Just finished this shrug and am thinking it would be just perfect for those cooler evenings. Really easy pattern available through Ravelry - and even better - it is free! You can go to the download here. Couldn't figure out what I would do for the top closure so did a quick google and found this neat way to do a button loop. This knit up so quickly and it only took 2 skeins of the Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend.

Janette.

Just had to share these two beautiful shawls that were knit by a customer of ours. The very lacy, grey shawl is from a Hand Maiden kit called Storm Water using Sea Silk in Silver. Silk always seems so luxurious and has such a nice drape. This yarn is 70% Silk with 30% Seacell and a good 400 metres per skein.

The light blue shawl was knit from a pattern called Emma's Paris Shawl (the pattern is a free download at Ravelry) and the customer used Fleece Artist - Merino 2/6 in the Salt Spray colourway. A really versatile yarn that is 100% washable merino. Well done!

Here's one of those gorgeous summer fibres I was talking about in our last post. I used a version of the classic Feather and Fan pattern, 4.5 mm needles, 40 stitches & 1 skein (246 metres) to knit this scarf from Louet's Euroflax Sport Weight 100% wet spun linen. The colourway is Willow and it has that very crisp feel that linen has but will get softer the more it is washed. And the good news is, Euroflax is machine washable and dryable. One of our customers purchased it in the Pewter colourway to knit the "Diaphaneity" top in this summer's issue of Interweave Knits magazine.

Kathy

Ah, summer...hot days, cool clothes, especially clothes knitted out of cotton! This cotton tank was made out of Elesbeth Lavold Cotton Patiné and the pattern is the Sleevless Shell from the Sublime 611 Pattern Book. But don't just think Cotton Patiné...think organic cotton, hemp, linen, silk...all beautiful, natural, breathable fibres for these hot, sultry summer days. We have them all and lots of pretty summer top patterns too!

Kathy

Not being that experienced with felting (okay, I've only ever felted one thing - but it turned out really well), I was a bit hesitant to take these on. But, I am now ready to do the final sewing and then into the washing machine! Really easy and fast to knit up - used 9.0 mm circs and only took 1 night per slipper - one night for sewing and we're almost there. I will have a pair of felted clogs in less than a week (although, right now they look like they would fit an elephant!) The pattern has good instructions and is quite easy to follow. We have been able to get in a few kits for these (includes the pattern & all of the yarn). We have also ordered in some of the patterns (they are being shipped out today) and there are a number of yarns in the shop that would work well for this project. First ones are mine, but I think that they would also make a really nice present.

Janette.

Came across this pattern and thought it would be just ideal for my husband, who can be a bit fussy when it comes to knitted hats. But, he loved it and also kindly agreed to pose for the pic. Only takes 1 skein of the Berroco Vintage and was a fast and easy knit. This is the actual pattern from the 1940's ~ the Classic WW II Watch Cap. It can be knit on circulars or straights and there are now several of his friends who are waiting....would make a great gift for Father's Day!

Janette.

Help us celebrate Moms everywhere by joining us Mother's Day weekend, May 8th and 9th for some delicious home-made scones and 10% savings on skeins. For Saturday and Sunday only, we are offering 10% off retail on all of our yarns ( a few exceptions ~ Alpaca Acres yarn, sale yarns and kits). If you're wondering what to get your Mom for Mother's Day, we've put together this beautiful kit of 2 facecloths and a soap sack made with 1 skein of the Allhemp6 ~ a fast and easy knitted lace. Hemp is grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides and is naturally mold resistant. This 100% Hemp yarn can go in the washing machine & dryer. The more it is washed, the softer it will become, yet it will not shrink, stretch, fade or pill. If your Mom is a knitter, it makes a great present and if not, you could knit it up for her!

Janette & Kathy

This beautiful hand dyed yarn from Nova Scotia (80% Merino/20% Nylon) is most often used to make socks. But this time I chose to crochet a scarf in a shell pattern and selected the Lion Brand Crochet Stitch: Shell Pattern 1 which I obtained through Crochet Pattern Central, a free pattern site on the internet. You may need to register at the Lion Brand site in order to access the pattern, but registration is free. I used a size 4.0 mm hook and chained 39 sts. It is a variegated yarn but the colours, when crocheted, appear more solid in their patterning. The colourway is Morgana and its dark browns, vibrant reds, bright yellows and dark greens are reminiscent of an Autumn forest. Stunning!

Kathy

Finally got around to blocking this scarf as I have been waiting for our blocking kits to arrive. What a difference that makes to any knitted project - especially lace - it just comes to life. The blocking kits contain 8 - 36" rigid blockers, 4 - 18" rigid blockers, 2 - 27" flexible blockers (great for sleeves or anything with a curve to it), 30 stainless steel T-pins and 1 yardstick. The yarn and pattern are from an earlier post on the Alpaca Scarf and it looks just great after blocking - better feel and drape. I did use a wet blocking method - soaked the scarf in Eucalan and cool water for about an hour or so before I started. I have just been using my ironing board, but it makes me think that I really need some kind of blocking board - especially for any bigger projects - shawls, sweaters....

