It was cold and windy but today it looked like spring! Are you still working on your cozy projects for a few more weeks like me or have you cast on a warm weather knit?
Local Yarn Store Day was first celebrated in 2018 as a way to highlight the unique role independently owned yarn shops play in their communities. Organized by The National Needle Arts Association (TNNA), the event encourages crafters to shop locally, explore exclusive patterns, and participate in special activities. It has since become an annual tradition, fostering connections between yarn enthusiasts and their favorite local stores.
Mark your calendars for April 25, 2026, and join us in celebrating the creativity and community of local yarn stores. It’s the perfect day to visit your favorite shop, discover exclusive patterns, yarn-store parties, and connect with others who love fiber arts.
We can’t wait to see you there!
We will have lots of kits, exclusive colourways, yarns, accessories, door prizes, snacks and more! We will also have extended hours from 10-5. Bring your project to knit and make with us throughout the day and at our EXTRA LYS Day Knit Night until 6 pm.
Some patterns come from a moment of inspiration. This one comes from heartbreak.
The Children of Gaza Sweater by Zanete Knits follows the socks released last year, and it is my first ever free sweater pattern. I made it free because this project is not about selling a pattern. It’s about solidarity with the Palestinian people and about the children whose lives have been lost or torn apart by a conflict they never asked for. I have felt helpless watching it unfold, but I have also learned that helplessness doesn’t mean we do nothing.
This year, I am running a full marathon to raise money for charities that work directly with children affected by conflict. If this pattern resonates with you, I would love your support through my fundraiser, or through a donation to any charity close to your heart. Violence is never a solution, and the youngest should never be the ones who suffer most.
Inspired by traditional keffiyeh patterns, the sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down with stranded colourwork in the yoke. It’s DK weight, and only the main colour needs to be a full sweater quantity. For the contrast colours, I encourage you to dig into your leftovers and create gradients that are meaningful to you.
The pattern includes some long floats, so the Ladderback Jacquard method is recommended. It includes video tutorials for all the techniques as well as chart options for both lighter and darker main colours along with ladder placement suggestions.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Finished chest circumference:Yarn
96.5 (107.5, 114.5, 125.5, 134.5, 145.5, 154.5, 167.5, 176.5) cm
38½ (43, 45¾, 50¼, 53¾, 58¼, 61¾, 67, 70½)” Designed to be worn with 15-20 cm / 6-8” positive ease around the chest.
Yarn: DK weight. Depending on the length of the sweater and shaping option, allow approximately:
Main colour (MC):
675 (745, 805, 870, 930, 1000, 1075, 1135, 1205) m
740 (815, 880, 950, 1020, 1095, 1175, 1245, 1320) yds
Contrast colour (CC):
665 (735, 785, 850, 905, 970, 1040, 1100, 1165) m
725 (800, 855, 925, 990, 1060, 1135, 1200, 1275) yds
Gauge: 22 sts & 28 rows = 10 cm / 4” in stranded colourwork in the round, blocked.
Suggested needles: 3.75 mm (US 5) or needle size required to obtain gauge. These should be circulars 60-100 cm / 24-40” long.
Suggested yarn: Malabrigo Arroyo, Julie Asselin Leizu DK
The Seamless Scrap Dress by Lavanya Patricella is her ultimate stash buster project, the seamless scrap dress. She originally designed this one for her daughter and knew as soon as it was finished she would need one in her size too! Using nothing but fingering weight scraps she designed this pattern to be the perfect blue print to your new favorite dress. There are lots of notes included along the way for customizing the perfect fit.
Yarn
1,900, 2,200, 2,500, 2,800, 3,100, 3,400, 3,700, 4,000, 4,300, 4,600 yards (1,738, 2,011, 2,286, 2,560, 2,834, 3,108, 3,383, 3,657, 3,931, 4,206 meters) fingering weight yarn. Yardage requirements are estimates and will fluctuate depending on how you customize your dress.
Needles
3.0 mm (US 2.5) 24”-60” (60-152 cm) circular knitting needles, optional DPNs or additional circular for magic loop and 3 needle bind off.
Gauge
24 stitches and 40 rows = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.
Sizes
RECOMMENDED EASE: You can choose a size with 0-2” of negative ease or 0-2” of positive ease in the bust, armhole depth and upper arm measurements are interchangeable with any bust size, length in all sections is also customizable. The model is pictured with 0” of ease, wearing a 36” size with a 36” bust.
