Friday, October 21, 2022, Issue 268: It's fall and it's sweater weather...Happy Friday!

• Posted on 21 October 2022
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in Fall Knitting, Gift Knitting, KAL, knit-along, October 2022, sweater weather
• 0

While it should be cool and crisp out, yesterday included a few snow flurries and yet today, I had to change because it was too warm and yet Christmas is only 9 weeks away! It is going to be here before we know it...Have you started your gift knitting?

I have knit many soft toys for my grandchildren over the years - most of them designed by Julie Williiams of Little Cotton Rabbits. Susan B. Anderson is another designer and teacher with designs that can be found on Ravelry and in books such as Making Magazine. Her toys can be found HERE.

All while Susan B. Anderson was making this adorable bear, she kept saying to herself, “What a good bear.” It had to become the name of the pattern, Good Bear. Would these not make an adorable gift?

Finished Measurement
The Bear is 8-inches tall from the toe to the top of the head.

Needles
Bear: US size 4/3.5mm double-pointed needles
Pants: US size 3/3.25mm double-pointed needles for the waistband; US size 5/3.75mm double-pointed needles for the pants
Colorwork Pullover, Jacket, and Beanie: US size 5/3.75mm double-pointed needles
For the Jacket only I also used a US size 5/3.75mm, 24-inch circular needle to work back and forth.

For all of the suggested needle sizes always check your gauge and use the sizes to obtain the correct gauge.

Gauge
US size 4/3.5mm - 6.5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch
US size 5/3.75mm - 6 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch
For the waistband of the Pants, use needles that are two sizes smaller than the size used for the body of the pants.

Suggested Yarn: Cascade 220 Sport (non-superwash wool) or Rowan Felted Tweed for woolly bears like the designer's bears. For washable bears, use Bergere de France Ideal or Berroco Vintage DK.

The Sweater Weather Sock Collection Cuff Down inspired by all the coziness of autumn by Carlie Perrins. It is available in the Cuff Down or Toe Up. Use COZY20 for 20% off until Friday, October 28 OR put both patterns in your cart for the buy 1 get 1 free discount.

Each design is squishy, cozy, and fun! The techniques are adventurous beginner level and each design has been created to be easily remembered for an intuitive, engaging and rewarding knitting experience. Gift worthy for someone knit-worthy?

Harvest Socks
Easy, peasy pattern repeat, twisted stitches, and a contrast toe and heel. These are vanilla plus level, perfect for TV knitting.

Favourite Sweater Socks
Super squishy, with lots of easy texture and a 6-round repeat. Only one round has a cable stitch, and it is easily executed without the aid of a cable needle. Intuitive and fun. Definitely one of those patterns that you’ll find yourself saying “just one more repeat”…until suddenly your sock is finished!

Autumn Leaves
Mock cable and eyelets create a cascade of autumn leaves. Again, this is one of those patterns that once you’ve knit the chart (or written instructions) one time through, you’ll be smooth sailing. And at a 12-round repeat, these beauties are done quick!

Skills Required
German Twisted cast on, working in the round, knit, purl, slipping stitches, increasing, decreasing, twisted stitches, yarn over, cable knitting, reading charts, Kitchener stitch.

Yardage: 300 (350, 410, 460) yds/274 (320, 375, 420) m TOTAL fingering weight yarn. Yardage is an estimate and is impacted by yarn used, knitter’s gauge, length of sock foot and/or leg knitted.

Suggested Needles:
2.5 mm/US 1.5, 80 cm/32” length for magic loop, OR 2 x 40 cm/16” long for the two-circular method, OR 2.5 mm/US 1.5 double pointed needles OR size needed to obtain gauge. Darning needle. Cable needle if desired.

Gauge: 34 sts and 48 rounds = 10cm or 4”, in the round, in stockinette stitch.

Suggested Yarn: Zen Yarn Garden Serenity 20, a cozy MCN (70% superwash merino/ 20% cashmere/ 10% nylon), WYS Signature 4 Ply Solids or Self Stripping or Patterning.

