Accessories | Laura Chau

sunny start to spring

March 20, 2018

It’s the equinox, so spring is just around the corner! This being Canada though, I hear we might get some more snow before it’s truly warm. But the sun’s been out, and I got some seeds from West Coast Seeds, so things are moving in the right direction. I’d better get some seedlings going – we’re going to be changing up the back garden this year based on what we learned last year.

New Pattern: Leuty Hat

It’s still chilly and windy on our beach walks, so I worked up a new hat pattern to keep my ears warm – Leuty Hat.

Leuty is a quick worsted weight hat, shown in Malabrigo Rios “Teal Feather”. I love this yarn so, so much. It’s one of my desert island yarns, for sure. The ribbed brim is knit nice and long so it can be folded up, but of course you can shorten the brim to an inch or so if you’d prefer more of a beanie. It would also be great in a cotton blend for a lighter fabric!

The main pattern is an easy knit and purl pattern that creates a pretty diamond effect. Leuty is a great hat project for beginning knitters! The crown decreases are worked over just a few rounds for a gathered top.

The pompom is my favourite part – it’s made out of Drops Air, a very lightweight alpaca blend. I was a bit worried it would come apart when trimmed, but I used sewing thread to tie it up and it seems secure. It’s so soft and light, and doesn’t drag down the top of the hat.

Queue, fave, and buy Leuty Hat on Ravelry!

New Pattern: Lock & Key Cardigan

On the springier side of things, I have a new pattern out with Miss Babs, worked in a beautiful wool/silk blend called Woodbury.

This fingering weight cardigan is worked from the bottom up in one piece, with the body worked flat and the sleeves in the round to the underarms. The yoke is joined for the seamless raglan, and then the button bands are worked vertically. I really like the look of the garter stitch bands, and you only have to pick up one stitch from the body at a time.

The body is hip length, with a larger hip circumference and lots of decreases to the waist.

Queue, fave, and buy Lock & Key Cardigan on Ravelry!

Extreme Cold

February 1, 2018

Okay it’s not THAT cold compared to basically anywhere else in Canada, but it’s cold for us! And it’s certainly colder and snowier than it was last winter. I’ve been hibernating as usual, and knitting loads of things I can’t share here! But I do want to share a few newer patterns that might help you through this darkest season.

I had a new hat and mitten set published in Knitty – and even made the cover! We took these photos on the beach in the fall and it was COLD. The hot pink yarn from Mrs Crosby really pops against all the grey.

I also released a new version of the Snooker Mitts. Originally worked in worsted weight, the pattern now also includes instructions for fingering weight mitts in 3 sizes. They’re great for indoors in the winter, and under your gloves so you don’t get chilly wrists!

For a bit of colour, I cast on a bulky sweater out of handspun. I don’t have much of a plan but we’ll see how it goes. I have 2 skeins of this colour way from Hello Yarn, and it should get me through the yoke as well as some sleeve/body.

At the grocery the other day I saw a bouquet marked 50% off that still looked great, so I brought it home and split it into three vases for around the house. I don’t usually buy cut flowers but looking at them makes me happy!

Stay warm.

New Pattern: Ingersoll

November 15, 2017

Hello November! The knitting from my last post has grown up into a full-fledged pattern now available on Ravelry: Ingersoll.

Ingersoll is a top down elongated triangular shawl or bandana cowl in an intuitive stockinette lace pattern. The cowl is perfect for that special skein you’ve been saving, or pair it with a contrast colour for a snuggly shawl. Both begin with a disappearing loop cast on (tutorial included), and a simple ribbed edging provides a clean finish.

Instructions are both charted and written out row-by-row.

The beautiful yarn is from my friend Lichen and Lace. It’s a nice round superwash merino and just takes 1 skein for the cowl (3 for the shawl). The cowl is shown in Orchid, and the shawl in Pressed Flowers (a particularly green skein that I just had to pick up at the Purple Purl) and Linen.

The shawl and cowl begin the same, with a tidy circular cast on and increases at both ends and the centre. You can decide after the first couple of repeats whether you want to join it to become a cowl, or continue working flat for a nice big shawl. The lace is very easy – three of every four rows is stockinette!

Although the skein of Pressed Flowers is only 1/3 of the yarn for the shawl it comprises about half the depth. It’s a great way to get that special colourway up next to your face!

Queue and fave on Ravelry
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