Friday, March 18, 2022, Issue 240: Happy Friday! What is on your needles?

• Posted on 18 March 2022
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in KAL, knit-along, March 2022, spring knitting
• 0

Today is not quite as nice out as yesterday but it's still not bad! Spring knitting is coming! Are you ready to cast on a summer tee yet?

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 30, 2022 for Local Yarn Store Day!

Stay tuned for more information soon!

Prismarine by Alina Appasova is a scarf worked on a bias in a simple slip stitch pattern. Repeats are short and easy to memorize. You can use self-striping, ombre, gradients, mini skeins, leftovers. Size is easy to adjust in both directions. Get 20% OFF with code PRISM until midnight (CT) on March 20, 2022.

The pattern can be worked from the written instruction or the chart.

Yarn:

MC - one skein of Urth Yarns Uneek Fingering

CC - one skein of Urth Yarns Harvest Fingering

Or any similar fingering weight yarn in 2 contrasting colors

Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm)

Notions: darning needle

Gauge: unblocked - 24 sts x 50 rows= 4” in main pattern,
blocked -23 sts x 44 rows = 4” in main pattern

Sizing:

• Cast-on edge width: 14½”/ 36.5 cm,
• Length (along selvedge edge): 75”/187 cm,
• Width: 9½”/24 cm

Teti Lutsak’s Nivalis Pullover was released today on Ravelry! Teti is from the Ukraine, whose family is there and her husband's family. Nivalis is inspired by snowdrops, the first spring flowers coming from under the snow. The pullover is worked top-down in the round with a floral pattern around the yoke. The colourwork pattern can be worked as a simple stranded colourwork or as a more intricate pattern of floats.

Sizes:

• The pattern is written for 18 sizes: A (B, C, D, E) (F, G, H, I) (J, K, L, M) (N, O, P, Q, R) with a finished bust circumference of ca. 76 (82, 87, 93, 96) (102, 107, 113, 116) (122, 127, 133, 136) (142, 147, 153, 158, 164) cm // 30 (32.25, 34.25, 36.5, 38) (40, 42.25, 44.5, 45.75) (48, 50, 52.25, 53.75) (55.75, 58, 60.25, 62.25, 64.5) in incl. 10 cm (4 in) of recommended positive ease. 

Yarn:

• MC: 740 (800, 820, 880, 900) (960, 1000, 1060, 1100) (1160, 1220, 1280, 1340) (1400, 1460, 1520, 1580, 1640) m // 810 (875, 897, 963, 985) (1050, 1094, 1160, 1203) (1269, 1335, 1400, 1466) (1532, 1597, 1663, 1729, 1794) yds for a slightly cropped length version of any fingering/sport weight yarn with a matching gauge. Make sure to have extra MC yarn if you wish to add body length. 

• CC: 180 (180, 180, 180, 200) (200, 220, 220, 220) (220, 240, 240, 260) (260, 280, 280, 300, 300) m // 197 (197, 197, 197, 219) (219, 241, 241, 241) (241, 263, 263, 284) (284, 306, 306, 328, 328) yds of any other fingering/sport weight yarn with a matching gauge. 

Yarn Suggestions: Regia Premium 4 Ply Merino Yak, Ancient Arts Yarn Socknado

Needles and notions

• 3.0 mm (US 2.5), 3.5 mm (US 4) and 4.0 mm (US 6) circular needles;
• spare cables, spare circular needles or scrap yarn to keep stitches on hold;
• a few stitch markers;
• a tapestry needle or a crochet hook to weave in the ends.

Gauge

• 22 sts & 30 rnds in 10 cm (4 in) on 4.0 mm (US 6) needles and 24 sts & 36 rnds in 10 cm (4 in) on 3.0 mm (US 2.5) needles measured over stockinette stitch worked in the round after blocking;
• 22 sts & 26 rnds in 10 cm (4 in) measured over stranded colourwork with floats on the RS worked in the round on 3.5 mm (US 6) needles after blocking.

Adjust the needle sizes if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Jessie Maed’s Gr8 Gingham Raglan came to my attention when I saw posts of @Purlificknitter’s test knit posts popped up on Instagram!

Color changing yarn adds a surprise twist to this classic gingham colorwork raglan. Featuring a fitted yoke and perfectly symmetric contrast raglan seams, the pattern includes instructions for both short and long sleeves, a ribbed or i-cord neck finish, and general guidance on modifying body and raglan length to your preference.

Sizes:
All of my patterns are #sizeinclusive through a 62” full chest measurement.

(XS, S, M)L, 1X, 2X{3X, 4X, 5X} to fit chest measurement of:
(28, 32, 36)40, 44, 48{52, 56, 60}“
(71, 81.5, 91.5)101.5, 112, 122{132, 142, 152.5}cm

Finished Garment Measurements:
(36.5, 40, 43.5)47.5, 51, 54.5{58, 62, 65.5}“
(92.5, 101.5, 110.5)120.5, 129.5, 138.5{147.5, 157.5, 166.5}cm

This sweater is designed with 3.5-8.5”/9-21.5 cm of positive ease at the chest.Construction:
Sweater, sleeves, and body are knit individually from the bottom up. Body is joined to sleeves and decreases are worked at raglan seams to neckline. Underarm stitches are grafted using Kitchener stitch or a three needle bind-off.

Please note that for simplicity and ease, this pattern does not contain neckline shaping.

