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.

 

One Million Hits Sale!

We've reached a milestone 1,000,000 hits on the blog and we're having a sale to celebrate. All our patterns on Ravelry will be available at a 50% discount with the coupon code "Million".

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:

2016 Ambitions

I have decided, 2016 is going to be the year when I become an adult. I've hit 30 now and it really is time I started cleaning my room and organising my life. And I'm serious, I've tidied out my yarn stash and my emails, my workspace is looking shockingly organised, and I've purchased a shower cleaning spray that promises I'll never have to scrub it again.

Here's why: I have a seriously stressful full time job on top of my knitting design work and it is starting to take its toll on my health. I teach Maths in one of the most deprived areas in the country, and whilst I absolutely love the time I spend with the kids and love seeing the difference a devoted teacher can make, the amount of rubbish that comes with teaching these days is almost unbearable. I love teaching, absolutely love it, but I've spent the last six weeks with a virus and am getting dizzy spells from stress. Enough is enough. I need more balance in my life. 

So my plan is to sort out the knitting business properly, to the extent where I can go part time with the teaching - best of both worlds! My business model so far has been largely based on knitting what I want and writing up patterns for around half of what I knit. I'm a real Maths nerd and love the challenge of grading a pattern, working out colourwork and lace patterns for different sizes, and making the image of a garment in my head into a reality. It's a happy-go-lucky business model, publishing this and that as I go. For 2016 I'm going to need to be more serious and organised about it if I want to make it a real success. 

So I've been reading all the "New Year, New You" articles that abound at this time of year a bit more seriously and I've come up with some aims:

1. Get more patterns published by third parties. All my patterns so far have been self published, but I feel it's time to get my name out there a bit more, and (maybe, just maybe) make a bit more cash in the process!
2. Be more proactive on social media. I can be a bit of a social media hermit, and only post when I've got a new pattern out or a sale on. I'm really going to try to be a bit more consistent with the blogging, tweeting etc.
3. Start up a Ravelry group. I really should have done this by now, but better late than never! I'm going to try running a few knit-alongs and run my test knitting from there too.

So fingers crossed this will all work out and I won't be posting the exact same thing this time next year!

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!)

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! 

Buchanan Street Sweater

Released a new pattern today! Buchanan Street Sweater is a classic wardrobe staple. It's a flattering longer length with some little tricks for a perfect fit. For example, there are more stitches at the front than the back (I don't know why more patterns don't do this!) and there is extensive guidance on how to change the fit of the shoulders, sleeves and where the waist sits. I really love an "almost plain" sweater, and this one totally fits the bill for me. The pretty stitch detail at the shoulders adds just enough interest without it being overly fussy. 

Here's some pictures!

It's available to download on Ravelry, Etsy and Craftsy.

Asphodel Shawl

I've just released a new lace pattern, Asphodel Shawl:

 

A stunning lace shawl with a geometric design. There are three distinct bands of lace in the shawl, working from larger to smaller diamonds with a lace edge. The shawl is constructed as a traditional triangular shawl, with the lace patterns to the right and left sides of the spine mirror images of each other.

Asphodel is available on Ravelry, Craftsy and Etsy.

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace or other laceweight yarn. Two skeins = 840 yards / 768m.

Gauge: 21 sts = 4” with 4mm / US 6 needles after blocking. Exact gauge isn't crucial though.

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

Extras: Two stitch markers, crochet hook and yarn in a contrasting colour for provisional cast on, 4.5mm/US7 needle for bind-off, pins and a large towel for blocking.

Dimensions: makes a triangle 58” across

and 29” high after blocking.