This week we review the new Tin Can Knits collection – Strange Brew. It’s a knitwear collection that embraces everything colour work for the whole family. There’s some knitty news and an update on School Council gate.
UK Knitting Events in November and December
Yarnporium – London, 2 and 3 November 2018
Hosted by our friends Allison and Rachel of Yarn in the City, this yarn show takes place in London on 2nd and 3rd November 2018 at Central Hall, Westminster. There will be a vendor marketplace as well as the Indie Spotlight, and a series of talks and panels featuring the likes of Laine Magazine, Kate Atherley, Katie Westermann and several yarn producers such as Garthenor and Kelbourne Woollens. There are workshops taking place too, with a few spots still being available if you are able to make it.
Timings for this show are 10-6 on Friday and 10-5 on Saturday. Entry is £10 advance and £12 on the day. There are no weekend tickets and talk tickets are extra.
I will be attending this event, so please do let me know if you are planning to be there as I would love to say hi.
Book your tickets and find out more at Yarn in the City.
Ferret Fest @ Fluph, Dundee – 17 November 2018
Join the ever fabulous Leona-Jayne and friends of Fluph at a woolly gathering at Fluph in Dundee on 17th November 2018.
Details at Fluph
Saturnalia, Countess Ablaze, 1 December 2018, Manchester
Celebrate Saturnalia with The Countess on 1st December 2018 in Manchester. During the day, there’ll be a pop up marketplace with some of The Countess’ favourite vendors at the Studio on Swan St in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
In the evening, there will be a soiree in Castlefield, where The Countess will be on hand with cocktails and much frivolity, as she celebrates Saturnalia, in her usual stylish manner. Having attended every Saturnalia so far, I can tell you that she does a cracking shindig.
Tickets for the evening party are available here.
Compass by Tin Can Knits. Image Copyright Tin Can Knits.
Review of Strange Brew eBook by Tin Can Knits
I was delighted to receive a review copy of Tin Can Knits latest ebook, Strange Brew, to have a look over. As you all know, I am a high fan of their patterns, which are not only easy to knit, but sized from baby to big and are really wearable designs as well. You can meet Emily of Tin Can Knits is this episode.
Here’s what Tin Can Knits have to say about this collection:
Take a trip outside your knitting comfort zone! Join us on a journey through colourwork yoke sweaters and a family road trip around Iceland!
At the centre of this collection is a ‘design-your-own’ yoke sweater recipe, which will guide you as you create your own colourwork masterpiece. The collection also contains 8 sweater designs and 4 accessories too!
Pull out those needles dive into your stash, we’re convinced you’re going to be knitting yokes for days! These delicious and fun knits are sized for the whole family, from baby through both women’s 4XL and include men-specific sizing too.
Initial thoughts
You could get literally hours and a million different variations out of this book, in all the sizes you would ever need. As always, Tin Can Knits have produced a series of comprehensive tutorials on their blog to help you with every aspect of knitting these patterns, from choosing the yarn nd colours, right through to techniques and finishing. This is why I am such a huge fan of their work and why I often recommend it to adventurous new knitters who want to jump right into making something proper from the get go.
Favourite Patterns from Strange Brew
My favourite patters from the collection are:
Compass by Tin Can Knits. Image Copyright Tin Can Knits.
1) Compass
I love the simplicity and versatility of the Compass pattern in terms of colour choices. There’s every opportunity to make it super-colourful (or use a colour changing yarn such as a gradient) to add some extra interest to the yoke, but equally it can be made into a more classic and understated piece by using harmonious colours.
I also like how the yoke pattern is quite shallow, which I think makes it more friendly to those of us who have ample chests, so you don’t get marooned patterning half way down a boob.
Moraine by Tin Can Knits. Image Copyright Tin Can Knits
2) Moraine
The Moraine pattern really stood out to me in this collection amongst a sea of patterned yokes that are available on Ravelry at the moment. I like how the white stitches are continued throughout the body, which makes it feel a bit more special, and would undoubtedly add to the experience of knitting the body by adding some variation into the pattern.
You’ll find some amazing colour and yarn ideas on the project page on Ravelry for this design. It’s definitely on my ‘to knit’ list!
Mountain Mist by Tin Can Knits. Image Copyright Tin Can Knits.
3)Mountain Mist
Mountain Mist is one of the simplest patterns in the collection and this makes it really accessible for those new to knitting patterned yokes. It would be a great way to use up smaller balls or mini skeins and is super versatile when it comes to playing with colour and what suits your personality and skin tone (as opposed to finding colours that work for the sake of the pattern).
Notable Mention
The notable mention for this collection goes to the Anthology pattern/recipe. This is a plug and play recipe for a colour work hat or cowl, and is a free pattern. Thus means you can try out lots of different patterns and shapes, as well as improve your stranded knitting technique, on a smaller canvas. As it’s a free pattern as well, it would be a fantastic, cost effective stash buster!
Where to buy Strange Brew by Tin Can Knits
The ebook is available via Ravelry priced at $26.40+VAT where applicable as well as in print from a variety of local yarn stores. Single patterns are also available from Ravelry. All tutorials are available from Tin Can Knits.
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Music from this episode is ‘I Need a Drink’ by Adam and the Walter Boys, available via iTunes.