We’ve put up the tree, made the first batch of mince pies and had the first snowfall of winter. Pollok Park in Glasgow was looking particularly spectacular in winter conditions. Pollok Park is an amazing place - there's an award winning museum and art gallery, a beautiful stately home with gardens, miles of paths through the woodland, cafes, a farmer's market every month, and even a herd of Highland Cows. All free to access, and literally over the road from my house! 
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We’re so lucky to live in a big city with all the benefits that come with it, and also have a huge country park literally across the road. Best of both worlds for sure!

And here’s a bump pic for this week too, this week I’m sporting my Burrell Sweater. It’s a lovely comfy oversized sweater perfect for cosy winter wear when the snow’s falling! I was a bit sceptical about oversized, cropped sweaters initially but I’m a huge convert. I knitted my first one – Tentsmuir Sweater when I was postpartum with my preschooler and genuinely it was the most flattering sweater ever. 

Now for the knitting news! ​This week I’ve been chipping away at my latest cardi with Eden Cottage Yarns Lowther Lace and Titus 4ply. I finally got the shoulders finished - normally I’m quite good at sneaking in a bit of mindless knitting here and there, but it’s much tricker when you actually need to focus! The lace here is a little fiddly and the increases at the inner edges of the fronts and for the armhole shaping made it even spicier. I do love knitting lace, but I'm definitely enjoying how fast the stocking stitch section is now!

From the back, you can see the zigzag transition from the lace a bit more clearly. I’m thinking about calling this pattern Brocken Spectre. It’s an optical illusion you see in the mist sometimes at the top of a mountain. It’s just your shadow really but it looks like a figure in the fog. I was thinking that the zigzag at the top of the stocking stitch with the airy lace on top looked like mist on the mountaintops. Let me know what you think!

My pre-new year’s resolution is to keep this blog up to date a bit more, so here’s my first weekly update! I reckon if I start now then I'm more likely to actually keep going with it when January rolls around...

​First off, for anyone who’s seen me in real life in the last few months this isn’t exactly news, but I posted my first bump pic on social media this week! The ultimate WIP:

 I’m due at the start of April, another little girl. I’m going to need all your suggestions for cute baby knitting patterns. And words of advice for carrying on a business with a baby and a preschooler roaming the house! The cardi in the picture is my Courie In Cardigan - "Courie In" is Scots for "snuggle up", seems pretty apt to me!

​I finally finished off my sweater in gorgeous Zakami Cashmere Aran yarn this week, here’s a wee sneak peek:

 This yarn was sooo luxurious to knit with, I have fallen completely in love. They also have the same fibre blend in dk, fingering and laceweight so there will definitely be more Zakami Yarn in my stash in the springtime! The pattern is in the works so anyone who’s looking for a test knitting project should keep their eyes on my social media! I’m still deliberating over a name for this one, all suggestions gratefully received. It was loosely based on my Lochnagar Top, but I’m not sure if just calling it Lochnagar Sweater is too lazy? Let me know what you think!

Aaaand, when one project finishes another begins! I’ll be holding together stunning Eden Cottage Yarns Lowther Lace in colourway “Ink” and Titus 4ply in colourway “Penine Mist” together for a fluffy, lacy, snuggly cardigan for the winter months – pure luxury. ​

The Lowther Lace is a gorgeous blend of Baby Suri Alpaca and Silk – it’s maybe just my opinion but I think this is fluffier and softer than mohair silk lace. The Titus Fingering is a merino silk blend with amazing shine - love how the shine of the fingering and the fluff of the lace look together. 

​Here’s how it’s looking so far – just the back shoulders at the moment. ​

If you like the lace pattern you can also find it in my Aonach Cardigan and Suilven Hat and Cowl. I’m going to pick up stitches at the shoulders and work down the fronts, joining at underarm. The lace will finish in a bit of a zigzag design before working most of the body in stocking stitch. 

The Littletheorem Knits Black Friday Sale is here, with all my patterns 50% off with  so I’m highlighting some of my favourite patterns to tempt you all!

Burrell Sweater is a super simple, oversized cropped sweater that’s maybe the most flattering garment I own. Super comfy, super cozy and looks amazing – your wardrobe needs this!
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The Burrell Collection is an amazing museum and art gallery in the middle of Pollok Park in Glasgow. Truly a world class museum in an enormous country park – it honestly feels like you’re in the middle of the countryside complete with forest, Highland Cows and a stately house with manicured gardens. And the best part is it’s a minute’s walk from my house, we’re living the dream!

