Easy Knit Cowl

It's a well-known fact that us Brits are obsessed with the weather

Some people might find this strange, but we love to talk about it - how cold it is, how warm it is, how windy it is, when it might rain, how much it has rained, why it hasn't rained.... you get the idea.

The simple reason is that here in the UK, we can literally have four seasons in one day (apparently it's something to do with the cold air from the north pushing against the warm air from the tropics which does this).  Take today, for instance - snow this morning (the children were THRILLED) but now it's just damp and cold. Yesterday though, it was positively balmy.  

But with such bonkers weather, I often find myself feeling the cold throughout the year, which is exactly why I love ALLLLLLLLL the warm, woolly things, especially those to wear around my neck and is why I can never pass on an opportunity to make shawls, wraps, scarves and cowls.

And this one is no exception.

I was very kindly sent some chunky yarns from Sirdar to try and I couldn't resist this gorgeous Bohemia in Teal Appeal.

It's a fabulously super-chunky yarn (you know how much I love 'em) in 51% Wool 49% Acrylic mix and is a low-twist, single ply. The hank size is 150g/ 50m. And it's really, really soft. 

Now as much as I love crochet, I knew that to get the most out of a single skein of this glorious yarn, I'd have to knit it. 

Sirdar do have a free snood pattern but I decided I wanted something a bit more snug around my neck and I wanted to knit it in the round, cos I am too lazy to sew it all together at the end.

And so my version is super-quick 'n' easy and because it's in the round, you only need to make a knit stitch (seriously, if I can do it, you can, too).

Easy Knit Cowl Pattern

Finished size approximately 60cm circumference / 27cm tall

Here's what you'll need to know to complete the project (click on each for link to video):

*Long tail cast on

*Knitting in the round

*Knit stitch 

*Cast off 

You'll need:

1 hank of Sirdar Bohemia

20mm x 80cm circular needles (mine are from Woolly Mahoosive)

Tension isn't really important, but gauge is roughly 5 sts and 7 rows to 10cm x 10cm

Cast on 30 stitches using the Long Tail Cast On Method

Rnds 1 - 19*: Knit all stitches

Cast off loosely.

*or until you run out of yarn (leave enough for cast-off)

Sew in ends

That's it - it'll take about an hour of your time to make and will keep you warm and snug throughout the cold winter months.

And the cold summer months, for that matter.

Wishing you all a very happy and crafty New Year!

Sarah xx

BTW, to find out more about all things chunky-yarny, read my feature in Inside Crochet Issue 97.

Stylecraft Blog Tour 2017 - The Learn To Knit Shawl

Hooray! Hooray! 

It's another day of the awesome STYLECRAFT blogstars blog tour and it's my turn.

If you've been keeping track of the tour, then you'll already know that yesterday it was the talented Sandra from Cherry Heart and tomorrow it's the fabulous Lucia from  Lucia’s Fig Tree (I cannot wait to see what she's been up to).

This year's brief was to work with a 10-ball yarn pack, which contains 4 balls of the-new-kid-on-the-block, Batik Elements (a gorgeous variegated yarn) along with 6 coordinating colours from its sister range, Batik.

Lagoon: 4 x Krypton, 1 each of Lupin, Sage, Teal, Storm, Silver and Indigo

There are four colour packs available and I chose Lagoon: I'm always drawn to these kinds of colours.

But what to make?

Now those of you who regularly read my posts will know that something is very wrong here...

... These photos clearly show a knitted thing and I am not really a knitter. 

And you're right, but that's where the Batik came in - because I'd seen an idea for a shawl using a simple combination of garter stitch and stockinette stitch and thought the yarn would be absolutely perfect. 

I had decided THIS would be the shawl that would teach me to knit.

I changed the pattern - the original created an isosceles triangle, with increases on both sides, but I wanted a right-angle, with the increases on just one side and with larger bands of increasing colours, too. 

