Purl and Seam

handmade in Lancashire

Cafe au Lait mitts in Yarn Stories Merino

January 11, 2015

The first make of the new year and it’s not even one of mine!

Cafe au lait

These exquisite mitts were knitted by my friend Liz in the new merino DK from Yarn Stories.

yarn stories cobalt

I’ve seen this yarn popping up all over the web recently, and with good reason.  Liz was kindly gifted a ball of this newly launched yarn at Yarndale last year and, I don’t mind admitting, I wouldn’t be as altruistic as her.  These mitts are gifts.  I’d be keeping them if they were mine!

cafe_au_lait_2

The cafe au lait pattern (free on Ravelry) is just lovely, and, I’m assured, fun to knit too. But the yarn is the making of these mitts.  It’s soft and springy and gives fabulous stitch definition, as you can see.

IMG_0153

The colour is an intense, saturated cobalt.  Like a kingfisher’s wing.  Simply beautiful.

cafe_au_lait_3

I’m sorely tempted to add this yarn to my knitting list for the year.  In this colour, although there are plenty of other stunning colours to choose from.  The French Navy and Fuschia would also work well with my wardrobe, for sure.

yarn stories french navy
yarn stories fuchsia

Hmmm…I’d best crack on with the stuff on the needles!

Just to be clear, I’ve received no incentive to write this review.  Yarn Stories wouldn’t know me if I was stood in the centre of their office.  And Liz didn’t even bribe me with her world famous shortbread.  I’m just besotted by these mitts and thought you’d like them too.

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The socks of love

November 26, 2014

If anything in this world proves that I love my hubby (other than his dream Sunday dinner of roast chicken followed by sticky toffee pudding) it is these socks.

argyle socks

Seriously!  Argyle socks.

argyle socks

Knitted flat and seamed.

argyle socks

Learning to mattress stitch…still a way to go!

With the single stitch diamonds added in after in duplicate stitch (Swiss darning).

Just a smidge too big for me...sigh!

Just a smidge too big for me…sigh!

What kind of crazy is that, if not crazy in love?  I do love you, baby!

FYI…the pattern is taken from Country Weekend Socks and the yarn is Drops Fabel.

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Aislinn – the finished garment and a giveaway!

September 1, 2014

At last…my Aislinn is finished and ready to be worn.  It seems to have been a very long journey since I decided to knit this cardigan.

aislinn-1

But my timing is uncharacteristically perfect.  Over the last week the weather has started to hint at Autumn and yesterday, as we headed to the park for the last time before school starts again tomorrow, it was cool enough to wear her and snatch a few photos.

Aislinn_1

I’ll admit to not liking a single one of these photos, but even so I think these photos show what a beautiful cardigan this is and, more importantly, how well it fits.  You’ll find my review about the knitting/fitting process here.

Aislinn_3

The yarn is Rown Tweed and whilst it is very pretty and very soft (although it has a whisper of scratchiness that means I’ll always wear this over a sleeve), I’m slightly wishful that I’d picked a crisper yarn with better stitch definition.

Aislin_harebell_pigtailStill…I’ve worn this a couple of times over the last week and each time someone has commented on how lovely it is.  It’s a dream to wear…as you’d imagine from a garment that actually fits…and is perfect to throw on as a jacket replacement when playing in the park.  I do love it!

I can’t wait to make my next CustomFit garment.  I’m not sure what it will be…I’ve lots of knitting and sewing ideas in my head at the moment.  But I’m off to Yarndale at the end of the month so you know I’ll be buying some yarn there!

In the meantime, Amy and her lovely team have very kindly offered one lucky reader the chance to give CustomFit a try for themselves.  Just enter below and keep your fingers crossed!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Simple socks

May 19, 2014

I’ve been intending to get The Husband to model these socks but the weekend got away from us, so I’ve photographed these socks sans feet.  It might be for the best 😉 !

3 socks 1From top to bottom the yarn is:

Arauncania Ranco Multy 322

Drops Fabel Uni Colour in Red

Arauncania Ranco Solid  2065

The Drops socks are super soft and the red really is that vibrant.  He loves them.  The Arauncania socks are a more tightly spun yarn and, I suspect, will be more hardwearing.

I used my usual Regia pattern…the one that they give away for free.  It’s a really good, simple, straightforward sock pattern that fit’s himself perfectly.

I’ve also got the heel turning completely cracked.  It’s a thing of beauty:

3 socks 2The Multy yarn comes up with a lovely spiral stripe:

3 socks 3It could be considered quite a bold colour choice for a chap’s sock…but he’s happy and that’s good enough for me.

Amazingly I’m down to one lot of sock yarn in the stash…worryingly it’s for Argyle socks.  I’m plucking up the courage to make a start on them.

In the meantime the needles are occupied with my Aislinn cardigan.  Yep!  I’ve finally cast that on.  I’ll review Amy Herzog’s Custom Fit very soon.

 

 

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Happy socks

March 26, 2014

These are happy socks in more ways than one.

I'm so happy with the matched stripes!

I’m so happy with the matched stripes!

The colour palette is very spring like and makes me hopeful that soon Spring will arrive in more than name.

Happy socks

Also, they are knitted in Wendy Happy 4ply.  The yarn is 75% bamboo and 25% nylon and have been a delightfully squishy knit.  A bit splitty, yes, but not annoyingly so.  And a bit prone to tangle in the ball, but sorting that out is work for husbands…or mine at least, he’s got far more patience with these things than I.

Last but not least, a new pair of socks always puts a smile on his face, and that makes me happy too.

Happy socks

See…happy socks indeed!

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Evie

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