Woolercoaster: Gauge Dyeworks

December 30, 2017

A Look Back: 2017

Like so many of you, I have continued my obsession with knitting and yarn. I think there has to be some kind of Ravelry record set this year for the number of patterns published. It seemed like everyday new patterns were popping up on the Ravelry Pattern page. It was hard to keep up. I have enjoyed checking out all the new patterns and yarn throughout the year and the size of my queue is ridiculous. There are just so many patterns I want to knit. I think we can all agree that 2017 will be remembered as the Year of the Fade thanks to Andrea Mowry.

I present to you my annual round up of favourites for 2017.

Best Yarn Shop: Haus of Yarn, Nashville, Tennessee
The variety of yarn, the size and warmth of the store, and quantity of knitted samples was impressive. I would highly recommend this store to anyone visiting the Nashville area. You can read about my visit here.

Just a sample of what Haus of Yarn carries (Wool & Boon and Old Rusted Chair)

Feyre Shawl by Shannon Cook: one of the many samples at the store

Best Sweater/Cardigan: Camira by Carol Feller.
I love this cardigan's unique construction and how well it fits. It is a sweater I wear on a weekly basis, and I think it would look great knit in many different yarns.

Camira by Carol Feller

Best Yarn Brand: Woolfolk
I have knit a number of accessories in this yarn and love everything about it. It is incredible to wear, and my dream would be to knit a cardigan in this yarn. I would never take it off.

On the C Train knit in Woolfolk Fär

Best Yarn Colour: Maize by Tanis Fiber Arts (Purple Label)
One of my favourite things to do is to photograph yarn. When you have a colourway that looks like this, it is an absolute joy. Tanis outdid herself when she created this colourway specifically for Knit City 2017.

Tanis Fiber Arts Purple Label: Maize colourway

Best Knitted Accessory: Deep Woods Toque by Kiyomi Burgin.
My favourite accessory was a hat I knit for my daughter, using Tanis Fiber Arts' Purple Label Yarn, combined with Sweet Fiber Yarns Super Sweet Sock. I love everything about this hat. The colour combination and finished product makes me so happy.

Deep Woods Toque

Yarn That Impressed Me: Gauge Dyeworks Merino Twist Classic (colourway All Together Now)
I knit Martina Behm's very popular Hitchhiker using this beautiful colourway. I love how the yarn colour switches back and forth. I think the dyer behind this yarn is super talented. Just have a look at the shawl below to see what I mean.

Gauge Dyework Merino Twist Classic

Hitchhiker Shawl

Best Knitting Instagram Feed: 1. Clara Parkes (Instagram stories)
If you haven't checked out Clara Parkes Instagram stories you definitely should. She is so witty and her stories always make me laugh.
2. Instagram Photos: As for Instagram pictures this is an impossible choice. The amount of talent on Instagram is incredible and inspiring (and a bit overwhelming trying to keep up to be completely honest). Some of my favourites are: espacetricot, quinceandco, boylandknitworks, happycactusdesigns, soveryshannon and mysocalledhandmadelife.

Best Knitting Magazine: Laine Magazine
This Nordic knitwear magazine showcases impressive patterns by talented designers, as well as interesting articles. It is an enjoyable read and totally worth every cent. If you haven't had a chance to look at a copy yet, you can check out the patterns from the magazine on Ravelry.

A few of my favourite publications

Best Knitting Vlog/Podcast: Melissa and Lisa of Espace Tricot wins hands down for me this year.
This definitely was the year of the podcast. There are so many talented vloggers out there, but the owners of Espace Tricot (a Montreal yarn store) are consistently enjoyable to watch. Each time I watch their podcast I always learn something new, and end up adding patterns to my queue. I find them so entertaining and talented.

Favourite Designer: Andrea Mowry
I have yet to fade anything, but I admire Andrea's talent and prolific designing. I have many of her patterns in my queue and will definitely knit a few of her designs in 2018. Here is one of Andrea's patterns called Goldfinch that I knit this year.

Goldfinch by Andrea Mowry
knit in O-Wash O-Wool Sport

I am also super impressed with Caitlin Hunter and her unique designs. I am excited to see her new designs in 2018.

Best Yarn Show: Knit City in Vancouver
I have to be honest and admit that I only went to one show this year, but wow, it was a great one! Everyone involved in Knit City was super friendly. There was so many talented designers and dyers, as well as amazing classes by talented teachers. Vancouver is my favourite Canadian city to visit too. If you can only go to one show next year this is the show you need to get to.

Designs by Sylvia McFadden

I think it was a great year in the knitting world. I am excited to see what new designers emerge in 2018 and what's hot. What were some of your favourites?

August 25, 2017

Woolercoaster's Wonderful World of Knitting: Augst 19-25

Thanks for joining me this week. I really enjoy researching what's new in the knitting world and I hope you find it interesting too. Let's get to it:

Pattern Deals:
Is there a baby knit in your future? Look no further than Little French Knits. Florence Merlin is the designer behind these sweet patterns. Check them out here. If you visit the Knitionary blog, a discount code is provided for 50% off these designs, until the end of August.

On the Yarn Radar:
I am in love with this new Gauge Dyeworks colourway. Isn't it gorgeous? You can see it knit up in different patterns here. I especially like this shawl. If you like it as much as me, head on over to sign up for the Gauge Dyeworks newsletter so that you will be alerted as to when it is available for purchase.

Hot Patterns:
1. I have a soft spot for Canadian designers and Sylvia McFadden of Softsweater knits is one of my favourites. I have knit two of her patterns (Lanterns and The Elder Tree Shawl) and, of course, there is the very popular Waiting For Rain shawl that is in my queue. Her newest collection, published this week, is called Eclipse consisting of three gorgeous pi shawls.

2. Have you seen a very popular pattern called Sunset Highway by Caitlin Hunter? This fingering weight colourwork sweater is unique because the sample is knit with indie dyed speckled yarn. Check out some of the completed projects to see the many gorgeous colour combinations that have been completed.

3. Spice, a new collection by Quince and Co. has been published this week as well. I am a big fan of Quince and Co. yarn and I admire their commitment to publishing new designs. This newest collection contains two sweaters, two shawls and a cardigan, by such designers as Michele Wang, Leah B. Thibault and Elizabeth Smith.

4. And finally, as soon as I get my current socks off the needles, I am casting on the NoShow Socks stashbusting pattern by La Maison Rililie blogged about here. These socks are designed to be lower cut, and therefore, perfect for hiding under a pair of shoes. I am really looking forward to knitting this unique design.

Tip of the Week:
If you have the time, a great habit is to check Ravelry daily as often designers offer a new pattern either at a discount, or for free for a window of time. I have been able to pick up many patterns this way. There are plenty of patterns that are also offered free for an unlimited time. For example, check out Island Wildflower, a beautiful crochet blanket. It would be a great stashbuster. I also loved Ninni (a fingering weight lace cardigan) and Tiliana a huge fingering weight shawl by Hannah Maciejewska designer of the popular Moyen Age.

That ends my round up for this week. Did I miss anything that caught your attention? I encourage you to add your favourites from the week to the comment section below. Have a great week.