new shop sample - starboard

A perfect sweater to show off the bright stripes of West Yorkshire Spinner's Colour Lab in Prism Bright!

Starboard by Alicia Plummer is knitted in the round from the top down.  It comes in sizes 2 years to 10 years and is very easy to lengthen for a tunic style.

Pattern is available to buy on Ravelry or in the shop through Ravelry in-store pattern sales.  Any DK yarn will work for this pattern... it's great for leftovers too.

new shop sample - Love Note!

New shop sample in Love Note - knitted in Rowan Alpaca Classic.

Love Note, by Tin Can Knits, is knitted in the round from the top down.  The original pattern uses two strands of yarn held together - a 4ply and a laceweight.  Our version uses one strand of Alpaca Classic.

The pattern gives two lengths - both quite cropped!  But it's easy to add more length.  Because it is knitted top down you can try it on whilst you're making it - to get the length you want.

The neckline is also finished at the end... so if you'd rather it was lower and looser you can do that too.

The pattern is available on Ravelry and you can buy it in the shop through Ravelry in-store sales.

You can see other versions of Love Note here.https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/love-note/people

a 'new' alpaca hat

Another version of our free shop pattern.  This time using Rowan Alpaca Classic, a mix of cotton and alpaca.

Original version in Rico Luxury Alpaca

For the Rowan hat you need to hold two strands together.  Although I've done ours in one colour, you could use different colours to create a marled appearance.

And if you're looking for matching mitts, try our free Simple DK Mitts pattern.

Simple DK Mitts, easy to modify.  One ball of Rowan Alpaca Classic for one pair

Both patterns are available in the shop as well as the yarn of course.

And coming soon... a new shop sample... Love Note by Tin Can Knits in Rowan Alpaca Classic

work in progress!

Asymmetrical scarf - new shop pattern!

New free pattern in the shop... a simple asymmetrical scarf using 400m of 4ply.

We've used a hank of our new Colliston Merino Single but you could use any 4ply.  In fact, just change the needle size to suit any yarn and make a fabric that you like.  Or use more or less yarn... the pattern is easy to adapt and the scarf shape is versatile too...

The cardigan is Line Dried by Sue Stratford in Socks Yeah DK

remember you can follow Work In Progress photos on Instagram!

Mohair Cowl - reboot

A quick and simple project using one ball of Rowan Kidsilk Haze.

Knitted on a circular needle this cowl is all knit stitch with some easy yarn overs for holes on purpose.

A good next project for a beginner (laceweight on thick 6mm needles can feel unwieldy) this makes a very lightweight fluffy cowl in luxury fibres (mohair and silk).

This is a free shop pattern, repurposed from Karen's Capelet design from ye olde days.

Rowan Kidsilk Mohair in the shop...

New shop sample... Midwinter Neckwarmer

Midwinter Neckwarmer is a close fitting cowl.  We've made ours in Fiber Co. Cumbria Fingering, a beautiful 4ply blend of masham, merino and mohair.

The pattern is available to buy on Ravelry and in the shop through Ravelry in-store sales.

The designer Runningyarn also has a matching hat and other stunning colourwork designs...

This is a good next step colourwork project.  It uses two colours throughout and most of the pattern is made up of small simple shapes.  The middle section, requires more attention (and has longer floats, so you have to be careful with your tension).  The amount of colourwork could be daunting for a beginner and the designer also asks for a tubular cast on and cast off (which are more involved than the bog-standard cast on and off!) but other than that is quite straightforward for a beginner strander.

the backside

Works in Progress

I often get asked, "What are you working on?"  And the answer is never short.

I sometimes share my projects on Instagram, and this weekend I shared them all... all eleven of them...

(I'm sure there are others, that have migrated to an upstairs cupboard, but these are the most current WIPs)

Top row - will all be new shop samples.

• A one ball cowl in Rowan KidSilk Haze.  Free pattern in the shop.
• Wild Cherries by Woolenberry in Rowan Fine Lace - an asymmetrical shawl
• A new version of a shop pattern using 3 shades Socks Yeah 4ply.  This will be a garter stripe long crescent shaped shawl.  You can see the other here... Laceweight, Simple DK and Alpaca

Mid row

• New shop sample using Rowan Baby Cashsoft merino - a version of Garter Squish blanket.  I've done several of these stashbuster blankets (we have one in the shop), but this one is a single strand of of Rowan Baby Cashsoft and will hopefully be a baby size.
• A simple cuff down sock in Crazy Zauberball.  This sock is inspired by this pattern and I'm using the free simple sock pattern we have in the shop.  I've split the ball of yarn into two and knitted the leg using 5 rows from each ball, then knitted the foot from one ball.
• New shop sample, Ambrose - this sock is a Mystery Knit Along from Rachel Coopey. The knit along has ended... I'm still on clue one of four... I'm using Socks Yeah 4ply for a super crisp stitch definition.

