NuttyIrishmanKnits

Fall Arrival

Flint Hill by Jennifer Adams

Materials:  Magnum by Cascade Yarns (100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 250g skein approx. 123 yards); 2 skeins in #9459 Yakima Heather

Needles:  One pair straight needles or one 20’ circular needle in size US 15

Ravelers find Flint Hill here.

It's here!  And just in time for Autumn.  The leaves had just begun to turn here, but after a Sunday rainstorm the landscape has changed overnight.  And along with the rain came cooler weather.  Perfect time to begin on Fall and even Christmas knitting.

Flint Hill is now available for purchase here and on Ravelry as well.  A super fast project to match the super bulky yarn, Flint Hill knits up in just a couple of days.  As a matter of fact I think the blocking time is longer than the knit itself!

I've been taken with cowls for some time, and most recently with larger scarf-sized cowls, that can wrap more than once... or be worn around the head and neck simultaneously.  Flint Hill manages both perfectly.  Cascade's Magnum yarn is so light and airy (imagine Peruvia's big brother), that I was able to design a large scarf, 60"x8", without adding weight.  After finishing the piece I soaked it for a bit in Euculan and then draped it over the towel rack to dry.  Doing so really intensified how the cowl drapes, making it easy to slip on and off.

After finishing the pattern I was initially worried that it might be a little finicky to style. But Amy, one of our instructors, proved it was a sinch (see first photo).  She slipped it over her head and it looked perfect!  Thankfully I had my camera on me and snapped a photo right then and there.

We're all having a hard time keeping our hands off of it at the yarn shop.  Everytime one of us walks by the display we adjust it.  I've yet to see a styling I haven't loved! 

 

 

 

Flint Hill

Before our family first moved to Kansas, we heard the same comment, or shared versions of the same sentiment from most every Southern neighbor we knew, "Oh bless your hearts... it's so flat there."  Truth be told we didn't know anything about Kansas. Other than the said reports of it being terribly flat, or stories of winter whiteouts blowing across the western plains, causing travelers to veer from their scheduled arrival at the slopes of Colorado, we were clueless.  But when on our way to Wichita, we took a wrong turn in Tulsa and headed north into the beautiful hills of the remote Chautauqua County, my husband and I could only manage to recite the same four words to each other... "this is not flat!"

Indeed it is not flat.  It's a beautiful state with rolling hills and prairies.  And after settling in Wichita we discovered the name of a certain band of hills we are fortunate to be surrounded by, the Flint Hills.  Covered in Tallgrass prairie grasses and limestone rock formations, the Flint Hills are a true treasure.  Range burnings signify the beginning of Spring in the Flint Hills and then a few months later, chilly weather brings about a seemingly endless sea of muted Autumn colors.

And then there is the wind.  There is always wind in Kansas.  No matter what time of year, or what time of day, there is wind.  It keeps the bugs away in summer, and can chill you to the bone in winter.  So after spending a few winters here I knew what I wanted to design when my friend Shelly approached me about a pattern featuring Cascade's super-bulky Magnum yarn.  A roving yarn made of Peruvian wool and knitting up at 2 stitches per inch I had only one thought in mind: a big-chunky-warm cowl.

Flint Hill

   I wanted to give you a sneak peek of my new pattern Flint Hill that will be available soon here on NIK and on Ravelry as well.  If you're a local who favors our LYS Twist, you'll be able to pick up a copy this week. 

Flint Hill is a simple pattern inspired by the minimalist landscape of the Flint Hills. Thanks to the super-bulky yarn, it provides warmth without adding weight, and it will definitely fit into the category of last-minute gifts. So be looking for the pattern's arrival in the next few days!

Aspen

Aspen Mittens by me!

Knit using Knit Picks City Tweed, HW in Cottontail and Romance.

Knit on size US 7 circs in magic loop.

Ravelers find Aspen here.

My family loves skiing... and thankfully all have taken to it fairly easily (we won't mention the school of kindergarteners I nearly took out last year).  And what we really enjoy most about skiing is our time spent together on the mountain.  Warm fires, hot chocolate, warm woolies, playing cards.  Honestly I think it's these things that keep us coming back! 

But one of the things I love the most about being in the mountains is the solitude, and stillness.  Even in a little ski village, with hundreds of skiers, I can step outside at night and it's quiet.  Just the mountain, covered in snow, and it's heavily laden Aspens towering over you.  It's magical.

This is where the inspiration came from for my Aspen Mittens.  I love vintage, rustic knits.  And these mittens fit the bill.  They are a simple ski mitten knit in a thick hearty tweed from Knit Picks called City Tweed.  With only a braid embellishment on the cuff the mitten hugs your hand and wrist comfortably, easily slipping under an overcoat.  And by working the mitten in two colors a warm lining is created for extra warmth.

Pattern gauge is given in three sizes, adult small, medium, and large.  And these sizes are achieved by simply changing needle sizes.

I love the City Tweed used in this pattern too!  It's a heavy worsted yarn that smooths like a dream when blocked and softens even more.  (I call this the "puffiness factor...")  You could use any worsted or heavy worsted yarn you like tho, just change needle sizes to obtain gauge. 

Aspen is a quick knit and there's still time before Christmas to knit up if you're looking for a quick Christmas gift!  I hope you enjoy Aspen...  I'm looking forward to wearing mine on the slopes in 2010!  And if I don't post again before Christmas, here's wishing you a happy holiday season!  XOXO!

Happy Knitting~

Jennifer

Mittens!

My friend Shelly Stilger, owner of my local yarn shop Twist, asked me to write the November pattern for our shop's mitten of the month club.  I haven't written a pattern in a long (!) time and thought this would be a great kick-in-the-pants deadline... something I haven't had in a seemingly much longer (!) time.  I knew I wanted to do something classic and traditional, and after mulling it over for a couple of days, I decided on Scandinavian Lovikka mittens.  Simple mittens that are felted for added warmth and fulled for added softness the Lovikka pattern dates back to turn of 19th century Sweden.  And I love the simplicity of the embroidered cuffs and trimming used in the embellishments.

I used Araucania Azapa yarn for these mitts, a great bulky Donegal tweed that felts well.  It also knits up amazing fast, both mittens taking less than 4 hours to complete.  The really fun part of this pattern is left in the details.  I felted mine to fit a child (7 inch width, 9 inch length), but changing felting time can result in a larger mitten.  Then using a pet grooming brush the fibers are combed and trimmed, resulting in a really soft and dense fabric.  Simple embroidery and a braid finish things off, and within a weekend you have a fun and traditional pair of Scandinavian mittens! 

The pattern is for sale online here and in my pattern store on Ravelry.  You can also swing by Twist if you're in the area and get your supplies for the November mitten.  I have more photos coming soon... and there will be a store sample at the shop for you to pet! 

I hope you all enjoy the mitten pattern!  Happy Knitting!

Lovikka Mitten Pattern: $3.00