Thanks to being able to connect virtually, many of us who used to knit alone have now made friends far and wide to knit with! The Instafriends KAL celebrates this every fall by gathering virtually to knit together.
Stria by Andrea Mowry is a “go-with-everything” cardigan to wear over dresses or t-shirts or under overalls that she designed for the KAL at the request of Jess from Shop La Mercerie. It is an easy-to-wear, maximum squishiness, stripes for all occasions cardi! This sweater is worked from the top down, seamlessly. The sleeve stitches are put on hold while the body is finished and then returned to the needle. You can, of course, modify it to have any length body or sleeves. Do take into account that modifications will affect the yardage required, and if length is added to the body, you may want to add an extra button/buttonhole.
SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4)(5, 6, 7)(8, 9, 10)
#sizeinclusive
FINISHED BUST CIRCUMFERENCE
34.75 (36.75, 39.75, 43)(46, 49, 52.5)(55.5, 58, 61)”
88 (93.5, 101, 109)(117, 124.5, 133.5)(141, 147.5, 155) cm
Intended to be worn with -2 to +4”/-5 to +10 cm ease. To pick your best size, measure your full bust and add or subtract your desired ease, then pick the finished bust circumference closest to that number.
Sample shown in size 2 with approx. 3”/7.5 cm positive ease on a woman who is 5’5”/165 cm tall.
YARN REQUIREMENTS
These are just approximations. Total yarn usage will depend on the yarn you use (fiber content, ply, etc.), your personal gauge, and any modifications you may make.
Fingering Weight in 1 Main Color & 4 Contrasting Colors
MC - 300 (328, 359, 390)(421, 455, 489)(527, 559, 600) g
1200 (1310, 1436, 1560)(1684, 1820, 1954)(2108, 2235, 2400) yds
1098 (1198, 1313, 1426)(1540, 1664, 1787)(1927, 2044, 2195) m
CC’s (each) - 18 (19, 21, 23)(25, 27, 29)(31, 33, 35) g
72 (76, 84, 92)(100, 108, 116)(124, 132, 140) yds
66 (70, 77, 84)(92, 99, 106)(114, 121, 128) m
SUGGESTED YARN
Urth Yarns Harvest Fingering, or Regia Premium 4 Ply Merino Yak and for the stripes, Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy or a SweetGeorgia Party of Five mini skein set.
WHAT: Instafriends KAL 2021 - A low-stress, fun knitalong! We will be knitting the Stria cardigan and using the hashtag #instafriendskal2021 to connect and share our progress on Instagram.
WHO: Hosted by Jess, La Mercerie, & Kjerste, Wax & Wool. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join!
WHEN: Cast on anytime after October 30! The KAL will run thru the end of the year.
WHERE: The KAL is hosted on Instagram! Follow Jess, Kjerste, and the #instafriendskal2021 hashtag for all the info!
PRIZE: There will be a grand prize of a $100 gift certificate to La Mercerie, 4 candles of your choice from Wax & Wool and 3 patterns of your choice from DreaReneeKnits independently published works!
Another sweater weather cardigan is Andrea Mowry’s The Throwback, a favourite for layering and keeping warm all autumn and winter long. This sweater is worked flat from the top down, seamlessly, except for the sleeves which are knit in the round.
SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4)(5, 6, 7)
Sample shown is Size 2, worn on a 34” bust with 5” positive ease.
FINISHED BUST CIRCUMFERENCE
35 (39, 43, 47)(51, 55, 59)”
89 (99, 109, 119.5)(129.5, 140, 150) cm
This sweater is intended to be worn with approximately 5”/13 cm positive ease. There are notes in the pattern to help with picking the size best suited for you!
YARN
Worsted Weight in 4 colors
Color A (Main Color) - 565 (620, 680, 770)(835, 930, 1000) g
980 (1075, 1185, 1335)(1455, 1620, 1740) yds
Contrast Colors B, C & D - 50g/150 yds each
Bev knit her The Throwback by Andrea Mowry using Navia Sock but you can also use Cascade 220 Heathers, The Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted or Berroco Vintage.
SUGGESTED NEEDLES
Main Fabric: US 8/5 mm - 32”/80 cm to 40”/100 cm circular and pre- ferred needles for small circumference knitting (Magic Loop or DPNs)
Ribbing: US 7/4.5 mm - 32”/80 cm to 40”/100 cm circular and preferred needles for small circumference knitting.
(Use the needle size you need to achieve gauge, and size down one for ribbing.)
NOTIONS
Stitch markers, waste yarn or stitch holders, tapesty needle, scissors
GAUGE
18.5 sts & 26 rows = 4”/10 cm
Measured over stockinette stitch knit flat, after blocking.
This year will be the 5th year for Ambah O’Brien’s Festive KAL (formerly known as AMBAH X ADVENT KAL)! Go Go Throw is one of the 5 new 2021 patterns and will be available to purchase late November, ahead of the November 28 cast on, sign up to Ambah’s newsletter to be notified of upcoming pattern releases.
