Quick Knits Sale and a Chunky Cowl Pattern

Christmas Gift Sale Part Three

Our last sale of 2015 is for Quick-to-Knit patterns - a December essential! This week I've been knitting lots of little gifts: worsted weight socks, bulky slippers and hats, and a superchunky cowl (more on that below!) And I know I'm not alone, lots of knitters across the globe are putting the finishing touches on handmade presents. But for those of us who have left things to the last minute, not to worry! Our last sale is for super quick knits, either small projects like hats or mittens, or larger items in chunkier yarns. Get 30% off in our Ravelry Store with coupon code "QuickKnit" until Saturday 19th December. 

King's Park Cowl 

Our latest pattern is a superchunky winter warmer. Made up of a pretty collection of textured stitch patterns, it looks much more complicated than it really is! And as it certainly falls into the category of quick knits, it's also available at a 30% discount until Saturday with the coupon code "QuickKnit". Available to purchase from Ravelry.

Cabled Pattern Sale and Indie Design Gift-Along

It's the busiest time of year for knitters, when we're all trying to make the perfect handmade gift. This year we're trying to make things a little easier by running  four different sales. Two weeks ago it was lace, now it's cables! (basic patterns and quick knits are the next two themes!) All our cabled patterns in our Ravelry Store will be 30% off with the coupon code "XmasCables". 

It's also the time of year for the Indie Design Gift Along on Ravelry. This is a great knitting event where hundreds of independent pattern designers offer a discount on their patterns, and more importantly we all get together to knit, chat, and inspire one another. This year I'll be looking for a chunky sock pattern to knit for one of my brothers and a couple of hat patterns to knit as gifts for my boyfriend's sisters. And of course I'm always on the lookout for a stunning lace design. This is a really lovely thing for knitters of all abilities from across the globe to take part in, with a real sense of community.

Courie In

Please not that Courie In is no longer available as a free pattern. However, it is available to purchase in an improved form with additional sizes and instructions for shorter versions and a version with three-quarter length sleeves. 

"Courie in" is a Scottish phrase meaning to "snuggle up" - and it's the perfect name for this oversized, supremely warm, wrap front cardigan. This is a real winter warmer, ideal for nestling into with a mug of cocoa on a cold day. And it's so quick to knit! This cardigan has a slightly unusual construction. Sleeves are knitted first from cuff to centre back, then both sleeves are joined with a three needle bind off. Stitches are picked up at the bottom edge from armpit to armpit and worked down to the hem to form the back. Then stitches are picked up round the front to form the garter stitch wrap front.

Here are the details:

Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Superwash Merino Bulky in Heather Grey. 6 (7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15) skeins = 654 (763, 981, 1090, 1308, 1526, 1635) yards

Dimensions 
To fit bust: 30-32 (34-36, 38-40, 42-44, 46-48, 50-52, 54-56)” Across back: 15 (17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27)” 
Sleeve length: 15 (16, 17, 17.5, 18.5, 18.5, 19.5)” 
Upper arm circumference: 12.5 (13, 14, 14.5, 16, 17, 17.5)” 
Length armpit to hem: 14.5 (15.5, 16.5, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5, 20.5)”

Needles: 100cm/40” 8mm/US11 circular needle, 8mm/US11 dpns if you wish to avoid using “magic loop”.

Gauge: 10sts x 17 rows = 4” in Double Moss Stitch after blocking. Note that the weight of the cardigan whilst damp will cause it to stretch out more than a small swatch will.

Extras: Crochet hook for weaving in loose ends, stitch markers.

It's available to download on Ravelry and Craftsy. 

Christmas Sale Part 1 - Lace

Time to start knitting for Christmas!

I'm not sure how everyone else is feeling, but I'm starting to panic about my Christmas knitting. I'm aiming to knit eleven gifts by Christmas and haven't started one! So as an act of solidarity with the knitting community, I'm offering a 30% discount on lace patterns for the next two weeks to make things a little bit easier!

Coupon code is "XmasLace" and all my lace patterns can be found in a Ravelry Bundle.

