game of Thrones White Walker that was embroidered by the Embroiderer's Guild. It was commissioned for promoting the show and it was just amazing. The detail was just fantastic, I was in awe. Even the background walkers had beaded eyes which made them rather scary.
All of the shields from the different families in the show were also embroidered around the edges and it was fun to spot the different clans.
Just a couple more pics...
Happy knitting,
Sarah x
When going through time of stress and difficulty, the temptation is often to scale back crafting to something simple, something that does not require any thought or brain power to complete; a stocking stitch sock or crochet granny squares for instance. It allows the crafter to worry about other things whilst still occupying their hands and to keep on crafting.
The last three months for me have been very difficult with lots of stresses coming from all different directions, but the main two have been dealing with a company who messed me around and my dad being very ill.
Knitting my Fenay
Throughout this time I have been knitting a complex lace project and instead of finding it an added stress, I think it has helped. The pattern is Fenay by my good friend Ann Kingstone, a lace bolero with Ziggurat shoulders and seamless set-in sleeves, all worked in the lace pattern.
Back in early September, before all the stresses got going, I started to knit myself the bolero, but to make it more(!) complicated than the original pattern, I was going to lengthen the bolero so that it would reach my hips, as I want to make it more of a cardigan, and also add some waist shaping which would involve writing my own charts to keep the lace patterning going throughout.
So how has this helped with stress? Surely making things more complicated would add to the stress rather than help. Except it didn't. I found that when I am knitting my Fenay I cannot think of anything else. I have to be in the right frame of mind to pick it up and make some progress, but I have found that this is the same whether I am working on this project or any other more simple one.
Fenay lace pattern
The lace pattern and shaping is such that it completely distracts me. My overactive brain has to settle down and just count stitches... k2, yo, k3, skp, k2tog, k3, yo, k3.... it cannot multitask and think of anything else whilst doing this. After a few minutes I am calmer, less stressed, almost meditative. It does not get rid of the situations that are causing the stress, but I believe it is helping me manage and cope with the worries and the uncertainties.
There is now a lot of research about the therapeutic benefits of knitting for many health problems, including depression, anxiety and pain. Stitchlinks is a great website that collates all the research and has tips on how to knit for health. I would certainly recommend it, and I often do to my patients.
Writing my waist shaping charts on Stitchmastery
So back to my Fenay; I am now working on the waist shaping and making steady progress. The yarn is Isager alpaca 1, a laceweight 100% alpaca yarn that will make this cardigan very light but warm. I was hoping to have it finished by the end of the month but I have a fair bit to go yet. Knitting also teaches patience!
Next up will be a crochet blanket. I purchased the yarn a couple of days ago from Woolyknits, 8 shades of their blue faced Leicester DK. It was an impulse buy and a bit of much needed retail therapy!
My yarn binge for a crochet blanket
Sarah x
So I am a little late with writing this post, but I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who bought my book and Florens pattern and joined in the Socktober Sock-A-Long. October has been a very difficult month and I have spent the majority of it away from home and in a hospital with my very ill dad. I was not able to do as much for the SAL as I had hoped, but life throws challenges in the way and I have had wonderful people around me giving support.
The SAL begins...
Back to the fun bit though, the SAL! I started a pair of Florens socks for myself in String Theory Caper Sock yarn in Firecracker that I purchased on holiday a couple of years ago. Hand dyed yarn is great for this project as it shows the pattern off beautifully.
Longhairedknitter on Ravelry won the prize for the SAL challenge with these beautiful socks.
Longhairedknitter's winning socks!
Toe-up socks was a new technique to her and I love how she took on the challenge of learning new things. Her socks came out beautifully. Congratulations! You have a skein of the beautiful Lichen & Lace 80/20 sock yarn in the post.
My Florens SAL in String Theory Caper Sock yarn
I just finished mine on the 31st October just before midnight - so I just made the SAL challenge! I love them and the customisable fit is great. I have been wearing them since and they are so comfy. Crafting can be a big source of comfort during difficult times and these socks have been a great way to pass time whilst waiting for news and things to change. I am now adding a few rows to another pair that I started months ago when testing the pattern. I have just over half a sock to go... but it is taking its sweet time to get finished. Second (or technically fourth) sock syndrome is definitely striking!
Florens socks in Cauldron's Path Yarns Crescent Moon
I will be adding the other patterns from Beautiful Knits for Beautiful Sticks as individual pattern downloads today so keep your eyes peeled if you subscribe to my newsletter, an exclusive discount will be yours!
