The transition from winter to spring seems particularly noticeable this year. We are spending more time in our garden, and I’m taking time to notice the changes in the shrubs and trees while I slog my way around the park getting my early morning exercise. Our experiences of early 2020 will vary enormously, but nature is continuing to do its thing regardless.

It seems particularly apt that the latest Mason-Dixon Field Guide should launch today with the theme “Refresh” – focussing on seasonal transition and the perfect knitting to accompany that change. Field Guide No. 14 Refresh contains four beautiful patterns from our great friend, Carol Feller.

Have you revelled in a Field Guide yet? They are such fun little books! Kay and Ann of Mason-Dixon Knitting really know how to make knitters smile, and quite frequently guffaw with a deep belly laugh! The designs they commission with Melanie Falick for the Field Guides are the best of knitting fun – simple but pleasing, allowing you to make garments and accessories that you reach for again, and again, and again.

Refresh is no exception!

Let’s dive in to the fabulous designs, and marvel at the way Carol puts together textures and constructions…

All other projects are abandoned to the UFO* corner. I need to cast on for this cardigan today!

Featuring cable panels running up the sleeves into a saddle shoulder construction, as well as on the back, this cardi will be a wardrobe staple from the moment you finish casting off. In fact, I am prepared to bet that large numbers of you will be so keen to wear this beauty, that you won’t even bother to weave in the ends.

You know who you are – end ignorers!

*UFO stands for UnFinished Object in this context!

But honestly, I can’t blame you. I’d want to get out and show off my finished cardigan too. Or perhaps just wear it while video calling my knitting friends. No-one can see those unwoven ends unless you show them… Just saying!

If you aren’t in the zone for a larger project, then how about the Arcade Cap?

This cute beanie with arching cables, is the perfect taster project for the Stolen Stitches Nua yarn that’s used in all of these designs. Using just 1-2 skeins depending on size, you can sample the delights of this tweed-ish blend of merino, yak and linen. The fibres each take dye differently, with the yak adding a tone of warm grey to each colour, and the depth and interest of even simple fabrics made with Nua is just beautiful.

I’m going to struggle to decide what to cast on first!

Whether you already enjoy cables, or fancy giving them a try for the first time, the Twining Wrap is going to be a fabulous project for you.

This is the sort of project I would frequently spread out on my lap as I knit in order to fully enjoy how good it’s looking. Those cables really do pop off the surface, don’t they?

And finally, layers are the way forward at this time of year, so the Trellis Top is a great addition to your trans-seasonal capsule wardrobe. Whether you wear it over a linen shirt, or my favourite, a striped long-sleeve T-shirt, this piece is going to be great fun to knit, and so easy to wear.

As well as a neat button-finish down the sides, this top uses one of my (many!) favourite techniques: i-cord. The neck and body are finished with an applied i-cord edging as well as i-cord buttonholes. I absolutely adore the polished finish that i-cord gives projects. It’s straightforward to do, but just ups your finishing by a whole level. If you haven’t tried working an i-cord edging, then definitely give it a try. It’s understated and beautiful.

Field Guide No. 14 Refresh costs £15.00 and you’ll find the yarn requirements for all of the patterns on the book’s page in our online shop. You will also find plenty of Stolen Stitches Nua in stock so that you can cast on for your favourite project straight away! Use the code LOVENUA for 15% off when you buy 5 or more skeins of Stolen Stitches Nua.

The code is not valid in conjunction with any other offer, and will expire at the end of April 2020.

I’ll be back next week with some progress on my blanket knitting, as well as those colourful socks. In the meantime, I hope you have as restful a weekend as possible, with a little knitting if you fancy it.

We are still shipping orders from our online shop. To keep things manageable, we are only shipping on Mondays and Thursdays (next week only, we will ship on Tuesday and Thursday due to the holiday). I am the only person going to the office, and I can do the whole process by bicycle without having any contact with another human. I am taking full hygiene precautions before packing orders. We will of course review this regularly.

UK orders are shipping with our normal service, and free shipping now kicks in at £50 (rather than £100 as it was previously).

For international orders, we are now only shipping with a tracked service. We know that this makes orders more expensive, but it seems like the right thing to do in the face of the current situation. We have set up a discount code for free worldwide shipping when you spend over £150.00. Use the code LOVEYARN at the checkout, or click this link to apply the code to your cart: LOVEYARN

This code is not valid in conjunction with other offers (so if you are buying Nua, then check whether you are better using the code LOVENUA or LOVEYARN). Both codes will expire at the end of April 2020.