Wednesday, June 26, 2024, Issue 352: Happy Wednesday! What is on your needles?

• Posted on 25 June 2024
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in June 2024, KAL, knit-along, knitting inspiration, make-along, summer knit, summer tee
• 0

It has been a long week plus for my husband and I. Ed went in for routine surgery and what should have been an overnight stay is now on day 10. I was able to pick him up today so he is finally back home. My apologies to those who came by the shop to find it closed after lunch.

The Hip Stripes Shawl by Joji Locatelli is a fusion of two of my most cherished patterns: Pure Joy and Hipster shawls. It has an irregular crescent shape, with striped wedges separated by delicate bands of cross-stitch lace (you can find a video tutorial to the Hipster stitch pattern here).

This shawl is worked from the top-down, using short rows to create wedges that give the shawl an off-centered look.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Wingspan: 42½“ 186 cm.
Depth at deepest point: 16” 40 cm.

MATERIALS
Yarn:
790 yards (730 m)] of fingering weight yarn in 2 different colors or 460 yards 420 m in color 1 (shown in color Samana, light gray) and 3 skeins or 330 yards 310 m in color 2
Needles: 3.75 mm (US 5) needles, at least 40” 100 cm long.
Other notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle, blocking aids.

GAUGE
18 sts and 40 rows to 4” 10 cm in garter st on US 5 3.75 mm needles after blocking and stretching.
Before measuring, make sure your swatch goes through the same blocking and pinning process as your shawl will.

The Hipster Top by Joji Locatelli was inspired by her Hipster Shawls, featuring the same playful details on the shoulders and adds a fresh twist with simple stripes. It’s a perfect project for anyone looking to add a fun, easy to knit, yet sophisticated piece to their wardrobe.

This top is worked from the shoulders down. The knitting begins with the crossed stitch pattern (you can find a link to a video tutorial here), and then continues downwards towards the back and the fronts. All pieces are then joined at the underarm.

This tee has ZERO finishing required, so when you bind off at the bottom, you are done with your top!

SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10), to fit bust circumference of 30 to 64” 75 to 165 cm.
Recommended ease: 2-4” 5-10 cm of positive ease. Shown in size 3 on a 36” 90 cm bust.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
See Schematic in the photos
Bust circumference: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68)“ 80 (90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170) cm.
Armhole Depth: 6¼ (6½, 6¾, 7½, 8, 8½, 9¼, 9¾, 10½, 11)” 15.5 (16, 17, 18.5, 20, 21.5, 23, 24.5, 26, 27.5) cm.
Length from underarm to hem: 12¼ (12½, 12¾, 13¼, 13¼, 13½, 13¾, 14, 14¼, 14½)“ 31 (31.5, 32, 33, 33.5, 34, 34.5, 35, 35.5, 36) cm or desired length.

MATERIALS
Yarn: 533 (619, 701, 813, 914, 1031, 1158, 1285, 1417, 1559) yards 487 (566, 640, 742, 835, 941, 1057, 1173, 1294, 1424) m of fingering weight yarn in 2 different colors:

Needles: 3.25 mm (US 3) and 3.00 mm (US 2.5) circular needles, at least 32” 80 cm long.

GAUGE
24 sts and 40 rows to 4” 10 cm in Stockinette st, using US 3 3.25 mm needles.
Before you measure, please take the time to wash and block your swatch in the same manner that you will wash and block your sweater.

YARN SUGGESTIONS (for both): Kelbourne Woolens Perennial, WYS Exquisite 4 Ply, SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock

If you get the Hipster Top + the Hip Stripes Shawl, you’ll get them both 30% off! That is both patterns for $9.10

Stella Alpina by Minimi Knit Design has a lace stitch pattern inspired by its namesake protected wildflower with white pointy petals growing in highlands. This sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down. It has a unique placement of short rows that shapes the neck without disrupting the neckline. Both written and charted directions are given for the lace patterns.

Stella Alpina is graded with inclusive sizing in mind, designed to fit actual bust sizes from 76 cm / 30 inches to 168 cm / 66 inches. Measurements are given in both cm and inches.

SIZES
Size 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) {6, 7, 8, 9, 10} designed to fit actual bust circumference of 76 (86.5, 96.5, 106.5, 117) {127, 137, 147.5, 157.5, 167.5} cm / 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) {50, 54, 58, 62, 66} inches. For between sizes, choose the smaller size.

This garment is intended to be worn with about 4-10 cm / 1.5-4 inches positive ease.

