Louisa Harding ushers in Spring with a dreamy palette of sugary pastel tints, iced with sparkly sprinkles, and her particular fondness for avant-garde designs accented with the flowy essence of feminine styling.  Each season, Louisa chooses a kick-off point for her inspiration which leads to her choice of yarns and colour scheme, as well as the mood for the photography (the man behind the lens is her talented husband, Stephen). 

This Spring is no exception to the rule with her latest collections inspired by her very own flower garden, Aster, Marguerite, Dahlia, and Delphine-  

Eletta in Mulberry Silk

A powdery pink vision of loveliness knit in Mulberry Silk, an ultrasoft silk highlighted in the Aster Collection.

Blanche in Nerissa and Sari Ribbon

A frothy milkshake delight, knit in Nerissa, cosy cotton chenille, and Sari Ribbon, returning after a long hiatus, both scrumptious yarns featured in the Dahlia Collection. 

Evie in Ondine

Strawberry fields forever, knit in Ondine, a pure cotton enhanced with a subtle tweed effect from the Marguerite Collection. 

Hilda in Delphine

Radiant in rose, knit in Delphine, an all-new cotton tape introduced for Spring in the Delphine Collection.  

Edith in Delphine

Bubblegum pink rocks this fringed tunic top, knit in Delphine, with ten ombre shades to choose from, in the Delphine Collection.

With a clear blue vision of Spring just a calendar page away, these last few weeks of frosty fingers seem almost an eternity.  If flip flops and sunscreen are not on your shopping list for the coming month, maybe transforming your home into a haven of soft, cosy comfort will do the trick. 

Dig out your knitting needles and have a browse through the Top Ten Home Decor Projects, for some inspiring accessory ideas to warm up your nest.

Malabrigo Book 3

Extra large floor pillows knit in Malabrigo Merino Worsted, the creme de la creme of exquisitely hand dyed wool that currently includes a mouth-watering range of well over a hundred shade choices- ‘hollyhock’, ‘pollen’, and ‘azul bolita’ (shown above).   

Mirasol Book #27

For a dreamy soft landing, this textured pillow embellished with petals is from Mirasol Book #27, and whips up in a weekend.  Knit in chunky Sulka, a superb blend of merino, silk and alpaca.  ‘Paprika’ (shown above).

Debbie Bliss F/W 2011 Magazine

Safari prints are a big trend in home decor, and Debbie Bliss tames the wanderlust by bringing zebra stripes right to your fireside with a thick and cosy rug knit in a double strand of Rialto Aran, extrafine merino superwash.  Pattern available in Debbie Bliss Fall/Winter 2011 magazine. 

Debbie Bliss F/W 2011 Magazine

Its The Year of The Tiger, and what better time to express your wild side with an exotic trio of knitted pillows.  From the Debbie Bliss Fall/Winter 2011 magazine, knit in Rialto Aran. 

Tip:  If you lose your momentum halfway through, just finish the pillow backs with a matching fabric panel.

Elsebeth Lavold Sugar & Spice Collection

Brighten up your spirits and your dining table with a knit runner in a zesty shade of Spring green.  Knit in Bambool, a fresh mix of bamboo and wool from Elsebeth Lavold.     

Pear Tree Yarn

A multi-purpose felted pot, ideal to cover a vase of fresh flowers, to hold your knitting needles, or as an everyday catch-all.  Knit in Pear Tree Supersoft 8 ply, an exclusive Australian merino in a dozen natural colour choices including ‘grass’ (shown above).

Debbie Bliss S/S 2012 Magazine

Go for coffee and cream accessories, in this clever design from Debbie Bliss, place mats with cutlery pockets moss stitched in Eco Aran and embellished with dotty fabric panels.  Check out Debbie’s brand new Spring/Summer magazine for these and other home decor ideas.    

