Sometimes knitting seems pretty simple. After all, there are just two stitches (with many variations) and it’s all about making loops with string and sticks. But it amazes me how many different looks you can come up with using those ingredients. Endless possibilities. One of the in-store classes we had this semester was Double Knitting, taught by Cricket (whose awesome felted bag pattern was published in Interweave Knits last fall.) Here are some of the scarves in-progress from the class participants. Aren’t they beautiful? Sometime I’m going to need to try double knitting. The scarves have the pattern on both sides and are thick and warm.

When is the last time you tried something new with your knitting? I have a lot still to learn. Right now, I’m working on my first true beaded shawl. It is easier than I thought it would be, but it does slow down my knitting a bit. This is Storm Warning, done in Hand Maiden Casbah with Miyuki Beads. The skein of Casbah has a little less yardage than the pattern calls for, but there are directions on weighing your yarn and knitting to the middle with the first half. I like patterns like that that let you make good use of all yardage. These kinds of patterns are also great for handspun, where you’re not sure exactly how many yards you have, but you sure want to use every inch of it. Speaking of beading, have you seen the Celestarium pattern? The beads are positioned to replicate the view of the night sky from the North Pole. Amazing.

So – are you wanting to learn anything new or try new techniques? What’s on your list?

Sheri hopingyouhaveagreatweekend!

Happy Monday, everyone. We have re-stocks of two of my favorite yarns up tonight, and I know you like them, too! First up is Mountain Colors. I knit my second-ever pair of socks out of Mountain Colors and they were at the top of my list to carry here at The Loopy Ewe. (We had to wait a year to get them, but it was totally worth it.) We have added in many beautiful colors of Crazyfoot tonight. Crazyfoot is 90% Superwash Merino and 10% Nylon. It has a great bouncy twist to it, which makes patterns pop (and makes socks, cowls, hats and mitts very comfortable to wear.) It would also be beautiful in shawls. I used Crazyfoot (in a Shells pattern) to make this:

And I used two colors of Crazyfoot and a Cascade Heritage Sock Solid to make this Thin Ice Shawl for Camp Loopy last summer.

The theory behind the way I knit this shawl is to pick a multi-color yarn for the middle section, and then two different matching semi-solids – one for the top and one for the bottom. Mountain Colors has some really pretty multi-colors to choose from. (I know a lot of you already know this because I’ve mentioned it before and we get lots of calls, but remember that you’re always welcome to call in for color consultations if you need us to help you pick a second or third color for something. Roberta walks around the shop with headphones on, just so she can talk to you on the phone but still have both hands free to pick up yarn and try different color combinations!)

The other line we re-stocked tonight is Shalimar Breathless. I just love knitting with this yarn. At 75% Superwash Merino, 15% Cashmere and 10% Silk, it’s a dream to work with and wear. I used Shalimar for one of the Color Affection shawls I made last summer:

As well as one of the Derecho Shawls I made.

Breathless is usually dyed up as a semi-solid, so it’s perfect for these multi-color shawls where you get to pick colors to go together, as well as great for one-color shawls.

We also have a new line of project and accessory bags up for you tonight. I came across Blue Q bags in January and have been using one of the Handy Tote bags as a project bag ever since. (Shown here in Happy Food Town.) The illustrations are fun and the laminated, recycled material they use is durable and easy to keep clean. This Handy Tote size is great for sock/hat/cowl/gloves/shawl projects. The Shoulder Totes are great for larger projects (sweaters, vests, blankets), and the small and large zippered pouches all work well for knitting accessories, needles, and other gadgets.

Enjoy the new things, and we’ll get your orders packed up and shipped out asap, as always!

Sheri workingonascarfwithbeads,havinglotsoffun!

I had a lot of fun making this new cowl. I am finding myself wearing infinity cowls, more and more. I like them better than scarves, because you don’t risk having them drift off while you’re out and about running errands. Some infinity cowls use a lacey pattern, which makes the cowl perfect for wearing inside or out, long or short. This Loopy Cakes Cowl is a little smaller and knits up denser, keeping your neck warm when you’re out. The pattern is easy and the yarn (from our Loopy Ewe Solid Series) keeps it nice and stretchy. I used one Loopy Cakes set and had a bit of each color left over.

Loopy Cakes Cowl

Yarn: 1 Loopy Cakes Kit (I used Chocolate and Roses, but you can make this out of any of the Loopy Cake combinations.)
Needles: 32″ US #5 (3.75 mm)
Gauge: 26 st/4″ in Linen Stitch

Figure out the color sequence you’d like to use with your 6 colors.

With your first color, cast on 323 stitches, using a stretchy cast on. (My new favorite is the German Cast On. Here’s one video on how to do it.)

Add a marker to indicate the beginning, and join in the round being careful not to twist.

Knit 8 rows in the Linen Stitch pattern with your first color. Change to second color and knit 8 rows with second color in the same pattern.

Continue knitting 8 rows of Linen Stitch with each subsequent color.

When you have gone through all 6 colors once, start over with the first color and work through this same pattern again with each of your colors, for a total of 12 stripes (2 stripes of each color).

Cast off with a loose bind off.

