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.

Crofthoose hat - ready for Shetland Wool Week!

In  Edinburgh I picked up the official Shetland Wool Week 2016 hat pattern, the Crofthoose hat by Ella Gordon. You can get the digital pattern via Shetland Wool Week home page.

Back home I found my Jamieson & Smith Jumper Weight yarn, and picked a colour palette that I liked. It's a lovely pattern, and I'm very happy with my hat. (I'm also happy that summer temperatures are finally here, and that I probably won't need it until September in Shetland). 

I love the houses...

... the colours

... and the crown pattern

#nhkmittenkal

Claire of NH Knits podcast was inspired by my Selbu Peace&Love mittens to arrange a colourwork mitten KAL in her Ravelry group. I decided that would be a good opportunity to make a pair of mittens that someone else had designed, and I chose Giraffes at Sunset Mittens by Erica Mount, which had been a favourite pattern since the first time I saw it.

I used yarn from stash, small left overs of different 2ply fingering wool.  I chose a different cuff, just because I wasn’t in the mood for a colourwork cuff. 

For the second mitten, the giraffes walked away, and in came an elephant mom and her babyThe elephant charts are adapted from a chart found on Pinterest, and then I added a tree from the cuff to fill the space above the elephants.

Finished mittens, front...

... and back. 

Lovely the pattern, and it was so fun to knit and "paint" with my different colours. I have not tried them out in the cold, because spring is here, but I suspect they are really warm!

Photo album from Edinburgh - page 4 - shopping

Grellow, with a hint of red :-)

From left to right:

Easyknits, Smoke, colour Dabloon (yellow). Plan: Filijokus  or Strrripes by Åsa Tricosa

Blacker yarns,  Tamar Lustre Blend, shade Ottery Plan: Same as above

Anna Maltz' book Penguin: a knit collection.

Eden Cottage Yarns, Malham DK, colourway Natural. Plan: Mayhem shawl by ... Åsa Tricosa too!

John Arbon Textiles, Devon Grey Wensleydale. Plan: Probably a shawl.

Wool Tribe, the EYF2016 magazine.

Ullcentrum, 2 ply, red. Plan: A hap shawl.

So that's it for Edinburgh Yarn Festival: The festival is over, but I have many hours of happy knitting and memories.

Photo album from Edinburgh - page 3 - knitting

My marlisle hat
started in Sweaterspotter's class
on the Thursday of EYF

Spring Festival shawl
blocking in the window of our room in Edinburgh

My Next year in Lerwick cardigan
got a style award
when passing by Stephen &Penelope's booth.

At Susan Crawford's Vintage Shetland Project talk.

Trying on the unfinished hat walking home from
the corn exchange on a sunny spring afternoon

Coffee and knitting break

Photo album from Edinburgh - page 2 - people

My super knitting and travelling friend with her new Penguin bag from Anna Maltz aka Sweaterspotter.

















Two Next year in Lerwick knitters from Germany/Poland. How great is that!
Sweaterspotter at her booth in the market place and Claire from NHKnits who interviewed me for her podcast.

Photo album from Edinburgh - page 1 - touristy things

Me outside St. Andrew's Castle

View from the entrance of Edinburgh Castle

Sunday walk to Stockbridge Market

Walking  home from the festival along the canal

A nice walk along the Water of Leith

Foggy afternoon in Edinburgh