Bella Lana: Beautiful Yarn

This Bohemian Chic scarf is knit with size 19 needles from a single ball of ALP Oriental by Feza.  Even better, the fringe comes pre-made with the yarn.  If you’re down-to-the-wire you can finish in a day.  I’ve knit two – one in bright red tones and one in white.  I love them both.  It’s a generous scarf – very long.  It’s knit lengthwise, which shows of the yarn changes to best advantage.

For those of you who’d prefer a shawl, there is also a free pattern for a graceful curved shawl that could double as a shorter scarf.

This adorable scarf is knit out of Katia’s “Rizos” self-ruffling yarn.  It’s a tape-like yarn.  One edge is a series of holes that you knit into.  It took me one ball of yarn and two evenings to knit up up this scarf.  Absolutely great tucked in the neck of a coat, don’t you think?

If you love the Madeline Tosh yarns as much as I do you will want to knit this easy cowl.  It takes one ball of Tosh DK, or two balls for a longer, wrapable version.  I’ve knit it in “Tart”, a gorgeous red. It’s on display in the shop.  But I wanted one for myself, so I’m also knitting one in a beautiful blue called “Well Water”.  The pattern, “Honey Cowl” is available on the Madeline Tosh website.  While it calls for Tosh DK it would also work well in Tosh Vintage.

We really love the new patterns from Churchmouse.  They’re straightforward but always have refined touches.  The have patterns for a range of accessory and baby projects – all terrific – but our very favorite is this glove pattern.  It’s written for a DK weight yarn.  Knit it in Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino and the result is a warm, elegant mitten.  Knit it in a fingering weight yarn – Tilli Tomas Milan – for a sleeker, more formal look.  We recommend minor adjustments to Churchmouse’s pattern to allow for the lighter yarn weight.

Cornelia, recently back from the Emerald Isle, has scored a recipe for Irish scones from the Ulster Canal Tea Room in Clones (home to the finest Irish crochet lace).  Here it is:

Vera’s Traditional Irish Scones
from
Ulster Canal House and Tea Room in Clones, Ireland

16 oz. self-rising flour
4 oz. margarine
4 oz. sugar
2 eggs
¼ pint milk
1 cup currants, cherries, or apricots

Preheat oven on full heat. Turn down to 350° when scones go in.

Sieve flour, then sugar into bowl, then add eggs and margarine, mix well. Add milk. (Milk can vary, if too wet add flour, if dry add milk). Then mix in fruit.

Cook for 25 to 30 minutes at 175°

Vera’s recipe adapted for America

2 cups self-rising flour  (unsifted)
1 stick butter
¼ cup sugar
1 egg
½ cup milk
1 cup currants

Preheat oven to 450°.

Sift flour and sugar into bowl.
Cut in butter with fork.
Add egg and work in.
Add milk, a little at a time, until dough is the consistency of biscuit dough.
Cut out 10 to 12 3” scones.

Place scones on baking sheet, lower oven to 175° and bake 25 to 30 minutes.
The tops don’t brown so don’t overcook.

Cool and enjoy.

Makes 10 to 12 scones.

Note: Check expiration date on flour for freshness in order to ensure proper rising.

I used a pattern I found on Ravelry – “Three Seas Cowl” by Christina Stork – and knit it up in Tilli Tomas Pure Cashmere.  I used 2 skeins on a size 6 needle.  It feels like heaven.  The people at Tilli Tomas spun it especially for us.  Last year I knit a one-skein lace scarf in a cream color cashmere.  It’s been sitting on display and handled frequently.  It still looks great – no pilling and a really gorgeous “bloom”.  This pattern was fun to knit – no stress and it moved right along.

KB

Disco is a wonderful yarn to knit with during the warmer months.  It’s also a great yarn for Holiday gifts, for those of you who are thinking ahead.  It’s shown here in a silvery color called “Atmosphere”.  I knit this scarf using a simple drop stitch, which gives a lacy effect without the difficulty of lace knitting.  One skein will knit into a long, showy scarf.  Two skeins are sufficient for a shawl.  Or . . . take a look at the wonderful patterns on the Tilli Tomas website: http://www.tillitomas.com/.

KB

This scarf is knit in a wonderful yarn – Misti Alpaca Chunky.  It’s about 48″ long by 4″ wide, so it’s not a huge scarf and it knits up fast.  It is, however, exceptionally soft and warm and it’s appropriate for both men and women.  It’s shown here in a lighter gray, but it would look great in a brighter color or a multi.

CG

Download Pattern

This scarf knits up fast in a very simple ribby-lacy pattern.  I knit it in bright red Debbie Bliss Como, but it would also be great in Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky or Cascade Lana Grande.  I made it very long and added a six inch fringe.  The pattern follows.

KB

Bella Lana Speedo Scarf

Finished Size:

6” wide by 68” long plus optional 6” fringe at each end

Materials:

• Debbie Bliss Como (4 balls)
• Size 15 needles

Abbreviations:

CO:                Cast on
K:                   Knit
K2tog:           Knit 2 stitches together
YO:                 Yarn over

Directions:

Cast on 13 stitches.

Pattern Row: K1, YO, K2tog

Repeat this row to desired length.  Bind off.

Add fringe if desired.  For 6” fringe wrap yarn around 8” piece of cardboard 4 times and cut.  Use crochet hook to secure to end of scarf.  Cut end of fringe – this creates an 8-strand fringe about 6” long.  Make 6 for each end of scarf.

Kay Panner knit this wonderful blanket out of Noro Kureyon from a pattern in Noro Family.  She modified the pattern – rather than seaming the squares she crocheted them together using black yarn for definition.  It took a while to knit, but Kay didn’t mind.  She says it was actually a very portable project (a square at a time) and the constant color changes were motivational.  Looks beautiful, doesn’t it?