Friday, March 4, 2022, Issue 238: Happy Friday! What is on your needles?

Last week, the world changed. As we watch the troubling events unfold in Ukraine and the political and economic fallout, it’s hard not to worry. 

One way to conquer feelings of worry and helplessness is to focus on what is within your control and take small, concrete steps to create positive results. There are many ways in which we can support Ukraine. The Canadian government will match your donations to the Canadian Red Cross's Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.

Many crafters in the Ravelry community want to find and purchase patterns by Ukrainian designers in order to support them directly. Our Advanced Search has Designer country filter that will allow you to quickly and easily search our database for patterns by the designer's country of residence.

The fastest way to apply this filter is to type the country name into the search bar in our Advanced Search. Underneath the search bar, relevant filter suggestions will appear as you type, including Designer country. Tapping on the Designer country filter suggestion will narrow your search to patterns from designers in the country you searched (here, we are searching for Ukraine):

If you prefer to manually select the filters as you browse, you'll find the Designer country filter at the bottom of our Advanced Search filters in the more search options section.

With the country selected, you can apply any of our other filters and sorts to refine your search even further.

Screenshot of Ravelry's Advanced Search with the designer country filter applied to show Ukrainian designers. Here are some favorite patterns on Ravelry I found through this search:

At the top is Mama Bear Pullover by Teti Lusak , whose family is there and her husband's family. Above is the test knit by Fiona (mockasian) using Ancient Arts Fibre Crafts Oasis.

This round yoke pullover is worked top-down in the round with a wide boxy body and a straight sleeve gathered at the cuff. Apart from the pattern section of the yoke, which is very simple and intuitive, the pullover is worked in a textured seed-like pattern, making it a fun project for advanced beginners and pros alike.

Caramel Shawl by Kateryna Kazka is a lovely shawl with cables, eyelets and tassels. The shawl has a form of an upside-down isosceles triangle. The knitting starts from the lower angle. The top angles are decorated with long tassels made of the same yarn. The pattern has both written and charted instructions.
Depending to your height and taste, the size is easily adjstable. You will need 361 - 416 yards (330 - 380 m) of worsted weight or you can double the size with double the yarn. Gauge is 13 stitches and 22 rows = 4 inches using 6.0 mm (US 10) needles.

The Mallow Shawl by Ksenia Naidyon of Life is Cozy is Ukrainian with family and friends living there. This pattern release has the main goal of raising funds to help her motherland as much as she can. All the proceeds from this pattern sales are going towards humanitarian support to my hometown, Chernihiv, currently surrounded and fired upon by Russian army. People there are facing a humanitarian disaster.
If you wish to support Ukraine right away without purchasing the pattern, this website has a list of on-the-ground verified Ukrainian charities with websites in English that support credit card donations from any country.

A sister project to the Mallow Cowl, this piece offers the familiar comfort of a triangular wrap combined with beautiful textures. Health and protection - two main symbols behind mallow flowers - are knit into the fabric of Mallow Shawl.

The shawl is worked from the bottom corner up, allowing the knitter to stop whenever they desire (or run out of yarn!). Perfect for mindful knitting sessions, this design requires an adventurous intermediate to advanced skill level and knitter’s engagement in most rows.

Size - Wingspan 78” / 200cm,  Depth at the widest point 27” / 68cm

Yarn - 1080yds / 988m of plump DK to worsted weight yarn, preferably solid or lightly tonal colorway

Needles - 4mm (US 6) needles (straight or on a long cable) or the size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge
24 sts and 36 rows in 4” / 10cm in Diagonal Rib Stitch, unblocked
21 sts and 34 rows in 4” / 10cm in Diagonal Rib Stitch, blocked

Notions - Cable needle or a dpn of a matching size for wrapped stitches

*I found this link helpful as well: ways to help the people of Ukraine (via the Indie Untangled newsletter last week).

Fresh off my needles and already blocked is my The Twigs Sweater by Junko Okamoto.

