I loved working with this colour. There’s just something about greens! I’m definitely looking forward to autumn, and this shawl will be perfect for chillier days. The pattern is Gudrun Johnston’s Wast Side Shawl and the yarn is Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in Peat Mix. I’m a big fan of Gudrun’s patterns. In fact, this is my second in a row. The shawl is worked from the edging inwards, so once you move to the body you feel like you’re almost done!

Wishing my knitting partner for life a very happy birthday today!

[Photos courtesy of Chris]

[Ravelled]

I made these fingerless mitts in thanks for a box of mystery wool. I was the lucky recipient of a box of super bulky yarn and a mix of brightly-coloured fleece. A friend of a friend gave it to me and thinks it may have originated with family in Poland. I think these mitts should make it a fair trade! I’m really happy with how they turned out – delicate and feminine with their buttoned lace cuffs.

The pattern is Veyla by Ysolda Teague and I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in Pitch Black. I love the yarn and I should have enough leftover for another project. Something soft and lightweight!

[Photos courtesy of Chris]

[Ravelled]

I’m almost at the end of my holiday knitting, which is good since I leave for Vancouver tomorrow morning! Hints were dropped for a muff, so I decided on a slightly modified version of Cirilia Rose’s Hanne. I’m not sure if it was the stitch pattern or me but I ended up with the wrong stitch count two times. Not a believer in third time lucky, I switched to a similarly shaped stitch from Barbara G. Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns (Powder Puff on pg. 136). It was a fun project to make. There was some assembly required – it’s knit in two separate layers, then padded with batting and secured with running stitches to anchor all three layers.

These are Those Mitts by Leslie Friend. This pattern, along with other great ones (hello, toast and toasty!), is available as a free download in her blog sidebar. I can see why this is her “go-to” pattern for mitts. I love them!

I used Mission Falls 1824 wool in Raven for both the muff and mitts. Can’t get enough!

[Muff photos courtesy of Chris]

[Ravelled Hanne Muff; Ravelled Those Mitts]

This hat makes a really sweet baby gift, with the added bonus of being a quick, one-piece knit. It took just shy of one ball of Diamond Bamboo Cotton yarn. I used the pattern Cisco by the Berroco Design Team, with some modifications. I knit the whole hat in garter stitch (rather than stockinette in parts), worked I-cords for the ties and used one solid colour rather than the stripe pattern given.

The ears are a playful feature of this little hat. I used to think dressing children up as animals was cruel. I’ve changed my mind. It’s ridiculously cute.

I picked up some beautiful 50/50 silk and merino wool from Romni Wools – Palace by Berroco in Shanghai Blue. It took two balls to make this neck warmer and it’s long enough to wear as a hood as well.

The pattern is from Knit 2 Together. Knit in a feather-and-fan lace stitch, it’s a really classic looking piece that comes together really quickly. I love the look of lace knit in a chunkier wool. Feminine and cozy!