A stunning shawl with an unusual and beautiful stitch pattern, Beinn Ghlas is perfect gifting material too with Christmas just around the corner. This light and airy shawl will definitely become a firm favourite. There’s include instruction for two sizes. The smaller size only uses around half a skein of yarn, making it super quick to knit. The larger size still uses less than a skein of laceweight yarn, but is a little more luxurious to cuddle up in!

​Bracklinn is a super cosy sweater with cute button details at the side of the body. I knit this when my wee one was just a newborn for breastfeeding, but this is perfect winter wear for anyone. Who doesn’t love buttons?
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Inspired by my Bracklinn Crop, it’s the same lace design and yoked construction, but in a chunkier yarn. It’s top down, totally seamless and available in nine sizes. After we work the beautiful lace yoke, we work the front and the back of the body separately down to the hem – with buttonholes on the front panel and buttons on the back. We then work the sleeves down to the cuffs. We also include instructions for a buttonless version if preferred.

​Maybe the cutest hoodie of all time? Hoodiesaurus is a simple garter stitch hoodie with a twist – spines! I designed this for my baby daughter but I think the appeal is universal so I graded it for adult sizes too. Instructions are given for 17 sizes from newborn to 150 cm/60” chest. I've included instructions for optional waist and sleeve shaping, and for two sizes of buttonhole if you don’t like toggles.

​Strathclyde is a gorgeous, extra long cardigan with a cosy double moss stitch shawl front and an intricate cabled design – can you believe it's already a year since this was released? Slipped, twisted stitches in the cables are designed to look great in handdyed yarn. It’s a top down, totally seamless cardigan with ¾ length sleeves. Both written instructions and charts are given for all the cable patterns, and it has instructions for 8 sizes to fit a 75 – 150 cm/30 – 60” bust.
This is the sister pattern to our Strathearn Cardigan. Strathearn is a beautiful part of Scotland that we visited often before the pandemic hit. I knit the bulk of this cardigan during lockdown so the name is for somewhere a bit closer to home – Strathclyde.

​Tentsmuir Sweater is a super simple oversized cropped sweater that’s maybe the most flattering garment I own. Super comfy, super cozy and looks amazing – your wardrobe needs this!
 
Tentsmuir is a beautiful pine forest near where I grew up - we always try to go back for a visit every autumn when it’s looking its best. It’s always filled with the most amazing mushrooms, and it feels like you’re in a forest from a fairy tale! The name seemed totally fitting for this deep green sweater – the yarn colourway is even called “Pines”.

​Liathach Cowl, a stunning mohair silk cowl with an unusual and beautiful stitch pattern. This light and delicate cowl will definitely become a firm favourite. This shawl is a full 40 cm x 150 cm/16” x 60” but uses less than 50g of yarn, making this super quick to knit – perfect for gifting with Christmas just around the corner!
 
Liathach means “the grey one” and is an imposing mountain in the North of Scotland with spectacular spire -like pinnacles. We climbed it on a foggy day and it was like scaling the outside of a cathedral surrounded by mist, unable to see the ground. An unforgettable day and an inspiration for this airy grey cowl.

My Garabato Cowl pattern is live! It's a mohair silk cowl with an unusual and beautiful stitch pattern. Measuring 38 cm x 140 cm/15” x 55”, so big enough to wrap around twice, using less than 50g of yarn, making this super quick to knit – perfect for gifting! For those of you reading this as it's hot off the press - there's a 50% coupon code valid until midnight on 10th April 2023 - it's GARABATO50.

I knit this up for my sister for her 40th birthday, I'm so lucky to have so many family and friends who like to receive handknitted gifts. I've been really loving lace mohair recently - I absolutely fell in love with the stitch in my Liathach Cowl and I'm planning a cardigan with a similar stitch pattern. I'm going to knit an oversized cropped version of my Dairsie Sweater with laceweight mohair and some 4ply silk yarn from The Urban Purl, hopefully to be released this Autumn. 

In case anyone's interested, here's the gritty details!
Suggested Yarn: Black Elephant Yarn Lace Mohair (72% mohair, 28% silk) 420 m/460 yds per 50g skein.
Colourway: Silver Lining
Meterage: 336 m
 Yardage: 368 yds
 Dimensions (Metric):
38 cm x 140 cm
 Dimensions (Imperial):
15” x 55”
Needles: 5 mm/US 8 80 cm/32” circular needle or as required to achieve gauge. We recommend sharp lace needles if using laceweight mohair.
 Gauge: 11 sts and 20 rows = 10 cm/4” with 5 mm/US 8 needle in garter stitch after blocking
 Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, marker for end of rnd, blocking wires, pins and blocking board for finishing

I've got a few test knits running at the moment too with spaces spare. On the left is my Dairsie Aran Cardigan and in the middle is my Pollokshaws. They're running in my Ravelry Group at the moment, but if you can't use Ravelry then click the contact button on my homepage to get in touch. On the far right is my Pollokshaws Cardigan which is coming soon, should hopefully be up to test this week sometime. Keep an eye on my instagram to find out when!

