Friday, May 22, 2020, Issue 149: What is on your needles?

There are so many summer tops you can knit from so many wonderful and talented designers with new ones popping up almost daily!

Jan (above) is ready wearing her finished Noni top by Megan Nodecker that she knit it with Lichen and Lace 80/20 Sock in the Sea Glass colourway. “I loved everything about this project!” is how she put it and no wonder, it looks and fits great!

Megan Nodecker’s Noni is an oversized tee featuring lace details at the shoulders and neckline, a classic boat-neck, dropped shoulders and a split hem. Noni is knit seamlessly from the top down and in the round using fingering weight yarn with a gauge of 24 sts x 36 rows = 4” / 10 cm in Stockinette Stitch in the round with smaller needles, blocked. Gauge is 20 sts x 24 rows = 4” / 10 cm for the Textured Lace Pattern with larger needles, blocked. The suggested needles are 3.75 mm (US 5) and 4.0 mm (US 6).

Dead Easy by Karen Fernandes is knit top down in any yarn weight from fingering to light worsted. The cropped body and sleeves can be knit as long as you want. The pattern includes two sizes S/M and L/XL with finished bust measurements of 40 or 48 inches. The gauge is 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches. Needle sizes would vary depending on the yarn you choose in order to get gauge. The pattern suggested 6.0 mm (US 10) with fingering weight yarn.

Green Machine by Amy Gunderson is a free pattern in Knitty, Spring + Summer 2020 that you can download from Ravelry. Perfect for layering over a tank in the warmer months, this tee takes only one or two skeins of laceweight yarn. It’s knit from the top down with just two little seams under the arm for minimal finishing. The gauge is 26 sts/36 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch after blocking using a suggested needle size of 3.25 mm (US 3) or as required to get gauge.

While we might want to be knitting that summer top to wear, here is the Safe at Home Blanket by Margaret Holtzmann, a colourful blanket reflecting the current reality that we are safest at home with our family. This stash-busting blanket is worked in garter stitch strips then sewn together. The border is added by picking up and knitting along the completed blanket edges.

You will need 270 yards of each of 12 colors, and an extra 180 yards of the color used for the border. The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn with a gauge of 17 stitches and 34 rows = 4 inches in Garter Stitch using 4.5 mm (US 7) needles.

You will be using intarsia, color striping, and pick up and knit.

Safe at Home 2 Blanket (crochet version) by Margaret Hotzmann is also available.

Copenhagen Building Blocks by Jake Henzler (@boy_knits_world) is a series of six grid patterns for knit blocks, which can be sewn together into larger panels such as blankets. You can make each of the panels in a variety of colours, but the grids are also designed so that you can mix and match features to create new building blocks.

Here is a pillow Jake (jakehenzler on Ravelry) made. He used 4 ply cotton for his blocks using 3.0 mm (US 2.5) needles. Each finished block will take 20 grams of yarn in total, and will measure approximately 15 x 24 cm. Rather than trying to buy an exact number of balls at once, I suggest beginning with a handful of colours you love, then adding in new colours as you work.

Yarn suggestions based on finished Ravelry projects include Rowan Summerlite 4 ply, Garnstudio Drops Flora, and Rowan Felted Tweed DK.

WIP's and FO's

I already have two WIPs but I had to cast on Joji Locatelli's Venezia Shawl using Malabrigo Mechita in 697 Full Moon Trio and Drops Kid Silk in 01 Off White. The shawl is a diamond shaped shawl worked from tip to tip with a reversible diamond lace motif and the main body of the shawl worked in ribbing.

These I started last week but I didn't report on my progress! The pattern is Fruit Stripe Gum Socks by Leah Oakley knit using The "A" Life by Timber Yarns which was one one two yarns they designed to support Autism Awareness Day (April 2). This fun pattern is an easy one-row repeat that makes your self-striping yarn appear as a diamond shaped pattern. I worked a 2 x 2 rib instead of the 1 x 1 rib from the pattern. Usually I knit my socks using Addi 8 inch 2.0 mm (US 0) needles but for this pattern I am using 2.25 (US 1) needles from my ChiaoGoo Twist Shorties Mini Set!

I am on section 6 of my Breathe and Hope Shawl by Casapinka. The changes in gauge between the pattern stitches has been a bit of a concern but it has been said that blocking will work its magic. My gauge is very loose so fingers crossed everything will block the way I want!

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

A gorgeous day for Rosemary to wear her Lounging Top by Joji Locatelli knit using Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light.

Carol’s Granito by Joji Locatelli looks amazing knit in this beautiful shade of lavender. Yarn is Bergere de France Bigarelle which is blend of cotton, linen, flax and rayon with a whopping 427 yards! Her first pockets too!

Another knit off of Carol’s needles is Caitlin Hunter’s Navelli knit using Lei and Roxy 80/20 Sock from a kit she bought at the Fiber Sho.

Carol has been busy finishing up projects...Here is her Hipster Shawl by Joji Locatelli knit using Malabrigo Rios which until she blocked it, she wasn’t sure she liked! Blocking works like magic!

Brenda loves the Correct Shawl designed by Helen Firing that she knit using Estelle Alpaca Merino DK Shawl Kit that she got that she wants to make another one!

Rita finished two shawls designed by Joji Locatelli! This one is Ebba’s Garden Shawl.

The second shawl designed by Joji that is off Rita’s needles is the Venezia Shawl. Hopefully, I can photos that are not flat and blocking soon. I know these don't do the shawls justice!

Karen’s Little Cate Blankie by Kate Cebrian Smith from Ravelry knit using Drops Baby Merino in light grey and white.

This is the third Painted Bricks Shawl by Stephen West, our group has knit! Jen’s mom, Judy did an amazing job on hers!! She is very proud of it since she has only been knitting just over a year! She used a combination of SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock and a Party of Five set.

Jen finished her second Stephen West Shawl! This one is his Fantastitch! Awesome!

Heidi finished her Fantastitch by Stephen West too! Like Jen’s it is huge and this photo does not do it justice!

Diane (@boujeeknits) with her Moonlight Garden Shawl by Melody Hoffmann!

Karen (kmae64) finished a small pair of vanilla socks.

Pannouschka finished this pair of Poet Socks by Sari Nordlund

Christina finished this pair of P13 Mitts by Nantucket Knitter

Lise (MattedCat)’s Tiggy Darling Test Knit that she knit using Garnstudio Drops Flora. The pattern suggested a certain length while knitting, but didn’t take into account how much the lace section grows after blocking. Still a lovely pattern that her granddaughter who adores dresses will love!

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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