The Brooklyn Tweed Striped Scarf

Here it is done in Noro Silk Garden...a Christmas gift for my husband...



I made every effort to finish the thing by Christmas Eve (to the point where I was knitting it while sitting less than a foot away from him...but he has become oblivious to my knitting, the ubiquitous lump of yarn and clicking needles almost always on my lap when I sit down to watch t.v. at home: he HAD NO CLUE)

And so, it was not done for Christmas morning, but he was as pleased as could be and surprised to receive it 2 days later - just in time for him to take it to Georgia for the winter....but that's a story for another time...

...back to the project at hand. This is an easy yet interesting 1x1 ribbed pattern using 4 skeins of Noro Silk Garden: 2 the same, worked throughout, plus 2 different skeins which are alternated with the main to form the stripes. This sounds MUCH more complicated than the actual project, I promise!

Sue and Shirani both have made this scarf more than once, and I know a lot of customers have been in to pick up the yarn for it. There are so many interesting color combinations in the Silk Garden line, every scarf turns out uniquely beautiful!! It would also work nicely with Noro Kureyon on larger needles over fewer stitches.

Check out the pattern here. Shirani has an awesome supply of Noro so stop by this week and you'll have the scarf done by the end the weekend!!

Yours in Noro,
Claire

Rita's Masterpiece

We've been keeping this little beauty a secret from the blogging world, but now that Christmas has come and gone and the yarn's "out of the bag" so to speak, I can share these pictures of the LOVELY sweater Rita lovingly knit for her daughter Kelly!





Isn't it amazing?? Our Purl's been wearing this since Rita finished it earlier this Fall, so if you were in the shop at all in November and early December you've probably seen it up close, and have been able to appreciate the softness of the Debbie Bliss yarn and the beauty of Rita's skillful stitchery in person. These photos don't really do it justice!










The pattern is from one of the Debbie Bliss books, sorry that I can't recall which one right at the moment...the sweater design is incredibly creative - it's begun in the center and is worked in the round so that the center back forms out of a sort of sunburst. Really quite remarkable!







I stopped in the shop this morning and heard from Rita that it fit Kelly like a dream and she loved the gift! We of course had no doubt!! Rita is a terrific knitter and a sweet and irreplacable member of the Cultured Purl family!

Happy New Year!
Yours in knitting,
Claire

I should have listened to Shirani...

Shirani introduced me to this adorable Fake Fair Isle hat pattern. My daughter has been asking me to knit her a hat and this seemed the perfect, knit-in-a-weekend project. But....I didn't REALLY listen when Shirani complained that the pattern seemed small and I should use bigger needles. I mean, being the loosest knitter on the planet, I NEVER use bigger needles!

Well, wouldn't you know it...it's a little too small, yet oddly floppy and loose around the brim.

My daughter is so sweet, she's trying desperately to make it fit. But..it just is not going to cover her ears...

So...i'm going to run back to Cultured Purl in the morning to get some more blue yarn, tweak the ribbing a bit, go up in needle size, and mostly I'm going to remember this the next time Shirani gives me some advice!

Yours in yarn,
Claire