February 2012 Newsletter

February is short & sweet, the weather is cold and knitting season is in full swing! Snuggle under your crocheted afghan while the snow piles up outside your door and your stitches add up on one of these new knitting projects.

In This Issue: Make a Statement with Warm Knit Accessories / Consonance: Agreement, Harmony or Accord /

Make a Statement with Warm Knit Accessories
From head to toe Chiagu, HeartStrings & Knitting As Fast As I Can keep you warmly covered in snug hats, soft wrist and leg warmers and long scarves for looping around your neck. Knit one of these accessories in a bold blue or scarlet or a more muted taupe or off white. Chiagu's simple lace patterned slouchy hat Eldridge is completely done in knits, purls, decreases and YO’s. This hat is a quick and easy knit in 1 skein of Madetosh Vintage and the creamy off white colorway Milk would be beautiful worn with a dark colored winter coat.

Eldridge

And knit flat or in the round Chiagu's Freemans Alley Armwarmers are the ultimate in simplicity and functionality. The stockinette front showcases your handpainted yarn, while the ribbed back makes them fit beautifully.

Freemans Alley Armwarmers

Freezing temperatures call for layering and HeartStrings' dressy Austrian Lace Stirrup Leg Warmers omit the bulk of a complete sock since there is no heel or toe and make layering comfortable. Tailored twisted-ribbing lace patterns enhance the leg portion and becomingly conform to the shape of your calf while the plain twisted-ribbing continues onto the foot to comfortably hug your ankle and arch.

Austrian Lace Stirrup Leg Warmers

And Knitting As Fast As I Can's lacey scarf Under the Boardwalk will have you dreaming of summer, the contrast between the edging and the straight lines of the lace pattern are reminiscent of waves lapping against a boardwalk. Knit in 3 skeins of Malabrigo Silky Merino you'll dazzle in rich Ravelry Red, deep Azul Azul blue or even creamy Tatami. This project is a nice introduction to lace knitting because the stitch pattern offers visual cues to keep you on track.

Under the Boardwalk

nd Knitting As Fast As I Can's lacey scarf Under the Boardwalk will have you dreaming of summer, the contrast between the edging and the straight lines of the lace pattern are reminiscent of waves lapping against a boardwalk. Knit in 3 skeins of Malabrigo Silky Merino you'll dazzle in rich Ravelry Red, deep Azul Azul blue or even creamy Tatami. This project is a nice introduction to lace knitting because the stitch pattern offers visual cues to keep you on track.

Consonance: Agreement, Harmony or Accord
February '12 is a Leap Year which means on the 29th a woman can propose to any man and he must accept and Valentine's Day is also a traditional day of marriage proposal. If wedding bells are ringing soon in your future one of these romantic lace shawls would be lovely for the bride-to-be or a very special attendee.

Consonance Storm Blue

Consonance is an agreement, harmony or accord, and also a lovely cashmere and silk blend yarn by Jojoland. Priced affordabley to begin with Consonance is now 25% Off. This lace weight yarn is smooth and soft and harmoniously knits or crochets into a beautiful fabric with a bit of a shine and a lovely drape.

Consonance Opal Gray

Generously put up in 440 yard skeins, Consonance has more than enough yardage for a single skein project like Deborah Glaser's Seymour Shawlette. Knit from the top neck down to the bottom edges the lovely Seymour features three triangles made of solid stripes of stockinette stitch interrupted by a lace stripe that evokes tiny forget-me-nots and crowns, flowing into overlapping ovals and hearts at the bottom edges.

Seymour

Or Sivia Harding's delicately beaded Confluence Shawlette, like bodies of water emerging from a single spring the panels of Confluence flow from a few cast on stitches at center back. The simple garter stitch sides and borders combine elegantly with beaded lace, and the additional increasing at the center panel makes the fit perfect.

Confluence Shawlette

Both designs are befitting of a betrothed, and of a very special dress worn on a memorable day, and the lace yarn Consonance will make the garment that much more special.

Knit Shawls and Stoles are always in fashion, searching for just the right Pattern or Lace yarn, for your next project? Sandrasingh.com carries a wide variety of patterns and some of the finest Lace weight yarns available, to see all visit Lace Projects and Lace.

Thank you for sharing my February news!

Shibui Knits' Sock: For Sock Knitting and More!

Sock by Shibui is quite simply the perfect sock yarn. Spun from a superfine 19.5 micron merino superwash wool, its hard wearing, machine washable and ultra soft. But why limit yourself? Versatile Sock also knits and crochets into lovely shawls, hats and even jewelry!

Susan Lawrence, of Knitting As Fast As I Can, found Sock to be irresistible and designed her new crescent-shaped scarf Fog Lifter for this lovely hand-dyed yarn.

