I Wish I Was an Octopus: Chunky Knits

As usual there are so very many things out there that I want to knit and only two hands with which to do this. The saving grace this time of year though is chunky yarn. Chunky yarn creates beautiful, quick knits that will keep you cozy warm during these frosty winter months.

I finished off my Sonder Shawl by Helen Stewart a couple of weeks ago which I have been wearing non-stop since. This was the last pattern in her Shawl Society collection and it's knit using The Fibre Co. Tundra and I just love it. It's actually the only pattern in the collection that I've managed to knit so far despite having yarn set aside for at least two of the other patterns. I am inspired to knit up another of these shawls, as Dani of the Little Bobbins podcast knit up her Sonder Shawl and then attached TOFT alpaca pom poms instead of tassles to her shawl! Now I need a version like this, so I'm thinking Petrel with black pom poms. Totally doable in the next week of so, yay!

Helen has several great quick knit pattern in Tundra, including the Ice River Hat and Cowl from her Knitvent collection last year. Or if you want something a bit different I love Julie Weisenberg's Stranded Cowl. I made a version of this using Tundra and Knightsbridge last winter, then made one for my sister as well. There are several version on Ravelry using Malabrigo Rasta as well. Then there is the einter Nordlándda collection by Rachel C. Brown. Super cute cable hats that will knit up quickly and make great gifts for either yourself or loved ones. 

We've just added Mrs. Moon Plump Superchunky to the shop, which is a soft, smooshy chunky yarn. Great for a cute bobble hat for kids or adults. My plan was not to knit any Christmas presents this year but now I'm tempted to whip up some hats for my little cousins as I could make something from Tilly's Hat Snood and Mitts Set. I'd also really like to get better at crochet (one of my personal goals for 2017) and Mrs. Moon has some great crochet patterns for this yarn. Hmmm...

Malabrigo Rasta is the ultimate of the chunky yarns. It's a Super Bulky, 100% merino hand dyed in both some lovely semi-solids and some crazy variegated colourways. I've made a Red Rasta Cowl in this yarn already and I love it but I've been eyeing up the Bushwick hat pattern as I really want a big warm funky hat for the winter. Maybe in Baya Electric and Whale's Road? or Laguna Negra and Plomo? So many choices, how is a girl to choose!?! Or what about the cheeky Julie Weisenberg pattern Smitten - it's a two handed single mitten design so you and your loved one can hold hands and stay warm. 

 Ok and totally not on the chunky front but something I want to cast on immediately nonetheless is from the Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life revival that Netflix released last weekend. I don't know about you but I was quite excited to sit in my jammies with my knitting and binge all four episodes. I was then blown away by a couple of the scarves featured on Paris and Rory in the first episode and even more blown away when I found out they were handknit in The Fibre Co. yarns and the patterns are available on Ravlery! Paris wears Eponymuff in Road to China Light while Rory is wearing Dots n Dashes knit Knightsbridge. What colors to use? I've got a few ideas, so I'll at least stash some yarn for these and then hopefully find some time to knit one over the Christmas holiday.

As usual too many awesome things I want to knit and too few hands and too little time, though I do have a glimmer of hope in getting some of this accomplished this month as it is mostly chunky projects.

Happy Making!

-Carmen