Every year I swear that I won’t be knitting gifts again and then somehow I manage to do it. Since time is of the essence (you have just two months!!), I thought I would share some of my favorite quick knits for the dudes in our life.

Hats

Striped Hat pattern available online or at the shop

Hats are a fast knit. Although they generally require two or three sets of needles, they can be done in just a day or two. My hubby loves a simple beanie hat. The striped hat in Hand Dyed Worsted from Blue Sky Alpacas does just the trick. AND you can easily use the new Swan’s Island organic merino for this pattern or even mix and match the two yarns. Play with the color combos a bit but remember that most dudes will request “black, grey, and navy” if you ask them for color direction.

For the more hipster guys in your life, I love a good slouchy ribbed hat. Check out my quick pattern from this post last year.

Scarves

Brooklyn Tweed Cinder - available online or at the shop

Micah will tell you that the general rule with a scarf is to knit it as long as the person is tall. For a dude’s scarf, this can be a lot of work. Given the timeframe that you are working with, I would recommend knitting in an aran, chunky or superchunky weight to get it done faster. This aran weight scarf pattern by Gina Waters has you cast on for the length. I like this because it allows me to easily create vertical stripes on the scarf.  It looks cool but doesn’t require a lot of work.

If cables go quickly for you, I would recommend the Cinder pattern. It is done in bulky weight yarn, is reversible and works up fast! The Sublime Chunky Tweed is tweedy (guys seem to like this) and is super soft.

Socks

Photo courtesy of Purl Soho

Not that I recommend this, but you can actually make a pair of thick socks in 24 hours. I did it once. They were sport weight. If you jump to DK or Worsted, you are probably cutting that time down to 18-20 hours of knitting. Since guys have no need for lace on their socks, do it simple. Pick a nice luxury yarn and knit in ribbing! Let the yarn do the work for you. Need a basic pattern? Purl Soho to the rescue! They have a pattern called “Men’s Socks for Giving Away.” Sounds like what you need, right? To top it off, it is worked in DK weight. yay! Try the Miss Babs Northumbria DK for a hand dyed option or Shepherd’s Wool DK for a soft merino option. If this guy is going to destroy these socks, I recommend Berroco Vintage DK but definitely include the two colors to fancy them up a bit.

Don’t have time for DK weight? Check out the book Knits Men Want for this basic sock pattern by Jared Flood done in worsted weight. Grab a hank of Neighborhood Fiber Co (just in!) for a luxury hand dyed pair or a ball of Ella Rae Superwash for a pair he can abuse. Dragonfly Fibers BFL would also be super durable! By the way, if you knit for guys a lot, this is hands down the best book out there for reliable simple patterns that they will actually wear.

Photo by Jared Flood

Sweaters

Now if you haven’t listened to anything that I said about timelines and deadlines and shortness of time and such, then you might still be thinking about knitting a sweater.  Can I convince you to do one without sleeves? An argyle vest perhaps? No? Still want to knit a sweater? Well at least shoot for bulky yarn! Check out the Devon pattern in the Norah Gaughan Men bookle

t by Berroco. It calls for Peruvia Quick and US10 and 11 needles. If you are going to get this done, you have to be on atleast a #10!

Photo courtesy of Berroco. Pattern found in NG Men and available at the shop

Knitwear made a big splash on the fashion scene last week with the release of the Missoni for Target collection – and if you weren’t lined up outside a Target store at 6 AM on Tuesday last, you had little chance of getting any of it for yourself. Fights broke out, police were called, and items started appearing on eBay at 3 times their retail price within hours.

Missoni for Target

Why all the fuss?

Missoni started out in the 1950′s as a little family-owned company in Italy, making wool track suits. They released their first fashion collection in 1958 and quickly became known for their knitwear designs featuring colorful stripes, geometric motifs, and abstract florals. By the 1970′s they had become celebrated fashion icons for their imaginative use of color and their unconventional ways of reworking traditional knitwear construction.

“It was about ten years ago that the Missonis raised the simple householder’s work of knitting to something similar to art. Their dresses are collected by ladies all over the world who live for fashion and by those who could not care less for fashion but love beautiful things.” – Bernardine Morris, New York Times, 1977.

Over 50 years later, Missoni is still a family-run company and their iconic chevron pattern is recognized around the world. Missoni clothing and housewares go for top dollar – so people leapt at the chance to get a piece from these fashion giants at an affordable price.

Didn’t get any for yourself? (Yeah, me neither.) Well, we knitters have an advantage. We can make it ourselves!

Classic Missoni. That's a lot of look.

Now,  a 1960′s chevron romper may not fit into your fall fashion plans (c’mon, who doesn’t need a chevron romper?) but you can get some Missoni style into your fall knitting plans! A quick browse through Ravelry provides plenty of inspiration.