And do you know what, I love it; Sure enough, my stitches were decidedly dodgy to start off with and my needle hold was awkward, but as I progressed through the shawl, so my tension improved and the yarn fed through my fingers more smoothly and everything neatened out.

 

And the yarn?

It's lovely to work with. I've crocheted a shawl for Inside Crochet Magazine (Issues 92, 93, 94) with it and it's bouncy and soft and warm - (that's the 20% Wool content). And the same can be said for knitting with it; Simply gorgeous.

 

But before we get to the pattern, how would you like to win a Lagoon yarn pack??

Simply enter the competition HERE for your chance to win.

(Giveaway open from 10am GMT 20th October 2017 and closes 10am GMT 21st October 2017. Winner drawn at random and notified by email.)

So let's get to it. The original pattern is called 'Sonnensegel' by Ulrikestrickt and can be found for free HERE.

A note about my pattern:

It is not perfect; It is not meant to be. I forgot to use one of the colours in Part One and I reckon on some of the rows, I forgot to increase, too.

This pattern is easy and forgiving:  Perfect for learning to knit.

The Learn-To-Knit Shawl

 

If you're a beginner knitter, then here's what you'll need to know:

How to cast on

How to knit

How to purl

How to increase (kfb)

How to cast off

Size: 88cms x 145cms (longest edge)

You will need:

The Lagoon yarn pack

Size 4.5mm / 100cm circular needles

Increasing stitches. 

Increasing is carried out (as a Knit Front and Back) on the right-facing side of every knit row in both Garter and Stockinette sections, starting at the first section A*, EXCEPT on every first row where you have changed colour.
To increase: simply K1, increase 1 (kfb), then knit across the rest of the row.

Pattern

Part One:

All sections are 6 rows

The Garter stitch rows (B) will always be in Krypton. 

The Stockinette stitch sections (A) will repeat the same colour twice.

Cast on 3 stitches with Krypton

Knit 6 rows

A*: Change to Teal and knit 1 row, purl 1 row for 6 rows (Stockinette Stitch) *Start the increases

B: Change to Krypton and knit 6 rows (Garter Stitch)

A: Continue in Teal and Stockinette stitch for 6 rows

Work in pattern (Section B, Section A), changing to Indigo, Storm, Lupin, and Silver for 2 sections each, ending with a section of Garter stitch in Krypton

Part 2:

All sections are 8 rows

The Garter stitch rows (B) will always be in Krypton. 

The Stockinette stitch sections (A) will repeat the same colour three times.

Work in pattern (Section A, Section B), changing to Teal, Indigo, Sage, Storm, Lupin, and Silver for 3 sections each, ending with a section of Garter stitch in Krypton.

Cast off loosely and block lightly.

Oh goodness, I hope that makes some degree of sense. If it's your first knitted shawl, then good luck and I hope you enjoy making it. If you're a pro, then please excuse my novice knitter's mistakes and enjoy the pattern, too.

If you'd like to see what my Stylecraft blog pals are up to, then you can find them here:

Crafternoon Treats, The Twisted Yarn, Patchwork Heart, Hand knitted Things, Keep Calm and Crochet on; Catherine’s Crochet Corner,  Zooty Owl, Attic 24, Janie Crow, Crochet Between Worlds, Get Knotted Yarn Craft, and Crochet Between Worlds.

Have a fab weekend,
Sarah xx

An Autumn giveaway *NOW CLOSED*

***Congratulations to Rebecca Lee***

Autumn is here.

And what could be more fitting at this time of year than this leafy yarn bowl?

Isn't it a beauty?
The lovely people at KnitPro kindly sent me one to try and I must admit, I totally adore it.

It's beautifully handcrafted in wood and is the pefect size for holding a fairly large ball of yarn.
Why use a yarn bowl, you wonder? Well, I find that it helps keep an even tension and (more importantly for me) it prevents the yarn from disappearing under the sofa, or being taken off by the cat / dog / children whilst I work.

