Friday, February 25, 2022, Issue 237: Happy Friday! What is on your needles?

• Posted on 24 February 2022
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in February 2022, KAL, sweater weather, winter knitting
• 0

Weather has been a roller coaster with freezing cold one day, seasonal cold the next and even rain so I have been knit, knit, knitting whenever I get the chance...Have you too... especially since it is sweater weather?

Andrea Mowry has revamped her Shifty Sweater for a better fit! Shifty 2.0 includes a larger size range, an easier to achieve gauge, and revamped yoke shaping! If you purchased it previously, the new pdf will automatically go into your Ravelry library.

This sweater is all about being playful and having fun with color! One colorway is used consistently as the “background” while 3 contrasting colors make up the textured colorwork using the Mosaic knitting method! This is one of the most versatile pieces in my wardrobe - it looks fabulous with high waisted pants and skirts, layered under overalls and pinafores or over dresses and tunics!

SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4, 5)(6, 7, 8, 9)
#sizeinclusive

FINISHED BUST CIRCUMFERENCE
30.75 (34.5, 38, 43, 46.75)(50.5, 54, 59, 62.75)”
78 (87.5, 96.5, 109, 119)(128.5, 137, 150, 159.5) cm
Recommended ease is -2 to +2”/-5 to +5 cm; Sample is shown in Size 2 on a 34”/86.5 cm bust with no ease. It is highly recommended to size down instead of up if you are between sizes so that the yoke fits properly.

YARN
Light sport weight (200 yds/approx. 50 g)

Color A: 800 (920, 1042, 1143, 1297)(1400, 1567, 1671, 1784) yds/200 (230, 260, 285, 324)(350, 391, 418, 446) g

Colors B & C (each): 168 (190, 215, 235, 268)(293, 324, 346, 368) yds/42 (48, 54, 59, 67)(74, 81, 87, 92) g

Color D: 143 (161, 182, 200, 227)(248, 274, 292, 312) yds/ 36 (40, 45, 50, 57)(62, 69, 73, 78) g

SUGGESTED NEEDLES
Main Fabric: US 4/3.5 mm –24”/60 cm to 40”/100 cm circular and preferred needles for small circumference knitting (Magic Loop or DPNs)
Ribbing: US 2/2.75 mm - 16”/40 cm circular for collar, 32”/80 cm for hem and preferred needles for small circumference knitting for cuffs, plus a spare for the Tubular Bind Off. (Use the needle size you need to achieve gauge.)

NOTIONS
Stitch marker, row counter (recommended), scissors, waste yarn or stitch holders

GAUGE
26 sts & 52 rows = 4”/10 cm on Main Fabric needles.
Measured over stitch pattern in the round after blocking.

Stefanie (spoeker)’s Shifty is similar to how I would knit my Shifty! She used Malabrigo Arroyo for her MC and Schoppel Wolle Starke 6 for her other colour.

If you knit yourself Andrea Mowry's Nightshift, this is one you will be reminiscent of the stitches!

My Nightshift by Andrea Mowry was knit using Arranmore Light as the MC and Schoppel Wolle Starke 6 for CC1 and CC2.

Andrea by Andrea Mowry from the book Worsted - A Knitwear Collection by Aimée Gille was designed to complete any outfit with a touch of polish with its geometrical texture and easy-to-wear open styling. The cardigan begins with the pocket liners which double beautifully as your swatch! The body of the cardigan is then knit from the hem up to the underarms, where it is split into front and back and then finished at the shoulders with a 3-Needle Bind-Off. Sleeve stitches are picked up from the arm openings and knit down to the cuffs.

SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8)

Recommended ease: 6–10” / 15–25.5 cm of positive ease.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust Circumference: 39.5 (43.75, 48, 52.25, 56.5) (60.5, 64.75, 69)” / 100.5 (111, 122, 133, 143.5) (153.5, 164.5, 175.5) cm.
Body Length from Underarm: 13” / 33 cm.
Upper Arm Circumference: 12 (13, 15.5, 16.5, 19) (19.5, 20.5, 21)” / 30.5 (33, 39.5, 42, 48) (49.5, 52, 53.5) cm.
Cuff Circumference: 8.5 (9.25, 9.25, 10, 10) (10, 10, 10)” / 21.5 (23.5, 23.5, 25.5, 25.5) (25.5, 25.5, 25.5) cm.
Sleeve Length: 15.5” / 39.5 cm.

MATERIALS
Yarn: 1143 (1281, 1482, 1612, 1860) (1990, 2147, 2265) yds / 1045 (1171, 1355, 1474, 1701) (1820, 1963, 2071) m of worsted weight yarn.

Suggested yarn: The Fibre Co. Cumbria

Needles: US 8 / 5 mm 32” / 80 cm to 40” / 100 cm circular and preferred needles for small circumference knitting (Magic Loop or DPNs), plus a spare for the 3-Needle Bind-Off. US 6 / 4 mm 32” / 80 cm to 40” / 100 cm circular and preferred needles for small circumference knitting (Magic Loop or DPNs).

Notions: Crochet hook (size E recommended), stitch marker, spare needle or waste yarn, cable needle, tapestry needle.

GAUGE
19 sts x 28 rows to 4” / 10 cm on US 8 / 5 mm needles in stockinette stitch knit flat, after blocking.

