It’s been an exciting time around here with the launch of Knit Play Colour this week! The final pattern, Affinity, has been shared on Ravelry. Our first KAL starts today. Books are being shipped to far-flung addresses (don’t get me started about the franking machine though)! And we’ve a fantastic blog tour ready to start.
Flashing my stash for the Yarn Tamer KAL: Eden Cottage Yarns fingering in charcoal and assorted yarnlings – inspired by the sample I saw at Yarndale!
I’ll start with today’s news, since we’re all knitters and most of the time we just want to be knitting something! We’ve started the first KAL from the book – the Yarn Tamer KAL – on our Ravelry group, and people are tossing their stash to join in. Can I just say that you all have fabulous stashes? Some of the yarns are totally drool worthy! Now comes the fun part – seeing all the various projects emerge as people knit them!
Affinity – this sample is knit in a combination of Miss Babs and SweetGeorgia
While the KAL is getting started, the book is also going on a little blog tour – launching today! And it’s the perfect opportunity for me to tell you about the last pattern in the book, which was shared on Ravelry this week too: Affinity.
Affinity is an asymmetrical triangle shawl with a simple pattern stitch to give the piece texture and interest and an easy rhythm to fall into with your knitting. It’s an easy intermediate project and the perfect one for embellishing with beads if you want to take it from day to night.
Shown on the cover image in a bold variegated yarn from Miss Babs and a deep purple from Sweet Georgia Yarns, I know some of you would prefer to choose a pair of yarns from one or other company – knitters have allegiances, and sometimes shipping costs eat into precious yarn funds.
Miss Babs Shiruku is shown in Perfectly Wreckless, and Babs has created a deep purple specially to go with it, called Dusk. However, a quick browse of the Shiruku colours currently available will reveal a wealth of possibilities!
On the other hand, Felicia at Sweet Georgia has some gorgeous new colours out this Autumn and I’d recommend rich purple Bewitched paired with contemporary Smitten. Sweet Georgia has an extensive colour palette in all their yarns too, and this is in Tough Love Sock. There are lots of juicy combinations here too!
These are both talented dyers from which you can find myriad beautiful pairings – and they’re both taking part in the blog tour.
One last thing about Affinity. You know I love to make combinations of yarns? Well Affinity is no different. But they needn’t be solid and variegated only. No, modest, subtle tones and shades work equally well here and give the shawl elegant appeal.
Tone-on-tone drama with added texture
Do you have two skeins of 4ply/fingering weight yarn that play well together that you’ve been saving in your stash? This might be an option! But if you want to play, why not try:
- two contrasting semi-solid colours together
- adding texture with a softer yarn such as mohair or alpaca or even beads (the blue sample used Fyberspates Cumulus and Scrumptious 4ply, both in shade Water, for tone-on-tone elegance)
- a favourite colour with a neutral you love
And now for the blog tour! I am thrilled at the stops that Knit Play Colour will be making on its tour. These are amazing bloggers and yarnies and I do hope you’ll follow along and perhaps discover some new-to-you blogs too! Here is the tour schedule:
Monday, 5th October: with our friend Kate at A Playful Day, a playful blog and podcast
Tuesday: Miss Babs – hand-dyer of gorgeous yarns, with a team of talented women
Wednesday: Knitted Bliss – knitting blogger, designer and writer
Thursday: Countess Ablaze – hand-dyer of yarns with unexpected, saturated colour
Friday: Fyberspates – yarn company specialising in luxury and hand-dyed yarns
Monday, 12th October: SweetGeorgia Yarns – artisan hand-dyed yarns from Canada
Tuesday: Crafts from the Cwtch – a yarn-crafter, designer, occasional spinner and sewing blogger (phew!)
Wednesday: Yarn in the City – podcasters and purveyors of yarn-y events in London and beyond
Thursday: A Yarn Story – posh and friendly yarn shop in Bath, South-West England
Friday: MillaMia – Scandinavian-inspired yarn company with a love of modern, contemporary design
I can’t wait to follow along with the tour!
INSPIRATION KNITS 