Unicorn Dreams & Colour Palettes

I don't know about you, but I love looking at rainbowy, colour combined projects. They're rainbow eye-candy. People keep asking me what Madeline Tosh Unicorn Tails are used for, and the best, most all encompassing answer is eye-candy. That said, I don't often wear all the colours of the rainbow at the same time. Most people don't, so I've assembled some colour combinations that work together. They're still colourful, but a slightly restricted palette.

Madeline Tosh shades are kind of tricky, they don't all compliment each other. The colour combinations I've assembled are based on skeins I ogled and considered for long stretches and that actually compliment each other in real life. If you feel like I neglected some colours palettes it's because I didn't feel the actual skeins worked well together.  This doesn't mean you shouldn't use those colours, they're just outliers to my eye. Please note: based on the actual dye lots we received, the colours Onyx and Dirty Panther are very close and are almost indistinguishable.

A regular scarf would normally require about 200g/400m of fingering weight yarn.

Photo: Westknits

Unicorn Parallelograms

• Pattern by Stephen West
• Madeline Tosh Unicorn Tails: 20 colours (or other fingering weight yarn - approx 950m or 20 unicorn tails)
• 3.5mm/US4 needles

Photo: Madeline Tosh

Unicorn Stripes Scarf

• 4mm/US6 needles
• Madeline Tosh Unicorn Tails: 16 to 17 skeins (the pattern uses 30 skeins, but that is based on colours, not yardage)

Summer Store Hours Start!

Photo: Pimp Your Bike  Crochet Skirt Guards (pattern)

Sunday May 31st the store will be opening an hour late and closing an hour early on because I'm riding in the Becel Ride for Heart! It's not too late to sponsor me! If you live in Canada your donation is tax deductible. 

We will also be moving to our summer hours on June 1st. We will be closed on Sundays, and our Stitch 'n Bitch shifts to Monday, Wednesday, & Saturday (rather than Tuesday, Wednesday & Sunday).

Summer Store Hours

June1 to Labour Day

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat:  11am to 6pm

Wed: 11am to 8pm

Sun: closed

Stitch 'n Bitch

Mon: 1-4

Wed: 5-8

Sat: 1-4

Moving Sale EXTENDED!

We are only moving a couple of doors North of where we are now, but it looks like it will take a little bit more time than expected to get into our new digs, so we are extending our Moving Sale to June 13th! 

SHOP ONLINE HERE

SALE Noro Prism Kits

Prism Kits

I wear this shawl all the time in the store, so much in fact that we had to make a second sample for the store.  People are constantly asking me what it is and how to make it. It's a free pattern from Ravelry, and is really easy - the yarn does all the work. Our samples were made with two skeins of Noro Silk Garden Sock in two colourways: one main colour and one contrast colour (you can also use Noro Silk Garden Sock Solo for the contrast colour). The colours are carried up the side and alternated every other row - no cutting yarn, no weaving in endless ends.  Added bonus, it's on sale until the end of May!

Kits includes:

• 2 skeins of Noro Silk Garden Sock (or Noro Silk Garden Sock Solo)
• pattern

Kit does NOT include:

• 3.75mm/US5-32" (or longer) circular needles
• stitch markers

SHOP ONLINE HERE

New Store Project: Lala's Simple Shawl

Lala's Simple Shawl

Fresh off the blocking mat, we just finished up this shawl and it is great! The pattern is FREE, Lala's Simple Shawl. We made it extra big, and it is super cozy and a truly stunning wrap. I didn't realize that when triangular shawls are made really, really big, they don't really look very triangular when worn. 

Yarn

We used the new Noro Kureopatora yarn and it was PERFECT! It's a single ply, woollen spun yarn, which means it's light, airy, and warm. It feels a bit coarse in the ball, but it softens up in your hands while knitting, and even more so after washing in Eucalan and blocking. It's also got amazing yardage, we only needed 3 skeins to make this great big wrap! Oh, and the yarn is on SALE until the end of May!  If you want a Summer friendly version you can substitute 4 skeins of Noro Taiyo (also on sale).

Pattern

The pattern (Lala's Simple Shawl) is definitely beginner/novice friendly, so much so that I got a little bored and threw in a few modifications: 

• Instead of increasing with a yarn over down the middle, we used a backwards loop cast on.
• I got bored with the stitch pattern and threw in some variety: see stitch & crossed stitch  (see our Ravelry page for the nitty gritty). 

