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…
Tag: Kate Gagnon Osborn

Scout Collection: Ballard
Ballard, the second hat in the Scout Collection, is the perfect design for practicing stranded knitting or if you want to play around with color. The design is a mix of classic Setesdal patterns, and no float is longer than three stitches, so each round is easy to memorize. The sample worked up super quickly, so…

Scout Collection: Compass
I am as much of a sucker for an intricate cable as I am stranded colorwork, and the Compass cowl is awash with a plethora of cable panels designed to keep you cosy all season long. Compass is designed in two sizes, a larger version (pictured) requiring two skeins, and a smaller version that only calls for…

Long Tail Tubular Cast On
It is a bit of a mouthful, but the long tail tubular cast onis a really excellent cast on method that creates a lovely, stretchy edge that is reminiscent of machine-knit garments. The cast on is a bit quirky and convoluted, and makes a lot more sense in the doing than in the reading. Set-Up: Create…

Embroidering on Knitting
Embroidery is a really simple and quick way to add additional embellishment to your finished knitting. The July Mittens feature a riot of embroidery on the top of the hand, including chain stitched stems and “spider web” flowers. Below are two separate photo tutorials for working each technique! BEFORE YOU BEGIN: 1 / Embroidering on knit fabric…
Year of Mittens: June Mittens
The June Mittens are here, and this design is definitely my favorite pair thus far! The June Mittens feature stranded colorwork and showcase a nice variety of banded and all-over patterns. The mittens begin with a provisional cast on, followed by a folded cuff, then the body of is worked in a series of geometric…

KW Style It: Bennett Creek
When I put together the styling for the Luma Collection photoshoot, I utilized the gorgeous landscape of the New Jersey shore, the casual style of the garments, and the multi-season wear of The Fibre Co. Luma as my inspiration. While all of the pieces look amazing in their beach environment, I wanted to play around…

Introducing: The Luma Collection
In conjunction with the release of the newest yarn in The Fibre Co. lineup, we’re delighted to share our collection of 4 designs featuring Luma with you! Four designs that travel effortlessly from beach to boardwalk, The Luma Collection features essential pieces you will want to turn to again and again. Designed using the unique…
Free Pattern: Nana’s Pullover
There is a sweater that has traveled throughout my immediate family – it first began with my cousins, was next worn by my brother and myself, then passed onto the children of my cousins, then to my nieces and nephews, and then down to me when our daughter Charlie was born in 2012. Knit by…
KW Swatch Experiment Data: Terra
We’re almost in the home stretch – today is the second to last post in the #kwswatchexperiment: Terra! For the Terra swatch, we asked knitters to cast on 21 stitches using US 8 (5 mm) needles and work in stockinette stitch with a 2 stitch garter edge on either side. The needle size given in…
knit.wear Wool Studio / Falmouth Cardigan
I am proud to be a part of the inaugural Wool Studio collection, put out by Interweave as a sub-section of the now-classic knit.wear magazine. Wool Studio is a little bit different in that it is presented as a digital lookbook, with 9 designs in curated yarns and one cohesive theme. In her introductory letter,…
Free Pattern: Holiday Cheer Ornaments
Our daughter, Charlie, is at the age where she’s really starting to “get” holidays. Easter and Christmas are current favorites, although I’m confident she has no idea what Easter is about except piles of chocolate and everything is covered in bunnies (two of her most favorite things ever), and we try and keep Christmas planning…
KW Holiday Gift Guide: Kate’s Handmade Finds for the Home
It is that time of year when most of us are inevitably looking for a special gift to give, whether it be for a family member, friend, child’s teacher, or office mate. We decided it would be fun to bring back our Holiday Gift Guide in order to showcase some fantastic gift ideas we’d choose…
Year of Mittens: December Mitten
December 1st is here! Winter temperatures have finally hit Philadelphia, and we’re delighted to have a new pile of mittens to choose from when braving the colder temperatures. The December Mittens are built for warmth, durability and comfort. Inspired by traditional gansey patterning, the cuff of the mitten begins with a Channel Island Cast On,…

Finished Project: Skolt Sámi Boot Socks
About a month ago, Courtney and I came back from the Nordic Knitting Conference armed with exciting new knowledge and quite a few newly cast on projects on our needles. Over the last few weekends, in between finishing up the designs for our new yarn collection to be released in February and samples for a few…
KW Baby Collection / Individual Patterns
You may remember back in February when we released Darling, Beatrix, and Colette from the KW Baby Collection as individual PDF downloads. Since then, we have sold out of printed copies of the book, so we decided it was the perfect time to to release all* of the patterns in the collection as individual PDF downloads, and…
Interweave Knits Fall 2016 / Rahwah Pullover by Kate Gagnon Osborn
Interweave Knits 20th anniversary issue was just published, and it is, in a word, excellent. I am proud to have a design in the issue, the Rawah Pullover, in the Cabin in the Woods story. Many among you will recognize the garment as heavily inspired by the iconic “L.L. Bean Sweater” popular in the 80s and…

The Arranmore Collection: Alternate Colorways
The original samples in the 9 piece Arranmore Collection were designed in a classic and somewhat subtle color palette. When putting together a second set of samples for our Trunk Shows, we dove deep into the full palette of 18 colors, and worked up the pieces in alternate combinations to showcase what some of the…

The Arranmore Collection: Modern Classics
The last three garments in our 9 piece collection utilize all of the exceptional qualities of The Fibre Co. Arranmore combined with classic techniques we know and love. Each sweater requires a little more in the way of effort – both colorwork and cables are used to great effect – but the end result of any…

