Tuesday 11 October 2016

Summer Travels Part 2 - Fiacaill Ridge

On to part two! 

This is a series of five knitting patterns inspired by my travels in the Scottish Highlands this Summer. The first pattern was a cowl inspired by the colours of the hills at Abriachan - you can read more about it here!

Our second pattern is inspired by a traverse of the Fiacaill Ridge, an imposing rocky traverse in the Cairngorms:





fiacaill ridge cairngorms



It looks more scary as you climb higher as well! 


fiacaill ridge cairngorms


Having said that, once you're at the top of the ridge, it's very flat indeed on the Cairngorm Plateau.


cairngorm plateau


Something I'm not used to at all after climbing so many West Coast munros - bit more of a jagged landscape. And we managed to spot the Cairngorm reindeer which was a real treat:


cairngorm reindeer from a distance



But back to the knitting: the pattern this inspired would have to be cosy - it's chilly up there! So I designed a cardigan with a warm shawl collar to wrap up in, in super-insulating alpaca and silk yarn. 


grey alpaca cardigan knitting pattern


Alpaca fibres are hollow, to trap extra heat (they spend a lot of time up chilly mountains too...) so it's the perfect choice for cold weather garments. The design is inspired by the rocky terrain too - with a block pattern at the back made with smocking stitches. 

  Available to purchase on 
Etsy 

20% discount on Ravelry with coupon code SUMMERTRAVELS2 until end of December 2017



smocking stitch knitting pattern

The details for the pattern are as follows:


Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Alpaca, Wool and Silk DK (45% Alpaca, 25% Merino, 30% Silk; 274yds/250m per 100g)

820 (950, 1095, 1250, 1420, 1580, 1750, 1930) yards.

750 (870, 1000, 1145, 1300, 1445, 1600, 1765) m 

Measurements:
To fit bust: 30-32 (34-36, 38-40, 42-44, 46-48, 50-52, 54-56, 58-60)”
Across back armpit to armpit: 15 (17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29)”
Armpit to hem: 16 (16.5, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5)”
Around top of sleeve: 12 (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)”
Sleeve length: 17 (17, 17.5, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19)”
Gauge: 17sts and 26 rows = 4”/10cm in stocking st with US 7/4.5mm needle after blocking.
Needles: One US 7/4.5mm 40”/100cm circular needle.
Extras: Two detachable stitch markers; cable needle; spare 40” circular needles (size US 7/4.5mm or smaller) for holding stitches or waste yarn in a contrast colour; tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends.


shawl front cardigan knitting pattern
 

Wednesday 5 October 2016

One Million Hits Sale!

knitting pattern sale

We've reached a milestone 1,000,000 hits on the blog and we're having a sale to celebrate. All our patterns on Ravelry will be available at a 50% discount with the coupon code "Million".

Tuesday 23 August 2016

Summer Travels Part 1 - Abriachan

Our Summer holiday plan is almost always the same - pack up the car for biking, hiking, camping (and of course knitting!) and go where the wind takes us! 

This year was no different - but it inspired a series of five knitting patterns that I'll hopefully be releasing between now and Christmas. The first is a cowl inspired by the colours of the Scottish hillsides:

Colors of Scottish Highlands
This cowl is named for Abriachan - a tiny village up in the hills beside Loch Ness. It's always busy by the side of the loch, as it's such an iconic part of Scotland. But once you're up in the hills by its banks, there's a much more remote feel. Abriachan is also home to some lovely (if challenging!) mountain biking trails. I'm fairly sure they aren't well used, the forest and moor seem to be reclaiming them, which adds to the remote feel. There are lots overgrown patches and fallen trees to manoeuvre over, but the scenery is delightful. The colours of the open country are spectacular, with gorgeous patches of delicate red grass - the pictures really don't do it justice. And then there's the deep greens of the forest, really quite dark in places, with red and white mushrooms almost glowing - as well as soft heathery pinks and purples everywhere you look on the hillside. And the teals in the pattern do remind me a little of the shade of my beloved mountain bike...


mountain biking at Abriachan


The cowl pattern uses an absolutely gorgeous yarn – Malabrigo Rastita. The delicate “watercolour” variegated colourway totally reflects the natural beauty of the north of Scotland with jewel tone greens, subtle greys and heathery purples and pinks.


knitting pattern for variegated yarn


When designing this, I was aware that variegated yarns look lovely in the skein, but don't always look great knitted up. This cowl has slipped stitches, and gathered strands of yarn running across it to really showcase the different colours. A perfect knitting pattern for colourful, variegated yarns!

