Friday, January 22, 2021, Issue 182: What is on your needles?

Now that the rush some of us put ourselves to make gifts for our friends and loved ones, now we can choose a project that is more complicated or bigger. What do you have in mind to knit?

Yesterday after Bernie Sanders wore his now "famous" mittens that were made by Jen Ellis, a Vermont schoolteacher who sewed them from patches of old wool sweaters, numerous knit patterns popped up on Ravelry!

If you want to knit yourself a pair inspired by the ones Bernie wore, you can!

Bernie’s Mittens by Alyssa Coffey was inspired by the mittens Bernie wore and made by Jan Ellis. Her pattern was updated so use Version 2. These mittens repeat the same colorwork motif around the hand, while Sanders’ mittens featured contrasting thumb and black fabric across the palm. The pattern is adapted from Alyssa's personal mitten recipe and preferences. It fits a small-to-average women’s hand. To make smaller/larger mittens, consider adjusting needle size and gauge.

Yarn: Worsted weight in four colors: 1 skein Color A (medium brown) and small amounts of 3 Contrast Colors (white, beige, and dark brown on chart) Yarn suggestions (non-superwash): Navia Faroese Sock or Trio, Istex Lettlopi, Cascade 220 Heathers and Solids or Berroco Ultra Alpaca. A blend where I have colours that will work is Berroco Vintage.

Gauge: 4.5 stitches & 5.5 rows per inch. (18 stitches and 22 rows = 4”/10cm)

Needles: US Size 4 needles (3.5 mm) or as required to get gauge

Vermont’s Finest (Bernie’s Mittens) by Meg Harlan is another mitten pattern inspired by the pair worn by Bernie Sanders at the Biden Inauguration. This is a basic mitten chart, in the Norwegian selbu mitten style, with some alterations to the shape. One chart is provided, to be knit in reverse for the second mitten. The pattern uses 5-6 colors of yarn.

Techniques: For a good basic intro to selbu mittens, check out Norwegian Selbu Mittens by Stefanie Canich. The same basic instructions should apply to this chart.

Sizing: The size written at the recommended gauge fits me (my palm circumference is ~7.5 inches). Sizing adjustments can be achieved by sizing up or down in needle size. Length can be easily added/removed by increasing/decreasing the number of MC rows before and after the white crosses in the middle of the mitten.

Design notes: I tried to keep the pattern on the back of the mitten as true to the photos as I could, however, this pattern is different from Bernie’s actual mittens, as the patterning wraps all the way around the hand, whereas Bernie’s have dark colored fleece palms. I designed a thumb based off the visible grey thumb of Bernie’s pair, however they are slightly different.

Yarn: I recommend Istex Lettlopi Icelandic wool, as it is an excellent and warm choice for mittens of this style.

Amy Christoffers' Felix Cardigan is a cropped top down raglan cardigan with an eyelet motif in the raglan increases.

This was designed to be the perfect sweater to wear layered over tunics and dresses, I like it with waisted pants as well. I suggest putting all the stitches on waste yarn and trying the sweater on before you begin the ribbing to be sure you have a length you will like and will enjoy wearing.

This is a very easy and very quick knit with worsted/light aran weight yarn worked at a relaxed open gauge. The Mohair blend yarn drapes beautifully and will bloom when washed filling in the fabric of the airy gauge.

The cardigan version is written to be worked back and forth in rows, the neck is shaped with short rows, the body and sleeves are divided after the yoke shaping. The body is worked back and forth in rows, the sleeves are worked in the round. The body of the cardigan is 1” longer then that of the Felix Pullover - please note the body can be made any length but plan to purchase more yarn.

The cardigan is worked at an open airy gauge. If substituting yarn look for Aran or chunky weight yarns to match gauge. Yardage amounts are approximate and selecting a different style of yarn may result in more or less yarn required.