Missoni Inspired Chevron Blanket - Tangled Yarns

First up, Kelly Kingston’s Missoni Inspired Chevron Blanket. This stunning piece uses 12 colors of DK weight yarn – I can see knitting this up in Berroco Vintage DK for yourself or a lucky (and stylish) baby. Check out the Ravelry projects for this – there are some gorgeous variations done in worsted and fingering weight too.

Wibbly Wobbly Cowl - Rachel Henry

Want something on a smaller scale? Rachel Henry’s Wibbly Wobbly Cowl uses self-striping sock yarn (or use up your sock leftovers and make your own stripes!) and will appeal to fashion and Doctor Who fans alike.

Chevron Love Mittens - Knitterly Things

I love the Chevron Love Mittens by Julia Vesper! I’m already thinking of color combinations to knit up in the St. Denis Nordique that we just got in. There’s even a matching Chevron Love Hat! Love it!

Ida's Kitchen - Kirsten Kapur

Kirsten Kapur’s Ida’s Kitchen is another great project to inspire your color creativity – this one uses 7 colors of sport or DK weight. Not sure what colors to put together? You can always check the Pantone Fashion Color Report for ideas! (Or, y’know, I could write a post about color selection, if you want.)

La Parisenne Beret - Caroline Dlugy-Hegwer

For something a bit simpler, try the La Parisenne Beret by Caroline Dlugy-Hegwer – you’ll need just 2 colors of fingering weight yarn for this one. Go subtle and tonal or bold and contrasty – tres chic!

Favorite Scarf Ever - Lisa Bruce

Will Lisa Bruce’s Favorite Scarf Ever be your most favorite scarf ever? Take a look at the Ravelry projects on this and you’ll be inspired to knit lots of these!

 

Creekbed Scarf - Stephen West

Stephen West’s Creekbed Scarf takes chevrons in a different direction – this is another great project to play with color in as it really changes the feel of the finished piece.

Mathematix - Susan Luni

Last but not least, the new Deep Fall issue of Knitty brings us the Mathematix Shawl by Susan Luni – a clever combination of lace and chevron patterning. Pretty!

Fair Isle floats when you are lazy.

I may have convinced a few folks to knit the Emerson sweater with me. I got very ambitious and started with the left front section, instead of something easy like the back or a sleeve. The fair isle on this sweater is only on the left and right fronts, making nearly two thirds of the sweater rather fast and straightforward but also making the fronts just not fun, as they are fair isle worked FLAT. This means changing between colors while purling. If you hate to purl, try doing it with one color on each hand. It requires patience and concentration. I don’t have either.

After looking at the chart, I thought that floating the yarn across the 5 or 6 sts that it would need to float wouldn’t be all that bad and besides, it was just one less thing that I had to worry about on those fun purl rows. (I am a lazy colorwork

Back of Emerson sweater about half way finished.

knitter) So i rocked about half the left front without wrapping the two colors or catching the float with the other color. Then I realized what a mess that was making. So I started to grab the floats for the remainder of the left front. (See this tutorial on how to catch the floats.) The fabric so so much better now. It will probably be noticeably better even after I block it, so that portion of the sweater may end up with a big ol pocket on it…pockets are great for hiding things. I got the back of the sweater cast on and after a grueling 4″ of 1×1 rib, we were off to the races. Sadly, I had to put the project aside for a bit to focus on more pressing matters:

So remember my debate on what to knit while in Seattle, and the battle that occurred in flight when my husband wouldn’t let me block my swatch for the Shadow sweater? Well the class that I am teaching on this very sweater is now frightening close, and I have to knock out a bit of it before class starts Thursday night. yikes! So I put away my Emerson for a bit and got about half of the sleeve done last night. Fortunately, the cables are actually super easy to memorize and I haven’t needed the chart for awhile.

Shadow in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter

Shadow - Wool People / Brooklyn Tweed

Class details:

Cabled Pullover – Thursdays, September 22, 29 and Oct 6th (second session starting in October!)

Experience required – previous experience knitting a sweater. Ability to work in the round, increase and decrease. Cabling experience is also helpful but not necessary.

Tweed Baby Blanket pattern by Jared Flood in Cascade Eco Wool. Pattern and yarn available at the shop.

yet I can’t seem to product sweaters. I have half of the left front done on the plaid fair isle thingy that I managed to convince several of you to knit with me. Are you doing any better on it? In the meantime, I finished the top secret blanket project for my uncle and his new wife. The natural wool colors and blanket itself were picked out by a good friend of theirs who has seen their condo and knows their taste better than I do. I am pretty happy with the finished results, although picking up the one million stitches around the outside for the feather and fan border was not my cup of tea. And it was only two months late…

Wool Leaves by Jared Flood in Berroco Remix. Pattern and yarn available at the shop.

