ALL YOU KNIT IS LOVE: EPISODE 11!

It is insane the difference a year, 6 months, a month even can make. 2015 was just so freaking awful. But then flickers of light. of hope. It's 2016 now and not that I want to jinx it or whatever, but I have a good feeling about it! And so a new episode was recorded. I don't watch my episodes, and I didn't even edit this one so I can't really tell but I feel like I look fairly happy in it, which I am!! Let's hope this last right ;) I have missed this podcast more than I knew, just talking about the things I am passionate about and chatting with you all. YOU are the best and even if I have to repeat myself 1000 times, THANK YOU so much for your love and support <3

Alright, enough emotional chit chat, enjoy the episode :)

PS: do you really need show notes? Curious to know. All of my current + finished projects are up on my Ravelry page :)

TAKE HEART: a review and a challenge

The talented ladies behind the awesome Pom Pom magazine (a quarterly publication of rad knitting patterns) launched a new project recently called the Pom Pom Press. The goal? To publish even more rad patterns with cool knitting designers. And the first one they picked just happened to be one of my personal favorite: Fiona Alice. It's called TAKE HEART and it is beautiful <3 So obviously had to order it right away! And guess what? I want to knit ALL THE THINGS IN IT! Which some others are also into and there you go, a year long knitting challenge began! I thought I could share a little review of the book here, and my yarn ideas for the patterns. Fair warning: get ready to want to knit them all too!

THE BOOK

If you bought a PomPom magazine issue before, the format is the same. The paper is beautiful and sturdy. In the first section, for each pattern, Fiona shared the inspiration behind them, a super cute sketch of the pattern and her reasons for the yarn she designed the piece with. The second section has the actual patterns, either written or charted, or both! The photography is absolutely beautiful and will make you want to go to the beach and knit/wear all your knits! There is a total of 11 patterns that ranged from graphic to elegant to modern to romantic. Some would I think make perfect gifts but most you will want to keep all to yourself!

(c) Juju Vail

THE PATTERNS

Take heart: this one was originally published in a 2013 issue of PomPom and marked the start of me falling in love with Fiona's designs. I actually tried to knit it last year but picked the wrong yarn, so now looking for a very soft and lofty (?) one that will be a perfect fit for the romantic feel of the pattern

Three Cliffs: a super lovely and big wrap that I am planning to start so very soon. Fiona chose the Viola yarn by John Arbon and I am planning to do the same, probably in a deep blue color!

Martinique Beach: color work people! This pattern is awesome! Calls for worsted weight which I don't have much of stashed so one I need to think about. Maybe Quince and Co?

Caswell Bay: a hat + mitts pattern, very graphic and modern. She picked a silk + merino yarn which looks just perfect to show the design so might do the same. Yarn idea: Dye for yarn

Queensland beach: a gorgeous cabled headband I need to start like yesterday. Calls for worsted weight. Yarn idea: Gilliatt by De Rerum Natura

(c) Juju Vail

Lunenburg Harbour: a pair of socks super simple yet elegant. Yarn idea: Exmoor sock yarn by John Arbon

Chester Basin: a hat + mittens pattern with the coolest slip stitch technique. Would make a great winter gift! Yarn idea: Garnstudio Drops Nepal

Ketch Harbour: a cool DK weight shawl that fans of Moby Dick should love ;)

Pennard Castle: leg warmers designed in two size. + a really cool stitch pattern! perfect to wear under your boots while walking through the forest in Winter <3 Calls for fingering so finding that in my stash should not be hard, at all!

(c) Juju Vail

A KNITTING WISHLIST

So, I didn't really make any goals or resolutions of any kind for 2016. But that doesn't stop a girl from dreaming. or making to do lists. So here's a little selection of knitting patterns I would very much like to knit this year. As you will see, trying to focus on more "useful" pieces, that I could get a lot of wear of in my everyday life.

