Friday, February 4, 2022, Issue 234: Happy Friday! What is on your needles?

• Posted on 3 February 2022
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in February 2022, KAL, knit-along, sweater weather, winter knitting
• 0

We finally got the snow that had been bypassing us here in the Windsor-Essex, Ontario area! We stayed put and did not venture out except for Ed with the snowblower and of course a shovel...The neighbour across the road has his new toy, a new attachment for his ATV so he was out plowing his and several neighbour's driveways to break it in!

With the snow and cold weather outside, it makes sense to knit something cozy! If you don't have anything on your needles, here are a few ideas for you.

The Stoneham Poncho by Dianna Walla from The Chalet Collection for Espace Tricot is worked from the top down using traditional yoke shaping in simple but bold geometric patterns. This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download.

Here is lightlily’s Stoneham Poncho! She used Oatmeal Heather, Blue Heather and Sunflower Heather.

Le Massif Scarf by Dianna Walla from The Chalet Collection for Espace Tricot is also available as a free Ravelry download. The scarf is worked in the round, featuring simple but striking geometric patterns. It is bold, stylish, and deliciously warm.

If you haven't knit yourself a Nightshift by Andrea Mowry yet, then you should! The pattern has been knit by over 7471 times on Ravelry and those are only the ones who have created a project page. It is super fun and engaging knit with shifting colors and is an addictiive knit.

Finished Measurements
Wingspan - 65”/165 cm
Center Depth - 31”/79 cm

 

Andrea originally designed the shawl to be knit using 6 colours but Espace Tricot switched yarns A & B every 20 rows. So after 20 rows of work, Yarn A became Yarn B, and vice versa. This made it possible to complete the shawl with only 2 balls, and it varied the colours to better capture the design’s intention. They used Noro Ito (100% wool) for their version which I no longer carry.

 

Kits are available to purchase in Nightshift Shawl Kits in Noro Akari and Noro Enka. Noro Akari is 26% Silk, 21% Cotton, 15% Viscose, 14% Mohair, 12% Wool, 12% Polyamide while Noro Enka is 50% Cotton, 20% Silk, 15% Wool, 15% Nylon/Polyamide.

 

 

 

 

 

The above is thetangledstitch’s Nightshift by Andrea Mowry knit using Noro Akari in 1 Kitakata and 2 Ashiya.

 

 

 

 

 

This one above is scbetz’s Nightshift by Andrea Mowry knit using Noro Akari in 1 Kitakata and 5 Hamura.

 

 

 

WIPs and FOs

 

 

 

The yoke on my The Twigs by Junko Okamoto is almost complete here. I have finished the Section 9 chart and after working the last set of increases, I had 540 stitches on my 60 inch needles!

I separated the body and sleeves of my The Twigs on Wednesday and now I've completed the section 11 chart.

The body of The Twigs has 400 stitches but I am half finished section 13’s chart. The last chart for the body is the Section 14 chart which has a 40 stitch repeat worked over 21 rounds. I wonder how long it will take me?

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 the front and here is the back of Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave)’s Koivua by Caitlin Hunter whose husband gave her the pattern and yarn for her birthday! Yarn is The Fibre Co. Arranmore Light and Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Starke 6.

Here are the socks Beverley knit for her brother-in-law’s 70th birthday using ZYG Serenity 20, a luscious blend merino, cashmere, nylon in Silver Moon and French Vanilla.

Jo-Anne finished her first pair of socks! Great job!

Anna (@kollar.annie) finished this pair of 164-38 Maggie Blues Mittens by Drops Design back in 2017 but moths got to them so she repaired them by re-knitting the cuffs. Yarn is Garnstudio Drops Baby Merino.

Sandi (sandima) has been working on the Year of Gnomes KAL. This is Gnate using the Never Not Gnoming pattern by Sarah Schira.

This is Sandi (sandima)’s January Year of Gnomes entry. Pattern is Gnot Just Another Gnome by Sarah Schira.

Carol (knittoatea) finished her Soirée by Emily Foden found in her book Knits About Winter.

Carol (knittoatea) knit her Soirée by Emily Foden one cable pattern longer.

SHOP UPDATE

We received a new shipment of Gist Weaving yarns to add to the Gist Mallo and Gist Duet already in stock!

New in the shop is Ode Alpaca from Gist Yarn. Ode is 100% baby alpaca, grown and spun in Peru and dyed in subtle, melange shades.

Baby alpaca has the most luxurious micron count of all alpaca fibers, so any scarf, shawl, or blanket you weave from Ode will be heaven to wrap around your shoulders. Ode is excellent for both rigid heddle and multi-shaft weavers and suitable for warp and weft. We recommend that rigid heddle weavers use it in plain weave at 8 epi, and that multi-shaft weavers use a sett of 8-12 epi depending on the pattern. Approximately 1,118 yards per lb. 8.8 oz cones (615 yards).

Also new in the shop is Beam from Gist Yarn. Beam is a 3/2 organic un-mercerized cotton that is hardy, beginner friendly and designed for making towels m, home textiles and apparel. Use as warp or weft. 8 oz cones have 630 yards or 1,260 yard per lb. 10-16 suggested epi. Made in the USA. 

IN-STORE SHOPPING

We are open for in-store shopping but continuing to limit store capacity to under 10. I am not comfortable with more than that even if we can. Our Tuesday Knit Afternoon has been running but we have dropped the numbers down to 5. Please call to reserve your spot. Our Thursday Knit Night switched over to Zoom. If you want to join in our Zoom, please let me know and I will send you the link.

MASKS

Customers must be FULLY masked at ALL TIMES. That means no letting your mask drop below your nose!

ONLINE AND CURBSIDE PICKUP

Remember that everything is available online so if you need yarn, needles, books or anything else, you can shop online and we can carry it out to your car for you. Keep in mind that if there is a Ravelry pattern you want that isn't listed online, it can be added and printed for you, just let us know.

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