F.O. Stronachlachar by Kate Davies

Isn't it just lovely when you get a project off the needles that has been languishing for some time?  I am so happy to have finished Stronachlachar by Kate Davies, a pattern found in the West Highland Way collection.  This is one of those projects where I think I found the perfect match between pattern and yarn, and I am so happy with how it turned out.  Spring is still quite cool where I live, so there is still plenty of time to wear it before the weather gets too warm.

Pattern: Stronachlachar

Stronachlachar by Kate Davies

Designer:  Kate Davies

Yarn:  West Yorkshire Spinners Bluefaed Leicester DK (100% Bluefaced Leicester 223 meters):  4 skeins

Colourway:  2 Natural Light Brown 

Needles:  3.5mm (ribbing) & 3.75mm (body)

Ravelry:  see notes

After Blocking

Added Notes:

1.  Blocking is my favourite part of the knitting process.  Check out the difference:

Before Blocking

Once blocked the cables opened up and the yarn bloomed.  If you are new to blocking, all I did was soak the sweater in some water and wool wash.  Then I gently squeezed out the excess water with a towel, and laid it to out to dry, making sure the measurements given in the pattern matched the third size I had chosen.  I used a few blocking pins along the ribbing, and by the next day it looked like this:

Blocking magic

2.  One reason this sweater took longer to complete is because I made a mistake mid-body when I switched my needles to a pointier set.  Instead of the required 3.75mm needles, I started using 4mm needles and proceeded to knit many inches.  Once I noticed my mistake I tried knitting a few rows with 3.75mm needles to see if it was noticeable, and it definitely was.  I ripped out the inches I had knit and started over.  Thank goodness I made that choice as I would have run out of yarn with the bigger needles, and the sweater would have been too big.  It doesn't matter how long you have been knitting... you still make dumb errors!

3.  I bought this yarn on a family trip to Scotland at Ginger Twist studio in Edinburgh five years ago (read about my visit here).  Every time I looked at this yarn it brought back a lot of good memories and so I was super pleased to find a pattern that worked well it.  The fact that the designer of this vest is Scottish is a bonus.  

A very simple cable

4.  This pattern, like all Kate Davies patterns, is well written.  The sweater is knit in the round from the bottom up and is then divided at the underarms.  I like the way the sleeves are easily constructed. This pattern is the perfect introduction to sweater knitting with cables. The repetitive pattern is quite simple and the end result, I think, is gorgeous.   Perfect for beginners.

WIPs: Hamble, Stronachlachar, and Old Romance

Every now and then I go through my large Ravelry queue, and try to reduce the number of patterns in it.  I find this quite challenging as there are so many amazing patterns which have stood the test of time.  Of course, I am also tempted by new designs that crop up daily, and so my queue just grows and grows.  Does anyone else have this problem?  Recently I seem to be obsessed with knitting sweaters.  Instead of casting on just one sweater, I have cast on three!  Two are newly published, and the third has been in my queue for a long time.  And the best thing...all are knit from stash yarn.

1.  Hamble:  I am a long time fan of Isabell Kraemer and have found that her patterns fit me well, and tend to get worn quite a bit (see Aibrean, Mailin, and Seashore).  I could not resist Hamble, Isabell Kraemer's newest pattern knit in Rosy Green Wool Cheeky Merino Joy, a sport weight yarn.  I had the perfect yarn in my stash.  On my trip to Nashville in the fall, I picked up three different coloured skeins of Rosy Green Wool from Haus of Yarn, to knit a shawl.  Only one skein was needed for the top of the Hamble body so I used one of the colourways I had called Edelweiss. In my stash I also had some O-Wool O-Wash Sport yarn.  These two yarns work perfectly together.  Although I love both yarns, I found that Rosy Wool is one of those yarns that I kept squishing as I knit.  Rosy Green Wool definitely lives up to the hype.   (I found out that O-Wool carries Rosy Green Wool if you are interested in trying a skein).  Here's my progress so far: 

Rosy Green Wool Cheeky Merino Joy in Edelweiss
O-Wash O-Wool Sport in Cuckoo Flower

Pigeonroof Yarns Silky High Twist Sock in Railroad Stake

2.  Another new pattern that I cast on as soon as it was published is Stronachlar, part of the West Highland Way collection, by Kate Davies.    If you haven't had the chance to look at this collection of patterns I highly recommend it.  I had the perfect yarn in my stash for this pattern, about 900m of a DK weight wool called West Yorkshire Spinners Blue Faced Leicester DK.  I love the look of the simple cables and, if I can finish Stronachlachar soon, it will be the perfect spring sweater to throw on top of a blouse.  

