Spring Shawl Inspiration

How seasonal is your knitting?

New project plans seem to involve A LOT of shawls right now & we think it's because it's starting to feel a little like Spring in the UK. With that in mind, we thought we'd share some of our favourite shawls to knit with Fyberspates yarns ready for you to cast on this weekend!

1. Ishbel- by Ysolda Teague. Some say this is the best shawl for beginners to get to grips with lace patterns and we think it's a classic. Ysolda even has a tutorial on how to read charts for the first time if that is something that you find a little intimidating. 

2. Soleil d'Or- by Nim Teasdale. This is a stunning shawl that calls for Gleem Lace and we think is perfect for a longer term project you want to sink your teeth into. 

3. Kaihola- by Heidi Alander calls for Vivacious DK and is a great shawl for this changeable time of year as it's a little heavier than most but not too warm. 

4. Truly- by Ann Kingstone. This combines the best of everything- stripes, some solid knitting and a little lace detail to keep our interest. Calls for Scrumptious 4ply. 

5. Melas- By Jacqui Hardy. We love how fairytale this crocheted Vivacious 4ply shawl is!

6. Etherow Shawl- by Anniken Allis. A deliciously huge but quick to work up shawl in Cumulus yarn. 

If you loved these, we've got shawl inspiration and techniques on our 'We Love Shawls' pinterest board. 

Do you knit more shawls in warmer weather?

Designer Focus: Carol Feller

UK knitwear designer Carol Feller designs under the brand name Stolen Stitches and has a range of adult and children's knitting patterns as well accessories we love. Carol has been a Fyberspates fan for some time and the feeling is entirely mutual! So today we're offering a little pattern inspiration from this talented designer based in southern Ireland.

First, let's admire some of her shawls...

Captiva is worked from side to side with short row shaping to form a gentle curve and tapers to a tail making it wonderful for staying in place over your shoulder. Calls for Scrumptious DK.

Centrique is another Scrumptious DK accessory that uses a simple lace repeat so it would be suitable for a first shawl project. Fast and pretty, this shawl creates a simple and elegant piece that looks more complex than it is!

Flama has a delicate central lace panel and garter stitch outer panels. Worked from the bottom up, optional beads are added to the lace central panel. This shawl calls for Scrumptious Lace and is available in Carol's collaborative collection, Scrumptious Knits. 

The garments

Akoya is a versatile, stylish and flattering cardigan that was simple enough to be worn with just about everything. This cardigan keeps the basic styling simple, its short style is worn with negative ease, but small lace and cable details at the hem, cuff and neckline keep it interesting. Calls for Scrumptious 4ply. 

The Iceling jacket is easy to knit, with a top-down seamless construction. The large double breasted front collar is knit with two rows of buttons so it can grow with the child; when more room is needed the jacket can be fastened on the second row of buttons.Garter stitch bands at the wrist are designed to worn either folded up or left down, again making it ideal for fast-growing children. Uses Scrumptious Aran.

Ignus is another piece from the Scrumptious Knits collaboration. A hip length tunic has delicate cable details that complement the smooth flattering shape. Knit from the top down, with raglan shoulder shaping, the side cable detail has decreases worked down each side for smooth shaping. Calls for Scrumptious Aran. 

Want more Carol Feller? All patterns mentioned here are available for distribution via Fyberspates, direct Ravelry download or via Carol at Stolen Stitches. For our yarn retailers, please check here. 

Happy knitting!

Tickled Pink

So many people commented on our 'Rosy Valentine's' cocktail recipe, telling us they loved all of the rich pink colours of the yarn that we went pink this week at Fyberspates. Here's a round up of our pink inspiration and a discount code for this weekend only to celebrate being tickled pink!

'Mixed Magentas' on Vivacious 4ply (also available on Gleem Lace)

Hethe by Judy Furlong using Scrumptious Lace in 'Dusty Rose'

Coconut Raspberry Macaroons with Raspberry Rose Buttercream via Half Baked Harvest

WillowHerb by Rachel Coopey using 'Mixed Magenta' on Vivacious 4ply.

