Stacey has knitted this very handy snood in SMC Elements Mix yarn. To knit it you will need 4 balls (£2.65 a ball) and the best thing  the pattern is available to download on Black Sheep Wools website now for free! Knitted in moss stitch which gives the snood that added texture. The snood would be ideal to keep out the chill on a blustery day like today, it can be worn loose or wrapped once. The Elements Mix is a textural yarn with each shade a stunning mix of colours, including a metallic strand running throughout. I feel quite tempted to add this snood to my never ending project list but I just can not decide on a shade. The ‘Bonfire Mix’ Stacey has chosen would definitely be a possibility.

A list……..this has got to be the best option when it comes to deciding on your new season projects. My list is growing by the day and I would imagine come the end of September it will be so ridiculously long, if I were to make everything on the list I’d be busy until Winter 2014 (at least)! I guess this is what happens when you are surrounded by yarn everyday. Whenever I see something that catches my eye – a yarn or new pattern it goes on ‘the list’. There are so many tempting new yarns arriving by the day including……..

At the moment I can’t get enough of the new Rowan Tumble yarn. The shade palette is like an array of sugary sweets, so tempting and delicious. Although we are still in the month of August and the ‘season’ we like to think of as Summer I have already knitted a Winter hat! Completely inappropriate for now but something I look forward to wearing come Winter. It knitted up really quickly with its chunky rib and simple cable. The only thing is I now want to knit my way through whole of the Tumble book.

Emma who works here at the Black Sheep is knitting the hat in the cream shade 560 – Marshmallow. Even the names make the yarn hard to resist.

 SMC Tendance – This is an unusual, wool blend, textured yarn from SMC. I can imagine a loose garter stitch scarf knitted in this yarn showing the tufty texture and bobbles beautifully.

Debbie Bliss Blue Faced Leicester Aran – This is a new yarn from Debbie Bliss and comes in a selection of traditional shades including shade 08 – red which has to be one of my favourites. I like the idea of the ‘shadow cable sweater’ from the accompanying Debbie Bliss book. Knitted in the red shade this would make a fab Christmas sweater.

These are just a few ideas going around my head at the moment. When I do eventually decide and start knitting I will be sure to share any finished projects with you here on the blog. Have you started any Winter knitting yet? Maybe even one of the new yarns. I would love to see any photographs of finished projects. Please email them to amy@blacksheepwools.com and they will go up on the blog. It is always inspiring seeing what everyone has been up to. Possibly making ‘the list’ even longer!

One of our regular Craft Barn customers Ashley popped in with her latest knit. This time she has knitted a top in the Rico Essentials Cotton Dk and SMC Rosas yarn. I love the texture that is created with the SMC Rosas yarn – something a bit different!

You can see a different top Ashley knitted in SMC Rosas and SMC Reflect here on a previous blog post.

Thank you to everyone who sent in their suggestions for my crocheted flowers last week. I’m spoilt for choice now, such a variety of lovely ideas. When I do decide and finish what ever it is I eventually make I will make sure I show you. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks…………well I say weeks, maybe a little longer. I plan to start a Debbie Bliss Rialto 4ply crocheted skirt very soon.

One of our Craft Barn customers – a lady called Ashley brought in this lovely knitted top she has recently knitted in SMC Select Rosas and Reflect. Ashley did not follow a particular pattern for this garment, she likes to adapt her own patterns experimenting with different yarns. The SMC Reflect (shade 4116) yarn is more or less a double knit and the SMC Rosas (shade 1793) is close to an Aran weight.

Ashley said that she enjoys knitting with the SMC yarns. For her next project she is going to knit another top in a different colour way. This time using the green Rosas yarn.

Catherine has designed and knitted this little love heart in SMC Select Extra Soft Merino Opera yarn. Why not surprise your valentine with a thoughtful knitted gift? or even just make one for yourself! The pattern is easy to follow and from one ball of the SMC Select Extra Soft Merino Opera you can make more than one heart. A ball of Extra Soft Merino Opera is just £4.68. Click here to take a look. The yarn is so soft comprising of 96% merino wool with a beautiful subtle red sparkle.

To knit the love heart you will need -

1 ball of SMC Select Extra Soft Merino Opera

1 pair of 4mm needles

Small amount of stuffing

HEART PATTERN

Cast on 4 stitches.

RS 1. K inc in first and last stitch

      2. P inc in first and last stitch

Repeat these two rows until 34 stitches.

Stocking stitch 8 rows.

P1, P2tog, Purl to last 3 stitches P2tog tbl P1.

Right Lobe

* K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, K10, K2tog, K1 – TURN

1. P1, P2tog, P to last 3 P2tog tbl, P1

2. K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, K to last 3 K2tog, K1

Repeat 1 & 2 until 6 stitches remain.

P1, P2tog, P2tog tbl, P1

Cast off

Repeat from * for left lobe.

Press each piece if required and sew together leaving a gap.

Stuff and sew up gap.

If you have any questions or need any advice please post a message below.

Only one ball is needed to knit this great new yarn from SMC into a scarf.

It is shown here in shade 84. Priced at only £3.99 a ball! Click here to look at all of the shades available at The Black Sheep.

There is an easy to follow free pattern available to download from Coats Crafts website. Click here for the pattern!

Knitted on 5.5mm needles.