I also knocked out the Wool Leaves pattern in Remix for my friend in England who is due…well, right this moment. I think she is now overdue. (a good thing since it has to fly the whole way to England…) I used two strands of Remix held together and dropped the needle down to a US #10.5. While it worked out really nicely, holding two strands of a cotton blend yarn together wasn’t super fun. It doesn’t have a lot of give. The second time around on this one, I think I would probably switch to lace pointed needles so that the PSSO and K2tog weren’t as annoying. The yarn is wonderful though and will be machine washable and super soft for baby. It will blend nicely with Katie’s sheep themed nursery. I did soak it for quite awhile and dried it flat but the leaves still wouldn’t lay flat. So I brought it into the shop and steam ironed it on one of those handy Block and Roll mats. That seemed to do the trick! So it went out in a nice little box to Katie and her new little one. I also sent along two fabulous sheep from the Spud and Chloe on the Farm book!

Spud and Little Brown Sheep in Spud and Chloe Sweater.

I love to start new projects. I start them all the time. Finishing, not so much. Once I’ve figured out a pattern, I quickly become bored and want to move on to the next new thing. (Working at a yarn store full time is not a good way to cure this, in case you were wondering.)

Every now and then though I get on a finishing kick. For a while it was hats, but now it seems to be shawls. Maybe it’s the weather starting to get colder, or the days getting shorter, but I suddenly find myself picking up my unfinished shawl projects and getting them done. (Sorry, sweaters – maybe you’ll be next?)

There’s something really satisfying about a good shawl or wrap. You can knock out a respectably sized one in around 400 yards of just about any weight of yarn. You can go for a simple pattern or something impressively lacy. And when you’re done, you have pretty much the ultimate accessory. A shawl can double as a scarf or a hat. It looks good with jeans or dresses. It can go out on the town of an evening, or dress up a t-shirt during the day. And blocking a finished shawl is like getting to do magic – you can turn a shapeless lump of knitting into something amazing!

My Springtime Bandit. Yep, that's two different dye lots.

This week I finished my second Springtime Bandit (I keep knitting these in August despite the name) and have been wearing it pretty much constantly since – I knit this one in Dragonfly Fibers Blue Face Worsted and am really pleased with how it turned out. Bluefaced Leicester is not as soft a wool as Merino, but this yarn worked up to be wonderfully drapy and has great stitch definition. (My Merino version, on the other hand, is more of a fuzzy blob.)

I had a lot of fun knitting this since I got to teach a class on it at the same time – it’s so rewarding to watch someone realize that they can make something that looks really complex with just some simple increases and decreases. This is a great first lace shawl pattern and teaches you a lot about shawl construction – some of my students even decided to sign up for the advanced lace shawl class (I’m so proud of you all!)

Schieffelin Point Shawl photo - Kelbourne Woolens

Now I’m finishing up a Schieffelin Point Shawl that I started back in June – I’m knitting it in Fibre Company Acadia, a DK weight mix of Merino, alpaca, and silk. This is going to be soft and snuggly, perfect for the rainy weather we’re having.

This is a good easy knit – the whole body of the shawl is done in garter stitch and there are just a few increase rows to pay attention to, then you cast on a few extra stitches, knit the edging on to the rest of the shawl, and have less than 20 stitches to bind off!

Next I’ll finish the Bias I’m knitting for a friend’s birthday in Neighborhood Fiber Co. Penthouse Silk Fingering – this will be shimmery and elegant, just what I wanted! (The pattern is written as a scarf size but I cast on extra stitches to make it a nice-sized wrap.) This is one of those simple stitch patterns that would look good in any weight of yarn – I’m sure I’ll knit more of these.

And then… well, I really like shawl patterns. I have more shawls favorited on Ravelry than almost any other type of project (and that’s not even counting the ones in my queue.) Some shawls I’m excited about right now are Bois, with its beautiful border, and Pembroke Wrap, which would be fluffy, warm, and fun to knit in Imperial Stock Ranch pencil roving. I should probably make one of those Boneyard Shawls that Daphne’s got everyone doing, and I’ve really been wanting to knit Hawthorne, especially now that there’s a matching hat and mitts.

Oh wait, Springtime Bandit has a matching hat too…  uh oh. I think I’m in trouble.

I developed this belief when I first started knitting. A few projects in, I had to wonder why I was making so many hats. After some consideration, I decided that as a knitter it was only reasonable to have a hat in every color under the sun, and in every style and fibre imaginable. A couple hundred projects later, and this belief has been extended to everything I knit.

Photo by Cecilia Flori

This inspiring little design, a thousand splendid suns (free Ravelry download), is the perfect thing to drape around your neck when the leaves start to turn and you need a little sunshine. There is plenty of heat left in the season, but when knitted in Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend, this lovely loop will illuminate your wardrobe through the night chill of late summer. Or try new textures when combining The Fibre Company Road to China Light (the softest blend of fibres with a whisper of a halo) and Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy (smooth plant fibres)—the juxtaposition is striking, and you may never want to wear another cowl.

