Friday, February 24, 2023, Issue 285: Happy Friday!!

• Posted on 24 February 2023
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in cozy knits, February, February 2023, sweater weather, winter knitting
• 0

I must say that the weather has been wild with the ice storm that left many without power and damaged or downed trees! We only lost power for a couple of hours yesterday morning unlike the stories I heard of no electricity until this morning. I have been knitting whenever I had the time...Have you been knitting too since it is sweater weather?

Tosca by Natasja Hornby is an easy to wear cardigan that combines a comfortable shape with eye-catching details. The interesting construction results in a modified drop shoulder shape with 1x1 shaped ribbing along the armholes and the back raglan lines. The richly textured fronts are also framed by shaped 1x1 ribbing, adding movement while elegantly framing the neck and the face. The sleeves are finished with horizontal ribbed cuffs that can be worn buttoned up or open, and the split ribbed hem adds a little drama to the stockinette back of the cardigan.

SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4) {5, 6, 7, 8}
Finished bust measurements (with fronts overlapping)
89.5 (100, 110.5, 119) {131.5, 140, 150.5, 161} cm / 35.25 (39.5, 43.5, 47) {51.75, 55.25, 59.25, 63.5}”.

The cardigan is designed to have a roomy fit, with approx 12 - 15 cm / 4.75 - 6” of positive ease around the bust when worn closed.
Sample is shown in size 2, with horizontal bust darts, tapering of the body and 12 cm / 4.75” of positive ease.

YARN
DK weight yarn with good stitch definition.
Approx 1025 (1100, 1200, 1300) {1375, 1475, 1600, 1700} m / 1120 (1200, 1310, 1420) {1500, 1610, 1750, 1860} yards.

NEEDLES
Needle A (for the body and the sleeves) One 80 cm / 30” circular needle, and a set of needles for working small circumferences in the round in size needed to obtain gauge listed.
Suggested needle size: 4 mm / US #6.
Needle B (for the horizontal ribbing) One 40 cm / 15” needle.
Suggested needle size: 3.75 mm / US #5.
Needle C (for the I-cord with buttonholes) One 40 cm / 15” needle.
Suggested needle size: 3.5 mm / US #4.

GAUGE
Measured after blocking.
Stockinette stitch on Needle A: 19 sts x 31 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4”.

Dina (theknittingplace) knit her Tosca using Rowan Felted Tweed from her shop but it is one I would recommend as well! Another yarn suggestion is The Fibre Co. Arranmore Light or Hedgehog Fibres Tweedy.

Tuku by thepetiteknitter is inspired by the arctic snow and ice crystals. This boxy top-down jumper is knitted in the round and features a seamless construction and stranded yoke. It comes in ten adult sizes with customization options for body length, sleeve length, and bust shaping.

CHEST SIZE
size - 1 (2, 3, 4) 5, 6 (7, 8, 9) 10
cm - 79 (89, 98, 105) 118, 130 (137, 150, 158) 168
inches - 31 (34¾, 38½, 41½) 46¼, 51 (53¾, 59, 62) 66

Please note that these measurements are final garment chest measurements. They include a positive ease of 7.5cm/3” to 13cm/5”.

YARDAGE
metres - cropped
mc - 745 (825, 880, 965) 1075, 1155 (1215, 1330, 1390) 1450
cc- 115 (125, 130, 145) 160, 170 (180, 195, 200) 210

yards - cropped
mc - 810 (900, 960, 1055) 1175, 1265 (1325, 1450, 1515) 1585
cc - 125 (135, 145, 160) 170, 185 (195, 210, 220) 225

metres - regular
mc - 860 (975, 1075, 1210) 1380, 1530 (1630, 1830, 1940) 2035
cc - 125 (135, 145, 160) 170, 185 (195, 210, 220) 225

yards - regular
mc - 940 (1065, 1175, 1320) 1510, 1670 (1780, 1995, 2120) 2225
cc - 137 (148, 159, 175) 186, 202 (213, 230, 241) 246

NEEDLES
3.5 mm (US 4)

GAUGE
22 stitches and 22.5 rows = 4 inches
in 22 sts x 29 rows = 4”/10 cm in stockinette sts

SUGGESTED YARN: Garnstudio Drops Lima or Kelbourne Woolens Scout

The striking Pines and Needles Shawl by SweaterFreak is a triangular shawl, worked side to side in mosaic technique - an homage to woven classic herringbone shawls, this accessory is a heirloom sure to be treasured for years!

Mosaic technique means you are only knitting with one color per row - the pattern is fully written and charted. Modification instructions are also provided to make your shawl smaller or larger.

Matching cowl and hat are available!

YARN
Color A: 400 yards
Color B: 400 yards

MEASUREMENTS
Length: 62”
Width: 26”

NEEDLES
3.75 mm (US#5) – 32”/80cm circular needles

GAUGE
19 sts/22 rows per 4” using US#5/3.75mm needles in Herringbone mosaic stitch post blocking or size to obtain gauge

Michelle (tobymacdougal) knit hers using a natural main colour and Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy for her contrast colour.

SUGGESTED YARN: Schoppel Wolle Alb Lino, Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine, Garnstudio Drops Flora

FOs and WIPs

Last Saturday, I finished the body of my Drawing Sweater by Tomomi Yoshimoto and was almost finished the flowers on the first sleeve when I ran out of my The Fibre Company Amble in White Heather that I was using. I thought I had enough so yikes! I have ordered more for the shop including their mini skeins! Now my #drawingsweater is on hold until it arrives!

My Drawing Sweater is now on hold while I wait for a new shipment of Amble including mini skeins from The Fibre Company that will hopefully arrive soon.

On my February 10th blog / newsletter, I talked about The Weekender by Andrea Mowry which I had not knit yet. Now I have one on my needles! I decided to cast on and use Judy's Magic Cast On tubular cast on. At first, I used the smaller needle size that you normally use for ribbing but this tubular cast is beautiful but NOT as stretchy as the regular tubular cast on starting with a provisional cast on. I ended up using the same needle size for the cast on as i am using for the body.

The Weekender is knit bottom up with a split hem and although the purl side is the right side, it is knit inside out! This is so you can knit instead of purling the sweater.

I’ve cast on another Caitlin Hunter pattern! This is her Northerly. Unfortunately, I will need to start over and use the body needle size instead of the smaller ribbing needle. I love using this new cast on that I have started using but at least now (after using it for a few patterns) I know that for the Judy's Magic Cast On initial 3 rows, I need to use bigger needles and then switch to the ribbing needles.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Jen (zjewell) has cast on the Grimblewoods Collection 1 by Sarah Schira. This is her finished Gnedward of Grimblewood or in Jen’s case Gneffy!

This Jen (zjewell)’s Gnola of Grimblewood which is the second pattern of the 6 pattern set. She used her SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock and Hedgehog Sock stash.

Linda (lmcnorton) has finished another Bunny with a Striped Sweater by Julie Williams. She did not put stripes in the sweater and instead of knitting the shorts from the pattern, she knit the Dungarees from a different pattern.

Sonia (Soniabknits) finished her second Saturday Shrug by Jackie Rose.

Ann (annvanwagner) finished this pair of Cozy Cuffed Mitts by Karen Everitt.

Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) finished this pair of Stone by Tatiana Kulikova using Timber Yarns Twin Sock in Eh?

I don’t know the pattern but here is a pretty swim suit cover up that Claudia (@cgriffs01) knit.

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