Sunday nights have never been as decadently filled with knitworthy melodrama as they are this winter.  The highly acclaimed British series, Downton Abbey premiered its much-anticipated second season on PBS this month to the absolute delight of loyal fans.  This upstairs-downstairs style drama set on a ficticious estate in North Yorkshire unravels the intricate lives of the sophisticated Crawley family and their servants during the pre-war years.  The ensemble cast includes Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, and Dan Stevens.  Its the richness in the details that appears to have hooked millions of viewers who tune in each week to watch a tapestry of well-drawn characters woven through a historical storyline. 

Tea and biscuits are part of the Sunday night ritual, as knitters gather to watch an hour of what has been dubbed as the ‘hottest show on television’ filled with lavish period costumes, dashing gentlemen, and tangled relationships of love, bitterness and betrayal.  

Sunday Nights On PBS

Inspired by Downton Abbey’s exquisite fashion styling and period costumes, Debbie Bliss highlights some of the Edwardian elements in her latest  collection-

Rialto Lace Collar by Debbie Bliss

Past influence brings this sweet garter and lace collar out of the shadows into a modern era.  Knit in a smoky charcoal shade in the all-new Rialto Lace by Debbie Bliss.   

Rialto Lace Cardigan by Debbie Bliss

Lace knitters will swoon over this elegant cover design from the Rialto Lace Collection by Debbie Bliss.  Ready for Spring 2012, with twenty shades of extrafine merino superwash.  Its project ready for your next knit-a-long.  

Rialto Lace Shawl by Debbie Bliss

A chilly afternoon outing on the Yorkshire moors inspires this vision of loveliness in an ultralight wrap, knit in a divine shade of grey/green Rialto Lace, which deepens subtly as the light changes. 

Rialto Lace Tie Front by Debbie Bliss

Look for this stunning diagonal lace design snipped from the tattered fashion pages of a bygone era.  Knit in a spicy hue of extrafine merino that shines with a remarkable beaded twist. 

More Rialto Lace designs will be featured in the Spring 2012 Debbie Bliss magazine arriving at your LYS in early February.  

“Wear a wool hat on a cold day or forty percent of your body heat will escape though your head.” How many times have you heard this expression and wondered if it really is fact or fiction.  Mmmh…possibly a ‘hat trick’ devised by a frustrated mother standing at the front door with a handful of winter headgear in her hands.  Apparently this piece of hat wearing advice dates back to a 1970′s survival manual printed for the U.S. army.  But on days when the thermometer dips into the minus double digits, do you really want to take time to re-think the urban legend?

Have a look at some of the latest trends in hats-

Murmur Beret by Louisa Harding

The history of the ‘beret’ dates back to the Bronze Age, primarily worn by artists and aristocrats.  Now its one of the most prevalent hat styles thanks to an adjustable fit, easily shaped to either side or pulled to the back.  A big winner with those who want to avoid ‘hat head’.  Murmur Beret by Louisa Harding is knit in Millais, a rustic wool blend, in fourteen tweedy shades.

Malabrigo Book Three

Purl ridges add pizzazz to this face-framing style knit in Malabrigo Merino Worsted.  A weekend project and what could be more lovely than starting off a new knitter with a skein of this luxurious hand dyed merino wool from a palette dripping with colour.  Simply irresistible with one hundred and twelve choices.

Kissed Happiness by Louisa Harding

Look for this retro beauty, an enchanting addition to your winter wardrobe, in a delicious pairing of two sister yarns from the Louisa Harding Collection.  Grace Hand Beaded is the ultimate fantasy yarn in a mixture of silk, merino and glass beads, while Grace Hand Dyed accentuates the positive with patina and sheen.

Diamond Luxury Collection #1478

The ‘cloche’ is a close-fitting bell-shaped hat originally designed in 1908 by milliner Caroline Reboux.  Flattering shorter hair lengths, the cloche grew in popularity during the 1920′s when cropped cuts were all the rage.  Today it has re-emerged as a fashion favorite, featured in the Diamond Luxury Collection Booklet #1478, knit in Galway Highland Heathers, a worsted wool in twenty-nine melange tones.

Saffron Beret by Louisa Harding

Twists and twirls accent the Saffron Beret, knit in Willow Tweed, a slubby silk, merino and alpaca mix from Louisa Harding, offered in twenty-two shades of elegance.

Sublime Book #656

The Floribunda Flower Hat knit in Lustrous Extra Fine Merino DK has extra fullness to compliment all face shapes.  Urban chic for the younger crowd.

Viking Book #1110

The ‘slouchy’ hat, caps off our list as the hat of the season.  Spotted on celebs in Aspen and on the streets of L.A, its a cross between a floppy beret and a ski toque.  Knit in natural undyed alpaca from Viking Garn, and right on trend with a fairisle motif.

Colour forecasters were right on target when they dubbed ‘teal’ as the hottest shade for this winter.  Intensely vivid, moody, and far more sophisticated than its sister shade (turquoise), this fusion of blue-green reminds us of the continuous circle of nature, the residual remains of day transitioning into night, the mystery of the ocean depths, and the beauty of a cold, cloudy winter’s sky.  A restorative hue, inspiring reliability, and trust in our surroundings, creating a sense of spiritual awareness. 

This season teal perks up the sombre shades in our winter wardrobe, as a complimentary colour it adds a warm spark to black, brown, charcoal and navy.   

Teal Feather by Malabrigo

Teal it like it is- 

Juniper Slipover by Louisa Harding

As restful on the eyes as waves rippling against the shoreline, from the Absinthe Collection by Louisa Harding.  This Juniper Slipover is knit in Willow Tweed, a merge of merino and alpaca with a creamy slub of silk available now in twenty-two watery hues.   

