Tag Archives: knit

YARN Blog Hop: Chunky Knits for Christmas?

Posted on October 30, 2018 | 4 comments

Last week I shared my excitement for the launch of Scheepjes YARN – Folk. Do you already have your hands on a copy?

Together with all the other designers who contributed to this issue, I’m joining in on a blog hop to tell you about how my Frida shawl came to life. Kirsten at Haak Maar Raak posted about her adorable Christmas Cuddles on Monday; if you haven’t seen that, you must ooh and ahh over the adorable Santa and his elf.

You’ll have seen my Frida shawl by now. It’s a chunky grey knit with colourful floral embroidery and a buckle to close.

So how did I come up with it? Well, I love the look of embroidery on knit and crochet, and I love a chunky knit. And last winter I saw these cool fleecy wraps which had a buckle to keep them in place and thought: what a great idea, that would work so well in knit/crochet! You can relate I’m sure: I see crochet and knit designs in just about every piece of fabric I come across.

So I put those three ideas together and started knitting. I knit the shawl well in advance, but then I came up against all sorts of head scratching moments when it came to the embroidery. It just wasn’t working out for me. The yarn I had chosen for the embroidery was too fine (I had originally chosen Scheepjes Sweet Treat) and was getting lost in the bulky knit.

So I thought perhaps I should ditch the embroidery altogether and try felt appliques:

Again, it just wasn’t working. The felt was all wrong, and I was starting to feel the stress of the idea not working out how I had intended. In a fit of frustration I balled the shawl and threw it in a corner for a couple of weeks, while I did something else to reignite my creativity.

When I was ready to come back and try again, I decided to use a heavier weight yarn for the embroidery, and settled on Scheepjes Cahlista. I also enlisted the help of a soluble stabiliser and they were a golden combination! All of a sudden it all came together and the creative juices were in full flow.

(The above picture is courtesy of my friend Rebekka, who tested for me.)

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After all the frustration and stress, I felt the most incredible feeling of relief and satisfaction to box this up and send it off. And now, seeing it out in the wild I just can’t stop smiling about it!

Do make sure if you plan on making the shawl that you share your project on Ravelry. The pattern listing is here: Frida Shawl.

Now, Scheepjes is running a giveaway on their Facebook page! You can be in with the chance to win a copy of this issue of YARN – Folk plus all the yarn you need to make your favourite design!

What you need to do is head to the Facebook post from Scheepjes, comment on that post with your favourite design (Frida, obviously!), then be sure to read all of the posts in this blog hop series to find the ‘secret symbol’ hidden in each blog post which will come together to create a secret message. Once you you have the message, return to your original comment on the FB post and add a reply to your own comment with the message. The giveaway will run until 11 November, and a winner will be drawn on the 12th. Good luck!

Tomorrow Jellina is sharing her experience (and her clue), so be sure to visit her blog to read all about it!

Lastly, don’t forget to order your very own copy of YARN (and all the back issues):

Online from:

And your favourite Scheepjes retailers.

*affiliate links

4 Comments

Posted in Yarn, YARN Bookazine

Tagged frida shawl, giveaway, haakmaarraak, Jellina-creations, knit, scheepjes, yarn folk

YARN 6 – Folk is Here, and its Glorious

Posted on October 26, 2018 | 1 comment

The theme of this issue is Folk, and has a strong, wintery, Christmassy vibe. It’s all lagom and hygge and maybe for a bit of fun – kalsariokanni – winky face.

In it you’ll find a stuffed Santa, fair isle socks, multiple lacework garments, and a huge embroidered chunky knit shawl I designed.

In a few days I’m going to come back and talk about my design process, because that deserves its own post, but for now let me share some of the lovely patterns you can make from the issue.

These houses are designed by Maria McPherson, and I love them so much that I’ve started working on my own! The yarn is Cotton 8; you’ll need about 3 balls, and some scrap felt and cute buttons, which we all have lying around the house!

This blanket is by Esther Dijkstra, and the photo really doesn’t do its size and beauty justice. It’s a firm favourite from this issue.

Lastly, I’ll share Tammy’s Stone Washed/River Washed tunic. The tunic which evolved from having a ‘little bit of fair isle’ to a full blown mosaic wonder.

You’ll have to get your own copy of YARN – Folk so you can see for yourself. And also add the designs to your Ravelry queue so we can see what you’re making.