And on the needles this week is my Spring Snowfall Sweater. I'm absolutely loving knitting this up. Narrow twisted cables on  reverse stocking stitch just look fab in my opinion. Love how well they pop against the background. And the yarn from Black Elephant is just sublime! It's their Winter Fade in DK yarn and I am in love!!

A busy week here for test knits! I had a bit of a chance to catch up on my pattern writing backlog and this is the result! Two new test knits this week and two coming very soon.

The first is an aran weight sweater with the same cable design as my Caisteal Sweater. This one's a little more fitted and cropped than Caisteal and the cable pattern's right by the hem rather than in the middle of the body. The cables are elongated with extra yarnovers introduced and dropped with every round. There's still lots of spaces left but it is quite a tight turnaround - the deadline's at the end of April.

The next is my new Pollokshaws Sweater - this one's filling up fast so if you're interested please head over to my Ravelry group asap! It's knitted in 4ply yarn with a similar lace pattern to my Bracklinn Crop - except where the Bracklinn Crop has gathered stitches that take 3 stitches in and put 3 stitches out, this takes three stitches in a puts five out, making the increases in the yoke. There's options for long and short sleeves too so a perfect transitional garment.

Two more test knits are coming very soon too! My Dairsie Aran Cardigan is an aran weight version of my fingering weight Dairsie Cardigan and Pollokshaws Cardigan is a cardi version of the Pollokshaws Sweater/Tee shown above. All the test knits run in my Ravelry Group, but if you don't use Ravelry you can contact me using the email button at the bottom of the homepage to get involved.

And on the needles...... a very pretty cabled sweater knitted with a Black Elephant  yarns Winter Fade, really one of the loveliest sets of yarns I've worked with in a long time! Loving how the slipped stitch cables pop against a reverse stocking stitch background - cannot wait until this one is finished! And glad I live in Scotland so it'll still be cold enough to wear it for a few months more!

We've just released our Bracklinn Sweater pattern and had a little extra yarn left over. The mornings have been a little bit chilly here in Glasgow so I decided to knit up a new hat. This took less than two days to knit up and that's while working and looking after a toddler - so super speedy! 

I knitted that Bracklinn Sweater pattern while the wee one was just a new born (I actually started it when I was nine months pregnant) and now she's nearly 18 months. It just goes to show how busy new mums are, not much time for pattern writing!! Although now that her sleep's settled down I'm getting a bit more done in the evenings, that first year sleep deprived year just went past in a blur! The Bracklinn Sweater buttons up the sides for easy breastfeeding (or medical device access), although we give instructions for a button free version too. It's available in nine sizes to fit bust 30" to 62", it's top down and totally seamless and knits up super quickly in gorgeous Illimani Yarns Amelie. It's inspired by our Bracklinn Crop - which might be a better option for those in a climate warmer than Scotland!

But that's enough shameless promotion of the paid -for sweater pattern!! Here's the instructions for the free hat pattern:

Suggested Yarn: Illimani Yarns Amelie
Colourway Grey (56% silk, 40% alpaca, 4% merino) 150 m/164 yds per 50 g skein:
One skein required 150 m/164 yds
 
Dimensions 
Size S (M, L)
Circumference: 51 cm/20.5" (58 cm/23", 64 cm/25.5")
Height before decreases 17.5 cm/7" (20 cm/8", 22.5 cm/9") 
 
Needles: 6 mm/US 10 dpns/75 cm/30” circular needle for magic loop or as required to achieve correct gauge, 5.5 mm/US 9 dpns/75 cm/30” circular needle for magic loop.
 
Gauge: 14 sts and 20 rows = 10 cm/4” in stocking stitch with 6 mm/US 10 needles after blocking.
 
Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, one stitch marker for end of rnd.