Baby Alpaca Glimmer by Diamond Luxury Collection

Apres-ski anyone??  Keep shoulders toasty warm while sipping cocktails at the chalet.  Baby Alpaca Glimmer from the Diamond Luxury Collection adds subtle elegance to this cosy wrap knit in a springy lace rib.  (Forest shown above). 

Loveliness Slipover by Louisa Harding

A vision of loveliness from Louisa Harding, in this season’s Three Graces Collection.  Grace Hand Beaded and Grace Hand Dyed float together in a simple sideways design that embodies the opulence of glass beads and the luxe combination of silk and merino.   

Kutama by Mirasol

Dip into your Crayola box for a pop of colour to chase away the winter blues.  This stunning cable coat is knit in Kutama by Mirasol, a blend of alpaca and highland wool fully loaded with body and drape.  Available in sixteen shades.  (Emerald shown above).     

Diamond Luxury Collection #1478

Looking to accessorize your winter wardrobe with a touch of teal?  Have you noticed slouchy hats are everywhere?  Try this stylish charmer on for size, knit in Diamond Luxury Collection’s Fine Merino Superwash DK, and available in more than sixty shades.     

Boyfriend Cardi by Louisa Harding

Cables add surface interest and extra length to this classic style cardigan from Louisa Harding.  Knit in Millais, a 50/50 blend of wool and acrylic in a bulky weight, available in fourteen delicate tweeds.  (Peacock shown above).  

Log Cabin Baby Blanket by Universal Yarn

Break away from pastels, this Log Cabin Baby Blanket revs up the norm with a contemporary colour palette.  Knit in Patchwork  by Universal Yarn, an easy care worsted weight yarn in eleven soothing colourways.  (Earth and Sea shown above).

Paloma Scarf by Debbie Bliss

Squishy, scrumptious Paloma by Debbie Bliss, is this season’s cold weather comfort.  Shake off winter’s chill in a downy blend of baby alpaca and merino, available in sixteen solid and melange tones.  (Teal shown above).

By now most of us have had a sprinkling of wintry weather, a few flakes on the car as an early morning surprise, and a snowy coating on the peak of the roof, its inevitable and the only way to combat the elements is to layer on the warmth from head to toe. 

Did you know our favorite winter accessory, the ‘scarf’ owes its humble beginnings to pilgrims in Medieval France?  Originally known as an ‘escarpe’, and worn as a diagonal sash, it was used as a carry-all by beggars to gather money and food along their travels.  It wasn’t until the 1800′s that a muffler, or neck wrap evolved into a scarf and became a vital winter accessory for both men and women.  The popularity of the scarf may have dipped during the last century, but today it is back on top again as the number one knitting project in North America, and the most popular handmade gift item under the Christmas tree. 

Here are the Top Ten Scarves for Fall/Winter from Diamond Yarn, in a wide array of fresh fashionable styles-

Paloma Scarf by Debbie Bliss

The ultimate splurge, a plush scarf to wrap around your neck once, twice, why not make it three times, since it measures in at more than seven feet long.  Paloma from Debbie Bliss is a soft and squishy blend of baby alpaca and merino wool, available in sixteen dreamy shades including this season’s favorite- ‘teal’

Double Crosser Scarf by Universal Yarn

Cable enthusiasts will fall for this Double Crosser Scarf from Universal Yarn’s winter design collection.  Self-striping yarns are still the cat’s meow and Classic Shaded has sixteen purrfect examples to feast your eyes on, including- ‘harvest’, ‘sundown’, and ‘sapphires’ (shown above).   

Sampler Scarf by Sublime

A sassy scarf with lots of substance, in a frost-busting shade of pure merino wool, and super easy to knit.  This sampler scarf is worked in bold blocks of garter stitch and moss stitch, every beginner’s favorite combo!  Check out the massive range of eye-popping colours in Extra Fine Merino DK .

Odisea by Katia

A sporty and stylish scarf to wear indoors or out, just one of the many that Katia has designed this season in mega-size yarns like this one- Odisea, a softly spun wool mix in eight luscious colourways to whip up in no more than an evening on 9.00 mm needles.  

Brushwood by Pear Tree Yarns

Pure and natural, that’s the aesthetic behind the boutique-style company called Pear Tree Yarn.  They produce the finest merino from Australia and focus on sustainability first and foremost.  Opt for a practical classic like this cabled scarf  knit in Supersoft 8 Ply, offered in a dozen lovely opaque shades including- ‘fig’, ‘apple’, and ‘emu egg’.     

Paprika Scarf by Louisa Harding

Passionate about pink and all things girly??  This flirty scarf will turn up the thermostat in a jiffy, knit in Thistle from Louisa Harding, delicious suri alpaca swirled with merino, a yarn that is guaranteed to keep you insulated from the cold this winter.    

Joy in Ruby Beaded Scarf

If you’ve been saving up for a special yarn treat, Grace Hand Beaded from Louisa Harding has come along at just the right time and is showcased beautifully in this picot edged scarf.  Glass beads add a splurge of opulence to silk and merino, in eight shimmery shades including ‘champagne’, ‘frost’ and ‘ruby’ (shown above).

Clove Scarf by Louisa Harding

A divine composition of colour and detailed stitchwork from design master  Louisa Harding, in her ultra feminine Clove Scarf.  Choose your palette of colours from Thistle’s full range of eighteen.  

Park Avenue by Katia

Fall for this delightful gossamer scarf, as wispy and light as fairy wings, Park Avenue from Katia is the first of the self-ruffling family to add the essence of kid mohair and its causing quite a stir in the knitting community.  

Bambu Boa by Diamond Luxury Collection

Bamboo and wool go together like bread and butter to create this unique self-ruffling scarf.  Bambu Boa is a new quality from Diamond Luxury Collection, warmth combined with elegance wins every time.