The Arranmore Collection: Forever Basics
As mentioned yesterday, we put together a 9 piece collection that showcases the best of what authentic Donegal yarns have to offer: classic shapes, lovely cables, timeless colorwork, and easy pieces you’ll want to turn to time and time again. There are three garments in the collection that were designed to be classic, timeless, forever basics that…

The Arranmore Collection: Perfect Accessories
As mentioned in our Arranmore introductory post, we put together a 9 piece collection that showcases the best of what authentic Donegal yarns have to offer: classic shapes, lovely cables, timeless colorwork, and easy pieces you’ll want to turn to time and time again. There are three accessories in the collection that use the lovely texture of…
Weekend Wraps / Cecily Glowick MacDonald & Melissa LaBarre
Knitwear designers Cecily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa LaBarre have released yet another fabulous book with Interweave Press! It’s full of lovely projects you could knit over a weekend, with patterns for knitters of all skill levels. We are excited to have two of The Fibre Co. yarns showcased in the book, with designs by Bristol…
Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2016 / Modern Chullo by Kate Gagnon Osborn
The preview for the Early Fall 2016 Vogue Magazine came out, and I designed a hat for the “Chullo Challenge” story. The idea was to do a riff on the Andean Chullo hat. When researching the traditional accessory, I was most drawn both to the use of multiple colors and geometric motifs. My intention was…

Woolful / Ready, Set, Knit! / Mornings on the Dock
We were lucky enough to be asked on three podcasts this winter, and I thought it would be great to put them all in one place for you to take a look at (or, more appropriately, listen to)! WOOLFUL In mid-February, we were interviewed on the astonishingly popular podcast, Woolful, hosted by Ashely Yousling. You…
Free Pattern: Bardon Mill Hat by Kate Gagnon Osborn
The Fibre Co. Cumbria Fingering lends itself perfectly to winter accessories. With a healthy 328 yards per 100 gram skein, there is plenty of yardage to create a classic hat or pair of mittens. (I’m also scheming up a pair of boot socks…) In honor of the newest fabulous addition to the Fibre Co. lineup, I…

Acadia Collection Feature: Wardrobe Staples
Our two most “basic” items in the Acadia Collection, Echo Lake and Cadillac Mountain, were designed to be timeless wardrobe staples. ECHO LAKE A good, basic pullover should be a staple in every wardrobe, and Echo Lake is just that. Courtney designed this pullover with the slubby texture of Acadia as the focus of this understated…

Acadia Collection Feature: Classic Accessories
Most of the designs in the Acadia Collection are simple garments with minimal patterning, but we wanted to have two accessories that were still classic but featured a little bit more in terms of the pattern texture and structure. JORDAN POND SCARF Those of you who looked closely at the Jordan Pond Scarf may have…

Introducing: The Acadia Collection
Although we released The Fibre Co. Acadia in 2011, we never dedicated a collection specifically to it. This summer we knew that had to change, and set to work putting together a collection with the unique beauty of the yarn as the focus. One of the distinctive aspects of Acadia is the four undyed colors…

Tuck Stitches
Gillam features a Tuck and Cable patterning that is worked both in the round and flat. The stitch pattern is 6 rounds, with a cable every 6th round, and the tuck stitch worked every 3rd round. As a result, you will work the tuck stitch on both right side and wrong side rows after the armhole division….
Knitscene Accessories 2013
The online issue of Knitscene Accessories 2013 just came out and we couldn’t be more excited about it. With two gorgeous projects, the Transistor Hat by Ann McDonald Kelly and the Rukkilill Mitts by Kate Gagnon Osborn, we’ll be ready for those brisk morning walks. The Transistor Hat by Ann McDonald Kelly features Road to China in Garnet, Riverstone and Ruby….

Knitting Designer Guest Series: WhipUp.net
Kate was recently asked to participate in the Knitting Designer Guest Series featured on WhipUp.net. She was honored to be included in this collection of great designers, including Jane Richmond, Amy Christoffers + Anna Hrachovec (and many more!) You can check out her post here and browse through the whole series here.
New For Sale Pattern: Lenten Rose
The final pattern in our Boathouse Collection, Lenten Rose is a set of Roositud mittens and headwarmer knit out of Road to China Light. Designed using a classic star motif, the Roositud inlay is easy to execute and provides a unique and eye-catching addition to the finished product. Specifications: • Yarn: Road to China Light…
New For Sale Pattern: Amaranth
We’re delighted to announce that Amaranth is now available through Kelbourne Woolens and on Ravelry. For the many (many) shop owners who have asked, it, and all of our KW patterns are also available through in store sales on Ravelry! {And if you do see a pattern you want that for some reason doesn’t come…

New Free Pattern: Springtime Bandit
Armed with a few skeins of Terra, the set-up chart for the Springtime in Philadelphia beret and a plane flight to CA for TNNA in January, Kate started playing around with the idea of converting the circular beret into a triangle. The combination of modern yarn that is butter soft but has a slightly rustic…

Knitscene Winter 2008/Spring 2009
We were delighted when Lisa Shroyer approached us about including an article in the Winter 2008/Spring 2009 Knitscene Magazine on Kelbourne Woolens and the Fibre Company distributorship. It was a delight to work with Lisa and we are so happy with how the article came out! It is a wonderful insight into Kelbourne Woolens and…

Wesley
Our holiday gift to you: Wesley, a beret knit out of the amazingly soft Organik! Continuing with knits inspired by woven textiles, (and hats!) Kate designed this beret in three colors to best showcase the stitch. True to her other designs, the decreases are incorporated into the stitch pattern to create a continuous crown. As an…