First, let me show you the PHM jacket on its intended recipient.

I was so happy to finally wrap this up and hand it over. I’m relieved it fits and he seemed to be tickled by it. Exhale.

My friend Michelle keeps giving me the gears because I didn’t charge him for the hours I spent working it. Honestly, in the beginning, I wanted to make it. That’s why I offered. I obviously didn’t know what a pain it would be. But now it’s over and I never have to make another if that is my choice. And that is my choice (right now).

MOVING ON…

I traveled to PEI for the seventh time a few weeks ago. I love PEI so much – the feel of the place is just so… GOOD. I don’t know that I can find the right words to describe how it is for me when I go there.

Enchanting
Amusing
Full of wonder
It feels spacious
I feel content
I feel ease

I could honestly go on. But I wrote a whole article on my Substack if you’re interested: “My Island Love Affair”.

Cause I know you’re here for the knitting, let’s get on with it. Right?

I feel like all I’ve been talking about is that jacket… actually, I have. But I’ve had a few other projects on the go, albeit small ones.

I tested two mitten patterns for my friend Mary with yarn I had in my stash. How perfect!

The first are my favourite! I’m trying to convince her to give them a fancy name. Don’t you think they deserve a fancy name? I knit them out of some 80/20 fingering held with some silk/mohair I dyed ages ago. I love these so much I’ve taken out more yarn from my stash to make another neutral pair.

The second pair are the Double Wing Mitts. I knit them out of Lett-Lopi I’ve had in my stash forever. They worked up crazy-fast.

When she releases the patterns, I’ve asked if she would give me a discount code I can provide to the viewers of my podcast.

WHILE I WAS IN PEI, I headed to Fleece and Harmony. I used to go to Belfast MiniMills but they closed their store and only make mill equipment now – which Fleece and Harmony are using. But I wanted my PEI yarn to make my PEI Jennifer Steingass sweater like I have the last three times I visited.

This year’s sweater is the Goldwing:

Isn’t it stunning? I love her patterns. This will be my fourth Jen Steingass.

These are my colours:

I love them together. But guys, I’m doubting that pink next to my face. I’m going with it anyway because I only have enough to do the top part of the sweater. My fingers are crossed that I can pull off this colour. And it’s a really fun knit.

Here’s how she’s going:

While I was at Fleece and Harmony, I also got enough yarn (and a bit extra) to make the Spring Tide by Tania Barley. I’ve been absolutely obsessed with this cardigan since the first time I saw it on Instagram.

Here’s the colour I’m going with for the cardi:

This green is so beautiful I can hardly wait to start this piece. I know it will be a labour of love but I’m still very much looking forward to it. (As a rule, I try not to have more than one large project on my needles at one time.)

Just because I needed to work with these colours, I got a few bonus skeins that are not yet slated for a specific project..

While still in PEI, I drove out to Green Gable Alpacas. What a treat that was! I was given a farm tour, got to meet all the alpacas, including that few-days-old cria (I’m pretty sure they called her Grace), and got to have a wonderful chat with the owner – who happens to be from Ontario.

Obviously, I got yarn. I haven’t decided what this will be yet, but I’ll take suggestions.

That’s it for the yarn I purchased in PEI.

But I spun a lot while I was there – batts made by my wonderful friend Michelle from Au Fil des Jours.

I eventually moved on to Nova Scotia. I started a new pair of socks with yarn I got from a variety store in Antigonish, NS. This store had a wall of Briggs & Little! So fun.

And because I had run out of fibre to spin, I headed over to Ma’s Wool Co and got more. Unfortunately, I never got around to spinning in Cape Breton – I was too busy looking for lighthouses.

Then I stopped in Sydney, NS. Mostly it was to check out Tracy’s Rolling Yarn Shop – a shop that started as a yarn truck but is now also an amazing brick and mortar. I immediately clicked with the owner, Tracy. We sat and had a long chat. I left with a vase I fell in love with that she had hooks in, a hug and talks of bringing her and her yarn truck to Cornwall. Stay tuned for that.

Obviously, I bought some yarn there too! On top of the many, many fibre braids from Fleece Artist/Hand Maiden.

Honestly, I’m not sure what’s going on with me and pink right now. We appear to be having a moment.

All in, I feel great about my trip. I had the most wonderful time and feel like I made a few friends along the way.

I DO feel guilty about how much I spent on yarn and fibre. I’m sure I’ll get over it, eventually.