(c) Fiona Alice

Ashland  (Julie Hoover)  - Sibella  (Carrie Bostick Hoge) - Skew (Kyoko Nakayoshi)

Lumpy Space (Stephen West) - Three Cliffs (Fiona Alice) - Kimmswick (Julie Hoover)

(c) Stephen West

Les Reveurs shawl - PATTERN AVAILABLE!

This Summer I read a wonderful story, about a circus, love and magic. I fell in love with the words and the world she described. A part in particular stuck and resonated deeply to the knitter in me: 

“ They are enthusiasts, devotees. Something about the circus stirs their souls. They seek each other out, telling of how they found the circus, how those first few steps were like magic. Like stepping into a fairy tale under a curtain of stars […] And so begins a tradition of rêveurs attending Le Cirque des Rêves decked in black & white with a single shock of red. Often, just before dawn, there is no color to be seen in the circus, save for their small splashes of scarlet. ”

A couple days after finishing the book, I started doodling and swatching with a pretty skein of red yarn I had had in my stash for over a year, waiting for its calling. Soon after, my Les Rêveurs shawl was born. It is probably highly subjective of me to say that I love it and think it is gorgeous, but I do anyway. I fell in love with shawls as soon as I got into knitting and so designing my very own shawl pattern feels extra special.

I tried to put as much of the magic of the book and of my love of knitting in it, and I am now super excited to announce that the pattern is available on Ravelry! 

The shawl calls for one skein of fingering weight yarn (tonal or solid would work best), a 4.5 mm (US 7) circular needle and if you feel like it, a few beads to include to the bind off. It has a textured body, a lace section that looks complicated but really isn't and an elegant picot bind off. All instructions (written), and links to video tutorials to help you with the technicalities are included in the pattern. Whether you have read the Night Circus or not, I hope you will enjoy knitting the pattern and will love wearing the shawl <3

Les Reveurs 

A YEAR OF SOCKS

On this day last year, I put on my feet my very first pair of hand knit socks. And fell in love. With the colors, the comfort, the warmth, the "oh thank you I made them myself!". I knew it was the beginning of something. So I started a little challenge: a year of socks. And you know what? It was fun! 

In that year, I have made 10 pairs of adult socks, 2 baby ones, and I have two more currently on the needles. I tried cuff down, then toe up, discovered the magic of short row heels, designed my very own sock pattern, and started a pair out of leftovers from previous ones (Inception style!). A good year I'd say! Funnily enough, my favorite and most worn pair is still the very first one I made.

Seriously can't believe I used to be that girl who said "why would I even want to knit socks, I don't even wear any!" One year older me is laughing hard right now. Hand knitted socks are the best! So here's to many more years of knitting socks!

EPISODE 10: INTRODUCING LES REVEURS

Back from a quick but super lovely Summer trip with lots to tell, a few new projects, a shawl design, and a few videos from London. Also an announcement about books which I'm very excited about! (ps: there's now a book thread on the Ravelry group, and of course it's been named after a Beatles song!)

And now for the show notes:
ON MY NEEDLES
Vertices Unite - Stephen West
Quill - Jared Flood
Cabled baby booties - Epipa

WHAT'S NEW
My shawl design, Les rêveurs, is all finished and written up. I'm now looking for test knitters before releasing it, hopefully at the beginning of October. More details on the Ravelry thread! Hope you will like it :)

PEOPLE/ PODCAST MENTIONED
Mina - The Knitting Expat
Kay - Bakery Bears

Enjoy!
xx

EPISODE 09: CHANNELING MY INNER MOLLY WEASLEY

Welcome back to the All you knit is love podcast. This one is all about colors ;) Socks, shawls, blankets, I have been knitting all the things this Summer apparently. Enjoy the show!

SHOW NOTES

FINISHED OBJECTS
Garter stripes baby blanket
Opal socks
Self stripping shawl

ON THE NEEDLES
Mrs Weasley blanket
Mrs Weasley socks
Quill shawl - Jared Flood
For the love of fair isle

PODCAST/PEOPLE MENTIONED
Molly - A Homespun House
Mina - The Knitting Expat
Maria - Stitched in Sweden
Oh Loops / HP KAL!