Bottom row

• New shop sample - Midwinter neckwarmer by Runningyarn.  I'm using one of my favourite yarns - Fibre Co. Cumbria Fingering.
• Another new garment for the shop using Stylecraft Chunky.  This was nearly finished! But I wasn't happy with the neckline... so it's back to an unfinished state.
• These are my projects in yarns I don't have in the shop! Chunky socks in Raggsocksgarn (from Midwinter Yarns), a Merry Berry hat in Brooklyn Tweed Loft and a simple laceweight shawl in Old Maiden Aunt Shetland 2ply

new shop sample - Capo

Capo is an armholed poncho... so the easy-wear of a poncho, but you can use your hands easily!

The pattern is by Elizabeth Smith, and available to buy in the shop (through Ravelry pattern sales).

We used West Yorkshire Spinners Re:treat to knit ours.  There are 11 shades now in the shop - including this marled blue and grey one.

If you like simple shapes and seamless knitting, I'd highly recommend checking out Elizabeth Smith's patterns.

new shop sample - Felix

in progress photos on our Ravelry project page

Felix by Amy Christoffers is a top down sweater with a lace detail at the raglan sleeves.

Knitted in Lett Lopi on 6mm needles it has a looser gauge and airier fabric compared to our other Lopi sweater -  Strokkur.

This is a simple knit and a good first top down sweater, especially if you're confident you can make holes on purpose!

Yarn and pattern (through Ravelry) in the shop!

new shop sample - alpaca blend sweater

This is an oversized round necked raglan sweater.

It is a classic sloppy jumper.  Nothing remarkable... BUT it is knitted in Rico Superfine Luxury Alpaca.  An alpaca and acrylic blend that is supersoft and super squishy.

It's becoming one of our most squished samples!

You've maybe tried the yarn in our one-ball hat project?

Yarn and pattern (jumper and hat!) in the shop.

new shop sample - Copenhagen Calling

close up photos on our Ravelry project page

Copenhagen Calling by Isabell Kraemer is a long cowl, combining rib, slip stitches and lace.

We've knitted ours in West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious Naturals.  A DK yarn that has 70% Falkland wool and 30% British Alpaca.

It's very squishy and cosy!

Like the 3 Color Cashmere Cowl and Heart Warmer Cowl, this project features different stitches that keep it interesting to knit!

Yarn and pattern (through Ravelry) is available to buy in the shop.

new shop sample - Heart Warmer Cowl

Work in Progress photos on Ravelry!

Heart Warmer by Justyna Lorkwska in Erika Knight Wool Local

A really interesting pattern!  Knitted in the round this long tube makes a lovely cosy cowl.  Bunched up or folded in half the stitch patterns give a lot of texture and make it an engaging project.

Pattern available to buy in the shop (thro Ravelry) and we have the beautiful yarn too!

This pattern would work great with our other 4ply yarns - Jamieson's Spindrift, Vivacious 4ply and Socks Yeah 4ply!

new shop sample - Elspeth Cardigan

Elspeth is a simple round necked cardigan knitted in West Yorkshire Spinners Croft Tweed.

Croft is 100% machine washable Shetland wool.  Available in Tweed or Colour

We've used this yarn before in our Nightshift Shawl.  It has a lovely drape and feels much softer when knitted than it does on the hank.

Lots of pattern ideas in the shop! 

If you like the cardigan but want a different yarn... you could try 100% Icelandic wool Lett Lopi or our acrylic/wool blend Stylecraft Life.

Bousta Beanie

Knitted by Sue, pattern on Ravelry and yarn in the shop!

Bousta Beanie was designed by Gudrun Johnston for Shetland Wool Week 2017.

It's a great hat pattern for first time stranders and uses just 3 colours of Jamieson's Spindrift (we have over 70 shades in stock!)

If you're new to stranded colourwork, check out these tips from Andrea Rangel and Brown Sheep and Tin Can Knits.

New shop sample - Twixtmas Cowl

Twixtmas

A cowl in our newest cotton - Crazy Zauberball Cotton DK.

Pattern is by Louise Tilbrook and it's called Twixtmas - in honour of the period between Christmas and New Year.

It's a soothing knit - it uses slip stitches and is knitted on relatively thick needles so it feels weighty in your hands.

