Winter Warmer

Question: What do you do when you like the look of a fair isle scarf from M & S advertised in the paper, but when you see it in-store you realise that although it's lovely, there's something not quite right about it?

Answer: You make one of your own of course!

Mine doesn't really look anything like the original of course because I only used that a spring-board, but I love it all the same. And because I wanted a bolder look I used a unifying background colour (except when I felt more contrast was needed) rather than also changing background colours as in traditional fair isle knitting.

I used some patterns from the thankfully reprinted Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting, combining them as desired, although once the sequence was set, I stuck with it. It all looks different though because the colours were also cycling round too, and by design I didn't get the same motif in the same colour more than once.

I learned a lot about the reading of fair isle charts. Basically the contrast colour is either on or it's off and once I got into my rhythm I was motoring ahead.

I am on the laptop here and don't have all my photos in the drive, but there are plenty more views either on Ravelry or on Flickr for those without Ravelry accounts.

Edit: I should also add that this finished object owes something to Kaffe Fassett's Lidiya Scarf from Rowan 48. (No links but that info should enable you to find it.) End edit.

Hopefully everyone is enjoying the Christmas season. x K

Ladies and gentlemen, the kit has landed!

Yes indeed, my Alice St*rmore kit has arrived, and lovely it is too!

Not the best photo in the world, but you get the picture. Lots of different sized skeins (so you get the perfect yardage or so you can't work out how much there is and reknit?) in lovely shades of Hebridean 2ply. Yes, t-w-o ply. For the girl who knits LACE in heavy DK and aran eg/ Kid Classic, Orkney Angora from time to time.

Some of the colours are quite vibrant, others more subdued, but if the FOs on Ravelry are anything to go by they sing out when put side by side.

The pattern in included with this one, but do check if you are ordering because some are not and you are expected to have access to the book. I also got a lovely gift card saying "I hope you enjoy knitting this my dear. Love J xxx" Seemed funny getting a note from him in someone else's handwriting!

It was all wrapped up in tissue paper in a strong box and then covered in sturdy brown paper. Giving you all the specs cos I've never had a posh kit before and I want to give you the full picture in case you're tempted to take the plunge. It all arrived in good time after ordering, but we were unsure if the order had gone through because the promised confirmation e-mail never appeared.

The pattern is the Flora waistcoat from the Alice St*rmore Classics page on Virtual Yarns (scroll down) and it's in the Mountain colourway. In the catalogue the waistcoat is shown in Glen and the jacket in Mountain, but I'm having the waistcoat in Mountain. Lovely as they both are, I do love my greens, plus when I went back there to get the links for you I see Glen is sold out now.

As it's knitted in the round in 2ply I have to cast on 395 stitches. When I start this I'm gonna need a lot of good vibes and encouragement to keep me going.


Making steady progress on the Duke's scarf, a variation on the Sanquhar pattern. Now it's time to do a long plain stretch in the light green, ideal knitting club knitting.

Talking of knitting club, have you been over to my pal Lynette's new blog Tangled Frog ? It's just off the ground but already she has lots of beautiful things to see.

Happy Knitting!