So I finished the Fleur Shawl on October 9th, after two months in the making. This knit was quite an adventure all by itself.
At the beginning, Carolin started it all, sending me some Nutiden from her stash, one of my yarn kryptonite. What a good idea, it initiated a nice and easy relationship. I sent her some mohair from my dear Pyrénées, I do appreciate when internet allows to meet such interesting people and leads to fruitful exchanges, literally.
What I can add here is my experience knitting with it. And it was so unique, I had never ever knit anything similar.
My Fleur Shawl by Espace Tricot
The pattern
I choose the Fleur shawl by Espace Tricot as part of the #FleurALong Knitalong that Carmen and Jackie have started on their YouTube channel and also host on Instagram. An elongated shawl based on a triangle shape, but with increase rates higher at either sides than in the center, so it has long wingspans and a rather deep center.
The colour choices
I could choose between this greyed deeper pink or a subtle and light one. I went with the deep one and white contrasting rows and bubbles. Big cheeky bubbles as one of the lovely yous said. I’m not much into bubbles, so why not big and obvious ones ? I kinda questioned my bolder selection at first, then stayed with it and now I love it. It brightens my day.
The knitting experience
And that was one ! Nutiden single stranded with bobbles is quite an adventure.. I had to learn how to knit with it, did not break much yarn, a couple times only, and it was as easy to spit splice as it is said everywhere else. I had to change my entire knitting habits. Well worth it, and I was quite happy to go back to using “regular” spun yarn in between Nutiden sessions.
I discovered that I like to tension my yarn on my right finger (I knit English style, this is how I was taught by my grandmother when I was around 5 or 6, quite a long long time ago), adjusting the overall tension between the lower part of my hand and the stitches on my right needle. I am not a tight knitter, I am not a loose knitter. I should say I am rather average.
I had to omit wrapping the yarn around my pinkie all together and to remember not pressing it with my hand against the fabric on my right needle. This had me knitting at a much looser gauge than usual. It does not have much importance for a shawl, I will have to carefully swatch and calculate for a sweater or a vest.
My next project with Nutiden will be double stranded to see how it compares to single stranded. In addition, I have some Manchelopis by WoolDreamers in the unspun department (also sent by one of the lovely yous) that I want to try. A cooler grey and a white. Manchelopis comes double stranded, and seems a tad less soft than the Nutiden. We’ll see, I already have an idea for it.
What a long hiatus, my last contribution to my Wooly news series was in March 2023, so 7 months.. Not that I had nothing to say, just that my life has been creeping in my head and I focused on the other series. Wooly News means I loosely keep an eye on the knitting and fibre communities and pick up things that are worth reporting about. This needs some mental space. The video and blog post also take a long time to edit and write, this needs more time than my regular Knitting Adventures for example.
This is not an excuse 🙂
Anyway, I’ve been missing this segment for a while now and hope I have enough content to make you happy, informed or entertained.
Patterns
® Stephen West MKAL 2023 – Geogradient
Let’s begin with the elephant in the room, this is Steven West MKAL season. As I write, clue two has just been released. This year’s theme is Geogradient – if you think about geometric shapes and colours, it can lead to questionable symbols or representations. Which happened 10 days ago when clue one was released.
Not sure how the whole team let this slip through, and Steven promptly changed clue one to one of the alternate options he had published, removing the original clue one that evoked a WW2 hate symbol to many users. Think about it. 5761 projects as I write, this event aisre very popular, followed by people from all over the world, from many different backgrounds and cultures. Better double and triple check everything before going live.
You may not have seen the representation in the original clue one. When I first saw it, I thought this is strange he flirts with this, he did not give me thins impression. Turns out that he promptly replied, changing clue 1, being very apologetic (the pattern is 8.30€ on Ravelry, you can make the calculations of what is involved..) and very stressed out.
I hope everyone is able to move along and enjoys the MKAL I did not participate because 1- I have 2 main WIPs on my plate, 2- I would not have been able to keep up with the pace (which is not a real problem) and 3- I do not like all of his patterns. The only one I have already made long after it was released is Slipstravaganza
I have a few of his MKAL patterns in his books, not sure there is one other that really appeals to me. I’ll wait for the finished shawl to decide whether I’ll make it or not, for now I do not think so. If I cast on any of his shawls, it will be Vertices Unite.
So be kind to everyone, and very careful with geometric shapes..
Free Patterns Highlights
Freeze Warning by YaYa Lovestoknit
As I see so many paid for patterns for simple knits such as little scarves (wink wink at my own free one), cowls, shrugs and such, I prefer to highlight free ones that perfectly fit the bill, that can be customised to your yarn, colour choices (mono block or with a colour pattern), size etc.
The Freeze Warning by YaYa Lovestoknit is a perfect example. An easy stitch pattern, suitable for coloured stripes, bulky yarn instructions that can easily be adapted, ribbed collar that will fit your neck etc. What is not to like ? It is in my “Want To Make” list, and I will make it at some point. Our friends from the Southern Hemisphere going to Spring and Summer can use colder and finer yarns for colder nights 🙂
Books, Magazines, Articles And Creators
The latest YouTube episode I watch from Roxane Richardson was about tech editors in the knitting community and how and why they are essential to people publishing patterns. I have always been interested in all the behind the scenes people that concur to a successful pattern, tech editors and test knitters. This is why I appreciate so much La Bien Aimée videos about her books where she invites creators and their test knitters.
The Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook by by Kristina McGrath & Sarah Walworth
In this episode, Roxane interviews Sarah Walworth and Kristina McGrath, authors of The Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook, and hosts of Tech Tip Talk.
What an interesting episode, what an interesting book, I preordered it and will report on it once I have it in my hands. Very knowledgeable people and eye opening on so many levels !
