Start Your Fall Knit-Dreaming Now

We’ve been busy here at The Knit Café. Busy – designing patterns, busy – getting out the class schedule which is now ready for your inspection HERE, and busy – stocking up on delicious yarn so we will be all ready for the Fall Knitting Season. It’s coming!

We are stuffed to the gills with Brooklyn Tweed thanks to a nice big order that came in over the last few weeks. Both Loft (fingering) and Shelter (worsted) are resplendent in the shop and fully stocked in the webshop.
Our new batch of Shelter includes Brooklyn Tweed’s new marled colours. They are pictured above.

We also received an order of Madelinetosh. Hooray! See above all the pretty colours of Madelinetosh Chunky; many of which were chosen from Madelinetosh’s Fall Seasonal Colours 2016.

We also received lace weight from Madelinetosh – Prairie.

and Silk Cloud from Shibui.

Mix these two beauties together and what do you get? Sashiko!

This amazing shawl designed by Iwona really shows off what Prairie and Silk Cloud can do when they are combined. Make up your own colour combinations or knit it up in the original colour pallet. Check out the Sashiko pattern HERE.

Are you excited about Fall knitting yet?

Craftily yours
Kristin

 

A Special Exhibit at The Knit Café starts tomorrow!

Roncesvalles’ Polish Festival is tomorrow, Saturday September 19, and Sunday the 20th, and Iwona and I have made a grand display to celebrate.
Many of you know, those who have been along side us all these many years of Knit Cafeing, that it is this time of year that we are preparing to display a knitted art extravaganza for Nuit Blanche. Since our relocation to Roncesvalles puts us out of the loop for this art event we have decided to put all our artistic energies into  a special display to coincide with the Polish Festival. We do hope you will come and see it.

This years display is inspired by Polish Folk Art Flower Motifs found mostly in traditional embroideries. We have made these motifs 3D and squishy! The weather may be getting colder but it is pretty springy  in here.
This picture shows the display from the inside looking out so the word garland in the middle of the display is backwards. It says “witamy” which is the Polish word for welcome.

The display will be up for the month so if you are not around this weekend you will still have a chance to come and see it. The flowers are for sale too if you would like to take one home with you. If you would like to make your own flower then look no further then the Knit Cafe’s↓

Knit Amigurumi  (The Polish Festival Flower Class)
Wednesday September 30, October 7, 7-9pm
see details HERE

The pattern for the flowers will soon be available too!

Also today, we received some pretty Madelinetosh! What a good day!
Above, you can see the lovely array of Merino Light colours now in stock.

..and here are some fresh looking skeins of Prairie, Madelinetosh’s single ply lace weight yarn.

They are worth a visit to The Knit Café too.  See you soon.

Craftily yours
Kristin

What’s Up With Madelinetosh?

Why is it so talked about? So pined for? So worth the wait? Because you always have to wait a bit for this yarn.  The answer to these questions are below in picture form.  For more evidence come into the cafe and give the yarn a squeeze.  For further research on the subject – take some home and knit or crochet with it, but don’t do this if you do not want to join ranks with the Madelinetosh addicts!

We just received an enormous shipment containing:
Pashmina (sport weight) 75% merino, 15% silk, 10% cashmere, 329m, $37
Vintage (worsted weight) 100% superwash merino, 182m, $24.50
Chunky (aran weight) 100% superwash merino, 151m, $24.50
ASAP (extra bulky weight) 100% superwash merino, 82m, $24.50

Colours are order from left top clockwise
Pashmina in Citrus, Sunrose, Tart, Nutmeg, Candlewick, and Leaf.

Pashmina in Georgia O’Keefe, Celadon, Antique Lace, Tern

Vintage in Gilded, Bloomsbury, Maple Leaf, Cousteau

Vintage in Mare, Paper, Ember, Composition Book Grey

Vintage in Fragrant, Scarlet, Smokestack, Coquette, Flashdance.

Chunky in Tern, Jade, Mineral, Betty Draper Blue, Fathom

Chunky in Vintage Sari, William Morris, Calligraphy, Victorian Gothic

Chunky in Citrus, Candlewick and Torchere

Check out these new splattered colours. We love them! This one is  Cosmic Wonder. It’s Chunky weight.

Optic in Chunky

Holi Festival in Chunky

Modern Fair Isle in Chunky

ASAP in Pop Rocks, Courbet’s Green, Coquette, Edison Bulb, Citrus

ASAP in Flashdance, Fig, Cousteau, Leaf

ASAP in Well Water, Silver Fox, Fog. Composition Book Grey, Dirty Panther

Sigh!
Craftily yours
Kristin

Hooray for Maple Leaf!

Maple Leaf, the hand dyed colour from Madelinetosh that is. ↓

It a beauty, eh?

This gorgeous colour of Madelinetosh Vintage (which is a worsted weight, superwash, merino yarn) came with friends.  They just arrived on Friday!

On top: Bloomsbury
Middle left: Leaf, middle right: Nutmeg
Bottom left: Candlewick, bottom right: Maple Leaf again!