Needles
US 10/6mm: circular 16” and 24” or longer for body and a set of 4 or 5 DPN for sleeves.
US 8/5mm: circular 16” and 24” or longer, and a set of 4 or 5 DPN for sleeve cuffs.
US 5/3.75mm circular or straight for tubular cast on (optional)

Gauge
14 stitches x 20 rows = 4” in Stockinette stitch on larger needles
Adjust needle size to obtain gauge

Expect Kits for the Felix Cardigan soon!

WIP's and FO's

I finished my Stripes! by Andrea Mowry! For the most part, I followed the pattern while using three colours. I used Lichen and Lace Rustic Heather Sport in Coal, Sage and Pollen.

I knit the longer body, added inset pockets and then 4” of 2x2 rib.

The rib is how long I wanted it to be. I could undo the bind off and add a few more inches of rib for deeper pockets but since I don't intend to really use the pockets I probably won't. Initially I was worried about all of the yoke increases...the yoke was very ripply with extra fabric and with me not very busty! After blocking and aggressively stretching the neckline wider it smoothed out so that it would lay and drape flatter.

I picked my Christmas Eve cast on project again on January 17th! I cast The Classic by Espace Tricot on during our Christmas Eve Zoom meeting. My plan was too incorporate the ribbed detail from their Paloma but it turns out I am knitting Paloma after all!

This is how I got so far this week! I am using Shibui Staccato in Suit held double with Garnstudio Drops Kid Silk in 28 Navy Blue.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

The current Knit-Alongs are the Any Sweater / Shawl KAL and the Knit Your Project: the everlasting knit-along to encourage and support you to knit is running from January 1 to April 30, 2021.

Remember to post photos to the finished object (FO) thread when 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 so that I can find them!

This week I caught up with my Allyson shown wearing her Taila by Maie Landra of Koigu using Koigu Othello. I met Allyson when we were in second grade but hadn't been in touch for over fifteen years! Now I discover that she is a knitter, crocheter, and most recently spinner!

Here's the cast of Friends that Allyson crocheted for her boss to give her daughter for Christmas!

Angela brought this wonderful set of tiny dolls and the matching bag to hold them when came to pick up her Draw prize! She knit them using scraps of Lichen and Lace Rustic Heather Sport leftover from her stranded sweaters!

Jan had a request to knit a hat for her granddaughter who is allergic to woool out of a non-animal fibre. She knit That Other Hat by Double Ewe yarn shop using Bergère de France Barisienne.

Diane looks wonderful in a beautiful stranded hat and her Canopy Shawl by Melody Hoffmann! Canopy Kits are available in the shop HERE with plenty of stock for more.

Kay (@kayrobbins) favourite Stephen West shawl is her Chevron Shenanigans! Beautiful!

Jen (@seaturtlecraftco) finished her Felix Cardigan by Amy Christoffers! Yarn is Berroco Ultra Alpaca.

Rosemary knit this Aiki Seeded Rib Scarf” from Good Night, Day for her daughter. Yarn is Cascade Magnum.

Rosemary knit this pair of Ol Reliable Top Down from Tanis Fiber Arts using Twin Socks by Timber Yarns in Oh Canada.

Beverley decided to knit some socks! These she knit for her daughters and next shee plans to knit some men's socks!

Karen (kmae64) finished this pretty pair of Plain Jane Shortie Socks knit using yarn from @thegreenbuttonjar.

SHOP UPDATE

A big box of Malabrigo arrived this week!

Some Malabrigo Washted...

Malabrigo Rios...

Malabrigo Sock...

Malabrigo Mechita and Silkpaca...

and more Malabrigo Caracol!

Mary Jane Mucklestone’s Fair Isle Weekend from Laine Publishing arrived with more Laine Magazines!

VIRTUAL SOCIAL KNITTING

Virtual social knitting using the Zoom app! It has been a great way to knit together through social distancing! Join in with us either Tuesday afternoon from 2 - 4 pm or Thursday nights from 7 - 9 pm. We are continuing to hold our Zoom meetings each week until we can meet again in person. Clicking on the link will take you to our Zoom meeting.

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 407820804

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