Friday, July 17, 2020, Issue 157: What is on your needles?

• Posted on 17 July 2020
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in Berroco Quinoa, crochet-along, July 2020, KAL, knit-along, make-along, The Fibre Co. Meadow
• 0

Too hot to be outdoors for too long with the recent humidity but it has been the perfect excuse to knit indoors! Summer makes using linen, cottons or fingering weight yarns are cooler to work with!

Have you tried The Fibre Company's Meadow yet? It's always a popular choice for makers at this time of the year because it is such a pleasure to knit with, even in warm weather. Meadow is a rustic, lace-weight yarn spun from a blend of baby llama, merino wool, silk and linen. It is perfect for soft, textural shawls and lightweight summer sweaters.

Pictured above is In The Dunes Wrap by Helen Stewart (shown in the shade Fennel). It is a light and airy asymmetrical rectangle with flowing stripes of lace, the perfect wrap for a breezy afternoon or evening. The lace stitches look delicate and detailed but are intuitive and relaxed. A lovely knit to savour in quiet moments. The finished measurements are 88" long by 21" wide and requires almost all of two full skeins of Meadow or 976m/1069yds of heavy lace weight or light fingering yarn. The designer suggests a third skein or working one less lace repeat at the beginning and end of the wrap if you are concerned about having enough yarn. Gauge is 22 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in lace using 4.0 mm (US 6) needles or as required to get gauge.

Huia by Libby Jonson (Truly Myrtle) knit using The Fibre Co. Meadow in the colourway Prairie. This cardigan is knit in airy heavy-lace-weight yarn, is full of gorgeous little details and is the perfect light-yet-warm layer. You’ll start at the top and create the back yoke before picking up the fronts and working them to the armhole where you’ll join the fronts and back.

The back neck is a fun V shape and the front bands include a pretty lace detail that is worked with the body, so once you’re at the hem you’re done! No bands to pick up later. Set-in, three-quarter length sleeves give a flattering fit, and buttoned cuffs add a lovely twist.

The pattern is suitable for experienced knitters and adventurous beginners, Huia includes written and charted instructions and is a dream to knit and wear. The sample show is size 36.25 and used less than 2 skeins of Meadow. Gauge is 27 sts/39 rows = 4”/10 cm with 3.25 mm (US 3) needles in stockinette stitch, flat and in the round, after blocking or as required to get gauge. 3.0 mm (US 2.5) needles are used for ribbing.

Summer Meadow by Janina Kallio is knit using 2 skeins of The Fibre Co. Meadow or approximately 961 yards of light fingering. The sample is knit in the colourway Cornflower.

A relaxing knit with a contemporary look, Summer Meadow is the perfect project for lazy summer days in the garden. Big and floaty, this shawl is an absolute beauty with its delicate details and breathtaking lightness.

Summer Meadow combines garter stitch with a beautifully textured eyelet pattern. Small eyelets are sprinkled along stockinette stitch and framed with petite garter ridges to add textural interest.

The shawl is worked diagonally from one tip to the opposite side of the triangle, creating a large but lightweight wrap with wonderful drape. The asymmetric shape is fun to knit and easy to wear in numerous ways.

The finished shawl has a wingspan of 87" by 40' deep. The gauge is 20 stitches and 42 rows = 4 inches
in garter stitch, before blocking using 4.0 mm (US 6) needles or as required to get gauge.

Seacote by Paulina Popiolek is a Free Pattern with purchase of The Fibre Co. Meadow. The pattern requires two skeins of Meadow or 1090 yards (997 m). Gauge is 20 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch using 3.25 mm (US 3) needles or as required to get gauge. Ask if you are interested in this pattern.

Irish Sea by Susanna Winter is another free pattern with purchase of The Fibre Co. Meadow. Irish Sea is a super-wearable triangle shawl with beautiful drape and fluidity. The crisp stitch definition from Meadow emphasizes the rhythmic garter stitch and delicate lace as it travels down the edge of the shawl. The size can be adjusted by knitting more or less repeats. The smaller size (wingspan of 63") uses one skein while the larger size (wingspan of 80") requires two skeins. Gauge is 20 sts and 54 rows to 10 cm (4 in) measured over garter stitch before blocking and 20 sts and 35 rows after blocking using 3.5mm (US 4) needles.

About Meadow

• Heavy lace weight
• 40% merino, 25% baby llama, 20% silk, 15% linen
• 498 m / 545 yds/100 gram skein
• 32-36 sts = 4" (10 cm)
• 2.25 - 3.25 mm (US 1-3) needle
• Hand Wash, Dry Flat

Davit Tee by Amy Palmer has a simple front while the back is two pieces that are crossed for an elegant wrap effect. The body is knit from the top down, showing off the lovely fabric of Berroco Quinoa, before the shoulder pieces and bottom edges are sewn together. Easy cap sleeves are picked up and knit down.

This garment was designed with approximately 1–4” of ease. Due to the open construction of the back, each size can fit a wide range of bust sizes. Please take this into consideration when selecting your size. Gauge is 20 sts and 28 rows = 4” in stockinette using 4.5 mm (US 7) needles or as required to get gauge.

Breakwater by Amy Christoffers is elegant in its simplicity. This short-sleeve pullover knitting pattern lets the unique fabric of the yarn shine. The fabric of Berroco Quinoa in reverse stockinette stitch is framed with simple eyelet columns at the shoulders. The sample is size 40" in the colourway Fennel. This garment was designed with approximately 2–4” of ease.

About Berroco Quinoa

Berroco Quinoa is a thick and thin cotton wrapped up with a nylon binder giving it a pebbled texture. Contrasting shades of cotton blended with the nylon thread add a marled appearance. The unique fabric creates lightweight tops and accessories.

• 91% Cotton, 9% Nylon
• 175 yds (160 m) per 50 g (1.75 oz)
• 4-4.5 mm (US 6-7) needles
• 20-22 sts x 28-30 rows = 4" (10cm)
• 5 mm (US H) hook
• 5 sc x 19 rows = 4" (10cm)
• Machine Wash in cold water on delicate cycle. Lay flat to dry.

WIP's and FO's

I have finished the body and only have the sleeves left to knit on my Soundtrack for Olive Knits 4 Day KAL! Yarn is Stolen Stitches Nua Worsted, a blend of merino, yak, and linen.

My colour choices of Ancient Arts Socknado are all caked and ready for me to cast on the V-Back Tee by Jamie Hoffmann of Knitosophy Designs. I have chosen to use The Bee's Knees (top), Turner-Venice from the Porch (bottom) and Garden Gnomes and Pink Flamingos (right).

My Rock It Tee by Tanis Lavallee is off my needles!! I love how it turned out and how it fits!

I knit mine to 14" from the underarms for the length since when I tried it on was long enough for me. Despite the fact that the Kid Silk is fine and looks translucent, it is not really see though which I know a lot of people were concerned about. The fabric really did not look as neat as my knitting usually is especially since you are using two yarns with different characteristics but once your project is finished and blocked you really do not notice it!

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

The current Knit-Alongs are the Any Sweater / Shawl KAL and the Knit Your Project: the everlasting knit-along to encourage and support you to knit is running from July 1 to September 30, 2020. Post you finished projects to the Sue2Knits and Yarn Ravelry Group to the Finished Objects thread or to Instagram using the hashtag #sue2knitskal to be included in the next quarterly draw.

Jen finished her Rock It Tee by Tanis Lavallee! She used Pride Is A Riot yarn by Amaranth Fibres.

Jocelyne finished her Rock It Tee by Tanis Lavallee as well!

J Diane Oliver-Jensen knit this modified Wham by Martin Storey using now discontinued Rowan Original Denim combined with Butterfly Super 10!

Angela (@Angela Maria on FB) knit this sweet set!

Angela also knit this duster from a Tahki Yarns pattern using Drops Air.

Mary-Elizabeth (@flutistiam) has found that she loves knitting socks! She knit these using Timber Yarns Twin Sock in Brick and Mortar.

Socks knit by Lani (zanderlidy) in May!

Lani (zanderlidy) knit these Hermione’s Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder in June!

Kathy (chantrykathy) finished her Christmas Robin Socks using West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 Ply Sock yarn!

Brenda finished her Nightshift by Andrea Mowry!

Natalie knit this gorgeous Awakening of Spring by Rina Lehmann with yarn she won in a Susanna IC KAL! She snagged a third skein with the same dye lot from a Raveler who agreed to sell it to her when she ran out of yarn before finishing!

Linda (lmcnorton) knit her sister Joji’s Odyssey Shawl but wanted it bigger! Linda undid her bind off and added a fourth section by repeating section 3. See her Ravelry notes for details. Yarn is Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light.

Sandi (sandima) knit this Cumulonimbus Beanie test knit for Settlers Grove Designs. Check out the Made with Love tag by Katrinkles!

Placemat woven by Diane on her Ashford Loom using Ashford Caterpillar Cotton and Gist Mallo Cotton Slub.

An extra long scarf woven by Dianne using Navia Bummull Cotton-Wool for the warp and Lang Lily for the weft.

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

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

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