Friday, October 15, 2021, Issue 219: Happy Friday...what do you have on your needles?

Two years ago, I saw this beautiful pattern and just had to make one! I ordered the yarn and made up kits. I took photos along the way and I am sure most thought that it was the yoke of a sweater so I took this one to show the scale with the tips of my shoes showing!

Jólaskjól by Védís Jónsdóttir is a tree skirt for your holiday tree! Designed with Nordic homes in mind celebrating life, winter solstice and Christmas! The tree skirt is worked in the round. Round begins and ends with a purl stitch for the steek. The opening is cut open after securing the steek. It is designed to be knit using Istex Alafosslopi. I have only one kit left if you want to make yourself this beautiful Christmas tree skirt! The Kit is $137.50. Order HERE. It was originally also available in Garden Green.

Diameter - 122 cm. Length from cast on edge to bind off - 56 cm.

Gauge: 13 sts and 18 rows = 10 x 10 cm in St st using 6 mm needles.

On mine, I added the Birkin chart, eliminated those rows and played yarn chicken because I had 20 skeins of red that I used to put together 2 kits for the shop which left me with only 6 skeins for me to use for my sample! It has been a joy to take out to use with pencil tree in the shop and one day, I'd love to make another one to use with my tree upstairs.

Please let me know if I should consider ordering more to make up more kits!

Many of you have participated in Helen Stewart’s Knitvent events with her long-running holiday tradition for her Curious Handmade community. This year’s is a secret collection of six perfect-for-giving accessory patterns designed to surprise and delight you and every knitworthy person on your list. This year, indulge yourself with the comfort and warmth of handknit presents inspired by our favourite holiday-themed romantic comedies.

Over the course of five festive weeks, you will receive a series of secret mystery knitting patterns, each designed to be a quick and satisfying knit. There’s a strong community aspect with a busy knitalong and lovely prizes, bustling chat threads on Ravelry and tons of inspiration on Instagram with the hashtag #knitvent2021

So join in for a lighthearted exploration of holiday movies and handknit presents! We’d love to have you along.

Purchase the the Knitvent 2021 ebook for all the fun to follow:

The collection includes six delightful knitting patterns: one pattern each week for five weeks, except for one week when two will be released.

The patterns will be delivered automatically to your Ravelry inbox, so opening your message is like peeking behind the window of an advent calendar to see what’s inside!

Go ahead and create your first project page ready for when the pattern comes out: there will be a special giveaway prize announced soon!

Level of pattern difficulty - adventurous beginner to intermediate.

Release dates for Knitvent 2021:

Thursday, November 4th: Window #1
Thursday, November 11th: Window #2
Thursday, November 18th Windows #3 & 4
Thursday, November 25th: Window #5
Thursday, December 2nd: Window #6

This Gertrude McFuzz shawl by Marin Melchior of MarinJaKnits is named after a character from the musical “Suessical”. It is designed to be knit combining fingering weight yarn with lace weight mohair/silk or completely in fingering weight yarn.

NEEDLES & GAUGE:

The pattern works with ANY type/format needles (it is not worked in the round).
The designer likes using circular needles with a longer cable since the shawl grows every other row. The shawl gets very big, so a long cable is great for the end.

SHAWL “LEANS” use 3.5mm (US 4) gauge in Stockinette, before BLOCKING is 26 stitches and 40 rows = 4 inches in the short row sections.
“LACE” uses 4.0mm (US 6) gauge does not apply for these sections.

SIZE:

This shawl will look smaller and block bigger, depending on how hard you block it, one tester steam blocked hers, others wet/hard blocked theirs.

BLOCKED SHAWL Sizes- Approximately 60” wide & 30” tall.

Shown using a Koigu Pencil Box in South Pacific and Madelinetosh mohair/silk. Use any Koigu Pencil Box and Garnstudio Drops Kid Silk, Lichen and Lace Marsh Mohair or Ancient Arts Delicacy.

Isabell Kraemer’s new pattern Sabela includes everything she loves in a sweater! It has an effortless, modern and straight shape, some ease and, of course, stripes! Use the code MYAK21 for 20% off until October 21, midnight Berlin time.

Sabela is worked seamlessly in rounds from the top down. First some short rows are worked back and forth to shape the neck. The yoke is shaped by using a modified version of the contiguous set-in sleeves method developed by Susie Myers. When the yoke shaping is complete, the sleeve stitches are placed on hold and underarm stitches are cast on. The body is then worked in rounds to the hem. The sleeve stitches are then picked up again to work them in rounds top down to the cuffs (instructions for both short and long sleeves are provided). Neck is left unfinished.

Yarn (fingering weight)
C1:
405 (427, 487, 536, 563)(645, 689, 722, 755) yds
370 (390, 445, 490, 515)(590, 630, 660, 690) m
C2:
394 (405, 443, 509, 536)(552, 645, 689, 722) yds
360 (370, 405, 465, 490)(505, 590, 630, 660) m
for a long sleeve version, please allow approximately
170 (180, 186, 191, 208)(214, 219, 230, 240) yds/ 155 (165, 170, 175, 190)(196, 200, 210, 219) m more of each color.

Needles
US 3 (3.25 mm) 16” (40 cm) and 32” (80 cm) circular needle and DPNs (or longer circular needle for magic loop) for neck, body and sleeve ribbing.
US 4 (3.5 mm) 16” (40 cm) and 32” (80 cm) circular needle and DPNs (or longer circular needle for magic loop) for body and sleeves.
needle size(s) are suggestions, please make a gauge swatch to determine the needle size needed to get gauge

Gauge
24 sts x 36 rows = 4” (10 cm) square in Stockinette stitch on larger needle after blocking.

