An Unlikely Stitch Marker

I found this unusually shaped safety pin attached to the last Vera Wang top that I bought at Target. The pin is sharp, but really stands out when I use it as a stitch marker for my knitting.

Isn't it neat to find something unlikely that works with knitting?!

Luscious Colors in Lanaloft Handpaints

There are some luscious colors in Brown Sheep's Lanaloft yarns. Made in both worsted and sport weights, this yarn is available in selected colors on our website.

Lanaloft is 100% wool and is single ply. It handles a lot like Lamb's Pride worsted which is also single ply, but Lanaloft does not have mohair so it has far less of the soft haze of Lamb's Pride.

Choose Lanaloft for your holiday knitting gifts. Lanaloft makes lovely hats, scarves, and mittens. Many of the colors coordinate well with the colors of outerwear that are worn in the winter. The yarn has a subtle striping effect, a lot like the sock yarns that knitters have come to love.

With the artful handpaint colors, you will have created a very special gift indeed.

Lanaloft worsted weight: 4.5 stitches per inch, US #8 needle; 100 gram,160 yard pull skein

Lanaloft sport weight: 6 stitches per inch. US #5 needle; 50 gram, 145 yards; pull skein

May we suggest a pattern?

The Zelda Hat, by Graywood Designs, uses one skein of Lanaloft Handpaint worsted.

Turn A Square Number Seven

Riff Blue color should be a tad bit more toward a denim-ish gray

I must be crazy about Jared Flood's hat pattern because I started another one. This Turn A Square is for Bill, my helpful friend who knows enough to repair my email disasters when I start tinkering with my laptop or a Kindle or mobile phone.

The main color yarn is Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride Superwash worsted in Riff Blue (Color SW45). The accent color is Fortissima Socka Mit Bamboo, Color 103, used double. I like to do these hats on Addi Turbo 16" circular needles. Jared's pattern suggests two sizes, US #5 and US #7, one for the ribbing and one for the body of the hat.

The Riff Blue is available on our website (where I called it "Ruff Blue," by mistake!) Notice that the color is a tough one to photograph. It will not be as blue as shown in the photo. Think more denim. The light gray sock yarn is a leftover yarn. It is 60% superwash wool, 25% bamboo, and 15% nylon. It's in the Discontinued Yarn on the website, but there is only one ball left and it is 50% off the regular price.

Turn A Square Number Four

This hat will be the seventh one that I have knit. Max, Finn, Peter, Clay, and John all have Turn A Squares. The sixth Turn A Square, in pink for a girl, is in the decreasing stage. And this hat, for my friend Bill, is Numero Seven.

Turn A Square Number Five

I use the Lamb's Pride Super Wash because I absolutely love the feel of knitting this yarn and then, after washing the hat, the yarn plumps up and the hat is so soft and warm. The hat rolls up and tucks into a pocket so it is ready for windy or rough weather days. It's a great pattern.

Onward and upward with the Turn A Square hats!

Copyright 2013
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Turn A Square -- a FREE pattern on Ravelry

Another Turn A Square Blog Post

July KAL: Toeup Sock Part I

The toeup sock KAL has begun and there is a bonus. Michelle Hunter, designer of the Knit Along, is guiding you through the two-socks-at-one-time process of knitting socks. So, grab that 40" Addi Turbo needle and a skein of sock yarn and get busy.

Remember that her directions are flexible so you can knit on double pointed needles or one long circular if you wish.

The Knit Along is FREE, educational, backed up with online video instruction, and lots of fun. You pace yourself right along with weekly knitting goals.

Click HERE to get started.

Blog post with more information

You can buy the long Addi Turbo needles and the Susanne sock yarn right HERE on our website, Graywood Designs.

Happy Knitting!