Friday, June 26, 2020, Issue 154: What is on your needles?

I have long been eyeing Caitlin Hunter's Soldotna, shown above since it first popped up but was always stuck on the cropped style which I know will not suit me! Can you tell I didn't fully read the pattern description showing the included instructions? I have a lot of fingering stash that I can use for the yoke and I am thinking Coopknits Socks Yeah or Schoppel Wolle Wool Finest for my main colour but which one?

The Soldotna Crop is a top-down circular yoke sweater that features stranded colorwork. I designed this sweater with Portland’s unpredictable spring weather in mind. I look forward to layering this little top over linen dresses as well high-waisted skirts and pants. The design can easily be lengthened if crops aren’t your style, instructions are included in the pattern. This design is simple enough for an adventurous beginner, yet still engaging for advanced knitters. Best of all, the cropped length and sleeveless style make this a super quick and gratifying project. The body length is easily adjustable, keep in mind changes will alter the yardage required.

Tegna is another Caitlin Hunter pattern that has long been on my radar but have yet to make! Nicole knit hers using Bergere de France Bigarelle, a summer yarn while others knit theirs using fingering yarn such as Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light or Malabrigo Sock...I am undecided on what yarn to cast one on with!

Tegna is knitted seamlessly from the bottom up, starting with the slightly flared lace hem, then working up to the armholes, where you separate your work and work the front and back flat. While it is knit in fingering weight yarn, this design works equally well in wool, a wool/mohair blend or linen. Instructions are given to customize the body and sleeve lengths to your preference. This sweater is designed to be slightly oversized, with approximately 5-10” of positive ease around the bust. The sleeves are fitted so make sure you pay attention to the slleeve circumference.

Gauge is 22 sts and 26-28 rows over 4” in stockinette after washing and blocking on the larger needles. Recommended needles are 3.25 mm (US 3) or as required to get gauge and 2.75 mm (US 2) for the sleeve and neck hem.

Cardiflower by Amy Gunderson is a free Knitty pattern that can be downloaded on Ravelry for top down yoke cardigan. This piece is knit almost seamlessly from the top down.

You could opt to remove the pockets for an entirely seamless sweater. But if you do choose to add the pockets, have fun with a contrast lining that peeks out from behind the lace detail in front. Cardiflower with its cropped sleeves and a slightly cropped body is perfect for layering. It has gentle A line shaping for a little extra movement.

Gauge is 18 stitches and 29 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch using 4.5 mm (US 7) needles and 3.75 mm (US 5) or as required to get gauge. Knit it using ZenYarnGarden Serenity Worsted, Malabrigo Rios, Malabrigo Washted or Berroco Ultra Alpaca.

Monkey Jacobus by Annita Wilschut is a super cute monkey knit in the round in one piece without seams! My sister came across it while searching Ravelry for a knit pattern to use to make a sock monkey toy to go with the sock monkey cardi she had already knit. The monkey can be knit using any weight of yarn.

For the smallest one she used 30 grams of fingering weight sockyarn for the main color and 10 grams for the face, hands and feet, knit with needles 1,5mm (000). It measures 20cm (8 “).

Using DK/worsted yarn, you need 50 grams MC and about 20 grams CC, use needles 3 or 4 (3mm or 3,5mm). Your Jacobus will measure 35cm/14”.

For a large monkey, use aran or bulky, about 75 grams MC and 25 grams CC, needles 4mm-5mm, 6-8, and Jacobus measures 50 cm, 20”.

WIP's and FO's

Off my needles is my Deschain by Leila Raven using Berroco Estiva!

I worked seven repeats of the shale pattern on both the front and the back. I made my armholes, three shale patterns deep when sewing the side seams. I wanted a smaller tee that my original Deschain and although I love how it turned out, I had intended it to be longer but since my gauge turned out smaller than my original. I used a cotton ribbon for bot and the same size needles (5.5 mm (US 9), the Estiva gave me a smaller gauge. I do have 15g left of each cake so if the length does not grow with wear from the weight of the fabric, then I may frog back the hem and add another repeat.

Last weekend I worked on my modified Fruit Stripe Gum Socks by Leah Oakley. I used 2 x 2 ribbing instead of 1 x 1 ribbing on the ribbing and before the gusset.

I have finished the gussets and heels and am knitting the soles! I love how the yarn is knitting up! I am using The 'A' Life Twin Socks from Timber Yarns and a mini skein from SweetGeorgiaYarns Party of Five that I had not used yet for the heels.

I picked up my Breathe and Hope Shawl by Casapinka again this week and am now in Section 9 of 10! The yarns I picked look wonderful in the pattern and I can't wait to see it blocks out when it is finished.

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 April 1 to June 30, 2020. Don't forget to post your finished projects so that you will be included in our quarterly draw! You only have a few days left to post them! We added the option of posting your finished project to Instagram using the #sue2knitskal so that I can find them!

Jen is knitting along with the Petale de Rose KAL using Koigu Pencil Boxes in Silent Purple. Are you knitting along with any of the many KALs (knit-alongs), CALs (crochet-alongs) or MAL (make-alongs)?

Heidi (@eweandiyarn) finished a wip! Here are her Diagonal Lace Socks by Wendy D Johnson knit using Leo & Roxy yarn.

Sonia (@soniabknits) knit these socks for Father’s Day using Stray Cat Socks in Set Adrift!

The second pair of socks Sonia (@soniabknits) knit recently are the birthday socks she knit using Stray Cat Socks Deluxe in Going Nude!

Nadine loves knitting baby blankets especially using Garnstudio Drops Baby Merino! For this one she also used a Drops Design pattern.

Jen finished and blocked and then gifted away) her Hug Shot Shawl by Casapinka that she had modified to make larger!

Debbie (@debsnubs)’s Thaliah by Andrea Mowry

Lucie (@alpomy) finished but hasn’t yet blocked her Venezia Shawl by Joji Locatelli using Malabrigo Mechita and Drops Brushed Silk Alpaca.

Ann (@annvanwagner)’s Venezia Shawl by Joji Locatelli

Kathy (@chantrykathy)’s Traveller Tunic by Joji Locatelli that she knit using a discontinued Berroco yarn from her stash.

Just look at how beautiful Danielle (@colourcloudknitting)’s Seablush by Andrea Rangel turned out. She knit it using Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine that she purchased while visiting from Australia in January!

Diane (@boujeeknits) knit two Orchids and Fairy Lights hats Tiny Owl Knits using Malabrigo Worsted.

Here is her daughter Michelina (@roadtripknits) wearing the second hat!

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 will continue 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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