Wednesday, January 8, 2025, Issue 376: What is on your needles?

• Posted on 6 January 2025
• By Sue
• Posted in Berroco Blanket MKAL, January 2025, knitting inspiration
• 0

We are into a brand new year so Happy New Year to you all! Are you longing to cozy up at home with a hot cup of tea or coffee and a new WIP? What do you have on your needles?

To begin with for this newsletter, the current classes are supposed to start this weekend. At the moment, it looks like 2 of the classes will be cancelled. We have met the minimum of 4 for the Love Note Lace & Top Down Pullover Class with Jen but we have room for 2 more! The class will change from 11:30 to 10 am until noon.

The Moonflowers Shawl Mosaic Knitting Class with Jen and the Colourwork and Steeking Class with Paulette will be cancelled as we need at minimum of 4. Refunds will be issued tomorrow for these 2 classes.

The Sophie Hood by PetiteKnit is worked in one piece from tip to tip. It is worked flat, back and forth, in garter stitch with built-in i-cord edges. The hood is shaped using increases and decreases, and it’s back is sewn together at the end, using mattress stitch along the back of the neck.

Sizes
S (M) L

Length from hood to tip:
approx. 102 (128) 154 cm [40¼ (50½) 60¾ inches]

Depth of Hood
approx. 24 (24) 24 cm [9½ (9½) 9½ inches]

Gauge
17 sts x 30 rows = 10 x 10 [4 x 4 inches] in garter stitch on a 5 mm [US8] needle

Needles
5 mm [US8] / 60 cm [24 inches] circular needle

Materials
436 (545) 763 yds of worsted or aran weight yarn

Suggested Yarn
Garnstudio Drops Air, Berroco Ultra Alpaca, Malabrigo Rios

Build your skills with Berroco's year-long Mystery Blanket Knit Along! The Berroco Design Team has worked to create a delightful mix of techniques and methods for twenty 12 x 12" squares that come together to create a stunning finished blanket. Practice outside in, center out, and straight up and down knitting as you work though the collection of squares with their engaging mix of constructions. Throughout the year, you'll work squares featuring texture patterns, lace, cables, slipped stitches, stranded colorwork, intarsia, and finish with a cable and lace combo. 

Squares are seamed together during finishing with a border added to frame your masterpiece with the perfect finishing touch. 

January Blocks - click here!

At the end of 2025, finished projects added to Ravelry will be entered to win a Year’s Worth of Yarn! Make sure to tag your project VintageMKAL25.

Join the Mystery Blanket Knit Along any time throughout the year—Sign up here!

Want a sneak peek of the blanket layouts? Click here to see diagrams in our 7 suggested colorways.

Finished Measurements
Approximately 52" / 132 cm x 64" / 162.5 cm 

Yarn

BERROCO VINTAGE (100 g): 6 hanks C1, 4 hanks C2, 3 hanks C3, 3 hanks C4, 2 hanks C5

Suggested Colourways:

• Coastal Dream (sample colors): 5101 Mochi (C1), 5172 Calico (C2), 51198 Acai (C3), 5105 Oats (C4), 51184 Twilight (C5)
• Neutral Comfort: 5101 Mochi (C1), 5160 Smoke (C2), 5103 Mocha (C3), 5174 Rye (C4), 5107 Cracked Pepper (C5)
• Berries & Cream: 5102 Buttercream (C1), 5195 Macaron (C2), 5182 Black Currant (C3), 51181 Ruby (C4), 51194 Rhubarb (C5)
• Eclectic Haze: 51133 Electric (C1), 51132 Grapes (C2), 5123 Blush (C3), 51131 Citrus (C4), 51122 Violet (C5)
• Sage Advice: 51196 Jalapeno (C1), 5199 Sage (C2), 5185 Tide Pool (C3), 5189 Charcoal (C4), 5104 Mushroom (C5)
• Spring Awakening: 5132 Sky Blue (C1), 5100 Snow Day (C2), 5122 Banane (C3), 5126 Watermelon (C4), 5116 Dove (C5)
• Forest Path: 5177 Douglas Fir (C1), 5107 Cracked Pepper (C2), 5143 Dark Denim (C3), 5182 Black Currant (C4), 5173 Red Pepper (C5)

NOTE: If I don't have all the above colours for their suggested colourways but I am sure we cn come up with similar colour combinations.

Needles
Straight or circular needles, sizes 7 (4.5 mm) and 8 (5 mm) for squares, or sizes to obtain gauges
Long circular needle, size 7 (4.5 mm)

Say hello to Do Ewe Yoke? No. 2 by Zanete Knits, the second Mystery Yokalong. This one’s another geometric stranded colourwork design with some fun new techniques sprinkled in—perfect for anyone who loves a creative challenge!

Check out the Do Ewe Yoke? No. 2 announcement on YouTube here!

Starting January 20th, 2025, you’ll get 7 weekly clues that slowly reveal the final design—like unwrapping a little surprise every week. The clues will come straight to your Ravelry inbox and email, with step-by-step instructions for each part of the project. PLUS, each clue will include video tutorials packed with tips and techniques to help you along the way.

One of the best parts? The community! You’ll get to connect with other knitters, share your progress, ask questions, and show off your work. This year, we’re hosting the knitalong on our Skool platform, where you’ll also find all the video tutorials in a course format after the first clue comes out. The group is free to join, and you can hop in anytime.

