Favourite Patterns Friday, February 8, 2019, Issue 87: Time to settle in to knit or make...

The top one is nicolajl’s crocheted Chinese Year of the Pig; the bottom left is CityHome's Daisy, the bottom center is Kelsonknit’s knit Pale piggy, and gryphon98’s crocheted Pig. They are all so cute!

Here is my little Eloise, the Flying Pig!!

It has been the perfect weather for knitting and making! Lots of finished WIPS for sure, check out Bev's finished her Throwback by Andrea Mowry. Last week, I included her WIP photo but the finished is just the perfect comfy, warm yet stylish cardi!

Now with Valentine's Day coming up quickly, here are a few warm weather, cozy projects to make...

Valentine Mittens by Anita Viksten are stranded mittens are practical and warm with a repetitive pattern that is easy to learn. There is a Latvian braid and corrugated ribbing for additional interest. They use 219 - 328 yards (200 - 300 m) of sport weight yarn and needles to give you a gauge of 30 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stranded knitting. Knit them in Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Weight, Cascade 220 Sport, even Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light! Knit up a pair for your Valentine or for yourself.

These are clarkssl’s LoveSocks by Devon Clement. Clarkssl has not included any notes on her Ravelry project page but the yarn appears to be West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 Ply in the Tequila Sunrise colourway. The pattern is for a basic cuff-down sock with some simple colorwork on the heel using fingering weight yarn. You will need 2.0 mm (US 0) or 2.25 mm (US 1) needles for a gauge of 32 stitches and 40 rows = 4 inches.

ValentineSox by Wenche Roald are cozy socks that I included in my blog last year! They are knit with DK weight yarn using 3.0 mm (US 2.5) needles for a gauge of 22 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. They are knit cuff down in the round. The pattern includes both charts and written instructions. Knit someone a pair and knit yourself a pair as well!

maskerurid’s ValentineSox are knit using a worsted weight instead of DK! Knit them using Navia Faroese Sock using 3.0 mm (US 2.5) needles for a gauge of 22 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch.

WIP's and FO's

I finished my Turtle Dove pullover by Espace Tricot that I was knitting for my mom! I have to say it again but I love how it turned out so I hope that my mom does too! I also loved how light and cozy the Berroco Brielle yarn that I used made it!

I used 5.0 mm (US 8) needles for the twisted ribbing and 6.0 mm (US 10) needles for the rest in order to get gauge. I made a few modifications for my version. I used right and left lifted increases instead of kfb increases and I knit long sleeves with a decrease row before the ribbing. Please remember that I am a loose knitter so always use smaller that the recommended needles for anything that I knit if you plan to use my Ravelry notes.

I liked the split hem with the longer back so that was the version I knit - not the rolled hem version.

I have 5 repeats of 10 completed on my Bynx hat by Hayley Geary that I cast on last week. I am using Kelbourne Woolens Scout in Gray Heather.

Lovely, squishy cables! I am using a cable needle for the 6 stitch cables but not for the 2 stitch twist cables.

Here's another peek at my baby cardigan design

I cast on Katrin Schneider's Monochrome Pullover for my mom! For this one, I decided to use Cascade 220 Heather in Japanese Maple for the main colour and Spun Gold Heather for the contrast colour.

I have finished the colourwork part of the yoke and now I am finished with the first skein of the main colour. If you are wondering, this one begins with a provisional cast on between yoke and body. The circular yoke is worked from the bottom up ending with a turtleneck. The body is then knit from the top down with the sleeves worked in the round top down after that.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

The current Knit-Alongs are the Knit Your Any Sweater KAL and the Knit Any Shawl KAL: As always there is also an everlasting knit-along to encourage and support you to knit your own project (any project, and join in anytime!) from January to April 30, 2019. Don't forget to post a pic to the finished object (FO) thread  whenever you finish a project during the Knit-Along so that you will be included in the next draw!

Natalie knit a snood for Maple! He does not look too impressed but he will be warm in this frigid cold!

Lise (mattedcat)’s Misty Lily by Gabrielle Danskknit

Kathy (chantrykathy)’s I See Spring by Joji Locatelli knit using Berroco Remix Light

Pannouschka’s Aura Socks

Debsnub’s Water Rings by Lisa Hannes is stunning!

Christina’s Sunday Sweater WIP knit using Berroco Brielle

Catherine’s Humulus by Isabell Kraemer

WINTER CLASSES & WORKSHOPS 2019

Winter classes have been updated again with a few re-scheduled and a few new ones below!

Our Knit 3 - Mitts Class starts tomorrow morning for the next three weeks. There are still 2 more spots so if you are interested, you can still register HERE.

Felted Clogs Class

$40 – 2 Sessions plus materials - Register HERE

Fast and easy felt clog slippers knit with double yarn. Designed to create a very thick, firm fabric when felted, they feature double soles for extra comfort and longer wear. Join soles with a "bumper" or leave the join plain.

Materials:  Worsted weight wool that felts easily to a firm fabric. Clogs are knit with a double strand throughout.