It's even got a handy little stopper to stop the yarn escaping.

I was also sent a cute little stitchmarker pouch, which now means I can keep them in one place.
(No more scrabbling around in the bottom of project bags for me!)

AND, I'm so pleased to announce that KnitPro have given me an extra yarn bowl and pouch to giveaway - hooray!

The giveaway is open worldwide and will run until midnight on 3rd October. A winner will be drawn at random and contacted by email on 4th October.

If you'd like to enter, then click below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck!!
Sarah xx

Stylecraft Visit 2017 (Part 2)

Yarn... Lovely, new yarn.

All crocheters and knitters love the stuff and it's always exciting when a favourite manufacturer releases additional colours, or a new range. On my recent visit to the Stylecraft Mill as one of their Blogstars (read Part 1 here) it was with great anticipation that we watched the Autumn/Winter presentation to see the new yarns.

This has to be my favourite image from the presentation - just look at this stunning crocheted blanket and cushion, designed by the clever Annelies Baes. It's made with some of the new colours in the Life DK range and is just a beauty.

Here's some of my new faves:

First up, it's a new yarn called Tweedy. (100g / 260m) This is a really bright and cheery double-knit yarn, made from 74% premium acrylic and 26% cotton. Just four shades available at the mo - love the subtle mix of colours.

Next, there's colour additions to the already super-popular Head over Heels sock yarn, as well as a variation called Boho, which includes funky stripes of black and white.

The Batik yarns (my current yarn-crush - see below) have also enjoyed some colour additions, and also a whole new range:

 

The Batik Elements - a variagated blend of colours in the same 50g /138m 80% Acrylic /20% Wool blend as the solids.

Here's a little peek of something I'm working on with this amazing green 'Kryptonite'..

 

AND in super-exciting news, my latest CAL (crochet-a-long) design for Inside Crochet magazine uses the Batik solids, too. I chose four complemetary shades to create a gorgeously cosy shawl, which will be perfect for the Autumn. 

The Batik yarn was such a good choice for this project - it's soft and bouncy and the stitch definition is superb. I think it would work in any combination of colours you fancied.

Photo Credits to Mavric Photography / Inside Crochet Issue 92

Find the pattern for the first part of the mystery shawl in Issue 92. Sections 2 and 3 will be in the following issues of the magazine.

I'm tempted to make another version using some of the Batik Elements, or perhaps the Tweedy, but I really must get on with all my other projects, first... (more on those in my next post)

Find out more about the Stylecraft Yarns Blogstars here.

Wishing you a great week,

Sarah xx

Stylecraft Visit 2017 (Part 1)

It is my absolute pleasure to be one of the Stylecraft Blogstars and to be able to work with such an iconic brand. 

My most favourite thing about the partnership is the twice-yearly get-together at the Mill, where we get to meet the team, preview new collections, try out products and learn a new skill in the workshops.

Apart from the fabulous overnight stay in a local hotel (with THE most scary morning drive to the Mill along one of the narrowest and twisty-turny hills in Yorkshire), we also have an activity organised for the Friday afternoon.

This year, it was a trip to the Hockney exhibition at Salts Mill.

What a treat - we had a wonderful tour guide, who showed us the collection and talked about Hockney's work and life.

I loved the ipad/iphone pictures above and the images below from 'The Arrival of Spring' were astonishing; the colours were bright and luminous. 

After a marvellous dinner and a jolly good night's sleep, it was off to the Mill for our meeting (including a heart-stopping encounter with a white van on that hill...).

We got to see some of the new patterns in the upcoming Autumn / Winter collections.

And obviously there was lots and lots of yarn to ooooooh and aaaaaaah over (there was much squishing and touching going on). I'll show you some of the new yarns in the second part of this blogpost very soon.


And as if that wasn't enough, we had a member of the Ring of Tatters visit us. She spoke to us about the art of tatting and gave us a demonstration, too .

