Manos Wool Clasica Capelet

Finished just in time for Lili's birthday, I love knitting this pattern.  It is so easy; knit in one piece from the top down with some chunky yarn (I've used Manos Wool Clasica) with 8mm needles. 

You can make the sleeves and body as long as you want; it is available as a free pattern on http://www.ravelry.com/ and is called the "Anthropolgie Inspired Capelet" by Julia Allen.  I used one and a half skeins here.

I have now cast one on for myself with Noro Kochoran.  I was hoping to have it finished by tomorrow, but as I am only on the neck, I think not!

Debbie Bliss Spring Summer Magazine 2012

It's just arrived and I am so excited! 

I've just dispatched the pre-ordered copies and I'm off to pick the kids up from school, then I will browse it quietly with a coffee, or maybe I will wait until they are in bed!

Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace Frenzy!

Knitters in Lavenham were going crazy on Tuesday for the Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace which arrived in the morning.  At only £5.50 per ball, with a yardage of 390m you can tell why!  Most of the garments in the accompanying book, Rialto Lace, take only 2 or 3 balls and it comes in a range of 20 pretty colours (all bar two are in stock)

It isn't even out of the boxes yet, that is today's job, but I thought I had better save a copy of the book for me so I could make a pretty 'Tie Front Cardigan' in Meadow, a lovely citrusy green (shade 14).  Kate is going to make the 'Leaf Shawl in shade 15, a sage green, for a wedding she is attending in May.  Will we complete the garments in time?  Watch this space....!

National Trust Orford Ness Hebridean DK

Knit local!!  Cafe Knit are proud to stock this wonderful Hebridean DK yarn produced from the National Trust flock of Hebridean sheep in nearby Orford Ness.

It comes in 100g skeins, knits as a standard DK weight yarn and is a lovely rich chocolately brown colour. And is only £8 per skein.

We have limited stock of this lovely local yarn, so first come, first served! 

Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran transformed into an.....

Angry Bird Hat!!  Dom was insistent that was what he wanted.  so here it is!  Knitting was very easy - Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran is lovely to work with as always.  But I had a bit of trouble with the crochet features as I am not that good at crocheting and I didn't bother to look up what a 'magic ring' is (although I know now as a customer demonstrated!!)  So I ended up improvising the features and knitting the eyebrows instead of crocheting them.

Also I crocheted around the edge of the hat in cream, as whenever I make Dom a hat it never covers his ears.  The crochet has had the effect of making the hat fit more snugly which is good

But the finished result looks OK, and Dom is pleased.  Now onto the next project......(the bit I like the best)!!

New shades of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in stock now!

Piles of new shades of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, Debbie Bliss Rialto 4Ply and Debbie Bliss Cotton DK  ready for pricing and the shelves!

Chilly Country Walks

The snow hasn't melted much here in Suffolk.  It's my day off and I have just returned from a VERY bracing walk around the fields with Scottie.  Note to self; buy or knit some proper gloves (fingerless mittens are not doing the job) and invest in a good ordance survey map so I can get some idea of where I am!!


I have 'queued' the Bella Mittens by Marielle Henault on Ravelry; lovely long cabled gloves knitted in a chunky yarn, I might try Debbie Bliss Rialto Chunky .  They should definitely keep my hands warm, its just a question of whether I would finish them before this cold spell is over!!

Welcome to the newest member of the family!

Meet Inishowen Light, AKA Scottie, the latest member of the family. 4 years old, runner of 113 races; winner of 17, 2nd in 18. Now come to spend the rest of his days in peace in front of our Aga.



Greyhounds need to be kept warm, so obviously I have spotted a knitting opportunity.  For all you Ravelry users, I am going to knit this coat for Scottie in Jarol's Pure British Wool Aran yarn.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/side-button-greyhound-sweater

I think he will look gorgeous in it!

Lavenham in the snow

Well, I've been asking everyone for months; 'Does Lavenham look really pretty in the snow?'  Well now I know!

Taken this morning, here are a few different views:

Cafe Knit in the Snow

The High Street near The Swan

More to come but I have an appointment to sledge!

Snowy Rooftops of Lavenham

Sledging

Me sledging!

Knitting Time!

After a busy day in the shop, I haven't managed to do any knitting yet today! I've nearly finished cooking supper, and then I just need to decide whether to knit some more hearts (total count 5) or whether to start Dom's 'Angry Bird' hat (free pattern from www.ravelry.com). I'm going to knit the beanie in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, simply because Dom's 'pumpkin' hat has worn so well, then crochet the eyes, beak etc in Debbie Bliss Cotton DK I think. I may require help at the crochet stage as I'm not great at following patterns, I tend to just improvise!

Decisions, decisions.....Angry bird hat will require concentration, whereas I have the heart pattern almost memorized!

KnitPro Symfonie Wood Knitting Needles

It's bizarre, KnitPro needles are flying out of the door this week, both in the shop and online.  It's as if everyone has realised at the same time how amazing they are!

The basket was full at the beginning of the week - I'd better get reordering!

The hearts have multiplied!

Now I have got the hang of the short row shaping, I am on a roll!  Three cute little hearts now, which can be used as pin cushions, door hangers, mobiles....

I'll have a Valentine's Day window display yet!

Lovely hearts

So this is what I decided to do last night.  Make a bowl full of felted hearts (or milagros as they are called in the wonderful book called 'Gifted: Lovely little things to knit & crochet by Mag Kandis, from where I took the pattern) 

A bit tricky to start with, but I have got the hang of it now.  Just completed number 2 but need to felt it properly.  (I bunged it in with some regular washing at 40 degrees but it didn't really felt)

Both the hearts have been made with left overs of Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica, perfect for felting. 

I had a lovely morning off.  the shop is shut on Wednesday, so I dropped the kids off at school and nursery and headed into the nearest town, Sudbury, for some good old rummaging in charity shops, mainly looking for jumpers to felt and recycle.  Didn't have much luck today, but treated myself to a lovely coffee and scone (and peek at the latest issue of Mollie Makes) in a hidden treasure; The Secret Garden in Sudbury.

I know what I will be doing next Wednesday!

x