My stitch gauge really wasn't too far off when I measured everything before blocking. My row gauge was where I was off... it was 40 rows instead of 32 rows. However, the length on me is fine since i am short. To make up for my shorter gauge I could have added a few extra rows in between each chart section.

Before Blocking:
Neck circumference 19”
Max bust circumference 50”
Hem circumference 55”
Armhole circumference 15.5”
Wrist circumference 8”
Front body length 20”
Back body length 21”
Neck to wrist length 25”

After Blocking did not really change my gauge.

This is my progress shot of my Oksa test knit for Caitlin Hunter on Monday.

I now have 6” knit from the armholes and I have started my third hank of yarn. I am using The Fibre Co Cumbria which is knitting up with great stitch definition.

During last night's Zoom Knit Night, Debbie asked me how many Caitlin Hunter patterns have I knit. When I checked I have finished seven so this will make eight!

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

The newest Knit-Alongs are the Any Sweater / Shawl KAL and the Knit Any Project: our everlasting knit-along to encourage and support you to knit which is running from January 1 to April 30, 2022. I will get a thread started soon!

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!

Paulette (psknitting50) knit her granddaughter this gorgeous pair of Renda mitts from Mittens of Latvia by Maruta Grasmane.

Paulette (psknitting50) knit this pair of Tøffelhelt by Birger Berge using leftover Sandnes Garn Sisu and hand spun yarn.

Darlene knit this Nightshift using Noro Ito (no longer avaiilable in the shop) for her friend! Kits are available in Noro Akari and Noro Enka. The Bird Shawl Pin is packaged with a shawl stick from the rustic shawl stick collection, handmade in Hanover, Ontario. The craftsman behind Nature's Wonders is Gary Fleischauer.

Darlene knit her second Nightshift by Andrea Mowry using Berroco Sesame. Berroco Summer Sesame is available in the shop.

Here are two of the Boy Bunny by Julie Williams of Little Cotton Rabbits that Darlene knit using Kits from the shop, stash yarn and the dresses from the Girl Bunny.

Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) finished this intricate pair of Fox in the Snow Mittens by Patons.

Lani (zanderlidy) finished this pair of Jelly Roll Socks by Mara Catherine Bryner.

Diane (@boujeeknits) knit the sweetest Drina Cardigan and Pants - P200 by Oge Knitwear Designs and a pair of colourful baby socks!

Here’s Diane (@boujeeknits)’s Land of Sweets by Helen Stewart.

Diane (@boujeeknits) knit a cozy Fuego Cowl by Justyna Lorkowska.

SHOP UPDATE

Some of my order from Firefly Notes arrived yesterday! The rest will arrive soon. The tins are designed with love and care and hand crafted in small batches with a deluxe non toxic hand poured resin, these slider tins are a beautiful keepsake worth having for a lifetime. The single or packs of stitch markers will add a little collectable flair to your next WIP! 

Sandy Bahrich is the founder and CEO of Firefly Notes. She works out of her Steveston, BC based studio on the salty west coat of Canada.

It took 6 months but the rest of my order of Regia Premium 4 Ply Merino Yak arrived! There are ten colour

In the shop are 10 of the available colours.

High-quality merino wool from South Africa meets Yak! Merino Yak has a very special mélange effect, created by the natural brown color of undyed yak fibers. Yak wool has particularly fine fibers for enjoyable, soft wearing comfort and it is also very warm but also lightweight. It looks particularly attractive in small Fair Isle and plain patterns.

• 58% Wool, 28% Polyamide, 14% Yak
• 437 yards (400 meters) in 100 grams (3.53 ounces)
• 30 stitches, 42 rows to 10cm (4in)
• 2.0 - 3.25 mm (US 0 - 3) needles
• Machine wash in 30 degrees or less. Lay flat to dry.

Three more classes are up in the shop! All classes can be found HERE. The Learning the Magic Loop with Cuff Down Sock Class with Jen wiill be added soon.

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