F.O. Log Cabin Tea Cozy by Woolercoaster!

Karen Templer''s Fringe and Friends Log Cabin Make-along introduced me to the log cabin technique of knitting.  Karen took this technique and created her own design called Log Cabin Mitts.  This inspired me to create something that I have wanted to knit for a long time.

One of the simple pleasures I enjoy is drinking a pot of tea and knitting.  I slowly drink my way through the pot, however, I find my tea gets cold too quickly.  I have been looking for a tea cozy pattern to fit my teapot, and keep my tea warm longer.  When I learned how to knit a log cabin square I thought it would be the perfect technique to create my own tea cozy.

After playing around with different yarn, needle sizes, and combinations I came up with my own version.  Let me introduce you to my Log Cabin Tea Cozy:

I have never created my own pattern before, and I have to admit that I am very happy with the way it turned out.

Here is my first attempt on 5.0mm needles:  

First Attempt

I knew that I wanted to use a 100% wool to keep the heat in.  I chose two colourways of Cestari Traditional Yarn (colourways:  Natural White and Light Gray/Medium Gray Tweed) and Quince & Co. Osprey yarn (colourway:  Shell).  Both yarns are aran weight and create a nice thick fabric.  I used three colours for each square.  However, the tea cozy was too big as it was knit on too loose a gauge.  To keep the heat in a much tighter gauge was essential.

When creating my second version I played around with different needle sizes and colour combinations, until I came up with a much tighter knit fabric.  Here are the details:


Pattern:  Log Cabin Tea Pot Cozy

Designer:  Me! Plus I used Karen Templer's directions on how to make a Log Cabin square found in her Log Cabin Mitts pattern.

Yarn:  Cestari Traditional Collection (100 % wool)
Colourway: Light Gray/Medium Gray Tweed & Natural Medium Gray (for the top)

Cestari Traditional Yarn

Yarn:  Quince & Co. Osprey (100% wool)  
Colourway:  Pomegranate

Quince & Co. Osprey

Needles: 4.0mm

Ravelry: see my notes

Added Notes:

1.  In my second attempt I tried to achieve a more modern look by keeping the center square as the pop of colour.  Then I used the same tweedy colour for the remaining portions of the log cabin square.  The choice of a tweedy yarn was helpful as it hid any imperfections when I seamed the squares together.  I used Very Pink knits tutorial on Learn How to Knit a Log Cabin Blanket to learn how to seam the squares together neatly. Go to 28:07 for the part of the video on seaming. 

Seaming the squares together

2.  After joining the squares I picked up stitches and created a top for the tea cozy by knitting in the round.  I finished off with an i-cord.  The result is a tea cozy that slips on my tea pot easily.

Knitting in the round

Decreasing stitches

Finished with an i-cord

Next Steps:  I would like to reknit this tea cozy again playing with the colours in the squares.  There are so many fun variations that could be created.

So thank you Karen Templer for introducing me to the Log Cabin technique and inspiring me to create my first design.

I am off to make a pot of tea and get out my knitting.  Hope you're having a good weekend.

p.s. I have a large La Creuset teapot 

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.

The Sun
©Sylvia McFadden

The Moon
©Sylvia McFadden

Late August
©Sylvia McFadden

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.

Dal by Leah B. Thibault
©Quince & Co.

Masala Shawl by Michele Wang
©Quince & Co.

Massaman by Elizabeth Smith
©Quince & Co.

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.

F.O. Shore Cardigan by Carrie Bostick Hoge

After completing Louise by designer Carrie Bostick Hoge I knew I would enjoy knitting her Shore Cardigan pattern just as much.

Pattern:  Shore Cardigan from the book Swoon Maine 
Designer:  Carrie Bostick Hoge

Yarn:  Quince & Co. Owl Worsted Weight 50% Alpaca 50% Wool

Colourway: Bubo  10 skeins

Needles:  4.5mm and 4.0mm

Added Notes:

1. This pattern was easy to follow. The back dips down lower than the front which is a nice added feature of the cardigan.  It would be a great beginner pattern as there is no seaming and it was knit top down so you can totally try it on as you go. 

2.  This is my first time knitting with Quince & Co. Owl yarn and I have to admit that I am impressed. It is one of those rustic yarns that will wear well with little pilling.  It is lightweight yet warm, and somewhat itchy given the alpaca content.  It doesn't bother me, but if you are at all sensitive to scratchy yarns, this is probably not the yarn for you. I bought this yarn on a trip last year to Washington D.C., when I visited Looped Yarn Works, where they had an amazing selection of Quince Yarn.  I love the tonal look of the Bubo colourway, and the price point of this yarn is very reasonable compared to other yarns.

Quince & Co. Owl Yarn:  50% Alpaca 50% Wool

Quince & Co. Owl Yarn:  50% Alpaca 50% Wool

3.  I am quickly becoming a fan of Carrie Bostick Hoge.  Carrie is one of those designers who creates classic patterns that become wardrobe staples.