Janette

Who doesn't know about Elizabeth Zimmerman's very clever BSJ (Baby Surprize Jacket). This adorable jacket is knitted in one piece and simply sewn at the shoulders. Janette and I knitted ours using O-Wool Balance Certified Organic yarn which is a 50% Merino and 50% Cotton blend...so soft and great to knit with. Janette's is in the Malachite colourway and mine is in the Lapis colourway. A word of caution...it looks very strange on the needles but hang in there, we promise you that when you bind off, you will have a sweet little sweater that will be a family heirloom for many years to come.

Kathy and Janette

A great pair of fingerless gloves - the pattern is called Fetching - free at Knitty.com. I used Blackstone Tweed on 5.0 mm needles. This stuff is so soft - and I've always loved a tweed. Only takes 1 skein to make a pair - finished in a weekend and a good spring/fall accessory. The pattern actually calls for Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran - my next pair.

Janette

Yes, it's true, we are starting to offer knitting & crocheting classes! You can get more information and register at our website.

Just finished this shawl - took 2 skeins of the Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend and a set of 5.50 mm circulars. Would make a great spring/fall piece and if you want to try your first lace, there are a couple of great, really easy and free patterns! This one is the Kevat-Shawl (Kevat means spring in Finnish). There is also a .pdf link for this pattern on the Ravelry website. Another pattern that would work with 2 skeins of the Manos Silk Blend is the Eyelet Shawl which can also be found on the Ravelry website. It is good for variegated yarns as well as solid colours. The Eyelet Shawl uses the "yo, k2tog" as the basic stitch pattern.

Janette

We have just received a shipment of new products and needed to rearrange the store to fit them all in! Some beautiful hand dyed, silk blend, DK yarns which would be perfect for a summer shawl or tank. Some great chunky weight yarns in an extensive colour range - both 100% wool which is great for felting and sweaters and some 100% merino that can be put in the washer and dryer! The lace weight yarns in baby alpaca have arrived for knitting beautiful shawls and scarves and we've topped up on our supply of baby yarns and sock yarns. There is still more to come....

Further to an earlier posting from Janette about the hempforknitting, here's the crocheted beanie in the Aubergine colourway. Only took one skein to make. I also enjoyed crocheting witht the hemp and I did soak my skein first in warm water and hair conditioner. It was lovely and soft to work with. If you're looking for a fun & easy crochet pattern for a summer hat that's hip to wear - we've got the hemp and the pattern here at CloseKnit.

Kathy.

Never had this type of yarn in my hands before - quite enjoyable. Took only 1 skein - and it is from Alpaca Acres - I could walk there...
Yes - it needs to be blocked - will do that and post on it later - the before and after pic. Feels beautiful - but like all lace patterns, it will get even better with blocking.
I used 4.50 mm DPN's and a free pattern from Nicole Hindes called Strangling Vine. Should be noted that if you do use this pattern, you are expect to do a RAOK - Random Act of Kindness - which you can read more about in her post. There is also the link to the .pdf of the pattern from this site. Easy to knit - SSK, K2tog and yo's...nothing complicated.

Janette

CloseKnit has hemp! This product comes from Lana Hames, founder/owner/designer of Lanaknits Designs hempforknitting. Well, why hemp? The more hemp is put into the washing machine and dryer, the softer it gets - and it will not shrink, stretch, fade or pill! You've got to like that. It is a bit stiff to work with and Lana suggests that if you find that it is, soak the skein in hot water and hair conditioner - and let it dry - don't rinse it. I was going to try this as it took 2 skeins to make the market bag - thought I would knit with one of the skeins as it was and the other I would try the conditioner on - but once I started knitting with it, I didn't think it was too much of a problem (certainly no worse than cotton). She has amazing patterns and we did get in a good selection. The hemp that arrived is the allhemp6, 100% hemp in a DK weight. I tried my regular Addi Turbo's first, then went to my lace Addi Turbo's and then ended up with my bamboo Addi's - which worked perfectly. Kathy has also been crocheting with it - did a great beanie in the Aubergine colourway - will get a pic of this shortly...

Janette

Just wanted to share a great pair of socks that one of our first customers made for her Valentine. Used the Berroco Vintage on 3 mm needles and she thought it was just wonderful to work with. It took 2 skeins of the Vintage to make a pair of Size 11 mens. A few more pics and info at her site on Ravel ~
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/kreze/marks-socks

Janette

I have today off from the CloseKnit shop and Janette's working. So what do I do? Naturally, I knit! The weather in Stratford, as all over the Province, has been snowy and blowy but I've been inside, tucked under a throw, with Ruby the cat on my lap, the fire going, a nice cup of tea, homemade cranberry/apricot scone and a terrific knitting project!! I'm knitting Kilt Hose from our own label 100% wool, sport weight in a gorgeous oatmeal colourway. All this, and then I get to go back to the CloseKnit shop tomorrow. Yipee!

Kathy

First of all, we would like thank everyone that made it out to our Grand Opening! We were overcome with the number of people, their support and the excitement of having a LYS back in Stratford. It felt so good.

We are going to start sharing our enthusiasm by posting our yarns, projects and contributions.

Janette & Kathy