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23/7/2015 0 Comments Linen cowl for all seasonsI've just published a new pattern on Ravelry for a new cowl/infinity scarf. The pattern is called Matchstix. It is knit in the round with dual colour stripes and a textured loop stitch feature. It uses one skein of 100% DK linen yarn in Denim and one skein in Lagoon.  It can also be worn wrapped round twice for a snugger fit under a jacket for cooler weather. Linen is a thermo-regulator, which means that as well as keeping you cool in the summer, it also keeps you warm in cooler weather. Total circumference 118cm, 20cm wide.  For more details on this pattern, please go to our patterns page.
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12/7/2015 0 Comments Linen: ideal for light summer topsI have just finished making a light summer top out of our 100% linen 4-ply yarn (Pale Slate) This project took 3 x 100g hanks.  Knit on 3.75mm needles for a lighter, more airy stitch, it is closer to sport weight/5-ply yarn in gauge. Linen is quite versatile in hand-knitting in that you can easily change the way your stitches look by changing the needle thickness. You have more scope with gauge than with some other yarns. The appearance of stitches before washing is quite bumpy and irregular, as in this photo of the work in progress.  Once washed, the stitches relax and take on a much neater, more regular appearance, as you can see in this close-up below of the same piece. People are sometimes afraid of knitting with a certain fibre because they think it will shrink or stretch. Once linen has relaxed after its first wash, it doesn't shrink or stretch, if looked after properly. However, you do have to bear in mind when knitting a garment that you could gain a little in length and lose a little in width (around 5%) once the fibres have relaxed with their initial wash. The Pale Slate colour way is pale grey with hints of lilac. The plain stitch enhances the flecks of colour.  The linen has a lovely drape and although I only knit 2 rows of garter stitch along the bottom edge, it doesn't roll up and the raw neck line doesn't roll either.
You can also see this project on Ravelry. Linen is naturally resistant to fungus and bacteria - and that is why it is used in medicine. For example, if we want to get a bit scientific, the flax cell is highly compatible with the human cell, and because of its compatibility, the human body can completely dissolve the flax cell making it suitable for the purpose of being used as natural internal sutures during surgery. These strings gradually dissolve within the organism. It is also used in bandage dressings. According to Japanese medical research studies, bed-ridden patients do not develop bedsores when linen bed sheets are used. Pure linen also resists bad odours. For example, linen insoles absorb surpluses of moisture in the internal surfaces of footwear, a feature that serves to suppress harmful micro-organisms, bacteria and fungi, which, if allowed to develop, would produce unpleasant odours. No doubt you have noticed how your wash cloth or dishcloth starts to develop a nasty smell after a day or two? This is simply due to a build-up of bacteria. I used to knit cotton face cloths, and these invariably started to smell unpleasant as they dried. I have now replaced them with 100% linen wash cloths. Not only is the linen a natural gentle exfoliant for the skin, but also I have noticed that they last a lot longer before developing any odour, and they dry out faster than cotton. For this application, linen is a much healthier option than cotton. I have just posted a new linen wash cloth pattern on our free pattern page. It features a dandelion flower stitch, which looks fabulous in linen. It is made with one of our DK multi-colour yarns, Pink Ice. Click here to see the Dandelion Linen Washcloth pattern. Click here to see the yarn.
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