I'll take ten, please.

My latest WIP, one that I can see myself making several times, is Wayfarer by Jared Flood (pattern available at the shop). This is an amazingly fast knit at only 400 yards of worsted weight yarn, in a pattern that is created by slipping stitches. This is one of my favorite knitting techniques because it looks very difficult and complicated, but you are basically knitting back and forth every row! I am using Dragonfly Fibers Blue Face Worsted, a 100% BFL wool yarn in rare, rich colors. The stitches are beautifully defined, and I love seeing the way the colors unfold into the pattern. I also recommend knitting this pattern in SHELTER to show off your handiwork—the yarn really grabs the texture of the stitches.

Photo by Ann Lundblad

Because I always have to be knitting a shawl, I can’t wait to cast on for Fagus by Ann Lundblad (Ravelry download). Draping leaves on a background of garter stitch, this darling little shawl can be customized according to the yardage you have available. Knitted in fingering weight, I imagine it velvety in Skein Merino/Cashmere Fingering—this is 80% Merino/20% Cashmere softness in brilliant colors. I would also love to make this in Neighborhood Fiber Co. Penthouse Silk Fingering—bright jewel tones in 100% silk with a glamorous drape.

Skein Merino/Cashmere Fingering: deep colors and soft wool just call out to be made into a shawl.

The most delightful yarn floated into space just ahead of Hurricane Irene: Skein HandDyed Yarns from Australia. This gorgeous stuff, dyed by Kristen Finlay, is available on Skein’s Etsy site and at our shop – so far, nowhere else. Another example of how special fibre space is!

We have three of Skein’s yarns in: the Bluefaced Leicester Sock, the Merino/Cashmere Fingering, and the Merino/Silk Sport. Kristen’s amazing colorways shine in each of these special fibre blends, so this shipment won’t last long. Pop on down to the shop to find out how they dye down under – and read on to find out what to make with the yarn you buy.

Brooklet Cowl: One side lace, one side stockinette, both sides lovely.

Bluefaced Leicester Sock: These are generous hanks of yarn, with 437 yards of superwash Bluefaced Leicester wool. Use two different colors of this wonder-yarn to make Cecily Glowik MacDonald’s Brooklet Cowl – an ingeniously constructed reversible cowl with one side in a simple lace pattern and the other in stockinette. Or, if hats are more your thing, try Kelly McClure’s Sockhead Hat – so cute and would show off a variegated colorway nicely. [As always, consider making one for yourself and one for a lucky gift recipient come holiday time.]

Merino/Cashmere Fingering: Kristen again gives us a generous 437 yards of yarn – this time of 80% merino and 20% cashmere fingering weight yarn. We think these skeins are crying out to become shawls. Select two complementary colorways to make Carina Spencer’s Whippoorwill, or follow Kristen’s own lead and knit Rose Beck’s And So Are You.

The Snuggler hoodie can be made with or without a hood - you just need to decide whether you want to wear it with jeans or a nice black skirt!

Merino/Silk Sport: A fabulous blend of 50% merino and 50% silk, just right for a drapey cowl or a luxurious sweater. Try Laura Nelkin’s Snuggler, a hoodie with lace on the sleeves and a slight cowl neck, to get you into fall with chic simplicity, or Jennifer Lang’s Ribbon Candy Cardigan for a cozy yet stylish winter garment. For a lighter feel, make Cecily Glowik MacDonald’s Gavotte, with a super-cute drape in the front.

Whatever you decide to make, we’re here to help you select yarn and to admire the garment when you’re finished!

The blues of this Moody Kerchief mirror the color of the sky and the sea during a storm. Let's hope this is as close as we get to one!

It’s been an interesting week, weather-wise. First, space had a shaky day on Tuesday with the East Coast Earthquake. Our walls really shook, but nothing was damaged, and – most important – all the yarn is safe. Today, we’ve had some pretty severe thunderstorms. Now, we’re headed into a weekend that could see more big storms from Hurricane Irene. What’s a knitter to do? Grab some yarn and batten down the hatches, of course.

Hurricane-level storms are no joke. Make sure you’re prepared, and if – like some of our knitters – you’re finding your beach vacation was canceled, make sure you listen to the authorities. Wherever you are, we know you’ll want yarn and needles handy, to take the edge off your nervousness and entertain you whether the power goes out or not.

You’ll want a fuzzy, comforting yarn for the storms this weekend – and, from bulky Techno to sport-weight Road to China Light, we’ve got pattern ideas for you.

Knit up a La Luna Cowl out of Techno to bring a little color to our stormy Irene weekend.

Blue Sky Alpacas Techno is a fairly new bulky single-strand yarn. We’re in love with its saturated colors and the speed with which projects knit up in the yarn without feeling heavy or too thick. We suggest you make Elizabeth Mautz-Redmann’s beautiful La Luna Cowl, which is a quick knit with waved ribbing to keep things interesting. This is a great intermediate beginner project and takes just four skeins of Techno.

