Friday, April 17, 2020, Issue 144: Is it not spring?

• Posted on 17 April 2020
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in April 2020, spring knitting, summer knitting
• 0

Another crazy weather day out there! We should be gearing up to start our spring or summer knitting and what do we get? It is snowing outside!

We can't let a little snow slow us down! Some summer knitting is just what we need to brighten up our spirits and to give us something to look forward too...That day when we can wear our finished finery again with pride! Rosemary came to pick up her curb side package and brought her new summer top that she can't wait to wear but only after a little sweater surgery!

The pattern is Joji Locatelli's Lounging Top - Fingering version shown above! Rosemary tried it as she went and there wasn't any issue with fit until she bound off the neckband. Now she can't get it over her head! Fortunately it will be easy to undo the bind off and redo the neckband using a bigger needle and a loose bind off. She knit it Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light as the pattern suggests.

She is especially proud of the way she was able to add subtle striping added to add the final length because she was worried she would not have enough yarn.

Anker’s Summer Shirt by PetiteKnit is worked from the top down. The yoke is worked in sections of rib with increases in the round, followed by classic raglan increases when the stockinette stitch section begins. The sleeves are worked at the end, either on double-pointed needles or on circular needles using the Magic Loop technique. Anker’s Summer Shirt has no finishing other than weaving in ends. Begin by working a swatch to determine which needle size you need to achieve the correct gauge. Note that the swatch needs to be washed and blocked before measuring the gauge.

The gauge is 20 sts x 28 rows = 10 x 10 cm [4 x 4 inches] in stockinette stitch on 4 mm (US6) needles after blocking. The suggested needle size is 3.5 mm (US4) and 4 mm (US6) in multiple lengths or 40 inches if you are using magic loop. Knit it up using LoftyFibre Euroflax Linen, Rowan Creative Linen, or EL.D. Mouzakis Butterfly Cotton 10!

Greenall by Safuyyah Talley is a gorgeous lacy free pattern with the purchase of Road to China Light, a luxurious blend of baby alpaca, silk, camel and cashmere from The Fibre Company. Greenall is a yoke cardigan with a striking eyelet stitch across the upper body and sleeves. It is knitted seamlessly in one piece from the top down. Road to China Light makes this cardigan a pleasure to wear: soft, drapey and an ideal companion on cooler days.

The yardage given in the pattern includes enough to knit an 8” x 8” tension swatch. It is recommended to alternate your hanks as you work to give an overall blended appearance. The suggested needle sizes are 4.5mm (US 7) and 4mm (US 6) for a gauge of 20 sts and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) measured over stocking stitch after blocking using 4.5mm (US 7) needles. The pattern also gives the gauge of chart 1 and chart 2.

The pattern is part of The Fibre Company’s Foundations SS20 collection of knitting patterns to celebrate Spring.

Newlands by Megan Nodecker is another pattern from The Fibre Company’s SS20 collection that is free with the purchase of Road to China Light.

blithespirit was one of the Newlands test knitters for this lovely cropped tee. Love this colour - Hermatite!

Newlands is a cropped t-shirt with a pretty band of lace across the neck and shoulders. It is knitted seamlessly from the bottom-up with neat i-cord edgings at the hem, sleeves and neck. The pattern uses luxurious Road to China Light for drape and softness that feels light as a feather.

WIP's and FO's

Finished! My Sirius sweater by Camilla Vad is off my needles! I have to add my notes to my project page but I love it!

I modified it to steek for a cardigan and added 3 rows of stockinette to all of the edges for a different finish.

I chose to use Lichen and Lace Rustic Heather Sport for my Sirius but I could have used Cascade 220 Sport, Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Weight, Kelbourne Woolens Andorra or even Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light.

The Antonia/Antonio cardigan by Cocoknits that I am knitting for the Berroco Cardi Party KAL is up to the hem ribbing which I chose to start earlier and make longer in twisted rib. The yarn I chose to use is Berroco Elba which is a 100% cotton tape yarn that feels like your favorite t-shirt but creates fabric with beautiful stitch definition.

I didn’t need to cast on another project but I am! City Limits by Tanis Lavallee is the pattern. Yarn is a Koigu Shade Pack # 13 and Drops Kid Silk in 03 Light Pink.

City Limits can be knit to have either the purl side out or the knit side. I am leaning towards using the purl side! This photo shows the colour better than the one above. There is a City Limits KAL as well!

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

The current Knit-Alongs are the Any Sweater / Shawl KAL and the Knit Your Project: the everlasting knit-along to encourage and support you to knit is running from April 1 to June 30, 2020. Don't forget to post your finished projects so that you will be included in our quarterly draw! We will also add the option of posting your finished project to Instagram using the #sue2knitskal so that I can find them!

In addition to bringing her Lounging Top to show me, Rosemary also sent me this photo of some of the  Nalu Mitts by Leila Raven that she knit using Cascade 220 Sport. Nalu Kits are also available.

Missed this one...Lani (zanderlidy on Ravelry) finished this The Weekender by Andrea Mowry last summer.

Lani also knit this awesome Marled Magic Sweater Dress by Stephen West not recently but still...What a stash buster!

Lani (zanderlidy)’s stunning Sunset by Melinda Measor using yarn by @eweandiyarn (Heidi)

Heidi (@eweandiyarn)’s finished and blocked Fruit Cocktail from Soft Rainbow Designs. Yarn is from @coriand3r. Thank you to Sea Turtle Craft Co for convincing me one more repeat in purple!

Diane (ladi-di)’s socks knit using Timber Yarns Twin Socks in the “Storm” colourway

Patti took our last magic loop sock class and discovered she loves knitting socks!! Uneek Sock yarn colour 54. Pattern - Heel Toe Do Si Do by Kaye Liston, The Crazy Sock Lady.

Debbie (debsnubs) crocheted this afghan for her husband!

Nicole (mamaboj) knit these Classic Cuffed Hats by Purl Soho using Berroco Ultra Alpaca held double with Drops Kid Silk!

Nicole (mamaboj) modified the ZickZack Scarf by Christy Kamm that she was knitting as a gift into a cowl. Knit using Schoppel Wolle Zauberball.

Karen made up her own pattern using the a linen stitch and a wave border for this crocheted blanket. Yarn used is Cascade 220 Sport.

Christina knit this stunning Delphinia Shawl by Ambah O’Brien using Zen Yarn Garden Superfine Fingering!!

Christina’s Delphinia Shawl looks so beautiful on her!!

Kathy (knotty64) knit this Striped Cardigan by Debbie Bliss

Andrea (sheep2shore) has made a batch of masked and bands ready to ship!

Kathy (chantrykathy) finished her Odyssey Shawl by Joji for the Malabrigo KAL using Malabrigo Dos Tierras. Kits are also available for purchase.

VIRTUAL SOCIAL KNITTING

Virtual social knitting using the Zoom app! It is a great way to knit together through social distancing! Join in with us either Tuesday afternoon from 2 - 4 pm or Thursday nights from 7 - 9 pm. We will continue each week until we can meet again in person.

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting

Meeting ID: 407820804

Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting! Keep calm and stay safe!

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