Handmade: Liz Smith of Smith Dry Goods

We are all about local and handmade, and we are so excited about our newest addition: handmade felted sheep ornaments to bring you some holiday cheer! 

These adorable sheep are handmade by artist Liz Smith, under the business name Smith Dry Goods.  Liz runs Smith Dry Goods out of a studio in an old textile mill called Western Avenue Studios in Lowell, Massachusetts.

She works with wool; needle felting, crocheting, and knitting small accessories, pincushions, and ornaments which are pretty, quirky, and sweet. She also offers polymer clay jewelry, paper goods, and is starting to introduce sewn goods into her product line. Liz was trained in fine arts and has been making and selling things since the 1980s. She loves the community of makers she has been able to meet on the internet, at craft shows, and at the studio.

Pattern: Clean Lines Scarf

By Ana Campos

This is a great project for the changing seasons - a quick knit, and a cozy, generously sized scarf. Wrap yourself up in this cozy scarf, or get started on your holiday knitting!

Level: Beginner

Gauge: 14.5 stitches/22 rows = 4" (10 cm) x 4" (10 cm) in stitch pattern after gentle blocking

Size: Approx. 11 inches (28 cm) wide x 70 inches (178 cm) long

Materials:

Berroco Vintage Chunky in Smoke, 4 skeins

Size US 10 knitting needles, or size needed to obtain gauge

Note: This pattern would also work for worsted weight yarn. Go down to a size US8 needle and follow pattern as written. The scarf will be narrower, but gauge is not terribly important for a scarf.

Directions:

Cast on 41 stitches. 

Row 1 (RS): K1tbl, *P1tbl, K1tbl, rep from * to end

Row 2 (WS): P1tbl, *K1tbl, P1tbl, rep from * to end

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 6 rows.

Row 7: K all.

Row 8: K2, *Sl 1, K3, rep from * 8 more times, Sl 1, K2.

Repeat Rows 7 and 8 until scarf measures approximately 68.5" (174 cm) from cast on edge, ending with a WS row.

Row 9 (RS): K1tbl, *P1tbl, K1tbl, rep from * to end.

Row 10 (WS): K1tbl, *P1tbl, K1tbl, rep from * to end.

Repeat Rows 9 and 10 until you have completed 6 rows.

Bind off in pattern.

WANT TO MAKE YOUR OWN? PICK YOUR COLORS HERE! 

Making: The Elizabeth Hat

Ever since the Shibui Mix Party, we've all been drooling over Shibui yarns so when we asked Carrie to knit up an Elizabeth hat, she was all over it! It came out beautifully, and we think it suits Carrie perfectly.

This pattern combines one skein of Shibui Baby Alpaca and one skein of Shibui Silk Cloud, making it a perfect project: small and super luxurious. This is a quick project, but with a simple cabled project throughout to keep it interesting. The combination of fibers makes the fabric delightful, but don't take our word for it! Come by the shop and try on this gorgeous hat. 

Pattern: Not Quite Colorblock Blanket

by Ana Campos

I admit I am not much of a blanket knitter, but between the amazing softness and beautiful colors of Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton, I was mesmerized by the idea of wrapping myself in this yarn. Traditionally cozy but with a modern aesthetic, this has quickly become a favorite pattern! 

Level:

Beginner

Gauge:

14.5 stitches/26 rows = 4" (10 cm) x 4" (10 cm) in Garter Stitch after gentle blocking

Size:

Approx. 36 inches (91.5 cm) wide x 43 inches (109 cm) long

Materials:

Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton in Lemongrass, 2 skeins

Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton in Poppy, 1 skein

Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton in Bone, 1 skein

Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton in Aloe, 1 skein

Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton in Jasper, 1 skein 

Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton in Sky, 1 skein

Size US 8 (5 mm) 2" circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.

Directions:

Using Color A , cast on 130 stitches. Knit all rows until you have 38 rows or enough yarn left to knit two more rows, ending with a RS row. Do not break yarn. 

Using Color B, knit 2 rows. Carrying Color A up the side of the work, knit 2 more rows with Color A. 

Continue knitting with Color B. Knit every row until you have  38 rows, or enough yarn left to knit two more rows, ending with a RS row. 

Using Color C, knit 2 rows. Carrying Color B up the side of the work, knit 2 more rows with Color A. 

Continue as established for each color. With the last color, knit until you have 38 rows or enough yarn left to bind off, and bind off loosely. Weave in yarn tails and block gently. 

Want to make your own? Pick your colors here! 

Want a printable PDF version of this pattern? Sign up and get access to our Library!

Exploring Shibui

Last week, we hosted a Shibui Mix Party, where we got to learn more about a fabulous yarn company, Shibui Knits. Shibui Knits is based out of Portland, Oregon, and was founded by Darcy Cameron. "Shibui" means "elegant with a touch of bitterness" in Japanese, and they try to bring that sentiment to all of their products. Darcy is unapologetic about her love of unique fibers and tactile experiences, and this is at the core of Shibui's mission. Shibui isn't just about knitting - it's about creating dazzling textiles. They work only with the highest quality fibers, and bring a clean, modern aesthetic to their designs. In the words of Jess, our local Shibui rep, when you work with Shibui, you are working with the Cadillac of yarns.

At our Mix Party, we each got to sample all ten of Shibui's yarns, including the brand-new Dune. Dune is spun out of baby alpaca, baby camel, and silk. What makes fiber "baby"? The designation "baby" refers to the micron count of the fiber, meaning this fiber has a low micron count and is super soft. 

Their Fall/Winter 2015 collection has some gorgeous patterns featuring Dune.

Column uses Dune and Cima

Cornice uses Dune and Silk Cloud

The official Shibui Fall Knig-Along will be the Motif shawl, knit in Dune. We can't wait to wrap ourselves in this delicious yarn! The Knit-Along kicks off on September 23rd. Visit the official Shibui KAL Ravelry thread for details and grab your Dune here! We provide you with a free copy of the Motif pattern when you purchase the yarn with us.