The DRK March to May KAL kicks off next week so all of her sweater and shawl patterns (except for the newly released Metamorphic) are on sale for 25% off with the discount code M2MKAL thru February 28, 2022) at midnight EST!

L: Bean & Olive Grown Up; TC: Ochre Moss; TR: Evenfall
CL: Illuminate; CC: Morning Rituals; CR: Douglas Cardi
BL: Stria; BC: DRK Everyday Sweater; BR: Birch Pullover

KAL = knitalong: a gathering of makers who all knit together virtually or in person with a common thread - be it pattern, theme or topic. 

WHEN
March 1 - May 31, 2022

WHAT
Any DreaReneeKnits sweater or shawl pattern! (WIPS are welcome!)
You can find all of her sweater patterns on Ravelry here or her website here!
You can find all of her shawl patterns on Ravelry here or her website here!

WHERE TO SHARE
Post photos of your yarn and projects so we can all oo and ahhh in the Ravelry forum for sweaters or shawls and on Instagram  with the hashtag #DRKMARCH2MAYKAL22 so we can follow along and give you some hearts! (She also loves to be tagged so she doesn’t miss your photos - you can tag her with @dreareneeknits and hashtag #dreareneeknits).

RULES
Just have fun! This is a very casual KAL and a space created for all of YOU to get together digitally! She will pop in now and then to say hello and of course to check out all of your gorgeous makes!

Many of us don’t have a local knitting group, so this is a great way to get together online with other knitters and enjoy the company and support of our peers as we dive into a new knit! Cheer each other on, share tips and make some new friends! (Andrea met one of her absolute best friends during a KAL!) Everyone is welcome here!

PATTERN SUPPORT
Nothing warms our hearts more than seeing knitters help each other out. We still learn new tips all the time and are so grateful for the shared knowledge of other knitters! If you have a specific question about a pattern please email: [email protected].
The forums can get very chatty, and we would hate to miss someone who needs help. This email address is the promptest and most reliable way to get your questions answered! Please also remember that this forum is public, so we do ask that you don’t post any specific instructions (or pictures of the instructions) from the pattern as that would be a copyright violation.

PRIZES
Oh yes - there will be prizes - including Worsted, Brioche Knitting for Beginners and Beyond, a shawl kit for my soon to be released new pattern, a gift certificate to Magpie Fibers, and 3 gift cards to Spincycle Supply Co. with a virtual shopping sesh!

TL: Satellite; TC: Honey Moss; TR: Inclinations
BL: Cinnabar; BC: Hug Hug Kiss Kiss; BR: Moonwhistle

WIPs and FOs

I’m close to finishing my The Twigs by Junko Okamoto! Only about 40 rounds remaining on my second cuff. What do you think? I knit mine using Tukuwool Fingering in 08 Runo as my MC, H31 Aava for CC2 and H33 Uomo for CC3. I love the overall pattern and I love the yarn and the colours that I chose to knit mine with but unfortunately, I have been unable to order more of 08 Runo that I used as my main colour for the shop. The distributor is sold out of it!

I started a little late but here’s my test knit that I am knitting with Cumbria from The Fibre Co. for the amazing Caitlin Hunter! Pattern is coming soon in March! Don’t you just love the textured yoke so far?

I should change to 60” cables for a better picture but I am close to finishing the yoke (15 more months rows).

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!

Above is Jan wearing her finished Compass pullover by TinCanKnits. Yarn is Sandes Garn Sisu in Cardinal and Malabrigo Sock in the Baco.

Linda (lmcnorton) knit this solid colour Rock It Tee by Tanis Lavallee for her sister!

Rita (ritz) finished Joji Locatelli’s Super Simple Summer Sweater using yarn from her stash.

Karen H. finished her Bluebells from Kate Davies’s book Yokes. Yarn is Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Weight and made modified to fit herself.

Karen also finished a Boy Bunny by Julie Williams (Little Cotton Rabbits).

Jocelyne (jocblais) finished a pair of Yolanda Socks by Laura Moorats in a sparkly yarn.

Sandi (sandima) finished this pair of Flying Geese Socks by Yarn and Tacos. Yarn is Estelle Yarns Sock Twins in colour 3 Sunrise!

Here’s Sandi (Sabrina)’s February Gnome for the Year of Gnomes KAL! Pattern for this one is Oh, Gnome, You Didn't by Sarah Schira.

Jen (zjewell) finished her Avena by Jennifer Steingass! Just needs ends sewn in and blocking! Yarn is The Fibre Co. Cumbria.

Beth has finished a couple of Nightshift shawls by Andrea Mowry. This one she knit using Noro Enka in 04 Kobe and 08 Kyoto!

Beth’s second Nightshift by Andrea Mowry is knit using Noro Akari in 01 Kitakata and Berroco Ultra Alpaca in 6245 Pitch Black.

Elvira knit this for her granddaughter (no pattern) using Garnstudio Drops Flora held double with Drops Kid Silk!

Classes with Kathy have been posted to the shop - a few more to be posted soon! sign up in the shop or online! Don’t miss out!

Students and teachers are required to be up to date on all COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Please bring proof of vaccination status. We recommend taking a self-test before arrival on the first day. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we reserve the right to cancel the class at any time for safety reasons. If it’s necessary to cancel a class due to COVID-19 concerns, students will receive a full refund. Masks will be required.

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