Wednesday, July 9, 2025, Issue 402: Happy Wednesday! What is on your needles?

• Posted on 9 July 2025
• By Sue
• Posted in July 2025, knitting inspiration, summer knit, summer tee
• 0

It was hot, wet and overcast! We really shouldn't complain though because it could be hotter with no air conditioning. I am truly thankful that most of us have the luxury of being able to stay inside where it is cool and dry.

The Elton Tee by Joji Locatelli was inspired by previous versions of Elton (Cardigan and Pullover), this top features the same simple stripes, alternating yarn in 2 different weights, fingering and lace weight mohair.

The difference with previous versions are: a V-neck shape, less positive ease, and a smaller gauge.

SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). Shown in size 3 on a 36” (90 cm) bust. Recommended ease: Approx. 8” 20 cm of positive ease.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust circumference: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72)“ 90 (100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180) cm.

YARN
approx. 409 (491, 546, 655, 737, 819, 928, 1037, 1201, 1310) yards 375 (450, 500, 600, 675, 750, 850, 950, 1100, 1200) m of fingering weight yarn main yarn and 275 (321, 367, 413, 459, 550, 596, 688, 780, 826) yards 252 (294, 336, 378, 420, 504, 546, 630, 714, 756) m of lace weight yarn contrasting yarn .

NEEDLES
2.25 mm (US 1) and 3.00 mm (US 2.5) circular needles, 32” 80 cm long

GAUGE
24 sts and 36 rows to 4” 10cm in stockinette stitch in the round, on US 2½ 3 mm needles, alternating 4 rows of main yarn and 4 rows of contrasting yarn.

SUGGESTED YARN
Lichen and Lace 80/20 Sock and Marsh Mohair, Hedgehog Fibres Sock, Garnstudio Drops Kid Silk, Leo & Roxy MCS Sock and Mohair Silk

Good to go for a cool, crisp evening or to get ready for fall, the new Fie Cardigan by Kristin Drysdale is a top-down yoke cardigan with whimsical flowers and seamless construction. The flower design is a whimsical take on the Nordic XO pattern. The top-down construction starts at the neckband and quickly jumps into the colourwork. You can go wild with colourwork and knit a multi-color yoke with one color for the stems and one for the flowers (there is only one row with three colors if you do) or simply make the two-color version like the original Fie Pullover. Top-down knitting makes it easy to try on your sweater as you go and tailor-fit the yoke depth and length of the body and sleeves. You can opt in or out of short rows to lower the neckline if you like. Fie (short for Sofie) has a magical fit that is super comfortable and flattering.

SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14) with a 5-9-inch positive ease.
Sample is shown with a 6” positive ease
Finished Measurements
Chest circumference: 31(33, 35¾ ,38, 40½, 42¾ ,45¼, 47¾ ,50, 52½, 55, 57¼, 59¾, 62) inches
Body length from cast on edge to underarm: 13(13,14, 14, 15,15½,16, 16, 17, 17, 17, 18, 18, 18) inches
Sleeve length: 16 (16½, 17, 17, 17, 17½, 18, 18, 18, 18, 19, 19, 19½, 19½) inches
Yoke depth without neckband: 8 (8, 8¼, 8½, 8½, 8¾, 9, 9½, 10,10½ ,10½,
10½ ,10¾,10 ¾)
Total length: 21 (21, 22 ¼ , 22½, 23½, 24 ¼, 25, 25 ½, 27, 27½ ,27 ½, 28½, 28¾, 28 ¾ ) inches

YARN
Main Colour: Beige 250 (250, 300, 300, 300, 350, 350, 350, 400, 400, 400, 400, 400, 450) grams. Or approx. 815 (870, 948, 1017, 1065, 1123, 1181, 1299, 1357, 1413, 1472, 1531, 1591, 1650) yards
Contrasting Colour A: Soft Green 1 50-gram skein or approx. 68 (17, 76, 86, 91, 94, 101, 106, 111, 115, 121, 126, 130, 140) yards
Contrasting Colour B: Mustard. 1 50-gram skein or approx. 68 (17, 76, 86, 91, 94, 101, 106, 111, 115, 121, 126, 130,140 yards)

NEEDLES
4.5 mm (US 7) for colourwork, 4.0 mm (US 6) for single colour and 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needles for ribbing on the cuffs, waistband, neckband and buttonband, 32 or 40 – inch/ 80 or 100 cm circular needle in size needed to obtain gauge in colourwork and single color, DPNs/Flexiflips for cuffs, 16-inch circular gauge-size needles for sleeves

GAUGE
20 stitches and 23 rows = 4 inches colorwork
20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in single color
Please swatch in colorwork, in the round, to determine needle size.