Materials

• 3 skeins Noro Kureopatora, colour 1001 OR 4 skeins Noro Taiyo
• 5.5mm/US9-40" (or longer) circular needles
• 2 stitch markers

It's Crochet Day! FREE Artfully Simple Scarf (or Wrap)

Photo: Moogly

Artfully Simple Angled Scarf

This simple crochet scarf/wrap is a great project for crocheters of all levels! It's easy and makes a great gift. Use up stashed sock yarn or pick up that pretty little skein  you've been eyeing (I'm thinking some Madeline Tosh Merino Light might come home with me). 

• FREE pattern from Moogly
• 5.5mm hook
• fingering weight yarn: 420m (460 yards) 

Yarn Suggestions

• Cascade Ultra Pima Fine (cotton): 4 skeins
• Fleece Artist Trail Socks (merino & nylon): 1 to 2 skeins
• Madeline Tosh Merino Light (merino): 1 to 2 skeins
• Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino: 1 to 2 skeins (use smaller hook)
• Malabrigo Silkpaca Lace: 1 to 2 skeins (use smaller hook)
• Noro Silk Garden Sock: 1 to 2 balls
• Noro Silk Garden Sock Solo: 1 to 2 balls
• Noro Taiyo Sock: 1 skein
• Quince & Co Sparrow (linen): 3 skeins
• Schoppel Wolle Crazy Zauberball: 1 ball
• Shibui Staccatto (silk & merino): 3 skeins (use smaller hook?)
• Shibui Silk Cloud (mohair & silk): 2 skeins
• Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Silk Single (merino, silk, cashmere): 1 to 2 skeins

SALE Schulana Slouchy Angora Hat Kits

Last month we brought our Slouchy Angora Hat Kit to the Toronto Knitter's Frolic, and it was such a hit that we made it available in our Online Store! Plus, until the end of May it's on SALE for 25% Off!

Our Slouchy Angora Hat is casual comfort with a bit of sumptuous fuzz. Wear it with the brim turned up or down for super-slouch. 

The pattern is knit with 2 strands of DK weight angora yarn held together. Two colours are blended to create a depth of colour and marl. Due to it's nature, angora is very stretchy and it will stretch with wear, so don't worry about the hat being too small. 

Kit Includes

• 2 skeins Schulana Angora
• pattern 

Other Materials Required (not included in kit)

• 4.5mm/US7-16" circular needles
• 4.5mm/US7 double pointed needles
• darning/tapestry needle
• 1 stitch marker

SHOP ONLINE

fuchsia & red combo

Crochet Day! FREE Augusta Shawl

Photos: Fairmount Fibers

Augusta Shawl

A simple something, light and easy for spring and summer. Use a light cotton like Cascade Ultra Pima Fine, which is easy to wear all year round, and crochet's like a dream, and won't break the bank. I think this pattern would also look amazing made with Freia Ombre Lace with it's gradual colour shift, or Schoppel Crazy Zauberball. 

• Cascade Ultra Pima Fine (7 skeins: 1 in each of 3 lightest colours, 2 in each of 2 darkest colours)
• 3.25mm/D hook (a 3.5mm/E hook would be fine too)
• FREE pattern

Volunteers Needed for Bestival Music Festival

Photo: Bestival 

Volunteers Needed!

We are looking for volunteers to inhabit & help out in the knitting & yarn bombing tent at the upcoming "Bestival" music festival (rock concert), Friday June 12 & Saturday June 13. Please also contact me if you’re interested in Yarn Bombing for the event.

Incentives

• Volunteers receive a free pass to the even for the day/s they are volunteering
• The event is held on the Toronto Island - lots of pretty trees
• Volunteers get to take a special ferry over, reserved for event organizers and talent (no annoying lineup at the ferry terminal)
• The tent & all materials will be organized by the event planners, we won’t do any heaving lifting
• You can volunteer for both days or just one day, and we'll create shifts do you can see your favourite band/s
• 'Florence & The Machine' is headlining

Volunteers will be required to

• hang-out and knit/crochet
• teach random pop-ins how to knit/crochet
• take shifts occupying the tent

Contact
Haley ~  info (at) knitomatic.com

Victoria Day Long Weekend Hours

Queen Victoria Crocheting

Victoria Day Long Weekend Hours

Friday      11am to 6pm

Saturday  11am to 6pm

Sunday    11am to 6pm

Monday   Closed

Rikochan Kits Available Online

Do you remember the Rikochan spring/summer wrap we made a few weeks ago? 

