HRYC
Handmade 2015: be in to win!
You gotta be in, as they say, to win. And this weekend at Handmade is your chance to win! All you have to do is make a purchase in the Knit Lounge and you'll be entered into the draw to win....
A Knit Pro Marblz Deluxe set! Oooooh! Valued at $129, this is one bright pack of needles. You certainly won't lose them when they practically glow in the dark (they don't, but how great would it be if they did?).
The Knit Lounge will not only be a place to hang out and be social, it will be fully stocked with things you might need for your class, tempting yarns and fibres. We'll also have some brand new products and a whole bunch of Handmade-only specials. Hooray!
Indie Shelf: Dark Harbour Yarns
Last chance to get your hands on some glorious, glorious Dark Harbour Yarns this week. We sadly didn't get ourselves quite organised enough to pose Nikki with the usual questions, but that's ok as her yarns speak for themselves.
Sampler Square Blanket CAL
As I've been a bit remiss in blogging about our Crochet Blanket CAL, here's Kate with the down-low. It's been so fun watching the projects grow (and thanks a million to Kate for taking this on!). - Tash
Our Sampler Square Blanket CAL is running all year – it’s only May, so it’s not too late to join in!
Pattern options for 12” squares are posted each month, focusing on different techniques. These squares are a great way to challenge your crochet skills and try out new things. If you want to start with more basic patterns, check out the February and March options; otherwise, just pick the ones you like best from any of the 21 patterns already posted.
Basic stitch pattern options:
Block Stitch Square by Ana Benson (Rachel’s version)
Double-Framed Lace by Chris Simon (Amie’s version in Vintage DK)
Carré Sacha by GrannyMania (Kate’s version in Cascade 220).
Ready for a little more of a challenge? Try the Catalina Afghan Square by Julie Yeager to focus on clusters or the Yarn Clouds Square by Amelia Beebe to practice back-post double crochets.
Catalina square
Yarn Clouds square
All of the patterns were designed for 10ply yarn, but we have participants making squares in 8ply and 12ply as well. You can make the squares in a single colour, combine a few of your favourite colours, or use up your stash.
Bridget’s Crochet Clusters Afghan Square by Julie Yeager in a single colour of Silver Lining 8ply.
Claire’s Ribs and Lace Afghan Block by Joyce Lewis in Ashford Tekapo 12ply.
We’ll be aiming to join our squares together in November and December. If you’d like to make a small throw, aim for 12 squares. For a full-size afghan, you will need 24. If you just can’t stop making squares, go for 30!
Mel’s fabulous first six squares (in Vintage DK)
It’s been so exciting seeing different interpretations of the same square! Here are some participant versions of the Spring Fling 12" Square by April Moreland:
Amie's version
Bridget's version
Claire's version
Mel's version
Rachel's version
Kate's version
We’d love to have you join us! To participate, join here and post comments and/or photos in our Ravelry forum (full list of patterns available here).
Handmade 2015: meet-ups!
Only a few sleeps to go, and we are full-steam ahead for a wonderful weekend of making and doing at Handmade. The Knit Lounge will be located in the Renouf Foyer at the Michael Fowler Centre and is the place to be in between classes - here's what we'll be doing:
Crochet Blanket CAL session
11am - 1pm Saturday
Kate will be on hand to help out with any tricky stitches or curly questions relating to the Crochet Blanket CAL.
Learn to Knit
Spin Club
Garment KAL session
Pattern ideas: Shawls & Wraps & Scarves
Casting around in my stash this morning, I got to thinking about what to do with those special skeins of yarn. You know the ones - usually 4ply, just one precious 100g skein, hand-dyed and with some sort of sentiment attached. Most of my (small, in case you're wondering) stash is made up exactly these yarns - picked up on my travels and full of glorious, vibrant colour.
What to do with one skein? If socks aren't your thing, or it feels as if it needs to be something a bit fancier, here's a few ideas. With the cool weather, i've gone for wraps and shawls, perfect for tucking in to winter coats.
Designed for a single skein of Madeline Tosh Dandelion, Lionberry combines lace and texture to make the most of Dandelion's vibrant hand-dyed hues.
I've loved Pebble Beach for a long time - and Helen's just re-released the pattern with 2 more sizes and a lace weight option. You may see me knitting a bright pink version of this very shortly.
Another great shawl from Justyna - with carefully balanced lace and cable edging on a simple eyelet background. Some of the Dark Harbour Yarn, gracing the Indie Shelf this month, would be absolutely stunning made up as this shawl.
And once you've knit all those lovely things with the lovely yarns, there's always a bit left. The Outline scarf is an interesting take on the chevron patterns around - and the perfect way to keep all those ends of balls in one useful and memory-filled project.