Notation
k: knit
p: purl
st(s): stitches
rnd: round
CO: ​cast on
pm: place marker
k2tog:  knit the next two stitches together
yo: bring yarn over needle
3-3 gather: k3tog without slipping them off the left needle, then yo, k3tog into the same three sts. Slip the 3 sts off the left needle

Lace Pattern
Rnd 1: *k1, yo* to end of rnd.
Rnd 2: *k1, drop yo from previous rnd* to end of rnd
Rnd 3: *3-3 gather* to end of rnd*
Rnd 4: *k1, yo* to end of rnd
Rnd 5: *k1, drop yo from previous rnd* to end of rnd

CO 72 (81, 90) sts using a knitted cast on or your preferred method. Join in the rnd ensuring sts are not twisted and pm for beginning of rnd.
Rnd 1: k1, p1 *k2, p1* to last st, k1.
Repeat rnd 1 13 (15, 17) more times for 14 (16, 18) rnds of ribbing.

Now knit every rnd for 5 (6, 7) rnds.
Work lace pattern for 5 rnds.
Knit for 3 (4, 5) rnds.
Work lace pattern for 5 rnds.
Knit for 5 (6, 7) rnds.
Hat should measure 17.5 cm/7" (20 cm/8", 22.5 cm/9")  from cast on edge. If you prefer a longer, slouchier hat then just knit every rnd until desired length is achieved.
​Now work decreases as follows:
Rnd 1: *k7, k2tog* to end of rnd.
Rnd 2: knit
Rnd 3: *k6, k2tog* to end of rnd
Rnd 4: knit
Rnd 5: *k5, k2tog* to end of rnd
Rnd 6: knit
​Rnd 7: *k4, k2tog* to end of rnd
Rnd 8: knit
Rnd 9: *k3, k2tog* to end of rnd
Rnd 10: knit
Rnd 11: *k2, k2tog* to end of rnd
Rnd 12: *k1, k2tog* to end of rnd
Rnd 13: *k2tog* to end of rnd.

Cut working yarn leaving a 25 cm/10" tail, thread this through all the remaining sts to secure them, pull tight and sew firmly into the inside of the hat. I like to sew over the little hole at the top a couple of times before weaving in the loose end on the inside of the hat.

​Block if desired and you're ready to go!

Here's one last picture of  our Bracklinn Crop pattern that inspired it all!!

It's time for the first ever Fasten Off Yarn Along! It's a huge knit along/crochet along with a ton of indie designers taking part. Set up in response to Ravelry's issues with accessibility, this is an entirely off-rav even so that everyone can take part in a knitting and crochet event in the run up to the festive season.

You can search for all the patterns that are included here - they're all available at a 25% discount with coupon code FO2020. You can submit your finished items to a database (the form is here) to be in with a chance to win a ton of knitting/crochet related prizes! There's chat too over at the discord server here.

Here's a wee taste of some of my patterns that are on sale:

All the patterns here on the website are actually on sale for Fasten Off 2020, just use coupon code F02020. It's valid in our Etsy shop and Ravelry store too.

I'm obviously getting involved too!  I've just bought the beautiful pattern for Forest Floor Socks from The Conscious Knitter. The pattern has instructions for sizes from baby to adult XL - I'm going to knit the baby ones for my wee one. Off to cast on now, I think these are going to be super super cute!!

The Indie Design Gift-A-Long is here!

If you haven't taken part before, the gift-a-long is basically a giant knit along/crochet along on Ravelry in the run up to the festive season. It begins today with a sale on over 4500 independently designed knitting/crochet patterns from 250 designers. Use coupon code giftalong20 from today until 30th Nov - you can find which patterns are eligible here.

It's more than just a sale though, you can post your projects on the forums to be in with a chance to win prizes - as well as getting your fix of knitting chat! That carries on until the end of December.

Normally I try to knit quite a few things getting ready for Christmas (last year I made a whole batch of bunbuns as gifts) but this year things are a bit different with a newborn. She's not keen on napping unless I'm cuddling her, so not much knitting is on the cards. However I am going to try to make myself a pair of handwarmers - my hands have been getting chilly pushing the pram! I'm going to try to knit these gorgeous Ridgeview Mitts by Kerriknits Designs. I have some super bright coral yarn that would be perfect!

I need to mention though that this is all based on Ravelry and unfortunately they still have not fixed their accessibility issues. For those of you who can't access Ravelry at the moment, not to worry! There's an alternative which starts up tomorrow, I'll be posting more info then!!

We’ve just released our Steall Shawl knitting pattern. It’s a quick knit that’s mainly garter stitch with a stunning lace design that’s much easier than it looks. Plus there’s a video tutorial for it! This is designed for a gradient miniskein set of 4ply yarn, but it would work perfectly with leftover odds and ends of sock yarn too. There’s detailed instructions for customizing it for different sizes and numbers of colours.

