After feeling a little out of control last month this month has lots of finished projects!
First up... a pair of socks (a gift). These are knitted in Opal 25 Years Of, a 4ply sock yarn.
This is shade is out of stock but there are others available.
You can see the full Opal sock yarn range here.
I don't always match the pair of socks but sometimes it's nice to do. These came out almost perfectly matched. To get them to match you have to pay attention to where on the colour sequence you cast on and then repeat that for the second sock.
I use a long tail cast on for my top down socks and if I start the cast on where the colour changes I can get a good match. This will give you a two coloured edge. For this pair I pulled out the yarn for one full colour and then started the cast on at the half way point. Giving a one colour edge.
The next finished project is Fraser. A very cute (in a grown up way) baby jumper designed by Dani Sunshine.
Fraser by Dani Sunshine on Ravelry
Fraser is knitted seamlessly and uses a broken rib pattern to create a lot of squishy texture.
I used Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino in a deep denim blue (shade 112).
I was slightly concerned at my wonky stitches (I have a loose purl stitch) but I soaked it in Eucalan, smoothed it out and left it to dry flat. No more wonky stitches!
Designer Elizabeth Smith recently blogged about blocking. You can see lots of her before and after blocking photos here.
I also finished two projects in our 10th Birthday yarn.
Inspired by our shop wallpaper, Love Your Wallpaper is hand dyed by My Mama Knits.
I knitted a one hank shawl and a sock to show how the colours work.
Long term Woolly Brewers will recognise Antarktis from a previous shop sample. Designed by Janina Kallio it features garter stitch and eyelets to make a large asymmetrical shawl.
You can read more about the shawl in our Gallery.
Antarktis on Ravelry or on Woolenberry.
A simple sock, My Favourite Vanilla Sock on Ravelry
I finished a big wrap in Rico Melange Chunky for the shop.
Inspired by a recent delivery of Melange Chunky this is a big shawl with lots of interest. It uses a mixture of garter stitch, stocking stitch, yarn overs and dropped yarn overs. All are simple to work but it creates a lot of variety and textures.
Midsommar Shawl by Dr. Ericka and is free on Ravelry.
It's also so big! You can really bundle up in it.
Forever and Ever was an impulse cast on in September and I've really not done much since!
Designed from Joji Locatelli. The pattern is a double loop cowl with big cables up the side and a lace centre panel. Joji has used two yarns held together one of which is a mohair, this gives a light DK thickness and a delicate halo.
I'm using one strand of Rowan Alpaca Classic DK in shade 110 Foliage Green. Alpaca Classic is my go to yarn when a lightweight DK halo is required.
Forever and Ever is on Ravelry and Joji's website.
Another project for the shop is Myssoni by Susan Ashcroft.
I'm using the amazing Crazy Zauberball in shade 1660. Self striping yarns look great in 'feather and fan' type stitch patterns. And in a 4ply yarn it has a delicate feel.
Myssoni is an asymmetrical triangle shape and I'm hoping for a decent size shawl/scarf from one ball. This shawl will definitely benefit from a good stretch when blocking to open up the lace.
You can buy the Myssoni pattern on Ravelry.
One impulse cast on that was started and finished in a weekend is Soft Hearted Hat by Maddie Harvey.
This hat was inspired by Jacqueline's version that she brought into the shop. Knitted in Jamieson's of Shetland Spindrift 4ply, Jacqueline used shades of grey with a grey faux fur pom pom.
My version for the shop uses Mermaid, Granite and Pumpkin for the woolly pom pom.
Loved knitting this. Lots of fun and a great demonstration of how slip stitches can be used to create colour work effects. You only need one ball each of Jamieson's Spindrift in two colours.
An additional ball is needed if you are doing a pom pom (although you may be able to get a mixed colour pom pom if you use the leftovers).
It's also a really nice fit! Just enough slouch. You can see our Soft Hearted Hat in the Pittenweem shop.
And finally... I've finally cast on the front of the Sami jumper.
Sami first appeared in April's WiPs! I am a very slow garment knitter 😆
Sami is from Life in Colour by Chloe Birch. I am using WYS ColourLab DK in grey (shade 137) and a self striping one in purples, orange and yellows (shade 914).
I think that's it!
