Friday, August 14, 2020, Issue 161: Lazy days and summer knitting!

• Posted on 14 August 2020
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in August 2020, KAL, knit-along, make-along, Staple Linen Top, summer knitting, V-Back Tee
• 0

It has been strange not planning any time away...Stranger still that I haven't seen any of my kids or grandchildren since Christmas and yet here we are in the middle of August already! I have been using my time knitting of course especially the summer tees that have been so popular!

Summer knitting to me means light, airy shawls, lightweight summer tops or cardigans to throw on in cold air conditioning or those evening walks. Here is Jen above in her finished V-Back Tee by by Jamie Hoffman!

She used 4 colours in hers using SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock from me, yarn from Amaranth Fibres and from Brandi of The Green Button Jar, a local dyer (@thegreenbuttonjar on Instagram)! The design includes multiple options and is reversible! Worn in back the V offers a nonstandard back neckline with a scoop neck in front; worn in front the V becomes a v-neck with a fabric that accentuates the bust before subtly cascading to the hem. Wear it both ways for an equally flattering fit.

I finished mine last week but then I decided to frog my original hem ribbing and add a fourth colour to add more length to it! I use Ancient Arts Socknado, Turner-Venice from the Porch, The Bee's Knees, Garden Gnomes and Pink Flamingos and Cezanne-Still Life.

I like the new length much better even though the second V is cut off and the third V is missing! You can check out my Ravelry project HERE to see my mishaps!

Just love this chic little summer top! Staple Linen Top by Joji Locatelli is a basic top for those warm days when you want something airy and breezy! It is a very basic shape, timeless, that can be dressed up or down. Joji used a linen yarn that drapes beautifully, but it can also be worked in all kinds of materials: cotton, bamboo, hemp, silk, and even wool! This would make a really cool vest too.

Linen yarns tend to grow vertically, so the directions have been written to knit to a shorter length to account for a 15% growth after blocking. The gauge is 21 sts and 30 rows to 4” (10cm) in stockinette stitch on US 4 (3.5 mm) needles. Before you measure, please take the time to wash and block your swatch in the same manner that you will wash and block your top. Knit it using LoftyFibre Euroflax Linen Sport (formerly Louet) or Schoppel Wolle El Linio.

Berroco Remix is a tweedy, nubby blend with no wool content. Made from 100% recycled fibers, this machine washable yarn is an exciting transeasonal blend that is comfortable in every way. Outfit your entire family in timeless, textured pieces, all worked in 100% recycled fiber Remix. Remix is also available in a lighter version... Berroco Remix Light is a DK weight version of worsted Remix—a tweedy, nubby blend of 100% recycled fibers, with no wool content. Machine-washable Remix Light is perfect for everything from sweaters to accessories.

Ana by Cirilia Rose is a simple gansey with diamond brocade and a panel of ribbing knit using Berroco Remix. This unisex pullover has buttons at the shoulder for easy dressing. Sizing is for sizes 2 up to 12.

Arshile by the Berroco Design Team is a cozy baby hoodie with seed stitch and rib accents. This pattern has sizing from 9 months up to a size 6.

Simo by Cirilia Rose is a little dress with short sleeves, pockets, a circular yoke and a sewn-on scarf! Sizing is for sizes 2 up to 12.

Beatnik by Norah Gaughan from Knitty, Deep Fall 2010 knit using Berroco Remix is available for free. It is a modern version of a cabled fisherman sweater with a nod to the 1960s beatnik in its boat neck and fitted shape. The yarn is surprisingly lighter than you'd expect from the tweedy look, but the silk content means it's still cozy enough to keep you warm on cool fall days and nights.

Beatnik is written to be knit in pieces that are sewn together at the end. Lorraine Keeler made modifications to knit the pattern in-the-round which can be found HERE.

Jackie from Cady Jax Knits (dominirose on Ravelry) knit her Beatnik by Norah Gaughan in the round with shorter body and sleeves and no waist shaping!

WIP's and FO's

You can see my finished V-Back Tee by Jamie Hoffman above. I am also working oon my Gnome MKAL where I am finished Clue 4. It will most likely be tomorrow before I work on Clue 5!

Last week, I swatched for and then cast on my Anker's Summer Shirt by PetiteKnit. I used 3.75 mm (US 5) and 3.25 mm (US 3) for my swatch but my gauge is in between so I cast on using 3.5 mm (US 4) needlles. I am going to knit the size L with a finished bust of 39.25 to get something that is larger than 39.25 but smaller than the 43.25 of the next size.

I decided on using LoftyFibre Euroflax Sport in Soft Coral! Check out the other available colours in this or Schoppel Wolle El Linio. I now have 240 stitches on my needles.

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 July 1 to September 30, 2020. Post you finished projects to the Sue2Knits and Yarn Ravelry Group to the Finished Objects thread or to Instagram using the hashtag #sue2knitskal to be included in the next quarterly draw.

Angela (KnittinGrapeVines) finished her Rock It Tee by Tanis Lavallee! Knit using Hikoo Cobasi in black and natural! CoBaSi is a cotton, bamboo and silk blend with elastic nylon for a gentle on the hands wool-like stretch and perfect for warm weather tops.

Ann finished her Rock It Tee by Tanis Lavallee too!

Sandi (Sandima) knit this striking sweater for her daughter’s birthday! Pattern is Yellow Submarine Jumper by Veronica Mas knit using Cascade 220 Sport held double. The pattern is sleeveless so Sandi added the sleeves!

Natalie finished her Short Rows Cardigan by Mary Maxim using Estelle Worsted! Beautiful!

Lise (Mattedcat) finished 2 test knits for Dani Sunshine! This one is Pixie Dust.

This is Lise (Mattedcat)’s other test knit for Dani Sunshine. This is Pirouette knit using Garnstudio Drops Flora!

Sonia (@soniabknits) finished these gorgeous Galiano Socks by Tracie Millar (@just_tracie)!

Debbie (@debsnubs) finished this crocheted gingham blanket using Bergere de France Ideal,  one of her favourite yarns for making baby blankets!

Carla finished her Breathe and Hope Shawl by Casapinka!

Shop Update

New Timber Yarns Twin Sock to land in the shop! Left to right, top to bottom: Ho Ho Ho, North Pole Candy Cane, St. Nick’s Candy Cane, Holly Berry, The Homer, Chocolate Glazed, Over The Rainbow and Tea Thyme and The Camper!

Berroco Vintage arrived last week in the colours above as well as Berroco Vintage DK. Consider Vintage DK for Little Cotton Rabbits such as the for the fox or the bear or elephant where I didn't have the colours in the Bergere de France Ideal that I use for my Little Cotton Rabbit Kits.

Family...

Missing these two munchkins! They have been growing in leaps and bounds and love their pool!

We missed my youngest grandson’s second birthday but aren’t the custom Baby Shark t-shirts great? My niece and Linda, my daughter-in-law came up with them and made them!!

VIRTUAL SOCIAL KNITTING

Virtual social knitting using the Zoom app! It has been 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 are continuing to hold our Zoom meetings each week until we can meet again in person. Clicking on the link will take you to our Zoom meeting.

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 407820804

Happy Friday. Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting! Keep calm and keep on knitting and making!

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