When I was asked by the gals at Kelbourne Woolens to review their latest book: Kelbourne Woolens Vol. 1, I absolutely jumped at the chance! Not only do I love their patterns, but the yarn that they distribute from The Fibre Company is simply stunning and a delight to work with. (I even used Terra for my latest Free Pattern on the Jimmy Beans Wool site: Ruby Crest Hat and Mitts.)

What was also neat about this blog tour is that all of the participants were asked to pick our favorite item from the book and create a couple of different outfits or "looks" with it using Polyvore. I love that this format was something new and different for us so we jumped at the opportunity!

Now, it seems particularly fitting that I ended up with the Springtime Bandit pattern. Not only is it one of my favorites but I've knit it twice myself. I'd do it again too. I love the pattern!

A while back (a little over a year ago) I led a KAL at Jimmy Beans for the Springtime Bandit. We had just received the Fibre Co. Terra yarn and I was dying for a chance to work with it. It turned out to be one of the most fun knits I've done to date. Since then, several of the gals at JBW have gone on to knit the pattern as well. You can view our projects on the JBW Project Log.

Kelbourne Woolens Vol. 1 is a brilliant collection of designs from Courtney Kelly and Kate Gagnon Osborn (the gals behind Kellbourne Woolens). Some are older designs while others are much newer and in a sense, it's a greatest hits collection. Vol. 1 brings together 11 of their most popular designs in a fully edited and beautifully photographed book. (It's gorgeous! I got to see it in person at TNNA.)

Look #1

I love the re-worked version of the Springtime Bandit which is in a vibrant shade of magenta. I think it works really well with the outfits I've put together for you on Polyvore. If you are on Polyvore, feel free to check these out in my sets.

The first is a work-day style with a gorgeous belted tunic-length top, dark skinny jeans or leggings, and boots (yes, I am lucky enough to be able to wear jeans to work, but you could swap them for nicer slim pants.) I totally wish I had a leather jacket like this. I have tons of knitted accessories that would look awesome with it!

Look #2

My second "look" is a bit more casual. I pretty much live in jeans, t-shirts, and Toms in the springtime. These cute Toms ballet flats with a striped top, cardigan, a cute hat and of course bandit are a winning weekend look!

Ok, so in full disclosure, I am in love with Polyvore now! It's pretty fun to put together outfits and save items you like for later like those cute boots or that leather jacket for example. It's definitely a new source for me to find fun things to pin on Pinterest. :)

Thanks so much to the Kate and Courtney for allowing us to be a part of their blog tour, it's been fun! Jimmy Beans Wool will be getting Kelbourne Woolens Vol. 1 very soon but in the meantime, you can check out all of the patterns on the Ravelry page. Also, be sure to check out the next stop on the tour tomorrow (2/22) with Rohn Strong.

Happy knitting everyone!
Kristen

Want to create vertical stripes of color in your knitting?  Love Fair Isle but feel daunted trying to knit with two colors at the same a time?  Then slip stitches are just the thing for you!  Sometimes called Color Slip Stitching or Mosaic Knitting by some authors, this is an easy technique using 2 or more colors but only one color per row of knitting to create color patterns.

If you've knit a striped project you're half way there and if you've knit a ball band washcloth then you already know how to do it!


The technique can be worked the in the round or flat.

To work a flat practice swatch very much like a ball band washcloth choose two contrasting colors, one light and one dark.

• To begin, cast on normally and work two rows with your dark color.
• Join light color yarn
• *With the light color k5, the next stitch you want to remain dark so slip this stitch purlwise.
• K5 with the light color and repeat slipping the next stitch purlwise.
• Repeat across your row. For simplicity, end with some knit stitches. Turn
• Work back, purling the light colored stitches and slipping the dark colored stitches. Turn
• Work this row with the dark color, K across. Turn
• Purl across. Turn.
• K2, *slip 1 pw, k5,*repeat across. Turn
• Work back, purling the light colored stitches and slipping the dark colored stitches. Turn
• With dark color, K across. Turn
• Purl across. Turn.
•  Repeat from* for as long as you want the swatch to be.

 That's all there is to it!  So between learning how to carry yarns for stripes in last Friday's blog and today, you are all set to knit this month's free pattern by Kristen Ashbaugh-Helmreich, Ruby Crest Hat and Mitts!


 As always if you have questions or comments please send me an email to askTerry at jimmybeanswool.com

Happy Knitting!
Terry