Sarah x
Can you believe it has been over a week since Yarndale already? I had the most fantastic time and I hope you did too. This year seemed even busier than the last and Skipton auction mart was just full of woolly wonder!
Thank you to everyone who visited my stall and said hello. It was lovely to meet so many people and discuss designs, yarn and all things woolly with you. Yarndale really is one of the friendliest yarn festivals. Where ever I went people were smiling and having lots of fun.
The very full Yeti
We set off on the Friday with a very full car of books, tables and mannequins (there were a few strange looks from other car drivers for the rather indecent torsos). It is amazing what you can fit in a Yeti.
The Yarndale sheep sign
The drive to Yarndale is always a pleasant one for us as we pass through some beautiful Yorkshire scenery. The best bit though is approaching Skipton and catching the first Yarndale sheep sign - there were squeals of excitement!
The sheep pen before.....
Then came the hard work of transforming our sheep pen into a beautiful display. We had just got going with pinning the drapes around the pen in the above photo.
.....and after!
A few hours, lots of sweat, a few swear words as we pricked our fingers on pins and occasionally tripped over boxes and the stall was set up and ready for the crowds arriving Saturday morning. For the eagle-eyed amongst you, yes I did put the hands on the wrong way round on White Lady. Yes I am a doctor. No, I don't operate on people anymore and obviously that is a good thing! Thank you to the customer who pointed it out early on Saturday so not too many people noticed!
Alpacas!
One of the things I love about Yarndale is the animals. This year there were some beautiful alpacas and sheep around the auction mart, and we were lucky enough to be placed opposite the angora bunnies. I popped over several times to say hello to their fluffiness.
The Yarndale little woolly sheep
The other thing I love, and what I think makes Yarndale so special is the community crafting that goes on around the festival. This year was little woolly sheep! There were hundreds of them, made by generous crafters all around the world (32 countries!). Each little sheep was identified by its owner and then auctioned off to raise money for Martin House Childrens Hospice, a very important charity that does amazing work for very sick kids. The auction raised over £3000 for the hospice which is just amazing. Well done to all the lovely crafters and people who bought them. There is the most amazing variety of sheep and their little woolly jackets. There were so many really imaginative ones it is hard to choose a favourite, but I think the little dragon-sheep (in red bottom right) and the Yorkshire White Rose sheep (in blue with white flower top right) are high contenders. I did not get chance to buy one but I am glad they all went to good homes.
Overall, a really fantastic fibre festival and an overwhelming success for the organisers, and all the volunteers who work so hard to keep everyone happy. I hope to be back next year with my next book!
Socktober is nearly upon us so I am going to host my first Sock-A-Long with my Florens pattern in my Ravelry group!
The SAL begins on the 1st October and finishes on the 31st October. There will be a prize of the most scrumptious Lichen and Lace 80/20 sock yarn in the colourway Beach Glass that the Florens sample was knitted in above for the winner. The most imaginative finished sock photo will win the yarn!
To get you going, my Florens pattern is 20% off until the 31st October when purchased through Ravelry or my website, no coupon is needed and the discount will be applied on checkout. Of course, you can still purchase the pattern as part of the Beautiful Knits for Beautiful Sticks print or ebook.
I will be using the hashtag SoctoberFlorensSAL on instagram and twitter to show my progress with my socks. I would love to see yours too!
I know a lot of people are wary of trying to knit socks... so I will host some tutorials on the blog to help you with the techniques needed in these socks. These are fairly easily constructed with a toe-up design so you can carry on knitting until all your yarn is used, no wastage here!
Thank you to everyone who came to see me at Yarndale. I had an absolutely fabulous time and I hope you did too. I will be writing a Yarndale post soon, but for now I thought I would let you know that there is a little bit of the lovely Lichen and Lace yarn left and you can purchase this from my website shop. It has nearly gone though so better hurry if you want some of this loveliness!
Just two days to go until it is Yarndale! Things are very busy and the spare room of Aldersign Towers is full of boxes and headless mannequins which looks very strange to anyone passing by the window.
I have been busy getting everything ready and I am just waiting for the final items to arrive. I am very excited as I love Yarndale as a festival and had such a great time last year.