It, along with all the back issues are available from Scheepjes stockists.

You can also order online from:

Wool Warehouse*

Deramores*

Caro’s Atelier*

These retailers may take a few days to get their stock online, so if you’re in a rush, try the new kid on the block: Habbedash* – they store all sorts of lovely luxurious yarny goodies.

*affiliate link

1 Comment

Posted in YARN Bookazine

Tagged fair isle, folk, knit, yarn, yarn 6, yarn 6 folk

WIP Wednesday – My Knitting Adventure

Posted on October 24, 2018 | Leave a comment

Hey!

I’ve made some progress on my latest knitting project, and it’s really a lot of fun!

The 7mm needles and the Scheepjes River Washed XL really are best friends. It’s so satisfying to watch it grow, and grow so quickly.

Don’t you love the stripes?

Check out my post from last week for all the info on the yarn, and next week will be the big reveal. I just need to find myself a model…

To get ready for the pattern, you’ll need to get yourself 7 balls of River Washed XL, 3 in Steenbras and 4 in Yarra.

Scheepjes stockists everywhere have River Washed XL, plus my local LYS Caro’s Atelier* here in Almere, Deramores* and Wool Warehouse*

*affiliate link

New Knitting Adventure

Posted on October 16, 2018 | 2 comments

I’ve been saving this project for the cooler weather, but I’ve realised that with this extended summer we’re having, I’ll never get it out there!

I’m working on a knitting pattern actually, with one of my universal favourites, Scheepjes Stone Washed XL. Actually, not Stone Washed, but River Washed XL!

Scheepjes River Washed is essentially the same composition as the Stone Washed, but instead of the white core with coloured fuzz, the core has a complementary, or contrasting colour.

See in the picture above? The two yarns have a contrasting core, but the same fuzz, making them best friends. Coincidentally, these are my two favourite colourways, Yarra and Steenbras.

River Washed is available in 14 colourways, plus 8 colours with a muted mustard core.

So I mentioned in the title of this, I’m working on a knitting project! It will be a squishy knitted shawl, using 7mm needles. I’m breaking out my Prym Ergonomics*, which are probably nearly my favourite needles. If they were interchangeable I’d use them exclusively. Actually, I see that Caro’s Atelier stock them in a 2.5mm size now, so I’ll have to grab a pair for socks!

Now the important stuff; you need to get your hands on this yarn!

Scheepjes stockists everywhere have River Washed XL, plus my local LYS Caro’s Atelier* here in Almere, Deramores* and Wool Warehouse*

So there’s no excuse, really.

I’ll be back next week with some progress pics, until then!

*affiliate link

2 Comments

Posted in Scheepjes

Tagged knit, prym ergonomics, river washed xl, scheepjes

The Satisfaction of Kid’s Knits

Posted on March 3, 2017 | 2 comments

You know that I’ve only just started thinking of myself as a knitter. I learned to knit so long ago that I don’t even remember when that was. It’s just something that I could always do, although not very well, and nor could I cast on or off. But thanks to YouTube channels like Very Pink and Purl Soho, and not to mention my friends Tammy and Sarah, I’ve gone over to the dark side!

About a year ago Vanessa Kind shared some We Love Knitting yarn on Instagram (or maybe her podcast) and it was love at first sight. Then came the challenge: how to get my hands on some! It became a matter of stalking the Instagram page, enabling notifications and setting alarms for shop updates. And I’m not the only one who does this – it’s a real game of Fastest Finger First to checkout. More than once I was quick enough to get some in my basket only to find that it was sold out by the time I tried to pay.

Eventually I scored a few skeins of peaches and cream and sea glass, just in time for my gran and aunt to come visit, saving a fortune on shipping. Oh Australia why do you have to be so far away?

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Aren't these colours amazing! More @weloveknitting yarn, and the loveliest tote to match! #crochet #knitting #merino

A post shared by Nerissa | Crochet | Haken 🇦🇺🇳🇱 (@miss__neriss) on May 17, 2016 at 12:22pm PDT

Fast forward six months, I had to get more. I bought two skeins of mintfetti DK and after trying to crochet a shawl design, I realised that this yarn needs to be knit and – honestly – is wasted on crochet.

So then became the hunt for the perfect project that wasn’t a shawl and could be knit using only two skeins. Enter Ravelry and Jane by Georgie Nicholson. The combination of the mintfetti and this design is amazing. The yarn loves the stockingette stitch and it’ll make the perfect kids cardi.

