Free Pattern Fridays - Friday, July 13, 2018, Issue 62: Lazy summer days...Friday the 13th!!!

My younger daughter, Whitney also rides a motorcycle but she lives in British Columbia (omg - don't try the stunts) and my son in Edmonton used to have a motorcycle...Me, I have only been on one once as a passenger back when I was in high school!

Our visit last weekend with my new grandson Caleb was too short but oh so sweet!

We all spent a couple of hours at the water park with my son, Linda, Caleb and Landon. Landon did not get as wet as usual though - Linda thinks because there were more people than normal taking advantage of the hot weather!

I will be seeing Griffin and Lennox soon too! My daughter found a used piano for the boys and here they are hamming it up!

FREE PATTERNS

Summer knitting to me means light, airy shawls, lightweight summer tops or cardigans to throw on in cold air conditioning or those evening walks.

Modesty by hopscotchknits 2018 is a very simple top-down, raglan style cardigan with a pretty lace panel down the back and single button fastening. The lace panel pattern has both charted and written instructions.

The back view of Modesty has a pretty lace panel! It is designed for worsted weight yarn for a gauge of 20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stocking stitch using the suggested needle size of 5.5 mm (US 9). Knit it with Butterfly Super 10 or Rowan Creative Linen. For an ultra soft, easy care alternative, try Hikoo Cobasi DK, a yarn that combines cotton, bamboo and silk with elastic nylon.

Adriana by The Noble Thread is a flowy, light sleeveless top designed to be worn with positive ease. It is knit using  2 colors, with a slightly A line shape, lace edging and a wide rib pattern, slipped stitch edged armholes, and an I cord bind off at the neck line. The pattern is simple, and seamless and can be easily adjusted by lengthening or shortening the section between the striped waist and the start of the armhole.

Knit it with DK weight yarn for a gauge of 22 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch using 4 mm (US 6) needles. Knit this with Berroco Remix Light, or BC Garne Tussah Tweed.

WIP's and FO's

Another baby knit is on my needles - Heirloom Cables Baby Sweater that I am knitting in one piece with Bergere de France Alaska. The pattern is FREE. I am knitting the pieces together as one piece though instead of separately to eliminate the need for most of the seaming. I am knitting the smallest size to get the 2 year old size with this yarn. I am using the same needles that the pattern uses though because as a loose knitter, I always go down a size to get gauge which is 13 stitches = 4". The other modification that I am doing is working the 2/2 RC (2 over 2 right cross) stitches only on the right front and right side of the back. I am working 2/2 LC (2 over 2 left cross) on the left side.

This is the Lion Brand Yarn's photo for the Heirloom Cables Baby Sweater pattern. The pattern has seed stitch borders and cables with written instructions (no chart) but does include construction schematics and directions for both a boy and girl version. The pattern is written for aran weight yarn where 4.5 mm (US b7) and 5.0 mm (US 8) needles are used for a gauge of 16 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger needles.

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.

Progress on my Swirl Skirt that I am knitting for the Skirt Knit-Along! This is my third Swirl Skirt!! For this one, I want it to be a wardrobe staple in denim/dark blue with only a subtle colour difference and I plan to omit the short-rows to make it a pencil skirt.

I cast on 150 stitches using a crocheted provisional cast on and I am making a wider waistband. I will not be picking up and knitting the waistband as written in the pattern to eliminate the 3 layers of the waistband so there is only the one layer plus the elastic. I'm a loose knitter so I am using a 2.75 mm needle for the DK weight yarn that I am using.

My skirt today!

Natalie’s progress on her Swirl Skirt...but oh dear - she frogged it thinking the 27” was too long! It wasn’t! Her gauge is usually similar to mine but she forgot that the skirt is knit on the diagonal so the skirt would not have been as long as she thought. Natalie is using Malabrigo Arroyo in Candombe and Butterfly Super 10 in 3856 Indigo Blue.

Nicole's gauge on the other hand is tighter than mine so it is both shorter and narrower width-wise evn though she has knit about the same number of rows so far. She is not worried though, she can pick up and add a waistband - one that isn't folded over. Nicole is using Malabrigo Arroyo in Volcan and Butterfly Super 10 in 3407 Paprika.

Marilyn has cast on the Ribbed Pencil Skirt by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas. She is knitting hers with Regia 6 Ply Tweed in Anthracite.

Connie’s Bolting by Stephen West is stunning! She loves his patterns and knits them often!

Catherine’s Book Rat by Jonas Matthies is too cute!

Mary Jane brought show and tell!! Here’s her Reyna by Noora Backlund _ this one is FREE

Mary Jane’s felted Elf Slippers

Mary Jane’s little baby jacket!! I'm sorry but I am not sure what patterns were used these two.

I've shown Marie's shawl before but here is another view of Marie’s Rosy Glen Shawl!

Heather’s Izumi by Bernadette Ambergen! Delicate, lacy, airy and gorgeous is also pictured above! She knit it with Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace in Slate.

NEW IN!

A new shipment of Hedgehog Fibres Sock has arrived! Ten more fabulous colours = 28 colours

New Stray Cat Socks Essential Deluxe - hand dyed self striping merino/cashmere/nylon yarn. From top to bottom - Going Nude, Creme de la Creme, Seuss Juice, Liberte, 70’s Formica and Holy Moly!

SUMMER VACATION ALERT!

The shop will be closed for vacation from Sunday, July 22 until Monday, July 30 for in-store pickup. The online shop will be open for orders but I will not be shipping and pickup will not be available until Tuesday, July 31st.

This year, I will have all four of my children in Ontario - at least for a few days (3)!! One lives in Whistler, BC and one in Edmonton, Alberta. Exciting!!

Don't forget Bergere de France yarn is still On Sale until July 20, 2018. No Discount Code is required. Discounts will automatically be applied when they are added to your Cart.

Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!