The pattern is similar to our Bracklinn Crop so I named it after another Scottish waterfall. The Steall Waterfall is found in Glen Nevis, a stunning beauty spot near Scotland’s highest mountain. The colours match with a waterfall theme too!

You can purchase this pattern here on this website, on Ravelry or on Etsy.

Use coupon code STEALL50 before 19th Nov 2020 for a 50% discount.

The lace pattern looks super complicated but it's actually very straightforward, here's a short video which shows how it's done:

Here's the nitty gritty details for the pattern:
Yarn: River Knits BFL 4Ply Mini. (100% British Bluefaced Leicester Superwash Wool) 5 mini skeins – 80 m/88 yds per 20 g miniskein.  Colourway – Turquoise Gradient.
We will refer to the five colours as MC, CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4.
Total meterage – 390 m.
Total yardage – 430 yds.
Yarn substitution guidance – you could use five colours of any leftover 4ply/fingering/sock yarn, 20g each, or any 400 m/440 yd skein of 4 ply/fingering/sock yarn.
 
Dimensions
One size – 30 cm x 130 cm/12” x 52”.
 
Needles:  4.5 mm/US 7 straight needles.
 
Gauge: 18 sts x 25 rows = 10 cm/4” in garter stitch after wet blocking.
 
Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, blocking board, blocking wires and pins.

We’ve just released our Glen Shiel Cardigan knitting pattern! It’s classic cardigan with a pretty lace pattern and a cosy shawl front. The lace pattern is simple and straightforward, and it knits up fast with DK yarn and larger needles. This is a perfect winter warmer – one you’ll want to snuggle up in every day! Available in eight sizes to fit bust from 30 – 60”.
 
This cardigan is worked in one piece from the hem up to the underarms, then stitches are divided and we work the two fronts and the back separately, then we rejoin fronts and back with a three needle bind off at the shoulder. Pick up stitches round the armhole for sleeves which are worked flat and seamed, and to finish off pick up stitches round the front of the cardigan for a shawl collar. Shown in size 85-90 cm/34-36” on a model with 34” bust.

Here's the nitty gritty details:
Yarn: Wool and the Gang Sugar Baby Alpaca (100% Baby Alpaca 116 m/127 yds per 50g) DK weight
Colourway: Margaux Red
Meterage 850 (950, 1125, 1290, 1500, 1690, 1930, 2150) m
Yardage 935 (1045, 1240, 1420, 1650, 1860, 2130, 2365) yds
 
Dimensions (Metric)
To fit bust: 75-80 (85-90, 95-100, 105-110, 115-120, 125-130, 135-140, 145-150) cm
Across Back: 40 (45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75) cm
Length Armpit to hem:46 (46, 49, 49, 52, 52, 55, 55) cm
Upper Arm Circumference: 30 (35, 35, 40, 40, 45, 45, 50) cm
Sleeve Length 48 (48, 51, 51, 54, 54, 57, 57) cm
 
Dimensions: (Imperial)
To fit bust: 30-32 (34-36, 38-40, 42-44, 46-48, 50-52, 54-56, 58-60)”
Across Back: 16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30)”
Length Armpit to hem:18.5 (18.5, 19.75, 19.75, 22, 22, 23.25, 23.25)”
Upper Arm Circumference: 12 (14, 14, 16, 16, 18, 18, 20)”
Sleeve Length 19 (19, 20, 20, 21.5, 21.5, 23, 23)”
 
Needles: 5 mm/US 8, 100 cm/40” circular needle, set of 5 mm/US 8 DPNs or spare 5 mm/US 8 circular needle
 
Gauge: 16 sts and 26 rows = 4”/10 cm in main lace pattern after blocking.
 
Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, holder or waste yarn for holding live stitches.
 
It’s available on Etsy, Ravelry and here on our website.

We’ve also got a fab test knitting opportunity!

Dip in the Lily Pond is a pretty hat pattern in an unusual stitch pattern. A versatile knit with a wide range of sizes from newborn to adult large, and three colourwork options letting you create beautiful and unique hats for every occasion. Perfect for using mini skeins or leftover odds and ends of sock yarn too! The pattern uses dipped stitches which look just like waterlilies, hence the name of this pattern.
 
To find out more, visit our group on Ravelry. If you’d like to test knit but you’re avoiding Ravelry due to their ongoing issues with accessibility, please get in touch via email. Go to our homepage and click “contact” at the bottom of the screen.
 
For current test knitters, here’s the tutorial video: