Friday, March 11, 2022, Issue 239: Happy Friday! What is on your needles?

• Posted on 10 March 2022
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in KAL, knit-along, March 2022, sweater weather, winter knitting
• 0

While it might have been snowing lightly outside today, I am trying to decide whether my next cast on will be another winter weather / sweater weather knit or a spring / summer / warm weather knit! What would you cast on when you have as many favourited as well as purchased patterns as me?

Oksa, Caitlin Hunter’s newest pattern which I had the honour to test knit is now live and available on Ravelry!

The Oksa sweater is knit top down in the round and features a yoke design with slipped stitches, cables and simple knit and purl designs.

This sweater is her updated take on a traditional fisherman’s gansey. The fit is easily customizable to suit your own style preferences. Please see the schematic for full fit details. Instructions are included in the pattern to make length adjustments. This size inclusive pattern is written to fit bust sizes from 28-66”.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) {7, 8, 9, 10}
Recommended ease: 2-4” 5-10 cm of positive ease at the bust and 1-3” 2.5-8 cm of positive ease at the sleeve. See schematic for full fit details.

Sweater shown is size 3 on a 36” 91.5 cm bust with 4” 10 cm of positive ease

Finished bust circumference: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52) {56, 60, 64, 68}“ 81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132) {142, 152.5, 162.5, 172.5} cm

Yardage:
 Please note that yardage is estimated, and can vary between knitters.

916 (1030, 1144, 1256, 1372, 1487) {1600, 1715, 1830, 1944} yards
837 (941, 1045, 1149, 1254, 1360) {1464, 1568, 1673, 1777} meters
Skeins: 7 (8, 9, 9, 10, 11) {12, 13, 13, 14}

Needles:
Ribbing: US 6 4.0 mm
Main: US 7 4.5 mm

Notions:
Stitch Markers, scrap yarn or stitch holders, cable needle, tapestry needle, row counter (optional)

Gauge:
20 sts and 36 rounds = 4” 10 cm in cable pattern on main needles after blocking

20 sts and 28 rounds = 4” 10 cm in stockinette on main needles after blocking

I love Betsy (@bjustwantstoknit)’s Oksa test! She used a DK weight yarn held double with a mohair and it is so pretty!

Caitlin is offering 15% off this pattern using code KNITSKA, valid through 3/18/22.

PetiteKnit’s new Ingrid Sweater pattern is worked from the top down in a knit and purl texture pattern. It is designed to have approx. 20 cm [8 inches] of positive ease, meaning it is designed to be approx. 20 cm [8 inches] larger in circumference than your bust measurement.

Sizes: XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XL

Bust circumference: 104 (112) 116 (120) 128 (136) 152 (160) 168 cm [41 (44) 45¾ (47¼) 50½ (53½) 63 (66¼) inches]

Length: 56 (58) 60 (63) 65 (67) 68 (69) 70 cm [22 (22¾) 23½ (24¾) 25½ (26½) 26¾ (27¼) 27½ inches]

Gauge: 20 sts x 30 rows = 10 x 10 cm [4 x 4 inches] in texture pattern on 4 mm US6 needles after wash and blocking

Needles: Circular needles: 4 mm [US6] / 40, 60, 80 and/or 100 cm 16, 24, 32 and/or 40 inches, 3 mm [US42½] / 40 cm [16 inches] and 3.5 mm [US4] / 40, 80 and/or 100 cm [16, 32 and/or 40 inches]

Double-pointed needles: 4 mm [US6] and 3,5 mm [US4]

Materials: 400-450 (450) 450-500 (500-550) 550 (600) 650 (700) 750 g (50 g = 125 m [137 yds]) or 300-350 (350) 350-400 (400-450) 450 (450) 500 (500-550) 550 g  (50 g = 175 m [191 yds] held together with 125 (125-150) 150 (150-175) 175 (200) 200 (200-225) 225 g Silk Mohair (25 g = 212 m [232 yds])

For a smaller project, this is Herbarium Socks by Masha Zyablikova, offered as a free Ravelry download. This cuff-down sock pattern includes step by step description, charts and helpful videos.

Construction: Both socks are worked alike top down in the round.

Shoe size (EU):
36/37 (38/39) 40/41 (42/43)
Foot length (cm):
23-23,5 (24-25) 25,5-26,5 (27-28)
Foot length (inches):
(9-9¼) (9½-9¾) 10-10½ (10¾-11)

Yarn: Any sock yarn (80% wool, 20% nylon/polyamide; 400-420 m (437-450 y)/100 g)
~ 65 (70) 80 (90) g.

Needles and notions:

2.25 mm (US 1) circular needles 80 cm (32”) length cable or double-pointed needles.
Stitch markers; scissors; tapestry needle.

WIPs and FOs

By Wednesday, I had one sleeve finished on my Oksa test knit for Caitlin Hunter. I was hoping to have it completed by today, the original date for the pattern to drop on Ravelry. Caitlin decided to make it live a few days early!

I did finish the second sleeve last night! I even managed to sew in the ends but I haven't blocked it yet!

I mostly followed the pattern but did make a couple of minor modifications. I worked 3 sets of increases in the body to give it a slightly a-line shape while keeping the ease of fit to a minimum.

I also worked more decreases on the final decrease round in the sleeves to 42 stitches for tighter cuffs.

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!

Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) finished her Orbits sweater by Rachel Illsey (@unwind_knitwear) knit using Kelbourne Woolens Perennial. Debbie's husband surprised her with the pattern and yarn that he purchased from the shop for Christmas..

Patti (@patnelann) finished this Elder Tree Shawl by Sylvia McFadden (Softsweater) in Berroco Remix Light for her daughter.

Brenda (@bmallat42) is blocking one of three Nightshift shawls by Andrea Mowry that she knit. Yarn is Malabrigo Rios.

Katherine finished a modified Tettegouche by Virginia Sattler-Reimer in worsted with alpaca instead of fingering.

She reduced the ribbed band size to 96 and increased up to the 168 of the pattern, resulting in a good size Tam! It is red and cream to go with her glasses!

Katherine used Tettegouche by Virginia Sattler-Reimer for the crown and another pattern for the rest.

She knit this one also with worsted weight stash yarns including Malabrigo Worsted in Red Java.

Marie (thecatsmom) crocheted in 2 days this Brenna by Purpleiguana as a birthday gift for a friend. Yarn is Navia Silkiull.

Leslie (lcritch) finished Asterism by Janina Kallio using Hedgehog Fibres Sock in Typewriter.

Liz (Lizwake) knit West Winds by Isabelle Ryan using Berroco Remix.

CLASSES - WINTER 2022

Just a gentle reminder that our Classes and Workshops are up in the shop with most starting up the week following March break. A couple of the dates of the two weaving classes were corrected after someone pointed out that the listing was showing January instead of March! Kathy is only here until the end of April and then she will be away until the end of October so I am not sure when we will be able to fit in more classes.

Join us for our Cocoknits Antonia / Antonio Cardigan Class with Kathy! We will knit Antonia / Antonio by Julie Weisenberger of Cocoknits using her English Tailoring method for this classic, seamless top down cardigan. There will be five 2 hour classes running Saturdays, Mar 26, Apr 2, 9 and 16 - 1 - 3 pm.

Cast on and learn all the techniques you need to make your first sweater! We will knit Felix Pullover, designed by Amy Christoffers. Join us for the Beginner Top Down Pullover Class with Kathy - Saturdays, Mar 26, Apr 2, 9 and 16 - 10 am to 12 pm.

Join us Wednesday afternoons for our Pre-Pay Knit-Along Class with Kathy where we will be knitting Joji’s I See Spring.

Interested in trying your hand at weaving? In this introductory 1 day workshop, you will weave your own scarf!! Class fee includes the use of a Sampleit Loom for the class. Register today for either the beginner workshop HERE or more advanced class HERE.

Did you buy yourself a new or used Spinning Wheel? Then our Learn to Spin Class with Paulette is the class for you!

Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!