Friday, December 16, 2022, Issue 276: Happy Friday....What is on your needles?

Do you still have last minute Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers to buy? Next week, I will be open normal hours up to and including Christmas Eve when I will be open from 10 am to 4 pm. If you can't make during the hours above, I am pretty flexible so just ask!

The Tuesday Knit Afternoon and Thursday Knit Night next week are still on next week but will be cancelled the following week.

Soe by Anna Strandberg caught my eye because of the sleeve detail…Then I had to wait until Laine Magazine, Issue 16 arrived in my shop! Copies are now in but don’t worry, I will be allowing backorders on this and many other books and magazines!

Soe is a warm and cosy sweater for cold winter days. It is worked top down with an intricate but simple-to-learn cable on the sleeves that starts from the collar and goes all the way down to the cuff. Soe means warm in Estonian – and wolf in the southern regions of Estonia.

SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)

Recommended ease: 7″ / 18 cm of positive ease.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest Circumference: 36 (40, 45, 47, 53) (56, 60, 64, 68)″ / 90 (100, 112.5, 117.5, 132.5) (140, 150, 160, 170) cm.

MATERIALS
Approx. 700 (900, 1020, 1140, 1260) (1380, 1520, 1640, 1760) yds / 640 (823, 933, 1042, 1152) (1262, 1390, 1500, 1609) m.

Needles: US 4 / 3.5 mm and US 7 / 4.5 mm 32″ / 80 cm circular needles.

Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, cable needle.

GAUGE
16 sts x 29 rnds to 4″ / 10 cm on US 7 / 4.5 mm needles in St St, after blocking.

29 sts x 29 rnds to 4″ / 10 cm on US 7 / 4.5 mm needles in cable patt, after blocking.

SUGGESTED YARN: Garnstudio Drops Air, Berroco Mochi, Berroco Ultra Alpaca. Of course, you can also hold any DK weight yarn double with a strand of mohair!!

Yvonne MT by Natasja Hornby (@moonstruck-knits) is her newest and last design of 2022. To celebrate, it is 20% off until Sunday, December 18th at midnight Amsterdam time.

Each year I try to expand upon one of my favorite techniques, mosaic knitting, by designing what I call a ‘Grand Mosaic’ shawl. Yvonne MT, with its eye-catching diamonds and arrows, suits my grand criteria perfectly. This shawl is especially close to my heart, not only because I used a novel technique, but also because it was a joint venture with my mom, Yvonne Maria Theresia.

The three colored version uses a technique I call ‘Intarsia light’, which is carefully explained in the pattern. If you prefer not to use the technique, the two colored shawl my mom created, proves that Yvonne MT doesn’t necessarily need that third color to stand out from the crowd.

CONSTRUCTION
Yvonne MT is a sideways constructed triangle. You will start with a few stitches, and work increases to shape the shawl. The three color version is worked using a technique I call ‘Intarsia light’. This technique is easy to work, and carefully explained in the pattern.

You can also choose to work the shawl in two colors, without introducing a third color for the inner triangle of the shawl. Please refer to the pictures for an example of the three- and the two-colored version.

SIZE
One size
Wingspan 190 cm / 74.75”.
Length of left border 85 cm / 33.5”.

YARN
Fingering weight yarn with some elasticity and bounce (wool or a wool blend).

Three colors
MC1 approx 575 m / 630 yards.
MC2 approx 350 m / 380 yards.
CC approx 275 m / 300 yards.

Two colors
MC1 approx 575 m / 630 yards.
MC2 approx 575 m / 630 yards.

NEEDLES
Needle A (for the shawl body)
One 100 cm / 40” (or longer) circular needle in size needed to obtain gauge listed.
Suggested needle size: 3.5 mm / US #4.
Needle B (for the I-cord bind off)
One straight or circular needle.
Suggested needle size: 4 mm / US #6.

