Summer Travels Part 2 - Fiacaill Ridge

On to part two! 

This is a series of five knitting patterns inspired by my travels in the Scottish Highlands this Summer. The first pattern was a cowl inspired by the colours of the hills at Abriachan - you can read more about it here!

Our second pattern is inspired by a traverse of the Fiacaill Ridge, an imposing rocky traverse in the Cairngorms:

It looks more scary as you climb higher as well! 

Having said that, once you're at the top of the ridge, it's very flat indeed on the Cairngorm Plateau.

Something I'm not used to at all after climbing so many West Coast munros - bit more of a jagged landscape. And we managed to spot the Cairngorm reindeer which was a real treat:

But back to the knitting: the pattern this inspired would have to be cosy - it's chilly up there! So I designed a cardigan with a warm shawl collar to wrap up in, in super-insulating alpaca and silk yarn. 

Alpaca fibres are hollow, to trap extra heat (they spend a lot of time up chilly mountains too...) so it's the perfect choice for cold weather garments. The design is inspired by the rocky terrain too - with a block pattern at the back made with smocking stitches. 

  Available to purchase on 

Ravelry 

Etsy 

Craftsy

20% discount on Ravelry with coupon code SUMMERTRAVELS2 until end of December 2017

The details for the pattern are as follows:

Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Alpaca, Wool and Silk DK (45% Alpaca, 25% Merino, 30% Silk; 274yds/250m per 100g)

820 (950, 1095, 1250, 1420, 1580, 1750, 1930) yards.

750 (870, 1000, 1145, 1300, 1445, 1600, 1765) m 

Measurements:

To fit bust: 30-32 (34-36, 38-40, 42-44, 46-48, 50-52, 54-56, 58-60)”

Across back armpit to armpit: 15 (17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29)”

Armpit to hem: 16 (16.5, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5)”

Around top of sleeve: 12 (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)”

Sleeve length: 17 (17, 17.5, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19)”

Gauge: 17sts and 26 rows = 4”/10cm in stocking st with US 7/4.5mm needle after blocking.

Needles: One US 7/4.5mm 40”/100cm circular needle.

Extras: Two detachable stitch markers; cable needle; spare 40” circular needles (size US 7/4.5mm or smaller) for holding stitches or waste yarn in a contrast colour; tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends.

 

Moseley in Spring

Released another new pattern this week - Moseley in Spring!

It's available on Ravelry, Etsy, Craftsy, Folksy and LoveKnitting (phew!)

It's a fitted cardigan with a flattering drape front. Moseley in Spring is knitted from the top down with set in sleeves and neat ribbed edgings. A lightweight, and ever so slightly cropped version of our classic Moseley Cardigan in 4ply yarn with cute stripes. A perfect transitional piece for sunny Spring days. Instructions for 10 sizes are given: to fit bust 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56)”.

Here's the knitty gritty:

Garment Measurements 
Across Back Armpit to Armpit: 16 (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28)”. 
Armpit to hem: 12 (14, 14, 16, 16, 18, 18, 20, 20, 22)”. 
Around top of sleeve: 12.5 (13, 13.5, 14, 15.5, 16, 17, 18.5, 19, 20)”. 
Sleeve length from Underarm: 15.5 (15.5, 15.5, 15.5, 15.5, 17.5, 17.5, 17.5, 17.5, 17.5)”.

Yarn 
Baa Ram Ewe Titus 4ply (50% Wensleydale, 20% Bluefaced Leicester, 30% UK Alpaca; 350 yds (320m) per 100g). 
Yardage: 
MC Bramley Baths 440 (540, 575, 680, 715, 840, 875, 1050, 1140, 1320) yds. 
CC Aire 440 (540, 575, 680, 715, 840, 875, 1050, 1140, 1320) yds. 
Meterage: 
MC Bramley Baths 400 (485, 520, 620, 650, 760, 795, 950, 1040, 1200)m.
CC Aire 400 (485, 520, 620, 650, 760, 795, 950, 1040, 1200)m.

Needles 
One 4mm / US 6 40”/100cm circular needle.

Gauge after blocking 
21sts and 28 rows = 4” in stocking st with 4mm/ US 6 needles.