Bust circumference: 28”, 32”, 36”, 40”, 44”, 48”, 52”, 56”, 60”, 64” (71.1, 81.2, 91.4, 101.6, 111.7, 121.9, 132, 142.2, 152.4, 162.5 cm)
Body length from underarm to skirt: 8 ¼”, 8 ½”, 9”, 9 ¼”, 9 ½”, 9 ¾” 9 ¾”, 10”, 10”, 10” (20.9, 21.5, 22.8, 23.4, 24.1, 24.7, 24.7, 25.4, 25.4, 25.4 cm)
Suggested Yarn: Koigu Festive 25 Day Kit or Koigu Pencil Boxes and Koigu KPM, Julie Asselin Leizu Fingering
Nostie by Rebecca Clow is a dropped shoulder tee worked from the bottom up with an all-over lace and ribbing texture. It can be made sleeveless, short sleeved or long sleeved. The pattern comes in to gauges, DK weight and Fingering weight.
The pattern is started at the bottom hem and worked in the round. The front and back are worked flat with neckline shaping added and the shoulders are joined. The collar is picked up and knit in rib. Sleeves (or arm cuffs) are picked up and worked in pattern.
Gauge:
DK: 20 stitches x 28 rows per 10 cm/4 inches in stitch pattern
Fingering: 28 stitches and 40 rows per 10 cm/4 inches in pattern
Sizing:
DK
Sizes: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Finished Chest: 78 (88, 98, 108, 118) (128, 138, 148, 158, 168) cm/30.75 (34.75, 38.5, 42.5, 46.5) (50.5, 54.25, 58.25, 62.25, 66.25) in
Fingering
Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
Finished Chest: 78.5 (88.5, 98.5, 108.5, 118.5) (128.5, 138.5, 148.5, 158.5, 168.5) cm/31 (34.75, 38.75, 42.75, 46.75) (50.5, 54.5, 58.5, 62.5, 66.25) inches
Recommended ease:
Recommended positive ease 5-10 cm/2-4 inches, so you should pick a size that is 5-10 cm/2-4 inches larger than your chest.
Yardage:
DK
Sleeveless: 436 (491, 559, 629, 687) (760, 852, 914, 981, 1077) meters/475 (536, 609, 685, 749) (828, 929, 996, 1070, 1173) yards
Short sleeve: 510 (575, 648, 722, 786) (869, 970, 1042, 1120, 1217) meters/556 (627, 706, 787, 856) (947, 1058, 1136, 1220, 1327) yards
Long sleeve: 750 (847, 936, 1026, 1105) (1220, 1354, 1458, 1567, 1673) meters/817 (924, 1020, 1119, 1205) (1330, 1476, 1589, 1708, 1824) yards
Fingering
Sleeveless: 536 (604, 688, 774, 844) (935, 1048, 1124, 1206, 1325) meters/584 (658, 748, 843, 921) (1017, 1143, 1224, 1316, 1444) yards
Short sleeve: 627 (707, 797, 887, 967) (1069, 1191, 1282, 1378, 1497) meters/684 (770, 868, 967, 1053) (1165, 1300, 1396, 1501, 1632) yards
Long sleeve: 923 (1042, 1150, 1262, 1359) (1501, 1665, 1792, 1927, 2058) meters/1006 (1137, 1255, 1375, 1482) (1636, 1815, 1953, 2102, 2243) yards
Suggested Yarn: Sandnes Garn Line, BC Garn Allino, Estelle Linocott
FOs and WIPs
On Sunday morning, I took this progress shot of for my Kitsch Cardigan by Sedna Knitting Test Knit. The front bands are finished. I need to decide on buttons.
Today's progress shows that I have reinforced my steek stitches for the sleeves and cut the steek. I have the stitches picked up for one sleeve.
This is today's progress shot of my Jilli Jumper by Anne Ventzel.
'
I am working on the short rows making the back longer than the front. I am really enjoying knitting with the Lang Yak (70/30) that I am using.
KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY
Connie (knitnut246) finished her Frost Lines by Andrea Mowry.
She used BC Garn Semilla Melange and knit it longer.
Stefani is wearing another stunning modified Cirrus by Nancy O’Connell. She has knit many of these, each with its own modification.
Karen (@karendemarce) loved showing off the Sunday Morning Shawl by Espace Tricot that Kandy (tinkerbella77) knit for her using Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light.
Victoria (mamavictoria) finished the Confetti Cardigan Junior by Nashwa Sakr that she for her son.
She used Garnstudio Drops Fiesta.
Elaine (emayea) finished this beautiful 160-3 Maja by DROPS Design, knit using Berroco Vintage.
Catherine (ABookishKnitter) finished her second Ranunculus by Midori Hirose.
Patty (Travelbravely) finished this Barnstable by Lisa Hannes using Malabrigo.
Dave (craftyborat) finished knitting this Zuzu's Petals by Carina Spencer.
Jane finished her test knit for the Duality Pullover from Adele Hempel Designs.
Happy Wednesday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!