Christmas Glamour Knits gets some balls

Christmas Glamour Knits are my best selling pattern by far,  all year round I sell these little Christmas knits across the globe.  I have been a busy bee adding a couple of new patterns to this collection, so you can add to yours.

knitted christmas baubles jane burns

New for this year are two pattern leaflets…

The aptly titled Christmas Glamour Bauble pattern (I know where did I come up with that name, right?)

knitted christmas baubles jane burns

 

This is knitted in the round on double pointed needles, with a small stranded colour work section (which is worked from a chart).  If you are new to stranded colour work this is the project for you to dip your toe into the stranded knitting pool so to speak (because there is only a small section of colour work).  The pattern includes as always full written instructions and video links to tutorials to get you started with any new techniques or offer a refresher should you need one.

 

Finally, a couple of small balls (too easy?)  Christmas Glamour Mini Baubles

knitted christmas baubles jane burns

This pair are tiny, measuring a mere 11cm in circumference, you will be able to make these in no time at all.  The beaded bauble uses a crochet hook to apply the beads.  There is both written and video instructions for this technique.  I can not recommend learning this skill enough, no more threading hundreds of beads onto your yarn!

I hope you enjoy the new additions to the family,  I would love to see what you make.

Buy your patterns here for immediate download.

Squishy Hat & Cowl in gorgeous Eden Cottage Yarn

The second design featured on the cover of Let’s Knit Magazine issue 84, was my snuggly hat and cowl set.  Knit using the most gorgeously squishy Langdale Superwash Aran, from Eden Cottage it is lovely to knit and luxurious to wear.

Keeping Cosy jane burns

Keeping Cosy

Images Courtesy of Let’s Knit Magazine

 This is a clever little stitch, it uses a simple technique to create a stunning mock cable effect which is so on trend this season, (and no pesky cable needle needed).

eden cottage bramble swatch jane burns

This big cosy cowl can easily be adapted to any length desired.

eden cottage bramble cowl tn jane burns

You can get your hands on the pattern here….

As always I would love to see your finished projects on my Facebook page and on Ravelry.

Happy Knitting X

Sweet Sweet Yarn

Look what arrived today,  Bonbons!

I am not talking about the delicious sweet shop classics but the new mini collections of yarn from Lion Brand.  I discovered these delightful little packets of yarn when I visited the Lion Brand stand at the NEC trade show in February.

The bold colour choices and small amounts of yarn instantly had me thinking, ‘what could I make with these?’,  as you know I love making smaller quirky projects, so these little packs of fibre goodness had to be mine!

Each collection contains eight miniature balls of yarn, perfect for any project requiring small amounts of multiple colours, such as colourwork, amigurumi or even for embellishing larger projects.

Lion Brand bonbons yarn

 

bonbons fiesta

Possibly my favourite collection is Fiesta shown above, this metallic collection just screams Christmas at me!

lion brand bonbon yarn

Cotton Collection, beautiful colour palette that is Nature

bonbon crayons

Crayons is an acrylic collection which bold shades that are bordering on neon

There are eight colourways in total to choose from, why not check out Beach, Brights, Celebrate, Jingle Bells and Pastels online at Deramores.

The knitty gritty;

Cotton:  Sport Weight
8 x 10g
8 x 26m

Acrylic: DK Weight
8 x 10g
8 x 26m

Metallic: Sport Weight
8 x 10g
8 x 35m

You can buy your Bonbons online from Deramores for just £6.99 a pack.  I would love to hear what you would make with Bonbons?

 

 

Daily fibre – Rowan pure wool dk

I find myself working with Rowan pure wool dk time and time again and the other day I asked myself why.  What is it about this yarn that makes me work with it so often?  It is such a great all-rounder yarn.  My stitches always look even and my colourwork crisp when I work with this yarn. Stitch patterns and cables have good definition when worked in Rowan pure wool too!

Often when I was learning to knit I heard people saying how good quality yarn can make all the difference to the finished fabric.  Most newbie knitters reach for the cheaper acrylic yarns, feeling that their early knitting efforts are not worthy of the pure wool price tag.  I was no exception, my stockinette stitch was uneven and  my colourwork was disappointing.  So many times I told myself colourwork  just wasn’t for me.  But I adore knitting Fair Isle, holding one colour in each hand,  working my way through the chart…. bliss.  I clearly remember working with a pure wool yarn for the first time and thinking ‘why didn’t I do this sooner?’

But the most compelling reason I turn to this yarn,  the colour palette.  I can always rely on Rowan to keep their shade cards on trend.

Oh and if I have not sold you on the virtues of Rowan pure wool yet, being superwash it is ideal for garments, especially kids and those given as gifts!

On my desk at the moment…..

rowan purewool2

Shades; Black, Anthracite, Shale, Enamel, Hyacinth

 rowan purewool shade card

 

 

Available in 26 shades you are spoilt for choice

rowansc

 

Rowan pure wool is also available in 4ply and aran weight.  Do you have a favourite yarn? I would love to hear why.

Daily Fibre – Langdale by Eden Cottage Yarns

Sometimes I get to work with some truly beautiful yarns and today is one of those days.  Today I am working with Langdale Superwash Aran from Eden Cottage Yarns.

 

eden cottage yarns langdale

  Colorway – Damson


Langdale is a hand dyed superwash 100% merino aran.  Langdale aran (named after the Langdales in the Lake District), is a fantastic all-round machine washable pure merino yarn. It comprises of three plies, to make it smooth and soft whilst retaining a bouncy and hard wearing quality. The lovely Victoria from ECY tells me the yarn gets gradually softer with washing.  Being a machine washable yarn it is going to be ideal for garments, especially those which are for children or gifts! 


The knitty gritty;
100% superwash merino
100g/166m/180yds
4.5 – 5.5mm needles

The beautiful deep tones and subtle variegation in this yarn are not done justice by my photo,  the yarn is soft to touch and has a great bouncy to it.  I can’t say yet what it is going to be, but watch this space.

 

 

On a Roll, Inside this months Simply Knitting Magazine

on a roll knitted felted needle roll

In this months issue of Simply Knitting magazine I have a few pretty patterns featured.  My favourite is this felted needle roll.  The roll is knit using Cascade 220, this was my first time knitting with this yarn and I … Continue reading

Remember that Bleedin' Sock Yarn?

Way way back in August I told you my tale of woe,  about how I have left my wet sock on the blockers over night and woke to find what looked like a ‘sock massacre’.  Okay,  I maybe prone to over exaggeration but it was a tiny bit on the traumatic scale.  If you missed it you can reacquaint yourself with the full story here.

I can now reveal the rest of the sock to you.  Introducing Elska,  Scandi style socks that will warm your feet, with their stranded colour work.  Giving you nice thick snuggly socks and, with a cute couple holding hands they will warm your heart too.  They are featured in Let’s Knit Magazine which goes on sale later this week.

scandi holding hands socks feet up lets knit magazine

The socks are worked from the top down with no patterning on the heel or the instep making them a nice introduction to Fair Isle sock knitting.

scandi holding hands socks crossed lets knit magazine

You can buy your copy of Let’s Knit magazine from the App Store to download.  The morale of the story…… always dry your socks flat!