The Fibre Company Organik is perfect for color fiends. A single-ply yarn, it’s made of wool, alpaca, and silk. Each fibre takes the dye a little differently, and the overall effect is almost iridescent. The perfect yarn to stare at during long, stormy nights or lost weekends when you have to stay inside. Make a two-color Moody Kerchief out of Organik and its cousin Savannah, or get in touch with your dramatic side by knitting the long, cabled Bella’s Mittens (you never know when something supernatural will emerge from the storm).

Ysolda Teague's Peaks Island Hood looks chic with the hood up or down - perfect for any weather.

Mirasol Miski is to die for – worsted weight and 100% baby llama. You can picture hugging a baby llama during a storm, can’t you? We thought so. Use your Miski to make some cozy hand mitts like the ever-popular Fetching (a free Knitty pattern) or the Peaks Island Hood, a versatile hooded scarf that will keep you dry no matter how the rain is pounding.

Keep yourself warm and happy by knitting Cecily Glowik MacDonald's Lavaliere cardigan in gorgeous Road to China Light.

Road to China Light is another Fibre Company masterpiece: a sport-weight blend of alpaca, silk, cashmere, and camel that has gorgeous complex colors and a lovely drape. Use it to make Evelyn Clark’s beautiful Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl, or wrap yourself in Cecily Glowik MacDonald’s Lavaliere cardigan, which features smocking details at the edges and in a placket on the back.

Whatever you decide to make, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Come on by and engage in some yarn-petting therapy!

I like to have a variety of projects going at the same time. I feel my knitting life is balanced when I have a sweater, a shawl, and a pair of socks on the needles. But lately my project bags have been full of bigger knits, and a small and quick knit is a welcome break. I like the kind of project that can be completed in a few days, like a knitted toy.

my Spud & Little Lamb

I’m still absorbing the cuteness in Susan B. Anderson’s Spud and Chloë at the Farm, and I love the twisted loop stitch used to create the fleece in these little ones. The technique is time-consuming, but after a few rows I became quite efficient at it. Stop by the shop if you need a demonstration! I love the combinations people have created with Spud—the project gallery shows everything from green sheep to rainbow sheep.

just a sleeve and a half to go!

These little farm animals are a surprisingly fast knit and sure to impress. I made them out of Spud & Chloë sweater (55% wool, 45% organic cotton), one of my favorites. This yarn truly looks great knitted at different gauges. It compresses nicely on size 4 needles for the sheep, and on larger needles the plies softly relax to fill the looser gauge. I’m knitting the Brigid Jacket (Ravelry) from Vintage Modern Knits, available at the shop. I’m really impressed with the stitch definition and the way the cables pop off this fibre. The yarn is super soft, drapes elegantly, and comes in a happy palette of colors that sound like they belong in a playground (Root Beer, Grass, Waterslide). It’s also user-friendly, as it is machine washable!

Photo © Michelle Sprouse

Another project I want to use this yarn for is the Leafy Baby Blanket by Leyla Alieva (free on Ravelry). The calm pattern of leaves branching out is lovely and it looks fun to knit! I can’t resist a lace leaf design. It uses three skeins of the soft and easy to wash Spud & Chloë Sweater, a perfect match for a family welcoming a new baby!

I have an obsession with feather and fan. I love its simplicity — the kind of lace I can manage not to mess up while talking to others or multitasking. It is a relaxing pattern to knit, and it adds a special touch to a design. A few cleverly placed increases followed by a group of decreases creates this gentle, scalloped edge that graces some of my favorite knits.

One of my favorite blanket patterns is Tweed Baby Blanket by Jared Flood (pattern available in shop). I’ve knitted two of these in the last two months, and I find it addictive! Instead of the worsted weight yarn suggested, I used the Aran weight Eco Wool with size 10 needles. I so enjoy knitting with a sheepy yarn like Eco Wool, and it is fun choosing colors for this pattern. While I love the understated color palette Jared Flood uses (shades of brown or shades of grey), I decided to go with something different. Two harmonious colors with a little pop on the bind off.

Photo Jared Flood/Brooklyn Tweed

Another recent favorite is Levenwick by Gudrun Johnston. I love the seamless sweaters she designs. Although this isn’t a dealbreaker for me when choosing a sweater to knit, I find it fascinating how a sweater can be created with no seams. I’m resisting the urge to knit Levenwick just like the picture, but doesn’t Shelter in Hayloft look perfect in this design? We are offering this as a class this fall, which is a great way to learn sweater knitting or try some new techniques.

When I saw Carina Spencer’s Whippoorwill, I immediately began to plan color combinations for this beautiful, traditional shawl. There are so many possibilities for this design, and I am particularly fond of the version knitted in Mini Mochi, which we have at the shop! I cast on for this in handspun—have you tried making your own yarn? We have spinning classes coming up in the fall!