I honestly can’t believe that I never paid attention when everybody told me that knitting for kids is so satisfying. That it goes quickly and I would be so encouraged by the progress. Especially in a 8ply DK yarn. If been using 4ply fingering for so long that I had forgotten how fun a chunkier project is!

Now this is my first garment knit. I’m keeping it simple while I grow my confidence. I’d LOVE to hear your tips for simple and beautiful knitted garments. Let me know in the comments or on Facebook. I’m just enjoying this so much!

2 Comments

Posted in knit, Life

Tagged cardigan knits, knit, ravelry, weloveknitting

The Colour Block Knitted Baby Blanket for Beginners – Free Pattern

Posted on July 3, 2015 | 2 comments

Last week I showed you the Colour Block Knitted Baby Blanket, and today I have the instruction for you.

Now, let me tell you, this is absolutely the simplest knitted design you’ve ever come across. It is the perfect beginner project, because let’s face it. That’s precisely what I am! So, if you’re looking for a simple project that looks fabulous and is not a scarf – I don’t know how many knit one purl one scarves I made as a kid – this one is perfect. And best of all, it’s not expensive because all you need to complete this is four skeins of Scheepjes Sunkissed, and you’re going to use every metre of those skeins.

What You’ll need
Four skeins of Scheepjes Sunkissed in 3, 7, 9, 10
3.5mm needles (I used 80cm circulars)
A tapestry needle to weave in your ends
Blocking boards and wires (or pins)
Eucalan (because it softens everything and smells amazing)

The final measurement of this blanket will be about 60 x 85 cm, so it’s a good buggy size, or snuggly swaddle size. It’s also lovely and stretchy, and the Sunkissed is soooooooft.

Let’s Go!

Cast on 150 stitches. I like to use the Slingshot Long Tail Cast on. When I was starting, I had no clue how to cast on, but my friend Tammy recommended this method and it’s very easy.

Once you’ve cast on your stitches, you need to start making the border. The design of this blanket is a stockingette stitch body with a garter border. Essentially a giant swatch!

Rows 1-5 knit in the garter stitch (knit), then we will start with the body of the blanket.

The first and last five stitches of every row will be in garter stitch and the body (middle 140 stitches) are in stockingette stitch.

Row 6: knit 5, purl 140, knit 5

Row 7: knit 150

Repeat rows 6 and 7 until you’ve finished your first skein of yarn (or until you know you cannot finish another row with the remaining yarn). Attach the second colour and continue the row 6 and 7 repeat through all four of the colours.

Each colour block will measure about 21 cm, so when you get to about 19 cm of the final colour, you will need to start working on the top border. The way I figured this out for myself was to fold the blanket with the join of the fourth colour matching up with the join of the first and second colour so I could see how far I had to go before I should start on the border. This is because I’m not yet a great judge on how much yarn a row will use.

Knit the final 5 rows of the border, then cast off. The feeling of accomplishment will be amazing, especially once you block it.

You can find the yarn at any great yarn store here in the Netherlands and Belgium, otherwise Deramores ships it world wide!

I hope you enjoy making this, and do please share your projects on Ravelry, my Facebook page or on Instagram with hashtag #missneriss and #scheepjes

2 Comments

Posted in knit, Pattern

Tagged baby blanket, free pattern, knit, knitted baby blanket, scheepjes, sunkissed, tutorial

The Colour Block Knitted Baby Blanket – Ta Da!!

Posted on June 25, 2015 | 4 comments

Ta Da!!!!!

I seriously can’t believe that I can knit. I just knitted a baby blanket! And she’s a beauty.

I used Scheepjes Sunkissed for this project in colours 3, 7, 9 and 10. (There are currently 11 colours available, but don’t be surprised if you see more coming soon!)

I can’t tell you how much I love working with this yarn. I love the texture of the cotton, I love the colourways, I love the drape. For me it’s about as close to the perfect yarn as you can get. Knitters, you’re going to make some beautiful clothes with this yarn, let me forewarn you.

The finished blanket, at 60x85cm is just the perfect size for a cradle or buggy, and it’s exactly the right weight for this ridiculously cool summer that we’re “enjoying” here in Holland right now.

Next week: the tutorial!

