Detroit Lions Knit Along Colors

HiKoo Simplicity -- the yarn to use for your SCOREBOARD scarf

Get ready to knit along -- read the blog post

Did you know that the name of

 Graywood Design's team is the

Graywood Knotters?

Scoreboard KAL

It's FREE! It's a fun way to knit and watch football!

Slated to kick off on Sept. 3, 2015, the 2015 Scoreboard KAL will allow fans to capture a favorite football team's season in the form of a hand knit cowl. The cowl is worked in HiKoo Simplicity using the team's two main colors. One color (call it the primary color) will represent your team. The secondary color will represent opposing teams. 

The idea is fairly simple. When your team scores, you will knit a round in the MC for each point attained. Did they kick a field a goal? That would be 3 rounds. Did they score a touchdown? That would be 6 rounds. Was the point after good? Add another round.

Should the opposing team score on the next drive, their point will be knit in the CC (following the same rules as noted above). You will follow this structure for the entire tame, switching back and forth between the MC and CC depending on which team scores. All round will be worked in knit stitch, except the optional, game-dividing, purl rounds.

Once the game has ended, you can choose to insert a visual break (in a third colorway) as an option. When the season is over and the dust settles, you will be left with a stunning piece of knitted sports history.

Here's what you will need:

• 6 skeins of Simplicity in Main Color (MC)
• 6 skeins of Simplicity in Contrast Color (CC)
• 16" US #7 circular needle
• Darning needle

Here are some recommended colors in HiKoo Simplicity:

• UM Wolverines -- Maize and Blue -- Color #133 Bullion, Color #029 Royal

• MSU Spartans -- Green and White -- Color #031 Real Green, Color #001 White

• Laker High School -- Green and White -- Color #031 Real Green, Color #001 White

• Central Michigan Chippewas -- Maroon and Gold -- Color #046 Crimson, Color #048 Hillcreek Gold

• Detroit Lions -- Silver and Blue -- Color #029 Royal, Color #036 Silver Hair

Try one of these colors as the Third Color (visual break):

• Color #001 White
• Color #003 Natural
• Color #037 Gun Metal Grey
• Color #038 Seattle Sky
• Color #002 Black
• Color #036 Silver Hair

This KAL is not just for diehard fans. It's an opportunity to spend some extra time with those special fans in your life. You may end up with a new found love of the game, or even be afforded a chance to pass along your love of knitting.

Be ready for kickoff time and the SCOREBOARD KAL this fall! Order your yarn and needles now!

Little Zauberball Sock

I had fun knitting a little Zauberball sock this week. My favorite pair of big handknit socks (these are the socks that get tucked into my rollabout so my feet have some covering in cold hotel rooms) are Color 1507 in the yarn known as Crazy Zauberball.

Wanting to try out the new Addi FlipStix, I cast on a bunch of stitches and ribbed for a few inches. Did a heel flap, turned the heel, and knit the gusset. A little foot knitting and a shaped toe followed.

Presto, Eduardo! There was the little Zauberball sock, and it was pretty much the miniature of my adult sized pair.

Zauberball Crazy -- sock weight yarn, 420 meters per 100 gram ball

Addi FlipStix -- set of 5 double pointed needles, one pointy end, one rounded end  I used the 2.75 mm size.

So should I write up this little sock into a pattern? Let me know!!

Happy knitting,

Wanda

Thumbs UP!

It's Week Three (Clue 3) of the convertible top mitten that is the July Knit Along project. This week we're knitting thumbs.

Designer Michelle Hunter gives two options -- an open thumb or a closed thumb. Both are easy to accomplish and won't take much time.

Unleashed Part 3 -- Knitting the Thumbs

FlipStix Double Pointed Needles for knitting mittens, socks, hats

As a reminder, the patterns for Knit Alongs are FREE. So even if you are not knitting along, you may want to add this design to your pattern collection. Come October (or January), you will be glad to have a special new mitten design to knit!

Tayberry Hat Pattern, Featuring Star Stitch

Sometimes it is good to try a new stitch pattern. I like knitting with Kenzie by HiKoo, a tweed look yarn that comes in softer, more rustic colors.

So when I saw the Tayberry Hat pattern with this star stitch in two colors it was a natural for me to try the design.

I'm using the colors suggested in the pattern, The deep red is Color #1004, Beetroot, and the orange red is #1005, Bayberry.

The design has a deep ribbing that uses knit two, purl two. The star stitch is a four round repeat that alternates between the two colors and gives a tightly woven look to the hat crown.

The hat is 10 inches deep with 3.5 inches of ribbing and the rest done in star stitch.

