knit365

For Fox Sake Sweater

A graphic yolk sweater for our Fox mad friend Sharon!

By Maxim Cyr

Started: 21st September 2020

Finished: 13th December 2020

Pattern Link: https://boutiquelesgarcons.com/products/for-fox-sake?variant=35164243394728

Yarn Used:

West Wool Tandem, DK

John Arbon Textiles Paint By Numbers, DK (for the orange)

Main colour approx. 985 metres

Contrast colour 1 (blue) approx. 20p metres

Contrast colour 2 (orange) approx. 110 metres

Contrast colour 3 (white) approx. 150 metres

Colourway:

Main colour Pebble

Contrast colour 1 Prince

Contrast colour 2 KBN13

Contrast colour 3 Birch Tree

Tools Used:

3.5mm needle for ribbing and 4mm needle for main body

Mini blog

We have an amazing friend called Sharon, she’s one of those friends that are there for you when you need them, you can go weeks without speaking but they’ll always take your call.

Everyone needs a friend like Sharon.

So when Sharon had to curtail plans for a special birthday celebration because of the pandemic, I decided to make an extra special gift for her birthday. Sharon is obsessed with foxes – we call her Foxy Shaz – and this pattern by Max Cyr was the perfect choice.

I’ve made one of Max’s patterns before and I just love how vibrant and graphic his designs are. The real challenge with making this sweater was that the yolk has three colours in use at the same time for most of the design, often in colourwork yolks you have three yarns running at the same time as the exception, but this one was the norm with maybe only 1 or 2 rows of the chart using only two colours. But when you’re a few rows in and you’ve sorted out your yarn management so the balls don’t get tangled together the yolk is actually a pretty speedy knit.

I wanted this jumper to be perfect and Sharon knew she was having it as a gift, so when I had finished it I didn’t sew in the ends until we saw Sharon for her to try it on, by keeping the ends live it meant I could adjust the length of the body or the arms for that perfect fit.

Lockdown restrictions eased in the UK just before Christmas and we saw Sharon, and I think she looks amazing in her jumper!

The best label from Stephen and Penelope

Blocking hides a multitude of sins in colourwork!

Mini Festive Elf

Elf, Toft Miniture Dolls collection

The cutest little elf for the festive season!

Started: 25th October 2020

Finished: 28th October 2020

Pattern Link: https://www.toftuk.com/PD.aspx?product=Dolls/Mini_Dolls/-Mini_Elf_Doll

Yarn Used:

Toft DK wool

c. 100g in total

Colourway:

Skin tone – Oatmeal

Hair – Chestnut

Main clothing colour – green

Contrast clothing colour – Cream

Tools Used:

3mm crochet hook

Mini blog

As a big fan of the Toft collections and with Christmas just around the corner, I thought it was time to add something festive to my menagerie!

This was my first attempt at a Toft creation that wasn’t an animal. I’m used to working on smaller projects – also known as fiddly things – and I enjoyed the different techniques this doll gave me.

The doll is created by making a body and head in one piece and then crocheting the arms. The jumper is crocheted to add on later, just like dressing a doll.

The legs are worked by alternating stripes and then the shoes are made separate and added on after. Spoiler alert – I didn’t enjoy doing the shoes and it took me a few attempts to do it, they were really fiddly!

I purchased an Elf kit from Toft and whilst I’ve nearly used up all the green colour, I have enough of the skin tone left to make a 2nd doll I think, and with other coloured yarns in my stash I’m sure I could make another to keep this one company.

Antler Toque

A cable hat with simple antler design.

Started: 21st October 2020

Finished: 25th October 2020

Pattern Link: https://tincanknits.com/pattern-PK-antlerhat.html

Yarn Used:

Rowan Pure Wool Worsted

c. 150 yards

Colourway:

Raspberry – c. 150 yards

Tools Used:

5mm needle plus cable needle

Mini blog

After the success of Dad’s hat, Mum wanted in on the actin and asked for one too – who was I to say no?!

This is a great free pattern by Tin Can Knits with a simple cable motif, the pattern is a 6 row repeat which is easy to remember and I’d recommend it for a beginner learning to cable.

