Pattern Of The Week

it's time for the first pattern of the week which will become a regular feature this year. Every Friday I will choose a pattern of the week, sometimes it'll be a new pattern launch and sometimes an old one. For one week you will get 50% off if you purchase this pattern.

This week's pattern of teh week is Fantasy Cables sock pattern. This is a top down pattern with an unusual cable pattern. One size suitable for medium-large ladies/small-medium mens.

 I've chosen this pattern because I'm in the middle of knitting this pattern for myself right now. The second sock has been on the needles for ages and I need to finish it so while this pattern is the pattern of the week I will set myself the target of finishing my second Fantasy Cables sock.

To take advantage of this offer, go to my Ravelry pattern shop and use code: Fantasy to claim 50% off this pattern only. This offer is only available on Ravelry. Offer is valid until midnight UK time on Thursday 13th January. And come back for the next pattern of the week next Friday.

I've had a big yarn delivery today. 20 kg of gorgeous yarn. I now have a huge box sitting in the hallway. I'm busy clearing and re-arranging my workroom so I can fit all this new yarn in. My chest of drawers where I keep my YarnAddict yarns is falling apart so I've taken my stash yarn out of their drawers and put my YarnAddict yarns in there and I'm putting my stash yarn in my broken chest of drawers. All my shelves need clearing out too.

This weekend will be a dyeing weekend and Monday there will be dyeing action too. My first job is to dye the Sock Variety Club yarn and Easy Lace Club so if you want to sign up for these clubs be quick. there are also joint options for The Sock Variety Club and Easy Lace Club and for Sock Variety Club and Lace Variety Club. The joint options will save you money if you wish to join two clubs. All the clubs include one skein of luxury yarn (sock yarn for the sock and easy lace clubs and lace yarn for the lace club) dyed in an exclusive club only colourway, a suitable pattern and for the easy lace club, a tutorial. For the easy lace club the pattern and tutorial will teach you all the skills you need for basic lace knitting and will cover topics such as working yarn overs and various directional decreases, read a lace chart, knit a half hexagon or triangular shawlette, provisional cast on and working a applied border.  Go on, join now, you know you want too.

Here's a bit of a preview of my new yarns in their un-dyed glory. (Light is very poor today so they don't look as good as they could do).

Merino Tweed which consists of 2 strands of merino and 1 strand of superwash merino. It feels gorgeous and it'll be intersting to see how it knits up:

Merino/silk sock yarn, this one is different blend and constructions from my old Supreme Sock so I'm not sure whether to call it the same or find a new name. It has 50% merino and 50% silk and is yummy.

Bamboozle Lace which is the same blend as Bamboozle sock and has 800m.

And last an absolutely stunning yarn, Royal Alpaca/Silk Lace. A blend of supersorted baby alpaca, which is amazingly soft as it's been sorted twice only the finest fibres are used, and silk. It has 1200m and is so soft and silky but is not as fuzzy as some alpaca yarns. I think my next shawl will be in this yarn.

I also have Merino Plus Twist, Fantasy Sock, Dreamy Lace, Fairytale Sock and Angel Lace. Look out for some of these yarns next week.

The winners and a yarn update

I've carefully looked at all the suggestions for the new yarns this morning. I must admit I'm struggling to decide. A couple of them I instantly liked.  so here are the winners:

BFL/cashmere/nylon will be called Fairytale Sock suggested by Silja Devine.
the sparkly sock yarn will be called Twinkletoes suggested by Jheral Tinzy.

Silja and Jheral Tinzy, I'm dyeing these two yarns next week, and as soon as they're dry, I'll let you both choose your prize. If you've got a preferred colour please leave a comment.  Jheral Tinzy, please leave your contact details in a comment (I won't publish that comment, it's just so I can get in touch).

Unfortunately I don't like any of the suggestions for the high twist merino/nylon which makes me feel really cruel but then i suddenly had a thought. I've decided on Twist. Partly because the yarn has a high twist and I wanted that in the name somehow. I think this will quickly become my favorite sock yarn and my favorite Norwegian chocolates are 'Twist'. It's kind of a Christmas/party favorite. Weird connection but as soon as I thought Twist I decided I liked it. In fact, the official name will be Merino Plus TWIST. I may have some Super Merino TWIST in the future as this high twist sock yarn also comes in a 100% merino version.

The above was written on Friday morning but Friday got too busy to finish it. Now it's Saturday afternoon and time to finish this blog post. I'm in the middle of a shop update too. Here are some of the BRAND NEW Merino Plus TWIST sock yarn in lots of bright, luscious colours. Here are some of my favorites:

There are some new colours in Angora Lace too with more to come next week:

I had lots more planned for this post but time is running out. I'm about to send out a newsletter. I've also got to get ready for Ktog in Ashburton tomorrow. Ktog is held in the church hall in Ashburton and I will have a small stall and teaching a 'Continental Knitting' taster class. I'll be taking some of my new yarns and need to get ready. Some of the yarns in the shop will be taken offline tomorrow and will be re-listed on Monday if not sold at Ktog.

This morning we had a big photo session at a local photographers studio. My sister in law and her family are visiting from Scotland and Simon's parents were there too. WE had photos taken of all 10 of us, the 4 of us alone, the girls on their own, Simon's parents and their 4 grand children, Simon's parents and Simon and his sister. The reason for all this is that it was Simon's parents golden wedding anniversary yesterday. The photo session and a big family photograph of all 10 of us is our present to them. Tonight we're off to Lanhydrock Hotel for a party to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.