Friday, July 31, 2020, Issue 159: August long weekend

Ranunculus by Midori Hirose has been a very popular pattern since the pattern went live in 2017! Over 6000 projects have been recorded on Ravelry with many, many more not recorded...I know because there are so many of you including Angela here who do not record your projects on there. Angela knit her Ranunculus in a fingering weight yarn so she has this gorgeous new tee that isn't as oversized. She used ZenYarnGarden Serenity 20 and I must admit that I like it like this just as much as I like the looser oversized!

My sister Mary (maryc1981) knit knit her Ranunculus using Garnstudio Drops Air for a lightweight cozy version!

Connie (knitnut246) finished this Ranunculus (her second) using Illimani Yarn Sabri yarn from her stash!

Ranunculus is a top-down round yoke pullover with lace and textured stitches. The round yoke has ample depth and finished pullover has cropped length but can be adjusted if you want a longer length. It is a surprisingly quick project at a very loose gauge with big size needles. The combination of thin yarn and big needle gives light, transparent and airy texture to this pullover. You can knit it using lace, light fingering to worsted weight yarn or held double with mohair with the amount of transparency depending on the weight of yarn used.

There are still some Kits using the yarns I used for my Ranunculus are HERE. or use Hikoo Rylie held single or held double with mohair such as Drops Kid Silk or Lichen and Lace Marsh Mohair. Knit a summer version using BC Garn Tussah Silk, Rowan Creative Linen or Berroco Quinoa.

For anyone (like me) who collects the Julie Williams of Little Cotton Rabbits patterns, she has a new Sundress Supplement out that is free but needs to be used in conjunction with the existing dress pattern of any of her animal patterns or her dress collections.

Don't forget that the shop has kits for making these little animals! If you want to create your own kit using different colours, just let me know! Kits are put together using Bergere de France Ideal.

Plumrose Yoke Jumper by Laura Barkla is available as a free Ravelry download! Plumose is knit seamlessly in the round from the top-down. The neckline is shaped with two sets of short rows, one above the colourwork and one below. After the yoke, the stitches are divided to start the body and the sleeves, which are also worked in the round. Frondy and intricate, yet neutral and understated, Plumose works for nearly any season. Knit in soft neutrals and smoky browns to evoke moths, birds, and woods. Try frosty blue for icicles and greens for botanical vibes. Check out kriker513's version on Ravelry knit using Lichen and Lace Rustic Heather Sport.

The pattern is knit using sport weight yarn. The gauge is 24 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches using 3.0 mm (US 2.5) needles or as required to get gauge and 2.5 mm (US 1.5) for the ribbing.

Heather Breadner, owner of Aberdeen’s Wool Company in Lindsay, Ontario has started a COVID-19 memorial blanket to honour the lives of all the people who have died from the virus in Canada. The three women spearheading the project, Heather Breadner, Allison Day and Amanda Sharpe, know they cannot complete the large art installation blanket alone. On a new website, they urge other knitters to join them in creating the memorial to more than 8,000 people, with each square in the blanket representing one life lost.

"We are calling all knitters across the country to pick up their needles," says a message on the COVID-19 memorial blanket project website.

"Together, we can create a memorial that can travel through the country, and bring comfort to those who've lost loved ones, and to honour the memories of the souls who are now no longer with us."

Once completed, the blanket is expected to be 9,000 square feet (836 square metres) and weigh about 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms). It will be made up of more than 8,000 knitted squares, all one foot by one foot (30 cm by 30 cm). It will cover half a football field, Breadner said. The project was launched last week.

Knitters can register on the COVID-19 memorial blanket website, specifying their name and the name of the person represented by the square. Once they knit their squares, with a standard type of wool and according to a set pattern, they mail the squares to the address provided. Then a team of volunteers will assemble the blanket. 

The COVID-19 Memorial Blanket project was brought to my attention by a woman named Angela who then emailed me a copy of the CBC News article. The yarn to be used for the squares in the blanket is Berroco Vintage which is being ordered but not yet available in the shop yet. I will add the yarn to the website some time this weekend.

There is a new group on Ravelry called covid-19 memorial blanket that you can join too. You can also find an FAQs thread where you can find answers to most questions.

WIP's and FO's

I snapped this pic of my V-Back Tee by Jamie Hoffman wip Monday morning using my tripod in the spare room and then walking back to the living room. When Ed got up, he started laughing because I had left a trail of yarn because I forgot my cake of yarn in the other room!!

This is the V-Back worn the way it was designed! I like the V side better personally...which side do you like?

I am on halfway through section 2 of the short rows so very close to finishing my V-Back Tee. I love the colours that I chose to knit mine in! I haven't seen any that I don't like:)

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 July 1 to September 30, 2020. Post you finished projects to the Sue2Knits and Yarn Ravelry Group to the Finished Objects thread or to Instagram using the hashtag #sue2knitskal to be included in the next quarterly draw.

Diane (ladi-di) knit this beautiful Stillness Shawl MKAL by Helen Stewart! The whole pattern is now available for the Stillness Shawl and the knit along will continue until Friday August 28th.

Jocelyn (jocblais) also knit the Stillness Shawl MKAL by Helen Stewart! It was her first mystery knit-along with new clues each week!

Carla (carlaeleanor) finished Smock It! by Stephen West!

Brandi (@thegreenbuttonjar) finished her Find Your Fade by Andrea Mowry back in January but finally got it blocked! She knit it using Lichen and Lace!

Brandi’s other FO is Casapinka’s Hugshot Shawl that she knit using her own hand dyed yarn!

Dianne finished her first garment! She knit herself Turtle Dove II by Espace Tricot using Garnstudio Drops Air! There are still some Kits available HERE.

Andrea finished Alfresco Top by Jess Coppom! It is the second crocheted top that she has made!

Sonia (@soniabknits) finished this darling Garter Stitch Baby Cardigan by Joji Locatelli (her first pattern and a free Ravelry download). She added I-cord ties and all her edges...and now there is a matching hat and booties too!

Sonia (@soniabknits) also finished these simple plain vanilla socks! My favourite kind of socks!!

Patti knit herself a pair of Midsummer Blossoms by This Handknit Life using leftover Hedgehog Fibres Sock and other stash for the contrast colours!

Jen (@seaturtlecraftco) got herself an antique Auto Knitter sock machine! For this first attempt, she knit a tube and hand finished by adding the contrasting heels, toes and ribbing!

Marie (thecatsmom) wanted a simple tv knitting project so she knit these Basic Ribbed Socks by Debbie O'Neill for her husband.

Annie (@kollar.annie) finished this pair of Calendula Baby Pants by Sandra Magalhães! So cute!

RE-STOCK

Another lovely squishy shipment of all Canadian Lichen and Lace arrived!! New 80/20 Sock colourways shown here!

Three new shades of Lichen and lace Mohair...

...and more Lichen and Lace Rustic Heather Sport!

West Yorkshire Spinners Blue Faced Leicester Aran has been re-stocked!

...Here is a little of the Rowan Felted Tweed DK that has been restocked!

Burning Impressions Dubblzz Socks Blockers (aren’t the Kiddzz versions cute?)...

Mitt Blockers and Mega Soxyzz are restocked!

Sarah Schira's new Mystery Gnome Knit-along starts August 6th! The Kits from Ancient Arts arrived today so those who ordered can pick them up and I have already shipped the ones being shipped! Don't forget to head over to Ravelry and buy your pattern! The first clue drops August 6th.

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!

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