This was a stash buster project using up leftover Rowan yarn that I’d used in Mum’s Mountain Mist sweater so a definite moment to polish my halo by using stash.

Simple Cable Beanie

Simple Cable Beanie by Mairin Ni Dhonncha

A ribbed beanie with a simple cable motif!

Started: 3rd October 2020

Finished: 7th October 2020

Pattern Link: https://etsy.me/3dzY6BJ

Yarn Used:

West Yorkshire Spinners Croft

c. 100 yards

Colourway:

Laxfirth – Dark Grey – c. 100 yards

Tools Used:

5mm needle plus cable needle

A mini blog:

As the weather changes here in the UK, my Dad asked if I could make him a hat to keep his head warm while he’s out and about – of course I can!

I choose to make this beanie pattern again as it’s a pretty quick knit, plus the simple cable motif gives a bit more interest than just a simple rib effect.

Dad loved the hat and now Mum has asked if she can have something too – must dig through my stash and find some wool, I can’t say no to my Mother now, can I!?

The lovely Angela over in one of my local yarn shops – Yarn n Yarns is also hosting a make-a-long during October over on Instagram so any items made during October will be entered into a prize draw to win some patterns or woolly goodness, so a double bonus for me finishing this during October.

Rory Cardigan by Sarah Hatton

Rory Cardigan

A new staple for my winter wardrobe!

Started: 1st March 2020

Finished: 28th September 2020

Pattern Link: https://www.wyspinners.com/The%20Croft%20-%20Shetland%20Colours%20Pattern%20Book

Yarn Used:

West Yorkshire Spinners Croft

1,369 yards / 1,251 metres

Colourway:

Laxfirth – Dark Grey – 1,369 yards / 1,251 metres

Tools Used:

4.5mm needle for ribbing and button bands

5mm needle for main body

A mini-blog

I finished my Rory cardigan this week, a great pattern by Sarah Hatton for West Yorkshire Spinners using their Croft wool.

I adapted the pattern slightly to shorten the sleeves and I left off the buttons to give more of a ‘swoosh’ effect. I really love that hand knitting (and other hand made crafts too of course) enable you to customise the project for that perfect fit!

The other thing I love about this project is the rolled collar, created using short rows over the neck I love how it sits on the neck and it feels like an extra ‘hug’ when I’m wearing it.

This is the 2nd project I’ve made using the Croft wool and there’s a difference in the wool from my experience. The solid colour Croft I used here is warm and squishy, it feels really soft seeing as it’s 100% wool. The first project I made used the Croft roving Aran tweed still feels a bit scratchy today even though it’s been washed. Perhaps there’s something in the production or colour dying process that affects the finish of the wool?

The wool for this project was purchased from Ammonite Yarns using vouchers I had for Christmas, the perfect gift from the MIL which meant I got to make my own Christmas present! I always struggle to think of gift ideas when people ask me what I’d like so being able to buy wool and make a hand knitted project just for me worked so well I might just do it again…

BOB socks

BOB socks by Louise Tilbrook

Classic socks with a simple twisted rib design.

Started: 17th January 2018

Finished: 27th August 2020

Pattern Link: https://www.louisetilbrookdesigns.net/everyday-knitter/2017/6/15/18gbfmk7w1g7a3llw5184obzyyvt30

Yarn Used:

West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 ply Solid

Approx 70g in total

Colourway:

Bullfinch (self striping)

Tools Used:

2.25mm DPNs

A mini-blog

I started these socks in 2018 but for varying reasons I didn’t keep up with them – knowing me I probably got distracted by new projects!

During the summer of 2020 the lovely Angela from Yarn n Yarns hosted a knit-a-long (KAL) titled the ‘Summer of Socks!’ and this was the perfect encouragement for me to grab these out of hibernation and get them finished.

The sock has a standard construction with a heel flap and gusset, there’s a rounded toe which decreases towards the end, rather than end with Kitchener stitch.

There is a simple twisted rib which is a lovely feature, enough variation to keep the pattern interesting and simple enough to be able to knit while watching TV!

Sandrine Shawl #2

Sandrine Shawl by Gäelle Henriett

A ‘v’ shaped shawl crocheted from the centre outwards.