4 Comments

Posted in Scheepjes

Tagged cotton yarn, free afghan, free baby blanket, knit, scheepjes, scheepjeswol, sunkissed

Sunkissed Knitted Project, Status Update

Posted on May 21, 2015 | Leave a comment

A super quick post today, I just want to update you on where I’m at with my knitting project.

I’ve used all three colours that I had chosen for this project, and I definitely needed one more colour block. I really wanted to use a yellow shade, which would have been the perfect spring colour, but it’s not (yet) available from Scheepjes so instead I chose purple (10), which is just as lovely.

Don’t you love my little yarn cake? I was attempting a centre pull but had a major Yarn Vomit, so made it into a cake. I love making yarn cakes almost as much as I love working with yarn!

Now I really have the hang of knitting, I’ve managed to work up the purple fairly quickly, and I’ve managed to finish it off and it’s on the blocking board right now. Thankfully there has been some warm weather so it hasn’t taken long to dry.

I can’t wait to show you the finished product, I really can’t. I’m so impressed with my ability to knit when only a few months ago I wouldn’t have even attempted a simple garter stitch scarf. Now I’m lusting after knit patterns on Ravelry like nobody’s business!

Do you have a favourite knitting project you can recommend to slake my thirst?

Underway on Thursday – Knitting with Sunkissed

Posted on May 14, 2015 | 2 comments

Last week I showed you the beautiful Scheepjes Sunkissed yarn that had arrived and that I was planning to work on a knitted project and I’ve made terrific progress!

I’ve steamed through the first colour and am working on the second colour. I can already see that three colours won’t be enough, so once I’m finished with the blue I’ll dig around in my Sunkissed collection to find the right colour to match. But in the meantime, I’m just enjoying watching this grow, and am falling more and more in love with the colour variation of this yarn.

I’m also lucky to have had a couple of sunny days – finally! – so I can spend time outside knitting and improving my skills.

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Sitting down after work with a cuppa and my new favourite yarn – @scheepjes #Sunkissed – and the very last of my Australian #Cadbury chocolate. This sun is glorious, I'm getting all the vitamin D I can while it lasts! #VSCOcam #crochet

A post shared by Nerissa | Crochet | Haken 🇦🇺🇳🇱 (@miss__neriss) on Apr 8, 2015 at 7:02am PDT

This really is the perfect project for a beginner, or someone who just wants to sit in front of Game of Thrones and knit. Or someone who wants to learn a new knitting technique. I knit in the English style. Well, kind of. There’s a lot of movement in my hands, and I wanted to learn to refine my style so I was using less energy, if you know what I mean. So for this project I started practicing the Continental style, which worked well while working the knit stitch, but purl? Forgetaboutit. I just cannot get the tension right, and I was knitting much faster if I just went back to the English style.

You’ll have to check back next week to see the final colour that I’ll use, and how it’s all coming together. I’m loving the Sunkissed so much, and the drape is gorgeous. The next thing I’d like to make is a cardigan, or a shawl, but I have to find or develop the perfect pattern….

Stay tuned!

2 Comments

Posted in knit, Scheepjes

Tagged knit, knitted blanket, scheejeswol, scheepjes, sunkissed

Could it be? Yes it is! It’s Yarn Day!!

Posted on May 7, 2015 | 7 comments

My favourite day of the week!

So, today I have some of the most beautiful cotton yarn to show you – The Sunkissed by Scheepjes.

Just look at those colours! And this is just a tiny selection. There are 11 colours to choose from (so far) and this is just the most beautiful summer yarn. It’s lovely and soft, just like the Cotton 8, and the colour variation is to die for. Actually, you can very easily partner the Sunkissed with the Cotton 8 as they’re the same weight and hook size (sport and a 3mm hook/needle). It’s 100% cotton and comes in 50 gram skeins. There are loads and loads of great retailers in NL and Belgium where you can pick it up, or if you’re outside the Benelux, head to Deramores.com.

But what should I make? Well, I’ve decided on a really simple knitting project. Something that even the biggest novice can make, because let’s face it. That’s what I am: a knitting novice!

Look at the little swatch I’ve already made, isn’t the colour amazing?

I’m not sure I’ll have quite enough to finish this project, so we’ll have to wait and see, won’t we. Pop back next week for an update.

Meanwhile, have you started working on the Peek-a-Boo Button Wrap yet? What do you think of it? I’m overwhelmed by the positive responses that I’ve had so far, thanks so much!!!