'Magenta' on Cumulus

Halyna Cardigan by Yuliya Tkacheva using Scrumptious Lace in the 'Cherry' Colourway

(c) Design Seeds

Colour inspirations via addictive website Design Seeds


Want more pink inspiration? Find our Tickled Pink board on Pinterest!


Want some pink love? We're offering 15% off all Fyberspates patterns (inclusive of the collections) for this weekend only. Simply enter the code 'thinkpink15' at check out on Ravelry. Offer ends midnight GMT on Sunday 22nd February 2015.

Coop Knits Socks Volume 2

One of our favourite designers, Rachel Coopey, has just published a follow up to her first volume of socks and it's another beauty. If you're a fan of socks, sock yarn and Rachel's endless quest for warm feet this is a must have!

Coopknits Socks Volume 2 is another great celebration of socks- how to measure them, how to choose great yarn and how to knit socks that your feet will be happy in. We are so pleased to be included as one of the recommended sock yarns of this collection.

Where Volume 1 was a riot of vibrant colours, this time Rachel is exploring a more muted but no less enticing colour palette. The textures suit this change of mood too with a range of cables, lace and colourwork that makes us want to knit every pair!

The variety of designs offered in this volume provide a great opportunity to try out new techniques. For beginners to sock knitting, a plain, topdown sock is also included. Each design is beautifully balanced and well thought out, giving both experienced and novice knitters the chance to create wonderful, wearable socks that are enormously enjoyable to knit. 

'Ernestine' in Vivacious 4ply

As well as written and charted patterns, you will also find beautiful photography and carefully written step by step tutorials to ensure you have everything you need to know. With 12 patterns included, we think it's time to have a year of socks!

You can find more details here or contact us (fyberspatesATbtinternet.com) for distribution information. 

The Perfect Knitting Project for the Cold Weather

It's cold and dark here in the Northern hemisphere and we're aware that so many of you will finally be settling down, after all the Holiday rush, to a little selfish knitting. We thought it was time we made a simple, soothing knit available for download to celebrate!

Cogges Armwarmers and Hat

Worked up quickly in chunky weight luxury yarn, these armwarmers and hat are perfect for beginners knitters and those looking for a soothing knit after all that gift knitting. 

Cogges Armwarmers

Available as two single downloads, the Cogges set were popular accessories to knit from our Scrumptious Volume 1 Collection. First, there is the Cogges Armwarmers which call for two skeins of Scrumptious Chunky. These fun and quick cabled fingerless armwarmers fit all sizes by changing the circumference during finishing with the ribbon to cinch them in as necessary. The cable pattern is simple enough for those who’ve never cabled before and provides a soothing rhythm to this simple knit.

Cogges Hat

The Cogges Hat is another speedy project that will just fly off your needles – it is knitted flat with just one quick seam to sew up at the end. The cable pattern is simple enough for those who’ve never cabled before and provides a soothing rhythm to this simple knit.

Knit flat before seaming, these are the perfect patterns for beginners looking to try new stitches or an instant gratification knit for those knitters in a hurry. Time for a little indulgent knitting after all your hard work!

(We've also got 15% off the whole Fyberspates store, including patterns until New Year- Enjoy!)

Vivacious Volume 1

~Whatever comfort the weekend brings you, do it in Vivacious knitwear.

Did you see our announcement on Facebook earlier? Come tell us YOUR 2015 plans. We think we see plenty of snuggly knitwear in ours....

Bollo

Today seemed like a day for celebration. Why? Well, we just packed a very special something off to the printers! It's not long now until we can reveal ALL the Vivacious Volume 1 details. To celebrate, we wanted to release a digital version of a pattern we love from Rachel Coopey, one of the designers featured in the coming collection.

Rachel is a designer who loves details: whether it's intricate cables, inspirational colourwork or the biggest pom pom any hat could possibly take! We've worked with Rachel a number of times and love her giggle on photoshoots and inspirational knitting designs. If you're a Coopknits fan (her design name) you will already know that Rachel designed pieces for Scrumptious Volume 3 as well as producing several patterns we love in Fyberspates yarns.