The Celtic Rainbow socks + my favorite no hole-short row heel!

My first design!! Kind of exciting <3 After almost 3 months without any sock knitting, the obsession came back! Mostly thanks to the most gorgeous/coolest speckled sock yarn ever, hand dyed by the lovely Kristina from Eaden Yarns and very aptly named Neon Lights.

I knew the socks I would make with it would have to be special, and since I couldn't find a pattern perfect enough for it, I decided to design it myself. I wanted it to be super simple so that the yarn would be the main star but with a little something extra special, and so the cable idea came. The one I picked reminded me of Ireland and celtic patterns, and so I started thinking of little leprechauns leading you to the end of the rainbow and the Celtic Rainbow socks were born!

I decided to write down the pattern, including the cable design and my very favorite short row heel method (no holes!) and share it with you all for free, here and on Ravelry. You will find at the bottom of this post a link to download the pdf, or you can get it directly on Ravelry :) I hope you like it, and please please share if you decide to make a pair of Celtic Rainbow socks for you or your loved ones because that would just be the best! Keep in mind that this is my first pattern, and not being a professional and all it might not be perfect! I'll be happy to answer any questions or issues you have :)

 Get the pdf here!

Episode 07: IN THE MOOD FOR SHAWLS

It's been a while people, but that just mean more stuff to show you :) 

June has been all about shawl and July will be all about the little projects, mostly because boy, is it hot! Who's knitting through the Summer? I'm switching my beloved merino for cotton for now!

FINISHED OBJECTS
Campside shawl by Alicia Plummer

Aristida shawl from Knitscene Accessories 2012

Kuni shawl by This birds knit

+ blue baby socks and a pair of Antiquity mitts by Alicia Plummer

ON THE NEEDLES

Self stripping shawl using Drops Fabel Print

Rainbow cable socks using Eaden Yarn

Thank you for watching! Don't forget to join us on the Ravelry group

EPISODE 06

Welcome back for another episode! Included in the podcast this time: a shawl addiction, birthday yarn, knit alongs and books. Enjoy :)

SHOW NOTES

FINISHED OBJECTS
- Campside shawl. free pattern by Alicia Plummer
in Artesano 100% Alpaca DK in Chile Red + leftover blue yarn

- Spring hat
in Spud & Chole fine socks in Snorkel

- Garter Yoke baby cardigan. free pattern by Jennifer Hoel
in Drops Baby Merino in white and light beige


ON THE NEEDLES
- April come she will by Annalisa Dione
in Drops Fabel Uni Colour in Jeans

- Aristida Shawl from Knitscene Accessories 2012
in Gregoria Fibers yarn, had dyed with walnuts

- Antiquity mittens by Alicia Plummer
in Chickadee by Quince & Co, Twig color

-Shipwreck shawl by Knitting Harpy
in The Wool Barn lace yarn BFL/Silk in the Jeans color

PODCASTS MENTIONED
And Just Another Podcast
The Bakery Bears
The Suburban Stitcher

Episode 05 and all the yarn

Episode 05 is finally up! Lots of new projects, a crazy story about a lost & found shawl, enabling excused by an upcoming birthday and an almost forgotten finished object!

To chat some more and join the Baby Knit Along I am currently co hosting you can join my Ravelry group ;)

On to show notes:

WORKS IN PROGRESS
- Campside shawl. free pattern by Alicia Plummer
in Artesano 100% Alpaca DK in Chile Red

- April come she will by Annalisa Dione
in Drops Fabel Uni Colour in Jeans

- Seed Stitch spring hat
in Spud & Chole fine socks in dark blue

- Garter Yoke baby cardigan. free pattern by Jennifer Hoel
in Drops Baby Merino in white and light beige

FINISHED OBJECT
- Nurmilintu shawl by Heidi Alander
in Cascade Heritage in Burgundy


xx
Lea

Episode 04 and a baby knit along!