Fog Lifter

Susan's scarf is worked from the nape of the neck down to the bottom edge and the crescent shape sits securely around your shoulders. The all-over eyelet pattern is easily memorized because every row is knit, the right and the wrong sides are equally attractive. The crochet edging is an easy-to-work chain stitch, but you can substitute a knitted picot bind off if you prefer.

Ivete Tecedor of Chiagu thinks Sock is tops and her unisex hat design, the Super Simple Slouch (aka the S3 Hat!), proves it! Holding two strands together gives the S3 a nice drape while still keeping the hat cushy and warm and it also plays up the modern slouchy fit that’s everywhere on the streets and runways these days.

S3 Hat

And Laura Nelkin of Nelkin Designs takes Sock in an altogether different direction! Beignet is a beaded i-cord necklace which explores the elegant simplicity of knitted jewelry. Worked from the bottom up, the cast on is wrapped around the donut integrating it seamlessly into the design.

Beignet

What will you cast on for with Shibui Knits' Sock?

And today is the final day of my Sandrasingh.com Yarn Sale, the 1 Ply Merino Worsted and Lace are 20% Off and the 3 Ply Merino Worsted is 25%.

I "Heart" You!

I hope you enjoyed my last post about heartfelt knitting project ideas for Valentine's Day.

Today I'm excited to share this news from Mountain Street Arts, the creator of custom Knitting Labels, just in time for Valentine's Day they've introduced a new style, "Hearts." Plus I've added 5 other new designs; a Shamrock, Ladybug, Monkey, Dog Paw and a Cup of Coffee!

And these labels will be quickly created especially for you and speedily delivered to your doorstep in time for you to stitch them into one of your Valentine Day projects.

I have even more exciting news! I've also added Mountain Street Arts' line of Custom Crochet Labels! Like the Knitting labels they are personalized with your name and created on eco friendly, natural colored, cotton twill ribbon that you can sew into your handmade garments.

You spend hours crocheting your handmade items to give as gifts, sell or keep for yourself. Why not personalize them with labels?

Knit Some Love for Valentine's Day

Cupid Draw Back Your Knitting Needle...

And let your yarn flow...dazzle your true love this Valentine's Day with one of these heartfelt designs!

Planning a romantic night in with your sweetie, heat things up with HeartStrings's new Red Hot Anklets. Named after the small nuggets of this popular cinnamon flavored candy the pattern uses wrapped stitches to create these treats. They're knit in one skein of Lorna's Laces' Shepherd Sock and the Ysolda Red colorway would make them smolder.

Red Hot Anklets

Or wrap Knitting As Fast As I Can's Heat Wave lace stole around your shoulders and watch the sparks fly! Constructed using techniques from traditional Orenberg shawls, it's worked in one piece, beginning at one of the four corners. Knit in a DK weight 2 skeins of Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Scarlet would make this stole red hot!

Heat Wave

Night on the town dancing till dawn, show off in HeartStrings' Hug-Me-Tight Fan Lace Jacket Wrap. Based on a vintage garment, this design is updated with a modern-day relaxed fit and easy-knitting circular construction. The design features a lovely fan-shaped lace and twisted stitch pattern, self-trimmed edging and a touch of beads to complete the understated look of this gracious garment.

Hug-Me-Tight Fan Lace Jacket Wrap

Or perhaps a relaxing day browsing antique shops, wear Sivia Harding's beaded Heart To Heart Scarf this crescent shaped lace scarf with its heart lace border is as sweet as pie! The scarf consists of a whimsical beaded heart border, a wide and shallow garter stitch center, and a tubular edge worked side to side. Worked in a cashmere lace weight yarn Jojoland Consonance in Opal Grey would be dreamy.

Heart To Heart Scarf

And warm up your little ones on this special day with Randi K Designs' Scandinavia Hat and Scandinavia Mittens.

Scandinavia Mittens

Scandinavia Hat

Or Gardiner Yarn Works quick, easy hat and mitten set, Hearts & Snowflakes both use a lovely heart motif your darling tots will love and both are knit in a worsted weight yarn such as Cascade 220 Wool.

Hearts & Snowflakes

Happy Valentine's Day from Sandrasingh.com!

Quick Weekend Knits: Winter Hats

Seems Mother Nature & Old Man Winter are going to make the next 3 months very harsh! Designers, Kirsten Kapur of Through The Loops and Ruth aka Woolly Wormhead have your well being, and time, in mind with these new hat projects that are quick enough to knit in a single weekend.

Slouchy hats remain popular and for good reason, beside being flattering the extra slouch on top traps warm air keeping you extra comfortable in frigid temperatures. Give a slouchy hat a special twist with lots of lace with Through The Loops' Asteroidea! The six row stitch pattern in a combination of cables and lace ensures that the knitting is fun. The patterns come together at the top to create a six pointed star.

Through the Loops' Astroidea

And these designs by Woolly Wormhead include a hat for every member of your family and are written in 2-3 sizes with both written and charted instructions.

