S for summer and shawls *1*

I first så this shawl on the Knitting Amigas podcast. It's called Golden Sand and is designed by Joji Locatelli, and is made for the charity Sight is Life working in Congo DR, a country that I actually visited back in 1988. I liked the shawl and the project, and when the pattern was published just before my summer holiday, I decided it would be perfect holiday knitting, lots of garter stitch, and a little lace. 

The pattern is written for one colour, I used two. The yarn is a sock yarn from Shibui Knits, in two shades of purple. Ravelry project page here.

The shawl pattern can be bought as a single pattern, or as part of an e-book. There is a Ravelry group for the project. 

I had just enough yarn left from my two skeins to make tassels!

I almost can't wait for autumn!

The thumb gusset and the mitten geek

Mitten geeks discuss thumb gussets when they meet. To beginner knitters the thumb gusset can be a mystery. In September this year I am very lucky to be able to go to Shetland Wool Week. If you're going too, and are curious about the thumb gusset, you can join one of my 

two classes. 

I'm really looking forwards to meeting other knitters, to seeing wonderful yarn and knitwear, and enjoying the Shetland landscape. This will be my third visit to Shetland Wool Week, and I can't wait.

The first time I went to Shetland, for the Wool Week in 2012, I fell in love with the heathered Jamieson & Smith 2ply jumper weight yarn. The first evening I bought a few balls, and casted on immediately for a pair of wristwarmers.

The small houses just popped up in my head as I was knitting, and when I was planning the gusset class, I decided to use them again. I have made this new pattern specially for this class. It features different thumb gusset constructions, and lots of small houses, where you can play with your colours if you want.

I will also be showing some of the mittens from the Mitten Guild's book, "Eventyrvotter"  (Fairy Tale Mittens). For an additional price the book is included, with a download link to get 14 of the 20 patterns in English.

Summer knitalong - because winter is coming

Of course I could not resist when Jamieson & Smith announced the 

Spring and summer knitalong 2016: 

Use at least 5 of 8 specified colours, do some Fair Isle knitting (2 colours per row) and make any accessory or garment. 

In the Jamieson & Smith group on Ravelry you can see many lovely projects. Here's mine:

 I'm making a cowl - or infinity scarf -  using all the 8 colours

I'm nearly there, just a few stripes, 

some ends to weave in, and the joining. 

Stay tuned, here, on Ravelry or on Instagram.