Friday, March 3, 2023, Issue 286: Happy Friday!!

• Posted on 1 March 2023
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in cozy knits, March, March 2023, sweater weather
• 0

It had been looking a little like spring outside but I had really been feeling it yet especially since rain was expected and a severe weather alert was in effect! (Note that the severe weather hit while I was still writing this). Are you ready to start your warm weather knitting projects or will you continue your cozy projects for a few more weeks?

If you are looking for a cozy, quick knit, you don't have to look any further than one of these two Icelandic style sweaters!

Hiutaleneule by Heli Nikula is a beautiful stranded Icelandic lopapeysa that is knit in the round on circular needle, bottom up. Next the sleeves are worked in the round on double pointed needles or circular needle using the Magic loop- technique. Slip sleeves on to same circular needle as body to work the yoke.

The photo above is knit by Tiina (@neulova_kettu).

Size: XS, S, M, L, XL

Body width (XS)43 (S)49 (M)56 (L)58 (XL)64 cm
(XS)17 (S)19 (M)22 (L)23 (XL)25 inches
Body length (XS)40 (S)41 (M)42 (L)43 (XL)44 cm (or desired)
(XS)15½ (S)16 (M)16 ½ (L)17 (XL)17 ½ inches
Sleeve length (XS)48 (S)49 (M)50 (L)51 (XL)52 cm (or desired)
(XS)18½ (S)19 (M)19 ½ (L)20 (XL)20 ½ inches

Yarn: Alafosslopi 100gr ball
MC (main color) (XS)5 (S)5 (M)5 (L)6 (XL)7
A (XS)2 (S)2 (M)2 (L)2 (XL)2
B (XS)1 (S)1 (M)1 (L)1(XL)1
C (XS)1 (S)1 (M)1 (L)1 (XL)1

Needles:
Circular needle 4.5mm 80cm US 7, 32”
Circular needle 6mm 80cm US 10, 32”
Double pointed needles 4.5mm and 6mm US 7 and 10
(If you don’t use the magic loop- technique, you will need to use circular needle 4.5mm and 6mm 40cm US 7 and 10, 16”).

Gauge: 13 stitches and 18 rows = 4 inches 

I have put together a few Kits for Hiutaleneule by Heli Nikula (@villahulla) using Istex Alafosslopi.

This pattern is also available as a light version. Hiutaleneule Lite by Heli Nikula is the same design knit using Istex Lettlopi and a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches.

This gorgeous and free lopapeysa is Autumn by Nazilia Zendikhanova (@yuhaknitting).

Size: XS (S, M, L, XL, XXL):

Women and men actual width: 97 (102, 106, 111, 115, 120) cm
Women full length: 40 (41, 42, 43, 44, 45) cm
Women sleeve length: 45 (46, 47, 48, 49, 50) cm
Men full length: 42 (43, 44, 45, 46, 47) cm
Men sleeve length: 49 (50, 51, 52, 53, 54) cm

Yarn:
Main color: 500 (500, 600, 600, 600, 700) g
Color 2: 200 g
Color 3: 200 g

Gauge:
6mm needles – 13sts x 18row – 10 x10cm

I have put together one Autumn Kit using the same colours as the pattern.

Morning Sunshine is Stephanie Lotven (@tellybeanknits) newest pattern. It is 60% off with the code MORNING until March 31, 2023.

The Morning Sunshine cowl is the perfect project to get your day started. Each section is a fun, bite-sized adventure. Grab your cup of coffee, and wake up every morning to a fun, new stitch! Combining stockinette, garter, lace, smocking stitch, and a cross stitch border, this cowl never gets boring.

Are you new to some of these stitches? No need to break a sweat before breakfast! This pattern includes photo tutorials AND links to video tutorials for the smocking stitch, cross stitch, and k3togm3 stitch. Plus, the pattern includes a full yardage breakdown for every section, so you can plan your cowl to fit your stash using the COLORING PAGE included with the pattern.