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5)(6, 7, 8, 9)
finished bust circumference:
35.25 (38, 41.25, 44, 47.25)(50, 54, 58, 61.25)“
88.5 (95, 103.5, 110, 118.5)(125, 135, 145, 153.5) cm
Suggested ease: 1 - 3” (2.5 - 7.5 cm)

Suggested Yarn: Regia Premium 4 Ply Merino Yak, Garnstudio Drops Flora or Tukuwool Fingering.

Fjolla is Isabell Kraemer’s other new pattern which is also available for 20% off using the code MYAK21. Fjolla means fine snow or snowflake which perfectly describes the pattern and wonderfully soft and light fabric created.

Fjolla is worked seamlessly from the top down, with 2 strands of mYak Baby Yak Lace held double throughout. The yoke is shaped by using a modified version of the contiguous set-in sleeves method developed by Susie Myers. First the yoke is worked back and forth to the final neck CO. When the neck shaping is complete, the yoke is worked in rounds to sleeve separation. The sleeve stitches are placed on hold and the underarm stitches are cast on. Then the body is worked in rounds to the ribbing. The sleeve stitches are then picked up again to work the sleeve in rounds, top down, to the cuffs. Neck finishing is worked last.

Yarn (lace weight)
Approximately:
1903 (2078, 2255, 2402, 2603)(2881, 3115, 3412, 3710) yds/ 1740 (1900, 2062, 2196, 2380)(2634, 2848, 3120, 3392) m
yarn is held double throughout
when working with an equivalent yarn held single (sport weight), you will need approximately:
951 (1039, 1128, 1201, 1301)(1440, 1557, 1706, 1855) yds/870 (950, 1031, 1098,1190)(1317, 1424, 1560, 1696) m

Needles
US 4 (3.5 mm) 16” (40 cm) and 32” (80 cm) circular needle and DPNs (or longer circular needle for magic loop) for neck, body and sleeve ribbing.
US 5 (3.75 mm) 24” (60 cm) and 32” (80 cm) circular needle and DPNs (or longer circular needle for magic loop) for body and sleeves.
needle sizes are suggestions, please make a gauge swatch to determine the needle size needed to get gauge

Gauge
21 sts x 30 rows = 4” (10 cm) square in Stockinette stitch on larger needle after blocking.

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5)(6, 7, 8, 9)
finished bust circumference:
35.75 (38.75, 42, 45, 48)(51.75, 55.5, 60.25, 64)“
89.5 (97, 105, 112.5, 120)(129.5, 139, 150.5, 160) cm
Suggested ease: 2 - 5” (5 - 12.5 cm)
Sample is worn with approximately 4” (10 cm) positive ease at bust

Suggested yarn: Malabrigo Sock, Malabrigo Silkpaca

WIPs and FOs

I finished my Felix Cardigan by Amy Christoffers!! Yarn is Garnstudio Drops Alpaca in 8120 Denim/Green held double with Drops Kid Silkin 08 Light Jeans Blue. Buttons are Katrinkles Line Buttons.

I modified the sleeves to be the 3/4 length bishop sleeves from the Miromesnil by Cleonis. The stitch counts matched close enough that I was able too do this without any trouble.

I frogged my Austra’s Wrist Warmers that I cast on using 2.5 mm needles a couple of weeks ago. The pattern recommended 3.0 mm needles for a gauge of 29 stitches = 4 inches. I am a loose knitter so I cast on using 2.5 mm needles. My gauge was too large, I am now using 2.0 mm needles!

I am using Urth Yarns Uneek Fingering in 3007 and Uneek Yarns Harvest Fingering in Black Grape.

Austra’s Boot Cuffs and Wrist Warmers Kits are available in the colours shown Uneek Fingering in 3008 and Harvest Fingering in Indigo.

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 is running from September 1 to December 31, 2021. 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!

Connie (knitnut246) finished her stunning Misurina by Caitlin Hunter. Love the pattern and colours!

Linda (lmcnorton) finished her Charles VNeck by Joji Locatelli for the #johifallkal2021!

Jan finished these gift knits! Sweater Pattern:#31 Baby Sweaters, Hat & Baby Blankets by Melinda Goodfellow. Yarn: Berroco Vintage.

Paulette (@psknitting50) finished these from her newest book Winter Knits from Scandinavia by Jenny Alderbrant.

Debbie finished and Felted these two lovely cloches!

Debbie knit this Vine Cloche Felted Hat by Cynthia Pilon Designs. Yarn is Istex Lettlopi.

Debbie crocheted this Felted Cloche and Brooch by Carla Malcomb. Yarn is Istex Lettlopi.

Connie (knitnut246) finished her Gratitude by Josee Paquin. Yarn is Malabrigo Sock in Playa held double with Drops Kid Silk in 20 Light Beige.

Leslie (lcritch) knit this Panem Katniss Cowl Wrap by Dahlia in Bloom.

Christina (@thebusyknitter) knit 3 pairs of Worsted Success Socks by Amy Kate Sutherland. This is her second pair.

This was Christina (@thebusyknitter)'s third pair!

SHOP UPDATE

A shipment of Urth Yarns Uneek Sock arrived so check out the new colours! Pictured are a few of what are available!

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