Tell me what you’re working on! I also need ideas for what to make with all this new yarn so share your ideas.

Chat soon!

M

I wanted to leave a note here to let you know that I’ve started writing over on Substack. I’m still Mimimustknit and I still write about knitting there. But I’ve also started writing about other things.

I decided to start writing there because I love the idea that my “essays” get delivered to your email inbox. How cool is that?!

I find it difficult to keep track of all the people I want to hear from when I have to deliberately go looking for new posts. I LOVE getting the blogs, essays or newsletters delivered right to my email.

If you feel the same, here’s how you can find me. Subscribing to my posts is free. I know there are a lot of paid communities there but mine is free.

I’ll be back soon with an update on my Project Hail Mary jacket.

I’m finally finished writing up this pattern. I’m pretty excited to share it with you.

The vision for this pattern came to me when I visited a friend who lives in a beautiful home on the water. I thought “It would be so nice to have a row of beautiful, chunky shawls that can double as blankets, hanging by the back door ready to grab on your way out on a cool summer evening“. I pictured a rustic hand-made “coatrack” with three or four of these, in natural shades, hanging around, waiting for their wearer to head outside to sit on the back porch or by the fire.

Want a printable version with video tutorial and all the yarn weights? You can grab it on Ravelry HERE.

Materials:
2 skeins of Cascade Eco +
scissors
darning needle

Needles:
I used 7mm needles – no US equivalent is available. I would size down to a US 10.5 in order not to run out of yarn if you’re using the Cascade Eco +.

Dimensions:
The shawl has a wing span of 56″/142cm, knit in a diamond shape and folded in half. Each edge measures 40″/101cm.

This chunky knit shawl is worked in a diamond shape and folded to create a cozy, oversized wrap. It’s a simple increase-and-decrease construction, making it perfect for beginners.

PATTERN:

Tips for Knitting This Shawl: Keep your I-cord tension loose for cleaner edges.

With 7mm circular needle (US 10.75 or 10.5 if the former are not available to you).

Cast on 3 stitches using the knitting cast on.

Work 4 rows of I-cord.

Pick up 3 sts along the I-cord, bring working yarn to the front, pick up three stitches along the cast-on edge. (9 stitches)

INCREASE ROW: *K2, kfb (knit front and back), knit to three stitches remaining. Slip 3 wyif (with yarn in front).

Repeat the increase row until you have 168 sts on your needle.

DECREASE ROW: **Knit 3, ssk (slip, slip, knit two together through the back loop.

Repeat the decrease row until you have 9 sts left (3 I-cord, 3 middle, 3 I-cord).

I-CORD BIND OFF: *knit 2, SSK. Transfer your stitches back to your left needle and repeat two more times, until you’ve decreased the three middle stitches. Now you have your beginning I-cord and your end I-cord. Flip your right needle so that your tip is facing the same direction as your left needle and graft the 3 front sts and the 3 back sts using Kitchener Stitch.

If you make a Wiley Lane Shawl, tag me on Instagram @mimimustknit—I’d love to see it!

NOW, I initially planned to knit a cute lacy number but when I failed to specify that I wanted knitting patterns in my search, I was flooded with really beautiful crochet bookmarks.

I know how to crochet. I don’t know that I could read one of those fancy illustration things… what do they call those? I think it’s a chart just like in knitting, only way fancier. (Am I the only one that thinks they’re so pretty?)

I really don’t know what that gnome is doing in there???!!!

So I scrolled and scrolled through project after project. Then stopped dead when I saw this one:

I. AM. SMITTEN! Honestly, how are there no projects??? It’s SO stunning.

These are the “honourable mentions” in my Favourites Bookmark Bundle:

I was 100% going to make that Pikachu bookmark for my son. He was obsessed with Pokemon growing up. Sadly, this pattern isn’t available anymore. Boooooo! Maybe some day I’ll be able to figure it out without a pattern.

Guess what I did Monday during my lunch hour? I went to Michaels and purchased a really tiny crochet hook and some thread. I haven’t actually started this bookmark because I need to practice this new technique: overlay mosaic crochet. Until about four days ago, I had no idea this existed. So, naturally, I have to make something.

Enter the Mosaic Starburst Square by Erin Toews!

Isn’t she so eye-catching? (How do I insert a heart-eyes emoji dammit?)

This is how mine is going:

Honestly, I’m having a hard time putting this down. (How do I insert an eye-rolling emoji?)

Tell me, where do you stand on the knit vs. crochet bookmark?

Mylène