Debbie Bliss S/S 2012 Magazine

Save those cardboard tubes from rolls of giftwrap, they make a sturdy base for these knitted napkin rings.  Another blissful idea featured in the Spring/ Summer issue on store shelves now.  Knit in Eco Baby, an organic cotton, and just one 50g ball makes all four rings.   

Elsebeth Lavold Sugar & Spice Collection

Diffuse your lighting with a cotton covering knit in a pinwheel design.  A touch of  Swedish inspiration from Elsebeth Lavold in her latest release, the Sugar & Spice Collection.

Debbie Bliss S/S 2012 Magazine

Lighten up a sunroom or get ready for a season of relaxing on the porch with these lovely zigzag lace pillows knit in Eco Aran from Debbie Bliss.  A pretty border is knit separately and sewn around each edge.  Add a scrap of cotton fabric as the lining in a contrasting colour to really show off your lacework.

Perhaps it was the invention of the wheel, that truly opened our eyes to the everyday presence of objects without straight edges.  From the moon to the sun, and the multitude of planets in between, circles exist all around us, unexpectedly appearing in nature, and as functional yet exquisite man-made components in architecture, or inspiring us as soothing elements in artwork.  The word ‘circle’ originates from the Greek word, ‘kirkos’ meaning to bend or make a turn.   

This Spring, circular motifs are one of the biggest trends in knitwear, taking the fashion highway from straight to curvaceous-

Circles in Nature

Droplets of rain hitting the water, illustrate the endless cycle of nature.

Sirdar #9544

Catch the breeze and feel refreshed in this swirly summer vest, an intriguing design worked in four pieces to create the illusion of an endless loop.  Knit in Calico DK from Sirdar, a cool and comfy blend of cotton and acrylic with three new shades, charcoal, taupe, and bottle green.

Concentric Circles

Sirdar #9564

Crop Circles

These striking patterns are a mystery, created most often during the night by the flattening of crops such as wheat, barley, and rye.  Ninety percent of all crop circles occur in Britain and explanations are varied.  Could it be a natural weather phenomenon, paranormal activity, or simply a man-made hoax?  Whatever the reason, they are fascinating to look at, and great inspiration for design.

Sirdar #9508

The circular theme resonates once again in this dressy cropped cardigan enhanced with bobbles and leaves.  Knit in Simply Recycled DK, an earth friendly mix of cotton and acrylic from Sirdar with three new shades in stores now, slate, denim, and marigold (shown above). 

Children’s artwork inspired by Wassily Kandinsky, a Russian painter well-known for his abstract work, created a series of circles within squares in the 1920′s. 

Katia Degrade Sun

A bold crocheted motif is effectively applied against a background of knitting and highlights the boho beach vibe, a fun cover-up from the Katia Sport Collection #69.  Knit in Degrade Sun, pure Egyptian cotton dyed in a lively painter’s palette.

Valentine’s Day is the second-largest occasion for exchanging greeting cards with more than one hundred and forty million sent out and that doesn’t even include the assortment packs for kids in the classroom.  Hallmark first introduced Valentine cards to the public in 1913, with heart-shaped outlines, floral designs, doves, and Cupid with his bow and arrows as the central motifs.  Today the industry leader has created fourteen hundred unique designs all for the most romantic day of the year.

Vintage Valentine

Vintage Valentine’s Day cards carry us back to a different time, when life moved along slowly, and handwritten sentiments were lyrical and poignant.  Handmade paper cards first gained their popularity in England, during the nineteenth century where they were adorned with lace and ribbons.  The daughter of a large stationary shop in Massachusetts, Esther Howland, caught onto the idea after receiving a Valentine from a British associate of her father’s.  In 1847, inspired by the tradition, she began her own mass-production of paper cards with lace and floral decorations imported from England.

Enjoy a few vintage verses and Valentine inspired designs from Mirasol, a Peruvian yarn company with heartfelt passion, giving back to the community, by providing schooling and boarding for children in their region.

‘My heart’s a posy, blooming for you.

