Friday, January 8, 2021, Issue 180: What is on your needles?

• Posted on 7 January 2021
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in January 2021, sweater weather, winter knitting
• 0

Happy New Year! 2020 was a year for the history books for sure and during some of the hardest times, knitting and making provided us with an outlet to keep our hands and minds busy!

I have been very quiet since before Christmas so if you have wondered, you didn't miss any newsletters! I have managed to finish inventory and year end paperwork...

Now that our Christmas gift knitting is finished and with January being selfish knitting month, what is on your needles? Sweater weather is here and definitely time to knit and wear them!

Goldenfern by Jennifer Steingass is a simple, seamless circular yoke sweater with colorwork details on the body and sleeve cuffs. This design is inspired by ferns lit aglow by the sunset on an evening walk in the forest. Knit from the top down, you can try on this sweater while it’s in progress, for your ideal fit. This yoke is very easy to knit - it includes a little bit of raglan shaping before the body and sleeve separation, to make for a great fit in the shoulders. After knitting just a few inches / centimeters of the body, the fun part begins - the ferns! Using 3 colors of your choice and going from lightest to darkest, create a fading effect as you knit the colorwork. This design also lends itself well to a single contrasting color or you can use a gradient yarn. With cuffs that echo the body design, you might find yourself knitting your sleeves a little faster than usual, so you can knit more of the fun colorwork at the end!

The sizes listed are the finished sweater measurements. It is designed to be worn with positive ease so choose the sweater size that is 4-8”/ 10-20.5 cm larger than your actual bust circumference. Fingering or sport weight yarn and thee gauge for the plain stockinette body and sleeves is 23 sts and 32 rnds = 4 inches / 10 cm in stockinette st, in the round. The colorwork gauge is 23 sts and 28 rnds = 4 inches / 10 cm. Jennifer has suggested several needle sizes but swatch too determine what needle sizes you will need.

Suggested yarns include Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, Malabrigo Mechita, SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock or Ancient Arts Passion 8.

This is the Goldenfern test knit by YamaFibreArt! I believe that the knit.love.wool deesigns has a knit along coming up soon! Jen is working on Goldwing while Heidi and Linda are both working on Hinterland.

Lonely Forest Socks by Caitlin Hunter are cozy anklets knit from the toe up and featuring a texture inspired by pine boughs. These socks use twisted stitches, cables, and a fun, unique bobble stitch! The heel is worked using German Short Rows. The recommended fit is 1” 2.5 cm of negative ease in circumference (measured at the widest part of the foot) and 15% negative ease in length.

Caitlin held two yarns together for her sample - fingering held double with suri alpaca to get a DK gauge of 26 sts and 36 rounds over 4” 10 cm in stockinette, after blocking but you can use a single strand of DK if you prefer.

WIPs

I have been been so busy that unfortunately for me, I haven't done much knitting!

This was my progress by Christmas Day on my ADVENTuresome Wrap by Ambah O’Brien using the Koigu Advent 2020 Kit in Mica. I pinned it out so it would photograph better...lace doesn't look very nice until after it is blocked!

I haven't taken very many progress shots but I finally finished the ribbing on my modified Stripes! by Andrea Mowry! After 10.5 inches of the body, I worked 5 inches of 2x2 ribbing and added pockets which I still need to stitch down! I was worried about the excess fabric in the yoke area for someone like me who isn't very busty but I steam blocked it for this photo and it looks like it will be fine!

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

I am sorry but I am not finished compiling my spreadsheet to draw the winner of the October to December Knit-Along! I will post the winner in next week's blog/newsletter and on social media!

I have so many finished photos to include this week!

Here is the back of Sharon (Sharbooski)’s Lunenburg Pullover by Amy Christoffers knit using Lichen and Lace Rustic Heather Sport. As you can see from the top photo, Sharon modified the pattern to make it a cardigan!

Diane’s first woven blanket using acrylic/alpaca yarn is wonderful!

Debbie (debsnubs) recently finished these three baby blankets!! Here is Blanket 1.

Debbie's Blanket 2.

Debbie's Blanket 3.

Connie (maltesecross) felt like making a baby blanket so knit Annie’s Song by Laura Aylor using Berroco Vintage!

Patti (@patnelann) finished the Typhoon Shawl by Josh Ryks-Robinsky for a friend to go with her red coat using Timber Yarns Twin Socks Candy Cane.

Rita (ritz) finished her Choose Love Shawl by ForestCityKG for their KAL!

Heidi (@eweandiyarn) finished her gorgeous Slipstravaganza by WestKnits for his MKAL!

Jen (@seaturtkecraftco) finished her stunning Fading Point Shawl by Joji Locatelli!

Linda (lmcnorton) finished her Twelve Days of Knitmas MKAL 2020 by Melissa Kemmerer for a friend!

Karen finished her Nightshift Shawl by Andrea Mowry using a Nightshift Shawl kit in Noro Ito from the shop!

Katherine just has her pocket to sew onto her Community Tunic by Joji Locatelli! Knit using Noro Ito and Alafosslopi for the colourwork!

Katherine knit a second child size one loosely based on Joji’s Community Tunic. They have not been blocked yet.

Angela finished her Turtle Dove using Alafosslopi to wear as an outdoor ski style jacket.

Carol finished her Turtle Dove II using Drops Air! She modified it to add 5 inches to the sleeves!

Mirna finished her Loving by Kim Hargreaves and Heart Warmer Cowl in Fibre Co. Meadow held double with Drops Kid Silk!

Dianne finished her Ranunculus by Midori Hirose using Drops Air!

Angie (@knittinggrapevines) finished her Sunday Cardigan by PetiteKnit but is undecided about adding buttons! Angie also used Drops Air!

Karen (kmae64) finished her Felix Cardigan by Amy Christoffers! She used Berroco Ultra Alpaca.

Connie (maltesecross) finished her summery Rock It Tee by Tanis Lavallee using Berroco Remix Light!

Lise (Mattedcat) finished this test knit Rio Rene for Taiga Hilliard Designs but couldn’t post it before it was released in December!

Patrick finished Mossdale by Martin Storey to give his nephew just two days before Christmas! He used Cascade 220 Heathers.

Sonia (@soniabknits) finished these fun vanilla socks!

More socks knit by Sonia (@soniabknits) - Scrumptious Stripes Socks by Scrumptious Purl...

and socks knit using Point Prim Socks!

Diane (@boujeeknits) finished this super squishy cabled Minted Hat by Andrea Mowry. Her husband gifted her the personalized labels!!

Veronica (@xovee.knits) finished this Diamond Dust Beanie test knit for Ellie @banditknits! Pattern will be released soon!

VIRTUAL SOCIAL KNITTING

Virtual social knitting using the Zoom app! It has been a great way to knit together through social distancing! Join in with us either Tuesday afternoon from 2 - 4 pm or Thursday nights from 7 - 9 pm. We are continuing to hold our Zoom meetings each week until we can meet again in person. Clicking on the link will take you to our Zoom meeting.

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 407820804

The extra 15% Discount means up to 55% off everything in Clearance only! Some conditions apply. No code needed! Does not apply to everything on sale, just everything in the Clearance section!

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