Rennie

Woolly loves slouchy hats too. Stunning QL Slouch also features a lace pattern and its fully reversible, giving you two Hats in one! Gorgeous Ziggy is knit sideways using short rows for shaping, this really is a custom fit knit! A gentle, slouchy hat Tebe has a decorative folded picot brim and horizontal eyelet ribs. The slouch is subtle, and should you prefer, is easily adjusted to different lengths. And cables on the brim of Bellefleur follow through into the body where they mingle with a delicate leaf lace pattern creating an intricate and beautiful fabric, this pattern can also be worked as a beret.

Elourne

Anca's Beret is perfect for using up odd balls of fingering & sock yarn. Using the travelling jogless stripes method for the body and twisted rib for the brim, it's very flattering. Worked bottom up in the round Elourne is an elegant, sculptured beret featuring mirrored cables and lace, creating structure and warmth.

Filigree

Nothing keeps you warm like a snug fitting beanie. Basal is a beanie with an interesting sweeping, spiral like texture. The lines of stitches adorning it come out from the brim, up into the body, and gently merge into the crown, keeping the spiral pattern continuous throughout. And Rennie is more feminine featuring a cluster of leaf motifs on a reverse stocking stitch background.

Ziggy

`Alfur

Child's sized `Alfur is fun and quirky and knit top down, using a spiral cable pattern. The brim features a warm and stretchy garter stitch band and practical and well fitting earflaps. And the lovely brimmed lace Molly is a floppy style wool hat.

Basel

An unusual beanie Filigree is worked from the bottom up and uses twist techniques on reverse stocking stitch background, creating a continuous lattice motif around the body. While the Geko Beanie is truly reversible, making it the ultimate men's hat. With a range of sizes covering babies from 6mths to adults, the pattern will offer plenty of mileage. Sporting a bold button Buttonette is the perfect pattern for showcasing hand-dyed yarns and funky buttons!

Bellefleur

Anca's Beret

Buttonette

With so many designs from lace to cables and everything in between you'll find at least one that is flattering on you! Thank you for browsing.

25% Off Jojoland Consonance

Consonance, an agreement, harmony or accord, but also a lovely cashmere and silk blend yarn by Jojoland.

Consonance is crafted of a decadently soft blend of 50% Cashmere with 50% Silk at an affordable price to begin with and its now 25% Off. This lace weight yarn is smooth and soft and harmoniously knits or crochets into a beautiful fabric with a bit of a shine and a lovely drape. Its perfect for your next lace garment.

1626 Turtle Green

1622 Storm Blue

1618 Light Sage

1604 Opal Grey

Generously put up in 440 yard/400 meter skein, more than enough yardage for a one skein project, a project like Deborah Glaser's Seymour Shawlette.

Seymour Shawlette

Knit from the top neck down to the bottom edges the lovely Seymour Shawlette features three triangles made of solid stripes of stockinette stitch interrupted by a lace stripe that evokes tiny forget-me-nots and crowns, flowing into overlapping ovals and hearts at the bottom edges.

Seymour Shawlette

Or Sivia Harding's delicately beaded Confluence Shawlette, like bodies of water emerging from a single spring the panels of the Confluence Shawlette flow effortlessly from a few cast on stitches at center back. The simple garter stitch sides and borders combine elegantly with beaded lace, and additional increasing at the center panel provides for a wonderful fit. Beads are placed with the crochet hook add-as-you-go method.

Confluence Shawlette

Confluence Shawlette

Are wedding bells ringing any time soon? Whether you're the bride to be or a special attendee what better way to celebrate a new beginning than wearing one of these lace shawls knit in a yarn that means, agreement, harmony or accord, Consonance.

Both patterns are sold as PDF downloads that will be emailed to you after purchase with no shipping fees.

20% Off Shalimar Yarns' Zoe Sock

Zoe Sock by Shalimar Yarns is a luxurious yarn crafted of a 3 ply, 100% superwash merino wool. Zoe has a delightful hand, fantastic springiness and an amazing loft. Its one of the softest merino sock yarns available. And with a hefty 450 yards and lofty soft hand Zoe is the perfect one skein sock yarn!

Shalimar Yarns hand dyes each hank in their signature "Stonewash" colors, semi solids that have beautiful highlights, lowlights and depth of shade. You only need one skein to knit or crochet a pair of adult size socks.



Kirsti Johnson, owner of Shalimar Yarns, is a talented knitwear artist who, of course, specializes in patterns written for Zoe. Her Morgana's Twisted Rib and Natty's Simple Sock patterns are both Free, require only one skein of Zoe and can be downloaded on Ravelry.

Morgana's Twisted Rib Socks

Natty's Simple Socks

Not a member of Ravelry? I'd be happy to email you the PDFs for these patterns, just email me at sandrasingh@sandrasingh.com