That was the last winter sweater that I had on the needles.  I am now trying hard to clean up my other works in progress to make way for some new spring projects.  Stay tuned as I have lots of knitting plans and different coloured yarns that I want to share with you.

What pattern are you looking forward to knitting this spring?

F.O. Louise

I am delighted to show you my first finished object for 2017.  

Louise Top Down

Pattern:  Louise Top Down (my Ravelry page) from Madder Anthology 2:  Simple Pleasures
Designer:  Carrie Bostick Hoge
Yarn: Berroco Peruvia (aran weight)
100% Wool 

Colourway: 7104 Taupe (5 skeins)

&

Yarn:  Quince & Co. Osprey (aran weight)

Colourway: Shell (1.5 skeins)

Needles:  5.5mm and 6mm 
Buttons:  M & J Trimming, NYC

Modifications:  None

This knit made me so happy for several reasons.  First, it only took me ten days to knit.  The beauty of an aran weight cardigan is it is done before you know it. As it was knit top down it was an easy pattern to follow and I was able to keep trying it on as I knit.

Secondly, the Berroco yarn was deep in my stash and there is something satisfying about finally using it.  Berroco Peruvia, being a twisted roving yarn, split easily while I was knitting, but the knitted fabric is very lofty and warm.

Another thing I love about this cardigan is the Quince & Co. Osprey Yarn I used for the ribbing and button band.  I love it.  It is just so squishy and the stitch definition is perfection.   I definitely see more of this yarn in my future. 

I am so happy that I will get to wear it this winter.  This sweater is light weight yet very warm, perfect for those sub zero days that we can have here in Canada.

If you haven't knit a heavier weight sweater in some time, and you live in a climate where you can wear one, I highly recommend this pattern.  The pattern is also written as bottom up if you prefer that method. (see Louise). 

Now back to my fingering weight projects!

Looped Yarn Works: Washington D.C.

During my recent holiday I spent a few days in Washington D.C. and managed to visit two yarn stores which is one of my favourite things to do when travelling.  Today I am going to share with you my visit to Looped Yarn Works which I highly recommend visiting if you are ever in the area. The website for this store is not extensive so I was not sure how good it would be.  But I was not disappointed in the least.

Set up on the second floor this yarn store was wonderful for many reasons.  First, the variety of yarns it carried was excellent.  If you are a Canadian there are many American yarns that are hard to find in Canada, without ordering online.  So as an avid knitter and yarn lover I always read about these yarns but never get to see them in person, let alone buy any (without paying a hefty customs duty, exchange rate and shipping cost).  So it was with great delight that I could browse around this store and see yarns I have only read about.  For example Looped Yarn Works carried a variety of Quince & Co. which I was delighted to see in person.  Big Bad Wool, Harrisville Designs, Shibui and String Theory Hand Dyed Yarn were just a few of the other yarn lines they carried.

Quince & Co. Finch

Quince & Co. Owl

Quince & Co. Sparrow

The Copper Corgi Mini Skein Set

Freia Fine Handpaints

Malabrigo & Big Bad Wool

The light in the store was wonderful.  Set up on the second floor there was both a front window and back window.  When deciding on a particular colourway it is a great advantage to see the yarn in natural light, as it often looks quite different.

Harrisville Shetland

Another great thing about this store were that the staff were very welcoming and helpful but not pushy in any way.  There were a number of customers in the store when I was there and I felt very comfortable just wandering around at a leisurely pace.

An added bonus was that there were also a lot of knitted samples around the store which is really helpful when making a yarn purchase.

Shibui Rain

I had such a hard time deciding what to buy....there were so many great yarns.  I knew going in that I really wanted to buy Quince & Co. yarn as I had in my Ravelry queue several sweaters that I admired knit in this yarn.  After much debating I took the plunge and bought a sweater quantity of Owl, a 50% mohair and 50% wool blend in the colourway Bubo, an undyed yarn.

Quince & Co. Owl

And as for Washington D.C. we really enjoyed seeing the sights.  We had so much fun.  One thing we loved was The Renwick Gallery Wonder Exhibit which had the most amazing installations.

One display was Plexus made up of thousands of embroidery threads.

Then there was a room full of insects called In the Midnight Garden.

A 150 year old hemlock tree was replicated (made up of strips of reclaimed wood).   The age of this tree is the same age as the Renwick Gallery.

And another favourite was the Shindig installation.

Of course I was too early for the cherry blossoms but I did get to see the magnolias in full bloom.

And with the upcoming election evidence of politics were everywhere.  My husband, who is a political junkie, loved every moment of it.

 A Trump hotel being built in downtown Washington...a sign of things to come?

Our trip was shortly after our Prime Minister visited the White House

If you have never had the chance to visit Washington D.C. I really recommend it.  All the museums (and there are many of them) are free which is a bonus.  There is so much to see and do.

Next time I will review the second yarn shop I visited which I absolutely loved.