Top left: Fragrant, top right: Tart
Bottom left: Manor,bottom middle: Thunderstorm, bottom right: Dr Zhivago’s Sky

and a close up of Fragrant.

More friendlies came in the form of Madelinetosh Merino Light!

Top left: Ink, top middle: Tern, top right: Graphite
Bottom left: Baltic,bottom middle: Nebula, bottom right: Courbet’s Green

Top left: Weathered Frame, top middle: Antique Lace, top right: Molly Ringwald
Bottom left: Sequoia,bottom middle: Vermillion, bottom right: Pop Rocks!

On top: Cove
Bottom right: Opaline, Smokey Orchid

and Fathom and Candlewick too!

This awesome sweater was knit by Carla, who graciously let me take pictures.  We spent a lot of time picking out the colours and I think a pat on the back is in order.  This is the Madelinetosh Merino Light in colours Antique Lace and Pop Rocks.

The pattern is Stasis by Brooklyn Tweed.

It’s a good time to start making your spring sweater in this light weight yarn! Spring will come one day!

Other Knit Cafe projects made with the Merino Light are the Big Wrap↓………………………………………….. and the Soho Scarf↓

So many possibilities…

Craftily yours
Kristin

Mad for Madelinetosh!

Since pictures are worth a thousand words, I’ll just shut-up and show you the goods.  Here are the colours of Madelinetosh that have just arrived ↓

Madelinetosh Chunky

Top Left – Jade, Top Right – Candlewick
Bottom Left – Mineral, Bottom Right – Bloomsbury

Top Left – Graphite, Top Right – Vintage Sari
Bottom Left – Tern, Bottom Right – Calligraphy

Top – Betty Draper’s Blue
Bottom Left – Cousteau, Bottom Right – Fog

Top Left – Torchere, Top Right – Pop Rocks
Bottom Left – Citrus, Bottom Right -Button Jar Blue

The long awaited Tosh Vintage

Top – Terrarium
Bottom Left – Cousteau,  Bottom Right – Mare

Top – Oxblood
Bottom Left – Scarlet,  Bottom Right – Weathered Frame

Top – Composition Book Grey
Bottom Left – Fathom,  Bottom Right – Dr Zhivago’s Sky

Top – Gilded
Bottom Left – Citrus,  Bottom Right – Fragrant

Top – Smokestack
Bottom Left -Charcoal,  Bottom Right – Paper

To add to our incredible collection of Tosh DK we have these new recruits (see old recruits here)

Top – Logwood
Bottom Left – Dr Zhivago’s Sky, Bottom Right – Betty Draper’s Blue

Top – Flashdance
Bottom Left – Earl Grey, Bottom Right – Firewood

Madelinetosh Sock

Left – Jasper, Right – Cosmos

Top – Coquette
Bottom Left – Graphite,  Bottom Right – Smokestack

Top – Mala
Bottom Left – Worn Denim, Bottom Right – Winter Wheat

Here are the specs:
Tosh Chunky, 100% Superwash Merino,  14-16sts/10cm, 5.5mm-6mm,
151 metres, $21
Tosh Vintage, 100% Superwash Merino,  18-20sts/10cm, 4.25mm-4.5mm,
182 metres, $21
Tosh DK, 100% Superwash Merino,  20-22sts/10cm, 4.25mm-4.5mm,
206 metres, $23
Tosh Sock, 100% Superwash Merino,  26-30sts/10cm, 2.25mm-2.75mm,
384 metres, $28
We also have some choice picks of Pashmina – 75% merino, 15% silk, 10% cashmere, 22-24sts/10cm, 3.25mm-3.75mm, 329metres, $32.50

So pretty!
Craftily yours
Kristin

Starting off right! (MT in the KC)

You might not know, but August is the official/unofficial start of knitting season.  Though the weather may be as hot as hot can be, it makes no difference. Thoughts are turning to Fall. New yarns are arriving to fill up the shelves.  Goodies are gathering to be knit-up. We couldn’t of hoped for a better start to the official/unofficial beginning of Fall then a great big shipment of Madelinetosh yarn!!
Everyone’s favourite – Madelinetosh makes beautifully hand dyed yarns that feature excellently bouncy, superwash, merino wool.

There is Tosh DK
206m superwash merino DK, $23

Top left – Butter, top right – Grasshopper,
Bottom left – Luster, bottom right – Worn Denim

Top left – Winter Wheat, top right – Silver Fox
Bottom left – Charcoal, bottom right – Vintage Sari

Top – Dutchess
Bottom left – Oxblood, bottom right – Tart

Top left – Composition Book Grey, top right – Fathom
Bottom left- Clematis, bottom middle – Baltic, bottom right- Gerogia O’Keefe

Top – Tern
Bottom left – Cloak, bottom right – Graphite

There is also a sampling of Madelinetosh Sock Yarn
361m, superwash merino fingering, $28

Top – Graphite
Bottom left – Cosmos, bottom right – Smokestack

Top- Magenta
Bottom left – Espadrilles, bottom right – Edison Bulb

There is Tosh Chunky too!
151m, superwash merino chunky, $21

Top right – Lichen, top left – Betty Draper’s Blue
Bottom Left – Tern, bottom right – Fathom

Top – Victorian Gothic
Bottom left – Opaline, bottom right – Calligraphy

Top left – Graphite, top right – Cove
Bottom left – Mineral, bottom right – Cosmos

Top – Torchere
Bottom left – Edison Bulb, bottom middle – Pop Rocks,
bottom right – Bloomsbury

and there is more… a few colours here and there in various weights to help fill out our colour selections. Look out for some beautiful Prairie lace weight colours, and a smattering of delightful Pashmina, and some additions of Merino Light too.
Another sure sign that Fall is coming: the Knit Cafe’s Fall/Winter Class schedule is almost complete.  Look out for it in the coming days!
Craftily yours
Kristin

One way to beat the February Blues.