Started: 20th April 2020

Finished: 2nd August 2020

Pattern Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crochetwithgaelle/?ref=share

Yarn Used:

West Yorkshire Spinners – Gem (Double Knit weight)

756 yards / 697 metres

Colourway:

Pink Quartz – 439 yards / 405 metres

Moonstone – 317 yards / 292 metres

Tools Used:

3.5mm hook

A mini-blog

This is my 2nd Sandrine Shawl and my crochet confidence grew even more making it. Despite being an avid fan of the Toft amigurumi animals I’ve never made a garment, and when learning to crochet I have fond memories of everything I made being wonky – I struggled to crochet in a straight line!

The pattern is really intuitive and very easy to follow, there are also videos for each section of the pattern that Gäelle filmed to really make things easy for the crocheter.

This is a great stash buster as the crochet eats through the yarn, I used just under 3 skeins which is approximately 750 yards (700 metres) in the WYS yarn I chose.

This is going to be gifted to Mark’s Mum, I’m sure she’s going to love it.

Mountain Mist

Mountain Mist by Tin Can Knits

A simple round neck sweater with a colour motif.

Started: 1st June 2020

Finished: 19th July 2020

Pattern Link: http://tincanknits.com/pattern-SB-mountainmist.html

Yarn Used:

Rowan Pure Wool Worsted (Aran weight)

1256 yards / 1148 metres

Colourway:

Ivory – 818 yards / 748 metres

Raspberry (contrast colour 1) – 219 yards / 200 metres

Candy (contrast colour 2) – 219 yards / 200 metres

Tools Used:

4.5mm interchangeable needle, 16″ for body plus 9″ for sleeves

5mm interchangeable needle, 16″ for body plus 9″ for sleeves

A mini-blog

Mum was here for lunch one day and flicked through some knitting books and found this pattern. She asked for a slightly adapted version of the main pattern with just a cream body and two contrast colours in different shades of pinks.

This was a pretty quick knit which was a joy to do on 5mm needles! It’s very satisfying seeing the project develop with minimal effort.

The colour work yolk is knit in the round using the fair isle colourwork technique. The jumper has short row shaping at the top of the yolk on the back, which raises the neck line. There is also some shaping around the waist which will help the overall fit of the jumper.

Another fantastic pattern from Tin Can Knits.

Unbearable Hoody

Mini Unbearable Hoodie by Max Cyr

A gorgeous colourwork hoodie knit in the round featuring the cutest bear motif!

Started: 29th June 2020

Finished: 12th July 2020

Pattern Link: This was a test knit, the pattern isn’t available until the Autumn 2020

Yarn Used:

West Yorkshire Spinners – Colour Lab (Double Knit weight)

Size 1 knit

394 yards / 360 metres plus small amounts of contrast colours

Colourway:

Main Colour – Citrus Yellow

Contrast Colour 1 – Silver Grey

Contrast Colour 2 – Stormy Grey

Tools Used:

4mm interchangeable needle – 16” for body, 9” for sleeves

5mm interchangeable needle – 16” for body, 9” for sleeves

A mini-blog

I saw a call for test knitters for this new pattern and I jumped at the chance to take part.

The pattern was really easy to follow and is very clearly laid out, I really like the style and branding of the pattern from Max (and his partner Vincent. Their company is called Les Garcons.

I offered to make the first size which is UK child age 2-3 as it would be perfect for #niece2, you can see from the pictures she looked very happy to be wearing it!

There is more information about this project on my YouTube channel, where I blogged about my progress https://youtu.be/1IHsUXqz3No

Flower Girl Cardigan

Flower Girl Cardigan by Jenny Watson

A cardigan with simple floral lace pattern.

Started: 17th June 2020

Finished: 28th June 2020

Pattern Link: https://www.wyspinners.com/Bo%20Peep%20-%20Story%20Book

Yarn Used:

West Yorkshire Spinners – Bo Peep (Double Knit weight)

245 yards

Colourway:

Magic – 245 yards plus odds of yarn from stash for button bands

Tools Used:

4mm needle

A mini-blog

A simple cardigan as part of the baby set I made for friends. I pattern matched the yarn throughout so had loads of ends to sew in at the end, but the effect of the stripes being consistent throughout was perfect.

I made age 3-6 months which will be perfect for a British winter!