Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Issue 401: Happy Wednesday! What is on your needles?

• Posted on 2 July 2025
• By Sue
• Posted in July 2025, knitting inspiration, MKAL, summer knit, summer tee
• 0

It has been too hot and sometimes too windy to be outdoors for long with the recent humidity but it has been the perfect excuse to stay indoors and knit!

Louise by Natasja Hornby is the understated standout of a refined twin set — equally at home layered under Thelma, the matching cardigan, or worn on its own. With its clean V-neck front, subtly echoed by a gentler V at the back, and a split hem that adds just the right amount of movement, this design plays with line and shape in a quietly striking way.

The silhouette is simple yet intentional, letting the thoughtful lineation do the talking. It’s the kind of piece that pairs as effortlessly with lived-in denim as it does with a sleek skirt or tailored trousers. Whether dressed down or dressed up, it brings a sense of ease and intention to every outfit.

CONSTRUCTION
Louise is worked top-down, beginning with the back shoulders. After shaping the V-neck at the back, the shoulders are joined, and the back is worked flat to the underarm while shaping the armholes. Stitches for the fronts are picked up from the shoulders, and after completing the V-neck, the fronts are joined and worked flat to the underarm. The front and back are then joined to work in the round until the split hem, which is finished flat.
The pattern includes instructions for horizontal bust darts and body shaping. The darts and shaping are optional; instructions for a top with and without darts and / or shaping are given.

SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4) {5, 6, 7, 8}
Finished bust measurements 85 (91.5, 105, 111.5) {123.5, 136.5, 143.5, 153.5} cm / (34 36.5, 42, 44.5) {49.5, 54.5, 57.5, 61.5}“
The top is designed to be semi-fitted, with approx 2.5- 7.5 cm / 1-3” of positive ease around the bust.
Sample is shown in size 2, with body shaping and horizontal bust darts, and 2.5 cm / 1” of positive ease.

YARN
A fingering weight yarn with some drape and crispness.
Approx 535 (585, 650, 700) {765, 815, 880, 955} m / 585 (640, 710, 765) {835, 890, 965,1045} yards.

NEEDLES
Needle A (for the body)
One 80 cm / 30” circular needle, in size needed to obtain gauge listed.
Suggested needle size: 3 mm / US #2.5.
Needle B (for the split hem)
One 60 cm / 25” needle.
Suggested needle size: 2.75 mm / US #2.

GAUGE
Measured after blocking.
Broken Rib stitch on Needle A: 24 sts x 36 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4”.

SUGGESTED YARN
Leo & Roxy MCS Sock, Cascade Heritage Silk Peruvian Tones

For those of you who like Casapinka's Mystery Knit Alongs, the Hiss & Vinegar is Casapinka’s 2025 MKAL.

Once you purchase the pattern it will be placed in your Rav library. Initially you will receive the pre-clue information and all the deets you need to get you pawing through your stash - or supporting you local dyer or LYS. It’s up to you!

Make sure you are signed up for the Casapinka Newsletter to receive up to the minute information in your Inbox.

Clues will drop starting Friday July 18, 2025.

What do you need to get started?

Three skeins of fingering weight yarn, 400 yards each:

• Speckles are great
• One color with strongish contrast is good (Sharon’s was Color A)
• One variegated is ok but try not to let the variegated colors blend too much with a solid color you’ve chosen.

If you don’t know who Sharon is, she’s Sharon From Security, Casapinka’s snarky cat who smokes and owns a flamethrower. In addition there is Casapinka (aka “The Boss”), Sharon (aka Shazz/SFS/Security), KitKat (Sharon’s older sister with the resting hiss face), and Fin from Interpol (their annoying younger brother), we are Susan WildOnion and Edna RuralRouteFive, your dedicated mods.

The humans have been bugging Sharon EXTRA BAD this year so she bought a cruise line and named her ship accordingly, and she sets sail on July 18. You will receive a couple of passport choices in the Pre-clue as well as coloring graphics to try out your colors. Remember that this is a mystery! This is, however, a pretty straightforward pattern, as Sharon has been on her “Last damn ever nerve” for the past several months and wanted something enjoyable but not too complicated. An intermediate beginner should be fine with this.

Disclaimers
There may be a couple of bad words floating around, vaping or smoking references (you go find a cat and lecture them about vaping), and Sharon has a selection of self defense devices which may not be suitable for children. Her ship is also equipped with a rocket launcher “Just in case Chad, pirates, or the IRS shows up” so please be aware of all of this before purchasing.

SUGGESTED YARN
SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock, Ancient Arts Socknado, Koigu KPPPM

FOs and WIPs

I must say that I am not sure where my mind was or how I measured to get the 42 cm before starting the ribbing but now that I am finished the ribbing, my Lacey Loop Tee by Other Loops_ is much shorter than it should be!

On Monday, I had on sleeve finished. it really looks cropped!

I thought I better try it on since I have used only two of the five hanks of the BC Garn Tussah Tweed I thought I would need.

It is finished! My gauge is off and while I followed the second size (S), the width is closer to the XL. I am a loose knitter who always has to go down needle sizes. This pattern had 2 sets of needle sizes and I sized down from the 4.5 mm to 3.75 mm and to 3.25 mm from 4 mm thinking my yarn was more similar to the Luxury Silk. I should have sized down from the smaller set of recommended needles instead. That being said, I am very happy with how this tee turned out and the fit even though I probably would have been happy with the smaller size I would have had if I had gone to the trouble of actually swatching!

I held one strand of BC Garn Tussah Tweed (100% tussah silk) and one strand of Gist Yarns Sero Silk Noil (100% silk) together. 

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Yanhong (CaptainMocha) finished her first project, the Juturna camisole from the Summer Knits book by Sari Nordlund.

She knit hers with a slight peplum hem.

Yanhong has a full sock drawer but can’t stop knitting more for friends!

Emma (@jrochet_projectz) looked amazing in her grad dress that she crocheted using her own stunning design!

Emma started this work of art back in March using Berroco Vintage DK!

Giselle (ghinch) knit this Koigu Signs of Summer Sweater Sample using Koigu Jasmine DK for the Koigu Retro Sweaters collection.

Sue (@shewitt67) finished her Elah by Isabell Kraemer.

Sue knit her Elah with a Navia Trio Kit from the shop.

Emma (emmlaporte) finished this Pillars Tank by Claire Jackson (Perfectly Knotted). Yarn is Sandnes Garn Line.

Emma (emmlaporte) finished this pair of I'm So Basic Socks by Summer Lee.

Sandi (sandima) finished Gnector by Sarah Schira, her gnome for June. She held a strand of Rico Make It Tweed with fingering throughout.

Linda (lmcnorton) finished her Persian Tiles Blanket by Jane Crowfoot.

She and Carla worked on one but Linda took a few weeks longer.

SHOP UPDATE

Rico's 100% paper yarn, Creative Paper, is ideal for projects requiring definition and structure, like household items and bucket hats.

The crochet swatch and the knit swatch gives a good idea how it will work out. There are 10 colours available but I have only brought in 4. Definitely let me know if one of the other colours is what you might want.

Rico Yarns Home Special Pattern Book contains a collection of beautiful home décor projects, knit and crochet, using Creative Paper including the patterns below.

Doormat 

Bag 

Flower Pots

Happy Wednesday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!