The book will be published on October 31, 2023, here are the references you can look for in your favorite bookstore : ISBN-10 : 1635866243 ; ISBN-13 : 978-1635866247
Two of knitting events having world wide impact are taking place this week-end in New-York State. Many knitfluencers will be there and have already posted a lot of blog posts, Instagram posts, YouTube videos about their preparations, set ups, packing, projects, planned future acquisitions, tips for the events etc. You can follow them on all these social networks and there are most probably more that I do not even know about 🙂
First, Wool & Folks will take place on October 19th (for a warm-up) and 20th 2023, and then NY Sheep and Wool in Rhinebeck on October 19th to 23rd, 2023. There was a bit of confusion as the W&F location and parking situation was changed last minute. Many people go to both as they are located not too far away from each other, first W&F on the Friday, then Rhinebeck for the week-end. A whole set of Rhibebeck sweaters to look at, and now people even team up to knit the same sweater in different colours !
All in all, one of these events most knitters of the world know about, whether they want it or not 😺
There is another event the week-end after Rhinebeck in France. Do you know about it ? It gathered over 20,000 people last year, from France and all over Europe : the Journées Nationales de la Laine à Felletin, on October 27th to 29th 2023. It has been going on for over 20 years now, and Frédérique from Atelier Pure Laine is going. Too bad I have to work ! There will be over 140 vendors, lots of exhibits, local yarn mills to visit (Filature Fonty and Filature Terrade) and tons of yarn from indy dyers to be drooling over. One day I’ll attend, on day.
Who Am I Knitting With ?
Most of the time, I report on shows, series or movies and such, that I watch while knitting during the evening. There is no series or shows really worth talking about for today, nothing that really captivated my attention and gave me happiness while watching. So there will be only a music report as music is a constant element of my life, from morning to night, except when I teach or am in meetings of course.
Metallic Spheres by The Orb Featuring David Gilmour
Vieux Farka Touré and Khruangbin have published a collaboration, Ali. A total pleasure to my ears, please let me know if you also enjoy this kind of world music mixed with electronica. Their collaboration is a real fusion between their own two distinct worlds, they successfully bring their own things to make a new unique vibe and album. was so pleased to discovered it (it first aired in 2022).
On the other hand, I was impatiently wanting for Metallic Spheres, the new the album from The Orb And David Gilmour. Two of my favorite artists collaborating on an album, what a treat ! It was a huge deception. They play side by side, they do not talk to each other, it is “just” Gilmour’s guitar riffs on top of The Orb music and creation. No fusion, no dialog, they do not seem to bring anything to each other. They walk side by side, and I’ll pass. I won’t buy the CD. was a bit sad at first, then turned to Ali for some hapyness.
May your little stitches bring you joy and happiness, see ou next time !
I love to explore the history of the sheep breeds I knit wool from. Know the sheep I knit from in a way. Some of you are waiting for a post about Atelier Pure Laine, it is coming next I promise. This one was under the making since this summer, so ..
During the summer 2022, I visited Laines à L’Ouest, a farm involved in Normandy rare sheep conservation process. According to my own set of guidelines for my Yarn No-Buy Year Project, I can get yarn from places I visit in person. Do not get me wrong, I went to Lessay on purpose (that is about 2h drive), to spend the day there and visit this lovely area in Cotentin, and of course go to their shop. I got two 1kg cones for myself, and a few other skeins they nicely caked for me, that I sent to a good friend who lives in Australia. She is one of the persons who spoiled me with marvellous yarn from her country (and I still have to write about this yarn too !).
Laines à l’Ouest
Laines à l’Ouest
The little shop is magical, full of ancient and modern vibes. They also host a few creations by local artists and I got spinning tops made of ancient watches wheels and parts, my sons loved them (that was a little Christmas gift I added for them). Poteries were not much of my taste even though I love poteries. Too many flower prints I guess.
Their project is to revive and maintain local sheep breeds that almost got extinct at some point. They are using three main breeds, one of them being endangered and part of a local and national conservation process, the Roussin de la Hague, Avranchin and Cotentin. The sheep live outside year round and their fields are by the sea. The only moments they move to the barns are during the high tides because their fields are under water, and strong storms.
The shop and flock owners use natural processes and dyes, which fits my bills. I bought two undyed 1kg cones in their sport weight base, a creamy white and a greyish brown obtained mixing black, grey, brown and white fleeces.
Yarn And Projects
The yarn is very rustic, sturdy, quite dry to the touch and a delight to knit (I like to have tension on my finger). It relaxes, blooms and softens upon blocking. My experience after multiple wears is that it does not pill and will be quite durable.
So I did, and then two months later I casted on the Emsworth by Isabell Kraemer. These are two of my favorite knits. I like yarn that has structure, even though I do understand the use and need for a fabric with drape, knit with super wash yarn for example. It is my personal preference and you do you. Some shawls or tee-shirts benefit from a nice drape, I like when the yarn and fabric hold onto themselves, when the stitches are sticky and not going anywhere. The Laines À L’Ouest yarn perfectly fits that bill.
I then casted on the Barbara sweater by Marianne Isager with both for the colour work. I love knitting it, I am sure I will love the finished sweater. It will be light and warm, with a good humidity protection I guess, like my two other knits.
I forgot to weight out the cones before casting on, so it will be a bit difficult to tell how much I used out of each, at the end. We’ll see and I will have to make educated guesses !
All in all, Laines À L’Ouest is in my life to stay, and a 2h drive, quite easy. That said, I did not go back there last summer, so may be next year. Going there for a day, have lunch by the sea in the sun, bring back some beautiful yarn, I know why I did not do it last summer even though it sounds like a perfect trip. I am looking forward to doing it again. I’ll make sure I’ll bring you with me 🙂
Knit Now 