February Lace Lovers Club

I think most of the Lace Lovers Club members should have received their parcels by now but some overseas members may still be waiting. Which is why I put the Spoiler Alert picture up above.

Although I've given up hand-dyeing yarn I decided to continue the Lace Lovers Club for 2014. My plan was to offer the Silky Camel Sock for the first pattern. I used to dye the Silky Camel but I love the natural und-dyed colour. So I got Debs to knit up the lovely sample and we were all set to go. I e-mailed my supplier to order the yarn and his delivery had been delayed. So I had to choose another yarn so went for Supreme Sock in the natural cream colour. Supreme Sock is a blend of silk and merino and will be for sale on the website soon in the natural cream colourway.

This month's pattern is Aurora which is a stunning crescent shaped shawl. It's been very popular on Ravelry but unfortunately it's exclusive to the club members until May. I am planninng to release it to the general public a week early at Wonderwool last weekend in April.

Aurora starts with a beautiful wide lace border. After the lace comes the short row section. The short row section is worked in garter stitch. Some knitters get worried when they hear the word short rows. But these short rows are easy. There is no complicated 'wrap & turn' or anything like that. You simply just turn which leave a gap. Then on the next row you knit to one stitch before the gap and then work a decrease across the gap. This creates the crescent shape.

This is one of my favourite shawl shapes at the moment. It's fun to design and even better to knit. You get to do lots of lovely lace first. And by the time you start getting a bit bored with the lace you'll be working through the garter stitch short rows which are very, very quick and before you know it, you're casting off.

Emily modelled Aurora for me. She'd just had her hair cut. She's had long, beautiful hair since she was a little girl and when she said she wanted it shorter I wasn't too sure but I think she looks great. 

If you're not a club member but you're desperate to knit Aurora, do sign up for my newsletter so you'll be informed of when you can buy the pattern when it goes on general release in May. By the way, you may wish to consider joining the next Lace Lovers Club when sign ups open in a couple of weeks (sign up to the newsletter and you'll be the first to know) so you don't miss out on future exclusive patterns.

I'm a bit behind on the March club but I'm casting on for the March Club pattern after the weekend. The yarn is on it's way and this time it's a stunning colourway. Very different from this month's natural colour.

By the way, the Winter Sale continues on my remaining hand-dyed yarn.