Christmas Greetings

Thank you for all the support during 2013. Have a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hope to see you all again in 2014 with some yarn, pattern and book reviews, giveaways and other things that catch my eye...

Fair Isle Style Book Review

Image  used with permission © Chris Vaccaro

Fair Isle Style - Mary Jane Mucklestone

This is a book of hand knitting patterns combining the traditional colour work technique using two colours on a row with an added modern twist. Mary Jane Mucklestone is well-known for her colourful knitwear and is the author of 200 Fair Isle Motifs and 150 Scandinavian Knitting Designs. For Fair Isle Style she has brought together 20 designs from established and upcoming names in the world of knitting.

The designs range in difficulty providing something for a first time Fair Isle project such as the Kulli Cowl by Ysolda Teague to the more complex Mirry-Dancers Yoked Pullover by Cheryl Burke (shown above and also featuring on the front cover of the book).

© Chris Vaccaro

Kulli Cowl by Ysolda Teague

I had to include an image of the these cute Peeri Weeri Booties by Carrie Bostick Hoge. Judging by the comments on the Ravelry projects page they are proving to be a popular gift and user up of spare yarn.

© Chris Vaccaro

Peeri Weeri Booties by Carrie Bostick Hoge

 

I love knitting mittens. There are four patterns for gloves including the fingerless ones by SpillyJane a.k.a. Jane Dupuis called Mushroom Kellimuffs which I chose to knit in Jamieson's of Shetland DK yarn.

 SpillyJane a.k.a. Jane Dupuis called Mushroom Kellimuffs

Towards the back of the book is a detailed section called 'Design Notebook' with information about: how to knit in the Fair Isle tradition, yarn choice, how to read charts, gauge and swatching, steeks, colour choice and an extensive glossary of terms. Basically everything you need to know to complete a project from the book.

The section on 'Colour Choice' and how to combine colours was useful to me. For my 'Mushroom Kelliemuffs' I had decided to use up some spare Jamieson's of Shetland yarn but had a limited colour palette to choose from. The information helped me decide which colours to use from those I had available.

For my next project, I'd like to make the Morroless Socks by Mary Jane Mucklestone. I like the natural grey main colour with the bright contrasts on the striking star design.

© Chris Vaccaro

Morroless Socks by Mary Jane Mucklestone

Information about each of the patterns is available from the Ravelry Fair Isle Style book page.

Enjoy!

Black Sheep Wools Blogger of the Month

I was delighted to find out I had been chosen as blogger of the month November 2013 on  Black Sheep Wools, award winning Knit & Stitch Blog.  

Here's a quote from their website, "Established in 1983, Black Sheep Wools is a family run knitting & needlecraft retailer, based in the village of Culcheth, Warrington, Cheshire.
 

Our Craft Barn is the largest knitting store in the country! We deliver workshops and drop in sessions on a weekly basis. We also have recently opened Tea Bags Full – somewhere you can rest your legs with a nice cuppa and slice of cake!"

To read my interview click here.