HRYC

Yay! So excited to be able to announce that we will have the great pleasure of hosting Morag McKenzie of Vintage Purls for the weekend of 30 June / 1 July to teach a couple of technical classes, hang out in the shop and sell Vintage Purls yarn.

It’s a Wrap! – shawl construction and design. In which we examine traditional shapes (e.g. triangles, squares and circles) and other constructions. Explore how to fit stitch patterns into a chosen shape and the pros and cons of each. You’ll learn the skills to build your own patterns and advice on the best yarn selection, stitch patterning & finishing for your vision.
9.30am - 12.30pm, Saturday 30 June, $45 incl morning tea

Make it Fit - working with top-down patterns to get a fit that’s right for you. In which we learn how to select the best size and style of top-down pattern for you. Examine the ways to alter an existing pattern to best fit your unique shape.
9.30am - 12.30pm, Sunday 1 July, $45 incl morning tea

After both classes and a break for lunch, Morag will be in the shop to help the morning students and answer technical knitting questions anyone else may have. We’ll knit the whole weekend away and be selling Vintage Purls yarn too. Email tash (at) Knitschyarns (dot) co (dot) nz to sign up.

The Juno soundtrack has been on repeat in the shop this week - our long-time fave is this cute wee ditty with Michael Cera and Ellen Page.

Enjoy!

A big, warm, smoothy cowl! Starting with a provisional cast on, knit in the round and then seamed together the cast on, like a bike tube.

Yarn: Spud & Chloe Sweater in Beluga, Turtle, Firefly, Barn, Lake and Waterslide.

Needle: 5mm 40cm circular (you can use a longer cable and knit using the magic loop method if you wish).

Gauge: 19sts x 25 rows = 10cm (this doesn't have to be perfect if your gauge is a little out).

Using Beluga and a crochet provisional cast on, cast on 70 stitches.

Join in the round, placing a marker at the join. Knit approx 8 rows.

Keeping Beluga joined to your work, knit 2 rows with Barn.

knit all sts for all rows in the following order:

2 rows beluga

2 rows barn

until approx 10g of Beluga remains. Break off Beluga, change to Firefly

2 rows Barn

2 rows Firefly

Until Barn is all used up, ending on a row of Barn.

2 rows Firefly

2 rows Turtle

Until Firefly is all used up, ending on a row of Firefly.

2 rows Turtle

2 rows Lake

Until Turtle is all used up, ending on a row of Turtle.

2 rows Lake

2 rows Waterslide

Until Lake is all used up, ending on a row of Lake.

2 rows Waterslide

2 rows Beluga

for 8 rows. Continue for 8 rows of Beluga only.

undo the provisional cast on and place live stitches on a second circular needle (it doesn't have to be 5mm). Weave in all internal ends.

Using kitchener stitch, seam the two sets of live stitches together to make a cowl.

And you're done!

Like Han Solo? He features on a wall near the shop. Pretty ace.

The Richmond blanket came about thanks to Knit Night at Holland Road Yarn Company. As soon as Spud & Chloe Sweater arrived, a few regulars snapped up skeins to knit blankets with. Which set my knitty imagination whirring, thinking of drape, and squishiness, and stripes. Then there's the daydream that wouldn't go away: snuggling under it on the couch watching The West Wing and, of course, knitting.

As an excuse, I decided that 'shop knitting' needed to be created. Shop Knitting is a project that is easily picked up and put down in between talking to customers, answering the phone, emails and all other interruptions that happen in a shop. That's all it was, really: an excuse. Honestly, I just wanted to knit this blanket.

Yarn: Spud & Chloe Sweater (you can order it online if you aren't nearby)
3 x Beluga 7521
1 x each of Waterslide 7519, Barn 7518, Turtle 7514, Firefly 7505, Lake 7504

Needles: 5mm circular needle (I used an 80cm cable)

Notions: darning needle to weave in ends

Gauge: 17sts by 22 rows = 10cm (this isn't critical, so don't worry if your gauge isn't spot on).

Finished Dimensions: Approx 80cm x 145cm

How to...

Cast on 120 stitches using the long tail cast on method.

knit 3 rows.

Next row: k4, p to last 4 sts, k4

Next row: k all sts

Repeat these two rows until you have used one entire skein of Beluga.

Knit stripes as follows, continuing in pattern as established:

6 rows of Waterslide

2 rows of Beluga

6 rows of Lake

2 rows of Beluga

6 rows of Turtle

2 rows of Beluga

6 rows of Firefly

2 rows of Beluga

6 rows of Barn

20 rows of Beluga

Repeat this pattern twice more, ending with a stripe of Barn.

Follow with 45 rows of Beluga.

Knit last 4 rows. Cast off using a sewn bind off method (I love the sewn bind off on the Purl Bee or Elizabeth Zimmerman's sewn bind off).

Weave in all the ends (yes, all of them!) and block.

Now using this pattern, you will have left overs. So tomorrow we'll post the pattern for the Leftovers Cowl. Hooray!

It's officially winter...and we're thinking about hoodies to hide under while we sit on the couch knitting, or wait for the bus on a grey day.

First: one for the kiddies...

Roo by Kate Gilbert

Ysolda Teague's Melia from Little Red in the City (a great knit, and we have both a knit sample for you to try on and the book in stock)

I'd really like this for myself: Neville's Sweater by Joannie Newsome

The ever-popular Central Park Hoodie. I've want to knit this FOREVER. Should probably get on to that.

Are there any great hoodie patterns you've come across lately? Share them with us! And if you like any of these, click on the image and you'll be whisked off to the pattern page on Ravelry.