Kim and Rowan

Hey friends, sorry to be so absent here in February.  The plague hit my house, and I guess it's taken me a little longer to bounce back than expected.  So, let's get to the knitting, shall we?

We have the newest from Kim Hargreaves, Quirky and Enchanted.  I know several of you just squealed a bit when you saw that photo and are calling the shop right now to have something set aside for you.  Here's the number: 503.288.4568.  If you know Ms. Hargreaves' work, then you know that these are full of classic designs with a bit of a twist.

Here are a few of my favorites (with photos from Kim Hargreaves' website because the "bright grey" lighting in Portland is making photography nearly impossible for me).  These pretties are Longing, Covet, and Ara from Enchanted.

 

There are many, many more, but these were a few of my favorites.

The Quirky collection has some nice ones, too.  I love the May cap, made with Cocoon and Kidsilk Haze.  

The two different versions are really nice, but I think I like the one with the contrasting mohair the best.

I also really love Sadie, Amy, Emmy, and Lottie.  They weren't kidding about quirky with this styling, were they?  Sailor hats to denim short shorts...

The Rowan Big Book, number 53, is on the table, too.  It's a spring/summer issue, so you never know quite what you're going to get.

Samos is pretty.

Marilyn has potential.

Honeycomb has a nice vintage flair.

Vanilla looks super cozy.

And I kind of like the Beehive Wrap, too.

There are, of course, a smattering of crazy intarsia sweaters and over-the-top colorwork, but what else do we expect from Rowan?

Come by the shop and have a flip through the new magazines.  I promise I'll be back here sooner than later.

New Inspiration

If you are like many knitters that I know, you may be looking for inspiration to get you through a summer knitting slump. Here at Close Knit, we have plenty of design inspiration, as many fall knitting magazines and pattern books have begun to arrive. Last week, we received two favorites: the new Rowan Studio and Misty by Kim Hargreaves.

Rowan Studio Issue Nineteen features eight designs inspired by Spring/Summer runway looks - all in "Sherbet Shades" - pastels in "lightweight, floaty layers". There's Sugar, a comfy patchwork tunic in Kidsilk Haze that would also work well as a subtler solid.

And, there's Love, which calls for fingering weight yarn, would knit up quickly and be a great addition to a summer sundress.

Misty, Kim Hargreave's latest, is beautifully styled and photographed as always.

It features twenty-one new designs - mostly sweaters - some fitted and feminine and others easy, slouchy and relaxed.

There are accessories, too - several scarves and this gorgeous cabled hat:

In addition to Misty, we have restocked our other Kim Hargreaves books as well. But, don't delay! When we have these luscious books in stock, they don't last long. Stop by the store, get your copy of Rowan Studio Nineteen and Misty and start dreaming about fall knitting.

Sweet Nothings

As the seasons change slowly here in Portland, I am thinking about what I would like to be knitting and wearing in the coming months. With my heavy woolies packed away for the summer, I find myself gravitating to the laceweight mohair and silk yarns at the shop.

Even though these yarns create a warm garment, the finished product is thin enough for summer layering. Also, most of these pieces require just three or four skeins of yarn, so the finished product weighs almost nothing!

Of course, Kidsilk Haze is fabulous for these kinds of sweaters. Veronique (above) from French Girl Knits and Precious from Kim Hargreaves’ Heartfelt collection each use only three balls.

I have my sights set on this simple, perfect hoodie from Rebecca #42, made with only three balls of Kid Melange from GGH.

Sally is working on Petrol from Rebecca #38. The bottom half of the sweater is knit with 2 strands of Kid Melange held together, and the top half uses a single strand.

Sabine is a beautiful wrap cardigan from Cocoknits, and the smaller sizes require only two balls of Filatura Di Crosa Golden Line Superior, which we have in both black and steel gray. The cashmere/silk blend is incredibly soft and would feel perfect wrapped around even the most sensitive shoulders on a cool evening this summer.

Several customers have fallen for Cia, knit up in Louet KidLin. The lace shawl collar adds interest, but would be easy enough for a beginning lace knitter to tackle.

There are so many beautiful options. Now I just have to commit to one. Which is your favorite?

Inspiring New Patterns from Kim Hargreaves

We recently received several new Kim Hargreaves books at Close Knit and they are amazing.

Gorgeous designs and beautiful styling make these books truly inspiring. As a lead designer at Rowan for decades, Kim Hargreaves was instrumental in making Rowan what it is today. The designs in her books feature fabulous Rowan yarns and the pieces are classic, yet modern. Each collection includes both small and large projects appropriate for knitters of all skill levels.

Her fall and winter books include Winter Blooms, Precious, Thrown Together and Heartfelt. They are full of cozy sweaters, refined tops, wooly hats, and comfy wraps in a wide range of Rowan yarns. Breeze and Nectar contain lightweight summer cardigans, elegant pullovers and slouchy caps in Rowan's cottons and bamboos.

If you enjoy fashion, photography and classic, well-written patterns, the Kim Hargreaves books will be a wonderful addition to your knitting library. We have a large selection of Rowan yarns to get you started on a beautiful new project, so stop by the shop and check out these books today.