Linen Stitch Pattern
Row 1: K 1, Sl1 with yarn forward
Row s: Sl1 with yarn forward, K1

(You’ll be slipping as if to purl.)

Approx. finished size: 6″ wide, 50″ around.

Be sure to share photos if you make one for yourself. I think it would be beautiful in several different sets. This pattern also works well for leftover yarn bits worked in a mish mash of colors instead of the stripes.

Sheri picturesofourbackyardaftertheweekendsnow.
GoodthingIhaveawarmcowltowear.

What am I up to today? Oh, just playing with Madelinetosh Merino Light and Beads:

SteamAge (with 6-1024), Wilted Rose (with 6-158), and Fig (with 6-135S),

Georgia O’Keefe (with 6-147), Briar (with 6-134FR) and Stovepipe (with 6-135),

and Fragrant (with 6-208), Mineral (with 6-412R), and Volga (with 6-1827).

And contemplating beaded shawl and scarf patterns like: My Hope, Oaken Dreams, Stellanti, Aase’s Shawl, Triptych Shawl, Undulating Waves Scarf, Pacific Shawl, Into the Woods Scarf, Leafwise, and Bois.

What have you been doing today?

Sheri havingfunwithbeadscan’twaittousethem

We got into a discussion about what to make with our Loopy Cakes, over on the Loopy Groupie board on Ravelry. (Are you on Rav? Join us over there and hop into the various discussions that go on on the Loopy Groupies board!) I started this Linen Stitch Infinity Cowl last weekend, and am zipping right along on it. The nice thing about the Linen Stitch is that you only knit every other stitch (slipping the ones in between), so it really does knit up quickly. I’m using the Chocolate and Roses Loopy Cakes set. I think the back side of the cowl is just as interesting as the front side. And since I’m knitting in the round, it’s all knitting and slipping – no purling involved.

I cast on 323 stitches using a knitted cast on, and then joined in the round. (Forgot to mention size 5 (3.75 mm) 32″ needles!) The stitch pattern is easy:

Round 1: *K1, Sl. 1 with yarn in front* repeat around, ending with K1

Round 2: *Sl. 1 with yarn in front, K1* repeat around, ending with Sl. 1

I’m doing 8 rows per color and will have enough yarn to do a second set of stripes just like the first. I just haven’t decided yet if that will make the cowl too wide. It looks like that will make it 10″ wide and I plan to wear it looped twice around my neck. Do you think that will be too wide? While Linen Stitch doesn’t have a lot of give, the yarn does, so the knitted fabric feels soft and drapey so far. I’m also anxious to see if I should have cast on more stitches and made it longer. I’ll let you know when it’s all done. (In the meantime, knit at your own risk if you decide to try this pattern.)

Next, I’d like to use The Abbey set to make colorblock mitts, similar to these. (Although I want a thumb and perhaps half fingers as well, so it will be different). Other ideas shared by people on Rav for the Loopy Cakes include: Doctor Who Scarf, Missoni Inspired Scarf (oh, that scarf would be fun to knit), Barn Raising Quilt, Gradient, Petoncle, Leap, and Zig and Zag.

I’d like to have stacks of each set on dowels, sitting on a shelf in my knitting area. What fun inspiration that would be. We’ve always meant for the Loopy Cakes to be kind of a painter’s palette of color and fun for you to choose from, as you need solids for toes and heels on your socks, edging on your shawls, bits of colorwork in hats, scarves and gloves, etc. (You know, quilters get to have fun collecting Fat Quarters. We wanted to have the same kind of fun with yarn cakes.) Of course it’s also fun to get a pack and knit a whole item from the set, as I’m doing with the cowl. We have more Loopy Cake sets planned, but feel free to continue to share your ideas with us. We always love hearing from you!

Sheri whothinkssomeoneneedstoknitababysweaterorblanketwiththatbabyset

We’ve carried Heichi for quite awhile, but I hadn’t made anything out of it yet. That will change. We received several garments from Shibui for an in-store trunk show, and it’s just beautiful knit up. Heichi is a worsted weight yarn that is 100% silk and comes 105 yards to the skein. All of these patterns are in the book Heichi, by Shibui.

Trace (the tank) using 6-8 skeins of the color Fountain, and Ripple (the dark blue blanket) using 8 skeins of the color Canal.

Echo (the long sleeve cardi) using 4-6 skeins of the color Steel and 4-6 skeins of the color Tar, and Reflection (the short sleeved sweater) using 6-9 skeins of the color Column.

Element (the tank dress/tunic) using 6-9 skeins of the color Lichen.

Shadow (the vest) using 10-15 skeins of the color Tar.

Dusk (the long sleeved sweater) using 9-14 skeins in the color Steel.

Dusk is the one I have my eye on, although I also like Reflection a lot, too. But you know my history with sweater knitting. I seem to be unable to finish many. At all. I need to change that. Maybe a new pattern (Dusk) and yarn (need to decide which color) would help? If I’m going to have to walk in the door at Loopy every morning and see those beautiful knits for a few weeks, I’m going to have to jump in and knit one. Which is your favorite?

Sheri likingthemoreneutralcolors,Ithink