Required experience: Intermediate. Students must be experienced and comfortable with double pointed needles or short circular needles before taking this class.

Sizing
Women’s S (M, L / men’s M, L) 
Finished measurements (unstretched):
Cuff: 7.25 (8.25, 9) inches around
Leg (adjustable): 9.5 (10.5, 11.5) inches
Foot (adjustable): 9 (10, 11.25) inches

Yarn

500 (540, 580 / 675, 720) yards per pair

This yardage allows for yarn to be held double throughout. 2-color slippers require approx. 1/3 of this yardage in upper color and 2/3 in sole/cuff color.

Needles

9.00 mm (US 13) needles

Gauge

9 stitches = 4 inches in unfelted stockinette; 12 sts=4" felted

Notions
stitch markers, darning needle, optional slipper soles

Saturdays, Apr 6 and 13 – 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Colourwork Class - Strange Brew by tincanknits

$80 – 4 sessions plus materials - Register HERE

We will knit Strange Brew by tincanknits - Pattern required through Ravelry for this Knit-Along style class. Strange Brew is a great first time stranded yoke sweater project. This is a recipe style pattern with plug and play instructions so that you can create your own customized sweater. You can use the pattern to knit it top-down or bottom-up but for our class, we will knit it top-down and worsted weight.

Skills Required:
Advanced beginner - You will need to know how to knit, purl, decrease, and increase.

Sizing:
Finished Chest Measurements:

worsted / aran: 18.5 (21.5, 24, 24, 26.5, 29.5, 29.5, 32, 34.5, 37.5, 37.5, 40, 42.5, 45.5, 48, 50.5, 56, 58.5, 37.5, 42.5, 45.5, 50.5, 53.5, 58.5, 61.5)

Required Materials: 

Strange Brew (paid pattern through Ravelry) or Strange Brew (the book)

Yarn: worsted / aran
MC: 300 (400, 450, 550, 600, 700, 800, 850, 900, 1000, 1050, 1100, 1200, 1250, 1350, 1450, 1600, 1650, 1100, 1250, 1300, 1500, 1550, 1650, 1800) yards
CC: 150 (200, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 400, 450, 500, 500, 550, 600, 600, 600, 650, 650, 650, 550, 600, 650, 700, 700, 750, 750) yards

Needles:
US #6 / 4mm & US #8 / 5mm (or as required to achieve gauge)

Needle lengths: 0-6 mo - 4 yrs: 16” circulars and DPNs in each size*
4 yrs - Women’s XS: 16” circulars, 24” circulars, and DPNs in each size*
Women’s S - Men’s 4XL: 16” circulars, 32” circulars, and DPNs in each size
Alternatively you can use the magic loop technique to knit in the round using a single long circular needle.

Gauge:
18 sts & 21 rounds / 4” in stranded colourwork on larger needles

Notions:
stitch markers, darning needle

Saturdays, April 27, May 4, 18 and 25 – 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Basic Socks Class 2019

$60 – 3 Sessions plus materials - Register HERE

Socks! You can’t have too many of them, and they make appreciated gifts too. Sock patterns seem tricky but once learned a sock is a satisfying and very portable project. We will learn the skills of picking up stitches, and shaping the heel, instep and the toe.

Materials: 2.00 - 2.75 mm double pointed needles and/or 9" circulars and fingering / sock weight yarn. 

Required experience: Intermediate. Students must be experienced and comfortable with double pointed needles or short circular needles before taking this class.

Knit 'top-down', these socks are cast on at the cuff, then worked in the round to the heel.

The heel is formed by working the heel flap back and forth in rows, then the heel turn is shaped by short rows which decrease and 'turn' the corner.

Stitches are picked up along the sides of the heel flap, the work is joined into the round again, and the gusset is worked in decreasing rounds.

The foot is worked in the round to the toe which is shaped decreases, then seamed closed using kitchener stitch (also known as grafting).

Sizing
Adult S (M, L)
Finished measurements (unstretched):
Cuff: 7.25 (8.25, 9) inches around
Leg (adjustable): 9.5 (10.5, 11.5) inches
Foot (adjustable): 9 (10, 11.25) inches

Yarn

400 yards (366 m) fingering / sock weight yarn      

Needles

2.00 mm (US 0) - 2.75 mm (US 2) dpns (short circular or long circular for magic loop)
(or as req’d to meet gauge)

Gauge

30 stitches and 42 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Notions
stitch markers, darning needle

Saturdays, Apr 6, 13 and 20 – 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

YOU ARE INVITED TO A HIGH-FIBRE MEAL! - Register HERE

Join us for our Berroco yarn tasting! You will get an opportunity to knit or crochet with Berroco's new yarns!  Try Estiva, Vibe, Mantra, Indio and Ultra Wool Fine! You will receive a small taster ball (20g) of each to try so that you can see and feel the new yarns. There will be patterns for each and door prizes! Of course, we will also have some edible tasty treats and wine too!  Just bring needles or hooks with you.

Saturday, March 16, 2019 - 6:30 pm - 10 pm

Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!