McCafferty available
McCafferty is now available to download on Ravelry.
A huge thank you to our fantastic test-knitters! 
Filed under: knitting | 16 Comments
langdale
Another new design from Lily. This is Langdale named after the Langdale valley in Cumbria.
Langdale is knitted from the top down in one piece. It has seamless set in sleeves and a cute nipped in waistline. Lily isn’t sure if the hem will be staying. There’s still a chance that detail will change.
You can’t see from these photographs but the textured detailing is on the shoulder too. Although the Sublime Organic Merino DK feels just gorgeous, the slight fuzz does obscure the pattern a little.
Lily is hoping to write up the pattern pretty soon but school starts on Friday so things could get a little busier from then. In the meantime, I’m thinking of knitting a Langdale for myself.
Filed under: home, knitting | 39 Comments
Tags: knitting
spring garden tee
Pattern: Spring Garden Tee by Alana Dakos at Never Not Knitting
Yarn: Sirdar Baby Bamboo in the Ming colourway. 6 balls.
Needles: 3mm and 3.25mm.
Modifications: None
This was a sample knit for Alana’s trunk show. A quick and very satisfying knit: Lily would definitely recommend this pattern. Be warned though if you use this yarn – it takes an absolute age to dry after blocking!
The photographs were taken Hawkshead village square and I’m sure the locals thought we were quite odd!
Filed under: family, knitting | 17 Comments
Tags: hawkshead, knitting
at last
Just a few shots of a fantastic day.
The wedding was truly lovely.
Thank you so much everyone for your thoughtful and inspiring messages.
Filed under: family, home | 10 Comments
Tags: family, wedding
matrimony
We’re a cheesy bunch up there aren’t we. Sometime around 1978 I think. My siblings and me. That’s Steven on the left and David in the middle. Playing in the heather and streams that day seems like mere weeks ago now but David is getting married on Friday so I guess it must be a little longer!
It’s been a very hectic week so far and there’s no sign of it slowing down just yet. We are all running on adrenaline trying to sort all that last minute wedding stuff. The last 24 hours have been a mad mix of collecting bridal gowns, designing and printing seating plans and even some fudge making tonight for evening guest favours. It is crazy but somehow very satisfying too.
I am so looking forward to the day. It’s been such a long time coming. In fact, for what seemed an age I thought it would never happen. When my Nana died a few years ago it left a huge gap in all of our lives but especially David, who had lived with her and my Grandad for some time. He met Karen, his bride-to-be very soon after this and it is his firm belief that my Nana played a part in her arrival in his life. I am inclined to agree. Karen is a kind and lovely person and I know that my Nana would have loved her too.
I intend to use my camera to the absolute max on Friday. I’m really hoping that I manage to record the day in a relaxed and comfortable way. You know those shots that fall right in between the professional photographer’s? Lily is a bridesmaid so it just has to be fun! I’m hoping I’ll be able to put together a photo journal of the day with messages from family and friends, but I would be so, so grateful for any quotes, traditions, messages, or just general words of wisdom that you could help me out with. I think that would make for a unique wedding present don’t you?
Would you help? I would love to be able to hand them something with thoughts from all over the globe. Even if you’ve never commented before. In fact, especially if you’ve never commented before. I would love to hear your thoughts – and I’m sure they would too.
Over to you.
Filed under: family, home | 18 Comments
Tags: family, wedding
McCafferty
Named for Gemma who gave me this gorgeous hand spun yarn for my birthday last year, McCafferty is Lily’s second shawl pattern. It was designed whilst we were in Ireland and I finished knitting the sample last week in Silverdale. I have picked up this yarn so many times and just hadn’t been able to find the perfect pattern to do it justice. It has fantastic colour gradients from oatmeal through grey to vibrant gold shades. I am oh so pleased with how it turned out.
The main body of the shawl is garter stitch with a perpendicularly knit border. I found it a quick and easy knit and thought it was just perfect to show off the yarn’s subtle colour changes.
We’ll be looking for a couple of test-knitters for McCafferty but would really want quite a quick completion – early September if possible. If you would like to give it a go then do leave us a comment.
Filed under: home, knitting | 49 Comments
Tags: knitting, knitting pattern
can’t wait won’t wait
So we’re back from Ireland. An absolutely stunning place but oh so very wet and very expensive! I’d love to able to show you photographs of the stunning scenery, but the Irish mist seriously hindered any attempts at anything more than snapshots. We just had a brief 5 days at home before packing the caravan to come to Silverdale today. We have Joel’s friend Andrew with us so all next week Lily and I will be free to knit while they go adventuring on the site! Lily couldn’t even wait for the van to be set up before casting on so started whilst sat in the car in the pouring rain. More rain.
For knitting, I have brought a shawl and Austin with me. Yes I am still working on Austin. I know I’ve said it before but seriously – never underestimate how much time it’ll take to knit a hood!
An update on Wray. Test-knitting is about to commence so fingers crossed that all goes well with it. Lily is already working on a new design for the autumn too so watch this space!
Filed under: family, home, knitting | 18 Comments
Tags: knitting
que sera
Pattern: Que Sera from Kirsten Kapur at Knitty.
Yarn: Araucania Nature Cotton in Aqua.
Needles: 4mm and 5mm circulars.
Modifications: Used chunky yarn so reworked figures for a different gauge.
Added waist shaping via moss stitch side panels.
Knit 3/4 length sleeves.
Made 9 buttons holes rather than the stated 5.
Started back in May, Lily knit a good part of this whilst we were in the Lakes, but school took over in the last month so it’s only just been finished. Lots of modifications as even the smallest size was way too big for her using this heavier than recommended yarn.
The hem, cuffs and button band are knit in a moss stitch pattern and Lily incorporated a panel of this stitch down each side to allow her to add waist shaping.
Shorter sleeves and extra buttons (necessary to avoid gaping because of the tighter fit) complete the Lily-style modifications and she is very pleased with the end result. The perfect holiday cardigan for our trip to Ireland next week!
Filed under: family, knitting | 39 Comments
Tags: knitting
big smile
And without further ado, the winner of my Cumbrian goodies competition is……
Comment number 82. That’s Lisa at Stitching under Oaks.
Congratulations Lisa! I’ll be e-mailing you for postage details soon. I do hope you’ll enjoy this little taste of Cumbria!
Filed under: home, knitting | 6 Comments
Tags: knitting
freebies
Regular readers will know that Woolfest weekend means giveaway time here at Joli House.
In the past I have indulged myself picking prizes whilst actually at the festival, but I’m doing things a little differently this year. We’re trying to keep a vaguely Cumbriam theme to the prize so with this in mind have been picking little bits up over the past few months.
Included in the package will be:
2 100g skeins of Cumbrian Wools Wenslydale Aran. This is handspun by Linda in Ambleside.
1 skein of Rainbow sock yarn is autumnal shades, hand-dyed by jan and Cecilia of the Woolclip in Caldbeck.
1 skein of Rowan kidsilk haze in Cocoa.
1 large handmade button from Cumbria-based Amanda Mercer
1 copy of Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles – Dave somehow managed to buy this for me and then buy it again the year after!
1 copy of Lily’s shawl pattern, Levens.
I’m sure a few sweet, edible items will find their way into the package too.
I have previously asked readers to answer ridiculous questions in exchange for entry into our little competition, but this year I am going to be kind and all you need do to enter is make a comment on this post between now and midnight (GMT) on Sunday 11th July.
If you can remember how you found Joli House and feel like letting me know then even better.
Filed under: family, knitting, woolfest | 104 Comments
Tags: competition, knitting
