Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and every good wish for 2021
What’s going on at Woolly?
Those of you who receive our email newsletter may know that I was unwell between Christmas and the New Year with suspected Norovirus. We won’t discuss it, you know what it is and we can just leave that in the past.
I’m back to full health and catching up with correspondence, working on some patterns and filled with hope for the coming year.
What’s on my needles/hooks?
I didn’t knit or crochet a single thing while I was unwell and it took me until the middle of January to really get back into the swing of things.
I finished another Ribbed for MY Pleasure Hat, to test the pattern again before sending it to the Tech Editor and having it proof read. The brim uses a provisional cast on and is folded inside the hat and worked together with the live stitches for a double thick brim. Links to how to do this will be included in the pattern.
Ribbed for MY Pleasure Hat knitted with James C Brett Woodlander in colourway L9 muted blues, sand and beach colours with cream and light browns.
Another hat was finished, knitted in a couple of evenings using Rowan Yarn Company Cashsoft Aran in light blue, it’s another Bay6 design featuring simple knits, purls and easy decreases to shape the crown and give it that quilted appearance.
I’m stuck for a name, I had thought A Girl’s Best Friend (for the diamonds). But maybe I should continue the theme and go with Quilted for MY Pleasure? What do you think?
Bay6 Quilted hat using Aran weight yarn in light blue.
It’s a quick knit and I enjoyed the stranded colourwork. I also found this amazing pompom for the top.
The Big Crush Hat, shown in japonica pink with blue colourwork band.
I am still working on Alameda by Clarice Gomes, it’s a lovely pattern and I really enjoyed it. The shawl will be fabulous and it’s a really enjoyable knit.
I had the urge to knit socks – what is wrong with me?
I started with the James C Brett Woodlander and used leftovers of the L9 colourway to knit some basic dk weight vanilla socks, top-cuff-cown and really enjoyed knitting them.
Basic Vanilla socks in dk yarn in beachy colours
I then cast on another pair, my friends think I’ve been replaced by an alien, but I am enjoying them. Another basic vanilla pair but using some West Yorkshire Spinners Aire Valley DK in a blue/teal colour, gifted by a good friend. Perfect for socks.
Basic socks knitted in Teal yarn, Aire Valley DK by West Yorkshire Spinners
What’s next?
Well, I cast on some more socks, using Stylecraft Jeanie Aran in Denim Blue, the pattern is Ultimate Answer Socks by Mary E Rose Designs and I am loving them. Top-cuff-down and an easy knit, only one cable crossing per repeat, basic knits and purls and simple decreases/increases. Easy, well explained and I love them.
Today on the blog I’m showing Indie Design Gift Along 2020 Fave Sock Patterns. I’ll try and include a range of knit and crochet, knit first, crochet fans scroll down a bit or click this link to jump straight to the crochet goodness.
Indie Design Gift Along 2020 Fave Sock Patterns – Knit Socks
Today’s round up of Indie Design Gift Along 2020 a Crochet Christmas, includes tree ornaments, gifts, cloths, table centres, coasters, amigurumi and so much to look at.
Indie Design Gift Along 2020 A Crochet Christmas – Tree decorations and ornaments
The called it “Not a Christmas” because Christmas is not here right now, and also because not everyone celebrates it. But nice crochet decorations will add a festive touch to every home. And “mystery” means you will not know what will be coming next week. The CAL will run for 4 weeks with a new pattern coming out every Friday. So in total we will make four decorations (or presents).
The 2nd Day of the 12 days of Christmas – 2019 Yarnish Christmas CAL. Available as an individual purchase or as part of the 12 pattern ebook collection
These are small, compact trees and as such, details make the difference. While initially conceived of as ornaments for light trees, they may serve as bookmarks, appliqués or embellishments, and be small toys if two are made sewn together and stuffed lightly.
The Christmas 2017 Mandala was originally published as a CAL over the Christmas season 2017 but would make a lovely centre piece for your holiday table.
Indie Design Gift Along 2020 Fave Headband Patterns
Today on the blog I’m showing Indie Design Gift Along 2020 Fave Headband Patterns. I’ll try and include a range of knit and crochet, knit first, crochet fans scroll down a bit or click this link to jump straight to the crochet goodness.
Indie Design Gift Along 2020 Fave Headband Patterns – Knit Headbands
Knitted in sport weight yarn, this wave patterned headband is sizes from baby/toddler to adults. Make it in several colours or neutrals to match your outfits.
Knitted with DK Yarn and featuring a beautiful cable pattern with a garter border, this will be a lovely gift knit to make for a teen in their favourite colour.
Knitted with fingering weight yarn, this would be an ideal slow and relaxing project rather than a quick gift, but what a wonderful way to use up speckled or highly patterned yarns in colours you love.
This headband is designed for long-haired ponytail wearers. Now as well as having the option of ponytail over or ponytail under, you can choose ponytail through!
Crocheted in a bulky yarn and a very quick project, I love the bobble details and the feature button. A great stashbuster, last minute gift and fun for teens.