SUGGESTED YARN
Tukuwool DK or BC Garn Semilla Melange

Once again, Julie Williams of Little Cotton Rabbits has another adorable set of toy animal patterns. Squirrel in a sweater has a pdf file that contains full instructions for knitting and finishing off a squirrel.

All pieces of the squirrel are knitted flat with worsted weight yarn on 3mm needles and are seamed afterwards.

Also included are instructions to make 3 different sweaters: one with an acorn colour-work design and the other two are both knitted in a single colour with textured designs, one simple and the other more complex.

All clothing is knitted from 4ply/5ply (fingering/sport weight) yarn on 2.75mm needles. The sweaters are knitted flat in separate pieces up to the armholes and then knitted across all pieces from the armholes to the neck, and seamed afterwards. The shorts are worked flat and then seamed.

The Squirrel in a dress is knitted flat with worsted weight yarn on 3mm needles and 4ply/fingering weight yarn on 2.5mm for the shoes, legs and lower body. All pieces are seamed afterwards.

The dresses are knitted flat using 4ply/5ply (fingering/sport weight) yarn on 2.75mm needles and seamed. There are 3 different dress designs included: two are knitted in two colours with different acorn themed colour-work designs, and the other in a single colour openwork pattern. The dresses can be removed but the tights/pantyhose and shoes are knitted as part of the animal.

FINISHED SIZE (both patterns)
approx 23cm (9 inches) from the tip of the toes to the top of the head.

MATERIALS 
Worsted or light Aran yarn (approx 68 m/75yds) in rust or grey: Yarn A
Worsted or light Aran yarn (approx 20m/22yds) in light beige: Yarn B
4ply/fingering weight or 5 ply/sport weight yarn for the dress, tights and shoes in 2 colours: Yarn C, Yarn D OR
4ply/fingering weight/5 ply/sport weight yarn for the sweater and shorts, in up to 3 colours, Yarn C, Yarn D, Yarn E
Less than 1m (1yds) each of black and brown 4ply/DK yarn for the eyes and facial features
toy stuffing
2 small buttons

SUGGESTED YARN 
I have knit my Little Cotton Rabbits almost all using DK weight yarn such as Berroco Vintage DK or Drops Merino Extra Fine.

FOs and WIPs

Last Wednesday, I decided to cast on another Ranunculus by Midori Hirose. This is my 5th but only the 4th for myself.

This is how much I had knit by Saturday morning! I decided to knit this one in the smallest size 1 instead of the size 3 of my first 2 and size 2 of my 3rd one.

By Saturday night, I had separated the body from the sleeves.

I decided to leave the body on hold while I knit the sleeves first. I knit 5 rounds of stockinette and 5 rounds of twisted rib before binding off using the pattern's elastic bind off.

This was a very quick knit. I finished it on Monday but didn't block it until yesterday. Today it is still damp! I used Quince & Co Kestrel and being a loose knitter, I used 5.0 mm needles for my main needle and 4.0 mm needles for the sleeve and hem ribbing as well as for the tubular cast on. I knit the length until I wasn't sure if I could knit another row before binding off. I have 4g left of my 6th hank of yarn.

Yesterday, I cast on Double Time by Libby Jonson (Truly Myrtle) using Koigu Collector KPPPM Canada colours Oh Canada and Canada Eh.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Yanhong (CaptainMocha) finished her second project from the book Summer Knits by Sari Nordlund. Pattern is the Venilia top.

Marilyn finished her Cropped Cardigan L80109 by Lisa Carnahan for Lion Brand but knit narrow front bands. 

Marilyn used Lang Cashmere Premium.

Elaine (emayea) finished her stunning Aflutter Poncho by MarinJaKnits.

She used a sport weight yarn and added a picot point bind off edge.

Victoria (mamavictoria) finished her soft and comfy Monday Sweater by PetiteKnit. Yarn is Michelina’s A Wanderer and Her Wool Wanderer Sock held double with Malabrigo Silkpaca.

Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) knit Glenn this pair of You've Got Rhythm by Betsy Lee McCarthy. Yarn is Timber Yarns Twin Sock.

Diane (ladi-di) knit herself this pair of DRK Everyday Socks by Andrea Mowry.

Paulette (@pskitting50) has knit another Emotional Support Chicken by Annette Corsino.

Paulette (@psknitting50) has finished more gorgeous hand spun yarn.

It's beautiful!!

Happy Wednesday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!