With love all rosy, fragrant and true’

A wide centre panel of honeycomb cables looks ravishing in ‘Rosa Red’ in this tunic length turtleneck knit in Akapana from Mirasol Book #14.

‘May your fond love in favor shine,

On him who sends this Valentine’

Cherish the Valentine spirit all winter long with a pair of cosy heart mittens knit in Sulka, a dreamy blend of merino, silk and alpaca featured in Mirasol Book #27

‘I put this letter at your door

A token that I love you more

Than tongue can tell or words define

And I want you for my special Valentine’

Revel in the colour of love this month with a softly ribbed cardigan knit in the irresistible Miski, pure baby llama fibre from Mirasol, highlighted in Book #16.

‘Tis a heart of pansy bloom

All made of thoughts sublime,

To you it’s sent to ask a boom

Will’t be my Valentine’

Hearts will be aflutter with the gift of this charming earflap cap from Mirasol Book #17.  Knit in Sulka, a delicately spun chunky mix of merino, silk and alpaca available in twenty-eight subtle shades.

‘I’d be happy

if FUEL be my Valentine’

Show your admiration for someone special with a pair of fingers-free hand warmers, a keepsake from the heart.  Pattern available in Mirasol Book #27.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Needles poised……ready….set……GO!  The London 2012 Olympic Games are just under six months away and your favorite athletes dating back to ancient Greece are waiting to be knit up in time for this year’s exciting summer event. 

‘Knitlympics’is the brainchild of Scottish textile designer and author, Carol Meldrum who has put together an eccentric collection of twenty top Olympians, complete with shiny medals, the all-important torch, a tiny podium, a laurel wreath, and that highly sought after ticket to the most popular sporting event. 

Knitlympics by Carol Meldrum

Hot on the sneaker soles of last year’s huge success, ‘Knit Your Own Royal Wedding’ by Fiona Goble, which brought knitters together to create a cast of characters in knitting shop windows in time for the tea parties and early morning nuptials.  This quirky book includes patterns for a lineup of our favorite Olympic icons, including mustache-man Mark Spitz, who won seven golds in Munich ’72, high jumper Dick Fosbury at the top of his game in ’68, Flo-Jo, the fastest female sprinter in the world with two records set in ’88, and Swedish heptathlon Carolina Kluft, one of the golden girls in Athens ’04.  

Olympic Buddies Sebastian Coe & Steve Ovett

Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett in their famous pose after winning gold at the Los Angeles Olympics in ’84.  ‘Knitlympics’ is set to be released in early March with plenty of time to knit your way into the Olympics!

NOTE:  In the latest Spring/Summer issue of the Debbie Bliss magazine, an unfortunate mistake was made.  In the article, ‘Our Canada Visit’, on page 35, Nell mistakenly refers to leaving from the Billy Preston Airport, instead of the Billy Bishop Airport.  Both Debbie and Nell apologize for the error, and meant no disrespect to one of Canada’s great heroes, nor the talented American musician.

Debbie Bliss Spring/Summer 2012

The perfect remedy for a cold day= a hot cup of tea, some biscuits, and a copy of the latest Bliss magazine….

Kids Ahoy!

Seafaring days are not too far-off, with this section devoted especially to little captains and maritime sailors in classic motifs that never go out of style.

Summer Shimmer in Party Angel

Shimmer is back for warm weather days and little lacy knits have never looked more tempting to try.  Knit in a fanciful grey/blue hue from the Party Angel catalog.

Sheath Tunic in Party Angel

Cast on a wispy strand of kid mohair enhanced with silk and metallic thread to knit up this dramatic vine and leaf design.  Knit in ‘chamois’ Party Angel.

Rosy Tone Knits

Heirloom lace gets a modern makeover in deep magenta Rialto Lace, the newest quality from Debbie Bliss, a superfine twist of merino superwash presented in twenty terrific tones.

Simply Stripes

Missoni-inspired chevron stripes are everywhere this Spring!  Six sassy shades in Bella knit up into a roomy slipover with built-in sleeves.

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).