Free Pattern Fridays - Friday, August 3, 2018, Issue 64: Lazy summer days...

My week away was wonderful! I got to see all four of my children, my grandchildren and many but not all of the family!

One daughter lives in BC and one son lives in Edmonton so it was great having all together even if only for a few days!

Random family photos with the babies!

Ice cream shenanigans!

Four generations but missing my sister, her husband and son, and both brothers and their wives!

FREE PATTERNS

Are you completing warm weather knits for the summer or are you ready to cast on knits to wear as soon as the crisp, cool weather starts? Here are a couple of ideas to think about!

Alexandra Tavel of Two of Wands designed the Java Wrap as a fresh take on the ever-popular Coffee Shop Wrap. The Java Wrap has a similar uneven striping broken up with simple lacework and a side-to-side construction. It is knit using 6.0 mm (US 10) needles or the needle size to get a gauge of 14 stitches and 22 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch. Knit it using Butterfly Super 10 cotton yarn and Katia Paint for a light airy wrap to wear now during the warm summer months or substituting a wool yarn such as Cascade 220 Heathers or Berroco Ultra Alpaca for a cooler weather wrap.

Drops Design’s Autumn Aurora including the poncho, hat and wrist warmers is designed to be knit with Drops Alpaca. All three pieces are knit in the round from the bottom up with the fairisle charts knit in stocking stitch. Knit them with 3.00 mm (US 2.5) needles or the size to give you the gauge of 26 stitches and 34 rows = 4 inches in pattern. Knit just the hat, two pieces or all three! There is also a matching sock pattern available.

WIP's and FO's

My grandson Caleb in his Tiriltunge Onesie and Oliver his Little Cotton Rabbit in his matching sweater. Caleb is growing fast though and always hungry so this won't fit him too long! I mentioned that I was thinking of joining the front and back together and in the end I did. I sewed the buttons on through the layers, closing up the buttonholes at the same time - much easier for mom and dad to only have to do up 3 buttons!

I cast on Short Stroke socks while on vacation but I am very disappointed that I will have to frog what I have already knit. I have 2 mini cakes leftover from another project but I must have weighed them wrong before I left because I have already finished the one mini cake for the one sock and I am far from the right length for the foot before changing colour for the toes! Not enough yarn...oh well!

I cast on Flax by TinCanKnits using their lace hack and Hikoo Simplicity.

This was my Flax hack progress by this past Monday, July 30th.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

The current Knit-Alongs are the Knit Your Any Project KAL: An everlasting knit-along to encourage and support you to knit your own project (any project, and join in anytime!) from July 1 to September 15, 2018; and the Swirl Skirt or Any Skirt KAL running at the same time. Don't forget to post a pic to the finished object (FO) thread!

Progress on my Swirl Skirt - for this one (my third) I have eliminated the wedges. I want a pencil skirt this time. Nicole is more than half finished her skirt already!

Marilyn is almost finished the Vivian Skirt by Taiga Hilliard - just the elastic and blocking! She knit it with Bergere de France Chinaillon.

Paulette’s Tøffelhelt ankle sicks by Birger Berge knit using Sandnes Garn Sisu...perfection!

Paulette’s second Linientreu has been blocked! Simply stunning!

Liz finished her beautiful Local Yarn Shawl! She loved the colours I used for mine so much that she used them too but to show how different gauge can be...We both used 3.5 mm needles but mine came out 93 by 19 while hers is 78 by 18! It is truly amazing different everyone's LYS turned out!

June finished another Girl Lamb - This one has pink underwear and a pink tutu!

Two test knit hats using the same yarn - this one the Western Slope Beanie Test knit...

And the other test knit beanie by Sandi!

Sandi’s third finished project is the Stone Mole Pepper Socks converted to a hat!

Griffin wore the sock monkey sweater I knit him for a few years and his baby brother Lennox has worn it a few times but...On no! It was accidentally washed in the hot water load and is now felted and is now shorter in length! The sweater will now be too short for a boy but it would look totally cute on a little girl as a cropped sweater over a long dress or jumper. Hint to Marilyn!! Bring Morgan wearing a dress or jumper in a colour that will go with it for some photos!

NEW AND COMING SOON

Pre-Order Pom Pom Issue 26! Please email me to let me know if you want a copy of the new Pom Pom - August 13th will be latest that you can pre-order.

Handmade Getaway, a book by Karyn Valina and Jacqueline Sava - special first edition is coming soon!

Exactly as the name implies, this inspiring book is your guide to getting away from it all—just you, your sewing machine, good friends and a quiet place to relax. If you’ve always dreamed of organizing a day, a weekend or a week away just to sew, this planner by Jacqueline Sava Clarke and Karyn Valino will help you step-by-step through scheduling, packing, and sewing your way through your time together.

Meet up with your friends to sew as often as you like because this book includes 14 individual and 7 group projects, at least a year’s worth of fun get-togethers. Designed specifically for sewing retreats, Jacqueline and Karyn offer practical guidance and checklists for everything your group will need, from help with planning supplies and how much time you’ll need, to suggestions for extra activities and menu planning. It won’t matter if your friends are new to sewing or if they’re pros, what matters is that you’ll all be together making your own cherished items that can only have been made with the collaboration that happens on a handmade getaway.

Now, you may be thinking that you don't sew but I can see this applying to organizing a great getaway for any Maker!

Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light is on its way!! Super excited!

Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!