Here's a link to the FREE pattern:
Kenzie Tayberry Hat Pattern PDF Download

And HERE is where you will find the colors of Kenzie that we carry at Graywood Designs.

Beware! This is addictive yarn, very satisfying to knit, and lovely when it is knit up.

Happy Knitting,

Wanda

Introducing Addi FlipStix

Addi Turbo's newest needle, FlipStix

I'm pretty excited about this new tool from Addi Turbo, the FlipStix.

Here at Graywood Designs we are getting a new website ready and one of the tasks at hand is testing several of the pattern downloads that will be a feature of the new site.

I spent several hours recently with the Inchie Sockie pattern, knitting the little sock again in order to evaluate the layout and flow of the pattern. I used a set of FlipStix and absolutely fell in love with the smooth flow and ease of knitting with this innovative new tool.

Made from high grade aluminum, the colorful ultra-lightweight double pointed needles feature dual tips. Each needle has both a Turbo tip and a Lace tip.

A revolutionary design, FlipStix bring a wonderful smoothness to knitting with double pointed needles. The Lace tip is pointy and slightly longer. It is especially helpful when you need to squeeze in a delicate stitch, or for gathering both stitches for a decrease manuever like K2tog or SSK.

Each needle in the set is a different color. The metal is anodized for a soft touch slip feel which makes for fluid knitting, yet allows the stitches to hold to the needle.

The really big advantage here is that when you need the longer, more pointy tip, you can just flip the needle. 

As a start, we have stocked the 6 inch length in US #0 thru US #8 sizes. Be sure to try out a set on your next double pointed knitting adventure.

Happy knitting,

Wanda



Addi Turbo FlipStix -- Set of 5 in the 6" length

July KAL (Knit Along): Summer Mittens!

Who in their right mind would be thinking about mittens in the middle of the summer? Knitters! That's who!

We are delighted to offer "Unleashed," a convertible mitten pattern as the next Knit Along (KAL) from designer Michelle Hunter and the fine folks at Skacel. Michelle calls this project a gem with a handy flip top. This mitten will be perfect for texting, walking the dog, or even knitting outdoors.

Yarn for the mittens:  Simpiworsted by HiKoo, a 55% merino superwash, 28% acrylic, 17% nylon blend that comes in 140 yard hanks (100 grams). Gauge: approximately 4 stitches per inch on US #10 needles.

Needles for the mittens: US #6 and US #8 double pointed.

So-o-o, here's what we are offering for this project -- NEW needles and NEW yarn.

We have added FlipStix to our needle lineup. FlipStix are double pointed needles manufactured from high grade aluminum. They feature dual tips -- one end is an Addi Turbo tip and the other end is an Addi Lace tip. When you need to have that more pointy tip, you just flip the needle!

Addi FlipStix in 6" length

Simpliworsted comes in six colors of marl and four colors of multi colors. The yarn has generous yardage, crisp stitch definition, and unparalleled softness. Check out all these colors on our website, choose yours today, and place an order.

Simpliworsted Marl

Simpliworsted Marls, Simpliworsted Multis -- 140 yard hanks.

Knit Along website -- be sure to check it out before July 2nd!

Graywood Knits KAL FAQ blog post -- general information about our Knit Alongs

It's summer! We're knitting mittens! We're crazy! So what!

Happy knitting,

Wanda 

PS  Just so you know. Michelle is suggesting a solid color for this project, so I'm out on the limb offering the marls and multis here. If you'd like to follow her lead and use a solid color, consider using another of our excellent worsted weight yarns. I would suggest a superwash yarn like Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Superwash. Try a red, like Shane's Red. You canot go wrong with a washable, durable quality yarn. 

PPS As always, you don't HAVE to use double pointed needles for mittens! You can knit this project using the magic loop method and a long circular needle, 32" length recommended.

Where Have You Been, Graywood Designs

It's been a long, long time since the last blog post and, yes, there is a reason for that pause.

Here at Graywood Designs we are making the shift from one website interface to another. The new site has some "backroom" features that we have been yearning for, so those of you who are regular customers will notice some new things.

Coupons. Yes, we plan to offer coupons via our Graywood Knits emails and our Facebook page. That will be kind of cool. Right now we don't have that capability and we know that many of our customers would appreciate some fun offers. Coupons will bring us that possibility.

Downloads. You will be able to download PDF patterns and knitting helps right on our new website. Our free patterns will be available there as well as our for sale patterns. 

Events. We offer four regular KALs (Knit Alongs) and those will be right up on our home page. Front and center, that's where we want our events to be, not buried three clicks deep on the blog or in a hard-to-retrieve email.

