Woolercoaster's Wonderful World of Wool: October 15-21

I hope everyone has had a great week.  As a knitting fan I am really enjoying seeing all the new patterns that are being published.  I am trying hard to stay focused on what I have on the needles and not cast on a bunch of new projects.
Here are a few of the highlights of the week for me:

Festivals:
Many people are headed to the New York Sheep and Wool Festival held in Rhinebeck, New York this weekend. Last year I had the opportunity to go for the first time and I wrote a blog on my tips for the event.  Check it out here and here.  Kristyglassknits has created a video with her tips for restaurants and stores to visit in Rhinebeck.  It was such a fun weekend and I hope to go again in the future.  I especially loved seeing all the knitted samples.

Some of my favourite samples at Rhinebeck last year:
Lamina Wrap and On The Spice Market

Everyday Pullover knit in Dragonfly Fibers

Hot Patterns:
1.  Andrea Mowry is the "it" girl of the knitting world at the moment.  This prolific designer has a number of newly published patterns.  Her newest publication is the Comfort Fade Cardi knit in a DK weight yarn, which is another pattern knitters can fade and knit in speckled yarn.   One interesting version by slikchik was knit using two fingering skeins, one solid and one speckled.  I thought that was a very clever way to use up those fingering weight skeins, instead of spending more money on Dk weight yarn.  See it here. 

A free update has been sent this week to those knitters who purchased Andrea Mowry's shawl pattern called Free Your Fade.  Originally designed in fingering weight yarn Andrea has updated the pattern to include directions for a DK version as well. I can imagine at Rhinebeck this weekend many people will be shopping for speckled DK weight yarn for either her cardigan or her shawl.

In addition there is the newly published Tolt Collection by Andrea Mowry called A Sense of Place.  It will be released October 28 and consists of a cowl, hat, socks and cardigan.  My favourite is the Oxbow Cardigan, a beautiful shawl collared cardigan knit in bulky weight Quarry by Brooklyn Tweed.  This would be a fast knit and perfect for those cold winter months.

And that's not all!  Another pattern by Andrea is the Raina Shawl found in Carrie Bostick Hoge's Making No. 4 Lines.  Andrea has designed a gorgeous fingering weight shawl using the brioche stitch.  This publication is definitely worth getting as there are many beautiful patterns by a wide variety of designers.

2. There are so many new fall publications that are worth getting.  In addition to Making Magazine, Volume 3 of Laine Magazine Nordic Knit Life has been published. This Nordic knit and lifestyle publication is full of gorgeous patterns and interesting articles on knitting related topics.

By Hand Serial is another magazine worth checking out.  Lookbook No. 4 has just been published by Andrea Hungerford.  This edition focuses on dyers and stores in the Puget Sound region.  It focuses on some of my favourite dyers such as Yoth Yarns and Hazel Knits as well as some stores in the area such as Tolt Yarn and Wool and Churchmouse Yarn and Teas.

3.  Pom Pom Press first hardcover published book called  Knitting Outside the Box by Bristol Ivy is debuting at Rhinebeck this weekend with autograph signings by the designer.  You can order your own copy through Pompom.  Read all about the book launch here.

4.  A new collection called arctic  has been published by Quince and Co.  It consists of six cold weathered knits by designers such as Michele Wang, Pam Allen, and Leila Raabe.  My favourite is the Katla Sweater designed by Pam Allen knit in Osprey, a chunky weight yarn.  

Katla by Pam Allen
©Quince and Co.

Free Patterns:
1. The Frosting fringe scarf  is a quick super bulky scarf by Blue Sky Fibers. 

2. The Lighthouse Hat by designer Alexis Adrienne, is a free pattern until October 22 knit in aran weight yarn with a strand of mohair.  

Please include any new publications that have caught your interest in the Comments section below.  If you are attending Rhinebeck this weekend enjoy yourself and happy knitting to everyone.