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International Lopi KAL!!

International Lopi KAL!!

What a surprise!  Berroco, Inc. is now the North American distributor for Istex Lopi yarns, which of course we love, and they are planning a wide-open Knit-A-Long (KAL) for February and March.   Here is the Berroco Blog post about the KAL.   The meet-up place will be on the Berroco Group board, on the Lopi KAL thread.  Why do I say International?  Because we have been sending all sorts of Lopi yarn from Australia to Canada to Europe to be used for this KAL!!

One of the great things about Lopi yarns is that it is a quick knit.  One of the great things about this KAL is that you can use any pattern and any weight of Lopi:  Lopi-Lett, Alafoss Lopi, or Plotulopi un-spun yarn.  All projects are welcome and there will be opportunities galore to connect with other Lopi knitters, from first-timers to experts.

We know how fun this is, because we held a KAL last year on our Handknitting.com Ravelry group for Audna  in plotulopi, which was a huge success.  So many beautiful sweaters.

Handknitting.com has been carrying Lopi yarns for almost 20 years.  No matter what patterns, books, colors, or weights of Lopi you want we have them, and of course  I am always available for questions and individual advice by email laurel@handknitting.com or by phone 307-200-0733.

Happy Knitting!

Plotulopi Knit Along

Plotulopi Knit Along

Hello Everyone! I hope you already know that we have begun importing Plötulopi, the classic unspun Icelandic wool. In celebration, I’ll be hosting a sweater knit-along in our Handknitting.com ravelry group for the beautiful Auđna pullover:

22 Audna

Isn’t that gorgeous? It is truly a special design, and has great design elements that are derived from the nature of the Plötulopi yarn.

This isn’t a beginners’ project; you should have some experience with knitting in the round, and with stranded color work like fair isle. On the other hand, you could very well learn some new techniques while we work through the sweater pattern!

Your investment in the project will depend on the materials you need, of course. You will need the yarn, Lopi Book #34, and US 7 & 9 circulars and dpns. You can see more details about this in my project listing.

There is no charge for this KAL. We have set up a kit package on Handknitting.com, but participation is not limited to people who buy the products from us. (If you are experienced with Plotulopi and have everything you need in your stash, that’s fine! We welcome your insights!)

I’ve been working and test knitting this pattern for the last month, and I will start posting my preparatory suggestions within the next week.   Please help me spread the word with your friends who might be interested. Thanks so much, Laurel

 

 

[1]: http://www.handknitting.com/Audna_Plotulopi_Sweater_Kit_p/audna.htm

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Malou BiColor Cowl

Malou BiColor Cowl

Dropstitch Cowl 1 This is the drop stitch cowl I passed along to you last year, but reworked for 2 balls of Malou Bicolor. I knit this in one evening while watching a football game! Size 13 circular needle, 24″. Cast on 67 st, join circle by slipping last st to left hand needle and start 1st round by K2tog (66 st). You can put a full twist into the cast on row (shown), or leave the twist out as you prefer. Rounds 1 & 3: K Rounds 2, 4: P Round 5: Knit, double wrapping each stitch. Tip: be sure not to pull your second wrap tight! Round 6: Purl, dropping the extra wrap on each stitch. Repeat these 6 rounds 5 times, then repeat rounds 1-4 once and bind off loosely. Weave in ends, then snuggle up!

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Soft, with the slightest amount of haze…

Soft, with the slightest amount of haze…

MIST!     Another Hit at Stitches Midwest

Mist comes from Twilley’s of Stamford, a name known for quality throughout the UK.  Mist is an enticing blend of alpaca, wool and synthetic that fills out your stitches with a delicate halo– a Mist!  And it comes in the most becoming “misty” colors, too.

Mist Sweater

This is my design for Mist– a simple boat-neck pullover with extra long ribbing and embellished with an easy-to-knit lace accent.  The pattern is currently free with purchase, and a medium (38-40″) takes only 8 skeins–That’s a $50 project!  This shape looks great on almost everyone–the neckline is flattering and draws attention to your face.  If you need another size, just email Laurel@handknitting.com for yarn requirements based on your finished chest measurement.

Cult of Crochet Placemats & Coasters

Cult of Crochet Placemats & Coasters

Pattern by Cult of Crochet

 

Grit Stitch Placemat by Cult of Crochet

What a great last minute project for crocheters!  So elegant, and so useful too.

These instructions are converted into American crochet notation.  If you want the original English version and to see other pictures, please visit the Cult of Crochet blog.

We recommend either Super 10 cotton or Rowan Creative Linen for these lovely table accessories.

Wyoming wildlife….again

Wyoming wildlife….again

Bighorn Sheep Rams

While we were on a trip to harvest firewood, we came across a large herd of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep–what a treat!  These sheep aren’t for wool, of course, but they are gorgeous.  These two big rams were leading about 15 ewes and kids.  If you look closely in the picture you can see another immature ram (the other white rear end) and the legs and lower body of a smaller kid behind the two dominant males.

Stitches East Favorite

Stitches East Favorite

 

Amalfi Swing Vest

We featured this sexy, swingy vest in the Stitches Fashion Show and it was a big hit!

Made with 5 colors of Amalfi, it’s an easy to knit Missoni-styled pattern with natural shaping that looks great on every body type.  READ MORE…