March 2022
Shop Update
Spring Crocus Scarf pattern
Another new pattern…
Parkland Blanket Wool & a few more things
Shop Update
I have put a few finished textiles in my online shop, including the samples from the Bloom Table Squares pattern I wrote for Gist Yarn. A preview of the other cloth below!
Spring Crocus Scarf
I’ve made a pattern for an easy, textured scarf I’m calling the Spring Crocus Scarf. The pattern is available through my website and you can find kits or the yarn at Handknit Yarn Studio. I am Very Into the yarn used in this project, Bio Shetland. It’s a 100% GOTS certified organic wool that is light, lofty, and comes in a huge range of beautiful colours. I’ve knit with it twice and I really enjoyed weaving with it too.
This pattern is for four shaft weavers and uses a twill threading to create areas of texture and 2/2 twill. It’s easy to thread, easy to weave, and makes a lightweight scarf. I took these pictures during what I hope is the last snowfall but I’m sure there’s plenty more cold days left for us in Ontario (yesterday was 17°c, but I am not fooled — there are still flurries in the forecast). The kit/sample colours are an olive-y green, periwinkle purple, and tan, but it would look great in any combination of solid/contrast/neutral.
Come in and say hello at Handknit and visit the sample in person, or go to their website to see the kits that I’ve put together — all you need to make one scarf is in these kits. Just because, kits include the pattern for free.
Please check your spam folders if you don’t get an automated receipt with download links immediately after purchase — 99% of the time it’s hiding there!
Another new pattern… Coming soon
Keep your eyes peeled on the Gist Yarn website — next week you’ll find another new pattern of mine on their website. I’ll tell you more about it next month, but for now here is a taste:
After an unexpected wait for Canadian release, To Weave is finally in stock at Handknit Yarn Studio. It was only 2 months late? I’ve been checking to see if it’s available every single time I’ve been at work since December (and sometimes also when I was at home). I felt so bad about opening a pre-order and then not having the book when I said it would be here, but there was literally nothing I could do about it — those hated words “supply chain issues” got me! Whatever, now it is here and it is a GREAT weaving book. Buying it supports young weavers at the beginning of fabulous careers! We have only a few copies left, so get one if you’d like.
On my weaving wish list - 100% local wool yarn, specifically the brand new Parkland Blanket Wool from my friends at Gather Textiles. Just look at it! What a beauty! My friends are laughing at me right now because I always go for the neutral sheep-shade yarns, but whatever. You like what you like :)
Last thing: thanks to Judi for alerting me to the debut of these lovely X and O Coasters in Rachel Smith’s YouTube/Patreon. She uses handspun yarn and shares her thoughts on making it as well as hemstitching, wet finishing, and more (it was very interesting to hear another weaver talk through making my pattern!). Thank you Rachel for sharing my pattern with your audience! Click the image below if you’d like to watch.
While all of this seems small in contrast to the war happening in Ukraine right now, there is growing
evidence that craft and hand-work supports mental health and helps reduce stress and anxiety — and if war isn’t stress inducing, what is?! I’ve already made a donation to MSF/Doctors Without Borders, and my next one, using part of the proceeds of my online shop/new pattern this month will go to the UNHCR. My grandparents and aunts lived in a refugee camp before coming to Canada and undoubtedly received support from many organizations and strangers — it’s the very least I can do to pass it on in a small way.There will be a few new things coming to fruition in the next few months, so stay tuned for more textiles for sale, a pattern in June (or whenever I get around to formatting it), and something else I am forgetting at this time. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
be well,
amanda