FOs and WIPs

Ever since Connie (knitnut246) gifted us with a knit scrubbie, Ed has been requesting a few more of them! I finally made these two and I still have enough yarn left for at least three more!

I chose two skeins of Rico Creative Bubble, 021 Blue and 001 Rose Patina. Holding one strand of each and 5.0 mm needles, I cast on 17 stitches. I worked 23 rows of k1, [p1, k1] to the end. Bind off in pattern on row 24.

I haven’t posted a photo of me wearing my The Easy V by Caitlin Hunter WIP yet so here I am.

I love it so far but my Easy V has been in limbo while I spin another hank of the main colour since I am knitting it entirely with my hand spun. I have maybe an hour and a half more of spinning to do before I will be ready to ply.

I am on row 1 of 26 on chart E of my Ninilchik Swoncho by Caitlin Hunter!

What do you think of the colours I am using? I am using a Ninilchik Swoncho Arranmore Light Kit A available in the shop! Under my Swoncho WIP, I am wearing my Antonia by Julie Weisenberger that I knit using Berroco Elba. If my was finished, I would be wearing my Swoncho as a sweater and not as a poncho.

If you are going to knit this, I recommend choosing the larger rather than smaller gauge when deciding what needle size to use after swatching. This is most comfortable when you can move your arms freely and when the shoulders stay on your shoulders and doesn't ride up your neck which it will if it doesn't fit your shoulders.

I also recommend catching your floats every 2 to 3 stitches so that you don't have any long floats for yoou too catch rings or jewelry on.

The Caitlin Hunter KAL (Knit-Along) runs until the end of December so there is still plenty of time to join in!

Choose any Caitlin Hunter (Boyland Knitworks) pattern and buy a kit, or choose your own combination of yarns or use your stash.

There are (6) Ninilchik Swoncho in Arranmore Light Kits and (2) Ninilchik Swoncho in Rowan Felted Tweed Kits.

There are (5) Koivua Light Kits (Kelbourne Woolens Andorra or The Fibre Co. Amble and Schoppel Wolle Starke 6) and (4) Koivua Kits (Kelbourne Woolens Scout and Schoppel Wolle Starke 6). I have not been able to add Koivua kits using Arranmore Light in St. Claire yet like the ones my sister Mary, Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) or i knit. A shipment is expected early next week of The Fibre Co. Arranmore Light and Amble.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Here’s what’s currently going on:

The newest Knit-Alongs are:

Caitlin Hunter (Boyland Knitworks) KAL. Choose from the Ninilchik Swoncho, the Koivua or Koivua Light or any pattern by Caitlin;

and the Knit Any Project: our everlasting knit-along to encourage and support you to knit between now and December 31st.

Don’t forget to post a pic to the finished object (FO) thread whenever 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 or #sue2knitscaitlinhunterkal so that I can find and see them!

Debbie is wearing her new favourite!! It is Sterntaucher by Kate Davies Designs!

Kay (@kayrobbins) came to Knit Night wearing her beautiful Cowboys and Angels shawl by Isabell Kraemer!!

Rita (ritz) test knit this just released quick knit Ice Breaker by Elizabeth Smith Knits.

Here’s Rita (ritz) wearing her Ice Breaker.

Connie (knitnut246) finished her The Lone Skein Shawl by Joji Locatelli.

Cecilia (colourcanuck) finished this amazing Rabbit in Moonlit Night Cowl by Theresa Shizu Tanaka. Yarn is Bergere de France Ideal.

Sonia (Soniabknits) finished Whispers by Les Garçon for her husband!

With the rest of the yarn, Sonia (Soniabknits) knit The Ceej Hat by Tanis Lavallee.

Jen (zjewell) finished this quick knit pair of Woodland Loafers by Claire Slade.

Sandi (sandima) finished this cool Snspshot by Natasha Sills using Garnstudio Drops Flora and the ladder back jacquard technique.

Linda took this photo of what she hand spun with her Ashford Kiwi 3 spinning wheel!

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