Manos del Uruguay Maxima: single-ply wool in brilliant kettle-dyed colors.

It’s said that, if someone learns to knit with Manos del Uruguay yarn, that person will be a knitter for life. Here at fibre space™, we’ve met lots and lots of people who swear by this wonder fibre. It’s not just delightful to the touch. It’s not just presented in amazing colorways. It’s also produced by a co-op that started more than 40 years ago to help women in Uruguay earn their own living.

Long a shining example to other knitting companies, Manos recently was admitted as a full member of the World Fair Trade Organization. Membership in the WFTO requires an thorough evaluation in which a company proves that it has a 100% commitment to fair trade and follows the organization’s 10 Principles of Fair Trade in its daily operations. But Manos does much more than that.

Yarn dries in the sun at a Manos Co-Op.

The first kindergartens in Uruguay were founded by the Manos cooperatives, to provide childcare for Manos artisans. Manos provides health insurance, maternity leave, paid vacations, and retirement pensions to its members. The Manos cooperatives are 17 individual small businesses: each is run individually, but together they make up a well-organized business.

The Manos model is truly special, and fibre space™ is proud to become a Manos yarn shop. We’re stocking Manos Silk Blend, Maxima, and Lace – a trio of stunning yarns. Let us take you on a tour of the wonder that has arrived at the shop…

Lacy and cropped, the Moonstone cardigan is sure to be a staple this fall.

Silk Blend. Manos Silk Blend is 70% merino wool and 30 percent silk. The silk gives this yarn a gorgeous sheen, while the wool remains soft and squishy. A DK-weight yarn available in 40 semi-solid colors and 17 space-dyed colors, Silk Blend’s versatility means you’ll use it again and again, while its drape and color will get you compliments once you’re done knitting!

Try knitting Churchmouse Yarns & Teas’ Welted Fingerless Gloves in Silk Blend for a quick-knit holiday present that will earn you compliments (or a gift to yourself to remind you that fall is coming!). Another great gift idea is the Forest Canopy Cowl, a lace cowl that shows off Manos’ silk content nicely. Or treat yourself to a Welt and Rib Raglan, in which different kinds of ribbing shape this raglan sweater to flatter your body and show off the color you select. The truly bold will make themselves a Moonstone Cardigan – striking in space-dyed colorways, and sure to be gorgeous in any of the semisolid options as well. Slightly cropped, with lacy hem and cuffs, this is a great transition garment, as fall arrives and you start layering.

The Cilantro Shawl will keep you warm at a football game this fall or impress a gift recipient this winter.

Maxima. A single-ply, kettle-dyed worsted weight wool, this yarn is Manos at its finest. The yarn is squishy and soft, and Manos’ famous colors are sharp and dazzling in wool. Available in 15 space-dyed and 11 semi-solid colors, Maxima will capture your heart and keep you coming back.

Try Amy Swenson’s Cilantro Shawl in Maxima for cozy flair. This long wrap is warm yet stylish, and lets you knit lace without ending up with a grandmotherly result. Make one for yourself this fall, and one for a friend once you’ve got the hang of it – she’ll be really grateful when the holidays roll around! Or try the Elysium cardigan for a fun transitional garment with a unique fit. Knit from side to side in garter stitch, Elysium is a simple garment that will still teach you something new – and the garter stitch pattern works wonderfully for kettle-dyed yarn. Finally, the Quest Hat patterns from Knitty’s Winter 2011 edition will work wonders with Manos Maxima – and, again, please your nearest and dearest come gift-giving time.

The Veyla Mitts are another great gift idea - or keep them for yourself!

Lace. Last but not least, Manos Lace is a blend of baby alpaca, silk, and cashmere – sure to please the highest standards. You’ll want to make all your shawls in this yarn once you’ve seen it, but start with Susanna IC’s Little Leaves, to remind you that the leaves will soon be falling from the trees and we’ll be back in prime knitting season. If you aren’t yet up for a lace shawl, try Ysolda Teague’s Veyla mitts – their lace cuffs will dress up your winter garb, and (once again) serve as a lovely, quick-to-knit gift.

Whatever you choose to make, we’ll be here for help and encouragement – so hurry down to the shop and check out Manos. You’ll be glad you did!

Yes, it’s August, but far off in the distance lurk…the holidays. If you’re thinking of knitting or crocheting your presents this year, it’s time to get started. [We're not trying to make your summer more miserable; we're just reminding you about the slight panic you had last winter, when you had to pull three all-nighters to finish that fisherman's sweater for your mother.]

