Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Issue 388: What is on your needles?
- Posted on
- By Sue
- Posted in April 2025, KAL, knitting inspiration, LYS Day, spring knitting
- 0
It was grey and wet outside but at least we didn't get the freezing rain much of Ontario got recently. Now that spring is here and the snow is hopefully a distant memory let's get into spring yarns and knits.
Local Yarn Store Day is coming on April 26, 2025!
Local Yarn Store Day was first celebrated in 2018 as a way to highlight the unique role independently owned yarn shops play in their communities. Organized by The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA), the event encourages crafters to shop locally, explore exclusive patterns, and participate in special activities. It has since become an annual tradition, fostering connections between yarn enthusiasts and their favorite local stores.
Mark your calendars for April 26, 2025, and join us in celebrating the creativity and community of local yarn stores. It’s the perfect day to visit your favorite shop, discover exclusive patterns, yarn-store parties, and connect with others who love fiber arts.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Local Yarn Store Day is approaching on Saturday, April 26th, and we have an exciting offer for you! We are thrilled to announce that Double the Stitches is offering the Double Win Mosaic Shawl pattern for FREE when you purchase the yarn to make it from our store during that weekend!
Designed by Jessica Ays of Double the Stitches, the Double Win Shawl is a beautiful mosaic knit that celebrates the bond between knitters and their local yarn shops. This rectangular shawl features two contrasting colors, creating bold patterns through simple slipped stitches. The result is an intricate-looking, cozy piece that's both enjoyable and satisfying to knit.
To enhance your knitting experience, Jessica is also hosting a FREE Knit-A-Long (KAL) with live Zoom events, including a Kick-Off Party and two Knit Nights. When you purchase the yarn for the Double Win Shawl from our store, you'll gain free access to these engaging sessions.
During the Kick-Off Party, Jessica will guide you through the special stitches used in the design, ensuring you have the support needed to create your shawl.
Sign up link for Kick-Off Party, Knit Nights and the FREE Double Win Mosaic Shawl Knit-A-Long!
The Alpine Shawl by Knit Sisu was designed by Jill Tamminen (KnitSisu) for the Malabrigo KAL - April 2025 #malabrigokal
The pattern is available for purchase from April 2nd.
Free pattern if joining the MalabrigoKAL (until April 30th).
This beautiful pattern combines two colours of Malabrigo Arroyo with one colour of Blue Sky Fibers Prairie, for a total of 3 skeins. This pairing is absolutely perfect for any knitter looking for something light, breathable, and utterly cozy. Whether you're new to knitting or a seasoned pro, this design is sure to capture your heart.
KAL participants are invited to share their progress and photos on Ravelry, Facebook, and Instagram during April 2025 for the chance to win weekly prizes. Please, use #malabrigokal on all social media channels.
To be eligible for the prizes, projects must be knit using only Malabrigo Arroyo and Blue Sky Fibers Praire.
*Prizes will be selected by Malabrigo Team. Winners will be contacted by email or Instagram messages.
Yarn
Two colours of Malabrigo Arroyo with one colour of Blue Sky Fibers Prairie
Sample shown is knit using Arroyo in Sombra de Palma and Cape Cod Gray, and Prairie in Heron
Recommended needles
4.0 mm (US 6) circular needles
Gauge
11.5 stitches and 16 rows = 2 inches in stockinette stitch using Blue Sky Fibers Prairie
Kits are available HERE or make your own kit.
Nansei by Eisaku Noro Design Team is a pattern featuring NORO yarn Kompeito. The pattern can be purchased as a single pattern or in Noro Knitting & Crochet Magazine #24, Spring/Summer 2024.
Sizes
Sized for Small (Medium, Large, 1X, 2X).
Finished Measurements
• Bust 36 (39, 42, 46, 49½)in/91 (99, 106, 117, 124)cm.
• Length 18 (18½, 19, 20, 21)in/46 (47, 48.5, 50.5, 53.5)cm.
Sweet as candy, the confetti rainbow of KOMPEITO gets added dimension from a slip-stitch texture pattern worked above the vented hem. It’s worked simply by making a yarnover, then passing it over the next two stitches. K2, p2 ribbed edges create a sporty finish.
Yarn
2 balls of Kompeito
Needles
3.75 mm (US 5) and 4.0 mm (US 6) needles or size to obtain gauge.
Gauge
22 sts and 32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the larger needles.
22 sts and 28 rows = 4 inches in wrap stitch pattern using larger needles. Take the time to check gauges.
Sometimes, you need to knit socks without knowing the exact measurements of the person who will wear them. In these cases, 2x2 ribbing is your best friend—it offers excellent stretch and a snug fit across various foot sizes and shapes.
Slow Days Socks by Ekaterina Trefilova is available for free on Ravelry.
Sizes
This pattern is written for three sizes, based on stitch count:
60 stitches 64 stitches 68 stitches
Yarn
Fingering weight sock yarn - 400 m / 100 g
Light speckled or gradient yarns work especially well with this pattern
Needles
2.25 mm (US 1) long circular needles for Magic Loop, or double-pointed needles (DPNs)
Suggested Yarn
Queensland Collection Perth, Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy, Ancient Arts Yarns Socknado
FOs and WIPs
I did a lot of knitting but I don’t have much to show for it since I didn’t remember to take an in between photo! Last week, I frogged back to round 21 of the chart and I finished the 63 chart rows.
This second time round, I decide I was going to flip the chart pattern to flow down the body. I had to figure out the number of stitches I would need on the separation of the body and sleeves round and where to take the sleeve stitches off so that the short rows stayed in the right place and the beginning of round under the arm of the first sleeve.
I separated the body and sleeves and am knitting down the body and working the chart backwards from row 60 so that the pattern lines up.
My yarn is a lttle crimply from having been knit, frogged and then re-knit but my knitting including the wrong side looks great. I worked a few rounds using the ladderback jacquard method of managing long floats.
KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY
Yanhong (CaptainMocha) finished her fifth Ranunculus by Midori Hirose, using Noro Kompeito.
Yanhong used the Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom she bought recently to weave with her handspun.
This is what her cat has been up to!
Do you agree that it is very pretty?
Her finished weaves are blocking!
The pattern for the fun Mine! Pullover by Sarah L Kelly that Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) test knit was released yesterday!
Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) finished 223 yards of a 2 ply fractal spin of merino/alpaca/camel/mulberry silk.
Sonia (knits4bliss) finished her new Noro raglan top using the stitch counts and increases of the Perfect Summer Tee by SweaterFreak but omitting the a-line side increases.
Sonia (soniabknits) finished her Skinny Pop Scarf by Jackie Rose using stash yarn.
Beverley knit squares by Daisy and Storm for make a baby blanket using Estelle Breeze.
Paulette (@psknitting50) finished this beautiful pair of Mara Mittens by Ieva Ozolina from her book, Knit Like a Latvian.
She used 2.0 mm needles to get the perfect fit.
Paulette (@pskniting50) spent some time weaving with her handspun just like Yanhong. They make me want to warp my loom too!
Cecilia (colourcanuck) finished her first steeked project, the Elephants - Baby Blanket by Alice Starmore.
Emma (emaporte) finished this pair of I'm So Basic Socks by Summer Lee.
Happy Wednesday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!
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