Before I start my conversation, I do have some sad news. An upset on my web page caused my subscriber list to disappear. I have set up a new subscription form on my blog page and, if you would like a notification of new posts, you will need to resubscribe. Thanks for supporting me!
My goodness, this month has flown by! I am always surprised at how fast the end of summer goes by but this year it seems to be exceptionally speedy in passing. The weather has been so lovely for so long that it feels like winter is still far away but sadly it is not.
For those of you (and I include myself here) that have not yet started your winter gift knitting, it is now or never! I have a few easy free patterns on Ravelry that may help you out. You can click the link to the patterns or check out my store to see what else I have been up to.
The first and my favourite quick, quick, quick and easy pattern is the Simple Shawl. This is a basic sideways knit triangle that, worked on large needles, can be completed in four hours. I am a pretty speedy knitter but the large needles really slow me down.  I can still finish one of these in that time. I try to use a bulky or textured yarn that shows well in the simple garter stitch pattern. The large needles give it an airy texture and show off the yarn. You will need from 135m to 150m to make a nice size triangle. Try overlapping and wrapping it for a cozy cowl look if a shawl is not your thing.
Speaking of cowls, my next suggestion is my Quick and Easy Garter Stitch Cowl. Again, big needles and yarn are what make this such an easy pattern to knit and result in a soft and squishy cowl to keep out the cold. It is small enough to fill in the neck of your coat without wrapping it around a couple of times and still soft and stretchy enough to pull up over your nose on those really nippy days; you prairie people know what I am talking about! You will need less than 100m for this one so it is a great way to use up those odd skeins in your stash. If you have a couple of complimentary yarns in a lighter weight, try doubling them up for a uniquely yours look.
       
Now that you have taken care of the necks on your list, try out my Combo Hat.  It combines crochet and knitting for a really warm hat to keep out the winter chill. The band is knitted in a twisted stitch faux cable and the crown is crocheted with two colours. It is really pretty and still a relatively quick make that requires a little more skill.
Next week I will have a new scarf pattern for you that uses up the part skeins in your stash that you are saving but don’t know what to do with. In the meantime, happy crocheting and knitting and thanks for reading.