Friday, February 21, 2020, Issue 135: What is on your needles?

• Posted on 21 February 2020
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in February 2020, Winter 2020, winter knitting
• 0

This really has been a strange winter for our weather in the Windsor area! Ed told me flowers are popping up in our backyard! Despite the sporadic sun, it has been cold and brisk outside so it is definitely knitting indoors and sweater weather! What do you have on your needles?

I have been working on my my Rug by Junko Okamoto sweater. I have separated the body and the sleeves! Yay! Hopefully I will finish the body this weekend and then it will just be the sleeves.

This is what I have been working on and a Gramps by tincanknits...

It will be a 4-6 year old sized Sock Monkey! One of my all favorite modifcations for the Gramps! Unfortunately, I have very little stock left of the Bergere de France Jaspee that I have used in the past and for this one.

Here is my oldest grandson wearing his Sock Monkey Gramps when he was 2!

Here's Griffin wearing it still one year later! I have knit Sock Monkey Gramps several times over the years with the first knit using Cascade 220 in their non-superwash but then they discontinued their marled line so on the hunt I went. I knit at least four using the Bergere de France Jaspee but then I went on the hunt again! I now have Estelle Worsted which is a washable and economical yarn that is 50% Acrylic, 40% Wool, 10% Nylon. There is also Navia Faroese Sock which is 80% Wool, 20% Nylon that you can hand or machine wash but keep in mind that if you use Navia Trio with it for a contrast colour, Trio is not machine washable.

I love little old man cardigans for the little ones! Elevenses is a cozy little cardigan designed by Lisa Chemery.

redhead77’s Elevenses by Lisa Chemery knit using Malabrigo Rios is a wonderful green. This cardigan is worked seamlessly from the top down and features knitted-in pockets. The sleeves are separated from the body at underarm level, then worked in the round. They feature textured “faux” elbow patches. Stitches are picked up along the fronts and the neckline to work the shawl collar and button bands in once piece. The shawl collar portion is shaped using German short rows (link to video tutorial in the pattern). The pocket linings require some seaming.

There are 9 sizes from 3 months up to 10 years. The gauge is 19 sts x 28 rows = 4 inches or 10cm in stockinette stitch using the larger needles, after blocking. 3 needle sizes are used, 4.0 mm (US 6) is used for the back neck portion of shawl collar, 4.5 mm (US 7) needles are used for the hem, cuffs and front bands, and 5.0 mm (US 8) needles are used for the body or as required to get gauge.

Melinda Measer (VenomousFlower)’s Shambala Shawl landed on Jen and Heidi’s radar! They both cast on last weekend for Galantine's Day! They are now both on the applied lace bind-off!

Shambala is a top-down crescent-shaped shawl that features rhythmic brioche, engaging lace, relaxing eyelets, and an addictively simple applied lace bind-off. Worked flat, Shambala contains written directions, charts, and is broken down into comprehensive sections. The pattern includes detailed instructions for the techniques used and a handy-dandy progress tracker to help you keep track of your row and stitch counts.

You need three colours totalling 908 - 920 yards (830 - 841 m) of fingering weight yarn. The gauge is 24 Stitches by 32 rows worked flat in stockinette stitch = 4” (10 cm) on US6 (4 mm) metal needles, before blocking. Shambala's finished size is 90” (229 cm) across the wingspan and 30” (72 cm) deep after blocking.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

The current Knit-Alongs are the Butterfly / Papillon KAL and the Knit Any Shawl KAL and the Knit Your Project: the everlasting knit-along to encourage and support you to knit is running from January 1 until March 31st. Don't forget to post your finished projects so that you will be included in our quarterly draw! As a side note, four Papillons are already finished while mine still has a long way to go!

Our Nightshift KAL began with six people signed up for the Wednesday afternoon Nightshift Shawl - Learn Mosaic Knitting Pre-Pay KAL. Andrea Mowry's Nightshift or The Shift is what we started with. Marilyn is knitting both! This KAL is also open to everyone and there are a lot of Nightshift WIPs and FOs already! Why am I not seeing any posted to the group? I'd love to see them!

Until I bind off, I can’t hold my Nightshift wide enough to get a great shot! I am on my 10th repeat so I think it will be my last! I wonder how wide will it block?? Karen is also on her 10th repeat and Christine as well. Christine is at a standstill until more Schoppel Wolle Edition 3 arrives! I ordered 3 weeks ago...I hope it arrives soon!

I couldn’t resist taking a screenshot of this!! I love Bertie's wonderful “jumper”.

I love the colours Lise (Mattedcat) used together in her stunning Sea Grass by Janina Kallio!

Liz knit this stunning Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark! She did not find this an easy knit but wow! You would never know it to look at it...She should be so proud of it!

Gorgeous cabled hat by Veronica (xovee.knits) that was just for her for a change!! Look at all those cables!

Bev T from PEI and Windsor knit these socks from scraps. We all have scraps!

A rug hooking WIP designed on the fly by Karen K and using Lettlopi! In the last few weeks, I have discovered there is quite a group of rug hookers in the area, many who know each other and many who do not!

Classes Reminder - The ladies who had asked us to set up a cardigan class, did you see the Cocoknits Cardigan Class that was posted? The ladies who asked us to set up the Rigid Heddle Weaving Workshop 2, did you see the post? Don't forget to Register! The Bunny Class has been cancelled.

NEW IN!

Namaste Maker’s Backpacks, Mini Backpacks and Maker’s Portfolios have landed in the shop. Any available colours and products can be special ordered. Pictured is from Knititude's blog post from November 1, 2019.

Love how it has tons of pockets, TONS of pockets for notions, pens, yarn, phone, keys, notebooks, laptops, wallet and it has zippered and open sections and two water bottle pockets INSIDE, and two water bottle pockets outside plus so much more!

I can’t decide if I like the full size or the Namaste Mini Backpack better! It is so cute, the perfect size and has all these pockets and zippered compartments too!

ON A SIDE NOTE...

This came to me - would be this be an event any of you who knit or crochet to sell would be interested in participating In? Please contact Linda Hakim.

Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!