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Finished Project: Courtney’s Rift!

September 18, 2020
Courtney Kelley
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I did it! I finally finished my Rift as part of the #mojavemarlalong, and I am completely happy with it. I used our Kelbourne Woolens Mojave yarn in seafoam and flamingo, and it is endlessly cheerful and summery - a pleasant reminder of beach days yet to come. (Maybe next year?)

I don’t know about you, but this spring and summer were…a bit…um…challenging? Like many, many people I had a hard time focusing. I couldn’t read a book all the way through, I didn’t want to pick up my needles, I didn’t want to cook - all things I enjoy and make me feel grounded. It wasn’t just me, right? (I know it wasn’t).

The Rift Tee by Jacqueline Cieslak was absolutely a fun and easy sweater to knit, I just CONSTANTLY messed it up. Those of you who followed along on our Instagram Live knit nights know: It’s not you, Jacqueline, it’s me, I promise.

I can’t remember all the things I messed up, but I know it started with the ribbing. I didn’t pay attention (ie, I didn’t read the pattern) and I...

Year of Gifts

Year of Gifts: Lily of the Valley Shawl

The August Year of Gifts is here! For August, Courtney designed one of her favorite accessories: a lace shawlette. The Lily of the Valley Shawl is the perfect accessory to knit again and again, and the easy to memorize pattern is great for a beginner looking to build upon their lace knitting skills. The cute heart-shaped curve of the shawl is created by doubling the increase rates at each end, and keeping them even in the middle. It makes the shawl hug your body, and it's easier to wear all day long. We think it will be your new favorite fall accessory!

The kit for this month includes: • 1 skein of Perennial in Caribbean • 1 sample size packet of Soak Handmaid • Custom set of August Year of Gift stickers • Postcard with individual pattern download code

Head over to our online shop to purchase, or ask for one at your favorite LYS!⁠⠀

Finished Projects

Finished Project: Kate’s Rift!

I finished my Rift as part of the #mojavemarlalong and it is everything I had hoped it would be and more! The subtle Mojave marl (slate gray and plum brown) creates a lovely mushroomy purple that works well with basically everything in my wardrobe. The linen/cotton blend is soft and has some heft, but is still light and comfortable to wear.

I made very few modifications to the pattern and tried to stay as true to the design as possible. The first - if one can even call it that - was the addition of a few inches to the body length so it is less cropped. As a reference, I am 5’5” and have a pretty short torso, and my front before the armhole division is 11” (3” longer than stated in the pattern).

The end result is a sweater I can wear layered over dresses, or with pants or jeans, making it a much more versatile garment for my personal style.

The other modification was done at the last minute. All that was left to do was the neck and sleeve cuffs, and on a whim I picked up the hook from my Sophie’s Universe...

Year of Gifts

Year of Gifts: Hosta Slippers

As many of you know, we celebrate crochet summer every year, so we thought it would be fitting to make a crochet pattern for the July Year of Gifts! Made with Kelbourne Woolens Germantown and perfect for cozying up with a cup of tea, some needlework, and a binge-worthy show, these fun, funky, vintage-inspired slippers make for a quick gift for the loungewear lover in your life. New to crochet? Don’t fret! Although they look intricate, the slippers are actually just three granny squares stitched together and are made entirely using double crochet and chain stitches. The pattern has written and charted instructions, and detailed directions are included to assemble the slippers using single crochet. A pom pom completes the quirky, funky look!

As with previous months, we’ve assembled a kit for the Hosta Slippers, which includes:

• 1 skein of Germantown in sage • Hiya Hiya size H / 5.00 mm crochet hook • Loome 5-in-1 Robot • Postcard with individual pattern download code

Head over to our online shop to purchase, or ask for one at your favorite local LYS!

Just want the pattern? You can purchase it on Ravelry.

Year of Gifts

Year of Gifts: Pantry Staple Washcloths

June’s Year of Gifts is here! This month’s design is the perfect knit for hot summer days, and is perfect for gift giving. We hope this is a pattern you’ll knit again and again! This pattern is really two patterns! The two texture stitch patterns are called Nut Stitch and Rice Stitch, hence the “Pantry Staple” name. Both are knit/purl patterns, and while the Rice Stich is a great beginner texture pattern, the Nut Stitch is a great pattern for those who are ready to tackle a slightly more complex stitch. Both create a textured bumpy side, and a smooth side - the perfect thing for an exfoliating face cloth for your beauty care routine! Pair the cloths with a bar of locally handmade soap and you have the perfect gift to give! The washcloths are finished with an i-cord edging in the contrasting color. I’m not going to lie - knitting that the i-cord is a pain in the you-know-what, but it is sooooo worth the extra effort! And it really does go by pretty quickly. Maybe there is something about having four kids at home while trying to knit attached i-cord in a cotton and linen...