GAUGE
Measured after blocking.
Mosaic pattern on Needle A: 24 sts x 46 rows =
10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4”.

NOTE
The Mosaic colorwork is CHARTED ONLY.

SUGGESTED YARN: The Fibre Co. Amble, Jamieson & Smith Supreme Jumper Weight, Tukuwool Fingering

FOs and WIPs

I finished my Lonely Forest Socks by Caitlin Hunter that I knit for the #sue2knitscaitlinhunterkal! I told you a few weeks ago that I forget to knit the last 4 rows of the chart on that first sock. Of course, I had to match my second sock! i used The Fibre Co. Amble held double with Garnstudio Drops Kid Silk.

I have these warm and cozy slipper socks blocking on Dubblzz!! Sock Blockers by Megan of Burning Impressions of BC.

New on my needles is Amy Christoffers @savoryknitting’s Pressed Flowers Cardigan! I swatched aand blocked my swatch on Tuesday and started the ribbing! The yarn I decided on is Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light for my main colour which is a sport weight yarn and Lang Yarns Frida which is worsted weight. Despite the weight difference in the yarn I am using, my gauge works and I love the feel and drape of the fabric.

The Pressed Flower Cardigan is an easy to wear relaxed v-neck cardigan with an allover mosaic pattern. The body is worked in one piece to the underarm. Fronts and back are divided and worked separately to the shoulders. Shoulders are bound off and sewn but you could opt to work short rows and join with a three needle bind off if you prefer. The sleeves are picked up and worked down in the round.

I finished my first 50g main colour hank of Ultra Alpaca Light partway across this row so I decided to pin my piece to get this photo! I have the first row of flowers done!

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Here’s what’s currently going on:

The newest Knit-Alongs are:

Caitlin Hunter (Boyland Knitworks) KAL. Choose from the Ninilchik Swoncho, the Koivua or Koivua Light or any pattern by Caitlin;

and the Knit Any Project: our everlasting knit-along to encourage and support you to knit between now and December 31st. The deadline for both KALs is December 31st.

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! We will also add the option of posting your finished project to Instagram using the #sue2knitskal or #sue2knitscaitlinhunterkal so that I can find and see them!

Rita (ritz) test knit the Freckled Taiga Pullover by Tamy Gore. Use code TAIGA for 20% off the pattern (Ravelry doesn't show until when).

Freckled Taiga features a delicate lace design along both sides and the cuffs.

Jaye finished a Flax by tincanknits hack for one of her grandkids. Checck out this link for Flax Hacks!

When I posted photos of my grandson wearing the sweater I knit over 30 years ago, my sister Mary was asked by a friend to make one for her grandson since she couldn’t find the one that she had knit her own son! The pattern is Dino by Patons which is still be found as a download. My sister found the original yarns as requested by her friend.

This is the picture I posted previously of my grandson having a blast modeling this dinosaur sweater that I knit my kids over 30 years ago!

Linda finished this crocheted Go Green market bag by Karin Ashammar/Virklust for a friend.

Paulette (@psknitting50) finished but hasn't blocked this pair of socks for size 13 feet! Yarn is Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy!

Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) finished this pair of Ravishing Socks by Nancy Wheeler with twisted rib and lace.

Sonia (Soniabknits) finished another hat but this one is for herself to go with the Sophie Shawl by PetiteKnit that she is working on. Pattern is Manhattan Hat by Tori Yu.

SHOP UPDATE

Check out our Holiday Gift Guide for some ideas on what to get your knitter, crocheter, weaver, spinner and maker! Support your local yarn shop!

Pressed Flowers Shawl Kits are now available in Berroco Ultra Alpaca and Lang Yarns Frida. Ask about other yarn combinations!

New shades arrived of The Fibre Co. Arranmore Light!

REMINDER!!

Don’t forget to check out and sign up for the upcoming classes that start in January! I may try to reschedule a few that were cancelled in the fall.

Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting! Keep calm and keep on knitting and making!