Spud & Chloë at the Farm: All Your Holiday Toys in One Place

This month, you should be deciding who among your family and friends is worthy of a handmade item as a gift, and what you’d like to make them. Knitters and crocheters are great recipients, because they know how much work went into that afghan. It’s up to you which non-stitchers deserve your work; think about folks who will appreciate what you give them (for example, Franklin Habit reminds us that someone who actually wants roller skates is not a good candidate for a cabled scarf).

Kids are always good handmade item recipients, in part because most kids are mightily impressed by knitting and crocheting. Plus, anything you make for a kid is bound to be smaller than something you make for an adult. So why not start out your holiday knitting with Susan B. Anderson’s amazing book Spud & Chloë at the Farm?

The Barn Cat would be a great gift for your favorite feline fancier.

Susan B. Anderson writes Spud & Chloë’s blog, Spud Says, and her stuffed animal patterns for the yarn company are wildly popular. In Spud & Chloë at the Farm, she offers patterns to knit an entire farm, including hay bales, a barn, a mother chicken with her brood, and even the famous Spud the Sheep and Chloë the red-haired girl. This is one-stop shopping for your holiday knitting: you can make barn cats for cat-lovers, sheep for your favorite yarn addicts, and Chloë for your favorite small child.

If you’ve never made knit toys before, the Spud Says! blog will help you along the way. Susan offers a tutorial on the twisted loop stitch that forms Spud the Sheep’s wooly coat (above) and on how to embroider a face on a toy (the video is for Spud’s face, but the information therein will help you with all the animals in the book!). The blog is a knitters’ treasure trove in itself, with lots of free patterns and tutorials.

This Mother Hen and her Chicks would make a great gift for the new mother in your life.

If you’re feeling generous as well as adventurous, you can knit the entire farm for some lucky person. Here’s what you’ll need to make a kid’s dreams come true:

Sweater

• 7 skins of Ice Cream
• 3 skeins each of Toast, Firecracker, and Root Beer
• 2 skeins each of Splash, Firefly, and Pollen
• 1 skein each of Watermelon, Grass, Popsicle, and Moonlight

Fine

• 1 skein in Tutu and 1 in Sassafras

Outer

• 2 skeins of Cornsilk

Come on over to the shop for help and encouragement – we can’t wait to see what you make for your nearest and dearest!

Lately, all kinds of striped and multicolored shawl patterns have been popping up on Ravelry. It’s no wonder, since this is a great way to experiment with color without getting into more complicated knitting techniques. One designer known for his colorful shawls, Stephen West, is hosting the Westknits Mystery Shawl Knitalong: Earth & Sky. His innovative designs are fun to knit, so I immediately had to be a part of this. Intrigued?

Vibrant colors from NFC

The way this mystery KAL works is you receive weekly clues from the designer that guide you to the next part of the pattern (which you get a nice discount on through the end of August). You will be part of 1000+ Ravelers participating, so there is plenty of support along the way. To get started, you need three different colors in a fingering or sport weight yarn. Picking out colors can sometimes be the hard part of the project, but Mr. West dedicated the first pattern installment to color choices. Many of the yarns he likes for this pattern are available at the shop, and we are flush with new colors in these fabulous picks. You can go for a subtle, tonal effect with The Fibre Company Road to China Light, a dreamy and unbelievably soft yarn in an iridescent palette. For the more daring color lovers, see what you can create with Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock. With glowing hues like Del Ray and Georgetown, you are certain to have a shawl that stands out! Come by this weekend and have your fibre space™ Yarnistas help you put together color combinations!

Ready to sign on? It’s not too late — clue #1 will be released August 1st. Get the pattern here.

“[A shawl] is perfect travel-knitting, as I have proved to myself many times. A round shawl, in fine wool, on a circular needle, is my invariable companion when space is limited, waiting-around probable, and events uncertain.” –Elizabeth Zimmermann, The Knitter’s Almanac

The Stripe Study Shawl: Knit in garter stitch, this fun pattern will teach you new and exciting things about how colors go together. Photo courtesy 100% rain.

Take a page, literally, from Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac (available at the shop) and start a shawl before you dash out of town to beat the heat. Even if you’re sticking around for August, you’ll want some light, portable knitting to take with you from air-conditioned home to air-conditioned office. A shawl, as EZ tells us, is just the thing. The light yarn used in most shawls won’t make you hot as you knit, and it will fit neatly into your project bag to take with you everywhere.

Like the imaginary reader in Zimmermann’s book, you may be protesting, “But a shawl is difficult.” As Zimmermann says, “My dears, it’s not.” A rectangular shawl is like a great big scarf, and most of you started knitting by making a scarf, didn’t you? Meanwhile, a round shawl is a bit like a great bit hat, with increases instead of decreases. What is the second project we encourage you to make at fibre space? A hat. You’re well on your way to making the shawl you want, whether square or round, if you can knit and increase. [And, heck, you can learn to increase using the videos at knittinghelp.com.] Other than those skills, all you really need to knit a shawl is the confidence and patience you’ve gained by knitting those first few projects.