Available now on 
Etsy 


20% discount on Ravelry with coupon code SUMMERTRAVELS1 until end of December 2017


knitting pattern for multicolor yarn


Here's the details:

Yarn: Malabrigo Rastita
Colourway “Lotus” (100% Merino Wool, 283m (309yds) per 100g)
One 100g skein = 283m/309yds


Dimensions: 20cm/8” deep, 92cm/36” around.


Needles: 4.5mm/US 7 circular needle either 40”/100cm for magic loop or 30”/80cm or shorter circular needle if you do not wish to use magic loop.

Gauge: 20 sts x 32 rows = 4" in 2x1 twisted slip stitch rib (repeat rounds 1 & 2 of pattern) after blocking.


Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, stitch marker for end of round.


cowl knitting pattern for multicolored yarn

Tuesday 5 July 2016

Summer Sale

Knitting summer sale

All our patterns are on sale! Visit our Ravelry store before the 10th July - all patterns half price with coupon code "Summer50". 

Happy Knitting!

Thursday 30 June 2016

Summer Knitting Inspiration

Two new pattern releases to celebrate!

Loch Katrine Shawl knitting pattern

Loch Katrine Shawl is a pretty little shawl with stunning zigzag edging. Short row shaping gives this shawl a delicate curve and “mini-nupps” add interest to the lace section. This shawl is quick to knit and only uses 50g of laceweight yarn – perfect gifting material!

Castle Sands Scarf knitting pattern

Castle Sands Scarf is a stunning wide scarf in a pretty Estonian lace stitch pattern with a gorgeous edging, blocked into delicate points. It's worked from the centre out so that both sides are perfectly symmetrical. The yarn is an unbelievably soft and buttery heavy lace weight yarn, almost a 4ply. Its luxurious softness and fabulous handdyed colourways work so well with delicate lace.

And if you need more Summer knitting inspiration, please check out our post about our all time Top Ten Summer Knitting Patterns. There's something for everyone - simple linen tees, pretty wraps and intricate lace. 

Wishing all our readers a happy, knitting filled Summer!

Top Ten Summer Knitting Patterns

Tuesday 21 June 2016

Top Ten Summer Knitting Patterns


Top ten summer knitting patterns


Thought I'd write a wee top ten post this week. My "real" job is being a Maths teacher, and with one week to go until my 7 week summer holidays, I'm on the search for fun, lightweight knitting projects to keep me busy. Thought I'd collect a few gems for anyone in a similar situation!


Maybe Baby by Webster Street Knittery



Maybe, Baby knitting pattern


Summer in Scotland is a slightly chilly affair, so I love shawls and wraps to throw over my shoulders when I'm sitting outside in the evenings and this one looks just perfect. Such a pretty textured stitch pattern and lots of interest in the edging - sublime!




Wool Knot Tee knitting pattern


I always say I love a classic pattern with a twist, which this pattern takes very literally! Such a cool top - I love the different coloured striping, its flattering drape, and of course the knot detail. 


Davis by Pam Allen


Davis knitting pattern


A classic Summer sweater - light and loose! The yarn is 100% organic linen spun in a ribbon structure. It's got a bit of texture to it so it looks great in a simple stockinette pattern like this. And the colours are such lovely muted shades,

Spring Lace Infinity Scarf by Linda from Purl Avenue




Such a pretty knit with a delicate lace pattern, this really is a showstopper! And it's a really wearable piece for people who love lace knitting but wouldn't wear a shetland triangle! And it's a freebie, who can resist?!