This also means there is just two more days to pre-order Beautiful Knits for Beautiful Sticks and get the ebook free with the print book or 10% off the ebook alone. I will be taking all the garments from the book and will also be offering the ebook free with the printed book at Yarndale.
I am also really pleased to be stocking Lichen and Lace 80/20 sock yarn which was used to knit Florens from Beautiful Knits for Beautiful Sticks. I have eight colourways chosen, all of which are gorgeous and I have been struggling to not sneak a few skeins into my stash!
I will be bringing copies of An Elven Reckoning which did very well last year, and individual print patterns for Crowberry and Woodville for knitters, and Xylia and Baby Owl Mobile for crocheters.
I have also been preparing lots of pretty buttons to add the finishing touches to your knitting and crochet. I have several new designs including cute elephants, pretty hearts and flowers.
This year I will also be selling ribbons for covering steeks. I used this ribbon to cover the steek edging on Adoris and it was easy to sew and looks very pretty. Covering steeks with ribbons finishes them off perfectly and looks very neat.
I will also have my beginner amigurumi knit and crochet kits with a new addition - a crochet Lil' Soot Sprite! These little creatures are also known as Susuwatari and live in dusty or sooty places. They are small, black as soot and fuzzy, with round bodies and two inquisitive eyes. They like to help by moving dust around - and they have certainly been at work in Aldersign Towers!
Finally, I am pleased to be host Stitches Of Time again on my stall. Alison makes very lovely pincushions, needle and notion holders and cute baskets in lovely Liberty fabric. You can read all about what she has made for my stall, as well as the amazing sewing she does for reenactment events here on her blog.
So there will be lots to see and buy! I look forward to seeing you at Yarndale, please do pop by stall 125 to say Hi!
Sarah x
I thought I would share the last two patterns to be released for Beautiful Sticks for Beautiful Knits together as they are a matching hat and glove set, Manica and Camaura.
Both the Camaura toque and Manica gloves will keep you both warm and stylish and were inspired by the Beauxbaton studens learning herbology in the palace gardens.
A buttoned brim, flower buds and twisted stitches adorn this chic hat and glove set.
For Camaura (meaning a close fitting cap,) the brim is knitted in the round and turned inside out to flatter pretty handpainted yarns. Stitches are picked up to form the body of the hat and the twisted stitch pattern leads to a star-patterned crown.
The Manica gloves are constructed in a similar way with the cuff knitted in the round and turned inside out. Stitches are picked up and the twisted stitch pattern runs up the arms to the hand. These long stylish gloves will keep your hands warm whilst practicing wand waves in the palace gardens. We had a lot of fun in the photoshoot getting the photo above which represents the Beauxbaton Magical Academy emblem of two crossed wands.
Camaura and Manica are both knit with two coordinating yarns. The yarn I used for the cuffs is Handmaiden Fine Yarn Maiden Hair which has mohair in it to give a halo effect. The handpainted yarn looks lovely when reverse stocking stitch is used as this breaks up any pooling of colour. The body of the hat and gloves is knitted in madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK which is slightly thicker than most DK weight yarns and works well with the twisted stitch pattern as it gives good stitch definition.
Beautiful Knits for Beautiful Sticks is available to pre-order here and has the special offer for early birds of 10% off the ebook or the ebook complimentary with the print book.
Vesperis means evening star in latin and captures the essence of this lovely lacy top. It was inspired by the glamorous Yule ball and I wanted to design a top that is both elegant and floaty to wear.
Vesperis is knit at a loose gauge which means the fabric has plenty of drape and also makes it very quick to knit. It starts with a ribbed cuff to bring the top in at the hips, then expands to give the loose fitting top. A lace pattern at both side seams gives interest throughout and the large boatneck shows of collar bones for elegance. A decorative lace flacon at the front is reminiscent of the french perfume bottles and finally the top is finished by gathered shoulders with i-cord ribbons.
Overall the effect is simple and glamorous, trés chic!
I used La Bien Aimée merino singles light in Direwolf graffiti which is a lovely lace yarn. The splashes of colour on the silver base seem to shine like neon lights and it knits up as a very pretty fabric. The majority of sizes can also be knitted with just one skein.
As with all the garments in the book, the top is sized from 32in to 54in chest and the lace pattern has both charted and has written instructions. The drape on this top means it is flattering for most shapes and easy to wear.
Beautiful Knits for Beautiful Sticks is available to pre-order here and all pre-orders will have the ebook included complimentary with the print book, or 10% off the ebook price.