HRYC

Following on from the Man Knits post, I thought I'd share something really ace from one of my favourite leading men - Ryan Gosling:

'Ryan Gosling, a best actor nominee for “Half Nelson,” on what he does when he is not making small movies that garner major acclaim: “I knit. Yeah. I really do. I knit scarves. I bake.'

-- from the NY Times a few years ago

Mmmm Ryan, you can shop with us any day.

Speaking of man knitting, we'd really LOVE to teach some men to knit. It's all about destroying stereotypes. Flick us an email at tash (at) knitschyarns (dot) co (dot) nz if you are, or you know of, a male type that would like to knit!

Five minutes ago a happy lady left the store armed with yarn, needles and a man hat pattern - 'Basic Simple Lazy' by John Brinegar.

Finding good man hat patterns, and good man patterns for that matter, can be a tricky challenge. Men like simple. But going by discussions with customers in the shop, more and more male types are after hand knit items.

Dare I say the C word - Christmas - is looming, which scarily enough means it's time to start thinking about gift knitting. So for our Ravelry Ramble today i'm going on a hunt for quick but ace projects for the he-beast most deserving of your hard work!

John Brinegar's Basic Simple Lazy (he looks like my kind of man. Just sayin')

Basic Simple Lazy hat - knit in DK, uses just a smidge over 50g. For a little bit of luxury (does he deserve it??) go for some Stansborough Mythral or Lana D'Oro wool/alpaca.

If he is happy for a little more texture - I LOVE the Marram Hat by Mimi Hill (also free! Hooray!)

A bit of military history associated with a man project can't possibly go astray. 'Here darling, this scarf is knit to the same pattern as for arse-kicking soldiers'...

Another freebie - Scarf S-107 and gloves pattern from 1941 - would be most excellent knit in one of our Harvest blue DKs

In a previous life I have knit a man a pair of socks. They were Boring (with a capital B). But, the question you have to ask yourself: 'How much do I like this man? Is he worthy of Boring knitting?' If the answer is yes - stroke his ego and go for the Big Boss Man Socks. Because he'll chuck them in the washing machine, go for some Knitsch Sock, and they'll come out nicer, and he'll never want to take them off. Promise.

So, have you started Christmas knitting yet? Have any patterns that are quick and easy and well received? Let us know!

PS - click on the images to go to the Ravelry project page.

xx tash

Zooey Deschanel is one of our favourite people, ever. So we love that we can listen to her sing!

She & Him - You Really Got a Hold On Me (and you got a hold on us, Zooey!)

Wheeee there's all sorts of exciting stock arriving this week :D

Fyberspates Lace

Fyberspates Sport

Maude & Me Handspun & Fibre

Beeeyootiful Ruby in the Dust screen printed fabrics!

Plus we LOVE Emma Makes notebooks - great for keeping track of lists and plans.

We're expecting lots more lovely things to arrive during the week, be sure to pop by so you don't miss out!

The arrival of warmer weather has us thinking about light, floaty, pretty things to wrap up in for the sake of wearing hand knits. (or keeping us at just the right level of warm, but we don't usually think in practical terms :))

So another nosey around Rav is in order. The recent appearance of lovely new Nimu lace weight on the shelves, and more hand-dyed sock yarns on the way, our eyes are open to projects that will show them off!

First pattern to catch our eye is Jared Flood's new pattern, Rock Island. Delicate, however knit in a strong colour like the one below - totally kick ass.

Speaking of kick ass, this one isn't light and floaty but DAMN it is awesome. Also: absolutely perfect to knit with Spinning A Yarn's Super Bulky that we have in store!

No surprises that the colour of this one got us excited at first - but what a beautiful stitch pattern! Nothing like sunflowers to get thoughts of summer in our heads....

Oooh here we go, back to the original purpose of the search - fine and delicate patterns with strong colours:

June Marinella - this is perfect for some yarn in Tash's stash

Rough Sea Shawl - ditto. Not too lacy, nicely geometric, strong colour. And it's a free pattern!

Wow, the last thing I needed was to cast on more projects, but it looks like I will be now. If you click on any of the images it will take you through to the pattern on Ravelry. Are there any great shawl patterns you have discovered lately? If so, share with us!

xx Tash