Episode 04 is up! New things happening this week: there is now a Ravelry group for the podcast! Join, chat and show us that pretty yarn you've been hoarding!

Also, a baby knit along! The #LeLoBabyKal organized by Lottie from the And Just another podcast podcast and myself is starting next Monday, May 11th and it's all about knitting stuff for babies. You should definitely join, knit some cute stuff and maybe win a prize! Chatter thread is on my Ravelry group and the FO thread will be on Lottie's group! And if you are looking for free and adorable baby patterns check out the round up I just posted :)

And now for the show notes:

WORKS IN PROGRESS
- Battersea top. Free pattern by Valerie Miller
Using the Cotton Yarn by We Are Knitters

- A wee bit of fair isle socks - by me
using Drops Fabel Uni colors in white and mustard

- Nirmiluntu shawl by Heidi Alander. free on Ravelry!
Using Cascade Heritage in Burgundy

FINISHED OBJECTS
- Newborn Vertebrae by Kelly Brooker. Free on Ravelry
Using Watercolours & Lace in the Summer Skies color

- Hodge booties by Stella Lange. Free also
Using Watercolours & Lace in the Summer Skies color

OTHERS
Drops sale throughout the end of May. yarn is 35% off! Cool and affordable yarn, check it out :)


PODCASTS MENTIONED
Maria - Stitched in Sweden
Molly - A Homespun House

FREE BABY PATTERNS: A ROUND UP OF MY FAVORITES

Knitting for babies is awesome. Everything is adorably cute and takes so little time to make that you could basically create a full baby clothing collection in the time it would take you to knit an adult cabled jumper. Or maybe I'm just bad with cables. Anyway, I love knitting for tiny humans. And bonus point: there are a lot of free patterns out there! Here are a few of my favorites lately!

Fiddlehead Pullover © Courtney Kelley

HATS
Garter Ear Flap Hat by The Purl Bee
Woodland Fox baby hat by Kristen Cooper
Aviatrix Hat by Justine Turner
Hats for newborns by The Purl Bee
Baby Bonnet by The Purl Bee

SWEATERS & CARDIGANS
Garter Yoke Baby Cardigan by Jennifer Hoel
Fiddlehead Pullover by Courtney Kelley
Newborn Vertebrae by Kelly Brooker (paid for versions also exist for kids and adults)
Baby Sophisticate by Linden Down (available in a lot of different language!)
In Threes Cardigan by Kelly Herdrich

 + Clara dress by Karin Vestergaard Mathiesen

FEET & HANDS
Hodge booties by Stella Lange with a regular version + a more girly one
Infant Mittens by The Purl Bee
Cozy Little Toes by Judy Kaethler
May Jane Booties by Lucie Sinkler

BONUS because it's just too cute
Spring Bunnies by Stephanie Jessica Lau/ All about Ami (crochet pattern!)

Spring Bunnies © Stephanie Jessica Lau

EPISODE 03: starring my cat

Episode 03 is up! Featuring new projects, ramblings about the art of frogging, a lot of blue, my cat trying to steal the couch and some sewing news. Enjoy :) 

Show Notes:

FINISHED OBJECTS
Baby hats in Cascade 220 white, Quince & Co Lark in Belize and Malabrigo Rios in Indiecita

WORKS IN PROGRESS
- Battersea Top by Valerie Miller (free)
using Cotton Yarn in Aquamarine by We Are Knitters

- A wee bit of fair isle socks
using Drops Fabel Uni Colours in Mustard and White

- Newborn Vertebrae by Kelly Brooker (free)
using Watercolours & Lace in Summer Skies

PEOPLE / PODCASTS MENTIONED
Clare - A Night Bird podcast
Kristin - Yarngasm podcast
Anna - Gregoria Fibers

PS: Comments are always appreciated <3 Thanks again to everyone taking a bit of their time to listen to me :) Feel free to ask any questions, I'll answer either in the comments section or on the next episode!