Yardage:
Long Sleeved Version
MC:
(575, 605, 695)(730, 795, 860)(960, 1035, 1110)yd
(526, 553, 635)(667, 727, 786)(878, 946, 1015)m
CC:
(550, 575, 620)(650, 715, 775)(875, 945, 1015)yd
(503, 526, 567)(594, 654, 708)(800, 864, 928)m

Short Sleeved Version
MC:
(475, 525, 550)(600, 675, 775)(875, 950, 1025)yd
(434, 480, 503)(548, 617, 708)(800, 868, 937)m
CC:
(450, 475, 500)(525, 600, 650)(750, 850, 925)yd
(411, 434, 457)(480, 548, 594)(686, 777, 846)m

Adding Body Length:
If you would like to add additional length to the body of your sweater, allot the following supplemental quantities of each color for every additional 1.5”/4cm of body length.

MC & CC :
(23, 25, 34)(37, 40, 43)(55, 68, 72)yd
(21, 23, 31)(34, 37, 39)(50, 62, 66)m

Materials:
one or two spare sets of circular needles for joining sleeves, four removable stitch markers, one regular stitch marker, scrap yarn or stitch holders, darning needle.

This was @Purlificknitter’s Gr8 Gingham Raglan test knit before she converted it into a cardigan! She includes what she did in her project notes.

Suggested Yarn: Malabrigo Mechita

WIPs and FOs

Last week I finished my Oksa test knit for Caitlin Hunter and while I have a lot of purchased patterns and a huge number in my favourites, I always have a hard time trying to decide!

I cast on Inovec by Karin Fernandes using Noro Enka for my next project! I knit my swatch first using 5.0 mm needles but got gauge using 4.5 mm needles.

Enka is the old Japanese word for 'Fireworks', which is appropriate for this yarn, as sections transform in bursts of different colourways!

• 50% Cotton, 20% Silk, 15% Wool, 15% Nylon/Polyamide
• DK weight, single ply, self-striping
• 550 yards (503 meters) per 200 grams (7.05 ounces)
• 21 - 24 sts = 4 inches
• 3.75 - 4.5mm (US 5 - 7) needles
• 3.75mm (F) - 4.5mm hook
• Gentle, cold hand wash only, dry flat

Inovec is a gorgeous and practical short sleeved pullover with a high-low hemline.

CONSTRUCTION NOTES
The pullover is knit top down in the round and uses very interesting increases technique in the yoke section.

SIZES
S/M (L/XL)
Circumference at bust: 107 (130) cm / 42 (51) inches
Side length measured from underarms: 28 cm / 11 inches
Back neck width: 23 (25) cm / 9 (10) inches
Sleeve opening circumference: 32 (39) cm / 12.5 (15) inches
Positive Ease 2/3+ inches

YARN
Worsted weight yarn 650 (800) m/ 711 (875) yards.
While the sample was knit in Noro Ito (100% wool), I wanted to knit a summer sweater.

The day after I cast on I had this much knit by dinner time!

By early Wednesday afternoon, I had knit about an inch after the body and sleeve separation.

This is the photo I took this morning to show how far I got last night! The photos do not do justice to the vibrant colours.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

The current 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!

Dianne (DianneJL) knit her second beautiful Bean & Olive by Andrea Mowry for her older granddaughter using Cascade 220 Sport!

Marie (filetout) finished herself Snowfall by Charlene Wibbing using Bergere de France Calinou.

Linda (lmcnorton) knit a Mouse in a cabled sweater by Julie Williams but with dungarees and no sweater.

She did this to make it like the mouse in the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff.

Jan (mrsjanknits) crocheted herself a Cozy Stripe Blanket by Lucy of Attic24 with leftover fingering from her finished projects.

Marie (thecatsmom) crocheted this dress, bonnet and shoes for an 8” doll with Oh, So Cute Doll Clothes from Annie’s Attic.

Mary Ellen (MadCrocheter) is test crocheting this beautiful shawl for Michele DuNaier.

Mary Ellen (MadCrocheter) knit this February Hat by Kate Gagnon Osborn. It is one of several hats that she has finished recently.

Ann (annvanwagner) knit this pair of Comfy Gusset Mittens by Karen Hoyle.

Sandi (sandima) knit this tiny Gno Fun Like Gnome Fun by Sarah Schira to leave in Pachuka, Mexico.

Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) finished her Basic Fine Sock by Patons using Timber Yarns Twin Sock in the Oh Canada colourway inspired by the pair knit by Connie (@knitnut246)!

Jocelyne (jocblais) knit a pair of Summer Crush Shorties by Tracie Millar with CoopKnits Socks Yeah! while trying to decide what to knit next!

SHOP UPDATE

A small shipment of Schoppel Wolle Edition 3 arrived!

Edition 3 is a DK weight version of Edition 6. Wait until you see how many projects you can use this yarn in. You’ll be addicted to the slow, gradual color change in each ball!

• 100% Merino Extrafine Superwash Wool from Patagonia
• DK, Sport weight
• 164 yards (150 meters) per 50 grams (1.76 ounces) ball
• 3 - 4 mm (US 2 - 6) needles
• Approx. 5.5-6.5 sts per inch
• Machine wash, Dry flat

Checkout the other Schoppel Wolle yarns that I carry!

Imagined Landscapes has been hosting a year long GNOME PARTY! You can join at any time in the year, and you can knit as many gnomes as you like! Join in and knit yours or order a kit from Ancient Arts Yarn in Socknado or Passion 8! See HERE for small individual Gnome Kits with 4 mini skeins or Ultimate Gnome Kits with 7 full skeins are available, in stock and ready to ship!

Don't forget to check out the Winter Classes that will be starting next week HERE. The minimum registration for our classes is four students and maximum is 6 people for most workshops. 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.

Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!