We made up some kits and brought them to the Toronto Knitter's Frolic ... 

 ..... now you can get them ONLINE!  Plus, they're on SALE until May 31st!

SHOP ONLINE

Moving Sale!

 Yup, we're MOVING! But not very far, only 2 doors north to 1382 Bathurst St. Still, it's all gotta find it's way to our new home, and when packing, less is definitely more. 

Most of the off-season yarns are 25% off, and most of the staple, year-round yarns and summer yarn are 10% off.  The clearance yarn is an extra 25% off too!  We even have some kits, bags and totes discounted. 

SHOP THE SALE!

Mother's Day Store Hours

Photo: Anniepurls

We will be opening late on Mother's Day, Sunday May 10,  at 1pm, and will be open until 6pm.  Thanks!

NEW Handmaiden Silk Rumple!

For your Spring & Summer textile pleasure, we've brought back an old favourite, Handmaiden Silk Rumple (also know as Swiss Mountain Silk Rumple). It's made from 100% silk, has a silky sheen, and a light, nubbly texture that makes it easy to work with and a delight to look at and wear. The texture also lends a hand in a few other ways; it makes it easier to knit with (there's more there for your needle to grab), and knits up beautifully on a broad selection of needle sizes, which means you can really stretch a skein! We made our Bias Shawl (below) with 7mm/US10.75 needles.

• 100% silk
• 100g/300m (328yds)
• Suggest needle size 3mm/US3, but you can use up to a 7mm/US10.75 because of the texture
• Hand dyed in Canada

SHOP ONLINE

Mieka

• Pattern from Perl Grey
• 2  skeins Handmaiden Silk Rumple
• 5mm/US8 needles see pattern for details

Bias Lace Shawl (or Scarf)

• FREE Pattern
• 1 skein  Handmaiden Silk Rumple
• 6mm/US10 needles (we used 7mm/US10.75)

Storm Cloud Shawlette

• FREE pattern
• 1 skein  Handmaiden Silk Rumple
• 5mm/US8 (or larger) - 32" (or longer) circular needle

More Madeline Tosh Merino Light & Merino DK

New Madeline Tosh

A new shipment just arrived from Madeline Tosh, and we just finished getting it all shelved, barcoded and updated online!

• Madeline Tosh Merino Light
• Madeline Tosh Merino DK
• Madeline Tosh Unicorn Tails

Spring Knit-Spiration

I'm super inspired by these spring/summer cardigans designed by Heidi Kirrmaier! I'm even considering ripping back a linen cardi in the works and starting again as one of these. According to Heidi, if you purchase both patterns (either together or if you bought the other one previously) you will receive 40% off the second one.

They are worked from the top down, entirely seamlessly, and are suitable for a knitter with some experience with top down knitting. The instructions comprise only a few repetitive elements, so it’s easy to find your knitting rhythm. 

Fine Sand

Yarn: Louet Euroflax Sport or Cascade Ultra Pima or Cascade Ultra Pima Paints
Needles: 3.5mm/US4 needles (see pattern for details)

Quick Sand

Yarn:  Quince & Co. Kestrel

Needles: 5.5mm/US9 needles (see pattern for details)

NEW Madeline Tosh Unicorn Tails

Photo: madelinetosh

Madeline Tosh Unicorn Tails

madelinetosh Unicorn Tails are the perfect yarn for granny squares, fair isle, or adding an accent colour to your project. Unicorn Tails are a mini version of Tosh Merino Light, a 100% superwash merino wool, single-ply fingering weight yarn. Each incredibly soft hank is hand-dyed in small dye lots. 

• 100% Superwash Merino Wool
• 12g/ 47m (52yds)
• Fingering Weight
• 2.5mm/US1.5 to 3.5mm/US4 needles
• 6.5 to 7.5 sts per inch on 2mm to 2.75mm/US 1 to 2
• Machine wash in cold water, lay flat two dry

     Available Online & In Store

Photos: madelinetosh

Unicorn Stripes Scarf

• 4mm/US6 needles
• Madeline Tosh Unicorn Tails: 16 to 17 skeins (the pattern uses 30 skeins, but that is based on colours)

Photo: purlbee

Colorblock Handwarmers

• FREE Pattern
• 3.25mm/US3 & 2.75mm/US2 double pointed needles (or 12" circular needles)
• Madeline Tosh Unicorn Tails: 1 skein in colour A, B, and C, 2 skeins in colour D.