Hate knitting lace? We'll be running sales on cabled, basic and quick-to-knit patterns too. (Thought having quick-to-knit patterns last and fancy lacy ones first was the most sensible order!)

Birthday Sale!

It's my thirtieth this week, so I'm having a sale in my Rav Store to celebrate!

Year of Lace Knitting

Three of my oldest and dearest friends turn thirty this year. I've set myself a challenge to knit each of them a truly timeless heirloom piece to mark the occasion. 

For my friend Gill, I knitted Sineabhar, a stunning shawl that looks amazing but is actually quite straightforward to knit. The pattern gives two sizes, for a 50" and 80" shawl. Using only 65 and 35g of yarn for each size, it's the perfect pattern for using up leftover laceweight yarn.

Sineabhar is available to purchase from Ravelry, Etsy, Craftsy and Loveknitting.

For my friend Jo, I have knitted up Northumbria. A gorgeous rectangular shawl with zigzag stripes of delicate lace. This would work just as well as a truly beautiful everyday scarf as it would as a wrap over an evening dress.

Northumbria is also available on Ravelry, Etsy, Craftsy and Loveknitting.

And my third friend? Her birthday isn't for a few more months, so it's still a bit of a work in progress! 

Summer Knitting

The weather as always here in Scotland remains changeable, but there have certainly been some warm (and even one or two hot!) days lately. So in keeping with the season, here's a few new knitting patterns perfect for Summer evenings on the balcony, keeping the chill off on long seaside walks and lazy days in the park...

Just released today and hot off the presses is my Summer Lace Tank. It's the ideal Summer knit, something lightweight that still looks stunning.

This tank is knit from the top down with a yoked construction. Stitches from the front and back of the yoke make up the body, and extra stitches are cast on at the underarm. The hem and sleeves have an attached i-cord edging to keep everything neat and to stop edges from curling. There are more stitches at the front than the back to provide a better fit and to give a pretty scoop neck. The pattern gives 10 sizes - to fit bust 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56)”.

Available on Ravelry, Etsy and Craftsy.

And the details:

Dimensions: 
Bust: 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56)” 
Neckline: 23.5 (26, 27, 28.5, 30, 31, 33.5, 36, 38.5, 42.5)” 
Yoke Depth: 3 (3, 3.5, 3.5, 3.5, 4, 4, 4, 4.5, 4.5)” 
Armhole Circumference: 14 (15, 16, 16, 17, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19)” 
Length Armpit to Hem: 16 (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)”

Yarn: Rowan Fine Lace in colourway “Patina”. 
550 (625, 700, 780, 870, 960, 1050, 1190, 1350, 1510) m 
605 (690, 770, 860, 960, 1050, 1150, 1310, 1480, 1660) yds

Needles: 4mm/US 6 circular needle-100 cm long if you work magic 
loop, or at most 60 cm if you prefer not to; 3mm/US 2.5 circular 
needle-100 cm long if you work magic loop, or at most 60 cm if you 
prefer not to; two 4mm/US 6 dpns for i-cord bind off.

Gauge: 21 stitches and 30 rows = 4”/10 cm in stocking stitch after 
blocking.

Extras: Two stitch markers, waste yarn, embroidery needle for weaving in loose ends.

Epsilon is a cute cropped cardigan knitted from the top down using a yoked construction. Both charts and written instructions are given for the lace sections.

Instructions are given for eight sizes: to fit bust 28-30, 32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50, 52-54 and 56-58.

Available on Ravelry, Etsy, Craftsy and Loveknitting.

Here's some of the details:

Measurements

Yarn: Abstract Cat Superwash Bluefaced Leicester Sock Yarn 400m/100g. 

Needles: One 4mm / US 6 40”/100cm circular needle, one set of 4mm/US 6 dpns if preferred to magic loop, one 6mm/US 10 40”/100cm circular needle for initial cast on.

Gauge: 24 sts and 30 rows = 4” in stocking st with 4mm/ US 6 needles.

Extras: Waste yarn, 2 detachable stitch markers, embroidery needle for weaving in loose ends.