#mojavemarlalong

Swatching: Rift Marl-Along

Above: My Swatches Before Blocking

As I mentioned in the introductory post announcing the KAL, after Courtney and I picked Rift and were discussing color choices, I swatched Mojave singled and then doubled the yarn with two colors and fell in love! The specifications for Rift are as follows: Yarn A sport/dk weight cotton/wool or linen blend Gauge 16 sts and 20 rows over 4” in blocked stockinette stitch Needles US 8 (5 mm)

The pattern calls for a sport/dk weight yarn knit on larger than recommended needles to achieve a gauge of 16 stitches over 4”. (For reference, Mojave is sport weight and the label recommends knitting on US 4-6 (3.5-4 mm) for a gauge of 22-24 stitches over 4".) This is common when knitting lace, as the resultant fabric is light, open, airy and has a lot of drape. As you can see from Rift, it can be used to great effect in stockinette stitch as well!

My Swatches After Blocking But why singled? And why doubled? I first knit a swatch with one end of Mojave in smoke gray on the recommended needles, US 8. When knitting from OPP (other people’s patterns), I tend start with the recommended needle, and then make...

#mojavemarlalong

Marl-Along Rift With Us!

A few weeks ago, I was texting Courtney and suggested we host a little KAL as something fun to do in the midst of the laundry, dishes, chores, homeschooling, and madness of the last few months. Since it’s getting warmer, and we’re thinking about spring and summer knits, it is the perfect time to work on a warm weather sweater that would be interesting to knit, but not so difficult that couldn’t work on it after a long day, and quick enough that we could finish it in time for summer.

But what to make? Rift by Jacqueline Cieslak checks off all of the perfect Summer KAL boxes! As a bonus, it calls for a sport weight cotton and our Mojave yarn fits the bill, with a lot of flexibility! When I was swatching, I ended up holding two colors together and the result not only matched gauge perfectly, (after blocking, of course), I loved the combination. And who doesn't love a good marl?

Rift cracks open all your assumptions about what a ‘basic tee’ pattern should be. This lightweight, bottom-up knit includes instructions for two necklines, optional bust darts, short or long sleeves, and a custom fit bicep. The...
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Finished Projects

Finished Project: Kate’s Brushed Dandelion Sweater

Wahoo! Another finished sweater! As you may recall, I swatched the Navia Brushed and Deluxe yarns back in October. At that time, we were working with Navia on translating the patterns from some of their newer books, and I was eager to knit Dandelion by Sára J. Mrdalo from Book 30. Although Dandelion calls for Silkiull, I was in love with the Brushed swatches and wanted to see how it would work up in such a feminine design. I ended up using US 9s to match the pattern gauge of 14 stitches to 4” (instead of US 8 at a gauge of 15 stitches to 4” as I originally thought), as I didn’t want to worry about adjusting the math. I used Navia Brushed Tradition in 1102 light grey, a lovely heathered neutral, and knit the size medium with no modifications. Worked in pieces - my absolute most favorite way to make a sweater - I knit the back first, then the front, and then each sleeve. It knit up easily and quickly, and the flower pattern on the front was a nice break from all stockinette stitch. I opted to seam using Navia...

An Interview With

An Interview With: Jennifer Burke

In conjunction with the release of the Sweet Pea Socks for the April installment of the Year of Gifts, I thought it would be fun to interview the designer, Jennifer Burke. We have been friends with Jen for well over a decade, and are delighted to have her as one of our featured contributors this year. Read on for more about Jen’s knitting preferences and plans for the future. Enjoy!

Kate Gagnon Osborn (KGO): Hello! When I was walking the dogs the other day thinking of some questions to ask for this interview, I tried to calculate how long we’ve all known one another and lost count after 13 years. I do know we all met at Rosie’s in Philadelphia, and for the longest time, I remember you loving to make very complicated lace shawls. When did you start knitting, and why lace? Jennifer Burke (JB): I learned the basics of casting on, knitting, and purling when I was about 7 or 8 from my mom. I kept at it for a few months, creating a very modified bind off (thank God there’s no evidence of this to be found), and let it all go until about...

Local Yarn Shops

Kelbourne Woolens Mail Day!

Here we are, week whatever-it-is, and we’re still doing our bit by staying home and social distancing. We are able to continue shipping to the local yarn shops you love - albeit with a very small “team” of one person (either Kate or I) per week for a few hours a day. While it’s my week to “work from home,” a term I use very loosely to describe what it means to try to work while simultaneously having four kids in my house and a partner who is also “working from home,” I have spent probably too much time scrolling through Instagram in order to get a break from the laundry and the dishes and the unfinished school projects. But, you guys, I have to say, the pictures you are sharing of our yarns when you open packages from your LYS are giving me life this week! Keep ‘em coming! @a.domigod Wendy B. got this sweet package of our Perennial yarn in the best purple to make the True Friend Sweater by Veera Välimäki. Starlight Knitting Society in Portland, OR is open for walk up or curbside service. Come to the door and someone will shop for...

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Finished Project: Courtney’s Rift!

Year of Gifts: Lily of the Valley Shawl

Finished Project: Kate’s Rift!

Year of Gifts: Hosta Slippers

Year of Gifts: Pantry Staple Washcloths

Swatching: Rift Marl-Along

Marl-Along Rift With Us!

Finished Project: Kate’s Brushed Dandelion Sweater

An Interview With: Jennifer Burke

Kelbourne Woolens Mail Day!

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