Bollo is a textured cowl with two sizing options that works up fast in a chunky weight yarn. This stylish accessory has plenty of details to make knitting and wearing fun while still being simple enough to memorise the lace pattern. If you're still feverishly cranking out gifts, this might be just the cowl you need to save your sanity!

Worked up in Scrumptious Chunky, the addition of silk in this luxury yarn means a lustrous sheen and a cowl that feels deliciously soft around the neck. Instructions are given both in a chart form as well as written and details include two different size options. The small size has a 56.5cm (169 inches) circumference and takes one full skein of Fyberspates Scrumptious Chunky. The large size has a 22.25cm (66.5 inches) circumference and takes 3 skeins of Fyberspates Scrumptious Chunky. Both sizes are 24.5cm (9.5in) tall. 

Want to win the yarn to make this cowl and the pattern? We're offering two lucky winners, chosen at random, the chance to win either a single skein of Scrumptious Chunky or 3 skeins to make the larger version. Both winners will also receive the pattern. To win, all you need to do is visit the pattern page and leave a comment telling us which of the Scrumptious colourways you would choose to knit Bollo in should you win. 

We will announce the winners on Facebook on Tuesday so keep an eye there to see if you won. 

Have a great weekend!

The Scrumptious Collection volume 1: Errata

Despite our best efforts, we have become aware of some small errors in The Scrumptious Collection volume 1. This post will be updated with any further pattern corrections that we are aware of.

Hethe

Page 32, middle column, Row 67: The stitch count for size 12-14 should say 266 sts and not 256 sts.

Page 32, right-hand column, Rows 83 to 88: The stitch count for size 12-14 should say 260 sts and not 250 sts.

Back neck and left shoulder: With RS facing cast off centre 26 (30, 30, 32, 34, 34) sts for back neck. Then rejoin yarn to left shoulder sts and continue as given.

Challow

Sleeves: Work inc as set by last round inc 2 sts on 7 (13, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21) foll 6th rounds.

Burdrop

After joining the 4th ruffle you work a purl row, then work 10 more rows in stocking stitch.

Hinksey

Left mitten: Round 1 should read: [P2, K2] 11 times in order for the rib to match up with the chart.

Uffington

Left Front: After placement of single leaf panel. Keeping patts corr as set, inc 1 st at start of next and 3 foll alt rows. 38 (42, 46, 50, 54) sts.

Murcott (Pattern Clarification)

Neck shaping on Left and Right Fronts: "cast off 5 sts, then 4 sts, then 3 sts at start of foll 3 WS rows" The 3-stitch cast off is only worked once. Three WS rows refers to the rows on which 5, then 4, then 3 sts are cast off.

 

If you are having difficulty with any of the patterns in this collection, or think that you may have found an error, please contact us so that we can assist and publish an errata if needed.

Please contact us by email on fyberspates@btinternet.com or by post at the following address:
Fyberspates
Unit 6 Oxleaze farm workshops
Broughton Poggs
Filkins
Lechlade
Glos, GL7 3RB

Click, Click, Giggle, Giggle

And that is pretty much how last weekend went!

Jen here (not Jeni!). I have just borrowed the blog again to tell you a bit about the fun we had at the weekend on the photo shoot for the Scrumptious Pattern Collection. We just can't wait to unveil the collection to you all. In the meantime, here are a few top tips for surviving a photo shoot.

1. Don't travel without plenty to eat and drink.

I'm not sure that I'm brave enough to admit to you how many iced and spiced buns I ate over the weekend, but it's likely I will turn in to one quite soon.

2. Make sure that your models can rock the Slanket look. Camilla and Lily were brilliant.

    

3. Pencils don't make the best knitting needles, so don't forget to pack the knitting essentials.

If all of you are knitters, surely someone will bring needles for yarnbombing?

4. Have a wonderful photographer with a great eye for the perfect shot. Thanks Amanda!

5. Be sure to choose lovely, smiley and gigglesome people to work with.

Nic you are a legend. And thank you so much once again, Jeni, for letting me be a part of this exciting venture.

     

Watch this space for more sneak previews over the coming weeks. The Scrumptious Pattern Collection will be available from mid-May 2011.