Woolercoaster's Wonderful World of Wool: October 22-28

As usual it's been a busy time in the knitting world.  Check out a few things that caught my interest below:

Hot Patterns
1.  A very pretty triangular shawl named Wickerwork by Lori Versaci has been published featuring eyelets and a lace pattern.  I love the version knit in Woolfolk Tynd.

2.  If you are a fan of Tin Can Knits you probably are aware of their newest publication called Strange Brew.  This book contains a guideline on how to knit and design your own fair isle sweater.  One of the challenges when knitting in fair isle is to pick effective colours.  To help knitters understand colour the Tin Can knits blog published a series of articles on this topic.  Check them out here:  Monochrome Monday, Tonal Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, Tricolour Thursday, and Fair Isle Friday

3.  Are you in the holiday mode yet?  Maybe Julgran, a Christmas sweater by Andi Satterlund will inspire you to get in the mood.

4.  Caitlin Hunter's Birkin sweater publihsed in Laine Magazine Volume 2 is gaining popularity. Mason Dixon wrote an interesting article about this beautiful sweater entitled The It Sweater:  Birkin.  Definitely worth a read.  I love this version knit in only two colours by dreamsbythesea (Clare) on Ravelry.

5. If you are looking for a gorgeous three coloured wrap then have a look at Electra by Libby Jonson (Truly Myrtle).  This fingering weight pattern uses a variety of stitches including honeycomb and lace. It looks like a fun knit.

Free Patterns
1.  Purl Soho is a great resource for free patterns.  Their newest publication is called the Mini Herringbone Scarf.  The pattern includes a video tutorial on how to do the herringbone stitch.  

©Purl Soho

2. How about a cozy, oversized bulky sweater?  Rug, a pattern by the Japanese Designer named Junko Okamoto, looks like the perfect thing to wear during those cold weather months.

Knit Alongs

1.  Karen Templer of Fringe Association is hosting a new knitalong, starting January, based on the log cabin technique which is a method of knitting.  She is encouraging knitters to join her and make anything they dream up using this technique.  Mason Dixon is joining along and wrote about the KAL here.  Karen's knitalongs are thoughtfully done and educational.  She invites other designers/knitters to join her knitalong and explain their thought process.  Leading up to the start of the KAL she will provide lots of information to help you select your log cabin project.  For example, have a look at this article called New Favorites:  Striped cabin based on a gorgeous blanket that could be modified to a log cabin style.  

2.  Pom Pom Quarterly is hosting a year long KAL for the new publication Knitting Outside the Box by Bristol Ivy.  Check out a great YouTube interview with Bristol discussing the book here.  The knit along starts November 30th.  Prizes include yarn from Julie Asselin, Sweet Fiber Yarns and Baa Ram Ewe.

YouTube Videos
There are so many videos about Rhinebeck for those of us who could not attend.
Check out these two:  Grocery Girls and Kristyglassknits interviewing the Grocery Girls and the Espace Tricot ladies.   Looks like they had fun!

Have a happy knitting week and please add anything that caught your interest below in the comments section.

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.