The Crazy Zauberball is a soft cotton with exciting colour changes and combos.

The pattern would work well with any DK, if you prefer something woollier!

Yarn and pattern (through Ravelry) available in the shop!

New shop sample - Winston

The Winston Pullover, designed by Jane Richmond, is a super chunky jumper.  Knitted top down in a very thick yarn, this is a quick knit and perfect for beginner garment knitters and for our Rico Melange BIG!  The Melange BIG makes it super soft and light!

We have about 6 shades in stock and the pattern is available to buy in the shop through Ravelry or you can buy it yourself... here.

New shop sample - Line Dried

Line Dried,designed by Sue Stratford

Line Dried is a top down DK weight cardigan.  We've knitted ours in the fabulous Socks Yeah! DK.

Yes it is called a sock yarn - 75% wool and 25% nylon - but it's perfect for so much more than socks.

It's woolly but soft and the colours are rich whether subtle or vibrant.  It has great stitch definition and it washes well.

It's as fabulous as the 4ply version, just thicker and we have 14 shades in the shop.

Socks Yeah! DK

So... What's a top down cardigan?

You start at  the neckline and work your way down, increasing to make the top of the arms.  Once you have enough stitches for your sleeves, you separate them from the body and continue knitting down.  You put your sleeve stitches back on the needles, but this time you are knitting in the round.  You pick up stitches from the button band and knit then on too.

The pattern is available to buy on Ravelry (or in the shop through Ravelry).   And it's available as a mini version too.

Want more photos of work in progress top down cardigans?  Check out POP, a little baby cardigan we have in the shop.

And remember Socks Yeah DK is perfect for socks... And we've got copies of Rachel Coopey's brand new book in the shop too...

New shop sample - Hensting

From Rowan Magazine 64 - Hensting is a longer length jumper knitted in Rowan Alpaca Classic, a blend of alpaca and cotton.

The magazine features 14 patterns from Alpaca Classic and lots more patterns in a range of Rowan yarns. 

You can see them here on Ravelry.

We've got the magazine and the yarn in the shop.

And a beautiful shawl too, which uses just 3 balls...

2018 Review - the shop samples!

We've got lots of samples in the shop to show off the yarn and patterns...

Here are a few we added in 2018...

Row 1: Neon stripe sock in Socks Yeah 4ply. Merrie Dancers Toorie in Jamiesons Spindrift and Baby sweater in Peter Pan Baby Merino.

Row 2: Porteau Mitts in local yarn Saorsa from Di Gilpin/Claddach Farm. Cedar Creek Hat in Zwartbles from Tartan Ark in the Borders. Anchors Away in Stylecraft Aran.

Row 3: Tool Box Cowl in Titus Pick in Mix. Cotton Eyelet Shawl in Zauberball Cotton. Strokkur in Lettlopi.

Row 1: a Super Chunky ribbed hat using Rico Super Super Chunky and faux fur pom pom free pattern in the shop. Self Care Cowl in West Yorkshire Spinners Re:treat. Alpaca Shawl in Rowan Alpaca Classic, free pattern in the shop!

Row 2: KISS Shawl in Vivacious 4ply.  Garter Stripe shawl in Rico Merino plus Tweed DK, free pattern in shop. Frankensock using mini balls of Opal 4ply Sock yarn.

Row 3: Bassenfell Shawl in Cumbria Fingering.  Chevre in Debbie Bliss Falkland Merino Aran.  Carbeth Cardigan in Rowan Felted Tweed DK.

Row 1: Cornwallis in Rowan Summerlite DK. Simple DK shawl in Rico Melange DK. Super Chunky Cable Scarf in Rico Melange Big

Row 2: Christmas Socks in West Yorkshire Spinners Fairylight Sock Yarn. Nightshift in West Yorkshire Spinners Croft. Swerve Hat in local Fliskmillan Aran, free pattern in shop.

Nightshift wrap in the shop!

New shop sample in West Yorkshire Spinners Croft yarn.

This aran thickness yarn comes in Tweed (multi coloured tweedy effect) and Colours (a solid colour).

It's 100% shetland wool. You can see the shades here and here!

The pattern is Nightshift by Andrea Mowry and you can buy it on Ravelry (and in the shop through Ravelry).

It's a large triangle shaped shawl - given the heavyweight yarn and the slip stitch effect this is a chunky shawl but with lots of drape.

You can see our notes on our Ravelry project page - including yarn usage and colour combos.  The pattern is a great stash buster and Andrea provides a 'recipe' for you to make up your own colour combos.