Extras 
Waste yarn (you’ll need about 1yd/1m), 6 detachable stitch markers, spare 40” circular needle (size 4mm/US 6 or smaller).

And just a wee reminder that the knit-along for Mountain Everlasting Sweater is just getting under way in my Ravelry group, plenty of time still to join in the fun:

Mountain Everlasting Sweater

Introducing my latest pattern, Mountain Everlasting Sweater:

A classic fitted sweater with sheer and solid stripes. We alternate between airy, lightweight mohair silk lace yarn used by itself and held together with a buttery soft 4ply blend of merino and silk. This sweater is light as a feather, like wearing a fluffy cloud, but it certainly excels at keeping the chill at bay! You can replace the 4ply yarn with any yarn of this weight, but we really would recommend using a mohair silk blend for the laceweight yarn. This sweater is seamless and knitted from the top down, and the sleeves are worked from picked up stitches around the armhole and shaped with short rows. Instructions for 10 sizes are given: to fit bust 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56)”.

And it's available at a 50% discount on Ravelry for the next week (until April 12th) with the coupon code "Mountain50"! As well as this, the pattern will be running as a KAL in my group, with a free pattern for everyone who finishes and posts pictures, and a prize draw for a skein of handspun yarn if you finish before the end of June. Discount code “MountainKAL” for 25% off valid until end of June.

And here's the knitty gritty:

Measurements 
To fit bust: 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56)”. 
0.75-1.75 inches of ease around bust dependent on size. 
Armpit to hem: 18 (18, 18, 22, 22, 22, 22, 26, 26, 26)”. 
Around top of sleeve: 13 (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23)”. 
Sleeve length from armpit: 14.5 (14.5, 15, 15, 15.5, 15.5, 17, 17, 17.5, 17.5)”.

Yarn 
Laceweight: Shibui Silk Cloud, Colourway Graphite (60% kid mohair, 40% silk; 660 yds per 50g): 
850 (930, 970, 1250, 1310, 1375, 1450, 1850, 2000, 2175)m 
930 (1020, 1060, 1370, 1435, 1505, 1590, 2030, 2190, 2380)yds. 
And 4ply: Shibui Staccato, Colourway Graphite (65% superwash merino, 35% silk; 191yds per 50g): 
360 (390, 415, 540, 560, 580, 620, 800, 850, 920)m 
400 (430, 460, 595, 620, 640, 685, 880, 935, 1010)yds.

Needles 
One 5mm / US 8 40”/100cm circular needle.

Gauge 
16 sts and 24 rows = 4” in stocking st with both yarns held together using 5mm/ US 8 needles.

Extras 
Waste yarn, 6 detachable stitch markers, spare 40” circular needle (size 5mm / US 8 or smaller).

Pattern Writing

It's the February long weekend for schools in Glasgow, so I've got the next two days off and I've got big plans! I've got two sweater patterns that need writing and I'm going to try to blitz them over the next two days. Hopefully I should be able to get them to a stage where I can send them to be tech-edited and with a bit of luck release the final patterns in the next few weeks.

Both are lovely Spring sweaters, not too heavy but just enough to keep the chill off!

Moseley in Spring is a lightweight version of my Moseley Cardigan, with cute stripes.

I love drape front cardigans, they're so flattering. (I'm actually wearing my Moseley Cardigan as I write this, it's one of my absolute favourites.) They're surprisingly quick to knit too, even in 4 ply yarn!

The yarn is Titus 4ply from Baa Ram Ewe, a British yarn that's a gorgeous blend of Wensleydale, Bluefaced Leicester and Alpaca yarn. Really lovely stuff!

The second pattern (carrying on with the stripy theme!) is my Mountain Everlasting sweater. This one really is lovely, and I've already got a lot of wear out of it!

It's a classic fitted sweater knitted with stripes of mohair silk laceweight yarn, and the laceweight yarn held together with merino and silk 4 ply yarn. 

The yarns are Shibui Silk Cloud and Shibui Staccato - they're designed to go together and come in the most gorgeous colourways. And they're so, so soft. This sweater really is like wearing a lovely fluffy cloud. Loving it!

So fingers crossed that both patterns will be released soon, so you can knit these two up in time for Spring!