IN WHICH I SAY ADORABLE A LOT

Episode 02!!

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone you has watched, subscribed or left me a message here, on IG or on Youtube. You all are the sweetest <3
Hoping you will like this one too, it's a bit longer and was slightly less weird to record so this might be the beginning of something fun :)

Show Notes!

FINISHED OBJECTS
- Waterlily by Meghan Fernandes - Pompom Quaterly Spring 2014
Yarn: Drops Baby Alpaca and Silk

- Garter Ear Flap Hat - free on the Purl Bee website
Yarn: Quince & Co Lark in the Belize colorway

- Basic worsted weight baby hat
Yarn: Cascade 220 in white + Malabrigo Rios in the Indiecita colorway

WORKS IN PROGRESS
- Elske socks by Merrian Holland - Pompom Quaterly Spring 2015
yarn: Drops Fabel Uni Colours

- Battersea by Valerie Miller - free on her blog
Yarn: We Are Knitters The Cottons Yarn

- Textured Shawl yet to be named by me.
Yarn: Madeline Tosh Merino Light in the Shire colorway

STASH LOVE
The Wool Barn !
BFL lace in the Jeans colorway + Stardust sock in the Pink Speckles colorway

NEXT ON THE NEEDLES
- April Come she will by Annalisa Dione (the pattern is free until the end of April)
- Docklight by Brooklyn Tweed

PODCAST I MENTIONED AND LOVE
Maria - Stitched in Sweden
Molly - A Homespun House
Dani - Little Bobbins Knits

In which I recorded a short and awkward video

Realized I had the voice of a 5 years old, hoped my english was understandable and then went for it anyway.

Show Notes!

Works in Progress:
Elske socks from Pompom Quaterly Spring 2015
Waterlily from Pompom Quaterly Spring 2014
Mrs Weasley blanket

Finished Objects:
Vanilla ankle socks - made with Drop Fabel Print
Regn mittens - made with (Vi)laines Delicates

Stash Love:
Madeline Tosh Merino Light in the Shire colorway
Socks that Rock in the Fluemarket Find colorway.


You can find me on: Ravelry / Instagram / Youtube

Thank you for putting up with my weirdness <3

A YEAR OF SOCKS: blues and pinks

This is most definitely the year of socks. I think I'm already onto my 4th pair this year, and my 7th total. What can I say, socks are the best. And between patterns, heel techniques, toe up vs cuff down… the possibilities are endless. For my two most recent ones, I tried a few different things. And, spoiler alert: I love them both!

First is my first self-stripping pair! Isn't that yarn gorgeous? It's Drops Fabel long print in the Rose Mist colorway. Since the colors were so soft and pastel I decided to punch it out a bit by using my favorite sock pattern: Hermione's everyday socks. Which yes is the pattern I used for my first ever pair of socks (remember?). I did them cuff down and slightly longer that the first pair so I can wear them with boots for instance. I also changed the heel because I'm not super into the heel flap and gusset technique and I wanted to protect my stripe sequence. So I used a modified version of the afterthought heel, using P3tog instead of the usual ssk + K2tog combo. You can see what my heel looks like on my project page on Ravelry if you're curious :) Love them! I bought a whole lot of Drops sock yarn in March because they were having a sale, I love the yarn and it's super cheap (like 4€ for a pair of socks cheap).

My second pair is Irish Oats by Cabinfour and unlike most sock patterns calls for Sport weight yarn instead of fingering. Which is awesome if you want winter / very cozy socks and bonus point: they knit up faster! The yarn I used is some Regia Fashion that I actually found on Amazon! The pattern can look a bit impressive with its cables and texture panel but is actually a pleasure to knit and super simple to memorize! 

I made them toe up (the pattern is written for cuff down but easy to adapt to your style). I just adore the look of toes when made toe up! I just haven't found a bind off that I like half as much as my twisted german cast on for cuff down so I just switch from one style to the other. 

What's your take on cuff down vs toe up?

