Bella Lana: Beautiful Yarn

I knit this up from Jen Geigley’s wonderful “GAP-tastic Cowl” pattern that she has generously made available on Ravelry.  I used a little heavier yarn (Debbie Bliss Paloma) and a larger needle (size 17).  I cast on 107 stiches.  I love the result.  Paloma is an alpaca blend that is very light, so even though there’s a pile of stuff around your neck it still feels great.  Quick and easy to knit.  What could be better?

This great little wrap was inspired by a well-known designer’s mohair wrap.  It’s knit with two strands of yarn – one mohair and one wool boucle.  This gives it a cozy texture.  It can be worn as shown, as a cowl, under or over a coat.  It’s super-easy to knit in garter stitch on size 15 needles.  We have it kitted-up in a variety of colors at the shop.

I LOVE this rectangular shawl patter from Blue Sky Alpacas.  Here, it’s knit in a neutral beige but I like it so much I want one in a color, dark red maybe.  Its long enough to knot off the shoulder, or you can wrap it around you like a cozy blanket.  And it’s great for travel – on a recent trip I was almost never without it.  You can wear it with jeans or a dress.  I got lots of compliments!  It’s knit in Blue Sky’s Alpaca Silk – good to work with, keeps it’s shape and doesn’t pill (in spite of tossing the shawl around quite a bit).  In short, a great project you’ll actually wear.

Karin

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