Ever heard of tatting?
It's an amazing, delicate craft of making teeny, tiny knots, which can create such beauties as this:

This is my rather feeble attempt.
I don't think the Ring of Tatters will be calling me anytime soon...

And here are some of us at dinner - see how we all have a kntting or crochet project with us?

It was a wonderful weekend and I was lucky enough to come home with a rather large bag of yarn to try.

But, most importantly, as somebody whose closest friends (although amazeballs) are not the crafty sort, these meetings give me the opportunity to talk about all things yarn and blog related with my fellow blogstars and the Stylecraft team; it's like being with my tribe - with people who 'get' me.
(And I can utter the phrase 'Oooo, this DK isnt the least bit splitty' without having to explain what on earth I am talking about...)

Want to find out more about the Blogstars? Read about them all here.

Enjoy your weekend, lovely peeps,

Part two of this blog post will be out very soon.
Sarah xxx

Yarn Festivals

I've gone and done it again - Yep, another YouTube video.

This time, grab your glow sticks, 'cos I'm talking about Festivals !!
(Yarn Festivals, that is)

Watch the video here. (Show notes and links below)



Episode 2: Yarn Festivals Show Notes

To find a Yarn festival near you, see here:

Yarns:

Manos Del Uruguay Silk blend DK - website
Unique Yarns Co  - Glow in the dark yarn 
Whimzy yarns - Sokkusu O Max in 'Man of Rock' and 'Medallica'
Sparkleduck  - Lucy in 'Purple Pigeon' / Pulsar in 'Enchantment'
Rosie's Moments  - Lace Weight in 'Autumn Floor'
The Knitting Shed - Ainsworth & Prin Alpaca Silk Lace
Eden Cottage Yarns - Oakworth 4ply
Bilum Yarns - Pukpuk
The Women's Institute Soft and Chunky yarn in Grey - from here

Doodlestop Yarn Buddy

Pattern
The Little Mitts in Manos Del Uruguay Silk Blend DK

Inside Crochet magazine

YouTubers
Chrissie Crafts

Hope you enjoyed it!

Have a great week,
Sarah xx

Stylecraft Giveaway *NOW CLOSED*

**This Giveaway is now closed** See the winners Here

Know how to beat those January blues? - Win yourself some free stuff, of course!

  

So I thought it the perfect time to host a Stylecraft Yarns giveaway.
Hooray!

Let's cut straight to it - the winner will receive £25 to spend in a bricks and mortar, real-life yarn store on Stylecraft yarns. 2nd place will get £15 and 3rd place, £10. The vouchers cannot, alas be used online but 'tis a great way to support your local yarn store - and there's nothing like going into a shop and squidging some lovely balls of the fluffy stuff.

Now unfortunately, this is only open to UK residents, BUT I will not leave out my overseas friends, so I'll draw one non-UK winner and they'll receive a bundle of Stylecraft goodies.


Liking the sound of this?
Then all you need to do is leave me a comment below and state whether you're in the U.K. or overseas.

The winners will be drawn at random and announced on Saturday 14th January- I'll post the winner here and tell you how to get in contact.

Wishing you all loads of luck ...🤞🤞🤞🤞
Have a great week,

Sarah xx

Head over Heels - Stylecraft Sock Yarn

Some of you may have seen a few sneak peaks of the new Stylecraft Sock yarn, Head Over Heels via social media recently.

The Stylecraft Blogstars have been lucky enough to have had a preview of it to play with and we haven't been able to resist sharing a few snippets...

...And it's lovely stuff.

I've been very busy with loads of other projects, but I've made a start with a pattern I'm working on for a shawl- this seems the perfect stuff to try it out.

The shade I've been working with is called Eiger (they're all named after famous mountains) and it has long runs of colour. I'm really enjoying the way the colours wander in and out of each other. 

