KILT HOSE!


(what did you think I was gonna say? This is a family show!)
I have to admit I love kilt hose. I even wrote a paper in college about the phantom bagpiper on my campus, who I’d see walking around piping with his stockings gleaming in the midday sun. There’s just something so regal about a pair of elegant hose. As handknit or even fine kilt hose is quite expensive to order these days, now you can make your own! What’s really cool about both of the patterns in this kit, besides the fact that you can make both pair, is that they’re totally unisex and customizable for size. And, because they’re just awesome anyway, you don’t even have to wear a kilt or be a piper to wear them. But you will want to show them off!
When Nina and I were …

So who’s taking part in the Knitting Olympics/Ravelrympics? I actually kept putting off my project – I did a sweater during the Summer Olympics a year & half ago and thought I might do another – but I want to finish the sweater I currently have on the needles. I hemmed & hawed and told people here I probably wouldn’t take part…then Friday I suddenly choose a project at the last minute.

Temple Cats!
I have been in love with this pattern even before Suzanne submitted it to IDP. I haven’t done a lot of stranded color work so I decided the time was right for this pattern. I had some old Merino Style in my stash that would work well so I was all set!
I cast on during the Opening Ceremonies – which I loved, especially the tattooed tap dancing fiddle players. Though I am super annoyed …

This project felt like it took forever, and I’m so glad it’s finally done. I also love the finished result, so it was worth all that effort. Here’s my 10 Stitch Twist blanket in all its 72″ diameter glory.
I ended up using 36 balls of Palette, double stranding 2 colors together throughout. I switched out one color at a time (every 3/4 of a round or so) so that the color transitions are pretty gradual. Frankie Brown’s 10 Stitch Twist pattern is clever and simple – it’s excellent tv/movie knitting and keeps you warm at the same time!

Melissa – our color guru – helped me pick out the colors to match my sofa, and the blanket looks wonderful draped over the arm of the sofa – ready to curl up with a good book when I am. And the ample size means no cold …

Congratulations Araignee!
I hope you have chosen your Merino Style colors to make your own Shiver Scarf! We will be getting in touch to ask for your preferences!

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So in a kit planning meeting long, long ago, it was decided that we’d do an entrelac kit. It’s an interesting technique that can yield very pretty results. When it was decided that I would be writing this pattern, I thought, well, darn – I have no idea how to do that!
Turns out, it’s really easy. And Yvette is the result.

Considering I had to learn Entrelac before writing the pattern, I was concerned that I’d get frustrated with it and not come up with anything very nice. But what I found was that it’s strangely addictive. Especially in Andean Silk, which is about the best yarn ever. It’s actually much, much easier than I expected – if you can pick up stitches, then you’re ready to go!

Entrelac is formed by knitting a small mitered section of stockinette, then picking up stitches from a previous section …

I’ve used Jacquard acid dyes for a number of yarn and roving
projects, but for this month’s dyealong I wanted to try something new.

I haven’t done much natural dyeing,
and I wanted to try using everyday household items that didn’t need
special equipment or complicated recipes.  I thought I’d try using
coffee to dye my blanks – we always have it in the cupboard, and I was
playing around with the idea of using two different ombre dye patterns
in a woven scarf.