Last year, we were knitting Do Ewe Yoke?. Take a look at the project page to get a feel for what you can expect.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Finished chest circumference:

• 91.5 (101.5, 110, 120, 131.5, 140, 150, 161.5, 170) cm
• 36½ (40½, 44, 48, 52½, 56, 60, 64½, 68)”

Designed to be worn with 10-15 cm / 4-6” positive ease around the chest.
To choose the most appropriate size, measure the wearer’s chest and add the preferred ease. Or measure the circumference of an already-owned sweater that fits well. Then find the closest finished chest circumference.

For those with a bust size larger than a C cup, it’s advisable to use the upper bust measurement plus the desired ease to ensure the sweater fits well around the shoulders, with slightly less ease around the full bust.

Yarn: Fingering or sport weight, depending on the length of the pullover, allow approximately:

Main colour (MC):

• 940 (1030, 1080, 1180, 1250, 1315, 1405, 1505, 1585) m
• 1030 (1130, 1180, 1290, 1365, 1440, 1540, 1650, 1735) yds

Contrast colour (CC):

• 455 (490, 540, 575, 620, 660, 715, 760, 815) m
• 495 (540, 590, 630, 680, 725, 785, 830, 890) yds

It’s a good idea to keep a strong contrast between your main and contrast colours. If you’re using yarn that changes colors, make sure the contrast level stays consistent across all the colours.

Gauge: 28 sts & 34 rows = 10 cm / 4” in Stockinette stitch and colourwork in the round, on larger needles, blocked. You can use any fair isle pattern for the colourwork swatch.

Suggested needles:

• 2.75 mm (US 2) circulars 60-100 cm / 24-40” long and/or DPNs for small circumference knitting
• 2.25 mm (US 1) circulars 60-100 cm / 24-40” long and/or DPNs for small circumference knitting

Suggested Yarn
Kelbourne Woolens Andorra, Quince & Co Chickadee for the main colour, Schoppel Wolle Edition 3, Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy or Queensland Collection Perth for the contrast.

FOs and WIPs

I have been in the midst of doing inventory since last Thursday so there hasn't been a lot of knitting time since New Years Day.

I took this pic of my Mokosh by Teti Lutsak on December 30th. I worked on it during the car ride to and from my son's house during my Christmas break.

I was using two Rowan Kidsilk Haze Kits for this project. The kits included 6 colours but Mokosh only has 4 colours in it. I started running out part way through the third repeat of 3 colours. I chose 3 similar colours of Drops Kid Silk. Last week, I decided to order more of my original yarn to finish my sweater with.

This is my Mokosh progress today. I am working on the ribbing.

On December 31st, I cast on Arne & Carlos' The Children Dance Around the Trees Stocking, their Christmas Stocking 2023 MKAL pattern. I still had the rest of the red, white and green BC Garn Semilla Melange that I used for my Karen Slippers and my Christmas Stocking 2024 MKAL project.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Victoria (mamavictoria) finished her fabulous Step by Step Cardigan by Florence Miller that she knit for our First Cardigan Class. She used Lang Yarns Frida held double with Malabrigo Silkpaca.

Heather brought this lovely Love Letter Top by Veronika Lindberg otherwise known as kutovakika to show me! She has another one on her needles.

Here’s Teri wearing her Versal by Ailbíona McLochlainn. Yarn is Berroco Mochi - unfortunately I only have a few of this left in stock.

Yanhong (CaptainMocha) finished her Eun Sweater by NovemberKnits. Yarn is The Fibre Co. Arranmore Light in Rioga held double with Drops Kid Silk in Cobalt Blue.

Paulette (@psknitting50) wove this using her new Ashford Vari-Dent Reed that she got for Christmas where she can use different weights and textures for her warp.

Paulette (@psknitting50) finished this unique piece! No pattern, 5 to 6 different hand spins, sideways knit in a basket weave stitch and some crocheted granny squares!

Debbie (debsnubs) finished this gorgeous crocheted baby blanket.

Emma (emmlaporte) crocheted this Hygge Burst Blanket by Mallory Krall using up all of her scrap sock yarn held double.

Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) knit this Fern Forest by Jennifer Steingass for her son using her hand spun yarn.

Arlette (arlumizu) finished her Fair Isle Fez Hat by Mary Ann Stephens. Yarn is Cascade 220 Sport.

Sandi (sandima) knit this stunning Marketta Cardigan by The Weststrand Sisters using the charts from Coat with Parrots by Michaela Veith for her daughter!

Sandi (sandima) finished her Gnana's Visit by Sarah Schira that she knit for the December MKAL.

Sandi (sandima) knit this pair of Zwergenaufstand by DUCATHI for her husband.

Karen (kmae64) finished her Growing by Line Kjeldsen. Yarn is J&S 2 Ply Jumper Weight in 1A held double with Drops Brushed Alpaca Silk in Pink Sand.

Karen (kmae64) knit this cozy Oslo Hat by PetiteKnit using Drops Baby Merino.

Marilyn (@mariwana64) knit her daughter this Sophie Hood by PetiteKnit using Berroco Vintage in Blue Moon.

Ann (annvanwagner) knit her Bosc Pear by Tetiana Otruta using one skein of Malabrigo Sock in Arco Iris.

Happy Wednesday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!