Other colour versions, like Everest below have shorter colour changes:

Ok. So here's the details:

• Stylecraft Head over Heels
• Sock yarn / 4 ply
• 75% Superwash wool, 25% Nylon
• Machine washable and tumble dryer-able
• 100g (good sized ball)
• 400m / 437y (a lot of yarn here)
• 2.25 - 3.25 size needles 
• 28 sts and 36 rows over 10 x 10cm / 4 x 4 ins

I have to say, I'm impressed with it so far: the yarn is soft and smooth to crochet with, and the colours work really well and are varied throughout the range. Superwash wool and nylon also means that this will keep you warm, but be able to be washed and tumble dried, too. It really seems perfect - great for socks (obviously) and fab for shawls and scarves, too. And retailing at around £6 - £7 per ball, is really good value for money.

So, to kick you off straight away, here's a fantastic free knitting pattern (released today!) for some gorgeous (beginner-friendly) socks by the awesome Helen from The Woolly Adventures of a Knitting Kitty:

 

AND another Blogstar, Heather from The Patchwork Heart has written all about the pattern for this beautiful crochet blanket, with a wonderful giveaway, where you could win £25 to spend on Stylecraft Yarn!

Why are you still here?

Go! Go!

Enjoy the yarn,

Sarah X

The Stylecraft Blogstars

Imagine all your favourite knit and crochet bloggers getting together for a weekend with a rather well-known yarn manufacturer and you've got a pretty awesome combination.

Let me introduce you to the Sylecraft Blogstars:

From left to right, back row:

Sandra Paul (Cherry Heart), Julia Marsh (Hand Knitted Things), Helen Kurtz (The Knitting Exploits of Josie Kitten), and me.

Front Row: Kathryn Senior (Crafternoon Treats), Heather Leal (The Patchwork Heart), Phil Saul (The Twisted Yarn), Lucy (Attic24), and Sue Pinner (Shropshire Scrapper Suz).

And not forgetting the three who couldn't be with us: Jane Crowfoot (Janie Crow), Emma Varnam (Emma Varnam) and Angela Armstrong (Get Knotted Yarncraft).

And so what did we get up to, I bet you're wondering?

Well, first I had to make my way to the Mill in Yorkshire, where we were treated to a tour by Richard Brown, owner of Stylecraft and its subsidaries.

Gorgeous views in every direction

Ever wondered how yarn is spun?

It starts off like this in huge squishy bundles:

ENORMOUS vats of yarn

And is spun through a series of the most enormous, noisy machines:

I thought these were sweets at first...

Richard, showing us how the yarn is twisted during manufacturing.

It's steamed to remove the twist, until it resembles something fine and beautiful like this:

This is one of the test rooms. I want a wall like that in my craft room.

It was so interesting to see manufacturing on such a large scale.

As if that wasn't enough, we were then invited to see the new collections of yarn. Here's one of the mood boards for the new collections. It's called 'World Marauder'. I love the colours.

And this is one of the new ranges, inspired by the colours:

It's called Batik and is wonderfully soft, with 80% Acrylic, 20% wool content. I can't wait to try it (I have lots of ideas already!). And check out Sue's blog, where she has links to lots of patterns using this yarn.

And this lovely stuff is called Yarn Stories. A beautiful, premium 100% wool, available in Merino or Merino and Alpaca and made in good old Blighty. The colours are amazing and it is sooooo squishy.

We were also told about some new exciting yarns and projects to come, but my lips are sealed. It's top-secret stuff.

You'll have to stay tuned.

So what's to come from the Blogstars?

Well, we'll be working on new projects for you, and there will be a blog tour in October, where we will reveal our patterns (in plenty of time for you to be planning those Christmas* projects). There will also be giveaways a-plenty.

*yes, I did mention the c-word. Yes, I know it's only July. Sorry about that.

The gorgeous and sparkly ' Cabaret' DK

So do pop along and check out the other bloggers. Lots of them are far more organised than me and have already blogged about their Mill visit. And they've got so many gorgeous projects to inspire you.

Enjoy your week,

Sarah X