A Knitter's Visit to Brussels, Belgium! - Yarn Journeys Episode 26

This episode recaps a trip to Brussels in Belgium. We visit two awesome yarn shops as well as take in the beautiful city and Christmas time decorations. As always, I also do a show and tell of my latest projects.
//Patterns Mentioned:
Glittering Snowscape Shawl by Stephen West ‪@StephenWest‬
www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Montpellier Slipover by November Knits
www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Cynar Hat by Thea Colman (Baby Cocktails)
www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
//Sewing Pattern Mentioned
Matcha Top by ‪@SewLiberated‬
sewliberated.com/products/the...
//Yarn Shops Visited
Atelier Moondust
Avenue Georges Henri 328
Brussels, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale 1200
Belgium
ateliermoondust.com
Haberdashery (Mercerie) La Tulipe
Chau. d'Ixelles 143
1050 Ixelles, Belgium
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My Ravelry Profile: www.ravelry.com/people/YarnJo...
Instagram: / yarn_journeys
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[@beverlythompson3246]

Thank you Melanie for another fabulous video. Your vest/ Slipover looks so warm and cozy! Beautiful footage of Brussels- thanks so much for sharing!

[@YarnJourneys]

Hi Beverly! I’m so glad you enjoyed the video!

[@carinanderson8239]

Thanks for another great video, Melanie! I have always wanted to visit Belgium, it is a beautiful country. I have been seeing that blown yarn in my ly shops and was hesitant to try it, but seeing your beautiful vest has changed my mind. It looks lovely and warm. I look forward to seeing your finished colorwork hat, I love colorwork. I have never tried Life in the Long Grass wool, but Aine, of Fraoch Knits uses it alot and it seems to knit up beautifully. Your Stephen West shawl is looking gorgeous, I can't wait to see it done.

[@YarnJourneys]

Hi Carin! So glad you enjoyed the episode. If you do try the blown yarn, let me know how you like it!

[@isabellemichaud6926]

Hello Mélanie,
Thank you for this lovely visit to Bruxelles and its historical buildings and yarn shops. Being there during the holiday season must have been quite a treat.
I live in Québec, Canada and the blown yarn you showed is something I'm familiar with as we get a lot of european brands sold in our LYS. Drops has a few examples of it in their Air and Wish and Sky base and so has Isager (Eco Soft), Rowan (Alpaca Classic) and CaMaRose (Host). That Montpellier Slipover has been added to my favorites and your comment about the structure of the cowl using blown yarn has been duly noted. I ,recently made a Dickey (Snuggle Neck) with Air and I used 4.5mm needlesfor the ribs. I wanted the fold to remain standing up, I made sure my tension was tighter that usual, and as it was already requiring twisted ribs, it turned out alright.
The colorwork tuque you've been knitting is made even better with the yarn you chose. It too will go in my Favorites. And what better way to remember a trip then by knitting with yarn you brought back with you. I'll be looking forward to traveling vicariously with you in your next episode. Thank you for bringing us along.
I felt your pain when you mentioned the border on Stephen West's shawl! I made two versions of the Shawlography MKAL (What was I thinking, right?) and those bloody stripe borders just took f-o-r-e-v-e-r...twice! I used a modified version of the "Weavin' Stephen" I found on Very Pink Knits (Knitting Help - Weaving ends as You Go) and it saved my sanity.
PS: Did you mean the Magritte Muséum when you referred to the big green apple on top of the building ? He is a national treasure in Belgium and his art was featured in the 1999 version of The Thomas Crown affair with René Russo and Pierce Brosnan. I think I'll watch it again tonight while I'm knitting on my current project...thanks for the inspiration!

[@YarnJourneys]

Hi Isabelle! I am so glad you enjoyed the video. The Thomas Crown Affair with Brosnan and Russo is one of my favorite movies of all time! So steamy! And 30 years ago I worked at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC so it’s fun to see the scenes there. And yes, the apple is on top of the Magritte Museum which is attached to the Musee des Beaux Arts. The whole museum is a Renee Magritte retrospective, although the most famous of his work is elsewhere. It is interesting to see all the influences and stages of his creativity. Thanks for the tip to check out Very Pink Knits on weaving in ends!

[@holliegiampietro7030]

❤❤❤TU