West Yorkshire Spinners Bue Faced Leicester DK

3.  Since the beginning of the year I have been slowly working on Old Romance, a fingering weight cardigan, by Joji Locatelli that was published four years ago.  The pattern starts with two identical lace strips that become part of the sleeves.  I decided to knit both lace inserts at the same time.  Each day I slowly added a few rows until I knit the 27.5" required and then the fun began. This cardigan has a similar construction to Joji's Japan Sleeves, as the lace panels are knit first, and once done provide the foundation for the sleeves.  The interesting construction keeps me entertained, but as it is a fingering weight sweater it will take me some time to complete.  See my Ravelry notes here.

The pattern begins by knitting two lace panels
knit in Madelinetosh Light in the colourway Cathedral

The next step is to join the pieces and create the two arms and neck
Sweet Fiber Yarns Cashmerino 20 in colourway Verve

If only there were more hours in a day!  The trouble with knitting three sweaters at the same time is that it never looks like I have made much progress.  However I will remain hopeful that I will have three new sweaters to wear this spring.  Wish me luck!

Christmas and Holiday Fun

As the countdown to Christmas continues there are so many opportunities to join in the Christmas and holiday fun.

Here's a round-up of just a few seasonal ideas that caught my attention.

1.  First up there is Vlogmas.  Many crafty YouTubers are spreading Christmas cheer by podcasting everyday until December 25th.  One of my favourites is Kristen from the YarnGasm podcast who is a very successful hand dyer (Voolenvine Yarns) and knitter, to name just a few of her talents.  She always has fun and creative content in her videos.  Another favourite of mine is Molly of A Homespun House.  She lives in Berlin and is also a hand dyer and crafter.  I also have been watching Eric from the Sticks and Twine podcast. He lives in Toronto and is one of the authors of the new Rib Magazine that is coming out soon.  He is quite a character.

Voolenvine Yarn Wolke Base in "Deck the Halls"
Pattern:  Vanilla Latte Socks

2. Have you heard about this one?  The infamous Kate Davies has started the Islay Club, which starts on December 14th, so you still have plenty of time to join. Club members will receive a Kate Davies pattern each week for twelve weeks.  Once all the patterns have been delivered to your Inbox her new Inspired by Islay book will be mailed out to members.

3.  Another fun one is a KAL (knit-a-long) with designer Laura Aylor called Just for You 3.  Starting on December 13, KAL members will receive small bits of a new pattern to knit for twelve days, using DK yarn.  If you are too busy at this time of year to join in the fun, don't worry!  There will be another KAL starting on Christmas Day for the same pattern, with a new chat thread on Ravelry.  If you have bought a previous pattern from Laura Aylor, then this pattern is free. If not Laura will donate the $2 fee to a charity. So you can't lose!

4.  Here's an original idea for this time of year.  On Facebook Tin Can Knits is hosting a Hackathon.  Select a Tin Can Knits pattern (some are free) to knit and then your are encouraged to add your own inspiration and create something unique.  Post the result for all to see.  It just started so there is plenty of time to join in.  To top it off they are offering a new pattern called The World's Simplest Mittens which would be a perfect pattern to add your own twist to.  The Hackathon goes until January 17th.

I love Tin Can Knits patterns. I just finished a pair of mitts called Paddle.  Many of their patterns come in many sizes and ranges from mitts, hats, sweaters, shawls...something for everyone. Paddle is a very simple pattern knit in DK yarn, perfect for a last minute gift, and it comes in a variety of sizes.

Pattern:  Paddle (Size medium)
Designer:  Tin Can Knits
Black Yarn:  Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK
Colourway:  Thunderstorm
Blue Yarn:  Tanis Fiber Arts Green Label
Colourway:  Midnight
Needles:  3.25 mm and 3.75mm

Paddle Mitts by Tin Can Knits

5.  And finally, here's a reason to take a breather and put up your feet and relax, if only for a few minutes. For all you tea lovers,  David's Tea has a wonderful kit called the 24 Days of Tea.  Each day there is a new flavour of tea to try.  If you don't have time to get it, here's another one that you don't open until December 25th.  It looks fun too.

A perfect end to a day

Each drawer has a different flavour of tea

Well that's my list to get you started.  Don't you just love the knitting community?  There are so many generous, kind-hearted, and creative people out there with a passion for yarn.  Have you heard of any Christmas/holiday fun?  Let me know below so I can check it out.  Thanks for stopping by...I appreciate it.