Tag: KnitIQ

So 2021 begins……

And I really wish you and yours a happy and above all healthy one.

This picture was taken in Dartmouth at the beginning of December, before we were once again plunged ( too late in my opinion) into a full lockdown.

The sweater in the pic is my newly finished Nili sweater by Christina Danaee. The yarn is German Town by Kelbourne Woolens, a totally new yarn to me. Also and unusually for me I bought this as a kit from Fig Tree Yarns based in Jersey. I’d fallen for the sweater as designed and Fig Tree are fabulous for US yarns if you are in the UK especially. It was an enjoyable quick knit ( and if you are new to colourwork ideal as you only knit a round in one colour at a time). Also shown is the Beret no 1 from My Favourite Things Knitwear. I have knitted so many of her patterns and they are always a joy to both knit and wear. Two new yarns were combined and worked beautifully. Yarntelier which is a Cashmere Lace from Yorkshire and Biches & Buches lè petit silk mohair. I’ve barely taken this off my head since completing it.

We were hugely fortunate in booking the most beautiful pink thatched cottage in a tiny village near Dartmouth, South Devon. As this is the general area we are hoping to move to this year (all planets aligning), it was wonderful to be here and back by the sea. Lily dog absolutely loved it and the week consisted of long walks, cooking lovely slow meals and yarn related goodness (me) catching up on reading ( himself) plus singeing fur in front of the fire ( hound).

Our hideaway cottage.
This is another My Favourite Things Sweater too – Sweater no 3. Worked in Erika Knights Wool Local knitted double plus a strand of Bear in Sheeps Clothing Bear Fluff.

Socks were the order of the day for my holiday project. Those of you that know me appreciate I have a very debilitating condition, that of second sock (& glove) itis. This means I generally have one sock, glove , mitt lying around forlornly awaiting a mate. Therefore what did I decide to do with these socks? – make them as over the knee boot socks knitted on 1.5mm & 2mm pins. What an utterly wonderful idea! Now (& you may have guessed this), I’ve finished one 😁. Now in my defence I love it and the second is due to be cast on. I have however had to rest my fingers with a slip n slide knit as they are not behaving ( darn you EDS). I also treated myself to the tiny circular set from Chiagoo for socks and gloves which are wonderful.

One sock down…….. Yarn is Zebra from Life in The Long Grass with some Grey Sheep Hampshire 4ply for the contrast.

Before Christmas I decided to knit my mum a cardigan to wear as a hug as we are not able to see her. This was the result and she loves it.

A hug in a cardigan.
The pattern and yarn are from the lovely Trine, CaMaRose. The pattern is Dreamy and the yarn Snefnug which translates to snowflake. I bought both from Loop in London.

Now the beginning of this year is to be spent on completing some of my ever present WIP’s. One of these will be the very long socks! Plus I’m currently really enjoying one of the supremely talented Di Gilpins patterns. Oak. This is a very sculpted sweater which was inspired by a Stag appearing from the forest. There is a lot of cable and then the back has further cable latticed into it after completion to form a 3D peplum. I’m knitting this in her beautiful and incredibly soft Scottish lambswool.

A taster to show you the stunning yarn for Oak.
The sweater behind is one I’ve finally finished for himself which just awaits suede elbow patches. I’ll show you both when fully complete.

My other WIP which was my New Year Cast on is a cardigan. I’ve cast this on to rest my hands as it is knitted on 4mm needles. It is the Winter Whispers cardigan from Loop. A crew neck, semi fitted cardigan with a twisted cable yoke. I’m knitting this is some gorgeous Bear Rustic DK from my stash. The colourway is Roxanne. However the amount of yarn I have means I’m knitting a size down (🙈), time to work off the cheese & mince pies. 😁

Nails to match project. 😁

Now I’ve also increased my store of knitiq’s blocking mats. These now come in a choice of cases. Either the cream linen or the retro pattern. I love both (I do write for knit iq but have no affiliated sales with them so opinions are always true).

The new patterned case from knit iq. This can be bought separately from the mats too.

I’ll finish off with a little Christmas & knitty montage of some of my favourite treats.

Stay well everyone and will chat soon.

Lots of love Magpie 😘

A most beautiful leather 03 bag bought from Hide & Hammer. Beyul yak yarn from Kettle Yarn co ready for a first knit from Winters Amirisu magazine. Must haves from Tribes Yarn plus a gifted bag from Milli. 🤗
The Starry Night candle is from Chase and Wonder and the lovely mini tree display Bloom and Wild.
Finally the knitty tree decoration is from Liberty.
I’m now on a no spend January! 🤣

Hello Autumn. 🍁🍂

So here in Blighty the nights are drawing in, in fact 20:00 hrs last night found himself watering the plants by torchlight. Helpfully assisted by the Lily hound.

The Lily Hound

Now I don’t imagine I’m in the minority here in liking sweater weather, woodland / coastal walks and a roaring fire. Quite aside from the knitty element my autoimmune conditions do not like the heat and really make their displeasure known. I am therefore delighted to have finished my autumn version of Ghosthorses which I used Spincycle’s dyed in the wool in Stay Out of the Forest. I love everything about this.

Ghosthorses pattern from Boyland Knitworks.

I’ve also almost finished my first memory piece which is Andrea Mowry’s Rose Cardigan. I’ve knitted this in memory of my close friend Jacqui who died in December. She loved roses so it seemed a fitting piece. Throughout the project I remembered the fun and not so fun times we had shared in over thirty years of friendship. She and her husband John were like honorary siblings and I do miss them ( John died suddenly a few months before Jacqui). Regular readers will know this is how Lily came to live with us and now happily rules the Magpie roost. I used yarn from the lovely Bernie Bear ( A Bear in Sheeps Clothing ). The colours used made up the Cognac colourway. I’ve just finished the edging so need to attach and then give it a final block.

Rose Cardigan in Cognac colourway ( awaiting edging ).

Now as usual I’ve far far to many things on the go, let alone those projects I’m waiting to start on. The three that I’m hoping to finish over the next few weeks are The Nili Sweater by Xtinawithwolves. This is knitted in Germantown from Kelbourne Woolens. A totally new yarn for me and a departure from my usual UK fine yarns as it is a US worsted. I’m very impressed so far. I’m only a few rows in but you can see the design developing.

Nili Sweater.

My second project is for Mr Magpie. He said he would like a fine knit merino, not a fussy design to replace a rather lovely one than has a few pesky moth nips now. The So Basic Sweater from Max the Knitter fits the brief perfectly. I’m using a really nice 4 ply from Fyberspates in Bronze and Silver. It must be love as the blooming thing is on 3.5mm pins.

So Basic Sweater – Max the Knitter.

Lastly in this current phase are the Lucky Sunflower Mitts from Charlotte Stone ( Stoneknits). These are great trans – seasonal mitts for autumn and I’m using stash yarn from John Arbon for the mc and contrast in the form of Mad Tosh’s Unicorn Tails.

Lucky Sunflower 🌻

Finally you may remember I said I was writing a few bits for KnitIQ- those of my favourite blocks. This is a post I wrote last month on my thoughts on knitting & fast fashion. If you have chance to read it I’d love to hear your thoughts. https://knitiq.com/blogs/articles/is-knitting-becoming-fast-fashion

Now I’m off to continue to try and bring some order to my post lockdown life, I have no idea where all this yarn has come from……

Until next time stay safe & crafty.

Love

Magpie. 😘