More yarn, more colors. The best thing about our website, though small, is the multiplicity of yarns and colors that we offer. We've expanded colors and yarns, and plan to add even more.

I say this somewhat guardedly, since having a lot of yarn is not the focus of the website. Instead, we strive to offer yarns for discriminating knitting -- natural fibers, blends of fibers, colors that go beyond the ordinary. And we strive to do that by bringing you hand picked yarns. We'd like a yarn purchase to be a reasonable purchase, yet we know that good results start with the best fibers that you can afford.

Excellence in Tools. Most knitters have lots of needles but only use certain brands and sizes from their stash. We are aware of the cost of the more expensive needles like the Addi Turbo line that we carry, but we also know that those myriad of hours that you spent knitting using really good needles will be hours of pleasure, not frustration. So, we stock premium tools that work. Period. End of sentence. No apologies here.

Finally, the new website will be coming on line sometime this summer, Lord willing and the creek don't rise! So I hope you will bear with us and be looking forward to the next best thing as we move from one "house" on the web to another one with a newer look. Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, happy knitting,

Wanda

April Knitting: Japanese Short Row Heel & Softie Hat

It's always good to try something new. Michelle Hunter's April KAL toe up sock features a Japanese Short Row Heel that uses the big plastic pins instead of a conventional wrap and turn.

Take a look at this heel and maybe give it a try. In the video, Michelle uses a baby sock as a sample in order to show the Japanese Short Row Heel method.

You'll find the directions for this heel turn in Week Two of the KAL. Michelle Hunter, designer of the KAL projects, includes a You Tube video that details how to make this unique heel turn.

Michelle says that this heel turn is similar to a standard short row heel. She finds it is easier to construct. This method uses pins in place of the wrap and turn.

The video is almost 19 minutes long, but I found that I kind of got the idea of what she is demonstrating by watching the first half of the video. Even though I'm not knitting along with this sock project, I think I'll cast on a smallish sock with worsted yarn and give this heel turn a try.

We have a selection of yarns suggested for this sock design on our website. Be sure to check out the colors.

Finally, since it is April and it is very windy some days when I'm out for my daily walk, let me suggest my Softie Hat design as a lightweight hat to wear in spring. Knit using sock yarn, it is a great hat for keeping your ears warm without crushing your hair. The pattern is a FREE PDF download on Ravelry.

Happy Knitting!

April KAL (Knit Along) Starts Today

Kaika is the name of the toe up sock pattern that Michelle Hunter designed for this Knit Along. You can follow along here:

http://knitpurlhunter.com/kal/kaika/kaika-part-1/

You'll learn how to knit the Peacock stitch which covers the instep on the foot of the sock. 

See the previous blog post for more information on knitting along with this Knit Along!

And here is a link to yarns that we recommend for this sock design:

http://www.graywooddesigns.com/product.php?id=185

April Knit Along (KAL) Starts Thurs., April 2

Suggested yarns for the April KAL

Oh how did another Knit Along sneak up on us so quickly!

Michelle Hunter has designed a toe up sock for the April Knit Along. She is using Japanese stitches and it all sounds SO good.

You probably know the routine by now. Michelle posts the first clue of the Knit Along on the first Thursday of the month. The additional steps in the design are revealed on the three successive Thursdays. You knit along -- get it?

For more general information about the Knit Along concept, see our KAL FAQ blog post.

Now here's the bad (well, sort of bad) news. There was a huge demand for the specially dyed KAL yarn and so our website (think, gee, why didn't we order sooner!)  has missed out on the super duper specially-make-for-this-KAL yarn.

There are some wonderful substitutes, however. Two are Wolkenspiel, a yarn that is new to our website. Two others are Trekking XXL yarns, yarns that are simply basics in the sock knitting world.

Be sure to look over these four April KAL yarns on our website. You will find some nice discounts on these four yarns.

If you are a magic loop sock knitter (and this KAL can be knit using magic loop), we have Sock Rockets for you. With their smooth pointy tips and sleek cables, Sock Rockets make sock knitting into an absolute delight.

Hope you can join in on the KAL and knit along with us in April!

Soft and Elegant and a New Color -- Our Two Together Scarf

Let simple and elegant be the watchwords for this easy to knit scarf.

Our Two Together Scarf Kit matches two soft yarns into one strand for a scarf that is fashionable and warm. We have watched our inventory for two yarns that live together well. Then we pre-wind them into a ball that makes a scarf that is sort of long, but not too much.

You'll have about 7-10 hours of pleasure when you knit this scarf. Choose from Lake Huron Teal or Maple Leaf Red or our newest combination, Spring Green.

Find out more at Graywood Designs, home of specialized knitting yarns and supplies.