Thursday, January 29, 2009

Winter Knitting

It seems I have given up blogging but not knitting. Having two small granddaughters under the age of five, my knitting has taken on a new direction, wonderfully perfect small knits. Not to mention it's a great stash buster.


Heirloom Stitches, has been a new source of easy yet lovely knitting patterns. The Oz pullover (because its over the rainbow), above is knitted with four skeins of Noro Kureyon in two different colourways, knit two rows of one, then two rows of the other. Knitted in the round, from the top down, I added a border of a lavender Cascade 220 to tie it all together. A very quick knit, and once blocked a warm winter pullover to wear when the wind blows.

I bought the buttons in November, knowing that they would come to good use before the winter was over. They were the inspiration for this sweetly adorable knit.


The Raggedy Raglan pattern from Heirloom Stitches, using Rowan Cork (sadly discontinued). I have had the Cork in stash for several years, 4 balls, a subscription gift one year from Rowan. Mum and dad stayed with us for a few years after Christmas, and Bill's biggest fear when taking them home was that he wouldn't be able to pull into their snow covered driveway. His fear was unwaranted, as the couple next door made sure that their driveway had been plowed. Mum called and asked would I knit something for their little girl.

Having knitted several of the snowmen hat from Itty Bitty Hats as Christmas presents this year, the hat seemed the perfect accompaniment for the cardigan. The cardigan is edge in single crochet in Galway Chunky, also in stash.


I have to package it up and send it off this weekend. I am so taken with the pattern and yarn that I will be knitting another for three year old granddaughter. Thanks to the wonderful Maggie in the Netherlands I now have her 4 balls of Rowan (in a soft sable colour). Maggie said she hated to see good yarn go to waste and passed it on to me, in exchange for buttons and I think a few added surprises. This is just the expression of knitting kindness that makes me so glad to be a knitter. I am thinking with the sable colour I might find bear, moose or fish buttons, as the new cardigan will be heading off to winter in Idaho.

I will try and blog more, even if its just to show new knits. I had the ideal job over Autumn and Winter, working in a yarn shop. I was working three hours a week, the owner decided in the new year that she wanted to make a few changes, so my three hours went to no hours. However, the store seems to be thriving and I am doing a little teaching and filling in when I am needed. To be surrounded by colour and yarn is an amazing inspiration and to pass on my passion for knitting is a gift in itself.

3 comments:

Connie said...

Yay Isobel! Great to read about your knitting! Hope all is well!
Connie

Arianwen said...

really glad to see you back. I love seeing what you are making.

Diantee said...

Very pretty pullover and cardigan and such a good idea to use up your stash. It's really hard to keep up with blogging. I have done any since Sept 08. dianne