Shown in size 1, modeled with 4.5 cm / 1.75 inches of positive ease.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust circumference: 83.5 (94.5, 104.5, 114.5, 124.5) {134.5, 147.5, 156.5, 165.5, 174.5} cm / 33 (37.25, 41.25, 45, 49) {53, 58, 61.5, 65.25, 68.75} inches

YARN
Fingering weight + fingering weight = DK weight

Yardage: 1115 (1245, 1410, 1540, 1665) {1990, 1995, 2120, 2250, 2405} m / 1220 (1360, 1540, 1685, 1820) {2175, 2180, 2320, 2465, 2630} yds, including 10% allowance

Note: If you use a single strand of DK weight yarn, divide the yardage in half.

NEEDLES

• 4 mm / US 6 circular needle of length 60-100 cm / 24-40 inches, depending on your size; adjust needle size if necessary to obtain gauge.
• 4 mm / US 6 needles in your preferred style for small circumference knitting in the round, for starting the yoke.
• 3.5 mm / US 4 circular needle of length 60-100 cm / 24-40 inches, depending on your size, for the hem.
• 3.5 mm / US 4 needles in your preferred style for small circumference knitting in the round, for the sleeve edgings.

GAUGE
22 sts and 34 rows = 10 cm / 4 inches in stockinette stitch on larger needle worked in the round, blocked.

YARN SUGGESTION: Noro Kompeito, Sandnes Garn Line, Berroco Remix Light

FOs and WIPs

On June 13th, I picked up for the neckline ribbing on my Spill the Tea by Marie Greene of Olive Knits.

By the next day, I had the neckline and both sleeves finished and ready for the ends to be woven in.

It is finished!! My Spill the Tea shop sample for this year’s Olive Knits 4 Day KAL is knit using Madelinetosh TML + Tweed in Fatal Attraction and Koigu KPM in 1520 (lime green) and Collector's Club KPPPM Macarons.

I finished and blocked my Spill the Tea shop sample on June 15th!! The Olive Knits KAL starts July 3rd! Are you in?

Cast-On Day for the KAL is July 3, 2024

Pre-order the pattern now – KAL begins 7/3/24! Save $1 USD through June 30th (no code needed when pattern is placed in your cart).

Easy, breezy lace details and colorful contrasts work together to create the perfect splash of color for this delightful v-neck top. Spill the Tea is perfect for spring, summer evenings, or for layering in cooler weather – it’s truly an all season design that you can wear year-round.

Remember, you don't have to knit it in 4 days!!

The Spill The Tea Kits include the yarn in a vinyl bag with a Limited Edition Cotton Tote Bag and Firefly Notes Tea Set Stitch Markers.

Here are some progress sneak peaks of my Ambah’s Annual June Solstice Knit Along project - this year it is the This or That Wrap or Shawl.

I had almost finished the first part of clue 1 when I saw this and one more spot close to the beginning where I slipped the wrap with the yarn in the wrong place.

I dropped down in both columns one at a time, the stitches stayed put while I fixed it!

I am almost finished Clue 2. I am using a Koigu This or that MKAL Kit for mine where I used the lighter colour for C1, the darker colour for C2 and I am using the mini skeins as C3 starting with the lightest colour.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Marilyn finished another Hamlin Peak by Pam Allen! She knit this one with Schoppel Wolle El Linio with some modifications.

Allison (@oliveoilrn) finished her Turtle Dove II by Espace Tricot for our sweater class.

The yarn she used is Drops Air.

Allison (@oliveoilrn) took our Sheep Carousel Tea Cozy by Kate Davies Designs Class to learn colourwork, the Latvian braid, I-cords and steeking (cutting your work). She found a teapot to use! Yarn is Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Weight.

Allison (@oliveoilrn) has been knitting a lot of little toys since she took our bunny class! This is her Jemima Puddle-Duck by Clare Garland’s Knitting Peter Rabbit book. She used Drops Alpaca, Kid Silk, Brushed Alpaca Silk and some Bergere de France Calinou.

Debbie (debsnubs) finished another beautiful pair of socks. These are Summer Lovers by Andrea Yetman.

Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) finished this hand spun. It is 472 yards of 50/50 merino and mohair.

Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) did a fractal spin of combed merino/silk to get 194 yards of this gorgeous hand spun.

Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) finished these 4 woven scarves using her hand spun. For the orange ones: warp is Merino, weft is Polwarth. For the blue ones: warp is an exotic blend, weft is Merino/Corriedale. One is a tabby and the other is a twill weave.

Dianne came in to pick up her draw prize from Local Store Day and to shop with Aileen!

If you have forgotten, this was the big draw prize!

Happy Wednesday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!