Friday, August 11, 2023, Issue 308: Lazy Summer Days...Happy Friday!

I didn't knit as many summer sweaters this year...I had cozy knits mixed in!

I added the Secret Garden Sweater by Elinor Mortensen to my favourites back in May as soon as it was released! It is a top down knitted sweater with 3/4 sleeves. The body being knit in colourwork has less elasticity than it would have with a single colour so she recommends a positive ease of at least 10cm.
Some of the test knitters knit their sweater with long sleeves or as a cardigan. These variations are not part of the pattern!

Yarn
MC - 500, 540, 580 (630, 670, 710) 750, 790, 830 m / 546, 590,
635 (700, 735, 775) 820, 865, 907 yards

CC1 - 250, 270, 290 (310, 330, 350) 370, 390, 410 m / 275, 295, 317 (340, 360, 382) 404, 425, 450
yards,

CC2 - 350, 380, 410 (440, 470, 500) 530, 560, 590 m / 382,
415, 448 (481, 513, 546) 580, 612, 645 yards

Needles
3.0 mm (US 2.5) and 3.5 mm (US 4) needlesGauge

Gauge
25 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches

It was designed to use Regia Premium Alpaka Soft (which has been discontinued) and Regia Premium Merino Yak. I would use the same yarn for the main colour and the contrast colours!

Caitlin Hunter’s new Alpine Bloom Hat and her Alpine Bloom Tee are 20% off on Ravelry with the code FLOWERS until August 15, 2023.

The Alpine Bloom hat is designed as a companion to her Alpine Bloom tee pattern. This Scandinavian-inspired floral design is a fun and striking knit! I used sport weight yarn, but you can play with fingering and DK as well (taking gauge into account) to make this a great pattern to knit again and again. This fun colorwork hat pattern is written for both child and adult sizes.

Yardage:
 Please note that yardage is estimated, and can vary between knitters and yarn used.

MC: 110, 120, 130 yards 100.5, 110, 119 m

CC: 80, 90, 100 yards 73.5, 82.5, 91.5 m

Sizes:
1, 2, 3: To fit child, adult S/M, adult L/XL
Circumference: 16.75, 20, 23.5” 42.5, 49.5, 57 cm
Height: 9” 23 cm

Needles
Main: US 5 3.75 mm - 16” 40 cm circular needle and preferred needles for small circumference knitting.
Ribbing: US 3 3.25 mm - 16” 40 cm circular needle

Gauge
24 sts and 30 rounds over 4” 10 cm in colorwork pattern on main needle, after blocking.

Note- You should always knit your swatch the same way that the pattern is knit—in this case, in the round. Block your swatch as you will your finished garment and allow it to dry fully before measuring.

Suggested Yarn:Kelbourne Woolens Andorra or Lichen and Lace Rustic Heather Sport.Instead of a solid contrast colour, use Schoppel Wolle Edition 3

Since it really is still not time to say good bye to summer, here is another quick summer knit!

Geometry II by Minimi Knit Design is a short sleeve version of her sleeveless Geometry. Hurry, you can enjoy 20% off either pattern with the code CELEBRATE from now through August 12th at midnight, any time zone.

It can be knit up quickly and is a versatile layering piece. Its modular construction is very flexible, making it easy to fit any body shape. Tips are given on how to adjust the neckline width, body length, body circumference and sleeve circumference.

Yarn
Worsted weight yarn knit to a bulky gauge.

350 (395, 430, 480, 510) {580, 660, 715, 770, 840} m / 385 (430, 470, 525, 555) {635, 725, 780, 845, 915} yds, including 10% allowance

Needles
6.5 mm / US 10.5 circular needle of length 120 cm / 47 inches or longer; adjust needle size if necessary to obtain gauge.

6.5 mm / US 10.5 needles in your preferred style for small circumference knitting in the round, for the sleeves.

Gauge
13 sts x 22 rows = 10 cm / 4 inches in Stockinette stitch, blocked.

The sample yarn is a 100% cotton yarn, which has a tendency to grow widthwise and shrink lengthwise. The swatch fresh off your needles is going to have a higher number of stitches and a smaller number of rows, just make sure that you can block your swatch to the blocked gauge.

14.5 sts x 19 rows = 10 cm / 4 inches in 4x2 Rib, blocked and unstretched.

