Friday, October 20, 2023, Issue 318: Happy Friday! It's fall and it's sweater weather!

The Hesper Shawl is Amy Christoffers new mosaic shawl. All Savory Knitting patterns are 20% off though end of day Monday October 23, 2023 (EST) with coupon code ‘mystars’.

The Hesper Shawl is knit top down with an all over garter stitch mosaic pattern using 2 shades of sport weight yarn. it can easily be adapted to any yarn weight by adding or subtracting repeats. Amy has also included alternative ways to work the border in the instructions.

Finished Measurements
84” across and 35” deep at the centre point after gentle blocking

Yardage
Sport weight yarn, 650 yards main colour (MC) and 550 yards contrast colour (CC).

Nearly every inch of the 600 yards from 2 skeins of the MC was used on the sample- a third skein is recommended or if using a narrower or simplified border only 2 skeins of the MC are necessary.

Needles
4.0 mm (US 6): circular 32” or longer

Gauge
20 stitches and 38 rows =4” in Pattern stitch after blocking

Suggested Yarn - Malabrigo Arroyo, Queensland Collection Rainbow Beach, Lichen and Lace Rustic Heather Sport

Socktober is in full swing and we've seen so many beautiful socks! Disappearing Act by Michelle Hunter is a toe up sock that makes the most out of minimal yardage. Directions for a striped afterthought heel are just part of the fun in this two coloured sock where one color fade playfully into another.

Knit in HiKoo® CoBaSi, this yarn comes in a huge palette of bright colours perfect for colourwork or standalone solids. It wears well and is incredibly comfortable, not to mention both breathable and warm while being wool-free. Shown in 070 Carrot and 001 White

Yardage - 380 - 400 yards (347 - 366 m) of fingering weight yarn, one skein of 2 colours 

Gauge - 8.5 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Contrast Blast Socks by Stephen West was for his first Westknits Surprise Sock Along 2023.They are knit top-down with simple cables, stripes, slip stitches, and lots of crispy texture! Even the toes feature a lovely broken rib detail. Each section includes video tutorials linked in the pattern to help you confidently treat your toes to warm and woolly stitches.

Yardage
MC - 1 skein (50-100g) fingering weight sock yarn
CC - 1 skein (50-100g) fingering weight sock yarn

You will have leftovers of each colour. These are more specific yardage requirements for each size.

MC - 180 (200, 310, 340, 380)yds / 165 (183, 283, 311, 347)m
CC - 120 (160, 240, 280, 300)yds / 110 (146, 219, 256, 274)m

Needles
US 1 / 2.25mm DPNs or size needed to obtain gauge or you can use the Magic Loop method for knitting in the round if you have a size 1 / 2.25mm circular needle in a 40 inch length.

Yarn Suggestions - Lang Jawoll Superwash Sock or CoopKnits Socks Yeah!

This is the pair of Contrast Blast Socks Jocelyne (jocblais) knit for the Sock Along.

WIPs and FOs

I finished my Wonky Rib Cowl by Ewelina Murach. I knit my sample using Malabrigo Arroyo in the Aniversario colourway..

I am a loose knitter and usually go down a whole needle size. I only went down to 3.5 mm from the recommended 4.0 mm thinking I had plenty of leeway in a cowl but the first skein took me to partway through round 47. On the second 40 row section, I weighed my yarn when I got to row 46 and I had 38g. This would not be enough to finish the section, knit the final 20 rounds, work a purl round and then bind off.

I decided to omit the last 20 rounds, instead working the purl round and then binding off after the 80 rows.

Unblocked, the cowl is 10 inches by 50 inches circumference. Blocked it is 11.5 inches by 62 inches circumference.

I have been so busy lately but I finally had time to pick up my Alpine Bloom Hat by Caitlin Hunter! I don't usually have any trouble keeping my floats loose when I knit stranded hats but I can see how tight they are in a few areas.

I am part way through the decreases and have changed from my 16 inch (4 inch tips plus an 8 inch cable) circular needles to my double pointed Kollage needles. I knit this hat with The Fibre Co. Amble which as a fingering weight yarn is lighter that the recommended sport weight and lighter than what I have used on this type of hat in the past. It might have been better if I had used a 20 inch needle (3 inch tips plus an 14 inch cable) so that the floats would have automatically stretched farther. Right now, I am close enough to the end that I think it might be finished tonight. 

I mentioned in last week’s blog/newsletter that my new granddaughter was expected to make her appearance!! This Friday the 13th lucky baby is now 7 days old!

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Leslie (lcritch) came by to pick up yarn wearing her Sun Comes Out by Espace Tricot. She knit this one (of the two she knit) using Rowan Creative Linen which I sold the last of yesterday.

Leslie’s Sun Comes Up is huge at 84 x 40 inches despite stopping 102 rows early!

Beth took our last Rigid Heddle Weaving 2 Class and brought in her finished Weaving a Dream scarf to show me! Yarn is Berroco Ultra Alpaca.

Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) test knit this lovely LaceCap Tee from Hundred Acre Wool - Isabella Clark.

Lise (Mattedcat) has knit a new Flax by tincanknits! This one is a 6-12 month size using Cascade 220 Heathers.

Close up of Lise’s Baby Flax VI.

Sonia (Soniabknits) found a skein of yarn and a matching mohair in her stash so she cast on and knit this cozy Just a Hat by Halyna Shemchuk.

Veronica (xov.knits) knit this simple 2x2 ribbed hat in Drops. 

Brenda (bmallat42) test knit this Drops Weave Beanie by @knitbrilliant using Malabrigo. Pattern will be available soon.

UPCOMING CLASSES

Our new line up of classes starting in November are up on the website! If there is a class you would be interested in, let me know and I will see if it a possibility.

Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!