Crocheted with a strand of fingering/4ply and dk weight held together, to give an interesting marl effect, or even add a bit of sparkle for some unexpected bling.
One skein of Lion Brand Scarfie makes this crocheted cowl and headband set! Both pieces are made using hdc through back-loop-only for thickness with drape – soft, warm, cozy and quick to crochet.
The headband is folded under at top and bottom edges for extra warmth and to allow insertion of elastic bands for a guaranteed fit even after many wearings.
Both items can be made for smaller sizes to fit a child – instructions are easily adapted to the size you wish.
This pattern was designed to form functional and stylish. The textured cluster stitches provide depth and extra warmth, while the relatively simple construction make it beginner friendly. Sized toddler to adult.
This headband is the perfect accessory to help keep your hair out of your eyes while you’re on a summer adventure! It’s size adjustable, so it will work for all ages
Captivating Cathedral Cowl Pattern Released, don’t miss it
The Cathedral Cowl Pattern Released today has a 15% discount with the code Cathedral, but if you’re a newsletter subscriber, you’ll get an exclusive code for 30% off the cowl and the matching hat. For 15% off right now, use code Cathedral
The gothic arch cables give an architectural twist to a simple accessory, available in two widths but with instructions on how to make wider or narrower, the Cathedral cowl is a great unisex garment. Make it in a neutral colour for men and go with your Wow colours for ladies.
The cowl is knitted in the round and worked bottom up, the cables are easy to follow and every other row is just knit the knits, purl the purls, very easy. The yarn I used is available in our store and is machine washable on a wool wash.
Launch offer 15% off the Cathedral Cowl pattern with code Cathedral, offer ends 16th November at midnight GMT.
Newsletter subscribers will get a code for 30% off the hat and the cowl in an email later today with a reminder a couple of days later, so you don’t miss the code, you can sign up here
About this design – I wanted to make a cabled Cowl and was inspired by the gothic arches of cathedrals used in the design of my Cathedral Cables Hat. The upper and lower borders are knitted in a simple rib pattern.
Measurements Size based on 5mm/US8 needles for body of cowl Slimmer Cowl Size 1 Wider Cowl Size 2 Circumference unblocked, it will stretch when worn and during blocking for wool yarns. 22 inch/56cm (33 inch/84cm ) circumference Height of cowl 9 inches / 22.5 cm, 9 inches / 22.5 cm Yardage – 210-340 yds
Written instructions The cowl is worked in the round using either circular needles or double pointed needles (dpns) and worked bottom up. Instructions are charted and written line by line.
Cathedral Cowl Pattern Gallery
Cathedral Cowl, top cowl in light purple yarn, bottom cowl knitted with stone coloured aran yarn
Cathedral Cowl knitted in Stylecraft Special Aran with wool in the Hollyhock colourway
Cathedral Cowl knitted in Stylecraft Special Aran on top, underneath is the Blue Faced Leicester Aran version using the stone colourway
Cathedral Cowl pattern, shows one light purple cowl and one stone coloured cowl arranged on teal washed planks.
Enchanting Evergreen Cowl Pattern Released, don’t miss it
Enchanting Evergreen Cowl Pattern Released, don’t miss the launch discount which runs out at midnight on 30th October. You can get 25% off the pattern and also the matching hat with code evergreen
The diamond cable pattern features cables, a texture pattern in the centre of the diamonds and a reverse stocking stitch background to make the cables pop. It matches our Evergreen Hat pattern. It’s a quick knit worked in the round from the bottom up.
A note on sizing: The cable pattern itself is VERY stretchy, as is the ribbing with this yarn. It will easily fit between a 17 inch neck circumference and up to a 23 inches, you can add pattern repeats to make the cowl wider and I have included instructions for that. The smallest size will be a neat fit on my Dad who has a 25 inch head circumference but the 2nd or 3rd sizes worked very well on him.
Tension/Gauge: Lightly Stretched Ribbing: 20sts x 32 rows = 4in/10cm sq Ribbing Unstretched: 32 sts x 32 rows = 4in/10cm sq Body of Cowl using larger needles in cable pattern unstretched: 16sts x 27 rows = 2.25in x 4in/5.5cm x 10cm 20st x 28 rows using 4mm needles and dk yarn in stocking stitch
Measurements Size 1 18-22 inches, 46-59cm Size 2 22-26 inches, 56-66cm Size 3 26-30 inches, 56-76 Body Circumference Unstretched 18 inches/43cm 22.5 inches/57cm 27 inches/68.5cm Rib Circumference Unstretched 17.5 inches/33cm 22 inches/56cm 26.5 inches/67cm Height of cowl 11 inches/28cm or 7 inches/18cm for shorter cowl for all sizes
Test Knitters Wanted – Evergreen Cowl pattern on a teal wash plank background
Evergreen Cowl pattern on a teal wash plank background
Evergreen Cowl Cast on with Stylecraft Highland Heathers in the Gorse colourway, the cowl has intricate diamond pattern cables with textured centres.
