Blog – Page 5 – Elliebelly Knit & Dye Works

Elliebelly Shop Update!

Posted on March 6, 2017 by elliebelly

It’s almost here! My favorite month, April, when we have the annual Elliebelly Knit Along. If you’ve knit with us before, you know it’s a little bit of creative anarchy. This year, we’re looking at patterns in four categories: Sweaters, Bulky Hats, Shawls/Cowls, and Socks. I encourage you to wander over to the group, vote on the pattern choice threads, and make sure you sign up for the KAL later this week when we finalize our pattern choices.

Smitten Fingering 120

This year, for the first time in many years, there will be plenty of Elliebelly Yarn available for your knitting pleasure during Adventurous April. I snuck a few things into my Etsy Shop over the weekend (a number of you seem to have found them) and am adding a few more today, starting with the first batch of the incomparable Smitten Fingering 120. It’s a silk/yak/merino blend in slightly oversized skeins of 523 yards for your shawl knitting pleasure. Five new colorways have been designed just for the Yak blends. Grinch, Merry and Bell Bottoms are pictured above. There are is a pinky brown, Linwood Road, and a deep cocoa brown, Llyr, as well.

Vespers

Vespers, a new paintbrush colorway, is also in the shop of a new of different bases. It looks beautiful knit up, and whether you have a simple garter stitch or stockinette project, or something more complex in mind, it’s a winner. You’ll get some amazing results using Vesper for lace, cables, or other patterns with texture. I hope you’ll find something you like!

More Fairisle

Posted on February 26, 2017 by elliebelly

Yesterday’s flight to Denver gave me the chance to knit without interruption.

The Oakleaf chart I’m currently working on is the third in a series of four charts on the body of the Sjølingstadkofta sweater, and it runs for 60 rows. I’m now halfway there.

You can see the oakleaves shaping up now.

Although it looks complex, it’s not a difficult knit at this point. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.

Elliebelly’s Newest Yarn: Yak Silk DK

Posted on February 19, 2017 by elliebelly

Sometimes a knitter needs a yarn with exquisite drape, but enough shape for lace to show beautiful and cables to twine in perfect relief from a field of stockinette or garter. Enter Yak Silk DK. 65% Superwash Merino, 20% Silk, and 15% Yak. Each skein has 231 yards of lovely, plump yarn.

This week, Yak Silk DK will has its premiere in the Elliebelly Etsy Shop. Pictures here: Camden, Tin Roof, and Hula Girl. Knit a hat or some fingerless mitts in a single color or combine two or more for a shawl. This yarn will knit up at a true DK weight and it’s a pleasure to knit with.

Back To Fairisle

Posted on February 16, 2017 by elliebelly

I picked up my Sjølingstadkofta sweater last night, after a long hiatus. And, I immediately fell in love again. I’ve now finished the second (and shortest) of the three charts that make up the fairisle body of the sweater, Roses. Next up is Oak Leaves, a 60 row chart that repeats over 198 body stitches — a nice little step down from the 300+ stitches in Roses, because I’ve now separated the sleeve stitches from the body, and won’t be working them until I go back to knit the sleeves. The yarn, Plucky’s Oxford, is a dream to knit with. And I love fairisle. Absolutely love it. I can’t wait to set up for Oak Leaves and get to work!

Fingerless Mitts. Finished.

Posted on February 15, 2017 by elliebelly

Paddle retains its place in my heart as an all time favorite pattern, with this second pair. The perfect quick gift for you, or for someone you love. My pair needs a quick steam block to work out a few wrinkles, but I’m so delighted with them! You can easily modify the pattern for different weights of yarn and they knit up quickly and easily, but the stripes keep it fun.

This pair was knit in Elliebelly Coventry Cashmere. I’m contemplating doing another pair in a different yarn later this month — strictly a defensive move, as the child who was nice enough to help me photograph them seems to have designs on keeping them.

The Cashmere is Mine

Posted on February 14, 2017February 14, 2017 by elliebelly

I’ve had to fend off attacks from various cats to maintain a claim to my blue cashmere mitts.

kitty with knitting

But, they are mine. All mine. I love them, and I love knitting with this fine Mongolian Cashmere. It’s über soft, even for cashmere. Although I am bad to get a case of second sock (or in this case, second mitt) syndrome, I cast on for the second one as soon as I finished – minus the thumb – the first one.

Second mitt in progress

I’m hoping to finish them up today. They’re just right for some late winter hiking over the weekend if the weather cooperates, and the cats keep their distance.

another kitty with the blue mitts

[Mitts knit with one skein of Elliebelly Coventry Cashmere in “Lady Mary.” Available here.]

Luxury Knitting: Cashmere Fingerless Mitts

Posted on February 13, 2017February 13, 2017 by elliebelly

I’ve been meaning to get started on this project for some time now, and finally picked up the yarn to cast on over the weekend.

This is Tin Can Knits Paddle Fingerless Mitts. The yarn is Elliebelly Coventry Cashmere. After going back and forth over what color to stripe it with, I decided to use some Melted Crayon, also in Coventry, but a lighter weight, that came out much more muted than this colorway typically does (it’s a cashmere thing). This is the second time I’ve knit Paddle, and it’s a well-written, straightforward knit, perfect for the whiny knitter who is in bed with the flu. It’s just right for knitting and napping. So I did.

The ribbing looks a little bit wonky – I’m not sure what caused that, but I’m hopeful a nice, gentle steam block will do the trick. Here’s a closer look at the pretty stripe. I’ve been a fan of mixing my Paint Brush and other variegated colorways with solids ever since knitting this quirky little hat for one of my kids, almost a decade ago. Admittedly, the look is a lot more elegant here, because, cashmere. As pretty as the solids are alone (and the multicolored yarns alone as well), there’s something lovely and fun about mixing them up. I think the hat I knit last earlier this month inspired me to variegated stripe again with these mitts. Hope you’ve got something in your stash to inspire you to try it!

P.S.: I’ve added a bit of this yarn on Etsy in case you’d like to knit your own pair. I’ll even add in some yarn for stripes if you would like!