I’m so excited to share with you the news that my Emerald Top is finished and ready to wear. I completed the second sleeve today and then knitted the button band. I wove in the ends and now it’s done, finished, completed and I cannot wait to wear it.
I’m really pleased with the modifications I made for wider sleeves, so comfortable, just over elbow length which I love. The cotton will wash and wear brilliantly. It’s a top I’ll be able to enjoy wearing every summer.
I’m knitting a combination of the 4th and 5th sizes of the Emerald Top, using some Sirdar DK in Terracotta. The colour is fabulous, a rich Autumnal (Fall) shade which I love.
I’ve added some additional increases to the lower body to get the ease I want at the hips. I’ll also be knitting wider sleeves to fit my upper arms comfortably.
I still need to duplicate stitch the missing garter rows to the left front and the back, oops, my bad! But that’ll be fine. It’ll drive me nuts if I don’t do it, but it’s tempting to keep it as a talking point.
I’m knitting Emerald by Isabell Kraemer. It is such a pretty summery top and I’ve been meaning to knit this one for absolute ages. I chose some Sirdar Cotton DK in Terracotta, a rich, burnt red which suits my Autumn colouring.
Sizing and Fit
I chose the large size, with no ease at the bust, but as the sleeves are knitted top down I made the armhole to the depth I wanted and will knit wider sleeves to cover my meaty upper arms.
The lower part of the body (it’s worked top down) will be in the XL size to allow ease at my hips.
Mistakes and fixing
I made a mistake on the left front (as worn) and the back. Oops, I missed a garter ridge before the pretty pattern on the bodice. I’ll duplicate stitch it later, shouldn’t be too difficult and you’re not going to tell anyone, right?
I haven’t found buttons for the front placket as yet, but if I can’t find one, I may make some dorset buttons to match with the same yarn.
World Wide Knit In Public Day is on Saturday 12th June 2021
I’m excited for World Wide Knit In Public Day 2021 which is this Saturday, 12th June. What have you got planned? I’m hoping it’ll be sunny here as I’ll be out front knitting most of the day. If you crochet, feel free to join in, it helps promote both crafts and gets people talking.
What is World Wide Knit In Public Day?
World Wide Knit In Public Day started in 2005 by Danielle Landes and was an opportunity for knitters across the globe to meet, celebrate their craft and enjoy some social interaction in public.
Knitting is often a solitary craft and during the pandemic many of us has missed our regular knitting groups. Zoom has helped with some and also for those living in isolated areas.
If it is safe for you to do so, within social distancing guidelines for your country, please do join in and celebrate #wwkipday, maybe even host a meeting yourself? You can partner with cafe’s, pubs, outdoor venues and post on social media so knitters can find you and join in.
Cowlabunga 2021 is a 6 week long KAL/CAL (Knit along or crochet along) of cowls hosted by Loraine from Woolly Madly Deeply and myself. All our cowl patterns are eligible to be entered.
We had such fun with our cowl knitting and crocheting last year, didn’t we? It was initially kicked off to coincide with the release of Loraine’s pattern Find My Way cowl. We had some amazing entries and some worthy winners of the prizes.
From Sunday 4th April 2021 at 15:30 UK time through Sunday 18th April 2021 at 23:59pm we will be discounting all the cowl patterns we have available by 25% using the unique code Cowlabunga2021. The KAL itself will then continue to run until Sunday 2nd May 2021 at 16:00 UK time.
We will have a cast on party live in our Facebook group on the Sunday afternoon. You will be able to join us in the chat to tell us which patterns you have chosen and which yarns you will be using. We love to see your WIPs and FOs so don’t forget to post in the FB or Ravelry groups with pictures. And tag us when you are posting on social media!
Is there a Cowlabunga Discount?
There most certainly is! This year we will be using the discount code cowlabunga2021 and you can use it as many times as you want! Just put the patterns you want into your Ravelry shopping cart, enter and apply the code between Sunday 4th April 2021 at 15:30 UK time through Sunday 18th April 2021 at 23:59 pm and 25% will be taken off the price. You will be able to buy more than one pattern but if you choose to buy from both of us you will have to check each shop out separately.
What Prizes Can I win?
This year we will be offering pattern codes and e-books as prizes. Last year I don’t think we realised how much the Covid pandemic was going to affect life, the post included! And I must admit that I was absolutely terrible at getting to the post office to send off my physical prizes. So this year we have decided to keep everything digital. Both Loraine and I will be offering codes for our single self published patterns and some e-books of our collections.
Show Me Some Eligible Patterns!
Both Loraine and I have released new cowl patterns since last year, so even if you entered before there will be something new to tempt you. However, if you already own one of our cowl patterns you could make it again. Test knits are also eligible if the pattern releases before the event finishes on Sunday 2nd May 2021 23:59. As long as you don’t cast on before 4th April 15:30 you can enter your project for a prize!
You will find a bundle of all our eligible patterns on Ravelry – Cowlabunga Cowls
Wheatsheaf Poncho is out now, check out our Test Knitter’s projects
I was late released the Wheatsheaf Poncho Pattern but it was finally released the day before my birthday. I am so grateful, as always, to the amazing Test Knitters who ask questions, knit beautiful items and help to make the pattern the best it can be. It does make a real difference to the end result and I love, love, love to see their photos, close ups of buttons and their yarn choices. Karen used her handspun yarn in a jewel toned heathered pinks. It is stunning and I love the yarn she made just for this pattern. How totally cool is that?
This is the second birthday I’ve spent in full lockdown, which seems a bit weird, but I won’t be the only one. Last year, my son ordered us a pizza each and garlic bread. As we both had Covid at the time, neither of us tasted a thing. I’m happy to say that this year, we had a Chinese meal and it was delicious, no cooking or washing up for me! YAY.
I’m having a birthday sale that ends tonight, all my individual self-published patterns are 30% off with the code Birthday
The code will work in our Ravelry store and our Payhip store, but sadly not in the Lovecrafts store. If you need to wait until payday, you can get 20% off the Wheatsheaf Poncho with the code Wheatsheaf until Sunday night BST.