Worked SEAMLESSLY from the top down, it knits up quickly (like any good cowl should), but wears like a hassle-free shawl. Unlike traditional tube cowls that rumple into a pile of knitting around your neck, this shawl-shaped construction lets your knitting shine by creating a triangular front and shortened back. The shape is wonderful, wearable, and just plain fun to knit.

Yarn:
FINGERING weight yarn

Section 1 Color (shown in pink): 25 yards / 23 meters
Section 2 Color (shown in black): 45 yards / 41 meters
Section 3 & 4 Color (shown in coral): 65 yards / 59 meters
Section 5 Color (shown in gold): 75 yards / 69 meters
Section 6 Color (shown in white): 90 yards / 82 meters
Section 7 Color (shown in brown): 105 yards / 96 meters

Total Yardage: 405 yards / 370 meters

Finished Dimensions:
Neck Opening: 20 inches / 51 cm
Front Length: 22 inches / 56 cm
Back Length: 8 inches / 20.5 cm

Needles:
US 4 (3.5mm) 20-inch (50cm) circulars or as required to meet gauge

Gauge:
24 sts & 32 rounds = 4 inches 10cm in stockinette flat & in the round after blocking

FOs and WIPs

I have 10.25 inches from the cast on edge of the back to where I finished my first skein on my The Weekender by Andrea Mowry. The Weekender is knit bottom up with a split hem and although the purl side is the right side, it is knit inside out! This is so you can knit instead of purling the sweater and since this is done until I have 15 inches from the back cast on edge, I have a bit to go. I am using one of my favourite yarns, Arranmore Light from The Fibre Company in Rioga.

On Sunday, I worked on my Northerly by Caitlin Hunter since I was still waiting for a shipment of yarn to arrive.

I got to round 21 of the yoke chart for the size 4 that I am making before receiving the shipment from The Fibre Company that I was waiting for. Of course, I am using their Arranmore Light in St. Claire for this and Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Starke 6 in colour 2092. I haven't decided what my second contrast colour is yet!

The new shipment of yarn from The Fibre Company arrived! All I need is one Amble Mini Skein to finish the rest of the charts for my Drawing Sweater by Tomomi Yoshimoto!

Yesterday I finished the rest of the second sleeve chart.

Here I am trying on my Drawing Sweater again! What do you think? I love it!

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Brandi (@thegreenbuttonjar)’s beautiful The Forager by Melody Hoffmann is knit using Plötulopi held double with her own hand dyed mohair! She modified her sleeves to decrease much more quickly for the shorter length to her cuffs.

Sonia (Soniabknits) this cozy Warm-Up Sweater by Espace Tricot that she knit using Garnstudio Drops Air and a regular 1x1 rib instead of twisted rib. She used Pearl but choose your favourite colour or Drops Kid Silk held double with a DK or light worsted yarn.

Sonia (Soniabknits) finished a cozy pair of Everywhere Mitts by Minimi Knit Design using Garnstudio Drops Air leftover from her other project!

Jan (mrsjanknits) finished her gorgeous Boneyard Shawl by Stephen West! She used Berroco Remix Light.

Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) finished her Dunyvaig by Kate Davies Designs.

Another view of Debbie’s Dunyvaig by Kate Davies Design.

Carol (knittoatea) finished this set knit using Estelle Chunky. The Cowl is my Painted Stones Cowl.

Veronica (@xov.knits) finished this pair of her October Braid Beanie (not published yet) knit with a bulkier yarn.

Cecilia (colourcanuck) finished her A Built World by Georgia Farrell using Berroco Elba.

I love Margarete’s Sommerknus by Elsebeth Judith using Ancient Arts Passion 8 held double with the leftovers of Koigu Lace Pencil Box. She just needs to weave in her ends.

This is the photo Margarete sent me a few weeks ago to show me the finished Cottontail Scarf knit using her Koigu Lace Pencil Box and her Sommerknus WIP. At the time, she was worried she would not have enough of her leftover Koigu Lace to finish.

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