MOONRISE KINGDOM SHAWL

 Bad blogger here, sorry for the silence. February is just the weirdest, a minute it's there and suddenly it's March. So I wrote my Life Right Now post a bit too late, and wasn't sure to post it, and here you go it's March 11th. Nothing special happened in February anyway, except getting my knitting mojo back and listening to Imagine Dragons new album on repeat: Smoke + Mirrors. 

Finished a lot of projects, including my Mountain Moss Shawl which I LOVE. it's big, soft and yellow, perfection to me in other words. And that lace border!! I might reuse it on other shawl, it's absolutely gorgeous and perfect and not too much of a pain to knit!

 The shawl was made out of a skein of Tosh Merino Light in the colorway Candlewick and is based on a pattern from my favorite knitting magazine: PomPom Quarterly, issue 5 I think. The reason I'm calling it Moorine Kingdom is because that issue 5 has a camping theme, with a definite 60s/70s vibe, and that yellow just reminds me of the movie and Wes Anderson in general. If you have never seen this movie,  a/ it's not too late. b/ it's amazing.

Next shawl on my needles? Merlot, by Elise Dupont, in light grey and turquoise. Can't wait!

YARN ALONG // ALL THE COLORS

Joining in with Ginny for the Yarn Along.

I love to knit. I love to read. Here's a little bit about both.

KNITTING!

So last week there was a knitting/sewing fair in Paris and I went (obviously) with in mind the notion that I needed some worsted weight yarn and lots of neutral colors. SO of course I went home with fingering and lots of pinks and blue. I blame Valentine's day. Anyway, need to find something very special to make with the gradient kit by Julie Asselin <3

On my needles, still more colors! I NEED to finish that bobble cowl because I've started it like 8 months ago, and I'm using my 3,75mm on it which I need for like 5 other projects. The cowl is really pretty and comfy (the yarn is 100% alpaca), but there is so much bobbles and cables on every other row that it takes a crazy while to knit up.

Some yellow now because that wouldn't be very me if there wasn't some yellow somewhere. I'm knitting the Mountain Moss shawl (which I'm renaming Moonrise Kingdom) from PomPom Summer 2013. It looks small and weird right now but that's just because it need to be moved on to my long circular (yes that one pair currently on the red cowl haha). I can already tell I'm going to love it.

READING!

Eleanor & Park. It's just so freaking adorable, I can't put this one down. I should finish reading it by Thursday I think, which mean a new I Love Books report should go live on the blog on Friday. It's a good one, if I may say so ;)

Designer crush: Cabinfour (and a GIVEAWAY)

Farmhouse shawl. photo by @cabinfour

Let's start with a confession: I spend way too much time on Ravelry. I know you do too, so it's ok. And sometimes, it's so worth it! I can't remember when I first stumbled upon Deneise's patterns. Maybe I was looking for a shawl. Anyway, instant crush! She designs under the name Cabinfour and I think her patterns are super modern and simple, with a definite nature, sort of folk vibe that I just love. I mean check out her latest design, the Farmhouse shawl. Fringe, how I am supposed to resist you? The answer is, I'm not. Neither should you. The fringes are calling!

He'e Nalu shawl. photo by @cabinfour

And her socks!! You probably already know of my sock obsession by now, so it's no surprise that I bought like most of her sock patterns. They're awesome and it's the only sock patterns that I have that actually don't call for fingering weight yarn but sport and worsted instead. Which if you're a beginner I would TOTALLY recommend because bigger yarn means less stitches and quicker knit. I'm currently working on her Irish Oats socks design and it's so cute! The Laule'a socks will be next but I need to get some yarn first!

Irish Oats socks. photo by @cabinfour

Because you guys have clearly been the best lately, I think it's time to give a bit of that love and support back and so, it is GIVEAWAY TIME! I decided to gift one of you the pattern of your choice from Cabinfour's pattern page. All you have to do is go check it out then come back here and leave a comment telling me which pattern you would like!

I will pick a winner on Saturday 14th at noon (french time)!