Friday, November 17, 2023, Issue 321: Happy Friday....What is on your needles?

• Posted on 16 November 2023
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in Fall Knitting, Gift Knitting, November, November 2023, sweater weather
• 0

Can you believe it? There is 5 weeks or only 37 days until Christmas! Give the knitters and makers in your life (or yourself) the beautiful yarn or tools that will make them very happy! If you are a maker, what is on your Wish List?

It was cold and damp out there today so it really feels like sweater weather out there!

Would you knit yourself a Christmas sweater? Jingle by Isabell Kraemer can certainly be knit with holiday colours but I have seen many of the finished projects where the motif has become just a motif and doesn’t look Christmasy!

Jingle is worked seamlessly from the top down. First some short rows are worked back and forth to create a higher back neck and then the yoke is worked top down, in the round, to sleeve separation. Some last short rows are worked to finish the yoke shaping right before sleeve stitches are placed on hold, then the body is worked in rounds down to the hem. Sleeves are worked top down to the cuffs last. No finishing required.

Note: At the testers request there is an option for a smaller neckline for sizes 3 - 10. Instructions for this can be found immediately following the original neckline.

Yarn
MC:
1116 (1225, 1313, 1400, 1510)(1597, 1685, 1772, 1860, 2008) yds/ 1020 (1120, 1200, 1280, 1380)(1460, 1540, 1620, 1700, 1835) m
CC1:
73 (93, 97, 102, 107)(112, 118, 118, 118, 118) yds/
80 (85, 89, 93, 98)(102, 108, 108, 108, 108) m
CC2:
28 (34, 35, 36, 39)(43, 47, 47, 47, 47) yds/
26 (31, 32, 33, 36)(39, 43, 43, 43, 43) m

Needles
US 3 (3.25 mm) 16” (40 cm) and 32” (80 cm) circular needle and DPNs (or longer circular needle for magic loop) for neck CO, body and sleeve ribbing.
US 4 (3.5 mm) 16” (40 cm) and 32” (80 cm) circular needle and DPNs (or longer circular needle for magic loop) for body and sleeves.

Gauge
25 sts x 36 rows = 4” (10 cm) square in Stockinette stitch on larger needle after blocking.

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5)(6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
finished bust circumference:
35.25 (38, 42.25, 44.75, 46.75)(50, 52.5, 55.75, 59.5, 63.25)“
88 (95, 105.5, 112, 117)(125, 131, 139, 149, 158.5) cm
Sample is worn with 3.5” (9 cm) positive ease at bust.

steklenka’s Jingle by Isabell Kraemer is knit using Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Weight using colours 203, 54 and 9113 as her red.

Other Suggested Yarn
Garnstudio Drops Flora, Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, Regia Premium Merino Yak, Koigu KPM

Snow Wonder is Heidi Kirrmaier’s new festive pullover. Use Code SNOW to receive 15% off until end of day Sunday November 19.

This festive pullover is knit seamlessly from the top down with raglan shaping. The top part is knit flat while the neck shaping takes place, then the remainder is knit in the round. Stitches for the collar are picked up and knit at the end.

Sizes
Finished body circumference (inches): XXS (33¼); XS (34¾); S1 (37¼); S2 (39¾); M1 (43); M2 (46½); L (49); XL (52¼); 2X (56¼); 3X (59¾); 4X (63¾); 5X (68); 6X (72). It is intended to fit with approximately 3-7 inches ( 8-18 cm) of ease. The pattern includes a schematic diagram which shows the key measurements for all the sizes.

Snow Wonder (Children) is the kid’s version for sizes 4 to 12 which can be found here!

Yarn
785, 850, 910, 985, 1095, 1175, 1285, 1395, 1425, 1620, 1700, 1860, 1965 yds / 720, 775, 830, 900, 1000, 1075, 1175, 1275, 1375, 1480, 1550, 1700, 1800 m

Bobbles
The bobble snowflake is both written and charted. A bobble method, as well as tips for closing gaps beside the bobbles (if needed) are provided in the pattern. However, if there is a different bobble method you prefer, it can certainly be substituted!

Yarn Suggestions
Cascade 220 Heathers, Berroco Vintage, Garnstudio Drops Air

Snow Matter What by Sarah Schira is her upcoming December mystery gnome event to knit Mr. Gnightly.

