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.

Rosy Valentine's Cocktail Recipe

It's time for another free cocktail recipe! Jeni has been experimenting with gin this month to bring you something delicate and delicious for Valentine's Day.

Gin is an interesting spirit because each distiller creates the flavour of their individual product by using a slightly different mix of ingredients. Juniper the defining element of gin (after alcohol!) but notes of lemon, rosemary, cucumber and rose are just some of the different botanicals used to create gin. For this recipe, Jeni chose Hendrick's as it goes particularly well when paired with cucumber.

Rosy Valentine's

1 measure (25ml) of Hendrick's gin
1/2 tbsp of sugar syrup
A few drops of rose water.
A slice of cucumber
(a few blueberries if you want to make it pink)
A healthy splash of tonic water (we think Fever Tree works best here)


Mix Gin, rosewater, sugar syrup, and blueberries (if using) in a cocktail mixer filled with ice.
Strain into a glass and garnish with the slice of cucumber and top up with tonic.

If you're enjoying our monthly cocktail feature, you might want to join us on Pinterest where you will find ideas for more cocktails as well as recipes to make a simple sugar syrup used above. It's always good to have some delicious cocktail recipes up your sleeve for the next knit night you host with friends. 

We're taking our cocktails onto Instagram again this weekend with the hashtag  #cocktailswithFyberspates

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.