Suggested Yarn: Berroco Remix

WIPs and FOs

My car knitting for our drive to my daughter's place was the cuff on the one sleeve of my Serkinet by Kate Davies.

I was babysitting last week for my daughter…I worked on the second sleeve on my #aallokkosweater test knit while watching my grandson play and my younger grandson on his iPad!!

I finished my Aallokko Sweater by Tiina Huhtaniemi for the Tukuwool test knit using Tukuwool DK.

I did not bring my Sunshine Coast by Heidi Kirrmaier to work on while I was away last week. I have 4 more repeats left before I am finished the body.

My daughter in BC asked me to make a Back Flap Sleeper by Simply Sycamore for her. She is expecting her first child in October.

I finished the Back Flap Sleeper by Simply Sycamore. I used Cascade Cantata.

Here is the Some BUNNY loves you bonnet by Simply Sycamore that goes with the Back Flap Sleeper!

I'm sorry but until this baby girl is born, I won't be able to get photos of her wearing this adorable set!

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Marilyn (@mariwana64) knit this beautiful Magnolia Chunky Cardigan by Camilla Vad for her mom who lives overseas during our cardigan class! Yarn is Garnstudio Drops Air.

Tammy (@bakemeasweater) finished this lovely top using Drops pattern Island Dream. Yarn is Rowan Summerlite DK.

Cecilia (colourcanuck) knit the Buggiflooer Beanie (the Shetland Wool Week 2023 hat) by Alison Rendall in Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Weight.

Cecilia (colourcanuck) also finished this unique Rhinebeck Hat by Wooly Wormhead. Yarn is Cascade 220 Sport (grey) and Schoppel Wolle Edition 3.

Jan (mrsjanknits) finished this pair is socks using a tutorial on YouTube by Orchard House Editing and Design called How to knit your first toe up sock. Yarn is WYS Signature 4 Ply.

Carolyn has been busy! This time she has knit these two using the Bear in aa plaid dress by Julie Williams (Little Cotton Rabbits) and the Lion Supplement.

Carolyn has another bear and a panda started. Her grandkids love the Little Cotton Rabbit’s patterns and adding some of their own touches! She has been using Drops Lima, Bergere de France Ideal and Berroco Vintage DK for all of her little animals.

Susanne had enough yarn left after finishing her Gramps by tincanknits for our first cardigan class that she knit her granddaughter the Barley Hat also by tincanknits!

Mary Ellen (MadCrocheter) knit this Grow With Me Beanie by Elena Nodel and adapted it to make a matching cowl.

Sandi (sandima) finished two A-Tension Span Hat test knits for Kate Agner.

Linda (lmcnorton) knit herself a second JazzaGal by Mary Annarella. She used Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine held double with Drops Kid Silk.

Tiff (climbthesky) knit this gorgeous summery Oolong Tank by Aimee Sher using Navia Bummull.

Sonia (Soniabknits) finished this sweet Florentina by Claudia Quintanilla of EweKnit Toronto from her book Making Memories: Timeless Knits for Children.

Sonia (sonyru) finished her Easwas by Kate Davies Designs that she knit for the #sue2knitkatedavieskal

Victoria (mamavictoria) finally posted her finished Quiet Thicket Cowl by Stephanie Loven that she knit for our Colourwork Cowl Class.

SHOP UPDATE

Save the date! I’m a Knitters Fair Vendor on Saturday, September 9, 2023 to be held in the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

The Koigu Barbie World Pencil Boxes should be arriving any day now!! 

Inspired by the nostalgic electric pinks, blues and violets of Barbie World, this collection is just the thing to make your Barbie fantasies come true.

10 x 25g KPPPM skeins

Back Orders / Pre-Orders are allowed so if I run out, don’t worry BUT don’t wait too long because it will be a limited run!

Back in the shop is Rico Make It Tweed which can’t seem to stay in stock! We also have Rico Make It Tweed Neon. More Purl Strings including the new Chunky size and Lantern Moon Swivel Cords for those of you who have been waiting for nylon coated stainless steel cords that can work with your Lykke, Knitter’s Pride or even your Knit Picks interchangeable needles.

Back in stock including more colours than before is Garnstudio Drops Brushed Alpaca Silkand more Drops Lima.

Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!