Can You See The Lime Slice? The citron shawl. Photo courtesy knitty.com.

New to shawls? Go for a classic and try EZ’s Pi Shawl from Knitter’s Almanac. Circular with just six shaping rounds, this pattern can be as easy or as difficult as you like (as many EZ classics can). If you go to Ravelry and search for “Pi Shawl” in patterns, you’ll see how influential this simple piece has been: its construction is the basis for many more complicated shawl patterns today. Elizabeth tells you how to cast on and where the increases should  be, and encourages you to add lace elements or not, according to your courage and your style. For real inspiration, check out Mwaa Knit‘s set of 6 free patterns, each based on the Pi Shawl, each written to celebrate the 100th anniversary of EZ’s birth last August.

If you’re looking for something smaller than a full circle, try Hilary Smith Callis’ Citron, which dazzled Knitty readers a few winters ago. A simple half-circle designed to dress up a little black dress, Citron is easy yet fun, and takes just 470 yards of laceweight yarn (check out the Neighborhood Fiber Co Pagoda that we just got into the shop). Though the original sample reminded Hilary of a lime slice, we can see knitters making oranges, lemons, or even some kind of purple citrus fruit – this shawl will glow in any of our gorgeous hand dyed lace colors.

The Schieffelin Point Shawl: Learn a knitted-on lace edge with this fun intermediate project. Photo courtesy Kelbourne Woolens.

If you want to make something with a little more weight (and are wondering what to do with the skeins of Acadia you picked up last month)? The Schieffelin Point Shawl is perfect for the shawl knitter who wants to learn how shawls are constructed. It’s mostly garter stitch, with increase rows at intervals, and there’s a knitted-on lace border that would be perfect for any knitter who wants to learn this part of shawl construction (so much easier than it sounds; we promise!).

The Stripe Study Shawl that’s all the buzz on Ravelry is knit in garter stitch (easy!) but in two different colors (fun! interesting!). Designer Veera Välimäki is one of fibre space’s favorite new designers, and this shawl shows off her signature style: putting a modern twist on old standards.  We can see this one looking great in two different colors of Miss Babs Yet or Squoosh Merino Cashmere Sock. Available for €3,90 (about $5.60) as a PDF download on Ravelry, this pattern will delight you, and the finished product will earn you praise from one and all. After you finish it, you can graduate to Veera’s 3/4 Hap Shawl, based on the traditional Shetland Hap shawls. Before you know it, you’ll be working one of the gorgeous creations in The Happsalu Shawl: A Knitted Lace Tradition from Estonia (available, of course, at the shop) – all thanks to Elizabeth Zimmermann and the heat of the DC summer.

The Fall 2011 issue of Knitscene has just arrived in the shop, and we’re cooling ourselves down by planning autumn projects. Stop by and grab a copy!

Amy Herzog in her fantastic Pinstripe Pullover from the new issue of Knitscene. Come and get it!

We’re also patting ourselves on our backs because the issue features a Fit to Flatter section with Amy Herzog – the extension of a workshop Amy presented here at fibre space in May. Are we ahead of the curve, or what?

While she was here, Amy brought lots of sweaters for workshop participants to try on while determining what looks best on their figure – and, in this issue of Knitscene, Amy’s designer feature offers an option for every figure, and a detailed article by Amy on making modifications to any sweater.

We’re especially excited about The Pinstripe Pullover, a beautiful sweater that would look amazing in Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk Aran or Stonehedge Shepherd’s Wool. The sweater is knit flat and the pinstripes are made with the intarsia technique, so here’s a chance to learn a new skill and look chic when you’re done.

Melissa J. Goodale's Counterfort Pullover is knit in the round from the top down.

More interested in a DK-weight sweater? Try Melissa J. Goodale‘s Counterfort Pullover, which is knit seamlessly and features a fun blocky pattern at the yoke. We think this one would be yummy in Miss Babs Northumbria or the Fibre Company Acadia. The sweater is knit top-down starting with the yoke, offering another opportunity to learn something while starting your fall wardrobe.

Not yet ready to face fall and an entire sweater? Knitscene is packed with accessories, including lots of hats and a gorgeous shawlette by Rosemary Hill and a fantastic shawl by fibre space’s own Tanis Gray.

The Hawkmoth Pullover is light enough to wear as soon as you finish it.

Still too heavy for you? The Hawkmoth Pullover, knit out of lace-weight merino yarn, will take you through the rest of the summer and into the warm DC fall. We want to make one of these out of Neighborhood Fiber Co. Maisonette, or Miss Babs Yet. Although the sample in the photo is made of a sedate charcoal, we can see this really popping in a jewel tone.

With all these options and more, this issue of Knitscene is already flying off our shelves (along with yarn for some very exciting projects). Drop in and see for yourself – and don’t hesitate to ask us for help if you’re unsure about yarn or supplies. See you soon!