A fantastic free pattern for you to download by Catherine Myhill who is the manager here at the Black Sheep Craft Barn. She did make the snood with one of her sons in mind, giving the pattern the title of men’s snood. However this would also be a lovely snood for a woman too. Snood’s seem to be very popular here amongst Black Sheep staff and I have also spotted a huge selection on the high street.

This pattern is really easy to do and would be a nice idea for a cosy Christmas gift. As the yarn is a super chunky it will knit up in no time. Sam who works here in the warehouse was kind enough to model the snood for a quick photograph.

Stylecraft Swift Knit Super Chunky is £3.59 a ball and comes in 8 different shades.

Rico Creative Reflection is a yarn that we were all already too excited about before it even arrived here at Black Sheep Wools HQ. Sample balls of each shade had been floating around for a while, so many an idea for potential projects had been considered. Once the yarn arrived along with 6 pattern leaflets the project decisions had been made for us, well apart from deciphering between the various designs. It had to be one of these. The yarn is multi – tonal with a metallic thread running through. Up to now two finished projects have been completed.

Catherine has knitted the pom pom scarf using shade – blackberry 002, following pattern 138. This leaflet contains 4 varying scarf designs.  

Stacey has knitted a lacy wrap in shade – forest 005, following pattern 140. A little different to the other shades with a gold metallic thread as opposed to silver. The great thing is you don’t need that many balls. For example this wrap takes just 3 balls to make.

Rico Creative Reflection is available to order on line now for £2.99 a ball.

Kirsten is new to knitting and since starting work here at the Black Sheep surrounded by all of the oh so irresistible yarns everyday she has eventually given in to the temptation. She has chosen to start off with a scarf yarn, the Katia Bossa Nova. Here is her review…………

“I really enjoyed my first attempt at knitting. I found the Bossa Nova quite therapeutic to knit with and I would definitely recommend it to other beginners. In fact I am thinking about having a knit a scarf party for my friends, in an evening you could make a scarf. The sense of achievement and actually having something you can wear so quickly is great. The only other thing I have ever knitted was a dish cloth when I was 10 years old.

It was a good to start off with something simple like the Bossa Nova. For my next project I fancy trying something a bit different, possibly using a yarn with a bit of sparkle.”

Sirdar Aruba has just arrived in stock here at the Black Sheep. This is the new scarf yarn that I mentioned seeing at Sirdar in last weeks blog post. There are 8 gorgeous shades to choose from including the two shown below Bahama and Mosaic. The Aruba is only £6.48 a ball and one ball knits one scarf. There will be an easy to follow instructional video up on our website later today.

We have just added this gorgeous new yarn from Katia called Azahar to our website. The yarn is very versatile and can be knitted / crocheted in many different and creative ways. Katia have made easy to follow instructional videos to help you out. They are available to view on their website. Click here to take a look.

The ruffle scarf pattern only takes one hank to knit using 4.5mm needles. The yarn can also be used as a trim and crocheted within a garment. Take a look at some of the patterns in Katia Elegance book No.70.

Katia Rocio has just arrived back in stock. Priced at only £6.99 a ball. Buy it now while stocks last. Click here!

We have just added this gorgeous scarf yarn from Rowan called Kidsilk Haze Stripe. To knit the scarf you only need one ball. The pattern is featured on the ball band and is also available to download for free at www.knitrowan.com. There are some beautiful shades in this yarn all of which are available to order online now for only £15.99 a ball. Click here to see all of the shades.

If you sign up on the Rowan website you can download many more free patterns including two designs knitted in the Kidsilk Haze Stripe yarn.

This time last year Lesley could only knit a garter stitch. Now she has made this gorgeous hat and scarf set in the Rico Galaxy Chunky yarn. The hat has a 2 x 2 rib around the edge and then goes into stocking stitch. Very impressive don’t you think!

To knit the scarf you will need 2 balls and the hat only 1 ball. The yarn is still available to buy online for just £5.99 a ball. Click here!

Lesley is now knitting a pair of wrist warmers to match. I’m sure that we will have these to show you very soon. Watch this space…………

The girls in the shop have been busy knitting again. Here is a super frilly snood knitted in the Rico Can Can Glitz yarn. Can Can Glitz is currently on offer, 2 balls for £15.00. One ball is just £8.99.  Click here to see all shades.

To knit the snood you will need

• one ball of yarn
• a pair of 7mm or 8mm needles

The Simple Pattern

•  Cast on 20 stitches as you would when knitting with the Can Can Glitz yarn.
•  Then knit until the snood measures approx 20″ / 50cm.
• Cast off and sew up. Alternative cast off - pick up each cast on stitch with the stitch on needle and knit the 2 together to cast off.

We are all getting very excited here at the Black Sheep for Children In Need tomorrow. As you may or may not already know we have all been knitting a very, very long scarf to help raise money for Children In Need. Customers and staff have been knitting a few rows (or HUGE sections) and making a donation.

The BBC have invited us to go (along with the scarf) to the BBC studios in Salford tomorrow night for Children In Need!! So if you are watching you might just see us on TV, sooo exciting! I am sure that you will not be able to miss our forever growing, super long scarf. We will be sat there with our knitting needles knitting away.

It was measured a couple of hours ago at 19 metres and 35 centimetres. Hopefully by tomorrow this will be even longer! We have raised £358.00 up to now.