On Bainbridge Island in Washington there exists an iconic yarn store called Churchmouse Yarns and Teas. I’ve never been but I hear it’s just a great place to visit. Years ago, they began distributing their simple house patterns to other yarn stores. I was a holdout for a long time, because their patterns are pretty simple and I always thought, “Well, I could write a pattern for that, why buy theirs?” But of course, I didn’t have the time to write the patterns and other things became more of a priority. This year I decided to stock some of their patterns, and I just love them! They are beautifully photographed by Jared Flood (of Brooklyn Tweed fame), printed on heavy card stock in full color, and they are time-tested, classic, well-written patterns. Having a library of these patterns means that there is always something wonderful to make with those beautiful yarns that you just had to buy, even though you weren’t sure what to do with them.
We’ve knit or crocheted several of them:
Clockwise from lower left: Color Play Mohair Scarf, Crocheted Baskets, Easy Folded Poncho, Crocheted Moebius Cowl.
Janet has knit the Reversible Cable Scarf and is teaching it this fall. I’m working on their Simple Straight Skirt in Debbie Bliss’s new yarn Milano in a color that will coordinate beautifully with the poncho or the color play scarf.
I could be swathed in handknits from neck to knees!
Anyway, I want to show you two of the projects above. The Easy Folded Poncho really is easy, classic, and absolutely lovely in Shibui’s Cima (yummy alpaca/merino laceweight) held together with their Silk Cloud (shimmery laceweight mohair/silk). It has elegant drape, luxe fabric, and an optional cowl neck (to me, this isn’t optional, it’s a must!)
You can make it in a basic color like Suit, Ash, or Mineral
or pop it with Pool, Poppy, or Lime:
I modeled it as best I could:
then Virginia helped me out, and looks so good!
This is a fabulous travel project – lots of plain old stockinette (still a pleasure with such wonderful fibers) – and it’s also a lightweight, packable, versatile travel piece. Add a beautiful shawl pin at the collar and it’s dressed up and ready to go out in the evening.
I also loved making the Color Play Mohair Scarf (which can be made wider and become a shawl as well). I used four balls of laceweight mohair/silk blends, mostly Cascade’s Kid Seta, but a little Silk Cloud as well, just to get colors I liked. Holding 2 strands together, you combine colors and change as you go:
so, yes, again, lots of stockinette but also fun because you want to see what comes next. It’s another good travel project and a great accessory that can be styled many different ways. Marci Frey modeled our shop scarf (and I love these colors against her green tee).
then chose these colors for her own scarf:
It’s gonna be fabu! Come get yours!