Cosy and beautiful, the Go Go throw is a delight to knit and enjoy in so many ways; on the lounge, around your shoulders and would certainly make a stunning gift. Designed with a 24 mini-skein kit in mind, the Go Go Throw is a fabulous way to play with colour; use up your favourite leftovers, a fabulous mini-skein set or keep it simple with two colours. Two versions are shown here, both made with the same yarn set, one has mohair held together with the fingering weight yarn, resulting in a slightly heavier and thicker throw, while the other is knit with fingering weight alone, the choice is yours both versions are gorgeous.
Choose between written and charted instructions for the lace.
DIMENSIONS
Top: 38”/95 cm
Length: 65”/162.5 cm
Measurements taken after blocking.
YARN
Fingering weight
MC: 400 yd/366 m
CC: 24-colour set, each skein consisting of 80 yd/74 m or 1920 yd/1756 m
Optional laceweight: (held together throughout): 2320 yd/2122 m
SUGGESTED YARNS
Koigu KPPPM for the MC, Koigu Advent Kits
NEEDLES
US 5/3.75 mm long circular needles to hold a large number of stitches, project is worked flat.
NOTIONS
Optional stitch markers to mark lace repeats, tapestry needle
GAUGE
26 sts and 24 rows = 4”/10 cm in Go Go lace, blocked
Gauge is not crucial for this project, but variations will affect yardage and final measurements.
Is this not the best melt your heart project ever? The Canine Stripes Sweater by Nina Holubcova for Urth Yarns. Shown is knit using one Uneek Sock Kit in Tigress.
This would be a classy edition to any dog’s closet, Canine Stripes Sweater features a simple seamless top-down construction with rib detailing along the neck, chest and sleeves to provide a comfortable fit. Optional short rows shape the gently curved rump.
Comes in 4 sizes suitable for up to medium-sized dogs, all can be knit up from just one Uneek Sock kit.
The luxurious merino in combination with nylon for durability is the perfect blend to keep even the chilliest dogs cozy.
Use the Tigress or Zebra colorway to bring out your companion’s wilder side this Halloween, or opt for any of our classic Uneek stripes.
The dog sweater is worked top-down in the round, starting with the neck ribbing. Increases are worked to accommodate the chest and shoulders. The work is then split to create holes for the front legs, with the shoulder and chest pieces worked flat. The body is then joined and shaped with decreases in the round. Next, a back piece with optional short-row shaping and a ribbed hem are knit flat. Finally, stitches for sleeves are picked up and knit around the holes left by the shoulder and chest pieces.
Sizes: 1, 2, 3, 4 to fit 12-14(14-16, 16-18, 18-22)’’/30.5-35.5(35.5-40.5, 40.5-45.5, 45.5-55.5)cm chest circumference
To choose the right size for your dog, measure their chest circumference at its widest point, which is usually just behind front legs. Choose the size with the closest chest measurement.
Chiquita, a standard dachshund is wearing size 3, with 17.5’’/43cm chest circumference in the photos.
Needles: US 2½-3/3.00 mm circular and DPN, or size to obtain gauge
Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn
Here’s another for those with canine friends! Tiny leg warmers to match your socks! The sock pattern shown is Moorland Socks by Jen Arnall-Culliford.
WIPs and FOs
I wasn't convinced that I like my Felix Cardigan on myself but I think it looks fabulous on Jen!
I finished one half of my Austra’s Wrist Warmers by by Inese Iris Liepina and the other half is on the first colourwork chart section. They are squishy and colourful!
Clues 1 to 4 completed for the Gnome MKAL 7 by Sarah Schira.
I didn’t cast on for the Gnome MKAL until October 18th! This was Clue 5.
I have up to Clue 7 finished but ran out of time to finish the last 2 clues and the ice cream cone!
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!
Debbie (at the top and above) in her stunning Morning Mist Spring Tee by Annie Claire.
Sandi (sandima)’s Gnorwen is so pretty! She used Madelinetosh Unicorn Tails in Cotton Candy Daydreams and Circus along with some yarn stash.
Kay (@kayrobbins)’s Gnorwen reminded her and me of Cows Ice Cream in PEI..
Jocelyne in her Cedar Pullover by Joji Locatelli knit using Shibui Reed.
Manjit knit this sweet cardigan in a 6 month size using Berroco Elba, a beautiful worsted weight 100% cotton tape yarn.
Lise (Mattedcat) finished her Tommy and Tuppence by Lisa Chemery and Cool Wool (beret) by Ekaterina Filippova-Blanchard in Berroco Vintage Chunky for her granddaughter!
Getting ready for Christmas…Lise (Mattedcat) knit this Cabled Stocking by Lara Simonson using Estelle Chunky.
Sandi (sandima) has been making an advent calendar of decorations for a gift and has only a few left to make! What a great gift it will make!
Sonia (@soniabknits) finished this pair of socks knit using Schoppel Wolle Zauberball in colour 1508!
Debbie (debsnubs) finished this gorgeous Aeria by Linnea Ornstein using Berroco Vintage DK in White and Schoppel Wolle Starke 6 for the contrast!
SHOP NEWS
The newest Koigu Collector’s Club yarn arrived! The October yarn is Harvest on the new Jasmine base. It is a 3 Ply DK yarn that is 100% Merino with 242 yards.
Don't foget to check out our CLEARANCE and SALE sections!
Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting! Keep calm and keep on knitting and making!