Madelinetosh is here!

Pashmina in ↓

nectarbyzantineopalinenutmeglogwoodbalticturquoisegeorgia o’keeffegraphitetart

Merino Light ↓

top: antique lace, middle left: tern, middle right: graphite, bottom left: dried rose, bottom right: rose.

top left: georgia o’keeffe, top right: sequoia, middle left: cove, middle right: moss, bottom left: clematis, bottom middle: ink, bottom right: smokey orchid

top left: vermillion, top right: torchere, bottom left: filigree, bottom middle: candlewick, bottom right: molly ringwald.

top: wash, middle left: ophelia, middle right: norway spruce, bottom left: fathom, bottom right: baltic.

Tosh DK ↓

top: french grey, bottom left: saffron, bottom middle: butter, bottom right: lustre

top: betty draper blue, bottom left: cousteau, bottom middle: oxblood, bottom right: composition book grey.

top: ophelia, middle left: georgia o’keeffe, middle right: fathom, bottom left: cloak, bottom middle: dutchess, bottom right: flashdance.

Vintage ↓

top left: logwood, top middle: fragrant, top right: maple leaf, bottom left: candlewick, bottom middle: bloomsbury,  bottom right: flashdance.

Tosh Chunky! It’s New!! ↓

top: opaline, middle: victorian gothic, bottom left: cove, bottom right: calligraphy

top: torchere, middle: oceana, bottom left: black currant, bottom right: nebula

top: william morris, bottom left: jade. bottom right: mineral

In addition, a whole lotta lace-weight, one ply prairie yarn, it’s here too.  You will have to wait for those pics though.  Good things do come to those who wait.

Craftily yours
Kristin

More Madeline

Madelinetosh has made it’s way to our doors.  Bless the postman who didn’t let a little rain stop him.

Prairie is a single ply, merino, lace weight yarn that costs $26.50 per 768 metres, 840 yards. You see it here in Cove, Oak and Celadon

Molly Ringwald, Graphite and Antler
Morning Dove, Baltic, Window Pane and Mare
Steam Age, Briar, Dried Rose and Ink
Madelinetosh Sock 100% superwash merino 361 metres, 395 yards is $27.  Above see Filigree.

See Manor

See Worn Denim

See Mica

See Turtle

See Bearded Iris

See Magenta

See Espadrilles and see Edison Bulb

See Byzantine

See Cosmos

Madelinetosh Vintage is a worsted weight, merino superwash, with 182 metres, 200 yards for $20. Above is Luster, Nutmeg and Camomile

and then French Grey and Ox Blood

and then Georgia O’Keefe, and Turquoise, and Wash

and then Cousteau and Flashdance and Fathom.

Craftily  yours
Kristin

This is Madness!

This is what is on the table today!

Madelinetosh Merino DK 206 m (225 yds) is $20 ↑

Madelinetosh Merino Light 384 m (420 yds) is $20 ↑

The Madelinetosh Tosh DK was already tucked away in the shelves this morning when I arrive.  18 colours to choose from for all your Honey Cowl needs and still more madness to come.

Craftily yours
Kristin

It’s so much more friendly with two

More of Madelinetosh!
This yarn is called Pashmina. What does “Pashmina” mean anyway?  The word seems to be mired in some kind of identity crisis.  Any old shawl seems to be able to claim the title, but I protest! True Pashmina refers to our friend the pashmina goat and his or her fine cashmere locks.  Madelinetosh Pashmina is 10% cashmere.  The rest is just as good news – 15% silk, 75% merino

I could not resist showing off this yarn in pairs.  It is just too fun to play pallet swapping with these soft and dewy colours.  See them shimmer- that is the silk!
–nectar with moccasin
–mourning dove with tern
–cove with candlewick
–smokey orchid and celadon
Madelinetosh Pashmina is $32 for 329 metres

On Sunday I sent out a reminder of our Baby Sweater Class that is starting on Monday.  I thought you might want to see what you would make in this class↑

This little sweater was made by Iwona who is teaching the class.  Those adorable buttons and the heart shaped embellishment make this little guy extra adorable but you could gussy up this simple sweater however you choose.
PS. It was made with Madelinetosh Vintage

Baby Sweater Class
Monday July 2, 9, 16, 23, 7-9pm
$96, materials not included
to register call 416 533 5648

I will leave you with an extra big shot of the pretty yarn!
Why not?
Craftily yours
Kristin