Patterns
Aurora Cabin Sweater by Stephen West
Such a beautiful yoke ! You know I like them. This latest design that caught my eyes and attention, the Aurora Cabin Sweater by Stephen West is stunning. Yet, his own description sounds like an easy knit :
Born from the Aurora Cabin Shawl, the Aurora Cabin Sweater is the latest Westknits’ design! This beautiful sweater is knit seamlessly in the round and decorated with a stunning colourwork yoke. Worked with one colour at a time, the ornamental collar uses five contrasting colours of fingering weight yarn
I may get to it at some point, I may 😺
Free Patterns Highlights
Teti Lutsak’s Tiny Pompom Hat
Teti Lutsak is a Ukrainian designer living in The Netherlands. She used to be a biologist and her delicate designs are inspired by nature. the Tiny Pompom Hat was her Christmas gift to the knitting community. Using worsted weight yarn, it will be a quick and cute project.
Yarn Companies and Stores
Biches et Bûches
Biches et Bûches has a new sock yarn, Le Sock Yarn, a blend of 80% worsted spun wool and 20% nylon, 100g for 400m, a fingering weight that should be quite resistant to wear and use. hy do I talk about it when I do not knit socks (yet) ? I just love these marled colours, some being quite neutral, some quite bright and happy. I used a similar looking yarn in my Magic Dots shawl by Hinterm Stein, two skeins that my son Théo gifted me with for my Birthday. One yarn on my list – once I will have used all of my stash. A successful release as the first batch released in January sold out before Biches et Bûches sent their newsletter !
Making Stories
I am so interested by unspun yarn that is so hyped in the knitting community social media. I have thoughts about some of the distribution and organised FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) around these famous, rare and precious cakes. Well, Making Stories started to distribute Manchelopis, an unspun yarn from Spain. The first batch sold out right after the release, the second batch is almost all sold too and you can sign up to get notified about the availability of the colours you like. The plates already come double stranded for a DK weight. You can use it single for a fingering weight. So keep your eyes open if you are in Europe as Making Stories ship from Germany (if you are sensitive to your carbon footprint as I am. They do ship internationally !).
Books, Magazines, Articles And Creators
Laine Magazine
The last addition to the famous series “52 Weeks Of” is the “52 Weeks of Socks Vol. II” and pre-orders are now available on the Laine Publishing Website or your favorite LYS if they do stock them. From Laine’s description, the book will be
a colourful and abundant collection of patterns from a diverse group of international designers. Using a variety of different techniques and yarns, the book has something for both beginners and advanced knitters.
In addition, it will also be
more colourful and even more versatile book than its predecessor. There’s something for everyone: lace, cables, stripes, ruffles, colourwork — even a pair embellished with beads!
To be totally honest, I am not a sock knitter, so I will pass, even more due to my No-Buy Year guidelines that I updated after after a full first year of experience. The pattern previews will be available on March 10 and the book on March 31.
On the other hand, the new book by La Bien Aimée, Neons and Neutrals, was on my list and I preordered it the day it was possible. This is the only acquisition I did in January 2023. I am so very interested by a lots of the patterns we have had previews on Instagram the week the preorders were available. I am looking forward knitting with different yarn weights for example, and also inspiration for colour work or easier intarsia. I will talk about the book a bit more once I have it, the pattern previews are available both on Laine Publishing and Ravelry.
Events
Well, this years’s Vogue Knitting Live was held in New-York on February 9 – 12, 2023. I do appreciate seeing all the Instagram posts and YouTube video reports of the happy people reunions that appended. So please keep it coming my way, a little spark and joy and happiness in my day !
Who Am I Knitting With ?
First, for two mins of fun, please have a look at this incredible “knitted cake”. I would not be able to eat it as I have a gluten intolerance, but what an achievement !
Khruangbin
Khruangbin is a texan group (their name means airplane in the Thai language) playing a relaxed world electronica music. Perfect fo Sunday mornings or relaxing times. My youngest son had me discover them, he offered me their first album for a birthday or Christmas present (sorry I do not recall) and I have bought most of their later releases. Not all of them, so please have a listen before you commit. Some releases are a bit more engaging and nervous.
Their website : https://www.khruangbin.com and Discog profile : https://www.discogs.com/fr/artist/3565949-Khruangbin
The Office
I was an orphan after I finished Supernatural .. I looked for a series I would like as much as Supernatural I was knitting with from the summer to the end of 2022. After a few trials and series I sorta was liking I finally tested The Office that my sons were recommending. Oh boy, a completely different ambiance and atmosphere from supernatural, and as addictive. A raw satyre where even the most horrible characters can show their deep human faces and allow you to feel attached to them. I laugh more often than I would like to admit, highly recommended if you have not yet seen that older show. I have three more seasons to watch, so I’ll be on the hunt again soon.
Companion YouTube Video : https://youtu.be/mOZFzoGLPN8
Knit Now 