There is something about fine and delicate lace knitting that makes me look on in awe. I always find it so fascinating, the intricate pattern made from basic knitting stitches. Stitches that I am competent in using, yet I rarely venture into the endless possibilities of lace work. Maybe this is an extra (if slightly late) New years knitting resolution – to experiment with lace knitting. I have used Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace before and since seeing the new summer shades arriving in stock I could quite easily be convinced to try a spot of lace knitting.

A customer called Susan has sent in a photograph of her beautiful baby shawl she had just completed. When I asked Susan which pattern she had followed for this delicate piece she sent an image of an old pattern, I think we could call this vintage! Susan said that the pattern actually says the price 4d (in old money). I love seeing old patterns and it is even better if you can still use them today. I know sometimes it can all get a little bit confusing when trying to match old yarns to the tension of modern yarns. The pattern is for 3ply which was good because Susan could easily substitute with Sirdar Snuggly 3ply in white.

Here is a photograph of the very pretty blanket, I especially like the edging.

A lovely, cuddly bear made a visit to the Craft Barn last week. Well a customer called Carol brought him in. Isn’t he adorable in his little jumper too! Carol knitted him using Patons Diploma gold dk yarns. The pattern is actually an old one that Carol had in her stash so unfortunately I am unable to tell you the pattern number.

We do have a selection of cute and cuddly toy patterns available on the website if you fancy knitting one yourself. Take a look here.

Patons Fab Big in theneon shades seems to be proving very popular here at Black Sheep Wools HQ! The colours are so enticing and on trend. The day it arrived in stock I bought 2 balls – a pink and yellow. At the moment I haven’t started knitted the pink but I do plan to do the snood from the ball band. The yellow – well I decided to knit a scarf and because I fancied it being really, really long I needed an extra ball. I used 1 and a half balls altogether, even with the extreme fringing! So with that extra half I might see if I can manage a hat or maybe a headband. I will be like a bright beacon, you won’t miss me in that!

Lesley has knitted a snood slightly different to the pattern on the ball band. It is very similar and still creates a loose stitched snood. The pattern is as follows -

1 ball Patons Fab Big & 20mm needles

Cast on 15 sts
Knit 1, purl 1
Continue to knit 1, purl 1 every row until snood reaches desired length
Cast off
Join ends to create a snood loop.

The scarf I knitted is a really simple pattern to do and creates a knit heading in a diagonal. The pattern is as follows -

1½ balls Patons Fab Big & 15mm needles

Cast on 15sts
Row 1: knit
Row 2: Increase in first stitch, knit until last 2 stitches, knit 2 together.
Continue following the 2 rows until scarf reaches desired length.
Cast off

Cut 2 pieces of approx 30cm length yarn for each fringe!

 At just £4.99 a ball this is a fantastic yarn. Take a look at more shades here.

When the UFO (Un Finshed Object) idea was initially discussed I felt a little queasy. I suddenly thought of the many projects lurking around  the house at home. Do I ever finish anything? Well I do (sometimes), but some how starting something new is so much more fun than finishing off. The problem is when you start so many new projects others are left behind, waiting patiently to be finished off.

The Black Sheep Hook, Knit and Stitch – a – thon has definitely spurred me on to get finishing those UFO’s. Who knows, I might even end up with a whole new wardrobe, quite possibly both Summer and Winter garments.

First UFO…………………

Sara has brought in the first UFO a gorgeous 4ply cushion cover she is crocheting for her daughter’s bedroom.

This is Sara’s first ever attempt at crochet. All she needs to do to finish is a few more rows on both the front and back pieces, then join it up and also line the cushion cover with fabric. You can see how Sara is progressing here on the blog and over on the Black Sheep Wools Facebook page.

A few weeks back now I was chatting to one of our customers in the Craft Barn – a lovely lady called Dawn who was sat relaxing, taking a break from shopping with a coffee doing a bit of her knitting. Dawn’s project really caught my eye. A beautiful cable bag which is knitted in a really unusual way using Patons Colour Works Aran (shade 85). Rather than knitting the bag in one straight piece – as you would with most knitting, the cable is actually knitted in a spiral. The second image below hopefully shows this technique a little clearer.

Dawn was finding it enjoyable to knit. It looks like one of  those projects you can keep picking up. The main thing to remember is that the last stitch of every row has to be joined to the previous cable to create a continuous shape, otherwise you would end up with a very long strip more like a scarf!

This is what the finished bag will look like. The pattern is from the March 2012 issue of Simply Knitting. Thank you to Dawn for sharing her knitting.

Janet has brought in a bag full of goodies – all of her recently finished projects. I was very excited as I love to have a little rummage through the staff knitting bags I am always ready with the camera to get photographs to share with you.

First of all is Janet’s little Spring lamb who is going to be a christening gift. He is so sweet complete with white ribbon. Janet knitted the lamb in Patons Smoothie dk, this is a lovely idea especially for a christening in Spring. The pattern she used is a vintage pattern from about 30 years ago.

The next finished project is this beautiful cardigan Janet has knitted for herself in Rico Sport Dk shade 005. The pattern she has followed for this one is a Sirdar Calico Dk pattern 9546. As you can see from the image below the pattern features a diagonal lace stripe design. Janet decided that she wanted to leave this section plain but kept the detail at the top. The yarn has knitted up lovely, a beautiful feel and drape. I have knitted with this yarn myself and it is a great yarn to knit with.

Last but not least Janet’s third project. This cute baby boy’s sweater knitted in Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk Dk sale shade 050. This pattern is featured in Sublime Baby Kapok book 631. Janet knitted the sweater for Les’s (Craft Barn Manager) grandchild who is on the way in April. I am sure he will be receiving lots of knitted gifts in the coming months.

I always like it when customers bring in their projects to show us. A lady called Carol came in with this beautiful baby blanket knitted in Patons Fairytale Dreamtime 4 ply. To show the scale of the blanket Yvonne kindly modelled. The blanket is knitted on double pointed needles and then a circular needle.

Take a look at all of the detail in the lace pattern.

The blanket pattern is called ‘Elisha’ and can be found in Patons Newborn Collection book (3246). Click here to take a look.

Take a look at this cute little mole! He can be found in the Patons Woodland Animals Book priced at only £4.99. There are lots of other creatures in the book too including a badger and hedgehog. Click here to look at the book!

New Patons Valiani is now in stock. Priced at only £3.54 a ball! This is a lovely soft yarn with a luxurious sheen. There are some great patterns in the Valiani book including some lovely winter accessories.

Click here to see the shade swatches!

This hat and scarf takes just 4 balls to knit. The yarn has only been in the shop a week but already seems to be proving popular. Rebecca Mortimer came into the Craft Barn shopping and brought along a great clutch bag she had crocheted using both Sirdar Persia Chunky and Patons Valiani combined together. This made a really strong fabric that  had created a tweed like effect with a slight sheen coming through from the Valiani yarn. Rebecca had then stitched the Valiani around the edge of the bag to finish. This is a pattern that Rebecca has made herself. It is always  interesting to see a different design idea for a yarn. Thank you for bringing it in to show us!

Jean Griffiths sent me an email with this lovely baby shawl she has knitted in Patons Fairytale 2ply. It looks like a very delicate pattern with pretty detail. Jean said that it took 3½ balls of the Fairytale 2ply to knit. This is available to purchase online for only £3.78 a ball and is 100% new wool. Take a look by clicking here!

If you have any recent knitting / stitching projects you would like to share please send images to me at orders@blacksheepwools.com.