Countdown the days of December with the folks of the Grimblewoods! You’ll get wee knitting updates to knit a brand new gnome pattern, stories, recipes, and surprises!

Use code “Snow25” to get 25% off the pattern! P.S. Imagined Landscape newsletter subscribers are getting a code for 33% off! Subscribe and get the code here.

It’s almost Longest Gnight but there hasn’t been a single snowflake fluttering in the sky. The Grimblewoods are a dreary, frozen brown landscape, and the gnomes are getting worried. Without snow in the darkest days, the light doesn’t reflect very well and houses and hearts seem darker this year. The littlest gnomes are especially anxious – how will the Gnome of the Gnorth light lanterns on Longest Gnight if his sleigh can’t slide speedily through the snow?

Key Dates
Dec 1-24: daily updates, all gnome knitting clues released by Dec 24
Dec 24: entry form (for Instagram entries) and finished gnome thread (for Ravelry entries) open
Dec 25-31: more updates sent, dates are a surprise
Jan 1: last day to enter for a grand prize
Jan 5: prizes announced, clues integrated into a single pattern

Yarn
You’ll need 4x20g of fingering weight yarn. Ancient Arts Gnome Kits are available HERE.

Colour advice is in the PreKnitalong Info PDF available to download once you have bought Snow Matter What. The Imagined Landscapes Ravelry group has a PreKal Thread - Snow Matter What where you can find the pre-knitalong chat thread.

WIPs and FOs

I have been knitting a bit at a time on both of my WIPs! On Wednesday, this is where I was in my Growing by Lone Kjeldsen. As a loose knitter, I was using 3.5 mm needles. When I finally measured my row gauge, I have 32 rows instead of 28 rows to 4 inches. I decided to change my needle tip for the right needle for purling to a 3.75 mm while keeping the left needle the 3.5 mm I had been using.

I am almost finished my second skein of mohair and have a little more than 4 inches knit from the armholes.

Our Growing-Pre-Pay Knit Along has been changed from a Wednesday afternoon class to Wednesday nights from 7 until 9 pm starting November 29th. I hope the new time is better for those who had expressed an interest but could not do an afternoon class.

This is not a traditional class but a Knit-Along that is also open to everyone to knit along on your own as well. Everyone in the class will be working on the same project where I will be there to guide you along! After this block of weeks, we will continue in monthly blocks until we are finished after which we can choose another great pattern! This one is set for the first 4 classes.

This is where I was on my Secret Garden Sweater by Elenor Mortensen on Wednesday. I have been steadily changing my cable length and at this point, I have a 44 inches of cable plus my two 4 inch tips.

I have faded the third colour in and the pink (Ros Meliert) is now the background colour. I am using the yarn specified in the pattern, Regia Premium Alpaca Soft and Regia Premium Merino Yak. Two Kits are available HERE.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Teri bought this as a Robette KIT from the shop! Robette by Alison Green for Berroco is knit using Berroco Remix Chunky.

Angelina is a talented knitter who makes up her own patterns often from a photo. The bands are cables in contrasting yarn.

Angelina knit this gorgeous cabled cardigan holding strands of mohair together.

Angelina’s friend knit this 30 years ago for her husband but couldn’t resist posing for me!

Sandi (sandima) knit both of these using her hand spun yarn. Nicole is wearing the Textured Stripe Scrappy Hat by Sarah Schira. Sandi is wearing the Citrus Hat by Laura Treadway.

It’s taken a few extra weeks but Libby has finished her Gramps by tincanknits cardigan from our First Cardigan Class using Berroco Vintage.

Rosemary (@coolknitsbyrose) finished this gorgeous pair of Scribbly Gum Socks by Helen Stewart.

Claudia (@cgriffs01) used the smaller 6.5 mm needle instead of the recommended 8 mm to get the firmer basket she wanted to hold her knit fruit and vegetables!

Cecilia (@adventuremonkey6) finished this Christmas gift set using Malabrigo Rasta.

Jeannie (@jeanniegalt) knit this Noose, der Knotenloop by Wollopus, a pattern she bought in German instead of English. Here is the link to buy the English pattern.

Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!