Lilac Love Lace Shawl by Derya from Laylock



In Summer, I never really knit anything heavier than dk yarn - it's the time of year where lace knitting and fine yarns really get their chance to shine. And this is a true classic lace knitting pattern. Perfect for Summer weddings and garden parties, this is an intricate, timeless wrap. 


Linum Tee by Bristol Ivy




Another lovely linen creation! This top in 4ply linen yarn will certainly be cool in warmer climates. I going through a real phase for textured knits at the moment, and absolutely adore the asymmetric, textured detailing round the neckline. Such a simple but striking top - love it!



Embruns by Emilie Luis




A real Summer wardrobe staple - it ticks so many boxes for me. A clean silhouette; simple, flattering design; clever detailing at the front. This is one that you knit once and wear forever!


Danzig by Justyna Lorkowska






I had to include this one! Such a fun knit - the rainbow stripes are such a joyful addition to a knitting pattern. While variegated yarns by themselves can be a bit much for me, when "diluted" like this with the grey solid colour, they add a splash of brightness that makes this a perfect summer knit.

A Crush on Lace by Lisa Richardson



Lace isn't just for shawls! This top with lace panels is an absolutely gorgeous way to show off your lace knitting skills. This really is something special, and shows that knitting isn't just about thick woolly jumpers!


Epsilon Cropped Cardigan by Littletheorem Knits




Ok, so this one's by me (a shameless plug!) but I'll explain why it's on the list: firstly, we don't have a really cropped cardigan yet and I think they're both cute and useful for when it's hot-but-not-that-hot. And secondly, I only had one skein of this beautiful blue sock yarn at the time, so I knitted the sample for this pattern in a size 28-30. This is just a tad too small for me, so it's definitely on the list to reknit in a larger size!


I really hope you enjoyed this list and that if you're a "cold-weather" knitter then it inspires you to start knitting in the warmer months too. Please let me know what you think in the comments, and let me know if you have any summer favourites that you would have added!






Friday 10 June 2016

Father's Day Competition on AllFreeKnitting

One of my very first knitting patterns, Klein Scarf, is in AllFreeKnitting's Father's Day knitting pattern competition! 



They've listed their top five Father's Day patterns (mine is listed as Sapphire Algorithm Scarf) and all you need to do is post a comment on their page to be in with a chance to win the book "Simple Scarves made with the Knook" and  the Knook Kit. Plus I get a prize too if my pattern is the winner, so please do vote for my Sapphire Algorithm Scarf!


Having said that though, the other knitting patterns are truly lovely too, and if you're looking for a last minute handmade Father's day gift, or just free men's knitting patterns, they're a great place to start! The rest of the list of patterns is as follows:



A moss stitch knit tie with a contrast colour tail.



Sure to appeal to the most fussy of dads, this is a great "on trend" hat in a beautiful variegated yarn.



Perfect for last minute knitting! This cosy cowl will knit up quickly in worsted weight yarn.



The twin rib stitch pattern adds interest to a classic dad-friendly pattern.


Here's the competition link again, and may the best pattern win!







Monday 2 May 2016

St Andrews Visit

Just spent a lovely weekend in St Andrews for my Mum's 60th (Happy Birthday, Mum!)

Lots of scenic forest walks, good food and of course a bit of knitting!

Scotland forest walk


Here's a few pictures from Kemback wood and Dunino Den. Both absolutely carpeted with bluebells and anemones, something a bit magical about the woods in Scotland at this time of year. Lots of wild garlic about too, had a delicious late dinner of wild garlic hummus and homemade pitta bread after the drive back to Glasgow last night.

And we stumbled on Scotland's best kept secret...

cute sheep pic, funny sheep pic

Clearly the Sheep Olympics training grounds!

The secret's out!

And of course, my Mum's birthday present was handknitted. Here's a few pictures of what will be the Castle Sands Shawl (hope to have the pattern released in the next month or so)

beautiful lace knitting


And if you can't wait that long, I should hopefully be releasing the pattern for Loch Katrine Shawl on Wednesday!



lace shawl knitting pattern