Friday, February 18, 2022, Issue 236: Happy Friday! What is on your needles?

• Posted on 18 February 2022
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in February 2022, KAL, sweater weather, winter knitting
• 0

Yesterday's rain, freezing rain and snow made it a good day to get cozy and knit. Are you knitting sweater weather sweaters or cardigans or are you anticipating spring and planning your warm weather knits while you work on your wips?

Avena by Emily Greene is a simple yet soothing knit has something to offer everyone. From its dropped sleeves to its sweet little details to its classic boxy silhouette, Avena is the pullover you’ll be reaching for again and again.

Sample shown in size 49¼“ / 125 cm on a 39” / 99 cm, 5’7” / 170 cm tall model (10¼” / 26 cm positive ease) and also on a 38½“ / 98cm, 5’ 3” / 160 cm tall model (10¾” / 27.5 cm positive ease).

Suggested ease: positive 4–11” / 10–28 cm

Yarn
720 (840, 960, 960, 1080) (1200, 1200, 1320, 1320, 1440) yards

Suggested yarn - Berroco Ultra Alpaca

Needles
32” circulars in size US 5 / 3.75 mm
16” circulars in size US 4 / 3.5 mm
set dpns in size US 5 / 3.75 mm

Gauge
19.5 sts and 28.5 rnds = 4” / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch with larger needles, after blocking.

Being a cardigan is no small task. Most people will rely on you to comfort them, to warm them, to make them feel better… even to look better! No question, a cardigan can be a very, very good friend. Being a good friend is no small task either. Always There by Joji Locatelli is a cardigan pattern inspired by her very good friend who is always, always there.

This is a simple pattern with a boxy fit and dropped shoulders. It is worked seamlessly from the top down. You work the upper back first, then the fronts, and finally you join the body at the underarm. The sleeves are picked up and worked in the round. It features a series of bands alternating between stockinette and textured stitches.

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). Shown in size 3 on a 35” bust.
Recommended ease: Approx. 12-14” 30-35 cm of positive ease.

Finished Measurements
Bust circumference: 44 (48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76)“ 110 (120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190) cm.
Armhole Depth: 4¾ (5¼, 5½, 6½, 6¾, 7¼, 8, 8½, 8¾)” 12 (13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22) cm.
Sleeve circumference (starts mid-arm): 9½ (10½, 11¼, 12, 12¾, 14½, 16, 16¾, 17½)“ 24 (26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 40, 42, 44) cm.
Sleeve length from underarm to cuff: 16½” 41 cm.
Length from underarm to hem: 15¼“ 38 cm.

Yarn
approx. 960 (1080, 1200, 1320, 1440, 1560, 1680, 1800, 1920) yards 880 (990, 1100, 1210, 1320, 1430, 1540, 1650, 1760) m of DK weight yarn.

Suggested Yarn - Kelbourne Woolens Scout

Needles
US 6 / 4 mm and US 4 / 3.5 mm circular needles, 32” long.

Other notions: 4 (4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5) buttons, 1.5 cm (5/8”) wide. Stitch holders, tapestry needle.

Gauge
20.5 sts and 34 rows to 4” 10cm in stockinette stitch FLAT on US 6 4 mm needles (body) after stretching out the fabric when blocking.

Gusty by Laura Aylor is designed for Noro Akari with its long colour runs and great yardage. Garter stitch is knit in 3 directions in this fun cowl - all without cutting your yarn! The simple garter stitch shows off variegated yarns beautifully while the changes in direction keep things interesting. This pattern can be adapted for different weights of yarn.

Measurements
When knit to pattern specifications, the garter tube measures approximately 6.5” tall and 20” around after blocking (unstretched). The front triangle is about 14” deep

Notions
Approximately 425 yards of worsted-weight yarn (sample was knit in Noro Akari – silk/cotton/rayon/mohair/wool/nylon)
US 6/4 mm 24” circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch markers
Tape measure
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

WIPs and FOs

Since last week, I finished the hem 3x3 ribbing on my The Twigs by Junko Okamoto. I used the same size needles for my ribbing (2.25 mm).

I knit my sleeves using 2.5 mm short circulars. Right now I have several inches left to go on the long sleeve cuffs unless I decide on 3/4 length sleeves instead of 60 rows. What do you think, 3/4 length or to my wrist?

I started the #oksasweatertest knit above using The Fibre Co Cumbria. I swatched using 3.5 mm, 3.75 mm and 4.0 mm (US 4, 5 and 6) needles. The pattern calls for 4.5 mm (US 7) and since I usually have to go down a needle size so I started my swatch using the 3.5 mm needles.

If you are wondering about my swatch (which I didn't work in the round), I cast on 30 stitches. I worked a few rows of garter so that my swatch stays flat and 3 stiitches on each edge in garter stitch. Work enough rows for a good sized swatch, ideally to more rows that the gauge requires. I do a yarnover and K2tog for each US needle size so you can remember what needle size you used so for a US 4, work 4 yarnovers somewhere within each section. Work a purl row between each swatch section.

Above, I started with the US 4 but my gauge was 22 stitches. Next, i used 4.0 mm but the gauge was looking too big but in the end after blocking, the gauge was 20 stitches. The third swatch section was knit using US 5 which after blocking gave me a gauge of 21 stitches.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

The newest Knit-Alongs are the Any Sweater / Shawl KAL and the Knit Any Project: our everlasting knit-along to encourage and support you to knit which is running from January 1 to April 30, 2022. I will get a thread started soon!

Remember to post photos to the finished object (FO) thread when you finish a project during the Knit-Along so that you will be included in the next draw! We will also add the option of posting your finished project to Instagram using the #sue2knitskal so that I can find them!

Jen knit this stunning Marettimo by Caitlin Hunter for her mom Judy!! Yarn is Lichen and Lace 80/20 Sock.

Karen (Kmae64) finished her Floof by Skeindeer Knits using Lichen and Lace 80/20 Sock and Marsh Mohair in Beet Root.

Karen (Kmae64) knit this pair socks for her husband using a personal pattern.

Karen (Kmae64) also knit this Classic Cuffed Hat by Purl Soho using her first hand spun Ashford Corriedale Sliver held double with Garnstudio Drops Kid Silk.

Katherine finished a hat and cowl ( no pattern ) for a friend’s daughter in Malabrigo Worsted in Simply Taupe and Black Forest.

Here’s Sandi (sandima)’s Galentine’s Day cast on gnome, Gno Fun Like Gnome Fun by Sarah Schira!

Sandi (sandima) finished this Stranded Creature Hearts Beanie by Joan Rowe on Valentines Day.

Bev is wearing her The Throwback by Andrea Mowry knit using Navia Faroese Sock over a tee knit using Berroco Remix Light.

Beverley’s sister and her husband love the socks she knit them using ZenYarnGarden Serenity 20!

Here’s Diane (@boujeeknits)’s stunning Piccadilly by Justyna Lorkowska.

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